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Aquitaine
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
11 Boylston StChestnut Hill, MA 02467
(617) 734-8400
Announcement
Open Christmas Eve and New Years Eve,regular menu and specials.Serving New Years Day brunch with special $9.95 price fixed and regular menu.
- Nearest Transit:
-
Chestnut Hill Shopping Ctr @ Macy's (60)
Chestnut Hill Shopping Ctr @ Amc Theaters (60)
Boylston St @ Tully St (60)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 3 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 3 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
94 reviews for Aquitaine
Review Highlights
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"Hands down, the best steak frites in Boston." In 14 reviews -
"Went here for Saturday brunch - best I've ever had." In 30 reviews -
"Do not miss the steak au poivre." In 5 reviews
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93 reviews in English
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Review from Alana B.
Watertown, MA
Updated - 12/11/2011
Well hello,
About a year a ago I wrote a review after having not such a great experience at Aquitaine. Since then, this has become my favorite place. I never wanted to go back since my experience but ended up going back more than once. The food and the service got better and better every time. This is my new favorite place. Nice staff, nice atmosphere, and love chestnut hill.
Thank you Jeffrey. :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/12/2010
This place is really cute and has a nice cozy feel to it. The food is good but the menu is too… Read more »
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Review from Vivian C.
3/24/2012 8 photos
I've been here once before... many many years ago with a friend who enjoyed frequenting it at the time. But that's history, and I unfortuantely have no recollections.
Well, back to the present, Aquitaine has become the setting of my 2nd Winter Restaurant Week 2012 experience. Once again it was for lunch, but with a party of 3, we had the opportunity to taste every entree option!
APPETIZERS
Spicy Mussel Soup 'Mouclade"
with tomatoes, fennel & chorizo
Chicken Liver Terrine
with Quince Paste, Roasted Spring Onions and Sel Gris Croutons
ENTREES
Slow Roasted Pork Belly
Caramelized Yams, Sweet & Sour Choucroute & Roasted Garlic Pan Drippings
Pan Fried Golden Trout
with Fava and Roasted Corn Succotash, Crème Fraiche & Thyme Brown Butter
Maine Lobster Ravioli
with Brandied Lobster Crème, Roasted Shallots, Sugar Snap Peas & Snipped Chives
DESSERT
Dark Chocolate & Salty Caramel Tart
with Valrhona Chocolate Sauce & Creme Chantilly
Orange Vanilla Crème Caramel
with Grand Marnier and Candied Mineola Orange
Warm french bread arrived in a paper sleeve with soft whipped butter. Crumbs went all over the table, but that's the bane of crisp crusted breads!
The soup, I hadn't tried, but was told that it was only okay - a little spicy but not that flavorful. The portion of chicken liver terrine provided, however, was quite generous for the 3 points of toast which came with it. So once done, we had nearly a whole serving remaining of the two we had ordered.
Of the entrees, I enjoyed the yams, the corn succotash, and the lobster pasta which had transformed from ravioli to tagliatelle (with bits and pieces of claw and knuckle meat) as if overnight. Well, no - it is still listed as ravioli on the RW site. But that's okay, it was still tasty and the pasta had a good bite.
Also tender enough yet still with a decent crisp was the fish. However the pork belly had an outrageously thick layer of fat, with an exceedingly thin bit of meat, while the skin had become tough rather than crisp. So, if you are going for RW, I recommend the pasta, then the fish, and last of all the pig for your entree.
As for desserts, I enjoyed the creme caramel - both cool and creamy. The chocolate tart wasn't overly sweet, and the crust was fine.
Bathrooms were slightly exposed in the far back end of the dining room. Once the door was opened, certain nearby patrions had a good view of the single person bathrooms. Not the most appetizing view during one's meal. -
Review from Rita V.
Hudson, MA
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Moules and frites.... Oh my! Kevin, great lunch time server. The baguette? Oooohh lala! Can't wait to come back. Clean, delicious, great service. And I had a Cuban flavor craving? Bah! I'm. Ow on a French kick!
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Review from Hank S.
Boston, MA
5/21/2012
Went here with my girlfriend for an anniversary dinner, and we loved the food! The filet mignon was tender and perfectly cooked. The service was outstanding-- our server was very pleasant and extremely attentive. After trying a few of the red meat options here, I think I've settled on the steak frites. It simply can't be beat.
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Review from Melissa G.
Minneapolis, MN
5/7/2012
Have been to the South End location for brunch and loved it so was very disappointed with the meal in Chestnut Hill. My bf and I brought my mom here for an early Mothers Day. Bloody Mary's were weak and bland even after adding Tobasco from the table.
