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Aquitaine
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
569 Tremont St(between Clarendon St & Union Park)
Boston, MA 02118
Neighborhood: South End
(617) 424-8577
- Nearest Transit:
-
Tremont St @ Union Pk (43)
Tremont St @ Waltham St (43)
Tremont St @ Dartmouth St (43)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11:30 am - 10 pm
Thu-Fri 11:30 am - 12:30 am
Sat 10 am - 12:30 am
Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Trendy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
433 reviews for Aquitaine
Review Highlights
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"I definitely loved the prix fixe brunch." In 24 reviews -
"I had the Filet Au Poivre and it was AMAZING." In 15 reviews -
"Dinner was great, I had the steak frites." In 42 reviews
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431 reviews in English
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Review from Piyali S.
Boston, MA
5/21/2012
Delicious, reliable brunch in the trendy South End that doesn't break the bank!
I struggled with whether to give this one 4 or 5 stars but went with 5! Usually I reserve 5 stars for restaurants that score high points on creativity or for combining an unlikely set of flavors that yield something delicious but Aquitaine was none of those things. Aquitaine was a solid, delicious, traditional brunch I know I can count on again. We went for the $10 prix fixe which comes with a cinnamon bun, omelette of your choice and bottomless coffee. I chose the omelette with mushrooms, leeks and boursin cheese with home style potatoes and toast: simple divine and HIGHLY recommended. I like branching out and trying new things but I doubt I ever will here because I found my perfect match on the first try. The portions are just right, leaving you feeling comfortably full without putting you into food comatose.
If they had outdoor seating this would be my official summer brunch spot. If you don't love Aquitaine as much as I did you'll at least like it and that's enough to make a reservation this weekend. -
Review from Lisa B.
5/6/2012
Brunch was very yummy and reasonably priced. There weren't any standout dishes at our table, but everyone enjoyed their meal. The restaurant also honored our 11AM reservation which is a HUGE plus in a town where a reservation means nothing.
The highlight of our visit was the service! After an awful service experience yesterday (see my review on Sunset Grill in Allston), it was wonderful to have an attentive and kind server. Our coffees and water glasses were always full, mimosas came out quickly, and our server seemed to be genuinely interested in taking care of us. What a great way to start a Sunday. -
Review from Jenan A.
Cambridge, MA
4/28/2012
We arrived 10 minutes late thinking they will have given our table away but on the contrary, the previous diners had not finished yet; "it will be 15 minutes" we were told so we left to walk along tremont st, came back and our table was still not available.
Another 20 minutes, and we are seated. Luckily neither of us are starving; it's 9:10pm by now
Service was ok, but what made this place stand out, and why I gave it four stars despite the 40 minute wait was the food
It was stunning - that's the only way to describe it. We shared a steak tartar (which was sublime) followed by the Hake for me, and Char for my friend; again, both done to perfection
All in all, a wonderful meal - I would suggest you call up to check whether your table is available before you arrive - this could save you the wait -
Review from Jessamyn S.
Winston-Salem, NC
5/22/2012
I was actually kind of surprised by how much I enjoyed the prix fixe brunch. In addiion to my perfectly cooked omelette Alsacienne, I had the Bees Knees cocktail- thyme infused honey? Delicious. Brunch is definitely the cheapeat way to dine at this restaurant.
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Review from Anne W.
4/18/2012
I have such high hopes for this place as it seems like it could be a terrific French restaurant.. it's in the trendy South End.. and it has a good look and feel inside. This place had the shortest wait though on a Saturday night.. so we decided to eat here.
This place should be categorized more of an Americanized wannabe French restaurant.
The bread is good.. I don't dispute that.
Because I didn't like any of their entrees, I got two appetizers. I got the beef tartare which was significantly better than Gaslight nearby. It wasn't a wow dish though... and the second dish I got was the mussels. She asked me if I wanted to make it my entree. Yes, I did.. she charged me double for it. Wow.. what a sneaky waitress. She did the same to my friend who wanted just an endive salad since it was 9:30 pm. Who charges double and doesn't tell you?
