Achilles - Persephone: The Achilles Project

Elite '08

134

317

Mihir S.

Burlington, MA

I called to get some information on Persephone. The Ceres Convention is about three blocks away and I wanted to ask about getting a group together Persephone. The lady on the phone was curt and rude and didn't answer my questions before she hung up on me. I obviously I was a burden to her even if I was trying to give them business.

I was looking very forward to experiencing The Achilles Project but with an impression like that I doubt I will experience or recommend others to go. I highly suggest they do a much better job of screening their employees.

Will update when if I ever go.

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1

3

Caitlin S.

Scituate, MA

I really enjoyed my experience at this new South Boston hot spot and I hope more places pop up like it in the neighborhood.  It's a good example of the gentrification and trendification of South Boston-- a welcomed change!

The ambiance is very sophisticated "New York City Loft"-- spacious and well laid-out.  The fashion in front of house is artfully presented in these glass display cases that slide along ceiling tracks.  There's also Wii and Guitar Hero for the game aficionados who'd like to get there fashion on while having a few drinks.  It's certainly not a typical trio--video games, fashion & food, but hey, it works!

I went with a friend on a Wednesday after work.  We arrived early (5:30) and beat the rush.  By 7:30 the place was packed!  We sampled the Gin & Jazz and the Pomegranate Martini, both nice.  The bartender was very attentive.  We split a few small dishes and everything arrived on time, fresh and delicious.  The salads were well-balanced but relatively small.  We weren't there for a big meal so it worked out.  I'd definitely go back to have a sit-down meal because the rest of the menu looked very appealing.

Can't say I'm likely to go to the Achilles Project for the fashion but it sounds like they offer the wears of some cool designers that are hard to find in Boston.  So if shopping and drinking and video-gaming are your favorite pass-times, this might be your new favorite place.

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Elite '08

246

702

Yihwa H.

Boston, MA

There is just so much to this place that I hardly know where to begin. So let me split this up as logically as I can.

Decor:
Chic, simple yet attention to certain details, the whole space feels very lofty, boutiquey and sophisticated.  It has to be said that some areas were a little sparsely decorated (particularly the boutique and video gaming areas), but once you walk in and absorb things a little, and then check out the restaurant area, it all feels a little warmer. It's simple but so sleek and streamlined, you can't help but think "ooh".

Service:
The seating hostess, as someone else mentioned, can run a bit hot and cold.  When we entered, she was a bit standoffish, but other times she was really nice and friendly, so for now I'll chalk it down to the fact that they're a pretty new place and are still working out some nerves. Our waiter was lovely though, really nice and helpful. The thing that really irritated us was that, although I'd reserved a table for 9pm, we weren't seated until 9:47pm (yes, I was counting, because we were ravenous). After about 35 minutes of waiting, the hostess offered us some champagne on the house as an apology, and although even that literally arrived as we were heading to our table, it was a nice gesture and we definitely appreciated their efforts.

The boutique:
I didn't get to shop really, since we'd gone late enough so that the boutique part was "closed" (for sales anyway), but we could visually peruse the offerings through the funky hanging clear compartments, and we liked what we saw.  High quality stuff from cool designers, and really quite beautiful pieces - at least, my friends and I were drawn to the styles they had, and agreed that we liked what their buyer had chosen. Will definitely be back for the 'shopping' part of this place when it's actually open.

The food:
Delicious. Some things more so than others, but overall everything was very tasty and well-prepared.  Knowing it was all locally produced, organic, and generally sustainable cuisine made it all the better (hey, it made us feel good inside! hehe) The name of this place suggests Mediterranean cuisine, but the overall menu felt like a medley of cultures rather than Mediterranean, per se (and we had an actual Greek on our table to perpetuate that observation, hehe). Certain things like the grilled squid were definitely done in the Greek style (and was good!), but the steak, for example, was more French-style and mac n' cheese wasn't really Mediterranean either.

But still, that's not what we were there for, and there were a lot of enticing options to choose from on the menu.  The steak was tender and delicious, fries light and crispy and wonderfully seasoned, excellent sauces and flavourings, and the mac n' cheese was a little watery for my tastes but still very tasty. The desserts we tried (crepes flambe and chocolate torte) were great. Though the mousse was a bit thick and sticky, it was wholly rich and satisfying.  The restaurant-created soft raspberry chocolate truffles that came with our bill were also delicious.