My bf ordered the Chorizo & Eggs. He asked for eggs over easy and instead they came soft scrambled. He ate them anyway but couldn't eat more than a bite of the chorizo as it was so dry.
I had an omelette with ham, gruyere and parsley. The filling was almost non existent and there was no parsley at all. The egg was way overcooked and rubbery.
My moms dish was a bit more successful. The eggs in her Benedict were cooked perfectly and the light salad with the dish did make it a great brunch choice.
Don't order the fresh fruit - after being told it had lots of berries, pineapple and some melon we received a bowl 3/4 full of melon(cheap) a few small berries and a couple pieces of pineapple.
What a let down. -
Review from Alyson G.
4/9/2012
My Mom and I stopped in for brunch after a fabulous day of shopping down the street. It was quiet, and almost closing time between brunch and dinner but they still happily sat us. I went with the nicoise salad which was fabulous - seared tuna, red potatoes, french beans and olives with some drizzled greens and my Mother went with an omelet. The food was delicious, the decor french bistro fabulous, and the service was great even though they could have shown us the door. J'taime Aquitaine.
Listed in: Brunch Rocks, Frenchie
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Review from Larry K.
Newton, MA
4/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Solid brunch. Comfortable surroundings, standard brunch entrees (French toast, (omlettes, eggs Benedict,) all well prepared, generally reasonable prices.
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Review from Ellen F.
Somerville, MA
Updated - 3/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
At the urging of the owner we returned to Aquitaine in Chestnut Hill for dinner with two friends who had never been there before and our experience was far better than the previous one, when we were there for lunch. The food was excellent--we all had appetizer salads---I had the sole, one of our friends had the schnitzel, and the other two had burgers--the fries that came with them were terrific as was the beet salad. We shared an excellent St. Emilion. The service was generally attentive but the one glitch is that when we arrived my partner told the hostess that it was my birthday and asked her if they did anything for birthdays. She said they would bring a birthday dessert with a candle--that never happened and my partner and our friends were sorely irritated and disappointed.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/7/2012
We love the Aquitaine in the South End, but this one is a poor imitation. The food was mediocre and… Read more »
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Review from Pablo R.
Boston, MA
3/4/2012
I've been here four or five times now, and I feel like I can now give it a proper review. The first few times I came, I was very pleased with the food and would have chosen a rating of four stars. Now that I've gone a bit more, that opinion has slightly morphed.
Let me begin by stating that I have only had brunch at this place, and because of other reviews, I have not been very convinced to try it for dinner. Simply put, the breakfast is good, certainly not amazing though, and not quite as good as you would imagine a French bistro to be. The main reason this place attracted me was it's offering of a complete breakfast for a reasonable price.
The penultimate time I visited Aquitaine, I was a little disappointed by my omelette which was supposed to have sausage, but contained only one miniscule piece. I'm not sure if it was a mistake, if it was, it was a little careless not to notice. If it's protocol, then it's just a little sad.
The last time I visited, I had a few pieces of eggshell in my omelette. This was even more disappointing, because as I mentioned before, this is a French bistro. I've had the misfortune of going to Denny's and IHOP dozens of times, and although this place is leaps and bounds better, even those cesspools can keep the shell out of an omelette.
Returning back to the pros, When this place is good, it is certainly worth the trip, and it's a good alternative to those breakfast chain "restaurants". The service is fast and friendly, and the establishment is clean and comfortable. Give it a try, you will probably be pleased.
Update: 03/27/2012... - another 2 stars
I returned to give this place another shot, and this time I got a different waiter. He was a bit lethargic, but did his job acceptably...
...Until my brother got his tea, which was a large pot of water with one tea bag.
He asked the waiter for another tea bag, as his tea was very weak. The waiter said they would charge him for it, and my brother said that it was fine. When we got the bill, they had charged him $2.75 for the second tea bag, keep in mind, this isn't nice tea, its the kind of crap that costs 3 cents per bag at the supermarket. We all imagined it would be 10 cents on the bill or something like that. If that's the policy, then they are stingier that even the most "bottom line" chains out there.
If you want a good breakfast, check out the breakfast club, it's an 8 minute drive away, the food is just as good, but the employees are friendly and attentive. I doubt they would pull that sort of BS, just to squeeze a few more bucks from another customer. -
Review from Dan N.
Manchester, CT
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good brunch
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Review from Dan C.
11/2/2011
The scene: I got into town late, checked into my hotel and wanted a decent plate of French bistro fare.
