Banq

I went to this place for my birthday last year.
It was pretty blah. The ceiling was the only outstanding thing about the place. It was packed and we had to sit next to a couple that kept talking about their sex lives. The waiter only visited the table twice with a long pause in between. The food was forgettable. They didn’t care that it was my birthday.
For the money you can do a ton better in Boston! Skip it!

News flash… Banq ISN’T closed. They were just chilling out while they remodeled. Now they’re open and it’s quite a crowded hot spot for Boston’s South Enders. Loved the bartenders and the ambiance. However, the people who go there are mildly annoying and snobby. I tried to focus on the cool décor, yummy cocktail and my awesome friend.
The food looked good. I’ll have to try it one day.

After dining next door at Union, we stopped in to Banq for an after-​dinner drink. I was thoroughly impressed with the ambiance, service, and most importantly the cocktails!
Our bartender (although I don’t recall his name, his hair style was extremely unique and appeared to be dyed in a leopard print pattern) made 2 of the best drinks (mojito &chocolate martini) I have ever tasted! My husband’s mojito was excellent-​unlike many Boston bars– the mojito at Banq was created with the perfect proportion of rum, mint, and sugar cane– not simply a sugary watered down version of the popular Cuban drink. For me, the bartender prepared a mouth watering chocolate martini, topped off with exactly the right amount of cocoa.
We definitely made the right call to pass on dessert in exchange for Banq’s delicious cocktails!

Having lived in Boston for 5 years and having been to many, many of its restaurants, I jumped at the chance to try out Banq during Summer 2009 Restaurant Week. Neither my girlfriend nor I had ever been; we were both excited, and much to our delight, were treated to what both of us thought was one of the best meals we’ve ever had out in Boston.
Each course was superb. My appetizer — a crêpe with mushroom and mung beans — was divine, and came with muenster baked tomatoes so sweet and delicious that my girlfriend could’ve sworn they were mangoes. The cilantro-​scented chicken breast came with a perfectly crispy and rich skin, and the tandoor spiced potato cake was on par with the best Indian fare I’ve had in the city.
On the other side of the table was a miso soup that my fellow diner devoured (I’m not the biggest miso soup fan, so I’ll reserve judgment). The braised short ribs were rich and amazing; you could practically get them to fall apart just by looking at them, and they were cooked in a red wine reduction that was so rich and unique that it was just… wow. Plus, the dish came with ridiculously good, perfectly-​crisped yams. Thank you and your small appetite for letting me finish your plate.
For dessert, we were treated to all THREE dishes: a passionfruit and coconut opera (damn…) with orange sorbet, a lemon sorbet (perfectly light, could accompany any meal), and a coconut cardamom ice cream with holy basil seeds. I couldn’t taste the cardamom at all, which was totally fine, because the ice cream was AMAZING. I’d have personally chosen something a little richer to finish off the meal with — maybe a pumpkin or banana bread pudding? — but really couldn’t complain because the desserts were on-​point and they surprised us with all three.
The plating was superb, and each dish looked absolutely beautiful. Our service was excellent — it wasn’t exactly speedy, but the place is so gorgeous and the ambiance is so intoxicating that you really don’t mind slowing down and spending a couple of hours at a fabulous dinner, which is exactly what happened at Banq. Kudos. Couldn’t have asked for much more than what we received.

We marked off BanQ during restaurant week this week. Most of my group started off with the scallops appetizer and I went for the mung bean crêpe. Who knew that mung beans could be so tasty?!
Everyone enjoyed their entrees. It was a nice mixture of cod and braised shortribs at the table. We all agreed that the food was cooked perfectly, clean flavors, and nice presentation.
By the time dessert came we were pretty stuffed but I managed to stuff down the coconut ice cream. I’m glad I did because it was the perfect mixture of sweetness and texture.
Unlike some of the previous Unilocalers we had a great service and all of our courses came out on time.
Next up… trying out BanQ’s $ 5 deal on Thursdays!