The mussels I ordered were covered in this cheesy buttery goo.. not good at all. It didn't taste French at all.
Maybe RW or brunch is better.. seems like that from the reviews.. but I will not be frequenting here again for anything other than drinks. Those are decent.
Update: The manager contacted me to apologize for the service I received. I appreciate that immensely. He also offered me a gift certificate. I will add a star for now and will go back to try again. I appreciate this effort of customer service. -
Review from Anthony L.
Cambridge, MA
I am so excited to finally be out of grad school and work Monday-Friday. Why, you ask? So I can go to brunch on the weekends.
I went to Aquitaine for the second time on Saturday, 3/24/2012 and enjoyed their prix fixe brunch (seriously, $9.95, what a bargain!) The brunch comes with a beverage (I opted for orange juice), a cinnamon bun, and an egg dish.
I ordered the "Omelette a la Greque with Spinach and Feta Cheese" (which, instead of trying to pronounce that, I just said spinach and feta, please!) What a delight this meal was! The omelet was perfectly made (but it's also a little tricky to screw that up, eh?) with scrumptious (can I stress this again: scrumptious / delicious / out of this world) potatoes on the side.
The physical lay out of the restaurant lives up to it's name: a French bistro. Tables are very close together, nice silverware, waiters dressed nicely. It was cute.
This time, I ended up sitting at the bar for brunch (as the place was packed!) The bartender was amazing, such great energy and was extremely kind. I liked her.
Be careful: this place gets extremely busy during brunch, head there early (10 - 10:30 a.m.!) -
Review from Ilya E.
Boston, MA
3/15/2012
Well I was really excited to try a new french place after thoroughly enjoying Robert Petit Bistro in Kenmore, sadly not everything was up to par. Especially since they let us eat so late.
Ambiance: The place is very cozy - great for first/second dates. Its quiet - despite people at the nearby table talking it felt very intimate.
Service: Very good, the food came fast, as I say below, the drinks were given special attention.
Drinks: Wine selection was great; the waiter brought us over samples for both wines we ordered - rare even in the nicer restaraunts in Boston (why don't more places do this, it ads a touch of elegance to the evening).
Food:
First Course:
We ordered the escargot (completely drenched in butter and garlic, so we couldn't really taste it, but it felt like it was good texture and cooked well). Not a big fan of snail nor do I know how its 'supposed' to be cooked, but well - it was REALLY garlicky.
Main Course:
The chicken was mediocre - well cooked but slightly soggy. The rest of the food was not very memorable.
Dessert: The chocolate 'thing' I had was very delicious. I'm a fiend for chocolate.
End of Meal: We saw a mouse/rodent. Not a night killer/deal breaker, but I had to pretend I didn't see it, thank god my date didn't. Clean up your act Aquitaine.
The bill came to 143 (plus tax and tip) for 2 glasses of wine each, plus 2 entrees and 1 appetizer. For that price, honestly I expected more. Once again, bonus points for seating us so late on a weekday night (we showed up at 11pm) and providing us with good service. Worth going to for drinks and a dessert late night, for food I would consider Stella at a much lower price for equal quality food.Listed in: Late Night Eats
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Review from Harri S.
3/13/2012
Had their lunch special. For $12.95 you get a soup, sandwich and salad (or fries), plus a soda/coffee.
I got the french onion and the duck confit with gruyere sandwich opted for the salad and ended up doing takeout (brought my bill down a couple of bucks).
Everything was good. While the Sandwich looked more like a pancake than a sandwich the taste all but made up for it. The French onion soup was done well, but definitely would have been better if I'd had it at the restaurant. The salad was a salad.
Dunno if it was worth $10.95 (takeout price), but it was definitely worth the experience. Everyone should give it a try. -
Review from Shea D.
2/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This is an *awesome* brunch option in a city that seems to have very few good brunch deals/menus (a foreign concept to this New Yorker). For $9.95 on Saturdays and Sundays, though it's only during certain hours so check before you go, you will receive the following through their pre-fixe menu:
- bottomless coffee
- orange juice
- warm cinnamon bun
- your choice of an omelette or egg entree
- toast and breakfast potatoes
And? They take reservations. Splendid! Also, if you are not taken with the pre-fixe option, you can order off the regular brunch menu instead.
