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617-627-9000
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1153 Broadway (at Teele Square), Somerville, Massachusetts, USA, 02144
Contemporary vegan cuisine and drinks in a upscale atmosphere, near Redline Davis Square. Offers gluten-free and nut-free menus as well, and brunch is served on weekends. Day prices are moderate, dinner more expensive. Open Wed-Thu 5:00pm-9:00pm, Fri-Sat 5:00pm-10:00pm, Sat-Sun 10:00am-3:00pm, Sun 5:00pm-9:00pm.
Category: Vegan, American, International, Beer/Wine, Take-out, Fusion
Reviews (36)
First Review by andrea
Contributions +28
delicious!!! - Edit
Great place for a nice dinner or date. Good ambiance, staff was very friendly and helpful. They were able to squeeze us in even though there were no reservations available. Food was fantastic! Had the ravioli, spaghetti and special (fettuccine).
Contributions +21
always on point - Edit
amazing food always, often new menu items too. white chocolate raspberry dessert is FANTASTIC. great staff, especially the older guy near the door, i dont know if hes the owner but we had to wait for a table and he cracked me up the whole time we waited! a favorite date night spot for sure.
Pros: amazing food, great atmosphere, good service
Contributions +18
delicious! - Edit
Crepes, tofu scramble and Biscuits with gravy are amazing!!!!
Contributions +19
World Class Vegan Restaurant - Edit
We love True Bistro, it is a world class vegan restaurant. The food is spectacular. Menu changes seasonally. Tonight I'm going in and enjoying stuffed zucchini blossoms stuffed with delish cashew cream, the strawberry cheezcake is a big hit, the cauliflower croquette is marvelous, the soba noodle and tempura is great having that tonight, as are the seitan skewers which I had last week, french fries, roasted beet & fennel salad, and the Green curry dish. Everything is great-you cannot go wrong here. Nice atmosphere and romantic. Easy street parking. Wonderful staff too.
Pros: World Class Vegan Food with lovely setting, Some dishes organic, non smoking, artful presentat, Delish seasonal changing menu, sweet staff
Cons: None, They have not opened another restaurant in my town, No reservations for brunch
Contributions +42
Best non ethnic vegan restaurant in greater Boston - Edit
True Bistro is a true gem. While some may find the menu pricey, the food is worth every penny. This is a vegan version of a gourmet restaurant and the food easily holds its own. If you are looking for a place to take a skeptical non-vegan, True Bistro is the answer. You will spend the meal listening to exclamations of 'I can't believe this is vegan!', while savoring one of the best meals you've ever had. The menu changes regularly, so I won't list favorite dishes, but my family and I have been many times and have yet to have even a bite that was less than excellent. In addition, the weekend brunch is also fantastic.
Contributions +20
Worth the cost - Edit
Friends who appreciate that my wife and I are vegan introduced us to True Bistro where we enjoyed a wonderful selection of distinctive and delicious dishes. The service was impeccable, friendly, but not cloying. The ambiance of the room was cozy, open, and not noisy. The location to Davis Square and the Somerville Theater is a short, convenient walk.
We will return again when we are in town.
Pros: Variety of dishes, Size of portions, Service
Cons: The price makes dining here a special occasion, ra
Contributions +26
Upscale vegan dining - the only one around! - Edit
True Bistro is worth the drive for the only upscale vegan option in the Boston area. The menu is varied and the food delicious! My favorite is a phyllo wrapped dish, and a few weeks ago my husband and I shared a warm pecan pie dessert that was divine. The staff is attentive. Although the menu, and pricing, is "upscale", the restaurant is small and noisy, with the tables packed together.
Pros: Excellent menu, Gourmet dishes, Luscious warm desserts
Cons: Small and noisy, Tables packed together
Contributions +20
Always Terrific - Edit
I've been going to True for years and never disappointed! Great dishes, good selection, always fresh and imaginative. Brunch on weekends is also great!
Pros: everything
Cons: none
Contributions +40
Great place - Edit
Cozy, chic and absolutely delicious! Loved it and so did our 3 teenage sons!
Contributions +49
Yummy Sunday Brunch - Edit
This is a great eatery. We stopped in on as we travelled through the area. The Tofu Benedict was fantastic and included a lemony sauce on top of a stylish savory biscuit. The dish included a side salad and an order of home fries. The wait staff was very friendly. We will be back!!
