Highland Kitchen

I enjoyed my shrimp and grits. Had never actually had a shrimp and grits entrée so wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. The dirty bird was subpar, the sausage dipped in the sauce surrounding the biscuit sandwich was on the peppery and dense side. The chicken was somewhat undercooked too. However, the food came out within 10 minutes which is great if you have other plans on a Sunday morning. The servers were consistently cleaning and setting up tables so there was a wait of less than 2 minutes so that’s a plus.
Beware: the portions are quite small and there’s a limited menu on Sundays so if you’d like more options don’t go for brunch. Decent place to go out with a friend or two. Service is great, seating is fast, portions are small, menu is on the smaller side on a Sunday. Pick and chose your battles carefully.

Great fresh food, intimate setting for couples dinner. Tried the bread pudding for dessert, was FABULOUS. Portions are not too big, so you can have plenty of room for appetizers, desserts if you’d like.

Unbefriggenlievable! This establishment is an absolute must try. Thank you Unilocalers for all of the recommendations and tips.
We went for Sunday brunch on Mother’s day and everything we had was impressive. Where else can you get beignets outside of New Orleans?

Fine kitchen. Solid knowledgeable bar staff. I’m a big fan. A great place for an unpretentious solid meal and cocktail during the week. Brunch is very strong but very popular so come early. Moderately priced so it can become a habit when in Somerville. Very casual. Highly recommended.

Bang’NNN right on. This food we love.
Recommendation. Read this review at 10:20 as they open at 11:00. First in line and enjoy.
Drink: Bloody Mary is sooo good but order two to make sure u know it’s good.
Meals: from our images u can see the goods.
But hot damn this place has it going on.

Honestly, if you’ve never been to highland kitchen, you’re an idiot. The food is ALWAYS on point. Everything I’ve ever had there, is beyond delicious.
In my personal opinion, the Gordita appetizer is the most underrated thing on the menu.

We were a group of 6 that came in for a Sunday brunch. Even though we called in advance for a reservation — this place gets busy and you won’t be seated till everyone from your party gets there. Also a line starts forming 10:30 AM onwards so make sure you and your group gets in by then before the place opens at 11 AM. I tried the mans ruin, dirty bird and shrimp and gritz (really wanted to try the goat stew but they only have that on the dinner menu). For the omlettes you get a choice of gritz or home cooked fries (go for the fries). Service was relatively quick and we were out by noon. It’s a little loud and noisy and quite packed but other than that a great brunch place for largish groups!

I chose the Highland Kitchen for my husbands birthday dinner. The wait was a little long but the staff were extremely friendly. Drinks came out super quick and when we got our table the food was served fast and perfectly. The burger was excellent. Would definitely go back for a date night.

Came here with a friend for dinner and was surprised with the atmosphere, menu options, and the packed crowd of this unsuspecting place. I’m a west coast girl, and up to this point had not found that the food in the Boston area held up to what I’m accustomed to.
The ricotta fritters, buffalo brussel sprouts, Bolognese, and bread pudding were all nothing short of amazing. Joe, the owner, is the man. He will give you all the best recommendations across the whole menu, and in our case a few Star Wars jokes as well.
Go here because Highland Kitchen delivers!
(If your not keen on a wait, you can always order pick up!)
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Went here with a friend to grab a bite to eat for dinner on a Friday night. Not surprisingly, we had to put down our name and waited about an hour to be seated.
We were pretty hungry so we decided to split several dishes:
Deviled eggs (5 stars): These were a great take on a classic and were super fresh. Great start to the meal and nice flavor with the green onion on top.
Asparagus and leek soup (4 stars): The soup had a great flavor, with a stronger presence from the asparagus. Also a decent portion size as well.
Cuban Reuben (4 stars): This sandwich was huge and came with salad – which was a total bargain for just over $ 10. The meat was piled high and paired well with the pickles and sauerkraut.
Spicy goat stew (5 stars): Wow – this dish was impressive. Though it was not as spicy as I was imagining, all of the flavors came together so well. The stew, the goat, the veggies, the rice, the plantains – all of it was scrumptious. The spice definitely builds as you go and this was also a pretty good sized dish as well.
Banana bread pudding (5 stars): This was the perfect culmination to the meal. It wasn’t too big and had the perfect amount of sweetness. Though there was not much texture, I did not mind as the bread pudding was so moist and flavorful and paired nicely with the caramel and vanilla ice cream. Definitely a must if you can find some room for dessert.
I also ordered a house-​made ginger beer that was probably one of the most intense ginger beers that I’ve ever had. Nevertheless, it was quite enjoyable and a bargain at only $ 3.50.
Overall, our meal here was excellent and to get out of here with a bill less than $ 60 is incredible. This place serves up some tasty dishes and most are reasonably priced. In addition, our waiter is one of the best I’ve had as he was the perfect mix of attentive, yet aloof. Definitely worth checking out if you don’t mind a little bit of a wait – as it does get crazy crowded inside (especially on weekend nights).