BAM! Enter Aquitaine Bis.
I sat down at the bar, somewhere around 8:30 and the restaurant was packed and the bar was almost full as well. This is a good sign, when the place is located in a suburban strip mall with a supermarket, a cell phone store, etc.
I had a glass of bordeaux and the steak frites. The steak came with a black truffle vinaigrette drizzled over it. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious.
The fries, the steak, the salad, the wine, and the service - it was all very good.
If you are staying in a hotel on 128/95 in the Newton / Needham area and don't want lousy hotel restaurant food, look no further than Aquitaine Bis. -
Review from Meagan F.
Boston, MA
11/8/2011
I love the Aquitaine in the South End, but if you think that these places are similar you better think twice. Expect wonderful service, unique dishes, and good wines in the South End; expect crappy service and attitude, dishes that fall flat, and crappy wine passed off as the good stuff at the one in Chestnut Hill.
My fiance went in after driving in from out of town on a Wednesday night. It took forever for our server to come around. I asked for a Sauvignon Blanc, instead got what tasted like crappy Chardonnay. We got our bread after our salads were served after asking twice for it. We had to hunt down our waitress every time, and she kept telling us how good our food was. I had the veal, which was good, but not amazing or anything. We didn't even bother with dessert in fear of never getting out of the place.
Next time, we'll just go to the one in the South End and save ourselves the disappointment. -
Review from Herbert K.
Middlesex, MA
6/23/2011
A pet peeve - we arrive at the hostess station, just as she takes a phone reservation - that's cool. Then she hangs up, and gives me the biggest 'deer in the headlights' stare, not a word does she utter. "Welcome! Are you here to dine, as this is a restaurant? Have you escaped from a mental hospital and found yourself in a strip-mall bistro? Did a can of baked beans roll out of your shopping cart and scratch my Audi"?
Nothing.
So I offer... "Two?"
Do you have a reservation?
(the place is 5/8ths empty)
"No"
She checks her seating chart and seats us in the station of the waitress that drew the short straw, between 2 other parties.
I liked the read of the menu - but then, I violated one of my own rules against restaurants that only seem to serve what's on their laminated menu. Our server didn't offer a special, if there was one. So, I went with their signature dish, steak frites, in 'natural jus', with a watercress salad.
It was - OK, really. But to pick nits, the frites suffer from being plopped into the jus that floods the plate. The ones on top were warm, crispy, delicious w/o screaming 'truffles'. The ones in the reduced, thus a tad salty jus, were of course, soggy. My steak portion was about 4 oz, less than I expected, esp for $16... My DC had a very serviceable tuna nicoise salad.
As for the space, you won't be having a private conversation. We were surrounded by 'ladies who lunch' (ask me about her 80th and 85th birthdays, oh - and her hammer toe), and a businessman regaling his administrative assistant about his love for a certain southern city with a party reputation.
To it's credit, it was convenient. That being said, we've done that and probably won't be back. -
Review from Mabel N.
Boston, MA
9/5/2011
Double date on a friday night. We were seated at 7pm.
Service was good and attentive. Escargots and chicken liver was yummy. Duck Confit was amazing (small portion). Great rosemary fries. Roast Cod was our favorite.
The pastry on the profiteroles was perfect and I love the chocolate sauce! Delicious!
I like the location (food) in South Boston much better than Chesthill! -
Review from Michelle S.
Brighton, MA
10/10/2011
This is one my all-time favorite restaurants. And here's why:
1. The food is incredible. I have never been disappointed with a single dish I have ordered. I almost never order pasta dishes in restaurants, but last time I went to Aquitaine, I ordered the tagliatelle with some sort of carbonara sauce. It was beyond incredible. I tend to try their chicken entrees because they always come with an amazing, exotic sauce. I am also a huge fan of the tuna tartare, and I will order it almost everytime I go as an appetizer. They also have a great wine list, with a glass ranging from 8 to 12 dollars. I haven't ordered a bad choice yet.
2. Great service! It's the place where you walk in an know you are going to be taken care of. The wait staff is extremely knowledgeable, but also completely unpretentious. In other words, they will not cut your good service short if you come in just for a glass of wine and an appetizer to share.
3. Extremely consistent in both the categories above. I come here relatively often, and I have never been disappointed. They have always lived up to or exceeded my expectations, and I will keep on returning (and recommending it to others) because they have never let me down!
Overall great food, great service, and great experience! -
Review from Jennine T.
