Comfort Kitchen — Restaurant in Boston

This review is about our experience having brunch on a Sunday. My wife has been to Comfort Kitchen four times for dinner and had excellent experiences, even when the restaurant was fully booked. So we were genuinely looking forward to trying it together — but unfortunately, in this visit the service missed the mark.

The food and drinks were fantastic — no complaints there. But everything else kind of fell apart.

We called the night before to confirm they had a high chair for our toddler — they said yes, no problem. Since a reservation for five indoors wasn’t available, we changed ours from a table for four inside to a table for five outside. Once we arrived, it took another 15 minutes after being seated to get the high chair because it apparently “needed to be assembled.” Also worth noting: the patio is hot on summer days, with very limited shade. Honestly, it would’ve been nice if the hostess had offered us a table inside — especially since the one they had reserved was in full sun and there were plenty of open tables inside, including setups that could’ve accommodated four plus a high chair.

Service was a consistent issue. Our server didn’t spend any time walking us through the menu or offering suggestions, and seemed pretty disengaged from the start. We saw her not more than 3-4 times during our 90min there. In our first round, two drinks we ordered turned out to be unavailable — something that could have easily been mentioned up front, especially since we later learned several other items on the menu were also unavailable.

I ordered the momos thinking they might work as a main, but they ended up being more of a small plate — again, something a bit of guidance could’ve clarified. My wife has a gluten and dairy allergy, and although the menu is clearly marked, when she asked about possible modifications, the server said she’d check with the kitchen — but then asked my wife to list multiple options so she could “see what might be possible,” instead of offering any direction or taking the lead in helping navigate the menu.

At the end of the meal, we ordered two more drinks and a dessert. That was not easy either as the drinks we wanted were not available. The server asked if we wanted something else, but didn’t bring a menu or offer suggestions. When we asked what was available, she said they had a limited selection of local liquors — but couldn’t actually name any. We tried to keep it easy and said, “We trust the bartender — maybe something similar to what we asked for?” But she just said, “You have to tell me exactly what you want.” We suggested a rum old fashioned, and she asked what kind of rum — which we obviously couldn’t answer since we didn’t know what they had and she wasn’t offering any help. About 10 minutes later, we were told the dessert wasn’t available. We then waited another 15 minutes for the drinks — until I eventually asked to cancel the order. Only when the check came were we told the drink order had “fallen through the cracks” because of a large table. (For context, the biggest table we saw inside was 5-6 people — nothing that would justify that level of breakdown.). I would have hoped a better explanation or someone being more apologetic at least.

The whole experience felt disorganized and inattentive. It’s hard to say whether it was a training issue or just a lack of care, but it made what should’ve been a relaxing brunch unnecessarily stressful. It’s a real disappointment, especially given how great my wife’s previous visits were. Maybe we caught them on an off day — but unfortunately, it didn’t leave us wanting...

Our recent experience at Comfort Kitchen, despite our high expectations, was regrettably lackluster. My first visit to this restaurant was exceptional enough to warrant a return, displaying a clear vision in its fusion-inspired menu. However, this time the execution seemed inconsistent, revealing potential challenges in maintaining quality at the same standard. Despite the warm ambience and attentive service, the meal itself left much to be desired.

DRINKS We began with the newly added “Love Washes Ashore” and the “Kanaval” cocktails, each intriguing in concept but overcomplicated in execution. The former’s smokiness was overpowering, detracting from its subtler notes, while the latter carried an unpleasant aftertaste. Uncharacteristically, I found myself wishing for a simpler, more restrained profile in both drinks.

SNACKS Okra with Masala Yogurt: This dish was the highlight of the night—well-composed, with a balanced flavor profile that was bright, nostalgic, and satisfying. My only qualm with it was that the small portion size left us wanting more. Kelewele Plantains: Unfortunately, these were dry, and the accompanying spicy sauce failed to harmonize with the plantains. The dish felt close to being successful but was missing a cohesion that would have elevated it.

MAINS Beef Short Rib: The short rib and accompanying yuca fries were disappointingly dry and lacked depth. A more generous serving of sauce might have provided the needed richness or even zing to cut through the simultaneously tough and fatty cuts of meat, but as it was, the dish felt unbalanced and unremarkable—a notable letdown of the evening. Fish Curry: This was more of a thin broth than a rich curry, lacking the depth and complexity one anticipates in a dish of this kind. While a brothy curry can be equally delightful, this rendition was under-seasoned, lacking the vibrant flavors and the savouriness necessary to balance the mild fish. The fish and vegetable pairings did little to enhance the dish, and the roti on the side felt like an afterthought. As a South Asian cook, I found the overall flavor profile lacking in authenticity and zest.

In summary, Comfort Kitchen holds considerable promise and has demonstrated its propensity for excellence. While I still admire their concept and certainly plan to be back, this meal did not fully deliver on...

Comfort Kitchen is an absolute gem in Upham's Corner! This spot brilliantly showcases African, Caribbean, and Indo-Caribbean flavors in a vintage building with unique architecture.

The cocktails were phenomenal. The sumac gin drink was wonderfully floral and light, with lilac notes and a slight tartness. The visual presentation was stunning with sumac mixed into sugar crystals creating an eye-catching rim, almost like a sumac black and white cookie.

The Black Caesar was a revelation - incredibly deep and savory with rich caramel oak notes from the Haitian rum (rarely seen in mixed drinks), complemented by Mexican rum. Using two types of rum plus mushroom tincture created a spirit-forward, complex cocktail with incredible depth that set a high standard for the evening. I can't compare this drink to anything honestly.

The food was exceptional. The okra preparation was innovative - whole blistered pods sautéed similar to Chinese-style green beans, elevated with masala spiced yogurt and crumbled plantain chips. This beautifully fused okra's role culturally in both African and Indian cuisines. The beef suya impressed with its avant-garde approach - featuring pickled mustard seeds that formed a thick gel-like spread with just the right acidity, paired with perfectly caramelized onions and a refreshing mint chutney heirloom tomato salad.

The absolute star was the mushroom dish - meaty varieties (Trumpet and maitake) prepared with the respect typically reserved for steaks. They maintained perfect structural integrity without being greasy, featuring a beautiful crust, complex seasoning, and a confusingly delicious turmeric-forward sweet sauce. The cassava dumplings with their mochi-like consistency added wonderful texture, while the pureed garlic cut through the umami richness. The duck, though slightly dry, had tender pull-apart texture paired perfectly with rice and peas and tangy pickled vegetables.

After being disappointed with Boston's food scene for years, Comfort Kitchen has renewed my faith! They tell a beautiful story through food, elevating and representing diverse cultures with creativity and respect. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Boston - it's the best example of modern dining with cultural fusion I've seen in...