Flash’s

This place is absolute dog poop.
Stopped in for a pre dinner drink with a coworker. He had a gin and tonic, I opted for a dirty vodka martini.
His drink arrived in a pint glass which, prior to any liquid being added, was filled completely with ice. There was perhaps a splash of gin and maaaaaaaaaybe an ounce of gin?
My martini was all chilled water with a slight taste of vodka toward the end. The olives, if not for their color, could have been mistaken for old, dried up raisins. They were small, stale, and unsightly.
Do yourself a favor and keep walking by this establishment. You can do better.

(score 1 – 100) — 75.
Uniqueness factor: Super sized food portions and super cheap. This is the bargain place of the back bay. 10 dollar burgers and sloppy joes!
Looking for a place to go with your group of friends that everyone can afford? This is your place… Ever hate dining out in groups because there is always one or two people that stiff the group bill? Well this is your place… why? .because the cheapo’s in your group still suck but at least the total won’t be as bad.
Food is comfort food all the way. If you are dieting or are constantly worried about the fat content, well you should probably stay away. Garlic Fries, Burgers, Fried Calamari, Chicken Wings oh my!
Location, you’ve probably driven or walked by at some point and not noticed Flashes… It’s non-​flashy from the outside but tries to be modern diner on the inside.
ONE OF THE FEW KITCHENS OPEN TILL MIDNIGHT!

I went to Flash’s for a late Wednesday night dinner with a friend. Initially, I was impressed by its ambiance as a «fancy dive bar.» Service was reasonably prompt, and I was also drawn in by the $ 1 tacos that were advertised all over the place (pork, beef, and chicken; my friend is a vegetarian and was told they couldn’t do taco substitutions). I ordered two beef and two pork tacos.
The food arrived quickly, and while the beef in the tacos tasted like it had been spooned out of a can (two stars at most, but hey, I was only paying $ 1 for each), the pork tacos were actually quite tasty (I’d say three stars). I also stole quite a few of my friend’s delicious french fries (four stars! I’m seeing a progression here).
The major downer of the night was when — halfway through our meal — we spotted a mouse running around under the tables. I know that any number of decent dining establishments in a sizeable city might have questionable sanitation practices, but the knowledge that there were mice casually scampering about in the same places that my food was being prepared and consumed was a bit too much for me, and my meal no longer tasted quite the same.
We considered pointing out the mouse to the waitress, but figured that there was nothing to be done about it. Still, I don’t think I’ll be going back to Flash’s anytime soon.

What happened to the Flash’s I used to know?
Seriously. I used to LOVE this place. LOVE it. Great food? Check. Awesome cocktails? Check. Fun atmosphere? Check. Uh… interesting art on the walls? Check.
But, my awful experience tonight at what used to be one of my favorite watering holes in all of Boston has changed. And, it all started as soon as I mozied up to the bar for an early dinner tonight.
The hipster bartender almost looked annoyed when I asked her for a menu. I could practically feel her disdain for me right off the bat for making her work. How dare I? And, it just wasn’t me she directed her bad attitude towards; she, I kid you not, rolled her eyes when a fellow patron played country music on their jukebox thingy. Now, I’m no fan of country myself, but honey, he’s a paying customer, keep the rudeness to a minimum.
I ordered a glass of wine and my meal and then was completely ignored until my food came out. Keep in mind that I was sitting at the bar, so she had to go out of her way to ignore me, too. Trying to make eye contact to ask for a glass of water was impossible.
I thought things would drastically improve once my meal arrived — the famous fried chicken sandwich, which is usually delicious, but alas, I was super disappointed once again. The chicken was unusually dry — as if it had been left in the deep fryer a tad too long. My bun was also burned. Now I know many crab-​conscious peeps forgo the bun to stay fit, but In my opinion, a bun can make or break the sandwich. And, in this case, my charred bun was just the icing on my dry chicken cake. Oh, and they also forgot my pickle, which at that point, just made me sad.

