Strip By Strega

The only reason I am giving this place 2 stars is because the 12oz filet was actually really good… Over all avoid this place. It took 36 min to get my salad!!! And the kitchen sent out my steak BEFORE I even got my salad. Talk about terrible service for the price. And even after they totally messed up, the server played it off like it was the kitchens fault and not once did the manager come over. BUT the steak was really good, so they got 2 stars.

Delicious food, fabulous service terrific valet service as well. Overal a wonderful evening. Littllenecks, Sirloin, creamed spinach, potatoes and white chocolate cake with raspberries for dessert. All is good,

Strip by Strega is the #1 restaurant in all of Boston
There is no competition with this restaurant, no other restaurant or bar can compare this restaurant, its in a league of its own.
The bar /​lounge scene is amazing 7 nights of the week
The staff is beautiful, kind, attentive, generous, and very on point. All staff members are extremely humble despite the fact that on a regular night Steph Curry, Floyd Mayweather, or any of the leading scorers on the Patriots, Celtics, or Bruins may casually be eating or drinking at their bar. All of the who’s who of Boston’s financial and real estate sector can causally be seen at the bar– amazing opportunity for networking.
The owner clearly invested a significant amount of money and time in building out this restaurant
The vibe is classy, sexy, upscale, clean, exclusive, flirty, and prestigious.
The food is amazing, if I had to recommend my favorite thing on the menu I would say Steak Tartae … its the best steak tartar I have had (included every restaurant I’ve tried in Vegas and New York)

It’s your typical steakhouse but not your typical Boston steakhouse. It has more of a NYC or Vegas vibe. It is extremely loud after 7pm, which we didn’t mind because when I went it was with a group of young girlfriends. We had to shout to hear each other but the music was great so who cares? We ordered the tuna tartar, the sea bass, the rib eye and some desserts. It was very filling and the portions we’re good. There was an annoying group of women sitting across from us who didn’t exactly help the dining experience. When we asked the manager to move us he wouldn’t and that alone left a bad taste in my mouth. I will have to try Strip again to see if I have a similar experience and if I do, I will not be going back. The food was really nothing special and either was the service.

If you’re looking for contemporary fine dining, look elsewhere. Beyond the steaks, most dishes are heavy, greasy, and oh so pretentious. Such a disappointment for such a great downtown/​backbay location. The wine price mark-​up is just obscene, if you know anything about wine. The pace of service is disorganized and hectic. For what you’re paying for, it’s a much better experience at the more refined contemporary restaurants nearby. A bit of exaggeration here, but it’s akin to OliveGardens trying to go upscale by charging exorbitant prices. I can understand a Strega in Woburn or Waterfront, but Back Bay?
Raw bar items come with … dry-​ice smoke? It’s so high-school’ish. Pork chop milanese was over cooked with slight burnt bread-​coating, drenched with barely melted butter in too much salty capers. It’s would be fine for a mom-​n-​pop place, but this ain’t fine-​dining people.
However, the bar scene is great fun. It’s a place meant to see and be seen… flashy and over-​the-​top décor.

I was this weekend at Strega by the strip and this time was the best. The food was very good and the service was the best. I had a very good time and definitely I’m coming back in here.

Stumbled across this great find on New Years. Contemporary décor, great staff, quick to seat us.
Wine list great. Their version of a Moscow Mule with orange vodka average. Rib eye amazing, Sea bass amazing, Oysters with melon sorbet and caviar unbelievably amazing, gnocchi with lobster great, truffle fries great.
I really like this place and it’s cool vibe.

I’m a fan of Strega Prime in Woburn and Strega Waterfront. I was super excited to try their latest addition to the Varano Group.
The décor of STRIP is really modern and flashy. The crescent booths are elegant and the beautiful light fixtures were grand. Since it was NYE, there festive balloons strung along the walls of the dining rooms.
I started off with a glass of Argentinian Malbec and my husband had a glass of neat Oban scotch. Prices weren’t too bad at $ 10.00 per glass for the red wine and a little bit more for the scotch. Two small warm rolls were brought to the table.
We ordered fried calamari and lobster bisque before our «Executive» lunch.
The lobster bisque was delicious. There were a few lobster chunks in the hearty cup of goodness. I thought it was priced well at only $ 6.00.
Since we knew we would be drinking and going out later, we didn’t get a heavy meal. We opted for the «Executive Lunch» which includes a starter, a full size entrée and a dessert.
For the first course, we got mushroom bisque and steak tartare. The steak tartare was very good and it was served with the traditional quail egg.
The mushroom soup was a bit too tangy for me but my husband enjoyed it.
For lunch, I got the seared cod with gnocchi. I was surprised that it was a full size entrée. The gnocci was delicious and the sauce was amazing. I have a new found love for cod and I think I will start buying it and cooking it more.
My husband went with the steak frites and fries. It was a good portion. I tried a bite of the steak and it was flavorful.
We were too full for dessert so they packed it up for us. There was a misunderstanding with the «bus girl» and she threw out our calamari instead of packing it to go. Without asking, the kitchen made us a brand new order for us to take home. That is top notch customer service.
Total for drinks, 4 appetizers, 2 entrees, 2 desserts was about $ 90.00. That is an incredible steal considering it’s a high end steakhouse. Sure, we could have spent more but the thought of a 16 oz ribeye or porterhouse steak sitting in my stomach on NYE didn’t appeal to me.
I’d definitely come back again for lunch and even for dinner to try out their steaks. Service was great.

