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Aujourd'hui - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
200 Boylston Street(between Charles St & Hadassah Way)
Boston, MA 02116
Neighborhood: Back Bay
(617) 338-4400
- Nearest Transit:
-
Charles St S @ Park Plaza (43)
Stuart St @ Charles St S (192, 193, 504, 55, 555)
Charles St S @ Stuart St (43)
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
47 reviews for Aujourd'hui
Review Highlights
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"We had the 5 course tasting menu and it was great." In 5 reviews -
"com/2009/04/aujourdhui-four-seasons-boston." In 9 reviews -
"I enjoyed a Sunday brunch at Aujourd'hui." In 5 reviews
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47 reviews in English
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Review from Kenan F.
Greenwich, CT
5/9/2009
This is probably the best restaurant in Boston in terms of decor. Food was excellent to boot. Service extremely friendly, polite and professional. We had a picturesque window table overlooking the Commons. 1 of us had the 5 course which was $100 and 2 of us had the $40 three course tasting menu. We ordered a bottle of the Louis Roederer champagne which was reasonable at $85. The bread was delicious and freshly made. Our first course was compliments of the chef: seared rare pepper tuna on top of green salad.
Person 1: 5 course included 1. Hiramasa Tartar, Yuzu, Chives, Orange Purée, 2. Fricassee of Frog's Legs, Peas, Pearl Onions, Bacon, Potato Purée 3. Truffled Farm Egg, Chicken Wing and Mushroom Stew 4. Roasted Veal Tenderloin, Green Garlic Galette, Fiddleheads 5. Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé, Vanilla Bean Crème Anglaise
Person 2: 3 course included 1. Lobster, fresh homemade rigattoni in a cream sauce, pea pod stems 2. Roasted chicken, Fiddleheads, Pearl Onions, Mashed Potato Puree 3. Raspberry Rhubarb Puff Pastry, Vanilla Ice Cream, Raspberry Sauce.
Person 3: 3 course included 1. Lobster, fresh homemade rigattoni in a cream sauce, pea pod stems 2. Seared Scallops, Braised Celery, Preserved Lemon, Shellfish Essence 3. Raspberry Rhubarb Puff Pastry, Vanilla Ice Cream, Raspberry Sauce.
After coffee and dessert, we were given a complimentary plate of François Payard's French style macaroons and gourmet dark chocolates. Everything was excellent, total cost for 3 people was $365 including tax, tip. Valet parking $28+tip. The $40 menu is an amazing value and only available at dinner, go while it's still available (confirm that they are still offering this when you make your reservation). They change the 3 course menu every 2 weeks. Don't be surprised when you get your menu and do not see the 3 course, just ask your server, they will bring it for you. Seared scallops were so fragrant and cooked to perfection (I generally don't even like scallops unless they are raw on sushi rice). Dress code jacket strongly suggested (I didn't see any men without a jacket). Will definitely be back! -
Review from Jen S.
New York, NY
8/20/2008
Aujourd'hui Is French For Retarded.
Disclaimer: all I had at Aujourd'hui was the cheese plate and some wine, so this review pertains to those things, but mostly to the CREEPY ASS waitstaff that work here.
This past Friday night and I, Crazypants and I hit the town hard with the pledge that under no uncertain terms would we find ourselves at Alibi or Clink come 2am. To that end, we headed on the opposite direction, hoping to wind up in some Back Bay hot spot. Our cab dropped us off at the Four Seasons. When we arrived, we realized that it would probably not be classy to walk into the hotel bar carrying the water bottle of red bull and vodka that we were sharing, 17-yr old style, so Crazypants (CP) got rid of that shit. Yeah, we're cool.
Entering the hotel, we scoped the downstairs bar and saw the usual array of old dudes waiting to prey on us. Since I hadn't had dinner, we decided to pop into Aujourd'hui (which is french for "today" in case you dont know and in case I decide to make any jokes about that later in this review) and check out their selection. We were promptly informed that the kitchen was closed, but they had a cheese plate available. I'm going to have to relay the conversation:
Aujourd'hui host (AH): Are you joining us for dinner?
CP: Hi, no, we would just like a cheese plate.
AH: A cheese plate?
CP: Yes, it's on the menu?
AH: Yes.
CP: Okay well we would like to sit down and have a cheese plate.