Overall:
Definitely a wonderful concept, well-excecuted, and we'll be back.  It can seem overwhelming at first because there's just so much going around that you can be unsure what to check out first (boutique? bar? gaming area? restaurant?) but it's an absolutely special, stylish, and really interesting spot that's worth spending some time exploring. We'll be back, whether it's to sift through the racks of great clothing/accessories, play some games while having one of their creatively-named (and mixed) drinks, or to have a tasty bite in their great restaurant.

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Elite '08

83

136

Melissa C.

Boston, MA

Pretty close to perfect. I'm telling everyone I know to go, this is a place where everyone's diverging interests can be enjoyed together... or if you're like me, you can enjoy all your favorite things at the same time. Great food to support you through shopping and video gaming, good drinks to help that credit card slide out of the wallet and create a more even video game playing field.

The food is masterfully prepared and aesthetically pleasing. The drink menu is charming.

There is one thing that must be changed: There is a typo on your menu. I can't remember the exact item, but it is a drink. "Achilles" is a singular proper noun that ends in "s."
To show possession with such a noun one uses the apostrophe and an "s,"  so long as the following noun does not begin in "s."
Examples:
1. These are the waitress's pencils. (not "waitress' pencils")
2. This is the waitress' station.
3. These are the waitresses' pencils. (this is different from example 1 because the word is plural and ends in "s")

English lesson over, sorry. Other than that, if the boutique had been open while I was there, I'd probably go 5 stars on this place.

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Elite '08

54

296

Ashley M.

Boston, MA

Dear Persephone,

My boyfriend, being the Buddhist he is, so kindly accepts my choice to eat only grass-fed meat. However, for the life of him, he cannot understand my erratic decision. Thank you for helping him take a step in the direction of understanding. After enjoying a grass-fed steak last Friday at your good graces, he now is convinced that either you have a divine chef, or that grass-fed meat truly DOES taste better. (I'll give you credit for both).  

Our server was wonderfully attentive, and while the clothing shop boutique deal is rather odd, the ambience is just perfect. You make me want to move to the Fort Point Channel.

Thank you again,
Warmly,
Ashley

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6

80

Crystal S.

Somerville, MA

This is the type of place I walk into expecting snobby service due to the expensive price tags and the sophisticated ambiance, however, I was thoroughly disappointed. I'm not sure if it's because we arrived so early on a weekday and stayed so late, but we had an attentive bartender, chatty hostess and friendly co-owner to interact with throughout the night. Perfect.

We sampled the food, lots of it, and it's a fun menu, they don't really treat it as a traditional anything menu with the layout. You can do what you will with it so you can treat your meal like a night out with tapas or as a regular app, entree, dessert etc. We treated our meal like tapas and ordered little things along the way. Very yummy.

I only tried out the pomegranate martini and some rose but I must say, I haven't had a cocktail this good in a while, it wasn't syrupy or any of that jazz, and quite tasty and tasteful. Score!

If you're thinking of going, we were informed that on the weekends, they're starting to get packed, so reservations are recommended. Weekdays are a little different, but still, by the time we left, it was quite full indeed. They're also working on extending their liquor license etc so that they can stay open later and also trying to get approval for a live dj, they have a dj booth ready to go, as many pointed out. So it'll be cool to see how this little gem grows over time. If they get approval for everything, I may just have to live here, food, drinks, guitar hero, shopping, dj, what would they be missing?

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Elite '08

1457

581

Ligaya T.

Cambridge, MA

Innovative and sophisticated, The Achilles Project is the ULTIMATE TRIFECTA consisting of a clothing boutique, video game lounge (Wii, anyone?), and bar/restaurant. It's in a glorious class of its own. There's still some fleshing out to be done; I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with the canvas of blank walls and partially empty retail space. Yet I've no doubt they'll soar.

The design is simple but brilliant details are illumined to the watchful eye: modular clothing racks, hidden turntables and registers and configurable tables. Leviton's streamlined his cuisine, creating dazzling dishes that adhere to the sustainable ethos. The caliber of the food matches the prices.

Clearly the project was a labor of love, reflecting the musical and sartorial backgrounds of the co-founders but not without a wink here and there (see cocktail menu) to let you know they're not taking themselves too seriously. And neither should you. Relax and enjoy.

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3

37

Kate M.

Boston, MA

This is our "after work" bar for my company. I think it is a great location and the vibe is way cool...HOWEVER, I am a vodka drinker, people....when I requested my Belvedere dirty (Courtney Love dirty) martini, I was informed that they do not and WILL not carry this brand. Okay, that sucks. ****4/4/08 UPDATE ---They now carry Belvedere!!!!

2nd chance...not feeling like spending a million dollars on a martini I opted for a vanilla stoli and diet...guess what?!...no can do and they are not going to introduce it into their lineup in the future.

