The Savant Project

01/22/09

Let down!

by Bennybarber

I'm not sure why this place gets such good reviews. I found the food to be pretty poor when you consider that you can't get anything for less than 12.00. I got the polenta , which I'm sure would have been good but the food took ages and ages to get to us-even though there were only two other people there! The waiter was inattentive and his attempts at wit were lost on me.

The place wasn't all bad, the layout of the place (although small and awkward) is modernly decorated with FANTASTIC artwork-a rarity!

I would only go back if my meal was on the house!

• Pros: Great decor and music
• Cons: Poor service, less than spectacular food

08/14/08

Food was OK but service was bad!

by xxxchxxx

I just went to Savant Project today for lunch and was fairly disappointed. This was my first visit and it happened to be during Restaurant Week. We get several tapas plates and tried out two of their desserts (the creme brulee and the churros). The food was decent; only the empanadas and the desserts stood out to me as being 'good'. The reason I rank the restaurant so low, however, is because the service was very poor. We waited half an hour for our food to come out (with no chips or bread in the meantime). Once the food came, it all came within five to ten minutes...including the dessert! A few minutes later the bill came and our small table was packed. I had to ask for water refills multiple times. Coincidentally an acquaintance of mine came fifteen minutes afterwards and ended up waiting half an hour only to receive an apology, a gift certificate, and a gentle nudge towards the nearest exit. The waitress told us that one of their kitchen employees didn't show up for work but that doesn't explain the fact that when they brought us "clean" plates, one of them had crumbs all over it. Its unfortunate that an employee didn't show up but, during restaurant week especially, they should be prepared for this or have backups ready. I don't think I will choose to return anytime soon.

• Pros: Desserts, Ambience
• Cons: Service, Value

08/08/08

Never fails to disappoint

by purpleferret

I've been to this place about 3-4 times (I work near it and have gone for work lunches with colleagues, so thats the main reason I have ever gone here). Unfortunetly I have been disappointed by the quality of the food each time. I ate there today for the last time. It took 40 minutes for our food to arrive, and when it did the fries were soggy and gross, and my friends burger was overcooked (actually it looked like a burnt piece of charcoal more than a burger). While my sandwich was good, the fries were mostly uneatable, and the wait for food was way too long. We were actually getting ready to leave when the food arrived, but it wasn't worth the wait!

Regarding the food: From my past experiences I've learned to avoid the tapas as they are very expensive for the tiny tiny portions they give you. You need at least 3-4 to feel like you have had a meal, and even then you may leave hungry. At $8-10 a pop, its simply not worth the price, and depending on which tapa you get (I had the two salmon ones) they are not that good either. Other than the tapas, the menu has a very limited selection, which has not changed in the year or so that they opened under thier new name. My friends first reaction to thier menu was that there was nothing she wanted to eat (she is notoriously picky about her food, but still, there aren't a lot of options on the menu). As I have pretty much tried everything that looked appetizing to me with disappointing results, I have no plans to go back in less they make substantial changes to thier menu and quality of the food.

Overall: The food is not worth the price or the wait for it.

An eclectic Mission Hill lounge, serving up exceptionally inventive cocktails.

by Eric Grossman

With its bold murals, pressed tin, wine-colored walls and upholstered furniture, the Savant Project mixes hip club with chill lounge in a warm and inviting atmosphere that's frequented by couples and groups alike. When the weather allows, hipsters and local workers fill the rear patio. Asian- and Latin-inspired small plates complement innovative cocktails (jalapeno-infused Sauvignon Blanc, anyone?) as well as an extensive list of wine and beer. Standouts include the signature truffled polenta logs, mini brioche beef sliders, a BLT with Serrano ham, and the sake drunken berry cup for dessert.

High Marks
"The "small plates" were fantastic, in particular the beef sliders and tempura vegetables." (richbeaud21, Citysearch user)

"Just upscale and trendy enough to rival Newbury Street but with the perfect amount of urban appeal and soulful flavor to fit in well with its locale." (jason98765, Citysearch user)

Low Marks
"The high-priced food, tacky décor and eclectic music all mixed together created a mess." (JThurman8, Citysearch user)

"...drinks are mediocre at best..." (LoriStewartSon, Citysearch user)

07/05/08

Cool happy hour vibe

by KooKooBee

We found this place this afternoon when the rest of the bars in the area were closed for the July 4th weekend. We always thought it looked pretty cool from the outside and decided to try it. We don't know what all these bad reviews are about. The server was attentive and gave good recommendations about what she liked on the menu. The drinks were clever and tasty. The gaspacho was smoky and good. The Greek salad had fried feta cheese nuggets -- interesting and surprisingly tasty. The Caesar salad was ok, but the fried oysters on top did not fit in very well. The beef sliders were well seasoned. The veggie burger was disappointing -- no texture and was completely undersalted. My husband _is_ a thirty year old surgeon at the Longwood campus, and he liked it alot. We'll be back for dinner service soon!