Updated from previous review on Sunday November 08, 2015
Pros: Great food choices
Contributions +87
amazing - Edit
Obviously expensive, this is such a great date night / treat yourself restaurant.
Not from Boston, this was one of the few places I knew I needed to visit when I went.
Two drinks, two appetizers, two entrees and two desserts for about 100$.
The owner is amazing and very kind.
The food is worth the money. It's inspired, creative, and very very tasty. You should go here if you can afford it and support and incredible vegan restaurant.
Contributions +23
Wonderful! - Edit
I love this place and wish I could go there more. The food is lovingly prepared and beautifully presented. As a vegan business owner, I appreciate that True Bistro is completly vegan. Thanks Stuart and gang for not compromising, preparing vegan food that all people like, not just vegans, and raising the bar on what vegan food can be.
Contributions +22
outstanding! - Edit
This place is a truly wonderful gem in Somerville. The cashew chèvre is to die for! My husband and I visited for valentines day and can't wait to go back. Excellent service, excellent food, excellent atmosphere. You must eat here!
Contributions +121
OK - Edit
I visited for my birthday with a few friends. I was excited as this is the only upscale vegan restaurant in the Boston area. The place was nice enough, and the waiter was even nice enough to bring over a free dessert with a candle for me.
What I was bummed about was the food. It just wasn't that great, no one really enjoyed their meal.
Pros: Upscale
Cons: Food
Contributions +9
Bait and switch. Management lacks integrity. - Edit
Do not trust True Bistro. Management does not honor promotions. See details below and on tripadvisor and yelp.
Pros: None. Don't eat here.
Cons: My wife and I arrived at True Bistro because we re
Contributions +112
really great, fine food - Edit
Excellent, upscale food and drink. Nice atmosphere, attentive service, owner present as host. Food was all sensitively seasoned, the wilted spinach salad really stood out. Good basic menu options, customized for individual needs. Craft beers, vegan wine options, hard liquor--all seemed good. The desserts were vegan and super yummy. A bit pricey, but all top quality. May be the best vegan place in Boston.
Pros: creative menu, excellent quality food, great service
Cons: slightly pricey
Contributions +14
Wish I'd come sooner! - Edit
I received a couple of gift cards to True Bistro over a year ago and finally made the drive to Somerville to give it a try. LOVED IT! The atmosphere is upscale, the wait staff was friendly and attentive, most importantly the food was fabulous. My husband and I shared the Baked Apple Salad and Wilted Spinach salad, both fabulous. I had the house-made fettuccini w/arugula pesto and he had the Vietnamese crepe. To be honest, neither of us particularly liked the crepe (I'm not a big mushroom fan) but everything else was just great. Don't miss the Death by Chocolate cake for dessert, which I enjoyed with a nice red wine. We went in shortly before 6 on a Saturday and were immediately seated. Had we been 45 minutes later we would have had to wait a bit. They do take reservations, but all were taken when we called, so we took our chances and it worked out. Also, be warned that True Bistro is on the expensive side. Between us we had 2 salads, 2 "large plate" entrees, 2 desserts, 1 coffee, and 3 glasses of wine and the bill was about $130 including tip. This will be our "special occasion" place (at least when it's my pick, I'm vegan, my husband it not ). Enjoy!
Pros: Upscale, Excellent Food, Great service
Cons: Expensive, Not near home (45 minutes for us)
Contributions +44
Wonderful! - Edit
Great ambiance with amazing food and good music!
The food was very artistic and extremely tasty! Every bite gave as a sense of enjoyment.
Thank you!!
Contributions +20
My Favorite - Edit
LOVE True Bistro. It is upscale yet casual. The service is amazing. You literally feel like royalty when dinning there, yet feel comfortable and relaxed. You never feel rushed. The food is amazing! I highly recommend the Wilted Spinach Salad and Death By Chocolate for desert! I have tried almost all the entries and have loved everyone of them. My favorite, however, is the Vietnamese Crepe. 100% vegan. We go for celebrations and special occasions.