After waiting for about an hour, we finally snagged a table. Even waiting at the bar was painful because the small bar was packed like can of sardines. Imagine trying to balance a cocktail in one hand, your bag in the other hand, while having a million people walk past you.
Anyways, we started off with the beignets. They were extremely light and fluffy, and covered with sugar. They were delicious.
Then for my main, I had the dirty bird. Highland Kitchen is famous for its Dirty Bird– fried chicken, fried bacon, fried egg and sausage gravy on a biscuit. Notice how many times I had to say the word FRIED. That’s ok, I like fried food.
The fried chicken was perfectly crispy and the biscuit was amazing. The sausage gravy was delicious.
Overall, delicious brunch. Just didn’t enjoy the wait.

Why, oh why did I move so close to Highland Kitchen?
Drinks: The Bee Hive is my favorite drink in all of the Boston Area. Seriously. Get one. I’ve sampled some of their other drinks, which are great, but always come back to the Bee Hive.
Food: Get the buffalo fried brussel sprouts (although why do the portions seem to be getting smaller??). You’re welcome. The burger. My mouth is watering just typing this. Always cooked perfectly. Try some different assortments. My favorite is with bleu cheese, bacon, and a side of BBQ sauce. To be honest I haven’t branched out much from the burger!
Service: The servers seem to be consistent which is nice. I think I’ve had them all, and they’ve all been wonderful. Attentive, but not overly so.
–1 star for no reservations! No matter what night I come on, there is ALWAYS a 30 – 45 min wait. So there are always groups of people surrounding the bar, which makes eating at the bar uncomfortable, and also for the two tables facing the bar. Getting a drink is also difficult while waiting due to the overcrowding of the bar area. If you have time, wait. If not… like on my birthday night =[ =[ …you might have to leave and go elsewhere.

«Do you believe in life after brunch?» Cher once contemplated, melodiously.*
She did so for good reason: Sunday brunch, especially that at Highland, could be life’s apex, though I suppose that’s dependent on what the rest of your life is like. Here, hangover-​friendly delights both fresh and fried abound. The tender, piping-​hot beignets bring back fond memories of sugar-​covered fried dough at the county fair, except these are (somehow?) better. The huevos rancheros are fried perfectly and draped over a bed of flavorful rice, beans, and tortillas. The pancakes, which come drizzled in fresh fruit, are fluffy and light with a subtle hint of lemon. Real maple syrup is provided, because this is New England, dammit.
Even the toast is good! It’s hearty and distinctively crunchy, with just the right amount of butter. If the toast is memorable, they must be doing something right.
I’ve been here for dinner as well, and the food is tasty, well-​priced, and unpretentious (always a plus here in Somerville). The buffalo Brussels sprouts are a must-​try, and the pulled pork is damn good. I haven’t sampled anything off their ample beer list or cocktail selection, though knowing it’s there gives me comfort on behalf of fellow patrons, seeing as this is a hot first-​date spot.
One thing to note, whether you’re coming for brunch or dinner, is how busy this place gets. My friend and I arrived at 11:08– they open at 11– and had to wait an hour to get seated for brunch. Come on the earlier side for dinner if you can, or expect to wait as well. There are no reservations. And while service is friendly and efficient, the hustle and bustle means you probably won’t become BFFs with your server the first time you come in.
*That is what Cher said, right?

