Pops Restaurant

RIP more

I have to admit, I've gotten into a bit of a rut as far as the South End is concerned. Whenever I've venture into that neighborhood before, I gravitated toward the places that get more consistent coverage by Boston foodie people. Last night, before heading to a show at the BCA, I decided to mix things up a little and give Pops a try. It was a wonderful experience and I'll definitely be adding this place to my list of South End faves. The menu is divided pretty evenly between small plates and standard-sized portions. Because so many things looks delightful, my friend and I both opted to craft our dinner from multiple small plates. My friend started with a salad (don't remember which one) and then had the small portion of the ravioli as her main course. (She said both were delish and since she ate them all, I believe her.) I started with the beet, hazelnut and feta salad and the truffled mushroom and lobster cappuccino (yum, yum yum!) and then had the miso salmon w/ sweet potato chips. All of which was very tasty. For dessert, my friend got the warm chocolate tart - which ended up being closer to thick dark chocolate pudding vs. an actual tart - and I got the donuts. The donuts were seriously delicious! They're essentially chocolate-filled beignets... SO good! We made a reservation because we wanted to be sure we'd get in and finish dinner in time for our show. Since it was a Tuesday night, the reservation wasn't necessary, but Pops is a pretty small restaurant, so I can imagine it fills up pretty quickly on weekend nights. Pros: food, esp. the donuts Cons: pretty small place that could get crowded on busy nights more

It is obvious that the South End has a lot of different wonderful restaurants to choose from but I find that one that is often overlooked is Pops Restaurant. The concept is an upscale diner vibe and amidst the trend of ""comfort food"", Pops really does it right. My favorite dish, although a bit heavy, is the Kobe meatloaf, buttery mashed potatoes, roasted carrots and gravy. The meatloaf is so tender and moist, yet it still has the home-y feel that reminds you of your mom's meatloaf. I've found that the staff is always attentive and friendly without being overbearing. I totally recommend that you give Pops a try the next time you're in the South End. Pros: Great location, wonderful staff Cons: The back room is a bit drafty for the winter more

We dined at POPS to celebrate a sister's birthday. We had drinks, wine, food, coffee, and dessert. The new tapas menu definately needs to work out some kinks - don't serve tapas on teacup plates! Before we were finished with dessert, our server came over and asked us to vacate the table because our two hour time limit was up and the next reservation was here. Huh??? The hostess was beyond rude; she was completely unhelpful when it came to retrieving our cars from the valet service. She told us to wait outside for our cars, as she needed the table. It was very cold and windy. No apology was issued; instead, we were told that we just don't understand the new way restaurants do business. Never again. Skip this nightmare unless you enjoy dining on a meter Pros: Some good new tapas Cons: Dining experience more

I've been a fan of this restaurant since they opened, and I love the fact they are aware of the stress the economy is putting on us and issueing Pops Dollars. Most entrees are under $20, so it's a big bonus to also get a discount towards my next visit. I also like the decor and the sun room in the back. Pros: Cute decor Cons: Mediocre service more

We were a group of 5, made a reservation and were seated promptly for dinner on a quiet Sunday night. Nice wine by the glass selection, as well as a dozen or so microbrew/import beers. Restaurant had a nice vibe to it, looked like a lot of locals enjoy this restaurant. Everybody in our group enjoyed their meals. Favorites were the lamb, cassoulet, gnocchi mac n' cheese, and the meatloaf. Waitress was very accomodating to our zillion questions about the eclectic menu. The waitstaff in general were having fun and helpful. Pros: Ambience, service, interesting menu, good wine by the glass selection more

Based on a friend's recommendation, my family and I recently had a great experience at Pops. We were seated in the ""Greenhouse"" room, which was tastefully decorated and looked onto the rear courtyard. Our server was attentive but did not hover. Each of our meals was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the Kobe meatloaf which melts in your mouth. All around, we had a fabulous dining experience, and I would highly recommend Pops! Pros: Valet Parking, Ambience Cons: Limited seating - be sure to make reservations more

I went here for lunch with co-workers on a Tuesday. The service was good, but it was a little slow. We were the first ones there and the kitchen was just opening up. The tomato basil soup smelled great and my co-worker loved it. I ordered the half order of spicy lamb bolognese. It was amazing. It was spicy enough to make my nose run a bit and the lamb tasted really fresh. I got to try my co-worker's italian sandwich, which was also good. I can't wait to go back when the weather is nice to sit out back. Pros: Half order sizes Cons: Slow start to lunch more

