03/10/09

Awesome cask beer

by CSMobileUser3

What a find

01/16/09

not for everyone

by greendressgirl

The Other Side is a remnant of a time when Boston was a lot less homogenized and a lot more interesting. Yes, there's loud music. Yes, the wait staff sometimes have a little attitude. But does every place in Boston need to be like Stephanie's on Newbury? If you like a place with a little character, good food and beer with vegetarian options, go to The Other Side. If not, Stephanie's is right down the street...

• Pros: music, atmosphere, mezzanine, veggie fare
• Cons: none

12/03/08

Too loud; lame waitstaff

by Gumsmith

Had lunch there today with some friends. I chose The Otherside Cafe because my friends are vegetarians and there are many vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. We hadn't seen each other in a long time and wanted to catch up since they were in Boston for the day. The music was so loud that we had to yell across the table. I don't mind the vibe and I certainly don't mind loud Elvis Costello, but we had to yell across the table. When I asked a server if he could turn the music down a notch because we were trying to talk, he said: "This is how loud we usually have the music here." I told him we could not converse. He stated: "Just so you know, we will turn it down a little, but this is how loud we keep the music here." Funny, I thought restaurants were all about the customer and not the waitstaff. The food was great; service was poor (ie clearing plates before you're finished.) Skip it.

• Pros: Great, fresh food. Big salads.
• Cons: Too loud. Servers have bad attitudes .

07/28/08

Great Hostess - Poor customer service otherwise

by FoodFan77

My wife and I went to the Otherside on 7/26/08 as we live in the city and had read about its nachos. First, let me start out with the good news: The hostess was an absolute sweetheart. My wife is 8+ months pregnant and, seeing our status, the hostess bumped us up on the waiting list and gave us a great seat on the outdoor patio. It also had a good beer selection. Unfortunately, the service was not good (although staff seemed like a nice group in general) and food was nothing special (especially the nachos that we had read about). I guess I just chalk this one up to knowing what you're getting yourself into - If you're interested in some good people watching at the expense of food and service, give it a try.

• Pros: Great hostess, good beer selection, good people watching
• Cons: Poor service, average food (at best)

07/05/08

Chill out with some good food and a micro brew

by tulip6

I have been going to the Other Side for years and have never had a reason to complain.

Recently I showed up with a party of 14 for Saturday brunch and the staff was very accomodating and efficient. The food came out in a timely manner and was great.

I have always been a huge fan of their vegetgarian chili, cheese, fruit and yogurt plate and vegetarian burrito.

Otherside has a refreshing, chill atmosphere and if you cannot handle it you can make a reservation at Capital Grille.

06/13/08

Worst Service of ALL TIME.

by GlassCandy

I have eaten out all over the world, but I have never recieved such bad service as at the Otherside. Our server Taylor (Or Tyler) might be the worst server in the city. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, which took a good half hour to arrive, before we even ordered food. He then proceeded to tell us that he "dropped" a spoon into the pitcher, and dont be "Suprised" if we find it in the drink...... I kid you not, I am in no way exadurating!

It then took another 45 min. to order food, and then another 45 min to get the food. The food itself is nothing to write home about, and is easily made at home by anyone with a george forman girll and a knowlage on how to boil water.

Then to my amazement I was charged twice for our meal on my debit card, which I had to take up with Visa to get refunded.

I dont know what it is about boston but servers seem to assume they "Deserve" a 20% tip. I'm sorry but I do not tip for poor service, unhygenic food and drinks, and complete idiotic behavior!

I would NEVER recomend the otherside to anyone. The only reason to go there is to pretend you are a bike messenger and/or a supposed hipster with fake neon Ray-Ban Wayfarer's.

• Pros: Nothing!
• Cons: Everything possible!

04/02/08

Just try it

by samarie1

These negative reviewers are crazy. I headed over for dinner last night after admiring the place from afar for the last years or so. We had 2 apps (cheese and fruit plate and antipasto) and 2 sandwiches (veritarian and turkey press). ALL were wonderful. The food was super fresh and extremely affordable. The most pleasant suprise was just how large the portions are. I usually veto "heatly" restaurants because I need two entrees to get full. Not the case here. I also have to commend how great the proscuitto was on the antipasto. For a place that touts Vegan and Raw fare the meat was exceptional. We tried a few a their extensive beer selections and a very interesting Sake Bloody Mary (huge, for those portion freaks like me).

The place was jamming, but the two cute, skinny, bike messenger-ish waiters did a great job of making us feel taken care of. The music was a little too loud but definatly quality. I like the local art on the walls and the free movie nights on Tuesdays.

They also offer free to-go coffee and tea if you bring your own mug because they can't see an environmentally sound way to navigate the take out cup dilemmia. Talk about walking the walk.

I'll be back and I'll be bringing my peeps.

• Pros: affordable, fresh, healthy, fun, lots of beer
• Cons: slightly too loud music

11/11/07

Painful Sunday Brunch

by ragtimedav

If you love headbanging Janis Joplin while you have your Sunday Brunch, this is your place. Screaming rock and roll so loud you can hardly hear yourself. When we asked if the music had to be this raucous, the man behind the counter curtly replied "yes" and walked off with attitude. When he found out he was our waiter, he somehow became this fairly friendly fellow.

We came to The Other Side because they advertize healthy options like raw and vegan food, and organic wine. We ordered one of their omelettes. It had to be the worst omelette I've ever had. The eggs tasted like they were cooked in bad oil. The home-fried potatoes were soaking in butter. They had a lot of flavor, I just wasn't sure what it was. The biscuit was good, but very plain.

We also ordered the swan french toast bagette with cream cheese filling. This was much better. We enjoyed that very much.

The kitchen had a hard time keeping up. Took quite a while to get the food. It was all nicely warm when it arrived, though.

It's a very hip, funky college cafe scene. If that's what you want this is your place. Me? I'lI never go back. I like good food too much. And I like to be able to have a conversation without leaning over the table and shouting. Especially on a Sunday morning.

• Pros: young crowd
• Cons: loud raucous music, poor omelettes.

10/16/07

Tattooed, pierced bike messengers and art students head to this Back Bay meeting spot for cheap, healthy food and drink.

by Contributor

The Scene
As one of the city's few counterculture/bohemian cafes, the Other Side serves as a key meeting spot for its loyal, eccentric clientele. Students are drawn to the bargain-basement menu of healthy, Californian cuisine, while hip 20-somethings squeeze into comfy sofas and nod along to the cafe's painfully current soundtrack of alternative tunes. When the weather's agreeable, patrons crowd onto the large front patio, which can hold about 44 customers. Tattooed waiters match the colorful surroundings.

The Food
The OtherSide, equally renowned for its budget-friendly prices and its super-healthy food menu, is a popular place to stop in for drinks--expect an even split of tables covered in selections from the fresh juice and smoothie bar (try the pear lemon ginger wheatgrass juice) and large, affordable pitchers of imported beer. Don't miss the imposing fresh fruit, cheese and bread plate that comes with a delicious yogurt honey dipping sauce and is perfect for groups.

Photo by Christine Liu

09/29/07

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE vegetarian chili!

by 88shadesofblue

I may need to give their menu another shot...but their vegetarian chili was disgusting.

Their cheesecake was overpriced...and I was not satisfied at all with the rest of my meal.