Yum! This place is pretty popular — and for good reason. So expect to wait if you come here on a weekend. I arrived for Sunday brunch around 12:45PM and was told it would be a 45 – 60 minute wait but it only took 20 minutes to be seated. All staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The restaurant is a cozy size and there is also a separate bar area available.
Now onto the food… We shared the buttermilk pancakes and they were AMAZING. Very moist and fluffy on the inside and just slightly crispy on the outside. We also has the Dirty Bird, Asparagus & Mushroom Omelette, and Smoked Pork Hash and it was all incredibly delicious. If you’re a fan of pulled pork, you’ll like the Smoked Pork Hash. I definitely recommend this place.

Somerville at it’s finest. They have a nice beer list, and I like the general vibe inside — menu/​specials boards painted on the walls, or in funky magnetic letters. Murals. Tables in all sorts of nooks and crannies. Hipster staff.
The food is hit/​miss for me, though. We had some great items, some good items, and some I would pass by. I think the menu features different nightly specials, so it might change based on when you go in — which I like!
Apps: The ricotta fritters were just ok, while the buffalo sprouts were tasty (as anything would be, drowned in buffalo sauce and served with blue cheese). I could have done with a bigger portion.
Mains: My friend got the veggie burger, which actually looked amazing AND was a repeat order for her. Going to go ahead and say that one was a win. My husband had a fish special that came with veggies and green goddess sauce — VERY good. I ordered the sea scallop appetizer as my main, which was definitely good as well. Unfortunately the deviled eggs I ordered as a side were not very good — we actually left two of them on the plate. Something about the texture was kind of dry and pasty, and the flavor — while mild — was a bit off, as well.
I’m not a picky person about my wine, but the wine I ordered was just not good. I took one sip and abandoned it — the server never mentioned or noticed. Generally, the service felt kind of «lasseiz-​faire» and we were left to our own devices for more of the meal (without water refills). Our server and the table runners were pleasant when they did visit the table.
Though there are some things that can be improved, this is definitely a spot I would recommend for a date, catching up with friends, trivia night … etc. I know I’ll be back to give it another chance!

Really wanted to like this place but didn’t… From the glowing reviews on Unilocal to the ridiculous queue before this place even opens, I expected much more. We ordered the hush puppies as appetizers which were really average and overpriced. We got the dirty bird and the shrimps and grits for main course. The dirty bird was okay, but I’ve had better, and the shrimps and grits were just not good; the consistency and flavors just did not mix well together. This would be a two star rating but I give it an extra star for the live music during brunch.

A neighborhood gem.
Highland kitchen is always busy. Sunday Brunch, Tuesday evenings, it doesn’t matter, the restaurant is always buzzing. I have gotten lucky a few times and have gotten a table instantly, but long waits are common.
Why is Highland so popular? Quite simply, it is the food. The menu features interesting and enticing New American and some fusion dishes. Choosing what to get is always tough because there are so many good options. On the fusion side, their baby octopus and papaya Thai-​style salad might be the best papaya salad I’ve tried. The octopus was tender and the flavors well-​balanced. The Central American style empanadas were also good. They have been really good at capturing the authentic flavor profiles. A dish that really impressed me were the cheese fritters. They were crispy and light and there was a palpable refinement and finesse in both the recipe and execution.
I have also been happy with the main courses. Their famous fried chicken was very tasty. The seasoning was good and the breading was crispy. The dish was a bit shy of perfection. The breast was a bit dry while the dark meat was very juicy. The muffin was very dry and heavy. That said, I still recommend the dish. I appreciate that portions are generous and that many of these main courses can be easily shared. I also enjoyed their chicken-​fried pork chop. Tasty, filling, juicy, and served with some tasty American greens on the side.
I am already a huge fan of Highland Kitchen and I haven’t even tried the brunch. As a Somerville resident my goal is to try every single item on the menu.