Efficient seating despite my lack of planning ahead. I didn’t have to wait long for the food which was great. The waitress recommended the lobster gnocchi — I don’t normally pick lobster but this was so good. The gnocchi literally melted in my mouth. I picked the mixed mushrooms but it was fairly average. The seasonal dessert was caramel flavoured but a little bitter for my taste.

I went here to grab a bite for to eat for dinner before heading to an event with the boyfriend and a friend. It was around 6:30pm on a Friday night so the dining area had a bit of a crowd, but we were easily seated right away.
To start off the night, we decided to try a trio of appetizers.
Well – before the appetizers, was the bread basket. Mmmmm – was that bread and butter good. I was especially fond of the rosemary bread rolls – notice I said rollsss – yeah, they were that good.
The first appetizer we tried was the wagyu meatball. The meatball was actually very tasty, but was quite small and pricy due to the wagyu component. While it was good, I didn’t think that it was worth the price tag.
The second appetizer that we tried was the burrata. Again, this dish was very good – the burrata was perfectly creamy and delicious, but we were a little bit miffed that there was nothing to put it on. We have ordered burrata many, many times and this was the first time that I remember not getting some bread with it.
The third appetizer we tried was the tuna tartare. This dish came recommended by our waiter and it was definitely the best one of the three. It came with a good amount of tuna that had great flavor and was very light. The presentation was a bit clunky (especially for a place with such a hip vibe), but the taste was there.
For our meals, we all went with the petite filet which came with truffle butter and then a side of truffle frites and creamed spinach. The filet was very good, especially when paired with the truffle butter. It was a good size and quite tender and flavorful.
The frites were decent, but nothing that had me wanting more. The spinach, on the other hand, was very good and surprisingly light – with a nice combination of flavors in every bite.
To finish the meal, we decided to go with the chocolate mousse. While the ice cream was very good, I was a bit underwhelmed by the mouse itself. I felt like it lacked sweetness, but it still was a nice way to finish the meal.
In addition, I tried a couple of drinks including the copper leaf – which I didn’t care for, and another one which had vodka and pineapple in it – which was quite tasty.
Overall, this place is a little over-​the-​top with its vibe as it is sort of designed like a swanky night club. That being said, it definitely puts everyone in the mood to dress to impress and makes for a nice night out. The service was friendly and the food was very good and came out quickly. This is definitely a nice place to go if you don’t mind breaking the bank for a special occasion.

I’m really glad I gave this place another shot. I had a horrible work lunch/​food experience a couple of months ago. Last night we went for the burger and it was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. The truffle fries were insanely good. The Burratta melted in your mouth (to die for).
There are almost no late night food options in the Back Bay, what a find. Its a total scene. Super people watching. It was packed on 1am on a random Wednesday. Single girls, get yourself there.
The only odd thing was the waitresses attire. Their Dad’s would certainly not approve. Felt like we were in Vegas on a lot of accounts.
Will be back for sure!

Simply amazing. Love love love the octopus. So amazing. Need some to go :) chef Farouk is awesome. Made some amazing food for me and my bestie :)

Disclaimer: this review is solely for the vibe and the atmosphere at the bar.
I went with friends on a Saturday after a friend told me that there was excellent people watching. It did not disappoint.
The layout and ambience were very posh — white on black, lopsided lillies and two bars — one in the front, one tucked away in the back. We came for cocktails and I didn’t see anything tempting, so I got a couple of fingers of Wild Turkey (they had a good selection of ryes).
The DJ played a mix of top 40/​get on your feet music and some hits from decades past to incite the crowd and play the nostalgic factor. It was cougar/​silver fox CITY. And I reveled in it.
Like many new «hot spot» bars in Boston — I’m sure this will go the way of Towne — packed and filled with well dressed, dapper peeps on the prowl, and then evolve into a not-​so-​happening spot. For now, go forth and do give your eyes the pleasure of amazing social anthropology in action.

