Merai

Merai reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. S

   Sameer

   San Francisco1 review

   5.0

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We sat at the bar counter. Service was understated but efficient, courteous and quite fast. The drinks are absolutely amazing, no wonder that Merai has earned a reputation as being one of best bars in Boston. I had Wonka's ticket which was just out of this world, for my taste. The balance of sweet, smoke and complex butteriness was simply amazing. The other drink was a tequila based cocktail called Larb which was delicious in a very different way; citrusy, sweet and savory with the magic of bell peppers and culantro playing nicely with the rest. The food was also on-point. The best dish of the night was the Hamachi collar special; it was cooked perfectly and had just the right amount of chilli spiciness. Also notable was the raw hangar steak (forget the dish name). Well worth the wait if you have the patience. We will be definitely be going again!!
   

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2. A

   Adam VIP

   Greater Boston152 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing dinner at Merai. The food was incredibly unique, yet familiar at the same time. The Kale salad was outstanding an a great way to start. The mussels were the largest and tastiest mussels I have had in any restaurant in Boston (including legal seafood!). We loved the famous hot dog.. so much flavor in this dish and we loved the pasta with khao soy (very delicious). The cocktails were both A+ (strawberry cheesecake and lard) and we also loved the thai tea tiramisu. We will be back! Kop Khun Krab!
   

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3. K

   Kaitlin

   Los Angeles2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 15, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Fast service and the food was amazing! Highly recommend the hamachi crudo (on the specials), fettuccine, and mussels.
   

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4. B

   Brian VIP

   Washington DC44 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on May 13, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   The food was delicious and the service was great. Only complaint was I would have liked more spice in the dishes.
   

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5. A

   Avinash VIP

   Greater Boston5 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 13, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Solid take on what a craft Thai-inspired cocktail bar should be. Cocktails were incredibly thoughtful, balanced, and doesn’t necessarily break the bank from a dollar-value standpoint. The food was all around very thought through, elevated bar style food. Probably the best hotdog I’ve ever had in my life outside from a Costco hotdog, Costco is the Mecca.
   

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6. R

   Ronald VIP

   Greater Boston1 review

   5.0

   Dined on May 10, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. Great vibe. Highly recommend.
   

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7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Chicago3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 9, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Everything was wonderful but they keep to the 90 min table limit which made us feel a little rushed.
   

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8. J

   Jenn

   Greater Boston4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Fantastic food and service - great addition to the Village!
   

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9. J

   Jessica VIP

   Greater Boston6 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Wonderful service, great food. At times noisy but it was an excellent visit.
   

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10. J

    Jeff

    Greater Boston2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4

    This was our third or fourth time eating here and we highly recommend. It probably helps that my wife is from Thailand, and so speaks native language with many of the staff. That said, the food is very good, the drinks exceptionally creative (they have a nice custom cocktail listing or you can order what you like). I believe they won or were nominated for the best new cocktail bar by James Beard for the New England region. Prices are reasonable in comparison with other similar establishments, which is to say a little high for the size portions but you are paying for the ambiance etc. It is a small location with lively music and good energy. It can get a bit loud, but it's a personal preference whether one finds it too loud. For me it's ok and I am by no means a youngster, but if you are looking for a quiet romantic spot, this might not be it unless you eat early. The staff are friendly and every time we've gone, the food came out promptly.
    

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