Scarlet Oak Tavern — Restaurant in Hingham

I will never come back here again or recommend it to anyone. I had a reservation booked four days in advance for a celebration. I did have to call an hour before to let them know we’d be slightly late, and they assured me it wouldn’t be an issue.

When we arrived—less than 10 minutes past—we were given maybe the worst table in the place next to an overcrowded booth. We politely asked to move and were told we could, but they needed the next table back by a specific time. That was fine with us (even though we also had a reservation), but when the table next to us opened up we moved again with our waiter’s approval assuming the time restriction no longer applied to the new table. This was all before we ordered anything, so it wasn't a huge hassle.

We enjoyed our meal, ordered multiple drinks, and even requested a celebration dessert (with an extra tip by the way.) After that, staff gathered right behind us loudly discussing how they needed all three tables in our section for a reservation. Not sure how we were supposed to know that...but either way they were making it clear they expected us to wrap it up and leave. We were given our check with our last drink left. No problem, we paid it and were working on finishing up.

The manager then came over and told us we had to leave, with the full drinks still in front of us. She said the hostess had mentioned the specific time limit (despite the fact that we had changed tables and were never told it still applied.) She also said that they had to move another party because of us. Again, how are we supposed to know this considering no one told us after we changed tables? And really, trying to guilt us after we had ordered AND paid for meals, drinks, and dessert...that was just unnecessary. She offered us a round at the bar IF we could find a seat (...seriously?) but by then I wanted nothing to do with them considering how incredibly rude they were.

This was supposed to be a celebration and instead we were rushed out without even finishing the drinks we had already paid for (yes, they took the check before telling us to leave so rest assured they still got their money and tip.) I wouldn’t recommend this place for any dinner, let alone a special occasion. Bummer because we came pretty often and had even held an event here before. Now, I wish I could...

We went for Valentine's Day. We had a reservation for 9:30 at night. As soon as we got there we were seated. The atmosphere was really nice and cozy. Beautiful old wood floors and comfortable booths. Each table has a butcher paper table cover with a [fake] candle, which adds some nice ambiance.

For starters, we got calamari and oysters as a starter. The calamari had a perfect crust, though there was a couple of the rings were a little too chewy, the majority of it was perfectly cooked. The sauce that was served with it was super flavorful, with a nice kick. Oysters were nice and fresh.

For entrees, I got the Lamb Chops and my boyfriend got the Hanger Steak Frites. The lamb was cooked to perfection & had a delicious arugula pesto on top. It was also placed on top of this cauliflower puree, which was so buttery and flavorful that I'm still thinking about. The dish also had sweet potatoes, which while flavored very well, seemed a little soggy. My partner liked his steak, it was cooked to a perfect rare, per his instructions. He said the frites, while good, got a little overwhelming afterr awhile due to the truffle oil. He also wished there was a sauce over the steak instead of the marrow butter.

Our waitress was incredibly nice and friendly. She clearly was working hard to make sure all of her guests were having a good experience.

It's a bit pricey, but if you have a special occasion and want delicious food, this is the place to go! Would love to come back!

Note: they have a complementary valet service; we did not use it, but it is nice...

Sadly, drifting into mediocrity. Pre-pandemic, we would often go 2-3 times a week. Knew most staff and management for many years. Now, it's a husk of its former self. We use to rely on the consistency, especially after a long day at work, but even that has changed. Last trip there my usual meal was served cold, like it had sat waiting for my companion's entree to be cooked. It's like no one cares anymore. Pre-pandemic, expediters and waitstaff would never have let that get to the table. In fact, I'm not sure any new staff know how to fire orders correctly. The past few recent trips haven't been much better.

Most of the talented staff, who helped create a level of excellence and professionalism that locals came to expect, have all left. New staff aren't comparable, nor do the strive to be.....nor are they expected to be. The menu is literally the same as 5 years ago, with barely any seasonal changes....nevermind new items. All just recycled from previous years. Not a great way to cultivate repeat business or regulars.

Sad to see you wither, old friend. I hope you find the strength to overcome your problems and regain your former excellence. Otherwise, you are well on the way of standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of the Milepost and PJ's...