Nautilus Pier 4

"I had no idea what to expect when I made a reservation for Nautilus, but I ended up having a quite good experience overall. The one thing that stuck out in a bad way however was that the food was very very salty and would really have gone well with rice (but they don't give any rice or bread and it's not even listed as an optional add-on). I am a fiend for salt, but even I thought that the combination of a lot of the foods that we got were unbearably salty and really took away from the enjoyableness of the experience. Even if we had just had a couple of bowls of rice, the food would have tasted much much better because we would have been able to appreciate the flavors, rather than just have our mouths overloaded with sodium. That being said I really did love the different flavors that we had here and had a lot of dishes that I would want to get again. Delicious, would get again - Korean style short ribs was the showstopper for me. I was worried that it would be sweet because it did say KBBQ style, which can be quite sweet, but instead it was a punch of flavor and the meat was so tender and juicy. It's some of the best short rib I've ever had. It was just delicious. - The crab fried rice was delicious. The price is a bit steep and I'm not sure if it's really worth that price, but it is quite good. Very soft, filling, and hits all the right spots. It's not a wok hei crispy sort of fried rice, but more of a soft one with smooth gentle flavors. The crab meat is big and tasty and the egg and crispy shallots are great. I didn't really need the sauce at that point and I kind of wish that we had the rice earlier to go with the other things but unfortunately we did receive the rice last. - The tuna with shrimp chips was also really good. It wasn't too salty, the tuna was super super smooth, and the shrimp chips had a nice crunch. Wouldn't get again/I was too salted-out to appreciate - The charcoal prawns were strongly recommended in a lot of food reviews. I can see that it could've been good, but there was way too much seasoning on it, and it was the first item we had that was unbearably salty. The shrimp was also the kind that gets easily overcooked. I wouldn't get it again. - I thought the scallops were nicely cooked and tasty with vegetables and creamy sauce but it wasn't anything particularly special so I wouldn't get that one again. - The Shanghai pork and chicken dumplings were pretty good but nothing too special and I'm not sure if this price this justified. I did like the crunchy textures of the topping and the sauciness. - We also got the raclette peppers which I didn't really like because it wasn't my style of flavors but the other people I was with really liked it. - The wok-fried greens I think we're quite good but again because of the salt I just couldn't eat any more of it. Dessert review - The tres leches cake with passion fruit was really unique and tasty and the textures were great. It was almost a bit too much flavor though -- there was a bit of mouth-puckering saltiness and sourness. It was almost too much flavor for me, though I'm not sure how much that was influenced by the other things I had earlier in the evening. - The salted chocolate soft serve was nothing special. The tres leches cake is much more special and worth getting. Takeaways - They gave us four of most things so it would be a great place to go with either two people or four people. - We did order a bit too much food, and ended up spending over $100 per person after tax and tip. We could easily have cut one or two of the smaller dishes and have been satisfied (closer to $75 per person). - Given the serving sizes, the food is quite expensive. But there are some really unique flavor and texture combinations that you can't find elsewhere, so maybe it's worth it! - The service was good and it was a really nice ambiance with nice lighting and bathrooms. - I can see myself coming back but I would definitely try to get some rice, because I don't think it's possible to get through the meal without it."

"The food is excellent, but very pricey for small portions. I drank just water. I was a solo diner, so I didn't get the same service as the people sitting near me even I spent more than they did. Robin was my server. For example, the couple in their 70s who were from Florida, but have a home in Boston, the server had several conversations each time he came back to their table about playing a certain sport in Florida. The server also spoke with the couple sitting across from me who were from San Diego. I hope they tipped him well, but the couple in their 70s didn't have much cash on them and they left a $10. In their defense, they had a hefty gift card and the server wouldn't let them leave tip on the gift card. The server said management policy. I tipped double what my neighbors did, but the server spent three times attention on my neighbors. Plus there is a 4% kitchen appreciation fee, so really I tipped 20%. Anyways, the tipping culture is out of control. It is one reason I don't eat out as much anymore. I probably overtipped given the service. No one came by my table to ask how was my food. The food tasted fresh, but the cuisine was standard Asian fusion. The standouts were the gem salad -- every bite was fantastic and crunchy -- and the soft serve ice cream. I got the mixed flavors. I should've started off with the gem salad and then I would've just gotten one entrée but I ordered the salad midway through the meal because I saw someone who had ordered it and it looked amazing. The salad is probably of a few items on the menu that is worth the price you can actually split it with someone in your party. The blue crab fried rice is very small, taking up less than half a plate with half going to the sauce bowls and the lemon. The flavors in that citrusy sauce that accompanied the blue crab fried rice is fantastic. The hot was mild. I came to this restaurant, because one of my closest friends recommended it. However, she didn't pay for her meal. A bottle of still water was set on the table so I refilled my glass throughout the dinner service. I did notice there was a party of four on my right -- two patrician-looking grandparents and their teenage granddaughter and grandson -- the server refilled their water glasses from the bottles in the table. The server never refilled my water glass."

"Went as a celebration in a party of three. Reserved ahead of time and only needed to pick a slightly early time. Expensive, yet you get high quality food for the extra cost. The server was very helpful in selecting dishes and even found out the herbs used in one of the sauces for us. (I was impressed it included marjoram!)"

"I had an incredibly enjoyable dining experience at Nautilus Pier 4 and would happily recommend it. The restaurant boasts a fantastic ambiance with great lighting and a simple yet effective decor. Despite it being a Tuesday, the place was bustling with activity, so I'd recommend making a reservation in advance if you can. Fortunately, we were seated promptly, which was a pleasant surprise given the crowd. To kick off our evening, we indulged in some drinks, and they were all absolutely fantastic. The Pisco Sour, in particular, stood out as my personal favorite. When it came to the food, we decided to sample a bit of everything. The fried chicken was nothing short of perfection, and the accompanying sauce elevated it to another level. On the other hand, the bao left me wanting more; whether it was the sauce or the flavor of the beef, something felt lacking and didn't quite wow me. However, the Szechuan noodles were an absolute delight, even though they arrived slightly on the cooler side. The short rib bites were so delectable that I could easily devour a thousand of them. Shishito peppers are typically a crowd-pleaser, but it was the Japanese street corn and charcoal prawns that stole the show with their incredible flavors and textures. Service was another highlight of the evening; it's become somewhat of a rarity to encounter solid service these days, so it was refreshing to see. Nautilus Pier 4 is undoubtedly a must-visit restaurant, especially if you happen to find yourself in the Seaport district of Boston. The minor hiccup with the bao and slightly cooler noodles aside, the overall experience, from the ambiance to the exceptional fried chicken and standout dishes like the street corn and prawns, makes it well worth a visit."

"This is “tapa” style upscale place. Only tapas thing about it is the portion size. Price is still full entree pricing, it’s just an excuse for shrinkflation. Food was well plated and tasted quite nice. The beef ribs were tender and marinated with shrimp/crab paste and basil, but just a tad too salty. The crab fried rice was well fried and the sauces are quite authentically SE Asia. Not sure if it’s worth $45. The grilled shrimp had a smoky grilled flavor. We were seated outside, and it was decorated nicely next to the water, but all the tables are crammed pretty close to each other."