Banyan Bar + Refuge

Name: Banyan Bar + Refuge
Address: 553 Tremont St, Boston, MA, United States, 02116
Telephone: (617) 556-4211
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

936 Reviews

$31 to $50

Asian

Top Tags:

Explore a bold beverage and food menu at Banyan Bar + Refuge, where Southeast Asia meets New England. Expect to find sweet, salty, sour, and spicy tastes in fascinating combinations. Great music, a casual vibe, and attentive service also await you on our extensive patio in the historic South End. If you prefer to dine at home, the food at Banyan travels well and eats even better when you order one of our craft cocktails to go. The option to order from our carefully curated wine and beer selection is also available. Please note the patio is open for the season but is being seated on a first come first serve basis. All reservations are being taken for indoors.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 30, 2022

10:00 PM

Booked 83 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(617) 556-4211

Other options

Order online

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Asian, Gastro Pub
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
Phone number
(617) 556-4211
Website
http://www.banyanboston.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Private party facilities
For pricing, and availability please inquire through our website.
Private party contact
Elena Todisco : (617) 556-4211

Location
553 Tremont St Boston, MA 02116
Neighborhood
South End
Cross street
Clarendon Street
Parking details
Street parking is available.
Public transit
Back Bay
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

The Best Ramen in Boston

Popular dishes

Pork Belly Bao***$14.00
pork belly, shaved onion, pineapple, peanuts, cilantro
Mushroom Bao$16.00
braised shiitake mushrooms, charred scallions, hoisin, fried shallots
Kfc Bao**$10.00
tempura cauliflower, sweet + spicy sauce, green onion
Avocado Bao**$10.00
crispy avocado, bbq sauce, shaved onion, pickles

Cold

Garlic Cucumbers$8.00
cucumber, soy-ginger dressing, lemon, sesame
Fresh Roll Cups** ***$10.00
bibb lettuce, cucumber, shrimp, mint, basil, cilantro, peanut sauce
Overnight Oats***$6.00
cup chilled oats, coconut milk, honey, maple syrup, pineapple, pineapple jelly
Heirloom Tomato Salad**$16.00
heirloom cherry tomatoes, house-made tofu-ricotta curds, olive oil, black vinegar, shiso leaves, sea salt

Hot

Lobster Rangoon***$14.00
lobster cream cheese filled wontons
Pork Muffin* ***$10.00
griddled corn muffin, bbq pulled pork, smashed avocado, pickled onions, chili threads, cilantro, fried egg
Breakfast Musubi* *** ^$10.00
griddled rice cake, chinese sausage, sunny side egg, kombu, cilantro
Brunch Weenies* ** ^^$10.00
sweet + spicy glazed chinese sausage, roasted potatoes, green onion, fried egg

Mains

Avo-Edamame Toast*$14.00
texas toast, edamame spread, tahini, avocado, chili, cilantro, cured egg yolk, fried egg
Banyan Benedict* ^$16.00
griddled bao, pork belly, poached egg, sriracha hollandaise, cilantro, homefries
Breakfast Sandwich*$14.00
Blackbird Doughnuts® everything bagel doughnut, fried egg, american cheese, homefries
Dan Dan Noodles$16.00
spicy szechuan chicken ragu, ramen noodles, scallion
French Toast Sticks$10.00
deep-fried custard soaked texas toast, cinnamon + powdered sugar, maple syrup
Skillet Frittata ^^$10.00
creamy eggs, cream cheese, red bell pepper, onion, scallion, sourdough toast
Two Egg Plate* ** ^^ ^^^$10.00
two eggs served sunny side up, fried, over easy or scrambled | sourdough toast, choice of bacon, chinese sausage or avocado
Our Way Burger* ***$17.00
flat patty, american cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, pickles, french fries

What 936 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.8Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Boston / New England
Asian
Boston
Outdoor Dining