Aiea, HI
6/16/2011
My friend made us a reservation for 7pm on a Saturday night. He had been to Aquitaine in Boston many times, but was trying this location for the first time.
We were seated immediately, and the server came over right away to tell us about the specials. She was very enthusiastic and attentive throughout the meal. There was also another server who primarily checked on us throughout the meal, refilled our water, replenished our bread basket, etc. The service was excellent.
We shared two appetizers--the beet salad and the mussels, which were both very delicious. I actually am not a huge fan of either beets or mussels, but the way that they were prepared made them sooooo delicious. The mussels broth was amazing.
For dinner, I had the chicken. The portions at this restaurant are very generous. The appetizers were big enough for two people to share, and the chicken plate was huge. The potatoes, chicken, and sauce were delicious. The kale was a little tough.
I thought this was an amazing dinner. The food was so flavorful. The atmosphere was so relaxing, and the service was excellent. -
Review from Cindy W.
3/6/2011
What a great place to get some brunch with good friends on the weekend.
We had reservations for 6 of us a few nights before and we were so glad we did. There was a long line to be seated and with our reservations in the books we were seated right away.
With our party being so big we thought that they were going to take our orders and rush us out. That was not the case. We took our time with everything and were able to enjoy our lazy Sunday together.
Everyone was very happy with what they ordered. So I'll just tell you what you should consider. Aquitaine burger (yummy and very filling), Belguim waffle (more than enough for a girl but not enough for a guy whose really hungry),and Potatoe lake (yums). If you want something to share for the table might want to try their mac and cheese. I thought it was ok. I thought the noodles were over cooked and it lacked flavor.
I have always liked Aquatine in Chestnut Hill. They always seem to please my guests and I. I think its their best location! And did I also mention - AMPLE of parking!!! :) -
Review from Michelle C.
Wayland, MA
Took the in-laws here for early dinner last night for their First french restaurant experience and they loved it! they are STILL talking about how great it was. They started with onion soup and salads and then we all had the filet and it was cooked perfectly and of course those heavenly potatoes were to die for! Husby had the Wednesday special, bistro steak and that was really good too. Our waitress was friendly & knowledgeable and the other waiter who brought the bread and cleared our plates was really efficient. Overall we had an excellent dining experience and we all left happy and stuffed!
Listed in: I heart....
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/22/2010
I remember driving by this place years ago and thinking it looked cute ....when we finally went for… Read more »
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Review from Samantha W.
Newton, MA
12/29/2011
Love this restaurant! Located in Chestnut Hill, this is the sister restaurant to the South End Aquitaine. It is unassuming as it is located next to the Verizon store in the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center. Basically, it has all the perks of the one downtown but with MUCH easier parking. My husband and I go here for a nice meal out at least once a month. Menu highlights include the warm beet salad with chevre and toasted walnuts, the steak au poivre and the steak frites and the lemon sole with whipped mashed potatoes and tomato concasse (so flavorful!). I also have to mention the pain perdu (a dessert french toast served warm with vanilla ice cream on top). Would highly recommend going here for your next nice night out.
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Review from Jeannie H.
Boston, MA
Updated - 3/15/2011
I love coming here for brunch. I prefer going to restaurants where it's quiet and civilized rather than chaotic and cafeteria-like. I want my white table cloth and silverware.
Things to love about brunch:
1) Good coffee - There is nothing worse than a watered-down cup of coffee in the morning and they make a very decent bottomless cup.
2) Prix fixe brunch for $9.95 - Cafe, jus d'orange, pain de cannelle, et omelette de la maison. Quelle affaire!
3) Some hearty lunch items for those days that breakfast food doesn't suit you. For $15, their burger was quite good. A perfectly seared medium-rare patty topped with applewood smoked bacon, sharpe cheddar, truffle mayo, and sandwiched between a brioche bun. My only gripe is that the pomme frites were a little on the limp side.
4) Brunch is available both weekend days.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/7/2010
I've been here for dinner and brunch with both reviewed here. In the future, I'd recommending… Read more »
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Review from Heather B.
Boston, MA
5/29/2011
Went for dinner Thursday night at 8 pm. The place was pretty busy and we had to wait for a table. That's okay because we got a booth by the bar, considering we were casually dressed this spot was perfect.
The food was great; onion soup, escargots, frisee salad, beet salad, the lemon sole and the weiner schnitzel could not have been better. The pain perdu was lackluster and better as a brunch entree.
