SRV — Restaurant in Boston

I had dinner at SRV on Columbus Avenue in the South End in September 2025 and was blown away by both the quality and the value. The name stands for Serene Republic of Venice — but for me, it had just been a place I’d walked by without really noticing. Now it’s firmly in my notebook as a restaurant to where I absolutely have to return.

When my server explained the Arsenale menu $67, she described it as a blind tasting at the chef’s discretion — which means each meal can vary slightly depending on the day and season. I loved that element of surprise, and it explained why some dishes were different from what was printed on the menu.

I ordered the Arsenale and also added three extra cicchetti (the boccone, stuffed pepper, and baccalà mantecato) so I could try a wider range of flavors. The progression was impressive: cicchetti to start (including a perfect pork & beef meatball and a mortadella bite with ricotta and pesto), charred broccolini with Fresno pepper sauce served alongside complimentary bread (a thoughtful touch — pairing it with the vegetable course instead of the very beginning meant I could enjoy it without a glucose spike), smoked sea trout with delicate roe, navy beans, baby bok choy (a substitution for the mustard greens and escarole listed on the menu), a luscious white wine butter sauce, and a crisp toast, two pastas (a brown-butter ravioli with summer squash, lemon, and parsley, plus a seasonal rigatoni with broccoli and a creamy mushroom), and finally a profiterole filled with cream, plated with custard and topped with a cherry.

I was especially happy that there were plenty of vegetables in the meal. At first I thought I might need to order a salad separately, but I’m glad I didn’t — the broccolini and other vegetable touches were generous and satisfying, and a separate salad would have been too much.

Everything was well-executed, but the smoked trout and the charred broccolini were standouts for me. The cicchetti I added on were fun extras and made the meal feel even more complete.

For what could have been a carb-heavy dinner, I was surprised that my blood sugar didn’t spike at all. The menu felt balanced — with vegetables, protein, and thoughtful pacing — so instead of feeling weighed down, I left satisfied and comfortable.

The interior of SRV is spacious and inviting, with high ceilings, exposed brick, and plenty of natural light from large windows. The mix of modern touches (like hanging lights and marble tables) with rustic details (brick walls, wine racks, and greenery) makes it feel both stylish and comfortable. There’s a sense of openness that makes it easy to relax, whether dining solo or with a group.

Service was outstanding. My server was warm and attentive, and I also appreciated that several dishes were delivered by members of the kitchen team. Since I ordered the Arsenale menu, I could feel how closely the staff watched the pacing, making sure each course arrived at just the right time. It created a seamless, polished experience without ever feeling rushed.

The pacing was on the fast side — I could have been out in an hour and a half — but I chose to slow myself down to enjoy it. What really impressed me is that they let me order the full tasting menu even though I was dining solo, which made me feel welcome.

For $67, the Arsenale is one of the best values in Boston fine dining. Generous, delicious, and thoughtful at every step. I’d absolutely recommend SRV— in fact, I’d put it on my must-do Boston-area restaurant list, right alongside Pammy’s, Giulia, and Mistral. It really...

Waitress was very sweet and patient with us. The food was amazing, a few dishes we didn't care for, but the waitress said the chef was looking for feedback since they were new to the menu. The ambiance was upscale and polished, but the music playing (hip-hop) really added a nice trendy, cool vibe. The menu is definitely on the pricier side, but worth a visit for a special occasion. Overall, I would recommend anyone to come here for a solid food experience.

Snack food-wise (Cicchetti) we got the Quail Eggs with anchovies - truly delicious, did not taste eggy or fishy; very well-balanced. The meatballs were absolutely amazing - tasted like high quality hamburger meat without the grill char, it was fragile and had a melt in your mouth texture. The tomato sauce it came in was delicious - we asked for bread and soaked up the rest of it. The baked scallops in garlic, caper, butter sauce was also very well done. I loved the texture and flavors.

For the medium-sized plates (Piatti), we got the artichoke dish with fava beans. This dish was a nice break between the heavier items. I don't think I've ever had artichoke raw before, but it was not bad. We also got the Skate Wing dish - this was the dish we did not like at all. Super fishy, didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Never had cooked uni before, but it just didn't vibe with my partner and I. This was a new dish to the menu, but I wouldn't recommend it.

From the pasta menu (Grani), we ordered the Tonnarelli without the shrimp due to an allergy. The dish was good, but maybe I didn't care for it as much because I've had very similar dishes to this one in the past many times. We also got the Clam Risotto which really blew us away with its flavor profiles and creamy tastyness. Highly recommend this dish. I thought I didn't like fennel, but the fermented fennel really brought a new dimension to risotto.

For desert (I don't even know how we got this far and was still hungry ha!), we ordered the Sfogliatelle which my partner really loved and I got the Persimmon gelato. My partner said the gelato didn't really taste like a persimmon, but I have not tried one before so I wasn't aware. I still liked it though.

Overall, this restaurant met my high expectations, and was glad to try it knowing that it would be a pricey meal. Love the vibe here too - I didn't feel out of my comfort knowing it was an upscale, trendy place while I'm just a late-20s, laidback female who loves good food and wine. The music really helped with the...

We recently had the pleasure of hosting our rehearsal dinner and welcome drinks at SRV, and it was an exceptional experience! SRV holds a special place in our hearts as it was the first restaurant my husband and I ever went to together. It’s in our neighborhood and has since become our go-to spot for celebrating special occasions, making it the perfect choice for our pre-wedding festivities!

The planning process with SRV was incredibly easy and stress-free. From day one, Meg’s amazing communication stood out. As highly organized people, we value clear and timely communication, and Meg delivered just that. She answered all of our questions and thoroughly explained the process, which made everything straightforward and enjoyable. Choosing the menu, cocktails, and wines was a highlight for us as foodies! It was so much fun selecting options that would excited our guests while reflecting our personal tastes!

On the day of the event, Toni and Ted far exceeded our expectations. They were incredibly helpful in ensuring that everything ran smoothly, efficiently, and on time. Their attention to detail and seamless coordination allowed us to enjoy the evening without any worries!

We are profoundly grateful for all the staff at SRV—the servers, chefs, bartenders, and everyone in between. Each person contributed to making our evening truly special. SRV went above and beyond to accommodate everyone’s dietary needs and food preferences. We were impressed with how they handled various dietary restrictions with ease, ensuring that each guest enjoyed a satisfying and delicious meal. For our event, we enjoyed delicious passed cicchetti, followed by a beautifully orchestrated seated dinner, and an amazing dessert bar that was a hit with our guests!

From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel welcome and attended to every detail with professionalism and care. The ambiance of SRV is both elegant and inviting, providing the perfect setting for our celebration!

Having our rehearsal dinner and welcome drinks at SRV was truly a dream come true, and we couldn’t have asked for a better venue to kick off our wedding...