Fact: The sound end is classy.
Fact: The south end is pricey.
Fact: The south end on Thursdays is inexpensive, delicious, yet still classy… if you head over to Banq.
Wait…what?
With an open window/​door front bar area and friendly staff you immediately feel welcome in Banq. The décor is gorgeous, the Sox game will play in the background without being the main focus, and groups can gather easily for a leisurely night out (but don’t worry, your service will be friendly and prompt).
Fact: Thursday nights play host to a fabulous $ 5 menu that offers large portions of savory appetizers that will end up being your meal and flavored, well-​crafted mojitos. Go then. Get there early. It won’t be crowded. Why? No idea. It should be packed!
Soy ginger lamb spring rolls? Yes, get them. They are heavenly. Warm, crisp, filled with flavor and a light, but ever-​present ginger taste to them.
Garlic truffle mashed potatoes? Yes, get them too. They are on the side dish menu but still $ 5 (every day!). The portion is huge, made from Yukon gold potatoes, and topped with a large, but not overwhelming amount of truffles.
Mojitos? Do you need to ask? They are $ 5 and come in many fresh fruity flavors.
Eat up and drink up… without breaking the Banq (oh, funny!).

Came for the BF’s 30^th birthday dinner with his parents. Cool atmosphere! Would be an awesome venue for a reception of some kind.
Honestly, I remember that I enjoyed my food… but the only thing i VIVIDLY remember is the mussels.
They were hands down the best I’ve had.
EVER — curryish, spicy, oh so tasty, and served with hot naan type bread.
I’ve been thinking of them since.

Think that banQ is out of your price range? Think you’d have to win the lottery, get a raise or get a second job to get your nosh on here?
Well, common misconceptions be damned, because banQ has devised an economically sound solution to get more consumers in the door without sacrificing the sheer level of chic that is central to their image.
Stop into banQ on any given Thursday and get yourself a $ 5 mojito, snacks from their $ 5 bar menu and even help yourself to a very moderately priced tarot card reading.
As for the ever-​concerning cliché «you get what you pay for,» banQ’s Thursday nights are an anomaly. The bar food is generous in portion, the mojitos are fantastic and the front bar is not so crowded that you can’t get a good spot with friends to sit, sip, savor and generally just enjoy a nice night out that’s easy on the other bank in your life.

I liked Banq a lot! I had the «Hot Mess» to drink, a very unusual blend of grapefruit vodka, white cranberry, almond, sambal paste (a type of chili), and coconut. It was very interesting and I’m glad I tried it, but it was too spicy to ever become a favorite for me. It’s great if you’re in the mood for something new!
For dinner I ordered the ginger steak, which was alright. The best part in my opinion was dessert. I got the flourless chocolate cake, which was served warm with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce. The cake was excellent; dense and rich but not at all sickening.
The service throughout was excellent. There was a small mix-​up in that we received slightly different menus, but they sorted it out very efficiently. Though the restaurant was full the food arrived very quickly and everything was admirably smooth. And the place looks great!

I have to admit here that have never been a fan of the crazy ceiling-​leave-​me-​dizzy in this place and to this day I am still not a fan. However, this review has not much to do with the ceiling I just wanted to express my dislike for it. I’m one in a million.
I think the food here was great. I tried the miso soup and the Duck entrée. I loved the miso soup but the duck was a bit overcooked. Overall the presentation of the food was phenomenal and it all tasted well. I had an asian-​style cocktail as well made with plum wine which I loved so much. I could have had 10 of them but I would have embarrassed myself (not to mention I may have looked like that dizzy ceiling which I despise).
All in all, it’s worth the trip. The hostess was very friendly and I was introduced to a fellow bar manager as well there, which, again, kudos for the lovely Asian-​inspired cocktail.
I’d go again and I guess that’s all that matters.

My friend (who is an interior designer) came to visit–
We picked Banq on the interior alone (I know how shallow … just going for looks hahah)
Open table had really mixed reviews — so we were uncertain of how the actual food would be:
It ended up being pretty good:
We split 3 appetizers (shirp, scallops, cornish hen) & split a an entrée (sirloin steak) — Perfect way to test out a new place…
Overall a good experience: staff friendly, ambiance is cool (you kind of feel like as though you are sitting under the skeleton of a ship) —
I had the Honey something drink… might avoid next time as it tasted like Burt’s Bees lip balm–
she had the Caparinia — AWESOME!
definitely worth a go— just won’t become a regular spot or fave

