03/19/09

Great low key watering hole

by Karalyn12

Great place to chill out and have beers with good people. Good place to go if you don't want to deal with dressing up or trying to impress.

• Pros: No frills; interesting mix of people; good comfort food
• Cons: Can be very crowded; No Miller Light

12/23/06

Once a jewel, now a complete utter bomb. A total disappointment.

by ringo902

I have been going to Anchovies every week almost religiously for about two years. The food is great. Inexpensive but super delicious. The drinks are wonderful. The waitstaff was typically known for having a saucy but friendly attitude, while provide excellent and efficient service. The Saturday night bartender is outstanding.

However, in recent months some of the regular servers have suddenly disappeared and have been replaced by completely unprofessional, unattentive, and uncaring waitresses. I've put up with the rapid decline in service standards because I had always had a soft spot for Anchovies. A simple request for bread is treated with a condescending attitude. Mutiple requests for water are completely ignored, if not mocked. Often times the check has been coming without so much as a "how's everything" or an inquiry as to whether or not a second drink was desired. Tonight I left feeling furious for the way I was treated.

I really want to give this place another chance. It makes me sad to see the standards here plummet. You should maybe give it a chance too. Just completely lower your expectations and maybe you'll leave feeling somewhat satisfied.

• Pros: inexpensive but good food
• Cons: management and waitstaff's declining service standards

11/19/06

Best calzones in Northeast - coming from native Brooklynite!

by sendfoodie

This place has a fabulous neighborhood feel - great for a night out with large group of friends, Sunday afternoon lunch/dinner with parents or out-of-towners, they were even accomodating to our fussy 8-week old. It's great to have a pub-type place with above average, more-interesting-than-pub-grub food. The portions are enormous, everything is fresh, hot and absolutely delicious from your basic meatball sub or chicken parm to creative polenta dishes - oh and did I mention the calzones are the best I've had possibly ever even in all my years growinng up in Brooklyn, NY. Cant say enough good things about Anchovies - Almost don't want too many people to know about it!

• Pros: delicious food, huge portions, great laidback atmosphere
• Cons: none so far!

10/20/06

Nice Pizza, Horrible waitstaff

by oges

The pizza was great the wait staff was terrible. Went on a Friday night after work with 7 people we had just arrived and the waitress was asking us if we were all set to order, we just got in the door. Several times she approached us to order, we had the feeling we were being rushed. Finally we ordered and we were drinking the next thing they are cleaning up our table and telling us they needed the table. AH HELLO are we paying money to be here. I could not believe that paying customers were being treated this way obviously that waitress did not need to make money for herself or her employer.

• Pros: food
• Cons: waitstaff

10/18/06

This quintessential neighborhood bar, wedged between Back Bay and South End, serves up big dishes and big drinks for cheap.

by Contributor

The clientele is as diverse as the South End: Old, young, black, white, gay, straight. These are patrons for whom Anchovies is a home away from home. As soon as you arrive, walk to the far end of the bar to place your name on the waiting list, then chill out with a martini or a beer and peruse the menu (or order a pizza to while away the minutes). The pastas are very good, especially topped with fresh clams in a garlic-herb butter or marinara sauce. Chicken parmigiana, buried under a blanket of melted cheese, is Italian-American comfort food. The meatball sandwich could feed a small army. Entrees come with a side of pasta and a small salad. Portions are huge, so bring along your appetite.

12/06/04

Unbelievably rude management

by jujubee_cricket

I have never experienced service as rude in my entire life. I was shocked and appalled at how the management felt it could treat its customers. Don't be surprised if your wait is more than three times what it's quoted at, someone else's name gets inserted above yours on the wait list, and you are given absolutely no curtesy whatsoever while you are being sloughed off for the "regulars".

• Cons: , crowded, slow service

05/27/03

I'll have Mine with Anchovie's

by Wackynutty

At first gance I wouldnt take my worst enemy to this place, but as sat there enjoying the appetizer I slowly warm up to its charm and character. The food was better than Moms with plenty o' portion. We actually ordered seconds on our appetizer it was so good (Garlic bread with mozz. cheese.) The food was piping hot, maybe too hot, No it can never be too hot, so that was a plus.The wait staff could take a few courses from Miss Manners but for the most part not that bad. Now the downfalls. Very very cramped. not much room between tables or booths. No parking what so ever, but that comes with the territory of the south end.Over all Id recomend it to go with friend but Not for a date.

• Pros: Great Home Cookin', huge, huge portions, Great Value
• Cons: parking, cramped, waiters need manners