I have yet to eat a meal there, but I am still open to try it as it is the closet watering hole from our building and I don't want to be the bitcher of the group.

I still think that it is really overpriced, but hey- they have to maintain that outlandish overhead for space, right?

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Elite '08

10

92

Eric W.

Quincy, MA

Achilles - Persephone is a beautiful space and sure to be a focal point in the developing Fort Point renaissances.  A short walk across the bridge from South Station brings you to the door.  The clean, broad spaces of Achilles - Persephone seem a bit alien in the heart of this fairly barren (but still beautiful) warehouse district.  The clothing store takes the entrance and at this point is aesthetically pleasing but likely not enough to attract a serious shopper.    Persephone, though, has more than enough to attract the serious eater.  We went for the scatter-shot, try a bit of everything tapas-like approach; alternatively, you could choose their beautiful-looking extra-large steak and hunker in.

The bacon-covered pretzel from the bar menu was a fabulous start.  Other winners from that night's menu included tartare with a curry oil and the bone marrow.  The cocktails were inventive and tended towards the savory; the list shows promise for the future.  The chicken with raisins entree was nice, though it sat heavy on the plate and seemed unusually old for such a new, fresh restaurant.  The staff was casual and covered its bases well.   As Persephone follows its best inclinations, it should develop a loyal fan base.

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Elite '08

23

219

Nicole M.

Boston, MA

Fort Point just keeps getting better and better.  I love that I work here and live only a 10min walk away!

The Achilles Project just opened this past Monday after a very, very long wait.  It's got two parts.

Achilles is a boutique that sells both men's and women's clothing.  The clothes were awesome but I'm guessing they're far out of my reach since they didn't even have price tags on them.  Either that, or they're free!

Persephone is the restaurant that is just behind the cool racks of clothes.  The food is organic, all fresh and locally grown and they even have their own composting system to reduce/eliminate waste.  MAJOR points in my book.  I'm definitely looking forward to trying out some of Michael Leviton's creations soon.  The menu features small, medium, large and extra large plates, ranging from marinated olives to jamon iberico to mac and cheese to whole grilled wild black bass to bacon and sea salt pretzels.  The bar menu is chock full of goodies with an interesting wine list, a slew of sake, other mixed drinks and yummy beer like Smuttynose IPA and Pinkus Organic Hefeweizen.

The space is also equipped with large flat screen tvs where you can play Ms PacMan or launch any games on their Wii.  Pretty unique, indeed.  I can just imagine some hoity toity person trying to enjoy their lovely dinner while I wail away on the guitar at the next table...

So while I have yet to purchase any clothes or sample anything off their menu, they get five stars.  Anyplace where I can shop and then relax and reward myself by nibbling on food and drinking fun cocktails with names like Desperate Housewife and Poochie Poochie (or something like that), all while playing Guitar Hero is my kind of place!

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0

2

T H.

Boston, MA

AWESOME! Everything about Persephone is great and unique in Boston.  I loved the food, decor, and wait staff.  We were asked to move tables (after we were served a drink and bread), and were given a free desert and after dinner drinks.  The chef also came out to thank us for moving tables.
While the clothing selections (now open at night) in the retail section are over priced, they add to the uniqueness of the space.

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0

20

Mia D.

Auburndale, MA

I'd like to split my rating but since I can't, I'll give it a four.

First, the hostess needs to take a lesson in how to be nice. She was a bit snooty and sort of mean to my friends.  But then she'd be super nice to us...very strange.

The clothes were pretty to look at but since we were there mainly for drinks and food, it seemed a little weird to "shop" too.  But it was beautifully arranged (like art) and they were friendly enough and let us know they had other size in the back.  We were all wondering if the clothes would smell like FOOD but so far it didn't!

The bar area is small but very cool seating.  No one played Wii or Guitar Hero but the screens were up there!  Drinks were good - I had Hangar One Mandarin Vodka with tonic - delicious!  We ordered some apps - red curry wings (FANTASTIC!!!!), french fries (very good) and then the artichoke dish - which I found strange and bitter tasting.  They wouldn't transfer our tab to our table - which was annoying but not surprising.

Speaking of tables...so we told them we were ready for dinner and they told us it would be an hour wait.  WTF???  There were sooo many empty tables and they told us when we checked in, it wouldn't be a problem.  They said something about, someone being late for their reservation so if they don't show up, we can have their table.  Again, hostess was not nice, but a guy seemed to really care and helped us out in the end.  So, we got seated quickly and we thanked them for "squeezing" us in amidst the empty tables (just a few of them though).