The service is where Aquitaine loses a star. Our waitress seemed inconvenienced to refresh water/bread, check in on us or even to clear plates/glasses. I feel like from the start, she was off-put by us asking for ice water. There were a few execution mistakes; one drink ordered came out up instead of on the rocks and our side order made it to the table as we finished our entrees. We waited an unreasonably long time for her to approach us to bring dessert menus. I guess she was too busy complaining about her night to a co-worker in the side stand.
I would like to go back for the food, and while I understand that everyone has a bad day, I would prefer a different server. -
Review from Kristen C.
1/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Aquataine Bis in Chestnut Hill has brought fashionable dining and authentic French cuisine to the suburbs. Thank goodness! It shines brilliantly against the factory eateries in the area.
Bistro flair and fare with cozy booths and large French posters to give you a taste of Paris before you dig into a delicious steak frites and a good bottle of wine. For lunch they have an upscale soup and sandwich combo and satisfying Salad Nicoise. -
Review from Hubert H.
Cambridge, MA
2/18/2011
I went here to use a coupon that I had received as part of a Yelp elite event cosponsored with their next-door neighbor, the Urban Grape.
I've come to the conclusion that this is another overpriced restaurant in the Boston area. I ordered a fried sole, which of course was done very well - flaky batter, not too thick, not too doughy, and fresh fish. My friend ordered a ribeye steak which was juicy, just the right doneness to specification.
Weaker was the escargot, swimming in butter. The first bite is scrumptious, and then you wonder, how much butter is in this food.
The food is definitely delicious food, but perhaps not enough creativity on the menu: the offerings come off as a little too ordinary in concept. One exception is the Tuna Tartar with avocado. The raw fish blended well with the softness (and richness!) of the avocado to create a sensational combination of fish and vegetable.
I'm happy to have finally tried Aquitaine, and encourage all to try it out. But I would probably would only go again if the prices were about 30% lower. -
Review from Kristina F.
Boston, MA
4/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Blah. So not impressed. I think I was the youngest person in the place. Felt like a much much older crowd, which I guess should have been expected since this is Chestnut Hill we're talking about, not the South End or Back Bay. Guess just not my scene. But it just was pretty boring in all respects and I was hoping for something better since this is such a name in Boston.
Bartender was not super attentive, nice, but perhaps preoccupied by his other, older regulars? We shared two entrees - the Ribeye special and the butternut squash ravioli w/ brown butter sauce. Both were just ok and I expected better. Seriously I think I could have cooked it better. And I hate when you go to a restaurant and realize you could have made a better meal at home (I do fancy myself a chef.) But there was just nothing special, nothing memorable about the meal or experience.
Ah well. -
Review from Jaimie M.
Brookline, MA
9/14/2010
Mmm, Aquitaine! Went here recently for brunch with a friend, and we had a great dining experience! We were the first ones in the restaurant, and they left the R&B/hip-hop on the radio for us until the older crowd showed up. Really friendly staff, and super attentive.
The food... absolutely delicious. The Belgium waffles with strawberries and Nutella, and the stuffed brulee banana french toast were both divine! The home fries were not as crispy as I like them, but had good flavor. The bacon was crispy and perfect. The mimosa and coffees were also very tasty.
The best part- we got all this for under 20 bucks a person! Such a great bargain, we might have to make this our regular brunch place. Love it! -
Review from Jef S.
2/21/2008
I love the Bis much more than the Aquitaine in Boston. There's something different in the service here. The servers are just as professional, but they're friendly too. Service at the Boston location is more snooty, and I hate that.
I also like that the lunch and brunch selections won't break the bank like dinner here does. Dinner here is best when someone else is paying or the check's being split. You can get a really nice sandwich for lunch for $10-$12. Ok, even lunch isn't cheap, but it's GOOD. I really like the steak frites here in either the lunch or dinner incarnation. It' s better than in some places I've had it in Quebec (and I'm a total steak frites whore and will eat it all even if it sucks).
For dinner here, I once had leg of lamb, with chevre whipped potatoes...marvelous! They also have this endive salad with apples and nuts and such which is delicious...and I usually hate endive. Desserts are pretty good as well, but take it to go. Wine list is well rounded and diverse, if not exactly fairly priced.
Bis is on par with bistros I've visited abroad, but you don't have to leave the city to get there. I also like that the service really is very friendly when matched up against comparable spots elsewhere in the city.
Parking in this lot is a bitch. There are 7000 old rich ladies trying to maneuver their Jaguars into compact sized spots. Drive slowly and don't be afraid to honk and use your middle finger. It's not cultured, but it does the job.Listed in: Boston: Living in the…
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Review from Alison F.