FOOD: the cinnamon bun was indeed warm and delicious. I ordered the spinach and feta cheese omelette. It was good, but it tasted like they had added salt to a dish that already had plenty of it with the feta (I tested it by just trying a piece of the omelette without any of the feta in it...still salty). The toast and potatoes were good too. Overall, it was tasty but I wasn't overcome with adoration for it either.
PRICE: look, it's $9.95 for all of this food at a place like Aquitaine. No it doesn't include a beverage akin to a bellini or mimosa, but for roughly $7-8 you can indulge in one if you'd like. This price is just awesome for what you get.
ALCOHOL: I ordered the peach puree and white sparkling wine bellini. It was GOOD. I was thoroughly impressed. Some places water down the wine by putting too much of the puree, but not here. It was an excellent brunch cocktail.
SERVICE: I don't know how I feel about this because while it was excellent service overall, I felt pretty rushed and that's now how I imagine brunch. Our food came out almost lightning fast (seriously, maybe 5-7 minutes after we sat down we had our food), and as soon as our plates were empty they were gone. Had there been no empty tables around us I would have understood, but there were several empty tables in our immediate vicinity, so I am unclear as to why they would want to rush us out (if that is, in fact, what they were doing). They weren't aggressive in signaling that they wanted us to leave or anything, but I couldn't help but get that feeling. This is really the only complaint I had about the experience.
Overall, I'll be back. For sure.
P.S. Unlike many places in New York, this is not a roll out of bed and head to brunch kind of place. If you attempt this, well, don't say I didn't warn you.Listed in: I'm Shipping Up to Boston
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Review from Manpreet K.
Boston, MA
3/6/2012
This is one of the better brunch spots in South End.
Went here on a Sunday with a group of 6, even though our reservation was for 5. They were very accomodating, seeing how it was prime brunch hour. The server was forgettable but the brunch fare was pretty darn good with a good amount of variety. I sampled the dishes from my guests at the table, and all in all, everthing was pretty tasty (though the waffles were a bit soggy in the middle because they were left at the food window for a bit with whip cream on top). I had the eggs benedict Provencal & my other half had the leek omelette - really good.
The ambience is wonderful & warm and the place is quite happening during brunch hours, so make a reservation. I have a few spots on rotation for brunch in the south end & Aquitaine is getting added to that list. -
Review from Judy L.
2/28/2012
Salmon benedict! GET IT. It's amazing. :) I usually can't finish brunch serving sizes, but for this sumptuous dish, I devoured it all! Everyone at the table liked what they got as well. We had ordered French Toast and the weekend prix fixe menu. You can't go wrong.
Warning though, the wait is ridiculous. So call ahead and save yourself the trouble. -
Review from Armin F.
Cambridge, MA
3/18/2012
Restaurant week part 1. Walked by this place some time ago, and after some yelp research, Acquitaine made it on our list.
The atmosphere is really nice, the service was great but not fantastic. All dishes we ate were well prepared and really tasty. We had coq au vain and hake (white fish) as entrees, both really good. The wine pairing with all dishes was also a nice idea for restaurant week.
All in all, this place is a solid 4-star restaurant. However, it didn't deliver anything outstanding which would make me a 'regular', also given the price tag which is nothing you want to cough up more than once....worth trying out when it comes to French cuisine I would rate Chez Henri in Cambridge as number 1. -
Review from Regan C.
Cambridge, MA
3/21/2012
I keep kicking myself because I have never been here for lunch, which is apparently legendary, but I have been here for dinner on several occassions and it's about time I write a review for them.
As far as dinner goes, I can't say enough good things about their French Onion Soup and their Mussels. I could live off of those alone. My favorite entree there is the Artic Char which is delish. I tried the tagliatelle with duck confit recently, and while the pasta was good, the duck was a little dry. Aside from the dry duck, my only other gripe is that a few waiters don't seem to know the wine pairings as well as I would hope they would.
