The place is decorated to perfection. The service was attentive and kind. The food was ok, we were underwhelmed and left a bit disappointed (and hungry). No plans to come back.
S PJ
See update as this rating of best no longer stands visit Feb 2026 was very disappointing Best croque monsieur of Boston Great flavors, delicious ham and cheese was melted well. The acoustics of the place are not ideal Would recommend some improvements there to add to the experience Will def be back
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
holly kempner
Found this gem on my way to the common. Perfect stop for a glass of wine and small bites with good friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laureen Federico
Love Folio’s. Food is fabulous & delicate & presented in a lovely way. The service was super attentive, professional & kind. The atmosphere was elegant & comfortable & you are right next door to the Boston Athenaeum!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
samantha cohen
Folio is an absolute gem. The space is beautiful — warm, thoughtful, and the kind of place you instantly want to linger. The menu is fun, creative, and genuinely delicious (we left so full!), with dishes that feel both elevated and comforting. Service was outstanding from start to finish: welcoming, attentive, and clearly proud of what they do. Already excited to come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mark Otte
Had a reservation for dinner. We were seated promptly. Modest size venue offers a full bar and a selection of small plates in an intimate atmosphere. Service was attentive and prompt. Food was delicious and presented beautifully. Empanadas were a surprise delight. Prices are a little lofty but we felt the overall quality of the experience justified them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shant Karakashian
Very unique place. Expensive, but an interesting experience. Very pleasant and kind service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
James Mullen
Dreadful experience, we walked out before even ordering… I called ahead to make sure our party’s allergies (common ones mind you) wouldn’t be an issue, and was assured they would be easy to accommodate. When we got there, we were told the only dinner options available were cold plates!
I don’t expect perfect accommodation, but when I call ahead to make sure we can enjoy a nice evening, I do expect to be able to count on the response.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Yi Zheng
Setting of the food is beautiful
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jhonathan Dias
The food was so delicious and the vibe was amazing! Magi, the manager, made us feel super welcome. We came for lunch and had such a great time. I’d definitely come back and tell all my friends about it!
A lovely space that serves innovative dishes -- by far the best place for lunch or light supper in the area. Staff is friendly and efficient. The manage went to the trouble after I left on my last visit of running down the street to return a ring which fell off my finger. Each visit has been great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Leslie W
Delightful dishes and cocktails. Innovative flavors all around. The guava empanadas and steak tartare were amazing. Excellent espresso martini. Service was friendly and knowledgeable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
YH Chiu
Good place for restaurant week! Duck tastes great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
P McKeen
Excellent food. Great armosphere. Rather slow service. Some communication issues. BE AWARE—bar last call is 7:40 (we hadn’t even had our entree served and I couldn’t get another glass of wine)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Kelly Cambridgeport
Folio is a place I genuinely enjoy — I’d give it five stars. The staff are friendly, attentive, and welcoming, and the atmosphere is beautiful. It’s a small restaurant, but every time I’ve gone I’ve been able to get a seat without a reservation.
The chilled carrot soup is exceptional in both taste and presentation, and the blood orange salad was beautifully done — fresh, bright, and well-balanced. In fact, I recommend ordering whatever soups and salads are on the menu, as they’ve always been standouts. Other favorites include the pear salad, bavetta steak tartines, chai and grapefruit juice (especially the deeper orange-toned version). Dessert lovers should try the pistachio cake hidden under a crisp milk chocolate crust, cracked open with a mallet to reveal the moist pistachio cake inside.
It’s also a great place to create your own afternoon tea experience, even if you’re not looking for the full formal tea. They always offer tea, and they always offer sandwiches, so you can mix and match for a more casual tea-style meal. If you do order tea, ask for a refill — they’ll happily top off your teapot with hot water.
Service is smooth, and the BA Member discount of 15% is a nice perk. A small note from one visit: during a Dine Out Lunch Prix Fixe, they omitted the amuse-bouche because I had ordered a larger soup, which I found odd since it was part of the set menu. I also tried the Afternoon Tea — while pleasant, it leaned heavily toward sweets with few savory items, so I’d suggest pairing it with a hearty entrée.
Highlights: • Chilled carrot soup, blood orange salad, pear salad, bavetta steak tartines, chai tea, grapefruit juice (orange-toned), pistachio cake with chocolate crust • Friendly staff, beautiful interior, and easy seating without a reservation • Great for a casual or custom afternoon tea experience • Soups and salads are consistently excellent
Would I return? Absolutely — for the food, the staff, and the consistently pleasant dining experience.