• Pros: Half price appetizers in the afternoon, clever drinks
• Cons: Poor veggie burgers

04/09/08

Overpriced and Overrated

by legmonster

After seeing a great review of the Savant Project this weekend on Phantom Gourmet, we decided to give it a try. The food looked amazing on TV. Unfortunately it didn't taste as good as it looked. The paella, which claimed to have chicken, salmon, and sausage, had no chicken at all and only about 2 bites of sausage. Otherwise there was very little besides some really oily rice. At $18 it was incredibly overpriced. Oh and the $13 burger was certainly nothing to write home about. Very dry and the focaccia bun was tasteless. The best part of the meal was the free tortillas and salsa at the beginning.

The service was fine, nothing to complain about there. And it wasn't loud at all. But the food was so disappointing... we'll never go back, at least at that price.

• Pros: ambience, service
• Cons: food, price

04/05/08

Highly Overrated

by MichelleS39

I did some research and found all similiar reviews to the first 5 on this site. They all sounded a lot like press releases. I mean 5 stars and NO cons? I highly doubted any restaurant that opened less than a year ago could boast that level of perfection, so I had to see for myself.

At the suggestion of most "reviewers" I tried the berry dessert... and it was okay. Nothing spectacular though. So it surprises me that every single reviewer raves about this dish. Overall the food wasn't terrible and service was okay, although slow (which was surprising given that there were 2 other people in the restaurant).

I can't comment on the noise level inside because I visited the Savant Project for lunch and the volume was moderate. Although walking down Tremont on most nights, I'm always amused to hear what the SP is playing. One night it's a Jack Johnson cover band and the next it's some techno/house music - you never really know what you're going to get. But it's good for a laugh.

One reviewer made a comment about young professionals and doctors frequenting the SP. I've only ever seen MassArt/Berklee kids there. And that's fine if that's your scene, but I highly doubt a 30+ year old surgeon will find this place a relaxing after-work lounge.

Would I go back? No. But it was interesting to try it once.

To quote an article in the Metro: "It seems that they are too busy trying to create a mood with the deafening live poetry slam music and too-clever concept to actually find out if you?re enjoying anything."

02/19/08

Quite a Surprise

by JThurman8

I'd have to agree with the last reviewer. I was rather surprised during my visit to the Savant Project - and not in a positive way. After visiting the Mission and the Penguin many times, I decided to try out the latest addition to the Brigham Circle area. The music was obscenely loud, to the point where I couldn't carry on a conversation with my friends. Half of the staff was unbelievably arrogant and the other half appeared to be on some type of controlled substance. It seems as though management is trying to brand the restaurant as too many things at once. The high-priced food, tacky decor and eclectic music all mixed together to create a mess. Speaking of music, I think I heard more techno remixes to 80?s Michael Jackson then I knew existed.

To sum it up, I?d stick with the Mission over the Savant Project any day. There?s a reason the Mission has a wait and the Savant Project is half empty on most nights.

• Cons: Atmosphere, Music, Service

02/18/08

Sensory Overload!!!!

by LoriStewartson

I'm always looking to try out new places. I did some reading online and thought this would be a good place to try. I went in one evening a while ago with a few of my friends. The set up inside is pretty strange. It is like sensory overload. The music was blasting some kind of strange dance mix.... yet no one was dancing. As a matter of fact there were only 4 people in the place. My friends and I couldn't even hear each other without shouting. The DJ was set up in the front. Behind him was a projection screen with what looked like an acid warp projected onto it. It looked like it was straight from windows media player. SO STRANGE! The front walls are tin and a strange red color, while the walls in the back were spray panted with bizarre pictures, including a woman wearing practically nothing, that really seemed out of place. There were way too many colors that did not go together. There was a lounge type set up in the back where we decided to sit and talk, but since we still couldn't hear each other it was pretty hard to do that. I had a drink that was mediocre at best. Once we finished our drinks we left, and my ears were still ringing while I was sitting on the T on my way home. There should be a warning outside for people with epilepsy that they are at risk of a seizure.

10/15/07

Great atmosphere and food

by richbeaud21

This is a great place to relax, enjoy some food, and have a few drinks. The "small plates" were fantastic, in particular I loved the beef sliders and tempura vegetables. For entrees, you can't beat the seared tuna steak or steak frites. A visit isn't complete without trying out one of the many creative drinks like the 'Tijuana Tea bag' or the 'Sakito'. Hard to find wnything to complain about... the brains behind the Savant Project definitely got it right.

• Pros: Great food, drinks and service
• Cons: none