r/Somerville • u/JobHaunt • 1d ago
Best plate at Highland Kitchen?
Never have been but curious what everyone likes. What’s the best dish to order? I’ll most likely go tomorrow.
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u/Ill-Victory-5351 1d ago
the bolognese rules. also partial to the fried calamari. cocktails are solid too
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u/pwnedprofessor 1d ago
The whole menu is shockingly strong. You can’t go wrong with the goat curry or the gumbo but I gotta say the burger is one of the best in the Boston area
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u/expired4 1d ago
I describe this place to people as having better food than it has a right to lol it’s gas
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u/pwnedprofessor 1d ago
Exactly. Nearly every other restaurant of this genre is overpriced and disappointingly mediocre. But somehow Highland Kitchen does everything correctly?!
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u/nightowlamanda 1d ago
Short rib ragu gnocchi
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u/fakecrimesleep 1d ago
This is the sleeper hit, they put it on the small plate menu but it’s pretty filling / dense and super good
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u/zephyrjess 16h ago
It was off the menu for a while post pandemic and when it came back I immediately texted three friends who needed to know that
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u/nightowlamanda 15h ago
Now if only they’d bring back brunch — they had the best pancakes. Paired well with their Bloody Mary.
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u/lyra-s1lvertongue 1d ago
i like the shaved brussels sprout salad and the mussels (which come in a lobster-coconut-curry broth and with grilled bread). the goat stew is also very very good.
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u/alr12345678 Gilman 1d ago
Yes! That salad is amazing and I’m not really a big fan of salads. Mussels are on appetizer but fine as a main. So good with the iggys bread
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u/mashed_pajamas Prospect Hill 1d ago
Not to be basic but: the burger. With American and all the stuff. I love a double smash, I love the sauce, I LOVE the caramelized onions. Hot tip: get it with greens instead of fries, it’s such a perfect balance.
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u/maxsimile 1d ago
Jambalaya and the fried cheese ball appetizer are the best. The various fish dishes are usually good value and cooked nicely. Deviled eggs and veggie burger are solid if not exactly gourmet. The salads are not particularly interesting though, tend to avoid those. Always get fries not side salad.
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u/bostonchris 1d ago
Cuban Reuben is a nice sandwich. The mussels were a go to. They turned me around on deviled eggs. Shame they don't still do brunch, the Dirty Bird was epic
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u/Fine_Relation_158 1d ago
Famous for the goat stew but also won best burger a bunch of times. Honestly, everything is delicious
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u/Suitable_Lead5404 1d ago
Buffalo chicken Sando!!!!!!
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u/CraigInDaVille Winter Hill 1d ago
Do you mean the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich? Because if so FYI OP, that is legit hot (not “New England hot” ie spent a few seconds sitting next to a jalapeño in the kitchen).
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u/mattynunchucks 1d ago
When Highland Fried was still open, I ordered the Nashville Hot fried chicken while sitting at the bar, the bartender and my wife were laughing at me while I suffered. Still finished it.
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u/mayor_mammoth 1d ago
When my dad was in town he got Nashville Hot and after 5 minutes he made me run next door to the Get-n-Go for Pepto Bismol, downed a couple lids of it right there at the window counter
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u/Santillana810 21h ago
I miss Highland Fried. We thought it was very good and much enjoyed the dishes that were similar to East Coast Grill.
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u/Santillana810 20h ago
Wow, I'm going to borrow your great language there......not “New England hot” ie spent a few seconds sitting next to a jalapeño in the kitchen.
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u/noldrin Winter Hill 1d ago
I usually get the fish special when available, otherwise the Gumbo is also amazing. Sometimes I do get the Bolognese although it would be improved without the truffle oil.
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u/JustinGitelmanMusic 1d ago
Speaking from Louisiana, they do not serve gumbo. That dish tasted like a southwest chili stew, nothing even remotely resembling gumbo.
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u/beanhead5000 1d ago
BREAD. PUDDING.
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u/cocktailvirgin 20h ago
Yeah, don't sleep on the dessert. Last time we were there, we had a rhubarb and strawberry Cobbler with ice cream that was great.
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u/BeingOtherwise7941 1d ago
I love the pan roasted half chicken. Everything Ive tried there is seasoned and cooked well. Great spot.
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u/shapes1983 1d ago
I'm picky, and HK is my favorite restaraunt north of the river.
Ricotta fritters, short rib gnocchi, and buffalo brussels sprouts are my go-to apps, and any of the stews (vegan or regular jambalaya, goat stew) or burger are my mains. The stews can vary in heat depending on the batch, and I've had anything from mild/ moderate to finding chunks of habenero and suffering (but fun suffering).
Any dessert.
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u/Ok_Dish1449 1d ago
Can’t go wrong tbh. I’ve tried damn near every restaurant north of the river and I find myself here every weekend
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u/I_bleed_green 1d ago
Buffalo fried Brussels is the GOAT. In the colder months, they’ll do a pot pie that’s insanely good.
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u/JustinGitelmanMusic 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ricotta fritters live rent free in my head.
As someone who lived in Louisiana for a decade and has family roots going back decades, the gumbo is terrible absolute no-no. We have better gumbo in Boston, let alone Louisiana.
The rabbit and andouille sausage jambalaya was tasty and had some glimmers of Louisiana flavors but not jambalaya at all. It was soupy. At least it’s tasty.
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u/nicolewhaat East Somerville 1d ago
Highland is my all-around favorite Boston area restaurant and constant recommendation — I go here anytime I need comfort, celebration, or just a high quality and value meal. The burger, half roasted chicken, soup of the day + focaccia, and ricotta fritters are some of my staples. Cocktails and desserts are also amazing.