Although I was amongst the many who attended ""Training Night"" in this establishment, I can attest to the owners integrity in maintaining customer satisfaction. Furthermore, I am amazed how he has integrated the experience of top notch dining on a mid to high range menu selection in such a pricy neighborhood of competitors. Food quality and taste were great. Great job Felino. You were great to work for and a good person outside the business as well. This was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my trade. Pros: Good eats at reasonable fare. Top notch Spirits and Coffee variables Cons: Parking more

POPS is great. Period. I have been there about a dozen times since they've been open and while it hasn't always been flawless, overall, its been truly great in both service and food. If you are looking for a place thats ""hip"" and new without the crazy, fussy food, then this is it. POPS is a Twenty First Century Diner and everyone who I have brought there has loved it. Pros: Genuine Service, Great, Easy Food, Great Price Cons: no valet, no cheap parking more

Went to Pops last night. We did not have reservations but then again they claim to want to keep the ""neighborhood walk-in feel"", therefore they seated our party of 4 and everything was off to a good start. The waiter was great and the food was delicious. We were looking forward to finishing off with a yummy dessert, however that never came to fruition. As we were reviewing the dessert menu, the manager (I am assuming), came over and basically made us feel guilty for even considering ordering dessert. Requested if we could pay our bill and leave because he had a reservation show up and wanted to seat them at our table. I still had a full glass of wine I was hoping to finish with my dessert. Instead I had to chug it down and leave. After that experience I will not go back. How can you treat a patron in such a way. It was a very disappointing way to end the dinner. Pros: Good food, somewhat reasonable prices for the city. Cons: Parking, service. more

This place has the greatest bloody mary in Boston. The service was friendly and accommodating; the food left a lot to be desired of. Maybe pick a dish and stick to it. The place and location is great, we'll go back but try something different. Pros: Location and decor Cons: some dishes more

I was so excited to try this new South End place. I did love the decor and that was it. The service was very slow and the place wasn't even busy. We ordered a BBQ Chicken sand and half of it was grissle. We also ordered the panzenella salad that was basically a cup of grilled vegetbles that took up 1/4 of the plate. It looked pathetic and it cost $16!!! Don't bother!! There are WAY too many amazing restaraunts in the SE. Pros: Decor Cons: Food, Price, Drinks,Cost more

Wow! I can't believe how harsh some people are but I think Pops is excellent. I have never had bad service or bad food. (Probably people who were fired from the place!) I absolutely love the decor and the staff. It is very close to home and I love the value of the upscale style food. My favorite things are the burger, they have a great new dinner salad, and the daily market fish are very creative for $20. I'm actually on my way to dinner there now. Judge for yourself...but I think Pops will do very well!!!!! Pros: great staff, value Cons: small bar more

I'm astonished by some of the other reviews and feel like we could not have been dining at the same place. I've been to POPS 4 times in the last 2 months and the place is awesome. The worst thing I can say is that it could get really smoky from the open kitchen but apparently they just closed for a week to fix that problem. To close down so soon after opening is pretty risky and I think it shows that the management/ownership at POPS really listens to their guests. And the rest of the service I have found to be refreshingly genuine which is a rareity. The food has always been so well done and so cheap! Of all the new places that have opened over the last few years, POPS is the best value by far. Pros: Food, Price, Service Cons: There's not one in the Suburbs (yet?) more

I have visited Pop's quite a few times since its opening in February and I must say that though there are still some newbie kinks to be worked out, I always find a reason to go back. Whether it's the inventive cordials, intriguing wine list, reasonably priced food or unique ambiance, something keeps bringing me back through that door. Over the past few months there have been quite a few menu improvements, so if you haven't been recently or weren't impressed before, it's worth another try or at least a quick stop to look at the menu outside. On my most recent visit last Saturday night, I tried the lamb sausage with giant white beans. It was great and something I have not seen in other restaurants and would not think to make at home. I also tasted the new cumin braised pork (which replaced the less exciting pork that another patron complained about in one of the earlier citysearch reviews). That dish was excellent and I loved the tasty black lentils that came with it. During that visit, I too was complaining about the ventilation problem, but the manager informed me the restaurant will actually be closed for a few days this week while a new hood is installed. Hopefully that will clear the air for some of the naysayers in the reviews below. Pros: Unique atmosphere, exciting (but not strange) food Cons: Parking more