Galley Kitchen & Bar

I had been wanting to try Galley for a while and a beautiful, warm Saturday was a pretty perfect time to do so.
Snagged a table along the open wall (great people watching) and had, the first of several difficult, choices to make. The beer/​wine/​cocktail list is pretty awesome (great choices of local craft beers)! Once we settled on libations we had the difficult decision of what to order… Everything on the menu appealed to me! We settled on the duck drumettes (JUST ORDER THESE — they are outstanding and lots of meat on each — order comes with 2), smoked salmon salad (LOTS of smoked salmon, loads of fresh greens and a tasty dressing) and the fish tacos (scrumptious). Our waitress was friendly, helpful on menu items and never made us have to look for her.
Would not hesitate to return and look forward to our next visit!

Good food, good feel, good drink. A Scituate surprise.
Galley is essentially a small plates tapas place in a storefront space wedged (approximately) between a yogurt shop and an optometrist on Front Street in what is known as «the harbor» of Scituate. The actual harbor is over a block away, across the street and behind the strip of stores (anchored by CVS) on the other side of a large municipal parking lot.
This is to say that although Galley is very close to the water, it isn’t a waterfront restaurant. Scituate already has two direct waterfront eating/​drinking/​gawking establishments where diners can nosh and oh-​gosh the view of boats and lighthouse and sky and water, a view that is gorgeous. But those places serve tired uninspired food. The menus are boring, the execution worse. Not gonna name them, but suffice it to say the view is the allure.
Not that I don’t love a view — I do – but maybe I love Galley because there’s no view. The owners — also of Tinker’s Son in Norwell and Bia Bistro in Cohasset — have carved out a space where residents go to eat and drink and relax (and sometimes listen to live music). I’m avoiding the term townies lest you think this is a hack for locals. It’s not. Galley could hold it’s own in the city. These owners took a space that has failed many a proprietor — poor Finn — and re-​imagined it in context of the larger world. Thank you!
The restaurant is small — think of that optician’s office — but makes such clever use of the space that it feels sufficient and comfortable and efficient and leisurely and all at the same time. The whole front is floor to ceiling windows. They open in warm weather and close in cold with options for partial openings or early closings depending on weather and mood. There’s nothing quite like eating and drinking in the salt air in summer.
Along the wall to the right is a full bar with beautiful layout of bottles and lacquered wood. It angles so there are plenty of seats and a couple of TVs for those inclined but the TVs are never the focus. Galley is designed for socializing. All over there are plenty of tables for diners. In the center, there’s an island hightop with seating on both sides. Toward the back, a booth-​like table for six or more diners, in a cubby space, in case you want quiet. On the left, more tables, both low and high. And then to the far left, a raw bar, with seating for maybe 8 to 10. And to the left, again, more bar-​like seating against the wall, all with clever décor. A space that could seem small or uninteresting has been fully utilized so that every nook feels comfy, so that there’s something for every taste, which brings me to the menu.
It has evolved as it adapts to success to avoid failure. The duck flatbread is good. The lamb is good. The last taco I had was really good — but these change so pay attention to ingredients and price when ordering. The potato skins are just okay, kinda pricy. The pork slider good, the pickled vegetables really good. The food variety is hard to exhaust — I’d be surprised if you couldn’t find something you like — really like — but I hope that the menu keeps evolving without devolving to fried bar food (which is easy to get elsewhere). The beer selection is great, including Dale’s Pale Ale on draft. They serve good wine (or so I hear!). They make excellent cocktails consistently, one drink to the next, one bartender to the next, one day to the next. The Whiskey Sour — really a Boston Sour — is to die for. Sunday’s Bloody Mary bar is legendary.
Easy parking on the street — this is a small town — or in the municipal lot behind the CVS.
I’ve resisted Unilocaling the Galley even though I’ve been here at least a dozen times. Maybe because it’s so close to home. Maybe because I like it so much, despite its flaws. Maybe because I really want it to succeed and succeed and succeed forever and ever.