AH: Certainly. Right this way. Although I'm going to have to talk to the kitchen and make sure the cheese plate is available.
CP and Jen S: Thanks.
*pause*
Aujourd'hui Waiter (AW): Hello ladies
Us: Hi
AW: I understand you'd like a cheese plate?
Us: Yes
AW: We can make you a cheese plate, but we're not serving dinner bc the kitchen is closed.
Us: Perfect, we only wanted a cheese plate.
AW: Well a cheese plate is all thats available.
Us: Great...because that's all we wanted.
AW: But you can go downstairs - where there is a full menu.
Us: Well okay...but all we want is the cheese plate.
AW: The cheese plate?
Us: The cheese plate, yes.
AW: Okay wonderful, we can do that.
MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! At this point I didn't even want the cheese plate anymore because (1) I had to say the words cheese and plate so many times and (2) the words had lost all meaning.
Let's flash forward to the arrival of the much-anticipated cheese plate. That shit had the three smallest pieces of cheese on it that I have ever seen, and some figgy jelly goo that to be honest, could have been anything. I was pissed that a microscope didn't come with the cheese plate so I could see the damn cheese. There is no way this wasn't the three ends of whatever cheese they had from the rest of today. At least, I hope it was. Because if this was their TWENTY DOLLAR cheese plate, I would hate to see their lobster dish. It would probably be the runt lobster that ran into the honey I shrunk the kids machine and ended up slapped on a plate in Boston. Weak.
So we eat the damn cheese plate, which frankly could have been done in three bites (one bite per stupid piece of cheese). Now I need to move on to the waitstaff.
There were two hosts, and two waiters.
(1) Host One: This is the dude that speaks only in waitstaff catch phrases, which made the whole encounter very awkward. "Lovely to see you lovely ladies tonight, welcome to our fine dining establishment." Uh - why are you talking like that? "I hope you ladies had a fine time tonight, please join us again in the near future." You're awkward. Shut up. Seriously, don't train them to do that. Your cheese plate is pretentious enough as it is. Don't make things worse.
(2) Host Two: this is the guy that hits on the women who are trying to enjoy a tiny tiny bit of cheese at 930 on a Friday night. We don't want to talk to you. You're the host at a restaurant. Why don't you try your luck on the cougars at Clink? Goodbye forever.
(3) Waiter One: this is the guy who couldnt grasp the fact that we wanted a cheese plate, only a cheese plate, not a full meal, just cheese. Don't give this guy the benefit of the doubt either - he wasn't french or anything. He was an American, like you and I. Well, like I. Anyway this guy was annoying and I wanted to kick him.
(4) Waiter Two: Oh. Brother. Where do I start. This man appeared to see how things were going and fill our water and see if we wanted more wine - I THINK. He came up to the table and mumbled something incoherent that sounded like "hlkfhjdsklfjslgjl;jgl;djg;dgjd" and it didn't get any better or more clear. Now THIS guy may have been foreign. But as Crazypants says: "I'm French, not retarded." This guy was almost certainly both.
So it looks like I'm Aujourd'hui's first crappy review. Oh well. Maybe this will inspire Auhourd'hui to serve a better cheese plate - TODAY, not tomorrow. HE HE HE HE I'm so clever. -
Review from Cara Y.
Oakland, CA
10/3/2008
My meal at Aujourd'hui was almost 2 years ago, but it still lingers in my mind as one of my most abysmal "fine dining" experiences to date. So yelp, here you go.
First of all, let me say that the hostess and the bar at AJH are lovely. The setting is lovely, the ambiance is lovely, romance is so thick in the air that you half expect white doves to flutter down and tie ribbons into your hair. When I made the reservation for my husband and myself, they were so perfectly gracious ("is this for a special occasion?") that I wanted to take an early flight to Boston just to have the meal sooner. Not to mention all the rave reviews that place AJH at the top of most fine dining lists in the Boston area.
We arrived a few minutes early to have a glass of champagne in the bar area, and our interactions with the hostess and the bartender were just as positive as my initial telephone conversation. However, once we were seated, the floor dropped out from under us and we found ourselves in the seventh circle of hell. A beautiful, romantic hell...but hell nonetheless.
I don't know if it's because my husband and I look younger than our 30-something years that we were treated this way, the fact that I left my Harry Winstons and Dior pantsuit at home, or if our server just woke up on the wrong side of the "lit," but the service during our meal was appalling.