Adjoined to my hotel this visit here… Loved the bar. It replaced whiskey park.
They make fantastic manhattans and dirty martinis.
I can’t comment about the food but this place has a nice wrap around bar. the bartenders are friendly and there seems to always be somebody here.
Oh and the hotel lobby bar isn’t bad either…

Chic bar with lots of seating, great music, strong cocktails, and wines. Drinks and desserts are pricey but worth it. The staff is very attentive and friendly and make sure you’re taken care of with frequent stops to your table or spot at the bar. As a group, we tried the apple torte and the salted caramel chocolate lava cake. They were both delicious, but the lava cake won, hands down. With the first bite, chocolate rushed out and we were all in chocolate heaven.
If you’re going solo, try and grab a seat at the bar. There are high tops, booths, and tables for groups. It’s a great atmosphere and worth getting dressed up for!

Strip is a wonderful destination for a night out. With high class décor, club-​like music, and fine wine and food, this makes for more than a few steps up from your neighborhood bar. If you get here early enough, grab a seat at the bar as that is where all the action is. People coming and going will chat and you’ll have plenty of bar mates.
I ended up with a cabernet and it was delicious. At 15 $ it was higher than I normally go for but it’s what I expected coming in. The wait staff was very attentive and regularly came by to check on us. I was with friends for a birthday so we ordered a few desserts, namely the salted caramel lava cake and an apple pie (more like a rectangle but it was delicious!). The Lava cake was by far the winner. Gooey insides with ice caramel to dip it in. It gives a whole new meaning to lava cake.
This is for a sure a very nice bar. I wouldn’t suggest jeans and a tshirt as most people are dressed to the nines. I enjoyed that as I love to get dressed up and this gave me an excuse!

Updating my review! Same thoughts on food (delicious!) and service (impeccable!) with a few new notes on ambiance and drinks:
We went to Strip at 9:00 on a Saturday night (as opposed to our last outing, which was 6:00). It’s definitely more of a late-​night place. While the 6:00 trip was somewhat empty, the place was totally packed at 9– I think we snagged the only open table.
The first thing was noticed was the crowd. Totally NOT your average steak house clientele. Most steak places we’ve been to in the area tend to lean toward an older (heavily male) crowd. We were struck by the range of people at Strip. There was the classic old-​guys-​out-​for-​steak table, but also tables of women out for girls night and quite a few young couples. Good date spot. At the front around the bar, the crowd was super young– and really gussied up! If you’re looking for an excuse to wear that dress that feels a little too fancy for Boston, here’s your chance. Everyone was dressed to the nines, so you won’t be out of place if you decide you *need* somewhere to wear your gold sequined dress.
Once again, we ordered filet mignon. Once again, they were perfect. We also got the gnocchi and cheese side, and man, if you haven’t had it, you’re missing it. It was ridiculously decadent. Why is anyone wasting their time with mac and cheese when you could be eating GNOCCHI and cheese!!!
The service was outstanding. They have that magical level of service where nobody is obviously hovering, but as soon as your tilt your chin to look for the waiter, someone swoops by in an instant.
As a crazy ice lady who freezes her own giant blocks of ice and received an ice pick for her birthday (I swear it’s true), I was disappointed that the last time we came, our pricey whiskey came on crushed ice. Management kindly contacted me and assured me it was a mistake. Sure enough, this time, our scotch came on a gorgeous, perfectly crystal clear 2″ cube. Loves it. If you think the ice think is crazy, do a blind taste test sometime. It’s amazing what a difference it makes.
I’m glad we had a chance to go back, and we’re looking forward to our next trip to Strip!

