The Pearl South Bay — Restaurant in Boston

We visited this black owned establishment on Friday, July 29, 2022. I made a reservation prior to online for 8:15 PM. Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by the hostess and seated immediately. Shortly after being seated, our server Min came over and introduced himself. He informed us we could use the QR code menu on the table to access available food and drink items. At the beginning of the night it was a more chilled/relaxed vibe and they were playing nice R&B music. The business is clean, modern, and had a laid back ambiance that became progressively more rowdy as the night went on. We ordered the following menu items: strawberry lemon drop, the pearl potion, chargrilled lobster, Malik’s chargrilled oysters, blackened shrimp, warm lobster roll with truffle fries, and crispy calamari. I will preface by saying, my mom tried to order the asparagus and the clam chowder before she finally had to settle on the blackened shrimp because they were out of both items! Our drinks came out shortly after we ordered them, and were sweet and refreshingly made very well. The presentation of these drinks was also really nice especially with the pearl potion having a pretty orchid flower. Almost 30 minutes after we received our drinks, my mother received her chargrilled lobster which didn’t come out with any butter. About five minutes later, the crispy calamari came out with no marinara sauce. I did taste my mother’s chargrilled lobster, which was flavorful and seasoned well. It was also quite moist, but definitely needed butter. The calamari was bland, rubbery, and definitely needed some sauce and seasoning. We informed the waiter that we needed butter and marinara sauce, which also took a while to come to the table after requesting it. In addition once we received the marinara sauce we discovered it was actually cocktail sauce, not what we asked for. Not long after, my mother received her blackened shrimp which was seasoned well and flavorful. Mind you at this time I hadn’t received any of my food items I ordered. My mother and I ordered at the same time. We had been there since 8:15 PM and I hadn’t received any of the food options I ordered, and it was going on 9:30 PM. When 9:30 came I finally received my chargrilled oysters, which I felt to be very unsettling. The warm lobster roll and truffle fries came out about five minutes later. The waiter also was not very attentive to our needs. He stated certain things were going to be done, and it would take 10 to 15 minutes for us to be brought the items. The chargrilled oysters were pretty good and seasoned very well. I liked the cheese and spinach included as well on top of the oysters. The lobster roll was just ok, since it really only was just lobster and bread. There was no other additions to the dish and I thought it was a bit plain. The lobster was also lukewarm, so I can tell it had been sitting under the light for a while. Some of the truffle fries were a little on the burnt side, but overall the dish was decent enough. This place has very slow service and the staff was very unattentive. We stopped a staff member and asked to speak to the manager who stated the manager was not available. We expressed our grievances and he stated that he would take half off the bill, and assured that would happen for us. Right after this our waiter came over and said that he couldn’t guarantee 50% off, so we brought the staff member over and he began to stammer/stutter as if that wasn’t what he stated. There was a lot of inconsistencies with this experience and we won’t be returning at all. In the end our waiter took off $51 of the bill, which was all of the starter options that we ordered. Also as the night went on the establishment became more crowded, rowdy, and loud with the patrons next to us treating it as if it was a club or lounge. The waiter did apologize for our poor experience and he knew that we didn’t receive the service that we should have. I would not recommend this...

The worst restaurant experience EVER! I’ve tried to give this black owned establishment multiple chances. But for some reason it’s always something. The wait isn’t ever a big deal but the service or the lack there of is the problem! I’m not sure if it’s the waiter, the bartender or kitchen staff but this establishment has a long way to go to truly progress. We get seated about 4:05p. Waiter takes about 20mins to acknowledge us finally taking our drink and food orders. After about another 30mins drinks finally arrived two drinks aren’t what was ordered at all, the correct drinks took an additional 20mins to finally come to table. We ordered shareable (apps) crab dip, orders two brioche French Toast (I don’t eat pork and was told I’d still be charged full price for bacon so I ordered breakfast potatoes) a friend ordered the crab cake Benedict finally a banana French toast. We ended up adding truffle fries maybe 10mins after placing original order. 3 ordered that were in above picture came out after 45mins to an hour. The fries were room temperature and not truffled. Manny (manager) was informed about the fries. He did fix them. Took another 15 mins for the other ladies to get their food. The eggs on the crab cake Benedict were over cooked.

Now my three friends are half way finished eating their food and my order still didn’t arrive. We called for Manny and I expressed my frustration with the service and still not getting my order. He asked if I still wanted food, I let him know there is no way I can even start my sidecar with out something solid to eat. I did ask if it’s being covered by establishment he never replied. So I asked him how much longer. He went to the back and I was humored it took him over 15-20mins to return. During that time my spicy crab dip finally arrived. It was over spicy from the last time I had it. But since I needed to eat something I just ate it. Half way through my crab dip, manny comes out with the “French toast” I took a bite of it and it was the banana French toast I didn’t order that.

Through all of this I felt gaslit with excuses from manny. I let him know this isn’t a one time mistake I’ve experienced this before more than once but due to you all being black owned I tried not to write you all off.

After all of it there was anything done out of courtesy on the bill. Even though it was never about money but the terrible service and poor excuses. I felt like manny might have discussed my experience with another man who I’ve seen many times there not sure if he’s another manager or owner as well as other staff. People looking at me crazy was pissing me off, I tried my best to keep my spirits up to not ruin hanging with my friends but this place has a lot of work.

From reading reviews it seems as though a great amount of customers have experienced extremely slow service, errors with order, waiters more focused on socializing than being a waiter. Not to mention these reviews go back to over a year ago. That’s sad there hasn’t been anything done to make this establishment a better experience for paying customers. Probably noticed owner or whoever is beyond the company’s page barely responds or holds themselves...

Last year after a visit, I reduced my stars from 4 to three, this year, after visiting on Friday, May 31, 2024, I have reduced my rating from 3 stars to 1. The Pearl has changed their approach/dining strategy. This is now not a restaurant where you go to for dinner. It is more a café of sorts. They are trying to make it kinda like 'tapas' style, with the main section of the menu titled "Shareables". The prices of the shareables remain the same as they were as an entre, but the amount of food is drastically reduced and severed on tiny plates to appear like it's something more substantial. Shrinkflation to the highest degree. The bill for 4 shareables, and a drink was $112. I was still just as hungry as I was when I arrived at the restaurant after eating 3 of the four shareables (which I did not share), and with nothing enticing left for me to choose from the menu (thought about lobster, but given they don't know how to prepare lobster, I decided to go elsewhere for dinner). $112 was a lot for an appetizer and a drink that was too sweet and overly priced. I clearly missed the memo about this new version of the Pearl restaurant, as the people there looked dressed to go clubbing after and clearly ate at home and was just meeting up with friends for a quick drink before heading to the club. Not my crowd. Doubt I'll be going back to the Pearl ever.

Review from when it was 3 stars: "I've reduced my stars from 4 to three after my visit last week. My bill was $190 after 2 cocktails, carb stuffed grilled oysters, loaded fries (fantastic)and the seafood trilogy (gross). The disappointment started at the entrance when upon arrival the hostess didn't greet us and continued her conversation on the phone for at least 10 minutes with open seats inside and outside the restaurant. Should have left and went elsewhere at this point. The greatest disappointment though was the seafood trilogy. We got it with garlic and white wine sauce. It had NO flavor. When we brought it to the manager's attention, he said this one in contrast to the curry seafood trilogy is "lite". Put that on the menu then...put that this one of 'lite' and has little to no seasoning. The manager had the chef make a side sauce to accommodate. Also, unlike other seafood restaurants charging $90 for a seafood dish with a