SOUL FOOD BRUNCH
Highland Kitchen is one of the few restaurants in greater Boston that provide really great soul food! The restaurant is split between a bar with open space for waiting reservations and the dining area, where in the corner you will hear live music.
food:
+ BEIGNETS: I was very hesitant to get this appetizer because I haven’t had a good beignet in Boston, but these are worth it! At $ 5, you get five beignets dusted in powdered sugar. The outside doesn’t look amazing, but once you bite into it, you get a doughy and moist texture that almost makes it feel like there is cream inside. It’s that soft! They are not overly fried or sweet, so they are the perfect starter.
+ DIRTY BIRD: This is what they’re famous for, so we had to try it. Fried chicken, bacon, and fried egg sandwiched between buttermilk biscuits and swimming in a sausage gravy, this sounds like a heart attack. But it really wasn’t too heavy and didn’t make us hate ourselves after. The sandwich is small enough that it is the perfect size, and the gravy accompanies the sandwich so that you can really add as much as you need to each bite. The fried chicken was perfectly breaded, not too heavy, and the biscuits were super crunchy so that it didn’t get soggy after you ate it with the gravy.
+ BUTTERMILK PANCAKES: This dish is enormous. It comes with 3 pancakes, but each pancake is the size of my entire head. They are crunchy along the edges, but soft in the middle. They have perfected these pancakes!
Their orange juice really is freshly squeezed (this is a huge deal for me). Therefore, there is pulp in their OJ. If you aren’t okay with this, don’t order it. The MIMOSAS were so good! I loved the pulp at the bottom of my glass when I had my last sip.
tips:
* No reservations available. First come, first serve. If you see a line out the door, this is simply the line to put your name down at the hostess stand.
* Come to the restaurant around 10:30 AM to be in the first wave of seating for weekend brunch. Otherwise, you are looking at a 1 hour wait after 11:00 AM.
* Groups of 4 are better accommodated over groups of 2, since there are more four-​top tables throughout the dining area.
Service was amazing. Once we were seated, we were out within 30 – 40 minutes. They were sure to refill our waters, see if we wanted a refill on our OJ, and cleared our table within seconds of finishing.

With a busy work and school schedule, I’m finally able to indulge into my favorite activities: trying new food, good company, and Unilocaling.
We were able to try Highland Kitchen on Halloween night with a party of 7 people. We arrived at around 8pm and had to wait about 30 minutes, which actually wasn’t so bad, considering we were a larger party. We all got a drink at the bar, stood around, and were able to do some people watching, which is another favorite activity of mine. People were hanging around decked out in costumes, which I learned was for a costume contest. All the wait staff were dressed in costume too, which provided a cool, fun vibe.
There is a separate beer and cocktail menu, a special menu (written both on chalkboard wall and handed to you on a sheet of paper), and the dinner menu which was super appealing. The boyfriend and I ended up sharing the Spicy Coconut Curried Goat Stew ($ 18.95) which came with jasmine rice & fried sweet plantains, the special of the day which was a Grilled and Braised Short Rib over cheesy polenta, garlicy greens, and a cranberry mostarda ($ 20.95). The flavors of both dishes were excellent: the short rib melted completely off the bone and the cranberry mostarda was like the icing on the cake. The goat stew is something everyone has raved about, and we were not disappointed: It had rich flavors and tasted as if it were cooked for hours.
We were so impressed with the main courses that we decided to order the Warm Banana Bread Pudding ($ 7, with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce) for dessert. The sauce was delicious but there was a lot of it; also, the vanilla ice cream melted against the warmth of the pudding, creating a soupy like mixture at the bottom of the bowl. Either you love it or you hate it: I actually didn’t mind too much. FYI, if you do want more ice cream, they charge $ 2 per scoop.
In reality, I’d probably downgrade the 4 stars to 3 and half for a few reasons: It’s super loud in Highland Kitchen, making it impossible to flag down our waitress when two people in our party were missing their dessert. That hiccup which happened toward the end of our meal, left a slightly sour impression on the group, but I’ll give the benefit of the doubt and upgrade the review to a 4.

This place is poppin! Surprised it took me so long to come here because I’ve heard great things. Grabbed dinner and drinks with a friend on a Saturday night – the wait for 2 was about 20 min which isn’t too bad when you can grab a drink. Decent selection of beer and wine, with fun mixed drinks as well.
Started with a half dozen oysters that came with a delicious mignonette. Super fresh and delicious. Loooove oysters so I was so happy. Entrees were tagliatelle bolognese for me and a petit filet steak for my friend. I liked the tagliatelle bolognese buuut it was super salty. A lot of the umami in the bolognese was lost because all you got was salt. But as I’ve said before I love salt so I still enjoyed it. My friend seemed to like the steak he got though!
Overall pretty good. Has the casual and inviting bar vibe which is nice. Waitress wasn’t very attentive though, took ~15 min to order food even. Also it is REALLY loud, so it’s tough to hold a conversation without yelling. I get louder when I drink so I guess that works.

huevos