Sort by

Filters

DV
DavidV
New England
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Banyan Bar is one of my go-to spots in Boston, whether I walk in for a seat at the bar or book in advance for dinner before a show. I like the cocktails, the fun menu, the ambiance, and the team. (The manager Jimmy is worth the trip alone.) Definitely recommend,
LN
LucasN
New York Area
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall4food5service3ambience4
Good date spot -
CH
CindyH
New England
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great outdoor ambiance on a lovely warm night. Delicious food, AMAZING and fun drinks. A hit for me and my friends from out of town. Thank you.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best restaurant in the south end
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server and everyone else we interacted were incredible. We were celebrating a birthday and they did so much to make it special, including bringing out a very cute and delicious dessert with a candle. The food was wonderful and the overall experience was fantastic!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
overall3food5service3ambience5
Service was super slow. Understaffed probably since the restaurant was empty only the patio was full yet service took forever. Order drink took over 20 min, and drinks around 15 min to arrive. Cocktails came underserved (1/3 of the glass or less) and they ran out of it at some point.Service was quick to clear out plates even though we were not done. When my date went to the restroom her half done wine of glass was cleared of the table. And we were reminded that we should be out of the patio by ten (but the same message was not conveyed to the table next to us). Check was promptly dropped off, probably the most efficient part of the night. Busser was friendly, server was overwhelmed, manager just dropped by to make sure we were out by 10. Drinks are a rip off, food was good, patio is nice (but there are 100 options in Boston with better value/services/better drinks). Funny thing we saw a friend at the Patio next door (beehive)and he said “don’t order cocktails at Banyan, go for wine or beer”I guess we should had listened. -Not recommend for dates Maybe if you have a day off and don’t care about quality/service you will be ok at this place and just enjoy the patio with the pretty lights
P
Peaches
New England
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful place to eat . We walked by so many times. Always looking in the window and thinking it looks unique. The food was very good. We got the buns . Banyan buns ? And shared . Spring rolls and snow peas with mushrooms 🍄 yum ! Excellent dessert. Great cocktails. We will be back
R
Ryan
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our waitress, Sara, was spectacular. Jimmy owns Banyan Bar + Refuge -- this restaurant means the world to him and you can absolutely tell. Everything about the restaurant from the food to the drinks to the wait staff is impeccable. You'd be hard-pressed to find better food and a better experience in Boston.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server, Pat, was terrific and really made it a relaxing and fun experience. Food was delicious- with a good diversity of flavors. Excellent local beer on tap.
JS
JenniferS
New England
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall4food4service4ambience4
Outdoor space is delightful! The avocado bao was delish and the seared Tuna was perfect for a warm summer night.
MW
MadisonW
Louisville
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best food in South End. Also huge perk that pretty much everything is gluten free!
G
Georgia
New England
2 reviews
vip
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 21, 2022
overall4food5service3ambience4
Banyan food is inventive and so delicious. Wish we sat outside! The diff in ambiance is huge for the summer.
C
Cris
New England
3 reviews
vip
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 20, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience5
Gorgeous patio. One of the best outdoor eating experiences in the South End.
CC
ChemicalCuisine
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were able to make a reservation to sit outside, which is beautiful. There’s street traffic so it can be a bit noisy and windy, but it was a large patio shaded by trees. The food was excellent and our waitress was extremely attentive. I’m planning to go back soon!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
vip
2.0
1 review
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall2food1service3ambience3
The food tasted very old, like it had been cooked far earlier in the day and had been sitting out.
JK
JeffreyK
Naples
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic find. Reccomend going during happy hour
BB
BostonBruncher
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great outdoor patio! We had a 5pm reservation, and when we arrived there were lovely patio lights, the music wasn’t too loud, and our waiter was super kind. The tuna poke bowl was delicious!
KM
KathleenM
New England
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
the owner and or manager made the dinner special for a table of 6 outside. He was charming and with an excellent sense of humor. At the end he gave us all shots of some nice liquor. Everything was outstanding this place deserves the reference of having the best outdoor dining space in Boston!!
JL
JulieL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 15, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
The patio at Banyan Bar is an inviting, ambiance filled space filled with just the right amount of buzz shielded just enough from street noise. The food was inventive and delicious. Coconut calamari, shosito peppers and the tuna poke are terriffic. It is, in my mind, the best space to eat outside in the South End.
WV
WillV
New England
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 15, 2022
overall5food4service4ambience5
Dining outdoors at Banyan on a wonderful June evening is as good as it gets!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 13, 2022
overall3food2service3ambience3
Food was subpar for the price and they were out of chicken, which is in a bunch of their dishes. The waiter who seemed to be the manager couldn’t be bothered to come over and check on us at all throughout our time there. We had about 4 different waiters during our meal and were the last ones out waiting for the check. Overall disappointed and wouldn’t come back.
j
jjhmolbio
New England
46 reviews
4.0
46 reviews
Dined on June 13, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
This is a nice spot. The service is usually pretty good. The food tastes really good. But it is microscopic. A frozen drink is poured like a glass of wine (maybe 5 oz) when it is mostly ice. An app is basically a bite. And they charge like it was a full plate. So know what you are getting into before you arrive. The Baos are good, but also, small for the price.
JS
JenS
San Francisco
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on June 12, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience5
When 4 out of the 5 members of our party received our meals the server told the 5th person they were out of his order. They WAITED until the rest of us were served! He sat there with nothing.
PR
PenelopeR
New England
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious and interesting meal. I’d go back for sure!
j
jcftc
New England
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on June 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Rosita took great care of us — great recommendations (shrimp, chicken specials), attentive service, kept the drinks coming! The patio was perfect on a nice summer night — LOTS of outdoor seating for the COVID-conscious!
CD
CharD
Baltimore
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 10, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
The lobster boa was phenomenal! All the food was delicious! Can’t wait to come back
MB
MacB
New England
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
A perfect outdoor dining meal under the canopy of trees at the Banyan patio. Service was excellent, the food amazing and the atmosphere relaxing and un-rushed. Look forward to our next meal at Banyan.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely love the Banyan. Amazing drinks and such good food!
m
michaels
New England
41 reviews
vip
4.0
41 reviews
Dined on June 8, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience4
The flavors and spices are overdone. A little subtlety could go a long way in improving the dining experien.e
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 6, 2022
overall5food5service3ambience5
2 out of 3 orders for my party came out together. Mine the third arrived after my party was done unfortunately. Food however was outstanding
H
Heidi
New England
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such an underrated spot; the food is incredible, it’s spacious, and it has on of the best outdoor seating areas in Boston.
NG
NGabriel
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on June 4, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Love the brunch set-up. Got a great table. Service was excellent!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 3, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience5
I felt this restaurant had great ambience and that the decor was really cozy. The bao bun I ordered, the KFC, was okay. My main entree, DanDan Noodles, were soaked in their sauce and chicken was barely detectable. My drink, the Painkiller, was good. I found the menu to be quite sparse-basically bao buns, the dandan noodles, and a burger, offering. Service was average and a tad snooty. I cant say this place is exceptional, at all. The food was lackluster. I’d go back for a drink and a bao bun and then move onto a better restaurant to finish off the evening!
PT
PaulineT
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on June 3, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience4
We weee seated outside so noise was not an issue. Food was really good; service was a bit slow as there was only one server for quite a few tables. But other than that, great time and would come again anytime!
H
Hudson
New England
27 reviews
vip
2.0
27 reviews
Dined on June 3, 2022
overall2food2service1ambience3
We had wanted to like this place since the space, particularly the outdoor patio, looked so nice. The food was OK: we enjoyed the spicy soba noodles as an appetizer, but thought that mushroom bibimbap and the tuna fried rice were average. But the drinks were very watered down and the service was truly awful. They seem to follow some sort of “zone coverage” for the tables, without adequate communication, so that there were a whole bunch of mistaken deliveries to tables around us, and to us. And this translated into 3 of the 4 tables in our area (including us) getting bills that included items not ordered by that table. Truly awful service.
H
Hollisjanine
New England
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 3, 2022
overall4food3service3ambience5
We had a nice time. The ambience was lovely. Our waiter was clearly very busy. They need more wait staff. The apps were tasty and different. The burger was bland and the ramen noodles were just not good. I did not even eat them. The waiter did not notice it did not care that the bowl was full. A 5 star restaurant would have noticed and comped the item or at a minimum offered a dessert. In any case, ambience 5 stars, food 3 stars.
R
Raven
New England
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, drinks and energy! Very friendly staff :)
R
Ronnie
New England
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on June 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best spot for enjoying old favorites or trying new drinks and food! Always fresh, delicious and welcoming.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 31, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience5
The drinks were great! The food overall was very good, but there were a couple dishes we didn’t love (partially poor ordering on our part). We would definitely come back and try some other stuff!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Louisville
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 30, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
Food and outdoor patio were great. Drinks were very small. Felt absurd for the price. Spa Day felt like a mocktail - spa

