Cottonwood Cafe: Delicious Southwestern Food in Boston
Written: Jun 17 '05 (Updated Oct 29 '05)
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Pros: Good food, large portions, reasonable prices, great service
Cons: No free parking nearby
The Bottom Line: A southwestern restaurant with delicious food at reasonable prices.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Cottonwood Restaurant and Cafe |
I recently ate at the Cottonwood Cafe in Boston. I was pleased with the nice ambiance, affordable menu and great service.
THE FOOD
Cottonwood Cafe specializes in southwestern food. We ate during lunchtime. The lunchtime menu had a nice selection of appetizers, soups, lots of salads, burgers, sandwiches and some southwest style entrees. Most of the offerings has a southwestern flavor but there were also surprises including calamari. The burgers and sandwiches were in the $7-10 range.
I had a chicken sandwich with barbeque sauce and fries. The piece of chicken was huge and it came on a fresh roll with fresh tomatoes and red onions. The fries were not too greasy and well-seasoned. I couldn't finish my whole serving. My dining companion had a bowl of chili that was also huge and came nicely prepared with corn chips and garnishes. The food looked nice and was delicious. The lunch for the two of us was just under $20 including tip and without liquor.
THE DECOR AND AMBIANCE
The decor in this restaurant was pleasant and, happily, not over the top. I expected a lot of southwestern cliches in the decor, such as the coyote howling at the moon cutouts, but there really were none. Our table was made of wood and had a rustic feel. Our water glasses were thick, hand-blown glass with a nice artisan design. There was a bit of neon in the decor that I didn't care for but might look better after dark (or after a few drinks).
In the section where we dined, there were lots of tables for two. The restaurant was divided into sections so it felt like our space was more intimate. The restaurant was only partially filled when we visited but it was very quiet compared to other restaurants.
Given that this restaurant is located among many office buildings and that it serves lunch for under $10, I suspect it has a thriving lunch business. The other people dining when we ate were generally business people or nicely-dressed shoppers in groups of twos and threes. I happened to be wearing jeans and was welcomed with a smile. There were no children to be seen.
SERVICE
When we arrived, we were greeted by a friendly hostess. She seated us immediately. A waiter came right over and took our orders. Water also showed up immediately. The food arrived within ten minutes exactly as we requested it. The servers were friendly and we could always find them when we needed them. Overall, the service was fantastic.
GETTING THERE
There is no free parking nearby and very limited on-street meter parking. There are very expensive parking lots within a 1-2 block radius. However, this area is well-served by public transportation including the T, commuter rail and buses.
OTHER THOUGHTS
They take credit cards.
The restaurant was all on one floor and looked to be completely handicapped accessible.
I didn't eat at the restaurant with my kids - a very rare occurrence. I didn't see any highchairs but didn't ask for one either. There were burgers and other kid-friendly fare on the menu. I didn't ask for a kids' menu and didn't see one on the regular menu.
There were several vegetarian options on the menu.
We arrived at 2 pm on a weekday for lunch. The restaurant was mostly empty. There was no wait to be seated.
They have a liquor license.
They have a web site: www.cottonwoodboston.com and you can join a mailing list.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
I thought this restaurant was perfect for a casual lunch. The food was great and affordable, particularly for the location. The service was quick and friendly. Overall, a five star experience.
BOSTON: Radius; Caffe Vitoria; Excelsior; Jacob Wirth; Imperial Seafood House; Sibling Rivalry; Fleming’s.
BROOKLINE: Mr. Sushi; Fugakyu; Takeshima; Tsunami; Anna's Taqueria; Zaftigs Delicatessen; Bangkok Bistro; Golden Temple.
NEWTON: Appetito; India Paradise; Blue Ribbon Barbeque; Ice Cream Works; Baker's Best; Bill’s Pizzeria; Cafe Nicolas; Union Street; O’Hara’s; Yeradi’s; Johnny’s Luchonette.
CAMBRIDGE: S&S Restaurant; The Japanese Mall; Jasper White’s Summer Shack.
WEST ROXBURY: Cafe Misono.
BRIGHTON: Tasca.
ESSEX: Woodman’s.
SAUGUS: Kowloon.
CHAIN RESTAURANTS: Not Your Average Joe’s; Bertucci’s; Legal Sea Foods; Cheesecake Factory; Rainforest Cafe; Fire & Ice; Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse; Friendly’s.
COFFEE, BAGELS AND DONUTS: Bruegger’s Bagels; Finagle a Bagel; Dunkin Donuts; >; Peet’s Coffee and Tea.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations The barbeque chicken was great!
Best Suited For: Friends
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modernmarvel
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Can anyone recommend a western family dude ranch for a vacation this summer?
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