Pros: Wonderful atmosphere, great service, Best food in the Boston area
Cons: pricey
Contributions +566
The best restaurant in Boston - Edit
I'm so glad Boston has such a wonderful vegan restaurant. The food is delicious. The owner and staff are very kind. It's only a shame there weren't enough customers at lunch so they can't be open for lunch anymore.
Contributions +289
The Best Vegan Dinner Options Around - Edit
I was a very happy vegan after my visit to True Bistro. The only complaint was that the portions are rather small for their price, but then again I kind of eat a lot so it might just be me. Their cheesecakes are amazing.
Contributions +348
Best in Boston - Edit
Now that Peace o' Pie has closed, I have no internal conflict about declaring True hands-down the best vegan restaurant in Boston. I've been here dozens of times, often with my non-vegan girlfriend and we both enjoy it, especially brunch.
The atmosphere is very nice here, like an upscale restaurant with candles at night and fresh flowers, with white/gray/black decor and (white-washed) brick walls featuring local artists' work. The food is relatively fancy, small portions with nice presentation/color. For dinner, I favor the phyllo purse and house-made pasta (currently fettucini) and strawberry rhubarb cobbler for dessert (though all their desserts I've tried were great). For brunch, I favor the tofu scramble with onions, peppers and seitan sausage (though I also like the waffles, crepes and coffee cake). For sides, I often get their salads or excellent french-fries.
One thing that sets this place apart from the other vegan restaurants in Boston is their extensive drink menu (they serve alcohol!), with vegan-verified wines, so if you like to drink with dinner (or brunch), this is your best bet.
A con is their limited menu, which doesn't change very often. Compared to say Red Lentil, which is lacto-ovo vegetarian, they both have about the same number of vegan options. However, the choices they have are good and I have some hope that they'll change things up more in the future (now that they're fairly well established).
As with almost every vegan place I've been to (except a few in California), they're on the small side and since they're popular, it can get crowded and you may have to wait on occasion, but for a party of 2, I've seldom had to wait more than 10 minutes (and usually not at all). Friday and Saturday nights are their most crowded time, you should expect some waiting then.
Pros: delicious (& fancy) food, friendly staff, nice atmosphere
Cons: limited menu, may have to wait during peak times
Contributions +18
Worth it! - Edit
I can already see we'll be going back to True Bistro a LOT. Tonight we enjoyed:
1) Leek tart-->completely amazing
2) Cornmeal-crusted oyster mushrooms-->quite good
3) Roasted winter squash-->quite good
4) Phyllo triangles-->incredibly, unbelievably amazing
Can't wait to try the rest of their menu soon!
Pros: great taste, creative combinations, pleasant atmosphere
Contributions +33
1 True Bistro is a wonderful experience - Edit
We have been vegan about 2 years and found True Bistro on Happy Cow (Thanks!) and tried it out while visiting Seudo Shoe's in the same town (vegan shoes). We have now been their twice in two months and we live 2 hours away.
True Bistro is a small restaurant with a European feel. The bistro has an ecclectic menu with entrees ranging from asian style curry's to Italian style sweet potato ravioli. The food is high end and the presentation is wonderful the prices are very reasonable (~$17 per entree). They have an extensive bar with a good Wine and drinks selection as well.
Don't leave without getting desert, you won't be disappointed.
It's one of the best restaurants (vegan or otherwise) I have eaten at so far and is on par with Candle 79 in NYC.
Pros: Excellent food, Professional Staff, Ambiance
Contributions +50
A Little, East Coast Millennium - Edit
Cloth napkins and table cloths. New silverware with each course. An appetizer, two entries, two glasses of wine and two ginger beers for under $80. All of that *and* the food is pretty good! (It's not Millennium good, but it's closer than anything else I've had in the Boston area.)
Highlights were the cornmeal encrusted oyster mushrooms with horseradish tartar sauce; blackened seitan with melted collards and grits.
Pros: Cozy, Big bang for buck, Awesome seitan
Contributions +35
True Bistro very busy - Edit
A lot of soy products, nothing RAW
adorable interior, nice wait staff
35 min wait to get in on a Monday evening
lovely presentation of the food, and tasty, just no vegan raw selections : (
Pros: friendly staff, good food, cute place
Cons: wait to get in, no vegan/raw choices
Contributions +23
Amazing food. - Edit
A great place to splurge a little on some very fine dining.
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