The Eaves 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, MA 02143

"Great restaurant and I’ll be coming back. Resembles a speakeasy while still representing that it’s a Vietnamese restaurant. We nearly missed the restaurant since we couldn’t find the entrance, but it’ll just be where they have the red rope closing off the entrance and a menu. Ambiance is top tier. It’s where the kitchen is half the restaurant, but it’s really warm and cozy especially with the decor. There’s only seating for maybe 20 people at any given time. We had nearly everything. I recommend the duck gyozas, the nghệ (fish noodle soup with a light sour broth), clams, and tartar though that’s literally everything I had. My favorite dishes by far were the tartar (spicy and minty) and the duck gyozas. The portion sizes were on the smaller sizes compared to regular restaurants, so you should treat each dish a tasting experience. Drinks were great. I had whisper of the heart and a sake. Being at the bar is just so fun - you’re immersed in the decorations and the bartender (also owner) is a pleasure to talk to!"

"Cool ambience, although sitting on the high tops is a bit uncomfortable and cramped. There are low top options. The food was very underwhelming and lackluster. A few of our clams were sandy, and several were inedible because they were closed. The garnish didn't make much sense - large, unavoidable pieces of lemongrass that were too hard to chew. The shrimp salad was incredibly sweet and overdressed and the shrimp tasted like a chlorine. Both appetizers were overpriced. Our mains were better than our appetizers but still not impressive. We were expecting more brightness and freshness than what we tasted. Overall the menu is very seafood heavy so if you don't like seafood, this is not for you. The first cocktail I had (Whisper of the Heart) was pretty good - made of mezcal and bright pink. The second (Rain or Shine) was way too bitter and horribly balanced. The wine selection was interesting but for some reason the pour was tiny! See photo. Our service was good, though. Probably the highest mark for service. Our server was very kind and answered our questions well even though it was her first week. She made sure to check on stuff we asked about and was very attentive. She took my second cocktail off the bill when I said I disliked it. Lastly, the location is a bit difficult to find - it's through the doors on the first floor where the bathrooms are in Bow Market. Overall, we will not be back and sadly do not recommend."

"We were excited to try this new Cicada sister restaurant that had such elusive reservations. We ended up getting a reservation for 10pm on a Sunday, and we seemed to be the last customers. The restaurant was really tucked away with a tiny kitchen. We got to see the magic happen since we were seated at the bar. Since the menu wasn't that big, we decided to try everything. Overall there were some things I enjoyed but I think I would rather go to Cicada. The scallop crudo was tasty because the scallops tasted fresh and naturally sweet. The bluefish tartare was good but a bit too salty given it was just served with leaves and nuts. The corn was good -- it's the starchy kind. The micro shrimps are sweet. Overall it's a pretty tasty dish you can eat by the spoonful. The shrimp noodle salad was good but pretty standard. It was nice to have some refreshing veggies. The shrimps were few and the tough kind of shrimp, but they were at least sliced thinly. The congee was very normal congee with some sweet microshrimp. I didn't think this was anything special either. The salmon in the salmon dish was a bit overcooked for my tastes and the white rice was overshadowed by my memory of the Cicada black rice I had had for lunch. The non-alcoholic drink we got was fine but a bit watery and lacking flavor. We also tried the duck dishes and I cannot speak to that because I don't like duck, but my husband really liked them. He said the duck was tender and the duck ravioli was good. Overall I was a bit underwhelmed. I was glad we got to try everything but was expecting more. I think this may be a good place for duck lovers to go -- otherwise, I think Cicada is tastier."

"This spot offers a unique take on dishes, leaning towards the experimental side. The duck from Bun Cha and noodle soup's broth were particularly noteworthy, capturing the essence of Northern-style Vietnamese cuisine. Ca Kho, however, was a tad simple and could have used a bit more of its special sauce to truly shine. Space is small, but the decor gives it a comfortable and inviting feel. All in all, it's a 4/5 experience for me. We didn't try the bar drinks this time around, but might come back for that!"

"Wow!!! This is my top 3 Boston restaurants for sure. Take this from a Vietnamese foodie from Vietnam, this place is legit. I so appreciate the authentic northern Vietnamese touch, while innovating with ingredients and flavors (ie. the duck vermicelli entrée, truly the star of the menu). The cocktail menu was similarly creative- I would recommend the Good Dealer. Service was great and warm, the space is lovely and ambient. This was truly a special dining experience."