Arlington, MA
11/14/2010
A pleasant surprise in a Chestnut Hill strip mall -- right next to a cell phone store. Friends brought me there, and when i saw it, I was skeptical -- but I was pleasantly surprised once I got in. I had a beet salad (I love beet salad) which wasn't good (because it was very bland), but the steak was amazing, cooked perfectly (medium rare = medium rare). We were there early (it opens at 5:30) and so the place was empty, but by the time we left every table was full. Just the right amount of hustle and bustle to make a place seem lively.
Traditional French fare; white linen; dark wood paneling; extensive wine list. -
Review from Ina C.
2/16/2008
I'm not a big fan of three dollar signs. I love Aquitaine because this place is all about the $9.95 prix-fixe brunch menu on Sat/Sun! :D YUM!
I went to BC for four years and never HEARD of this wonderful restaurant until now (4 years later!). The prix-fixe begins with a homemade cinnamon roll which was pretty tiny - It definitely whetted my appetite, but it was so small that it seemed...cheap. But whatever. I ordered the omelette de la maison which comes with mushrooms (I hate mushrooms, but I loved these mushrooms!), tomatoes and Gruyere cheese, and potatoes on the side. It was great.
This Aquitaine is a lot less crowded on weekend mornings than the one in Boston. Parking is easier, but the only drawback is that the prix-fixe brunch menu has less selection. But whatever. Brunch rocks. -
Review from Carla M.
Brighton, MA
4/12/2011
This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. My boyfriend (who is a *very* picky eater--no vegetables, etc) and I went to this Aquitaine for our anniversary and have gone back many times since then.
The last time we went, the food was again fantastic (tuna tartare, steak frites, pasta with duck confit...). My only gripe was that the service was somewhat slow. It won't stop us from going back, and to counter slow service, our waitress remembered us from a prior visit and recommended the same wine we had and loved at that time.
The atmosphere is really nice, but it can get kind of busy at times, especially on the weekends. I haven't been yet for brunch but if it's as good as the regular menu, I know we'll make it there soon! -
Review from jesse b.
Philadelphia, PA
1/18/2007
I was there the other night for a birthday dinner, we figured we would try some place new. It was a slow (week) night but the service was terrible and slow, the food was nothing to write home about either.
I would not return.
A waste of our time and money. -
Review from Mike K.
Newton, MA
10/23/2006
Went here for a dinner date, right after watching Marie Antoinette (we felt it would be in theme). The movie theater is just next door.
Although it's set in what is essentially a strip mall, it's an upscale Chestnut Hill strip-mall, and it certainly fits in.
Everything about the place shouts Fancy French Restaurant, and it lives up to this. Service was excellent and attentive, even though I was being uncharacteristically clumsy that night and hit the poor waitress several times (3 to be exact).
The decor was nothing special, but tasteful and elegant. The tables were covered with paper on top of a white cloth. A bottle of non-complimentary Perrier was also provided.
I had the seared raw tuna nicoise as an appetizer, and my date got the escargot. I'm not a big fan of escargot, but I was told they were very good, and served in an uncharacteristically large amount. They were piled on top and around a hollowed out piece of bread, with butter sauce liberally spread over the plate. My tune was superb. It came in several decent slices leaning on a mix of vegetables in a zesty sauce. The tuna was encrusted in an aromatic mix of herbs and spices, and seared just right, that is, crispy on the outside, and completely raw and red on the inside.
For the main course I ordered the Steak Frite (medium rare, on the rare side) and my companion the Duck Breast (also medium rare), which was a special that day.
My steak arrived cooked just right, sliced thick, with its own juices as sauce. It was a hanger steak marinated in a black truffle vinaigrette giving it a very unique flavor and texture. It was accompanied by perfectly done fries and a large pile of a leafy vegetable whose name currently escapes me. The duck came on a bed of the same vegetable, which was placed on top of an onion quiche. The duck was coated in herbs and spices that did not overpower its natural taste, though the sauce ladled unto the plate was sometimes overbearing.
For dessert we got the Chocolate Gateau (that's Cake in French) and the Profitroles (that's Cream Puffs, hey, it's a fancy french restaurant! bring a dictionary). The profitroles were stuffed with their great vanilla ice cream. The waitress liberally covered them at the table with the Valhrona chocolate sauce right at the table, perhaps a tad too liberally. The chocolate cake was on a plate with a large scoop of their delicious vanilla ice cream (french vanilla? maybe.) next to it. This cake was a special that night, and honestly, it was one of the best deserts I've ever had. It was so simple, and yet so expertly done. The cake was moist, and warm through, with some chocolate sauce on the inside. Its taste perfectly accompanied the cool smooth taste of the ice cream, which had something crunchy and delicious crumbled in (nuts? not sure, was too busy enjoying the whole thing to care).