Nice chill spot after a long day at work :-)

Hands down, my a #1 favorite bar in Boston.
Cute, awesome waitresses, an internet jukebox, EXCELLENT food and lots of good different beers on tap.
The calimari was AWESOME. A must-​have. Not only is it tasty on it’s own, with the breading containing a good amount of spices, but the dipping sauce was incredible! Mayo-​y and spicy but with some real depth there too! Amazing!
Chicken wings were crisp and juicy and big. And it’s all very affordable too!
Easily the best bar around. We spent like 3 hours here just sitting and drinking and oogling that hostess. Seriously, check her out!!!

I went to Flash’s this past Saturday. The service was TERRIBLE, food was ok and I am currently in a struggle with this bar over a credit card dispute. The server changed the amount I charged on my card after I left and the restaurant will not return my calls.
Check your bank statements if you try this place out!

FLASH FOOD = comfort food in a vintage, pin-​up package.
The walls are graced by burlesque beauties,
and the popular plates are packed with high calorie happiness.
They offer salads, but the college crowd goes there for
«Drunken Tacos» «Chicken Pot Pie» or a «Meatloaf Sandwich.»
I had the MEATLOAF SANDWICH, but found it TOO GREASY.
The Texas Toast was SOAKED THROUGH with butter & oil.
The meatloaf was pan fried, or baked in a puddle beef fat,
which the bread happily sopped up completely… YUCK!
My friend had the CHICKEN & PEPPER SUB,
which came BLANKETED IN CHEESE & SAUCE.
Again, if you’re looking for comfort on a plate… you found it.
The «GARLIC FRIES» were a tasty treat to try,
especially after you’ve been drinking all night. *smile.
The COCKTAILS were memorably original & detailed.
I enjoyed my cinnamon twist on a Brazilian fave!
They have a BEEFY BEER SELECTION of microbrew too.
TIP: The front WALL OF WINDOWS OPENS UP IN SUMMER,
so you can enjoy what little Boston gets of good weather!

French Fry World Tour Stop #6
That’s right, people, we’re CROSSING THE RIVER for french fries tonight! Garlic fries, to be precise, and lots of beers. Maybe a Whiskey Smash. And a lot of the people I work with, but they’re basically cool.
As someone with, basically, perpetual garlic breath, I’m frequently disappointed by garlic fries. I give no perfect marks for garlicity unless I can smell it coming out of my pores the day after (What’s up, Middle East?) Still, though, the garlic fries at Flash’s beat the World! Famous! Gilroy! Garlic! Fries I had at an AT&T Park SF Giants game once by a mile and a half, so big ups to Flash’s!
Though you may not know it based on my reviews, I eat like a human being occasionally, and when I do, the Harrington (Greek-​ish) and Fall Harvest (squash! goat cheese!) salads are substantial and filling and in the vicinity of bargain-​hood.
A few months ago, I’d have knocked a star off for the ENORMOUS paintings of semi-​clothed women seen from behind. If I sat facing the back wall, I spent the entire meal staring at semi-​realistic lady ass, larger-​than-​life and looming above my head. Scary scary ass. The replacement art still features semi-​clothed women, but you can see their faces, which somehow makes things 85 times better inside my head.
Best Flash’s story I have: Took a colleague out to lunch on her first day back from maternity leave with her third kid. Liquid lunch. I’m guessing she wasn’t breastfeeding.

Flash’s used to be a pretty frequent destination for me. I work right across the street. It was convenient for lunch or happy hour after work with colleagues. The last year and a half saw four price increases, some classics removed from the menu, and a lot of turn over with the staff. I used to know a good number of the ladies that worked here, now I only know two. The food is delicious. It has been and it continues to be, but the personal touch of a familiar face is absent and a lunch makes a big hit to my wallet now.
Pulled pork, sloppy joes, and Rowdy’s fried chicken sandwich were all all staples for me once. The meatloaf sandwich and the steak and cheese are good (though the cheese is just a Velveta-​esque sauce) but the shredded chicken is soggy and everything is more expensive than I think it should be. Add to that one of their signature mixed drinks like a side car is $ 11 without even improving the alcohol with a better brandy.
The food here is very good but not worth the price. If you’re a (semi-)regular, you won’t build a rapport with any of the staff as they won’t be there long enough for it to matter.
If you’re having lunch on the company dime; however, this is a great place to go.