The place is decorated to perfection. The service was attentive and kind. The food was ok, we were underwhelmed and left a bit disappointed (and hungry). No plans to come back.
See update as this rating of best no longer stands visit Feb 2026 was very disappointing
Best croque monsieur of Boston
Great flavors, delicious ham and cheese was melted well.
The acoustics of the place are not ideal
Would recommend some improvements there to add to the experience
Will def be back
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Found this gem on my way to the common. Perfect stop for a glass of wine and small bites with good friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love Folio’s. Food is fabulous & delicate & presented in a lovely way. The service was super attentive, professional & kind. The atmosphere was elegant & comfortable & you are right next door to the Boston Athenaeum!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Folio is an absolute gem. The space is beautiful — warm, thoughtful, and the kind of place you instantly want to linger. The menu is fun, creative, and genuinely delicious (we left so full!), with dishes that feel both elevated and comforting. Service was outstanding from start to finish: welcoming, attentive, and clearly proud of what they do. Already excited to come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a reservation for dinner. We were seated promptly. Modest size venue offers a full bar and a selection of small plates in an intimate atmosphere. Service was attentive and prompt. Food was delicious and presented beautifully. Empanadas were a surprise delight. Prices are a little lofty but we felt the overall quality of the experience justified them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very unique place. Expensive, but an interesting experience. Very pleasant and kind service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Dreadful experience, we walked out before even ordering…
I called ahead to make sure our party’s allergies (common ones mind you) wouldn’t be an issue, and was assured they would be easy to accommodate.
When we got there, we were told the only dinner options available were cold plates!
I don’t expect perfect accommodation, but when I call ahead to make sure we can enjoy a nice evening, I do expect to be able to count on the response.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Setting of the food is beautiful
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was so delicious and the vibe was amazing! Magi, the manager, made us feel super welcome. We came for lunch and had such a great time. I’d definitely come back and tell all my friends about it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
A lovely space that serves innovative dishes -- by far the best place for lunch or light supper in the area. Staff is friendly and efficient. The manage went to the trouble after I left on my last visit of running down the street to return a ring which fell off my finger. Each visit has been great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delightful dishes and cocktails. Innovative flavors all around. The guava empanadas and steak tartare were amazing. Excellent espresso martini. Service was friendly and knowledgeable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good place for restaurant week! Duck tastes great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent food. Great armosphere. Rather slow service. Some communication issues. BE AWARE—bar last call is 7:40 (we hadn’t even had our entree served and I couldn’t get another glass of wine)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Folio is a place I genuinely enjoy — I’d give it five stars. The staff are friendly, attentive, and welcoming, and the atmosphere is beautiful. It’s a small restaurant, but every time I’ve gone I’ve been able to get a seat without a reservation.
The chilled carrot soup is exceptional in both taste and presentation, and the blood orange salad was beautifully done — fresh, bright, and well-balanced. In fact, I recommend ordering whatever soups and salads are on the menu, as they’ve always been standouts. Other favorites include the pear salad, bavetta steak tartines, chai and grapefruit juice (especially the deeper orange-toned version). Dessert lovers should try the pistachio cake hidden under a crisp milk chocolate crust, cracked open with a mallet to reveal the moist pistachio cake inside.
It’s also a great place to create your own afternoon tea experience, even if you’re not looking for the full formal tea. They always offer tea, and they always offer sandwiches, so you can mix and match for a more casual tea-style meal. If you do order tea, ask for a refill — they’ll happily top off your teapot with hot water.
Service is smooth, and the BA Member discount of 15% is a nice perk. A small note from one visit: during a Dine Out Lunch Prix Fixe, they omitted the amuse-bouche because I had ordered a larger soup, which I found odd since it was part of the set menu. I also tried the Afternoon Tea — while pleasant, it leaned heavily toward sweets with few savory items, so I’d suggest pairing it with a hearty entrée.
Highlights:
• Chilled carrot soup, blood orange salad, pear salad, bavetta steak tartines, chai tea, grapefruit juice (orange-toned), pistachio cake with chocolate crust
• Friendly staff, beautiful interior, and easy seating without a reservation
• Great for a casual or custom afternoon tea experience
• Soups and salads are consistently excellent
Would I return? Absolutely — for the food, the staff, and the consistently pleasant dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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