Nonetheless, you will see my hungover ass in there for Sunday brunch soon enough because even if service isn't always top notch, their food gets me everytime. -
Review from Nick H.
2/15/2012
"All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning. Great works are often born on a street corner or in a restaurant's revolving door."
So decadent and unique a creation it must have been conceived during some French Master Chef's REM sleep after a night of heavy boozing, Aquitaine's Oeuf en Cocotte is the compressed marriage of Truffles, Pommes Purée, Marinated Chanterelles in a petit glass pot with brioche on the side. When you order they say it will take a while to prepare, which to me always signals greatness and care.
"A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened."
Just when I thought I knew braised short rib and all that mouth-watering creation could be, Aquitaine helped me rediscover this dish with their chermoula-inspired take (chermoula is a North-African marinade). I didn't quite get the inclusion of pickled radish and carrots on the plate but the pommes purée were a better touch.
"I know of only one duty, and that is to love."
That last Albert Camus quote really sums up the experience at Aquitaine, a very well-run French restaurant owned by the Aquitaine Empire that has given Boston other culinary gifts likes Gaslight, Union Bar and Grille, Metropolis Café, and the coming-soon Cinquecento in the former Rocca space.
Aquitaine is a good example of why this restaurant group has enjoyed so much success: nailing food scene trends (remember the French bistro explosion?), focusing ho-heartily and genuinely on service, and most-importantly cooking up some real legit grub (can you say steamed mussels in Sancerre and shallot?).
The A-team shows a love for both the food and people that they serve, and for that these guys deserve some real cred. No wonder their other three restaurants are all on my short list of Bean-area spots to try. -
Review from Cami F.
Boston, MA
4/23/2012
The food here is always great. You have to get the steak frites! This is a favorite of my Dad's, and while I have been here on a date I think its better for families or a slightly older scene. I should also note my father is a vegetarian and he finds Aquitaine to be very vegetarian friendly! The service can be a little slow, and the tables slightly too close together (don't mind as I hear your entire conversation) but otherwise a very pretty ambiance.
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Review from Dave A.
South Boston, Boston, MA
3/11/2012
I just had Sunday Brunch here today, and I really enjoyed it. Now, I'm a pretty simple guy, and I tend to go with meals in a that fall into their specialty, so of course going to a french restaurant for brunch I was going to go with the French Toast! I'm no French Toast connoisseur...but that was excellent! It came with some strips of bacon, whipped cream and some berries on top. My date had the Eggs Benedict, and she said that was really good. the meals were each just $10, so I think that is a pretty good price for a place like that, so five stars it is.
As for line references, we got there at about 11:45 the morning after the spring daylight savings time change, so I'm not sure if that affected it, but I was happy that there was no line for just the two of us. The place looked full, but there still wasn't a line when we left either. -
Review from Sara K.
CHESTNUT HILL, MA
4/17/2012
Went with a friend for brunch and managed to snag a table even though we went without a reservation. Awesome atmosphere, classy yet casual. Only bad thing was that it was really hot yet there was no AC, just ceiling fans.
Food was amazing for the price. Ordered the omelette de la maison for $8, and it was probably one of the top 3 omelettes that I've ever had. Service was good too. Regrettably they didn't have any dessert options that sounded appealing, but that was probably a good thing since I need to lose weight lol. My friend ordered the shrimp salade club and french toast, which she said was really good as well.
Would definitely come back for more.
Random story: when I was there, a guy just fainted and had mini seizures on the floor.... it was that kind of situation where I didn't really know what to do because he was near our table but already had like his entire family surrounding him... he seemed okay after he regained consciousness, lol not really sure what happened. -
Review from Anita L.
Boston, MA
2/26/2012
For some reason the word Aquitaine automatically makes me think of Aquaman so it takes some mental effort for me to take this place seriously (not that Aquaman wasn't serious...but yeah). However, the good food, nice servers, and elegant ambiance helps me do just that.
