Metrowest Boston Dining Guide

The Village Fish has received mixed reviews across blogs and restaurant review sites and I can see why after recently visiting. Conveniently located in Needham center, close to many other restaurants, the location is easy to find and get to. We were greeted by a gracious hostess but our waiter seemed miserable and cared not to be doing his job. He gave no explanation of the specials for the evening other than to point at the chalkboard and seemed extremely disinterested in anything. Unfortunate.

The fish is good but not great. We started with the fried calamari which was lightly breaded and served with lemon and a fairly bland cocktail sauce. It was not the freshest I’ve tasted. Average.

I ordered the grilled shrimp while my dining mate ordered the halibut special. The halibut was grossly overcooked, nearly charred and didn’t flake like well prepared fish should but instead cut like a steak. My shrimp was well prepared however a bit on the overdone side as well. With dinner entrees, you get a choice of pasta, baked potato, or salad. The baked potato was huge and the salad came as a separate side served with 2 choices of dressings in bottles that literally drip the dressing (extremely frustrating for my dining partner).

The wine list is good, offering a nice selection of whites and reds and the beers on tap are a well rounded mix of ales and lagers. The atmosphere is hip, with high topped tables and seating and the interior decor would remind you of an old loft with lots of wood and low-key lighting and accents.

The Village Fish in Needham also offers a nice kids friendly menu of fish and non-fish choices and there appeared to be several families there while we were dining.

I’d recommend this place to families that are looking to get out with the kids for seafood or fish cuisine or to grab a drink with friends at the bar in front of their quite large flat panel tv to watch the game. I’d be aware that the food may be a bit average and definitely ask for it to be cooked properly.

Reviews on yelp (link below) appear to have gone from great to down right awful so it could be a change in staff or just getting comfortable withe the business and offering inconsistent service and food.

See link below for other reviews on yelp.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/village-fish-needham