Savory Tastes Cafe

Went to this place twice. Once for a Harpoon beer dinner (nice idea, wish the food had been much better) and once for a regular evening (were taken by friends in the neighborhood). I can't say I'd like to go back. Place was pleasant, though a bit dated in the decor department. The quality of the food was uneven and sauces were the weak point. Less fussy grill items better> Soggy fries with the steak/frites plate and a sneer when one of us inquired about a substituting a vegetable for a starch, made this less than fantastic evening. Beer dinner had some very weird, bitter skinless, boneless chicken cooked in beer accompanied by a hockey puck of a sweet potato souffle. Return visit, quite a long time later, was a bit better, but not as good as the prices seem to reflect. Why does this simple neighborhood bistro think it's entrees are worth $20+? more

I wish this place were better! The location is handy, its cozy and the owner seems so nice, but the food is inconsistent and somewhat overpriced. Grilled things were best, anything with a sauce is chancy. We had 4 people in our group. Two had salads, two had soups. The salads were ice cold and a little wilted. The soups were OK. Bread was a bit stale. Steak and scallops were quite good, sides were passable. Vegetarian dish wasn't great. Desserts definitely not homemade. Creme brulee was watery. Wine list was good, but expensive. Pros: Location, comfortable place Cons: overpriced, inconsistent food more

Last summer I ran into the owner of Savory Tastes while taking a walk. We struck up a conversation and I decided to stop in for supper some time. Last night I took my family there and left very disappointed. Pros: Good portion size; Complementary blue-cheese/red onion appetizers Cons: Food is not worth the price. Very expensive wine (go to the Wine Shop across the street for the good stuff, cheap!) more

The Service is all right if you like the Owner talking to you while your $30.00 entree gets cold. Every time I have ever been in the place, it is half full and I'm always asked whether I have a reservation. The food is average, the menu is geared toward elite foodies and the prices a little on the high side. Pros: Free blue cheese tart Cons: Owner talking to patrons as they eat more

This restaurant was an extreme disappointment to us all. Thinking that we could avoid the Boston congestion with the Head of the Charles happening, we decided to finally try this place in Reading with the fantastic sounding menu. How deceiving! Ordering from every course, we all were given the opportunity to taste a little bit of everything...and not one bite was savory. The seafood martini appetizer would have tasted better (not to mention less fishy) if a scoop of seafood salad from the grocery store was placed in the glass. The fish and sweet potato soup was basically fish boiled in water, pureed, and added to pureed sweet potato...No salt, no seasoning. Awful. The main courses were very disappointing, with the seafood all overcooked. There was no balance in the meals...either saturated with too much of one type of flavor (i.e. the scampi was just sour), or no flavor at all. We didn't even dare stay for dessert. The meal ended up coming to well over $200 for just three people (only one of the less expensive bottles of wine). We thought the atmosphere was ok...loud, but friendly...and the chef very pleasant...though boastful about his training in Paris (French equivalent of ""How to Boil Water"" perhaps??). Please do yourselves a favor and spend the money at a tried and true restaurant in Boston, where the food will truly be that which you can savor. Pros: Friendly waitstaff, chef. Cons: NOT AT ALL WORTH THE MONEY. more

Savory Tastes has quickly become a Northwest suburban favorite, with recently added live music on Tuesday & Wednesday evenings. Locals often know one and other and enjoy the comfortable & friendly atmosphere coupled with the fresh seasonally changing menus. Also Savory Tastes has monthly theme dinners that consistently sell out! Food is consistently great quality & selection. Pros: Menu Variety, Wine List, Relaxed Atmosphere Cons: Need Reservation more