Alrite, the much sought after 5-​star review has been rewarded to BanQ from me. Why? Because not only did they hook it up with the private dining room, but the food was tasty and unique, the services was very friendly, and the décor was blow your mind good.
Our table ordered a mix of pretty much everything on the brunch menu. The prices were very decent for nice food, averaging about $ 9 a plate. I ordered up the Eggs Benedict with Wasabi Hollandaise, served with a side of Parmesan hash browns. We also had the french toast with fresh fruit, the banq fries with lemongrass mayo, and the masala omelet.
the french toast was incredible. semi-​sweet, soft and melting inside with the proper amount of toasting and just a slight dash of Cinnamon. we found it so perfectly seasoned that we ACTUALLY SKIPPED the syrup. yeah, i know, that is almost ridiculous.
the masala omlet was both spicy and delicious, delivering an indian tasting goodness to a traditional breakfast dish. simply awesome.
the benedict, although i’ve had better, was served without any surprises. at first i had thought that my english muffin had been over-​toasted, but then i realized that slight flavor difference from traditional senses was the wasabi… this i did not enjoy, but then again, it was my own adventurous decision. next time, ill go for the classic.
the fries, perfectly fried served with a very flavorful lemongrass spicy mustard/​mayo. perfect compliment.
the parm has browns: lets focus on these. SERIOUSLY might be a top 3 way to have hash browns (the other great way would be with crumbled bacon and cheese). The cheese adds a great texture difference, balancing the crispy potatoes with a mushy soft cheese that lends a flavor that has you saying «ill pass on any salt… or ketchup… or hotsauce, these things are good on their own».
Décor? Awesome décor, filled with wood paneling built wavy and along the walls, creating a sense of being inside of the hull of a boat, as you are whisked away from the traditional thoughts of brunch foods into truly fusion brunch. Seriously, whodathunkit?

The décor is definitely the coolest thing about the restaurant, and every wall and ceiling area is something interesting to notice. Even the bathrooms look cool.
Service was spotty, and the waiter actually came back to clarify our tipping to make sure he got what he thought he deserved, which I thought was pretty rude. We actually tipped 18%, too, and he was mistaken and pretty upset about it.
The small bites are fun to try. The single scallop was my favorite, and it stood out over the others. Fish was done well, and I prefer the chef’s style to the typical fusion places that just use soy sauce and sugar and curry in everything. Portions won’t leave you stuffed, but you won’t be left hungry either. The prices seem to have come down a bit since they first opened. The wine selection and desserts were decent but not extraordinary.
I really wanted to like the place because I thought the interior was very unique, and it was cool that it’s located in an old bank, but I was really put off by the service, or lack thereof.

This is a hard one for me because I WANTED to love it. The inside is so amazingly well done and the atmosphere is trendy and fun.
Aside from that however the place is MEH. The wines by the glass are terrible. The service is un-​noteworthy and the food just really isn’t that good especially for the price. It’s like every course is missing something. Nothing pops when it should very bland.
I would go for a drink just to look cool (unless you love your wine) and then go eat at Union next door but that’s it.

BanQ should get 4 stars off the bat just for the décor. Loved the stalactite-​y wood hanging off the ceiling, which make me think of dinosaur skeletons (in the best way possible).
Drinks:
Cha-​ching gets the award in my book for tasting like liquid sunshine. It was very light and refreshing, and not overly sweet.
Something that tastes like Pumpkin Pie was good, but only if you really like pumpkin pie.
The mojito was ok.
I didn’t get any food, but my friend got the moong dal crêpe, which he liked. Overall, pretty good. I’ll be back!

We went here for a celebratory dinner with a couple friends, one of whom is from the area and strongly recommended the restaurant. It was an almost entirely pleasant experience, but for the money and time spent it left us a little under-​whelmed. Let me explain.
First, and as noted in many other reviews, the design and décor are definitely interesting without being distracting. It’s nice to know the place uses sustainable and recycled materials. But the ambiance, in all honesty, was a little blasé and even cheesy (think obnoxious crowd and piped-​in house music)…made even worse by the fact that our service was pretty bad for such a high-​end joint. Our section wasn’t very full, so we couldn’t tell if the server just didn’t like us or didn’t care about being attentive and helpful. In any case, it is no fun to splurge for the first time in months and feel as if your presence is annoying the one person controlling your evening.
But more importantly, the food. When they say Asian fusion, they mean it. These plates are going for some diverse wasabi-​crusted-​thai-​spice-​polenta-​elk-​steak concoction that at times delivers and other times just feels cluttered, taking the globalization charge a little too seriously. For example, naan bread in a dim sum basket with a sundried tomato dip. Tasty, but there was something so trendy about the whole experience it left me wondering about the restaurant’s identity.
Nonetheless, my mussels were superbly selected and steamed in a nice ginger lemongrass broth, and the shortribs were delicious. The duck was also great, and while I didn’t love the scallop-​cantaloupe-​arugula-​goat cheese appetizer, my man certainly did.
We ended up spending quite a bit of money, as each of us got a couple drinks, so it wasn’t a cheap meal, but the entrees fall in the mid-​twenties range and the portions definitely keep you very well-​fed. However, as many other reviewers have critiqued, Banq strikes me as more gimmick than quality, and I was left mostly satisfied and partly longing for a better overall experience. Especially due to the service — I’ve worked in food service for many years, and it’s really not that hard to at least *pretend* that you care.