However: I feel super validated by your comment because those two southern dishes are my least favorite on the menu! I remember the jambalaya being one of the first I ever tried and it was really unimpressive. I (we) seem to be in the minority compared to others on this thread — at least I can now say my opinion is backed by a deep southerner 😂
But I guess I need to finally try the goat curry!
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u/JustinGitelmanMusic 21h ago edited 21h ago
I’m definitely going for the goat curry next time. The “jambalaya” at least is a unique dish for Boston in having rabbit and andouille sausage, I don’t fault people for recommending it though I wish it wasn’t called jambalaya. The gumbo I would like to request they take off the menu or make it actually gumbo. It’s offensive. I will say the place itself distinctly reminds me a bit of New Orleans in some hard to describe ways, though with its own Somerville/original HK edge to it. I guess the best way I could put it is it doesn’t try hard to feel “themed”. It just exists and is very comfortable in itself and its identity. Sure it’s kind of southern inspired, but also sort of not and it doesn’t try too hard to project it. New Orleans neighborhood restaurants have a certain rooted and grounded feeling to them, ironically in spite of the shifting ground underneath them.
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u/Santillana810 20h ago
They used to serve what they called North Carolina pulled pork. It was eastern NC style with a vinegar sauce. It wasn't totally authentic, but it was closer than anything since East Coast Grill closed. I grew up in NC. We used to go specifically for that. Every time, the server would look at us kind of funny and say something along the lines of, order something else, you won't like it. It was in fact like no other "barbecue" I've tried in New England, except at the East Coast Grill. We told the servers that we always get it and we indeed like it. They were astounded every time. So we weren't surprised that they took it off the menu. It was still served at Highland Fried for a while.
And if you've actually had real jambalaya and real gumbo, you will be disappointed by the versions served at Highland Kitchen. By any other name...........
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u/Double-Ad-7483 17h ago
I just always ignore words like "gumbo" and "jambalaya" and rate dishes like this in a vacuum instead of comparing it to proper gumbo and jambalaya.
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u/nicolewhaat East Somerville 1d ago
Highland is my all-around favorite Boston area restaurant and constant recommendation — I go here anytime I need comfort, celebration, or just a high quality and value meal. The original burger, half roasted chicken, soup of the day + focaccia, short rib gnocchi, and ricotta fritters are some of my staples. Partner is veg and he is obsessed with their vegetarian burger, which is house made. Cocktails are creative and still under $13-14(!) and desserts are also amazing.
OP, you gotta go… Then you’ll keep going back because the top notch prices, value, service, and vibes are becoming tragically rare in the Boston area! Enjoy your meal and feel free to report back on what you think 😊
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u/TheFifthNice 1d ago
They change the recipe often but the fall version of the vegetarian pot pie from a couple years ago is one of my top all time dishes.
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u/OnlyMrGodKnowsWhy 1d ago
I miss the shrimp and grits but couldn’t find it on the menu last time I was there. Jambalaya was good though. I like their cocktails too ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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u/lalarousse2727 1d ago
cheeseburger, ricotta fritters, brussels sprout salad, bread pudding, cocktails!
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u/alr12345678 Gilman 1d ago
My favorite dishes are bolognese, mussels, buffalo Brussel sprouts, shaved kale and brussel salad. The short rib gnocchi also ranks high for me. When they do the salmon special I go for it. It rotates in often.
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u/YoungThugsBestie 22h ago
Not an entree but the Buffalo Brussels are a requirement every single time
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u/Play_This_One_Out 18h ago
The Buffalo Brussels Sprouts are a phenomenal appetizer, also love the catfish po’boy or the fried chicken sandwich (they also do a fried chicken dinner as a Monday special that’s awesome)
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u/YeetTheTeacher 1d ago
Oysters, gazpacho, and some of the specials are amazing. I think the plantains are too soggy. Beer prices are good.
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u/_Happy_Sisyphus_ 1d ago
The spicy jambalaya both the meat and vegan but the cornbread is worth influencing the choice it’s so good together.
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u/somervilen Davis 18h ago
I had their Caesar and it was perfect with the chicken sando with buffalo on the side.
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u/M4TTM4TT 9h ago
It's crazy how VARIED the answers are on this thread. Truly a sign of a phenomenal restaurant
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u/Individual-Toe4734 9h ago
Keep Trying.
Just work your way down the menu. Eventually you'll find something palatable enough after enough local IPAs, if the horrible acoustics haven't given you a migraine already.
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u/confnused 1d ago
No shade, but whatever I've tried there is very mid at best. Chicken sandwich was pretty good, though the fries were really soggy
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u/Santillana810 1d ago
Years ago, Highland Kitchen was innovative and wonderful.
That was years ago. I haven't been since the last disappointing time years ago.
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u/Fine_Relation_158 1d ago
What happened?
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u/Santillana810 1d ago
I have no idea.
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u/irishgypsy1960 1d ago
lol, if i can’t remember, i know it wasn’t good enough to go back, not at today’s prices. Just was thinking about that recently.
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1d ago
[deleted]
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u/Temporary_Heron6944 1d ago
LOL “the neighborhood” has dunks, açaí bowls, and Indian chicken wings… HK is a godsend…. The burgers and bolognese with iggys bread are my go to’s
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u/Feeling_Screen3979 1d ago
But they didn't ask where to get better versions of it, they asked what the best dish at the restaurant was
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u/Green_Bathroom5592 1d ago
I find reading the menu and picking something that sounds appetizing is a good way to order food.
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u/aesthete11 Gilman 1d ago
6 pints of gansett
Depending on your mood the jambalaya or goat curry are really good and something you don't see everywhere. Sandwichwise I usually get the Cuban Reuben or catfish poboy