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Banyan Bar + Refuge using the Order Online button. Banyan Bar + Refuge also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 556-4211.

Banyan Bar + Refuge is rated 4.6 stars by 936 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 30, 2022

10:00 PM

Booked 83 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(617) 556-4211

Other options

Order online

553 Tremont St Boston, MA 02116

Additional information

Cross street
Clarendon Street
Neighborhood
South End
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
Cuisines
Asian, Gastro Pub
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street parking is available.
Public transit
Back Bay
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.banyanboston.com/
Phone number
(617) 556-4211
Private party facilities
For pricing, and availability please inquire through our website.
Private party contact
Elena Todisco : (617) 556-4211

Featured in

The Best Ramen in Boston

Banyan Bar + Refuge

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Other options

Additional information

The Best Ramen in Boston

Dan Dan Noodles

Avocado Bao

Fried Chicken Bao

Bao Buns

Pork Belly Bao***$14.00

Mushroom Bao$16.00

Kfc Bao**$10.00

Avocado Bao**$10.00

Cold

Garlic Cucumbers$8.00

Fresh Roll Cups** ***$10.00

Overnight Oats***$6.00

Heirloom Tomato Salad**$16.00

Hot

Lobster Rangoon***$14.00

Pork Muffin* ***$10.00

Breakfast Musubi* *** ^$10.00

Brunch Weenies* ** ^^$10.00

Mains

Avo-Edamame Toast*$14.00

Banyan Benedict* ^$16.00

Breakfast Sandwich*$14.00

Dan Dan Noodles$16.00

French Toast Sticks$10.00

Skillet Frittata ^^$10.00

Two Egg Plate* ** ^^ ^^^$10.00

Our Way Burger* ***$17.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

Does Banyan Bar + Refuge offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Banyan Bar + Refuge restaurant rated?

Is Banyan Bar + Refuge currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Other options

Additional information

Featured in

The Best Ramen in Boston

Fresh Roll Cups *$10.00