Whenever someplace has a gimmick (like the interior at Banq), you have to ask yourself «if they didn’t have [insert gimmick here], what would I think of this place?». So that is how I am looking at Banq… sans sweeping wood slat ceiling-​wall stuff. Which albeit cool, doesn’t color my review one way or another.
That said, the food was very good. Sort of a French meets New Asian thing going on, with lots of great flavors and interesting combinations.
They did start us with a small amuse of soup, which is something I always love, and think ALL restaurants should do.
From there, we went with the veal cheek salad, which sort of had a bit of an Alpo look to it, but was super tasty. And at $ 12.50, seemed a bit disproportionately priced (higher) compared to the entrees which were in the low $ 20’s. For entrees, we had the snapper and the tuna, both of which were simple and well executed… though my tuna was a little on the lukewarm side… more than it should have been.
Overall, a solid entry into the South End dining scene, but nothing to write home about. Service was vaguely snooty, space was nice, food was solid, and the bar looked pretty understated and nice. However, can we just leave the tvs out of nice restaurant bars already? If you have a slick bar, a nice lounge vibe, etc… do we need a 42″ tv showing the Bruins game? I don’t think so…

The food here is fantastic! I came here with five other people and everyone was thrilled with their dish. (My brother came, and he’s one of the most unexperimental eaters, but with a little help he was on his way to heaven!)
Here’s what we ordered:
Appetizers:
Flash Seared Shrimp
Pan Seared Scallops
Ginseng and Lemongrass Scented Mussels (YUM)
Entrees (we ended up ordering doubles):
Chargrilled Sirloin (my brother LOVED this)
Pan Seared Yellow Back Flounder (One of my favorite dishes EVER)
Pan Seared Haddock (I usually find haddock boring, but this was great)
I got the Hazelnut and Chocolate Parfait for dessert and it was VERY good.
Overall, my favorite part was the presentation. It’s just gorgeous when they place it down in front of you. The cocktails were delicious, and so was the wine! The interiors (designed by Office dA) were incredible, especially for anyone in the design industry. I definate hot spot, if you haven’t been! I STRONGLY suggest it.

Maybe I just have quite an imagination. I felt like I was in a museum and sitting underneath a dinosaur fossil. Great place for a drink and chat. Nice ambiance and the noise level is at good decibel so I don’t have to raise my voice to chat.
The appetizers on the late night menu are very minute. I had the short ribs. Literally, two bites for $ 5. It’s good; but not out of this world. It’s not worth the $ 5. It’s your typical short rib sauce with balsamic vinegarette garnish.

I love that the South End continues to welcome more and more fun, funky restaurants with terrific food, like BanQ.
The décor is a delight. It reminds me of those little wooden dinosaurs I used to put together as a kid. Undulating layers of sand colored wood flow across the ceiling like a soft wave. The space feels open and friendly and somehow cozy at the same time. Little plants (what were they?) at the tables are a nice added touch that didn’t get in the way when the food came out.
The food is fresh, light, and delicious. My friend and I split a number of small bites and appetizers, and then a dessert, which was just a perfect way to sample the variety of tastes that BanQ offers. The shrimp with glass noodles was phenomenal. The pear pie left something to be desired, but I can be a little more picky when it comes to dessert. I think summer might not have been the best season for it.
The servers were pleasant, and said thank you every time they put down or picked up a dish. I’m not sure why. But they certainly contributed to a great experience, that I look forward to having again soon!