I went to Stars one night with a companion. I was meeting them there. They arrived 30 minutes before me. They were seated and still had not even been offered water after the 30 minutes had passed. I sat and we waited 20 more minutes for the waitress to take our order. We ordered onion rings which we never got. Just our meals came out. One was a cheeseburger that was cold. I have to say that the food was mediocre and the service was terrible. Skip this place!    [27 Apr 2005 19:04:22]

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     ­Unhappy Diner   

I met a friend at Stars for dinner last night and it was incredibly loud and noisy. The manager continually walks around with the most disgruntled look on his face - he should remain unseen! The service was OK (our server was training someone who trailed behind) and the food was just fair. I agree with another reviewer to skip this place. Too many things have changed here recently.    [25 Aug 2005 11:52:33]

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     ­Anonymous   

Avoid Stars for Dinner
Recently went there for dinner with my husband. A not so friendly person took our orders. My husband's was good except that he asked for French fries but received mashed potatoes. I ordered a grilled Reuben. It was hard, cold, very tough corned beef and no swiss cheese. We never saw the waitress after we ordered; she never came back to check how the meal was or if we needed anything else. She finally came back with the bill and no conversation at all.

This is not a star quality place at all.    [09 Oct 2005 09:11:56]

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     ­Anonymous   

Better Try Again
Went for the first time recently and did not have any problems at all. The food and service were both excellent.

Don't know what went on last year, but that is not the case now.    [10 Aug 2006 11:04:12]

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     ­Anonymous   

Terrible Service
I have visited Stars on Hingham Harbor on two lunch occasions. The first visit was about a year ago, and while I enjoyed the food, the service was terrible. No "How is everything?", "Can I get you anything?", or drink refills offers. Just the check when the waitress was ready to give it.

My second visit was this past week, late August. We seated ourselves and waited 12 minutes to get menus. I took note of this because of the previous lousy service. While waiting for our menus here is what I observed - patrons at another table getting up to re-fill their own water, other customers getting their own silverware off another table, a meal sent back because a full sandwich was ordered (not half), and two sick-of-waiting-for-a-menu-customers getting up to leave and the party next to them saying "Good for You!" All the while, there was a waitress on the floor filling sugar containers and setting place settings.

We left after a rude waitress dropped menus on our table and mumbled "Sorry for the wait." I did get a laugh out of the Stars Report Card they leave prominently on each table informing customers "You're invited to teach us a thing or two about running a restaurant." Too funny!    [03 Sep 2006 22:25:22]

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     ­Anonymous   

Not Classy, but It's Not Bad...
Living in the Hingham area, I have probably dined at Stars maybe 6 or 7 times. It's almost always busy, and in my opinion, that is why the service is seemingly terrible to some people. The waiters and waitresses are probably running around like chickens with their heads cut off because of all the chicken they're throwing down in front of their customers. For a waitress in a fast paced environment, you're faced with customers being rude to you, even when you try your best; you most certainly get a work out; your memory is tested to the max when you get 3 or more things on your mind that you must do and someone stops you for another request. Oh my gosh, I hate it! I am a part-time waitress.

But about Stars... I like it - it's casual. The food is inexpensive. I'm not picky with my meals, so whatever they give me is fine with me! They've always given me what I ordered. It's no "Siros," "One Bistro," or other "classy" restaurant, and people shouldn't expect it to be. If you'd like some quiet, perfect service, go to an expensive restaurant. If you want something cheap and local, go to Stars.

Here are some tips if you do decide to go: If you want another glass of orange juice, a napkin, or whatever, ask any waitress who comes in ear length or makes eye contact with you, getting his/her attention politely, by waving, saying "excuse me," etc. They will always come to your table when you do this. Believe it or not, they actually do want to serve you, but they do forget about you from time to time. You have to remember that they are chickens with their heads cut off. Don't put your silverware directly on the table - leave it on your napkin or plate (I do this at every restaurant I go to, really...). Tip your waitstaff moderately (a little cheap is ok. the food is inexpensive here!). Ask for a menu(s) to look at before you go to your seat and let the host(ess) know you're in a rush and would like fast service if possible...if you really are in a rush. And remind the waitstaff when they first come to your table. Ask for a check while you're eating if possible. Go to Stars for the company you will be with (friends, family, etc.) and the good food you will hopefully enjoy. That, my darlings, is my 2 cents! I hope that somebody who reads this enjoys it too! Happy eating!

Added info for the curious: many window seats, booths and tables, seats somewhat close together, often crowded during Sunday brunches and often during other mealtimes, alcoholic beverages and bar available, watch a sporting event while seated near the bar. If you come early in the morning or between 2 and 4pm, it'll probably be more calm and quiet...and you can ask for substitutions without them getting messed up! I actually have asked for a substitution and got it without a flaw. I really don't think it's that bad.    [05 Jun 2007 02:35:41]

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Recommended Dishes: fetticine Alfredo, Mexican salad, breakfast foods, Reuben

     ­Angela   

After just reading a couple of bad reviews I feel compelled to write - I have never had bad service or a bad meal at Stars ever, and I have been many times. As a matter of fact, the food and the service are superb, and on a par with many better Boston establishments, but a much better value - the prices are great.    [09 Jul 2007 15:55:23]

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Recommended Dishes: seafood, the burgers, nachos, breakfast items

     ­Cohasseter   

Not the Stars We Used to Know, but Has Picked up a Little
I just stumbled on this thread and need to add my comments, too. We've been going to Stars for 15 years and it is certainly not the place it used to be, at least on the dining side. My husband and I used to eat there 2 or 3 nights a week when we both worked late and the food and service were consistently excellent.

Then, a number of years ago, something changed. I believe it became a training ground for EatWell's other local restaurants or something, or the good people got sucked into their other restaurants, or something happened with the management - the menu changed (not for the better) and kitchen quality was all over the board, depending on when you ate. Service became painfully slow and not very competent. We, too, got in the habit of searching for silverware and ketchup and salt and pepper (although never got our own water - that was a good idea) and we would sometimes have to leave when no one came to our table for 15 or 20 minutes.

Having said that, I think the low point was a couple of years ago and there has been improvement lately. The service is still slow and spotty but the food quality seems more consistent. Nevertheless, Stars has become a place we go to when there are no other options (there are many more than there used to be), quite a change from the place we used to look forward to dining at. The food's pretty good, just plan on spending more time there then you might think.    [12 Jul 2007 15:10:10]

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     ­Karen   

No Longer a Star
Last week my family and I went to Star's for dinner only by default as other restaurants were full. There were many empty tables so it was not busy at all. Waiter came by, took our drink order and didn't return with them for about 20 minutes. Took our food order, while the table in front of us, is seated after us, is served drinks, and their dinner arrives before ours does. If I didn't remind the waiter about the salad and chowder, we would have never received it. The kids' foods arrived first. The pasta portion was ridiculously small. They told us they ration their pasta! Hello, a box of pasta only costs $1.00! Finally after 1 hour, our food arrived but by then we were disgusted with this place. We spoke to the manager about the service and she offered to pack it up for us at no charge. We took it home and the chicken had fatty parts in it and the swordfish was dry and hard. I do not recommend Stars. It was much better about 7 years ago. Very disappointing. We used to eat at Stars every weekend.    [23 Jul 2007 12:07:35]

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     ­Anonymous