I had high hopes for my early dinner at Banks Seafood & Steak, but unfortunately, the experience was disappointing.
The best part of the meal was the warm, fresh bread. It was delicious and set a great first impression.
The clam chowder was just okay. I've had much better, even from Whole Foods. What surprised me was that the oyster crackers were served in a small cup, and they were stale. Most restaurants provide a fresh, sealed packet, but these tasted old and took away from the soup.
I also ordered the beef tartare. The bread underneath the meat was so hard it was difficult to eat. All I could really taste was cold, raw meat. I understand tartare is served raw, but this preparation simply wasn't enjoyable and wasn't to my liking.
For my main course, the steak had good flavor, but it was very chewy. While it was tasty, the texture was disappointing.
The biggest issue was the service. My early dinner lasted over two hours, and I often felt as though my waiter had forgotten about me. There were extremely long waits between courses, and it took about 45 minutes just to receive a frozen yogurt dessert. The slow service turned what should have been a relaxing dinner into a frustrating experience.
Overall, while the bread was excellent, the food and especially the service did not meet my expectations. Sadly, I would not return or recommend this restaurant based on my experience
The Banks delivers on the food—everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared. The quality really stands out and made the meal enjoyable overall. Fantastic ambiance as well.
Service, however, was a bit delayed and occasionally forgetful, which took away from the experience. With more attentive service, this would easily be a 5-star visit. Still, definitely worth going for the food alone!
5
Very nice ambience! It was a Friday night that we got there without reservations but the host helped us and accommodate our party of 3!
My drink was a must if you like tequila cocktails!
I had the lobster roll with was not really on a roll but instead they used their own bread!
Everything was delicious worth the price! Looking forward for visiting again soon 😀
5
Conveniently located in Back Bay, this bright restaurant with walls of glass is very inviting. We had reservations for brunch and were promptly greeted upon entering and seated immediately near the first floor gas fireplace. The servers were pleasant and knowledgeable, answering all our questions & making helpful suggestions. The Bloody Marys were tasty but did not have celery. The apps came out quickly, the spoons were just a tease, but you can order as many as you want. The tower was fresh and cold. The Benedict had a good share of sweet lobster knuckles & claw meat, while the eggs were perfectly poached. Served with deep fried homefries & a tiny side of mixed greens. Excellent. The avocado toast was served on sourdough with avocado, smoked salmon, thin radish slices and topped with tobiko. It was outstanding. Definitely a great place for fresh seafood.
4
Really enjoyed the food at The Banks Seafood and Steak. Everything tasted great, but service was slower than expected for Saturday around 4 PM. One thing I’d mention is to check your bill carefully. I ordered the same beer twice, but the second one was entered as a different beer that cost $5 more. I caught it before paying, and they fixed it right away. Overall, good meal, just worth keeping an eye on the check.