Stopped by here having some time to kill before my photography class at BCAE. What class is not better with a couple of beers in you? That’s how I got through college anyway.
It annoys me when bartenders are too busy in their own world to see new people arrive at the bar. Even if you are busy, an acknowledgement that you know I am here would keep me happy. This one walked by me at least six times before she realised I was there. She was friendly after that though.
Ordered the drunken tacos. The only thing drunken about them was the cook who made them, because they were a sloppy mess of chicken, cheese and some unknown liquid. They really should be served with a spoon, it’s that wet. The side of black beans was decent enough.
Took an age as well to get the check.

Mittelmäßiger Burger-​Laden. Fernseher hängen überall rum und die Atmosphäre ist doch arg plastikmäßig. Dazu ein brabbelnder Kellner mit Entscheidungsbaumspeisekarten. Ziemlich überfordernd, aber im Grunde auch egal. Denn schmecken tut es nicht besonders. Frische Zutaten gibt es hier nicht und echtes Kochen ist weit weg.

Hm. This place is a bit of an enigma to me. I’ll lay it out for ya.
Drinks: We stuck with beer. They had Abita (one of my favorite beer company’s) so that was great. I asked for water … twice… before I got any. But that happens, so that’s ok.
Food: We ordered the Mac’n’Cheese with bacon and told them we’d split it. They went so far as to bring it out for us in separate bowls which was super thoughtful. Two thumbs up for the Mac — it was ooey gooey cheesy and I could have easily eaten both bowls on my own.
We also had the loaded cheese fries. I consider myself a cheese fries fanatic and I like it when the fries stay crispy and hold up under the weight of the toppings (which is why waffle fries are the best fry to use, but that’s besides the point). The fries were like Burger King style (the crispy fried outside) — and that’s not a bad thing. I think we would have eaten more had we not filled up on the Mac first. Oh — that’s another thing… our entrée came out before our appetizer?
Atmosphere: Everyone is really friendly… but I was confused at the attire worn by the waitresses. It was very ecclectic… I even saw a girl with a black tutu on and a feather in her hair like a cancan dancer. Is that just her? Or is that what they’re going for? I don’t know… confooosed.
A chill place to grab a drink after work.

This place has a solid burger. Their garlic fries are warm and flavorful.
I’ve been here a few times. Haven’t tried a cocktail yet, but the beer on draft is nice and warm.
The wings are dry and not worth the price.
Overall, the service is pretty decent, especially at the bar.
The last time I went was on a recent rainy day. I had a cough and asked for a glass of warm water and lemon. The bartender was so sweet and gave me a glass of warm water, lemon, and honey too. It made my day.

It was extra bitter cold. I was tired. And I needed a spot to meet an old friend for cocktails and a quick bite. Flash’s happened to be around the corner from the Back Bay Hotel and it was both concierge and Unilocal recommended.
Done and done!
Nothing on the beer list grabbed me, so I ordered a Dark and Stormy. Except this looked more like a Long Island Iced Tea. It was huge (I don’t exaggerate) and filled with crushed ice and topped with about a ¹⁄₃ of a bottle of dark rum. I’m always rooting for a cocktail’s dark horse (the liquor) to dominate its non-​alcoholic counterparts, but this was actually too much. I was murdered!
So then we drank some more. And I had the Baja pulled chicken sandwich. The menu reads «pulled spicy chicken served with pico de gallo, lettuce, and blended cheese on a soft, warm flatbread with a side of grilled pepper mayo.» In my Dark and Stormy haze, I failed to question what constitutes blended cheese… then again, I always found it strange when I lived in MA that most everyone considered American cheese the end all be all. As it turned out, «blended cheese» is simply shredded cheese you’d find in a bag. And the grilled pepper mayo I misread as garlic pepper mayo (I’m telling you, that Dark and Stormy made me remember English isn’t my first language). I’ll cut out the fanfare: The sandwich was okay. Would I order it again? No, I think I could do better.
Our server was really on it as she made sure our glasses were always full and sold us on two more rounds like a broker out of Boiler Room. I mean, I surely didn’t need another, nor did I even really like my drink… like ice to an eskimo, baby.
A relaxed (read: quiet) spot for drinks on a Sunday night. But if you’re looking for action, it’s not here.

