Look and Feel: has a definite bar feel to it, with a full half of the restaurant occupied by the bar and lounge. On the night that we dined, the lounge was much busier than the dining room, which also had a good sized group of diners. There is an outside patio and dining area with a pool table and heaters. There are televisions in both the dining room and lounge, contributing to the bar feel of the restaurant.
Food: Boston's features an extensive, versatile menu, well beyond the pizza advertised in its name. Typical of chain restaurants, the food available spans different styles of cuisine, Italian, Mexican, and American styles among them. There is a small selection of appetizers, so we started with the Boston's nachos, with taco beef. The nachos were topped with a cheese mix, jalapeño peppers, olives, and tomatoes. Sour cream and salsa were served as dips. Taco beef and spicy chicken are available at an extra charge. For entrees, we chose items from different sections of the menu. I went with the Whole Wheat Chicken and Herb Pasta. The serving size was very generous, and the pasta tasted very good. There was a healthy helping of chicken included, and the meal had a bit of a kick to it. One of my companions chose a meal off the Healthy Hits section, going with Steak and Broccoli. The slices of steak were tender and tasty, but the accompanying broccoli could have used some flavor. My other companion decided on an individual sized pizza, choosing the Venetian with a whole wheat crust. The individual size pizza is quite small, I would suggest getting a salad as well. The pizza was a disappointment, as it tasted very much like a Pizza Hut pizza, far from "the gourmet pizza" advertised.
Drinks: With a full bar on site, Boston's offers a wide selection of beers, wines, and mixed drinks. Draft beers are offered in small and tall sizes. The wine selection is offered by the bottle and glass. There are many mixed and specialty drinks available, ranging from mojitos and martinis to flavored specialty shots.
Prices: Boston's occupies the mid-level price range that is to be expected from a chain restaurant. Entrees range from $9 into the mid-$20s. The price for alcoholic beverages were higher than I expected, with a tall beer close to ten dollars.
The Verdict: As a sit-down restaurant, Boston's is average. Many of the food options work well in a lounge setting, and I would definitely go back to eat in the bar area. Unfortunately, the pizza left something to be desired, far from the restaurant's namesake. The other meals made up for the disappointing pizza, offering good flavors from the non-pizza options. The prices were decent enough and the service was friendly and helpful, making Boston's worth a return trip.