I went here recendly with a large group for a birthday dinner. The French Onion soup was by far the star of the evening. It came out hot with delicious, gooey cheese, soaked bread pieces, and lots of delicious onion soup broth. The Arctic Chard was very tender and flavorful although the brussels sprouts on the side were rather bland. I must have eaten 3 or 4 rolls of the addictive bread. Their wine list was very comprehensive and they brought a nice little dessert for my birthday-celebrating friend. The dinner was certainly pricey, but it was worth it for an enjoyable dinner with good company. -
Review from Tanya Y.
1/12/2012 4 photos
Disclaimer: This review is solely based on a 25-person work related holiday party!
I was pumped when I got the E-vite stating that the annual holiday party would be at Aquitaine. Other than for restaurant week, I'm not typically the type to venture out to higher end restaurants to grab a bite to eat. Therefore, I knew from the start that this would be special.
I got to the restaurant late because I spent forever looking for a parking spot along Tremont Street. The parking here sucks butt - if you're lucky enough to find a spot on the street, make sure you fill up your meter and be mindful of your time; the meter maids are very unforgiving and will give you a parking ticket as soon as they get the chance.
The lighting of Aquitaine is dim even during the day, setting a romantic-esque atmosphere. Each person in our party was given a paper menu in which we could pick out an appetizer, main course, and dessert. I ended up choosing the soupe a l'oignon with Amontillado Sherry and Melted Aged Gruyere ($7.95) for my appetizer, steak frites with Périgord Black Truffle Vinaigrette, Watercress Shallot Salade & Natural Jus ($24.95), and the Confiture De Lait creme brulee ($6.95) for dessert.
The presentation for each course was spot on (refer to my pictures!). The french onion soup was delicious, steak with fries delicious, and creme brulee the absolute best. Even the fresh squeezed orange juice was great. The hosts and waiters/waitresses were polite and professional - I was even more impressed that they were able to keep 25 people's requests all in order.
After reading a ton of Yelper's reviews on Aquitaine, I definitely plan on coming back for their prixe-fixe brunch. Warm cinnamon bun? Yes please!
Thanks for such great hospitality, Aquitaine! -
Review from Jazmine S.
Quincy, MA
4/11/2012
This review is for the brunch (not prix fixe). Came here for Sunday brunch, New Year's Day. You need to get reservations since the restaurant is tiny and can't accommodate a lot of people. I had the most amazing brioche french toast, topped with Crispy Bacon, Fresh Blueberries, Strawberries, & Vanilla Whipped Cream. Prices are affordable and reasonable for brunch. I heard that the prix fixe lunch is also good. Can't wait to come back here, maybe take the T so as not to stress out with parking. It is also important that even if we were here on a Sunday, it was still very difficult to find street parking.
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Review from Valerie W.
New York, NY
2/15/2012
Went here for Valentine's day dinner. We sat in an "L" shaped booth at a round table, so it was quite intimate. I had the oeuf en cocotte to start - it was bangin'
The roasted chicken breast was my main course - tres forgettable. There is a whole lot of fish to choose from on the menu, so if that's your thing, I'm sure all of the options are fishy delicious. If fish makes you hurl, you can choose from the Chicken, Steak frites, or the token veggie tagliatelle.
I really liked the wait staff. My dinner partner discovered that he doesn't like beets courtesy of the warm beet salad - and I ...accidentally... told the waiter. He ended up leaving it off the bill. I swear I wasn't rude about it.
A good time.
I don't love the restaurant name embroidered on the back of the wait staff's vests. -
Review from Mabel N.
Boston, MA
Updated - 3/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Egg Benedict and French toast! French toast was DELICIOUS!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/9/2011
Had brunch at Aquitaine last sunday. It was an awesome experience. Love the atmostphere, service… Read more »
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Review from Emmanuel S.
Cambridge, MA
2/12/2012
Great place for brunches. The Steak and Eggs is yummy, with truffle sauce. Brunch cocktails are amazing as well, for a very reasonable price.
The only bad things: huge wait usually, especially on week ends, and even if you call and booked something at 2, you might very well wait until 2:30...