The meal was great, with the excellent desert a wonderful capstone. The grand total without the tip came to a wallet emptying sum, exceeding $100. With the tip, I think we broke $150. But if you've got the cashola and you're craving French in the suburbs, I recommend Aquitaine Bis over Newton's Le Soir and Ariadne (I am yet to try Lumiere).
T info: (though I don't know why you'd be taking the T to a place as fancy as this)
Green Line (D) - Get off at the Chestnut Hill station, and walk South on Hammond until it intersects Rt. 9/Boylston. The Chestnut Hill shopping center is just to your right. -
Review from Dave C.
Los Angeles, CA
9/1/2008 1 photo
My moms took me here for brunch on one of my last days spent at home in Boston. I really like the ambiance in here, but it was very quiet because it was a lazy Saturday afternoon and construction outside made most of the seats empty.
It's super clean inside and I really liked the simplicity of the set up. I ordered an omelette, which I quickly forgot that I generally don't like, but it was decent overall. I am not an omelette guy for some reason, so that's my fault for ordering one. I really liked the potatoes and toast though, along with the variety of condiments and bread that they provide.
Our glasses were never empty, it was clean and the food was satisfying for a brunch. All in all, a nice relaxing brunch spot in Chestnut Hill.Listed in: Places girls don't hate
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Review from Deepa C.
Somerville, MA
5/27/2008
One of the few nice places to eat in that immediate area (Oiishi, Met, Capital Grille), Aquitaine Bis is pretty standard fancy people fare. For $100, we had 2 drinks, 2 apps, 2 dishes and 2 coffee drinks.
The food - solid four stars. Well prepared, well presented. I wouldn't expect anything less, but it didn't blow me away like B&G always does. A wee bit fancier than Petit Robert, but it is just a different type of place. I had the mussels to start (AMAzing cream/wine sauce) and Josh had the latke. Then on to scallops for me and the truffle burger for Josh. We cleaned our plates - but it was a lot of food.
The service was ok - our table was wobbly (boo), but it was fixed (yay), the manager only spoke to Josh (boo), and the waitress was hard to track down (boo).
We were DEF the youngest people in there by like 40 years (if you don't count the two 8 year olds), on a Sat night no less! Skip if you are looking for a young hip crowd.
Will I be back - def. It's close and reliable.Listed in: Dining Diva
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Review from Maiya S.
Cambridge, MA
3/28/2008
My wiener schnitzel was so gross. Entirely lacking in subtlety, and tasting of old frying oil.
Not a good value for the money. If I'm paying $26 for a plate of pig and mashed potatoes, I'd like it to be some special pig and mashed potatoes.
This was crap. -
Review from Adrienne H.
Palo Alto, CA
Updated - 2/6/2010
Almost as soon as I posted this review, I received a message from Jeffrey Gates, the owner, thanking me for my feedback and inviting me to come back at their expense. When I received my gift card in the mail a week or so later there was also a handwritten note from the manager, thanking me for my feedback and telling me that he planned to go over all of my comments about the food with the chef. Both Mr. Gates and the manager noted that they were reconsidering the size of the cinnamon rolls. I really do have to commend the restaurant for taking customer feedback so seriously.
My boyfriend and I finally went back for brunch today. I had the fixed price menu again and he had the Aquitaine Burger. We were also able to sample the Belgian waffle, and the latkes with salmon and poached egg.
First of all, the good: the prix fixe menu now comes with 2 cinnamon rolls, which makes it a good size first course. The cinnamon rolls also seemed tastier, like they had more butter somehow. The Belgian waffle (topped with nutella, strawberries and creme) was absolutely excellent, and was huge. The pommes frites that came with my boyfriend's burger were fabulous -- I could have made a meal just eating them. The latkes were very tasty as well. After sampling just those things, we were happy that we would be able to go home and write a rave review, but unfortunately the rest of the food didn't quite live up to the first courses.
The omelet was runny just like the last time we were here, and again the accompanying potatoes just seemed like plain old homefries. My boyfriend was also a little disappointed by his burger, which didn't seem to be on any special kind of bun. I thought it looked pretty tasty though, but I was too full to try it. As I said, the fries accompanying it were absolutely delicious.