Okay, I still love the *idea* of Galley… the wide open windows, tapas menu, décor, live music.
BUT it seems something has gone awry in the food department. The last couple times I’ve been have been very disappointing. Fresh fruit that tastes like it was cut on the same surface as raw onions. Chowder the consistency of runny mashed potatoes, that absolutely did not taste like clams. More of an indiscriminate slop. Duck bahn mi sandwich with barely anything between the bread and missing the cilantro aioli.
Not sure what’s going on but the place is not cheap so it really burns to have awful food. And hey, maybe Galley aims to be mostly about the craft beer, cocktails and oysters – this is great! – but then they should ‘dumb down’ the menu to something they can more effectively execute.
Not going to bother reviewing the truly awful service I experienced last week, perhaps it was a one off. But between the food and service, that lunch was at best a 1 star experience. Amending my review to 3 stars to take my previous (great) visits into account.
I really hope Galley gets it together because it has the potential to be a really fantastic harbor destination.

Great location in the heart of Scituate Harbor with doors that slide open during the warmer days. Music was great but service was terrible and food delivery was slow, at best. Will never return

This was my first time coming to Scituate, so my friends and I decided on this restaurant because it got great reviews! It was pretty busy; the hostess said it would be about a 45 minute wait. We all like beer so we decided to grab a drink first. The beer list is great! After more than an hour and a half we were seated and very hungry. Unfortunately, although we each got 2+ plates, we left feeling hungry. It was really hard to share the meals as well because there were like two chicken legs on one plate, one «soft taco-​like» on another plate, etc. I got a cheese plate that only had a couple small pieces of cheese and the rest bread. It felt more like a bread plate than a cheese plate! But honestly the food was really good, I just think it was a little pricey for what you got. If you just want to go out for some beers and apps, this is your place!

My parents took me here for dinner to celebrate my birthday. While all the food was fabulous, service was veryyyy slow. Our waitress was really sweet, it just took a long time to order, to get drinks, to get food, to get our check, etc.
Stand outs were the lamb lolipops and the duck drumettes. We also loved the tomato flatbread. Grilled oysters were good, but not my favorite. Papas bravas were delicious, but the sauce was not like any brava sauce I’ve had with tapas before — far too bland. I also loved the roasted eggplant dish — smokey and flavorful. For dessert we split a fabulous cookie with ice cream. I also loved my pumpkin-​latte-​tini, what a clever and fun drink idea!

Great food, extensive beer menu, fun atmosphere, attentive + friendly staff, cute décor!

We absolutely love coming to Galley! From the minute we walk in the door, hostess with the mostest, Kerry Ann welcomed us with open arms. Her kind heart and energetic spirit completely dissipates any wait time we may have. We came on a very busy night and contemplated leaving to go somewhere else. If not for such an amazing hostess, we likely would have just come back another night. She truly went above and beyond to find us a table or seat at the bar while being sure to accommodate every other guest as well. It was worth the wait! While the food and service is always fantastic, we truly appreciate being greeted by Kerry Ann each time we’ve been here. Having the Galley so close to home, makes the perfect «date night» spot! Thanks Galley!

So this is the second visit to the Galley. The first was last year for lunch and the second last week for dinner. I like the location, the atmosphere, the staff, and the food.
My issue was the portion size of the dishes. I ordered two items for myself and left hungry after spending over $ 21 on just my food. I ordered the potato skin and the short-​rib dish.
For $ 7 there was a single half of potato skin cut in two with cheese and pulled pork. It was delicious but more than seriously lacking in portion size. For $ 14 the short rib was a single piece on top of some veggies with a broth/​gravy. Again, it was seriously delicious but for $ 14 expected more.
My significant other got a hummus dish and and something else that came with bread and chips and she was satisfied after her meal. But again it was served with a loaf of bread.
Last year I remember lunch being good on both quality and quantity. Not sure what has happened since.

Oh my god, first of All, this place can be grateful to have someone like Carrie Ann, one of the best hostess I’ve ever seen. She found us a place for 8 like immediately. Food is nice, drinks are fine and when we’re ready to leave she convinced us to stay for some deserts. Lucky us

Galley is the best place to have a drink at the bar in scituate ! Bartenders are very cheerful, music is great. Food is decent and love the fact they offer tapas. My favorite was duck confit. It’s a good spot to meet locals

Merrick was the best, and he food was amazing! Love the vibe and the people, so glad my parents moved to Scituate! We will be back

