110 Grill — Restaurant in Braintree

So, for a double birthday treat, we decided to try out the 110 Grill in Braintree. My stepson really enjoyed his previous visit and, as his girlfriend has a gluten allergy, told us that they have a very selective gluten-free menu. This worked out well as my wife is gluten free and finding any place decent is difficult at best. If, after reading this, you choose to check it out I highly suggest you make reservations as this place was packed. Hell, I made the reservation 2 days before and I still was only to get a very limited selective reservation. We had reservations for this past Saturday at 7:45. We arrived at 7:35 and got seated at 8. Our very pleasant waitress took our appetizer orders immediately. They have a very diverse menu selection and a completely separate, and equally diverse, gluten free menu. I was very impressed. After sitting we noticed that some of the appetizer plates were dirty as was my stepdaughters silverware. I'm not talking moisture spots. I'm talking black "what the hell is that" spots. I ordered a ginger ale and, upon receiving it, took one sip and just about spit it back out. It was pure soda water. We informed our very polite but obviously overworked waitress and she rectified both immediately. Upon her return she informed me they were out of ginger ale until Monday. It makes no sense to me as you're a super busy restaurant with a HUGE circular bar but so be it. We, at this point, put our dinner entree orders in, as appetizers were taking some time. This was at 8:30. Shortly after this the starters (spinach/artichoke dip and the crab rangoon dip) arrived. The home made chips served with the crab dip were a little stale and chewy. That was my only gripe with these. Both dips were FANTASTIC! Creamy and loaded with flavor. Just be warned that if you do not like spicy then the crab rangoon dip is not for you. Other than that they were absolutely delicious! With the arrival of the entrees I have to tell you that, to me, it was worth the wait. I ordered the Chicken Piccata Gnocchi. This is the description from the menu:

"Lightly fried chicken served with sautéed gnocchi and spinach, tossed in a lemon caper parmesan butter sauce with fried sage."

I have never tried Gnocchi before. HOLY GOOD GOD it was delicious! The chicken was overcooked but just probably by 30 seconds. Not enough to really complain or send it back, just a little dry by the smallest fraction. I enjoyed this so much that when all was said and done I debated on licking the plate. Hell, if my wife wasn't there I probably would have. Everyone really enjoyed the dinner and the bill was very fair considering we ordered drinks. When all was said and done my party of six (this includes me) discussed if they would go back. Two said no because of the wait time (even with the reservations) and the dirty plates,. Three said they would if there was no wait and me? I agree with the latter three I would go back but I'm not willing to wait. I know this review was a little long-winded but long story short I would highly recommended the 110 Grill for at least a first-time tryout if nothing else.

*Addendum to review: Shortly after I left this review the owner reached out to me and asked me to contact the general manager. I did so out of courtesy and curiosity. I didn't think I had left a bad review but apparently they wanted to discuss my visit. So, I reached out as requested. That was just about two weeks ago. I've yet to hear anything back. Now, I do my best to leave honest and fair reviews. I don't do it so I can get free stuff or have my backside kissed by 'said' company. I do it because, honestly, I make many of my decisions based upon the reviews I read of different companies and their offered services. I try not to let the ones that are blatantly biased either positively or negatively influence my decision. That being said don't reach out to me publicly so you can act, and look, as though you wish to resolve something and then blow me off privately. That is rude and...

Went to the Braintree location after seeing a play in Boston. First time for both of us and was initially excited about going. Walked in and wasn't greeted because the host was engaged in a conversation with another staff member about getting candy from BJ's. After noticing us, we were seated in the back of the restaurant (with two other couples that looked like us). Our waitress came right over to ask me (my friend went to the bathroom) our drink order. She returned a few minutes later and took our drink order. I had to send my drink order back (apple martini) because it tasted like the alcohol was bottom shelf. Asked for Absolute and it was good. The manager was walking by and stopped to ask how was everything and I told her about my drink order. She was perplexed and said she would check into it and take it off our check. Waitress asked for our order, we wanted to try their appetizers first and said we will wait to order our entrees. Appetizers were really good but the Spinach and Artichoke dip could use some salt. Waitress came back after we finished our appetizers and asked us if we wanted our check(?) I ordered the Shrimp and Crab with pasta, my friend didn't order anything. It looked good but it tasted so bland and watery, even after using parmesan cheese and salt. I had tasted one shrimp and it was overcooked. I was so disappointed and didn't eat anymore. Waitress asked how was it and I gave her my opinion. She went and got the same manager and I explained in depth: the flavor profile wasn't there, it was one note, bland and watery and there wasn't anything to want to go back to it. The bread was slathered with butter and was oily. She started to say 'huh, it's one of our...' but trailed off once she looked at me and offered something else. By that time, I said, 'no, we have somewhere else to go.' She said she would remove it from the check. Check came and we ended up with a check for $51.63. This was for two alcoholic drinks, a soda and two appetizers. We paid the check and left a 15% tip but will not be returning. Overall experience wasn't welcoming and walked out by the host desk and no one said a word to us, even though they weren't busy. Other restaurants usually say 'thank you for coming' or something in that vain. I gave two stars because of the...

Been coming here for a while but lately it’s just been crappy. Portions small, cheaping out with portions of meat, etc. Decided I was going to take a sandwhich to go as I remember those being solid and I find I’m charged a 5% packaging fee? 5% of the bill to PACKAGE the food… you’re being charged 5% to be a paying customer, 5% to offer them a higher margin on food, 5% not to take up space, or 5% as a penalty for not wanting to sit down and pay a 20% tip for portions and quality that have been going down hill or not having the time to sit down in the first place.

And for those wondering, the chicken sandwhich had a mediocre size of chicken that was a bit too cold to not have been sitting there for some time and I picked it up right away. I refuse to support places that charge me for takeout or try to pass off PACKAGING something as a fee I should pay for when it’s less overhead than serving me water at the table and cleaning silverware, plates, and glasses if I was a sit down customer.

As someone who grew up in Quincy and has seen this place go from an amazing, consistent spot to go to now being a shell of its former self getting by on a reputation is created during its glory days, this is shocking. Plenty of people in Quincy that I’ve asked about this spot after my recent experiences here, people who I know once loved this place, have had similar experiences and most didn’t even know about a takeout “packaging” fee as they just stopped going there once the dine in experience started being as lousy as it was. All of them were shocked at that too.

Do yourself a favor and avoid. I once LOVED this place. Used to tell people it was the awesome… but greed, management/staff turnover, and the sad state of restaurants these days has...