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Towne Burger

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Anyone been to Towne for lunch recently? At least on the website they only mention a prix fixe menu, but can I still order a la carte? Obviously I'm after the burger...

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  1. Just go, and if they don't serve the burger, go across the street to the Pour House.

    8 Replies
    1. re: Alcachofa

      I called and the girl who answered couldn't give me a straight answer. Heading to Cafeteria instead.

      1. re: rchudy

        They couldn't answer "do you serve the burger at lunch"?? If so, they might need new FOH help.

        If you are on a burger quest, and it isn't too late you might want to try Abe & Louie's or Bukowski's.

        I am not a big fan of Cafeteria. I think it would be out of business if not for the patio business in the nice weather. I wish that space was still Miyako! We need some sushi on Newbury and everything that has gone into the space since has been crap.

        1. re: Gabatta

          no, I asked if I had to order a prix fixe meal or if I could just order an entree, say a burger, and she didn't know. then said it may be possible to order just a burger at the bar, but again, wasn't positive. Not a fan of Bukowski's, Abe and Louie's in on my list, but will have to do another time. Already settled on Cafeteria.

          1281 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

          1. re: Gabatta

            not suprised that you couldn't get a straight answer. i've never had the penchant to goto towne even though its in my neighborhood and is the brainchild of 2 very popular boston chefs, but when friends wanted to grab drinks and desserts i figure it was a good opportunity to see what all the fuss was about.

            6 of us arrive to a packed bar downstairs at 9:30. decided to goto the upstairs bar area which was more subdued. grabbed one of the empty hightops and waited for a server. 5 mins past with no acknowledgement even though they were clearly overstaffed. no problem though, ordered a round at the bar. chatted away for another 15-20 mins, still no server. took the intitative and asked one of the servers who walked past for a dessert menu. he pointed me towards the hostess stand. feeling lazy, i asked another server. jackpot, the server brought a couple menus over including the cocktail menu. after perusing the menus and deciding what to order, i stopped another server and asked if we could order. he said it wasn't his section and walked away. second try with another server, was told to order with bartender. ok, tried to put in my dessert order with bartender, who told me to wait for a server. so basically, been here for > 40 mins and we can't get any dessert! after further discussions, the bartender relented and took our order. more drinks come and then dessert appears. wait, no utensils!! borrowed some from the table next to us.

            side note, a group of 6 girls sat next to us for 10 mins and left after complaining (i overheard) that there was no server.

            shame regarding the service issues because the drinks and desserts were good. won't be back and likely won't be recommending this to anyone. maybe the dining experience would be different though.

            1. re: mgcmonkey

              One of my major pet peeves is restaurants that don't make it clear whether, when sitting at a table in the bar area, you're supposed to order at the bar or wait for a server.

              1. re: robwat36

                bartender takes orders from people sitting at bar and people who walk up. if you're sitting at a table in the bar area, then there is typically a server. at least in my experience. regardless, i asked 2 servers & a bartender and couldn't get a straight answer.

                1. re: mgcmonkey

                  I went to Towne about a month ago for dinner and they refused to serve me the lobster roll even though I saw it on their online menu an hour before showing up at the restaurant. The waiter said "sorry we have a new menu." I wasn't going to make a stink about it but at such a high profile, large scale restaurant if your on line menu offers something, you should honor the diner's request until you change the menu on line. Obviously I don't expect a smaller establishment to be able to change their website the second they change the menu but at a place like Towne, they should change the menu online at the same time they change the physical menus in the restaurant. Plus, I am sure they could have made a lobster roll.

                  1. re: Gordough

                    We had a similar experience at the Russell House Tavern, that the online menu was different from the menu we were given.
                    They could only make you a lobster roll if they still had lobster in the kitchen. Did they have lobster prepared another way on the menu?

                    Russell House Tavern
                    14 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138