Strip by Strega is ensconced in the Park Plaza Hotel, alongside its fellow hotel mates — Smith & Wollensky and MJ O’Connor’s. Strip by Strega, however, is the relative newcomer, with Summer 2015 being its first opportunity to join in on Dine Out Boston.
I was excited to experience Nick Varano’s newest venture, the newest Strega sib, so we opted to come for Restaurant Week even though the menu listed wasn’t the most tasty sounding of those published to date. Becca P.‘s recent Unilocal review lowered my expectations, hopefully to something more reasonable, though admittedly I was still a little worried at disappointing my DC.
Strip is quite impressive to the eye, but was super tough on the ear and throat. It looked great, from the flowers to the ceiling to the round clear wine cellar to the well dressed staff — even better dressed than I in my summer business casual wear! But noise travelled, and my DC and I had to lean in and raise our voices to hear one another talk. In a word, my DC described the atmosphere as «difficult.»
We had a two person team waiting on us — I figured that perhaps the girl who shadowing the fellow was in training — but still it was tough to get their attention at times. Also, the fellow delivering the food would disappear lickety-​split before I even had the chance to convert my thoughts into words. Fortunately there was a busser assigned to our section that was quite attentive.
They slipped their Dine Out menu into their regular menu which was a nice touch. Many of the diners around us seem to have been ordering non-​prix fixe fare. Particularly, I wondered at the dry ice smoke that enveloped a nearby table with great gusto.
As for us, we stayed with the Dine Out Boston menu, while straying just a touch with an order of their gnocchi side — Gnocchi & Cheese $ 12. You gotta be a cheese lover for that one, so I did enjoy it, but still, it was too much for me, so I took over half of it home for another day.
For my appetizer, I decided to venture forth and order the Wagyu Carpaccio (Pickled Mushrooms. Eggs. Mustard Emulsion) ($ 21 on the appetizer menu). Yes, raw cow. While my DC selected the Strawberry Gazpacho (Cucumbers. Lemon Balsamic Sorbet).
They ended up delivering the Carpaccio and the Caprese — hmmm… did they know something that we didn’t? I mentioned to well dressed man who saw my concerned look and came by to see what the issue was that we had actually ordered Gazpacho, and the Caprese was immediately whisked away. Fortunately, we still had the bread on the table, and I know how to share.
The Wagyu was paper thin and had to be scraped off the plate, but once I removed the round slices of pepper to avoid unwanted heat, it was wonderful! So good!
I sampled the Gazpacho, and found it interesting in texture with the diced vegetables hidden beneath the cold soup, but when asked how I liked it, I admitted that it wasn’t to my taste, but then, it wasn’t my pick, and I passed it along to my DC. The server generously offered to get us something else if we didn’t like it. We later took him on his word when my DC found it too spicy and not at all as he had imagined it. So we swapped it out for the Caprese Heirloom (Tomatoes. Basil Purée. Mozzarella Cheese) which was quite refreshing and tasty, and was enjoyed by us both.
As this was a steak house, we opted for the sole beef option on the RW menu — Tenderloin Filet (Fingerling Potatoes. Asparagus. Salsa Verde), and added as our second entrée the Pan Seared Salmon (Lobster & Grilled Corn Salsa. Tomatillos Sauce). Both meats were well prepared, and the skin of the fish nicely crisp, but there was but a hint of vegetables with three half spears of asparagus tucked among the two halved fingerling potatoes hidden beneath the steak. The proteins were tender and acceptably flavored, but lacked any wow factor.
Dessert was much better appreciated. The Panna Cotta arrived in a dessert cup garnished with 2 blackberries, and once I pierced the soft melty custard through, I discovered a fruit sauce pooled beneath!
Excluding the Gazpacho, food ranged from good to terrific. Service could be improved upon. But I’ll let fond memories of their Carpaccio nudge this 3.5 star review up to a 4 star rating.

Came here for restaurant week. This place is decent. Not amazing. Not terrible. The wagyu carpaccio was phenomenal. It basically melts in your mouth and then they are little crispy slices and shreds of cheese for extra textures and flavors. Really good! Salmon tartare was okay. It was a bit bland. Had a lot of potential though.
Tenderloin beef was underwhelming. Not a huge fan of the chimichurri sauce. I was not wow’d by this which was upsetting. Tried the cornish hen and it was okay. Looked better than it tasted.
Panna cotta was really good and silky. Light yet creamy. The Brownie from the ‘Brownie Sundae’ was hard and dry. Literally, if they microwaved it and it was soft, it would have been amazing. The brownie flavors were there, just not a soft, chewy brownie.
Oh, We also ordered the gnocchi side which was my favorite thing to eat. It reminded me of Mac and cheese. The gnocchi was soft but not mushy. It had the perfect consistency.
The service was decent. We had a really nice lady with a cute accent. They constantly filled our waters. The wine we got was a $ 75 bottle of pinot noir. Not my kind of wine. But my friends wanted it. Had the steak been better, I feel like a Cabernet would have paired with it well.
Décor is nice. Fancy. Definitely dress up or dressy casual. They had space for our table of 7. I think no more than 8 here for groups. I am unsure if they can accommodate more. Probably if they push square tables together.
Overall, Strip by Strega was just okay. Not sure if I would come back here.

Ok, so this place is a bit of a «scene»… lots of botox and fake boobs, lots of people who want to show off their money… BUT. really love the atmosphere of the place. with the DJ and great drink menu… FANTASTIC food. we had a bunch of first courses, including the Waygu Carpaccio and Lobster Gnocchi. We split the Waygu filet for our main and it was done perfectly… and split beautifully. We didn’t do dessert but the wine was flowing plenty. They have a wonderful wine menu, though many of the wines are massively overpriced… especially by the bottle.
Overall, though, for a fun night out and one where cost isn’t a big deal, it is worth it… lots of great people watching, great menu, enjoyable atmosphere, great location.
It is loud, so prepare for that, there is a DJ and «club like» atmosphere, but I enjoyed it for celebrating my birthday.