PS: check the bathrooms with the wine stickers on the wall: beautiful! -
Review from Kimberley S.
Charlestown, MA
1/9/2012
The best (and spiciest) Bloody Mary I have ever had. Good god, Aquitaine. You sure know how to make me happy.
Delish eggs benedict with avocado. Yummy home fries. What more could you ask for? -
Review from zee w.
New Orleans, LA
2/22/2012
Really great french bistro in the South End.
Onion Soup was excellent.
Filet au Poivre was one of the most tender, perfectly seasoned steaks I can ever remember having.
Get a side of the green beans for some buttery goodness.
Snug seating, but overall great atmosphere and service. -
Review from Alana H.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
A great place for breakfast on a Sunday morning. My friend and I got a reservation here for 10 am which fit right into the hour they have their prix fixe brunch. For $9.95 you get a warm cinnamon bun, unlimited coffee, and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice and your choice of an omelette. I ordered the Omelette de la Maison with Bacon, Tomatoes, and Gruyere Cheese. Don't let the price fool you, the omelette is huge and came with brunch potatoes and seven grain toast. The bacon in the omelette was crisp and the gruyere cheese was gooey and flavorful. The big chunks of roasted potatoes were crisp and a nice addition to the meal.
If you want to come here for breakfast on the weekend you MUST make a reservation as this place is busy! Our server was very attentive and really nice, and our food came rather quickly and was warm. Good food, great price, I would definitely return. -
Review from Eric V.
Waldorf, MD
5/9/2012
Shot over here to meet in laws for lunch after checking into hotel. Food was reasonably priced and enjoyed the service. Thy had great onion soup which was not salty at all. It was an enjoyable experience.
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Review from Meridith H.
Boston, MA
1/3/2012
My partner & I were in the area, and hungry. This was a place that we chose based on the menu posted in the window; upon walking in, I felt a bit out of place in my jeans and hoodie, but the staff declined to notice. We were seated immediately & given a complimentary appetizer (high end cheesy pastry puffs!).
I had a beet salad and the sole and my partner had the french onion soup and a steak; we were both very happy with these choices. My only regret is that we had to be somewhere after dinner and didn't have time to linger over coffee and dessert. I was also thrilled with the level of service; the waitstaff are professionals, not kids. With one visit, Aquitaine has won me over. -
Review from Timothy A.
Beverly, MA
3/23/2012
Very good food served in a French bistro style. You walk off the street and into another country. We shared a salad and had steak frites. They offered one of our favorite wines, Quintessence de Chateau Pesquié, a Ventoux wine produced in Mormoiran, near Bedoin and le géant de Provence, le Mon Ventoux. The wait staff was attentive and well informed.
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Review from Tracey F.
Boston, MA
1/25/2012
Aquitaine is classically French in décor. A small, long Parisian style restaurant with cozy tables and booths covered with white tablecloths. Nicotine stained walls, mirrors and a large chalk board presents patrons with the specials of the day. The waitstaff are efficient and friendly and mill around the restaurant in an unhurried, expert fashion. The small bar area is darling with bar to ceiling walls of wines and a bartender who commands his area like his own ship. My friend arrived soon me after and immediately ordered a Dead Eddie, the gin special of the evening. Tangy, fresh, ginilicious! I stuck with my usual of wine.
While looking at the menu some warm and delicously soft, tasty cheese balls were brought to us. Definitely a favorite for me. Pop in your mouth and your weekend has begun with a smile.
We looked at the menu and as we are both familiar with it we know many of the dishes. As a creature of habit I almost always go with the chicken liver mousse and lemon sole. This time I was determined to order something different. I noticed the woman next to me eating an intriguing looking dish. When I asked what it was she said it was absolutely delicious so I thought why not. I started with the Oeuf En Cocotte.