Ultimately, it seems like the menu is a little hit or miss, with perhaps the biggest issue being that things aren't quite as described on the menu. I wouldn't describe anything we had today as bad. Mostly the food ran the gamut from adequate to fabulous. As I said before, they had clearly taken some specific comments to heart, and have noticeably changed the prix fixe menu by making the first course two cinnamon rolls instead of one. I think that really indicates an excellent commitment to customer service.
Service was particularly friendly and fairly prompt considering how busy they were today, although I was mildy annoyed that the busgirl combined our dishes into one take-home container, when I specifically asked for everything to be boxed separately.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2010
The bf and I had a pretty disappointing New Years Eve recovery brunch here today (yes, we're still… Read more »
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Review from Julie S.
Auburndale, MA
7/21/2009
I had brunch here with some out of town friends on Sunday. We picked Aquitaine for the location (parking, parking, parking) and general affordability compared with the South End.
There is major construction going on, so it is hard to even find Aquitaine. The back entrance is closed, and we took a shortcut through Verizon to get through the front entrance.
I had the price fixe. Most of the items are smurf sized, which I guess is okay, because how much can you really eat, but still, I like a big hearty breakfast even if I can't finish it. I'm gross like that.
The cinnamon roll is the size of an Entenmann's mini donut. It was tasty and hot, and the highlight of my meal. The OJ was teeny tiny also, and reminded me of the Ray Romano routine where he talks about being served just a damp washcloth with the flavor of orange juice.
My eggs were straight up awful. I ordered scrambled eggs. Simple, right? They were runny and flavorless. No amount of salt (or pepper that we had to flag down a waitress to beg for) could save these eggs. The Potatoes Lyonnaise were underdone, and the server never brought enough milk for our coffee. Next time I'm going to a diner. -
Review from Jen Y.
MA
12/6/2007
I went here with a co-worker for lunch before going for a shopping excursion...I almost knocked everything over on our table while trying to sit down since the tables are sooo small and there is really no room to take off ur coat...my friend was mortified..haha but all good.
She got a burger with fries that looked yummy and i got a salad...it was mediocre. It was good, but I can't really justify paying $14 for a plate of leaves, cheese, and a few pieces of chicken and apple. The drinks are also very small. We both got iced teas and i swear we gulped it down the minute the cute waiter set it down.
I think our bill was about 40 bucks...a lil much for lunch, but cool if you just want to try something different. i wouldn't go there on a regular basis...
the best thing is when the waiter overheard us talking about boots and halloween costumes...he immediately got all giddy and gave us a website where he found "the most amazing go-go boots for only $400"...HAHAHAHHA
that made the $40 lunch almost worth it. -
Review from Dan L.
Boise, ID
9/22/2011
I have only been here one time, but on that visit I received the best steak and eggs I have ever had. I will go back on my next visit just for the same meal.
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Review from Boston mom L.
Brookline, MA
6/24/2011
Since my original review, I received a call and e-mail from the manager and owner, respectively, that very same day. I appreciate the customer service and efforts to remedy the situation. Thank you for reaching out to us.
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Original Review
Staff incompetent and nonchalant. Don't make reservations for large parties here.
We made reservations for15-20 for a surprise birthday party, and the restaurant said that we can let them know the final count as well as menu selection the day before. So that day comes and we give them an exact headcount of 18 only to hear a concern by the staff. When I inquire about this concern, he said everything is all set. However, he immediately called us back to tell us that they cannot accommodate us because they have two other large parties at about the same time. Mind you, when we initially tried to make the reservation at a different time, they said that there's another party that they need to accommodate. They weren't so accommodating with us as it seems.
So did they do anything for us for this inconvenience? No!!! One of their many nonchalant responses was, "we cannot hold the restaurant for you." Whomever I spoke with to make the reservation did not take down accurate notes and my phone number to reach me if anything were to arise (I had to give them the correct number when I called to confirm the exact count.
By the way, the manager, John or whatever his name is, was supposed to call us back if there were any problems with the count. Instead, I guess he handed the job to his staff, throwing the poor guy under the bus. -
Review from Joanna F.
7/28/2008
I went here for brunch on Saturday with my boyfriend and his parents. The restaurant looks very upscale and is a little stuffy. Our waitress had a delightful French accent and was very warm and welcoming.
The brunch is very affordable for such an upscale place, and the portions were fairly big considering. I got the ham, gruyere and parsley omelet with toast and their Lyonnaise patatoes on the side. It was pretty delicious. The coffee was also very good.
Although the service was cheerful, it was a little slower than I would have liked, but my water glass and coffee mug were always full.
Brunch is definitely a more affordable option if you would like to try this place without paying top dollar.
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