I recently had to pick someone up from the airport for a late flight arrival. By the time we returned to Scituate the Pats were pushing into the second half and due to timing we most likely past dinner service hours in the area. We popped into the Galley with only hopes they were still serving. Sadly, we had past their service hours. We accepted our fate and choose to stay for liquid calories. Out of simple hospitality, they brought out some nuts to chew on and presented some homemade hummus and fresh made chips. Now that means someone had to actually turn something back on after the clear definition of what they set to provide as an establishment. ready to end their day.
I respect service when it is not required, it is sadly a lost art. This is never to be expected of anyone, however in the guest/​host relationship the simple gesture is not overlooked. If they can take their time to be a hospitable host, I can surely be a hospitable guest and share my thanks… so with out further adou; Thank you, and keep pushing out those tapas and sweet beverages you provide… rock on Galley/​Tinkering and thank you to the staff as they’re the ones who make these calls when weary. Cheers

The Galley never disappoints. I really mean that. A great and knowledgeable waitstaff, creative bartenders, ambience, wonderful menus (food, beer, drinks and even wine) combine to make for the perfect night out. And one that is easy on the wallet.
Last night I didn’t go for my usual and fantastic short ribs or oysters, instead, the flatbread pizza and butternut squash hummus were new standouts. Don’t miss either. I wasn’t especially enamored by the duck, cranberry BBQ meatballs, but the rest of our group were. For me the pulled pork sliders made up for them.
Overall, and once again, a great night out.

Galley is a interesting restaurant. Food menu is a bit confusing at times though. Fairly extensive beer selection. Fun place to meet up with friends but as mentioned before the food menu is odd. Small portions add up quickly and can get expensive for a restaurant in Scituate.
I have literally combed through the menu trying to pick something to eat. I wish it wasn’t so difficult.
I did discover my new favorite beer here. Kentucky bourbon barrel ale!

Love this restaurant. Food was amazing! Atmosphere was great! Waiter was very nice. attentive! This restaurant gets a 5 stars from me! Would go back in a heart beat! Thank you for a great time!

JUST what the harbor needed… A classy middle between upscale/​pricey places like _​_​_​_​_​, and a total cut above the casual places on the water itself.
The beer selection is wide, and there are usually some specials going on for both beer and food. The raw bar is fresh. Super fresh, and of course the boutique dishes are tasty as anything. Small plates, so consider that when going. If you are a starving family of 6, this could cost you a little, but if you are meeting friends, or need an early or late evening snack, this is a home run. Kitchen is usually open until 11, and the bar staff — super.

I really wanted to love this place. We just moved to the South Shore from Boston this summer, and have been in pursuit of some great restaurants.
We went here with friends for a Thursday night dinner last week. The space is fun, and their craft cocktails and large variety of microbrew beers was reminiscent of our favorite city spots. The food however, was hit and miss.
THE GOOD: The duck poutine with cheese curds and the duck drumettes were wonderful. Duck they can do.
THE BAD: We also had the mussels, many of which were over-​cooked, and the garlic/​chorizo broth they came in was so bland. Probably in part since there were only mere specs of chorizo in the broth. The potato skins were also bland, a little seasoning would have gone a long way. Possibly the worst dish we all had were the lamb skewers. Both us and our friends ordered them, and both orders were hard/​rubbery from being so overcooked.
Go for the bar and drinks, but be weary of the inconsistent food.

Excellent! Very cool and varied atmosphere which makes the small restaurant extremely interesting. They do not take reservations but do allow you to call in a half hour before you plan to arrive to put your name on the wait list which cut the wait in half. DEFINITELY worth the wait! The staff could not be nicer and the food was great! Our party tried;
The chef board
Olives
White anchovies
Cod cakes
Clam fritters
Pulled pork slider
Grilled shrimp
Lamb kabob
Oyster bar
Empanada
The standouts were the cod cakes and the grilled shrimp but I am pressed to say that because all were excellent and perfectly cooked.
We will definitely be back!

Excellent food and very good service all around. Very lively, fun atmosphere. Nice location right on Main St. The bar serves great drinks and with all those great point the true star of this place is the food. Really like the varied selection and imaginative takes on flavors and ingredients. The food is fresh and everything we’ve ever had was always perfectly prepared. If your looking a tremendous meal in a cool, fun place this is a must stop weather your in the area, a local or need to travel — gotta try this place.