The idea is to open the jar where a soft poached egg sits on top of pureed potatoes with truffles and chanterelles. You have to thoroughly mix everything together so that the egg runs throughout the jar. This dish is quite unusual. The texture is of semi-runny egg with mushy potato. An intense flavor of truffle overwhelmed me with happiness at first bite. I absolutely love truffle!!! Dipping the brioche into the jar reminded me of breakfast at home when my mum would make soft boiled eggs still in the shell. I am still on the fence on whether I loved this dish. I most certainly did like it and anything with truffle definitely has me leaning towards liking anything.
My friend decided on the always good Belgian Endive Salade. A prettily presented salad of shredded fresh endive drizzled with a light dressing with an added crunchy texture of walnuts and apple.
On to my entrée and the Plat du Jour of the Long Island Duck Breast. Duck is one of my favorite meats, especially when it is cooked just right. I always say "cook to chef's recommendation" and at Aquitaine I was right to do so. The tart sweetness of the peach created a perfect marriage with the medium rare grilled juicy duck. Alongside peppery, biting spiced black rice, I could not have been happier with my dish.
My friend went for the Tagliatelle and before I had a chance to say "can I have a taste" it was all gone. He obviously thoroughly enjoyed his dish.
They also do an amazing pre fix brunch for $9.95. -
Review from Jennifer S.
Tyngsboro, MA
3/25/2012
Not sure what the negative reviews are about - this is one of my favorite restaurants in the South End. I have been here for a special occasion, and most recently for Restaurant Week. Food was delicious, service was great (our waitress even helped us with a movie trivia question), atmosphere was perfect as always. Reminds me of being in Paris where dinners are an event, and are meant to be enjoyed and not rushed.
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Review from Michelle P.
Jersey City, NJ
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was going past 10pm and I still hadn't eaten dinner. I thought walking through the South End would be a great idea, especially since there are so many restaurants there. However, not so great if you can't make up your mind on what to eat.
Showed up without a reservation, but were promptly seated. I was glad the place wasn't dead, especially since it was past the normal dinner hours. I had the steak frites, which were AMAZING. Also had a bite or two of the filet au poivre. Boy, was that tasty.
As for the service, our waitress was a bit pushy. We felt "pressured" on ordering a side dish.
Overall, food was great. Definitely will stop by again. -
Review from Adam E.
Boston, MA
12/20/2011
Aquitaine is a neighborhood staple for solid, classic French cuisine. Not the best, but not the most expensive - you get what you pay for, mostly. Overall, I wish they'd just take a few risks; there are touches here and there, garnishes that really take you off guard, but nothing all that memorable.
Though I've been many times for brunch, I never went to Aquitaine for dinner until this week.
The evening did not start off well, as we had a reservation and had to wait thirty minutes for a table. However, the host was gracious and ended up giving us free appetizers (mussels and a cheese plate), which was much appreciated. So I can't fault them for being unexpectedly slammed. He was perhaps the best part of the evening.
The food in general was fine, but nothing spectacular. The mussels were soggy, and the heavy cream didn't help. I always find myself wondering why Aquitaine is not as good as Gaslight - aren't they owned by the same group, with similar pricing? The food in general was overcooked, or perhaps it sat out for too long - our waitress wasn't the best. Someone else took her place, and he was much better.
I ordered the hake, which tasted exactly like the fried flounder I ate growing up. So it was wonderfully nostalgic and nicely paired with an inventive little diced chorizo accompaniment. Delicious, but a petite entree for $27. Others at the table ordered the steak frites, which were better than anywhere else in the South End, but not life-changing, and not the best in Boston. The jus could have simmered juuuust a bit more...
But I'm sure I'll be back. -
Review from Ellen F.
Somerville, MA
2/7/2012 3 Check-ins Here
We love Aquitaine and although we live in Somerville take every opportunity to go there, usually for brunch or lunch. The Saturday brunch for $9.95 has to be one of the great deals in town, with superb omelettes and home fries, freshly-squeezed orange juice, fine coffee--and even a pastry. (You can get the same deal on Sunday, but only quite early) They also have a lovely lunch soup and half-sandwich--so much better than that combination is normally. The food is outstanding and the service friendly and considerate. We haven't been there for dinner but will probably try it when we're going to the theater in the South End.
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Review from Frank Z.