Our server was very nice and pleasant and seemed to know what he was doing.

The food was hit and miss.  We ordered some Oak Point oysters which were really good if you like that style of oyster - small and briny and very very fresh.  I ordered the grilled squid which I liked a lot but didn't like any of the flat leaf parsley and lemon strips that came with it and the garbanzo beans were also a weird mix but the squid itself was delightful.  I also ordered the pork ribs which were good but a little heavy on the sauce on top for my tastes.  My friends had the chicken, bouillabaisse, skirt steak, all which was enjoyed except they forgot to ask her how she likes her steak, so that had to get recooked.  They kept forgetting a side dish my friend ordered so they comped us dessert which was nice and then even brought the artichoke dish out since it was made.  That was not good - didn't even see or taste the artichoke and it was mainly potatoes in a really oily/cheesy dish that had a strange aftertaste to it.

We ordered the chocolate torte which was really more like a brownie, but that was quite good.  My friend ordered coffee and the french press was lovely!

So I would go back for drinks and apps - ohhh those wings and fries!  But not sure it's worth another visit for dinner or shopping.

They definitely have some more kinks to perfect - service, seating, etc...

Oh the bathrooms are quite lovely, even if its a too brightly lit hallway that winds around to get there...

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0

1

marcy g.

Brookline, MA

Was not sure what we were getting into here, but walked out with one of the best dining experiences I have had in Boston in some time.  Great environment with care to each detail.  Very aware that nothing in this space was done without thought and intention.  The service staff was outstanding, they knew their menu, knew when to approach and when to leave our party alone. Finally but foremost in my mind was the outstanding, sophisticated, high quality and beautifully presented food. Each dish was made to perfection.  And now for the finale, my taste buds are still dancing from the two desserts I could not choose between (so why not get them both!).  The cherry on the top of this wonderful evening:  french pressed coffee at the table!

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5

34

Donna T.

Cambridge, MA

Finally, a place where you can shop side-by-side with the fashion-forward guy in your life. And no snooty attitude or old lady aesthetics to be found! They even have video games and a bar.
Achilles is staffed by friendly helpful folks who won't look down their noses at you, and despite the boutique's uber-chic appearances, deals can be had here -- I scored an amazing Opening Ceremony cardigan for 30% off. I could have easily spent more for something dull and mass-produced at Banana Republic or J Crew. That is, if I wanted to wear a sweater embroidered with spaniels/palm trees/lobsters.
The clothes here (from dresses and heels to tee shirts and sneakers) are very well-edited and many hip and hard-to-find lines are represented. I am very, very picky about clothes and like things that are unique and edgy while still being flattering, and I found tons of things that I loved here and had never seen anywhere else. Simply, this is one of the best shopping experiences I've had in Boston.
I can't rate the restaurant as I didn't eat there, but I will say that I wish they'd serve more vegetarian food, which would seem to be in line with their concept of sustainable food.

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4

18

Lo-an L.

Quincy, MA

Open on President's day weekend, read the review (chef Michael Levitron from Lumiere) so I had to check it out.  Dinner here last night was a reminiscent of an evening in NYC with its airy spacious loft-like setting.  The restaurant was IN the store and all the clothes are showcased (talk about true window shopping!).  
The lighting was a little too bright for my taste (no I'm talking shopping bright), no romantic candlelights to create that romantic atmosphere (that's why I remove 1 star).  When we were seated, the waiter informed us that they ran out of the ribeye steak and whole grill sea bass (there goes our dinner as I am a die hard seafood fan) so we decided to experiment with a little of everything on the small plate menu.  The food was genius, we start off with some island creek oysters (can't go wrong, well yes you can but they didn't), then sea scallop with chestnut root puree (cooked a little too done but quite nice with the hazelnut dripping), beef marrow bone with caper salad (oh-so-deliciously-sinful, they give you the WHOLE bone), grill local squid (better at Vlora, but then again it was octopus) and the best ever was the duck egg en cocotte with wild mushroom (it was heaven soaking the grilled bread in the eggy concoction fishing out yummy mushroom), we wanted to ordered another one but figure we should save some room for dessert.  I had the flourless valrhona manjari chocolate cake (much too thick and condense for me but loved the espresso ice cream and the interesting coffee meringue that decorated it).  Oh and the drinks are so ultra stiff (I had the Spartan sling martini) that the "stiff COCKtail" joke comes to mind.
Overall, I won't recommend this place for a romantic date (even though ours went fairly well due to the stiff cocktail), I'll bring a girlfriend here or perhaps an after office crowd.

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