I was looking for somewhere nearby Whiskey Park to get a quick bite to eat and a cocktail, and I landed at Flash’s. I am beyond happy I did.
I took a seat at the bar, though there were plenty of small tables where I would have felt completely fine dining alone. However, my spot at the bar proved to be a great choice. I had the nicest bartender (and she was so cute and had such a funky outfit on) and was treated like a goddess!
I was a little nervous to try the mac and cheese based on a previous reviewer’s complete distaste for hers, but I thought it was really good! Not the best mac and cheese I’d ever had, but it certainly hit the spot. I loved that it came with croutons on top. What a ridiculously good idea! I have no idea why I never thought of that before, but I will definitely make mac and cheese with croutons at some point soon.
I tried the Pixie Punch, which was strong and delicious. The drink menu had a lot of items that are on my short list to try. I am looking very forward to returning to Flash’s, again and again. The atmosphere can’t be beat, and the entire vibe of the place is just happy and carefree and wonderful!

WINNER! We walked here on Sunday at lunch from our hotel and realized it didn’t open until 5pm on Sundays! The chicken wings and brie sandwich sounded so enticing, we walked here again at dinner right before our flight to get some delicious wings. IT WAS WELL WORTH IT!
If you get the wings and sauces on the side, it’s freakin’ delicious that way. The buffalo sauce is great, I wasn’t a fan of the jack daniel bbq sauce one. They give you all 3 sauces on the side if you want, and plus their HOME MADE RANCH! WINNER!!!
Their garlic fries were delicious and get a UFO beer to go with these delicious wings. They don’t make the grilled brie sandwich anymore, but just come here and order 5 orders of wings. I LOVE EM! They’re big, crispy skin, and just wonderful. One of my favorite wing places! Thank you Boston!

Not sure how I feel about Flash’s… been here twice. One time was much better than the other more recent time.
One thing is for sure… garlic fries are yummy here!

I wouldn’t tell my worst enemy to eat here. Actually, that’s not true. I would DEFINITELY tell my worst enemy to eat here.
I went here with a friend for some cocktails and some appetizers. The whole experience was bizarre.
It looks like it would be a fun place to bring a group of friends, and by friends I mean work people that you don’t really like, or again, that worst enemy that you’ve been dying to poison.
My friend and I both LOVE macaroni and cheese and this stuff was beyond gross. I am pretty sure it was boiled macaroni with some velveeta and some parmesan cheese mixed in. I don’t know, maybe some people like that stuff.
We had read online that the drinks were strong… they weren’t. I got a fruity nonsense drink at first and decided to change it up for my second. I ordered a gin martini that had water in it. Yup. H2muthafuckin0. I politely sent it back and asked for a gin martini with… wait for it… GIN and the bartender was happy to oblige.
Little did I know that he was happy to oblige because he served me my next drink in a glass that had been sitting in a pile of garbage or animal feces or something. It was the special «asshole» glass, I could tell.
Long story sort of short, I got pretty horrendous food poisoning and I’m positive that it was from the asshole glass.
Don’t go here unless you are poisoning that enemy of yours.

I took my cousin out here for her 21^st birthday for drinks… and we ordered the Diablo Fries for some munchies… after that time, we would come back just for the fries… I don’t think we’ve eaten anything else there lol.
DIABLOOOO FRIESSS, bombbbb!

What a fun place. Went with a friend on a quiet, frigid weekday evening and we walked in to a warm space with a fantastic cocktail menu. I got the winter sangria, which was delicious but POTENT – after one and a half i was pretty much in the bag. Also got the steak tips, which was a perfect portion with delicious mashed potatoes and gravy. The only drawback is that I ordered my tips medium and they ran the gamut from well done to rare depending on the size. So that was disappointing, but they were well seasoned and tasted great.
My friend had a Singapore Sling and the Rowdy’s chicken sandwich. The drink is a hangover waiting to happen, because the yummy fruitiness completely disguises the insane amounts of booze. My friend said the sandwich was DELICIOUS – it was certainly enormous – a project to finish.
Service was friendly and great, and our server made several great recommendations. The cocktail list is entertaining in and of itself, with fun narratives to go along with sassy drinks.
Loved the atmosphere in this place too… all around a solid 4 stars. Will definitely be back for potent drinks and comfort food!