Boston, MA
12/27/2011
Vrai gastronomie francaise adaptee pour les americains.
Their food is refined, elaborate, elegant-la classe
The portions are decent and their wine selection is great.
They actually have rouget, a small fish from the Mediterranean that you can't often find in backwater Boston.
I retreat here when the Four Seasons Hotel is just too gloomy. -
Review from Dennis L.
10/30/2011
The special prix fixe menu is a great value.
Choice of egg dish, coffee, juice, and cinnamon bun to start
Brunch is always a hassle because you have to brave the cold and wait in long lines to be seated. Not here. We simply made a reservation on OpenTable and got seated promptly. We ordered quickly and kitchen service was almost equally as quick. For the price, it was worth it. Next time, I'll try the other stuff on the menu. I look forward to coming back. -
Review from Jeff F.
Updated - 10/30/2011
Came in for a second visit recently on 10/15 and thought of this more as a 3 star experience. A little disappointing since I was coming off an average experience at Union. The Filet Au Poivre and the Steak Frites were both mediocre - it was essentially cooked meat with borderline bland flavor. This was surprising given on our last visit we were really impressed with the steak frites. Then again, we were impressed with the service last time and grossly underwhelmed on this last visit.
From an atmosphere standpoint, Aquitaine still rocks. At the very least, I'd return for cocktails and apps.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/11/2011
Really loved my first outing to Aquitaine during restaurant week. Setting, atmosphere, food and… Read more »
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Review from graceypoo m.
Boston, MA
8/29/2011
Solid 4 stars. Went here for Restaurant Week, but I also tried one of the appetizers off the regular menu. It was my attempt at having a one nice last meal should Hurricane Irene arrive with a wrath on Boston and surrounding areas.
The inside of this place is rustic---with studded leather seats, wooden and brick interior. White linen tables with protective paper sheet. They will hang up your coat for you in the back and bring it out for you when you are ready to leave. Amazing customer service forrealz. Wine and water glass and the standard offering of Perrier water (which I refused.... regular tap tap water is fine for me). I was offered 2 cute cheese puffs and even a complementary flute of sparkling white as part of their own in-house Restaurant Week promotion. They also offered these nice crusty rolls (warm and soft inside) and butter. Oh I enjoyed that bread.
I indicated I wanted the prix fixe menu: had the tomato tart with basil goat cheese and creme fraiche (the tart shell was a bit too firm for me, but the flavors were nice); Prince Edward Island mussels sauteed in a garlic/herb/parsley/tomato broth with a huge saffron crouton; and the apricot tart tatin with creme fraiche ice cream.
Everything were pretty good. The extra appetizer I ordered from the menu, however, was off the chain! It came in one of those mini hermetic glass jars-- this is the description on the menu:
"OEUF EN COCOTTE with Truffles, Pommes Purée, Marinated Chanterelles & Brioche"
Basically it is some marinated chanterelle mushrooms and slices of black truffles, topped with mashed potatoes, topped with a soft boiled egg, served in a hermetic glass jar.... and two mini brioche sticks for sopping up the goodness inside.
Great date spot.
=8)Listed in: Boston-Cambridge grub spots
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Review from Rachel O.
Brooklyn, NY
12/4/2011
Great brunch deal!
Delicious, fresh food, upscale feel but totally affordable brunch.
We waiting an hour to be seated because of a mix up with the number of people in our party. The host didn't even offer us a glass of water. Despite this, the rest of the wait staff was great and we would go back. -
Review from Andy C.
Boston, MA
3/9/2012
Aquitaine provides a very exquisite dining environment. Its bistro-like feel retains class without being pompous, and the decor's darker colors give off a vibrant warmth. The wine selection is very impressive, and my friend and I thoroughly enjoyed their professional tasting process. The two fish entrees we had were both delicious - flaky and moist without being overly seasoned or heavy. The creme brulee dessert definitely had a unique Aquitaine twist to it - I still can't really describe it, but it was creme brulee with a very tasty flair. Paired with the very attentive and friendly service, dining at Aquitaine was definitely a pleasure.
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