Bell in Hand — Restaurant in Boston

Title: Disastrous Experience: Bell in the Hand Boston's Appalling Treatment of International Tourists

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 star)

As an international tourist with a penchant for exploring new cultures and places, my recent visit to Bell in the Hand Boston left me appalled and deeply disappointed. What should have been an enjoyable and memorable dining experience turned into a regrettable nightmare, solely due to the establishment's shocking treatment of international visitors like myself.

From the moment we stepped inside the restaurant, my companions and I were met with an icy reception. The staff appeared disinterested, and any attempts to engage them in conversation were met with curt responses. It felt as though they were more interested in catering to their local regulars rather than welcoming and accommodating tourists.

Despite having an extensive menu with a range of traditional Bostonian dishes, the servers offered no assistance or recommendations when we inquired about the specialties. It was evident they had no interest in helping us understand the local cuisine or offering any insights into their dishes. We were left feeling lost and confused, and our meal choices ultimately left a lot to be desired.

Moreover, it was alarming to observe the stark contrast in treatment between us, the international tourists, and the local patrons. While locals received attentive service and smiles, we were treated as a burden, and it seemed like our presence was merely an inconvenience to the staff.

To add insult to injury, when our meals finally arrived, they were mediocre at best. The food lacked flavor and presentation, leaving us to wonder whether this was a true representation of Bostonian cuisine or simply a poor attempt at it. The lack of care put into our meals further amplified the feeling of being unwelcome.

In addition to the appalling service and subpar food, the prices at Bell in the Hand Boston were exorbitant. While we were willing to overlook the high prices for a truly authentic experience, the overall lack of hospitality and quality rendered the cost unjustifiable.

This dismal encounter at Bell in the Hand Boston has left a sour taste in my mouth, and I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this establishment to any international tourists. If they continue treating visitors from other countries with such disdain, it won't be long before the negative reviews and word-of-mouth lead to a severe decline in their customer base.

To the management of Bell in the Hand Boston, I implore you to reevaluate your approach towards international tourists and embrace the spirit of hospitality and inclusivity that the tourism industry demands. Until significant changes are made, I advise fellow travelers to steer clear of this restaurant and seek out more welcoming establishments that truly embrace the rich diversity of...

First-Time Boston Visit: Great Food, Disappointing Service at Bell in Hand Tavern

a first-time visitor to Boston, exploring the Quincy Market and Public Market area was an experience in itself — vibrant, energetic, and full of charm. We stumbled upon Bell in Hand Tavern and grabbed a seat at one of their outdoor patio tables. The weather was perfect and the atmosphere on the patio was lively — it had all the makings of a great lunch stop.

After sitting down, it took a little while to be greeted, but given the busy foot traffic in the area, it wasn’t a huge deal. Once our server arrived, though, we were immediately asked to place our full order — drinks, appetizer, and entrees all at once — which felt rushed. We ordered two cocktails, one non-alcoholic drink, an appetizer, and three entrees.

Water was brought out fairly quickly, but it was about 10 minutes before our bar drinks arrived. At this point, we were still waiting on the appetizer. Another 10 minutes passed, and our son’s entree was served. Five minutes later, the remaining two entrees and the appetizer finally showed up — a slightly backwards experience.

What stood out most, unfortunately, was the lack of attentiveness from our server. Aside from initially taking our order, she never once returned to the table. We weren’t offered water refills, condiments, or even a check-in to see how the food was. Our drinks sat empty for over half an hour, and we absolutely would have ordered another round had the opportunity been given. There were a couple moments of brief eye contact, but never any follow-up.

The food itself was solid — fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared — and we would absolutely come back for that. But the service left a lot to be desired, especially given the $185 tab for lunch. After waiting for over 90 minutes and only seeing our server three times (once to order, once to drop utensils and napkins, and once to pay), we left and headed to another spot where we could enjoy some actual service and a second round.

Final Verdict: ✅ Great food ✅ Fun outdoor atmosphere ❌ Poor service experience

We’d give it another try for the kitchen, but sincerely hope for a more attentive...

I was in Boston to work as a vendor for my friends business at Anime Boston May 27-29th. This was my first time ever being in Boston so I was extremely excited to go see some of the history of the town. Right before we left on the 30th we decided to try a new location for lunch; so we decided to check out the Bell in Hand Tavern.

This location was kept clean, the staff was friendly, and the food was better than I could have expected! We were seated right away when we came in by the gentleman who greeted us. He also took our order and he had a great sense of humor. I decided to order the Classic Lobster Roll, it was time for me to have my first lobster roll! I also ordered the Warm French Brie & Fig Spread and a Sam Adams Summer Ale on the side.

10/10 for the lobster roll!!!! I live in the Midwest so it’s not normal to get fresh fish, so to experience lobster THIS FRESH… just WOW! (and I normally don’t like lobster) The meat wasn’t lathered in Mayo like I see in other locations and it had lemon juice to help add even more to the freshness. The bun was lightly toasted to perfection to not be too crunchy but have stability to hold the mound of lobster with some lettuce. Fries on the side were fried well and had a great crisp to them.

10/10 for the French Brie & Fig! Cheese was warm and soft with the sweetness of the fig. Wouldn’t have changed anything. I ate it so quickly I forgot to take a picture!

Atmosphere was even for me 10/10 , it was loud but the way I describe it is the noise level made sense for what this tavern represented, it was warm and the wood was beautiful inside of it. Well stocked bar and they even had live music at times; we had finished and left right before but people were very excited for the live music!

I will come back to this tavern every time I come...