I ordered the chef's tasting menu, which looked awesome. My husband ordered several selections a la carte from their menu. But when we asked our server to help us choose a couple bottles of wine to go with the meal (I did not opt for the wine pairing), he simply flipped opened the wine list to the "$50 and under" section of their extensive list, and assured us that any of those would be good choices for our meal. When we asked about our other options, he seemed exasperated.
As our meal continued, and the service became increasingly pretentious and condescending, I found myself wondering how I was going to make it through 4 more courses without throwing my napkin down and walking out. Really, any pleasurable aspect of the food we were served was completely negated by the service we received.
The assistant server, who presented several of our beautifully-plated courses, could not even remember what she was putting on our table. The lobster bisque that my husband ordered was so salty that it was pretty much inedible (we were starving, so we choked it down anyways rather than deal with our server voluntarily).
The coup de grâce came with dessert, when our server unceremoniously picked up a spoon and hacked into my sexy Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé, rendering it just as deflated as I had felt through our entire meal. We had also ordered a cheese plate to share, and when it was served, our served remarked, "I'm sure I don't need to tell YOU what these are." I'm sorry. Did I ask too many questions about the cheese? Did he take offense to the fact that we're from the San Francisco bay area and that's where the majority of the cheeses on their menu were from, so we were familiar with a few of them? Was he put off by the fact that neither of us care for goat's milk cheese? I suppose I'll never know.
I will say that writing this review has certainly been a cathartic experience for me, and I can now forget all about AJH and the $450 it pick-pocketed from us. Plenty of more worthy fine dining options in the Boston area to choose from.Listed in: Eeks & Mehs.
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Review from Bryanne R.
Philadelphia, PA
7/30/2007 ROTD 11/2/2007
Wow.
No review could do this place the justice it deserves. Come to celebrate a special occasion and go all out.
A few recommendations:
Table by the window
Three Rings Shiraz
Later in the night reservation
Skate fish App, Lobster App, Lamb EntreeListed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Steve N.
Haverhill, MA
1/23/2008
is this it? my 200th review? YES!
anyWho.
i have had almost all of my Most Amazing Meals here as well as a few memorable kisses as noted by various wait staff. there are only a few places where i will put myself completely in the hands of a Chef and let them go nuts, this is one such place.
i must admit that while i do like the style of the re-model i do miss the old DR, it was familiar and very comfortable.
impeccable service, exquisite food and beauty wherever your look. i have never been disappointed here. -
Review from Cindy C.
New York, NY
5/28/2009
A disappointment.
Came here to celebrate and couldnt have been more disappointed.
First of all, at a fine dining restaurant, I would expect the service to be perfect, thats a given, but on top of flawless service, it should also be friendly and personal, attention to detail, i mean, afterall, this is what we're paying for right? HOwever, I found the service to be cold and very standard, not a smile was cracked. I found myself saying thank you more frequently than I should have.
Onto the food - the lobster bisque was good, the flavor was intense and definitely shined, however, if i'm paying close to 20 bucks for lobster bisque, some form of lobster would be nice...and not in mousse form thank you very much. I understand it may be a culinary technique, but it just seemed a little cheap to me.
we also got the escargots. They came out lukewarm. Overall, the taste was good, but nothing outstanding. The lukewarmness of the dish really bothered me, I was extremely tempted to send it back.
The main courses, now, I ordered the supposed "Special" of the day, which was the snapper. And my friend ordered the rack of lamb
The good? The lamb was really very delicious and juicy, the cut was perfect, one of the better lambs I've had in a while. The flavor was also very good, and not over seasoned to the point where the lamb doesnt shine through.
The terrible - the snapper. how is it possible that the fish is NOT fresh when it's the special of the day? REALLY? When i order something from the specials, I'm ok with the seasoning being a little off, but I'm definitely looking forward to FRESH food. I was genuinely disappointed in my main course. Though cooked to perfection, the lack of freshness just took away from the dish. I only ate about half and couldn't manage anymore.
Overall, not worth my 300 bucks at all. Our waiter took it upon himself to decide that we didnt need wine menus and we asked for it, he proceeded to demand for our ids in a snotty manner. Really unacceptable, especially in such an establishment. Plus, when he announced the dessert specials he just expected us to make a decision right there and then, without seeing the dessert menu first.
Thoughtless service and mediocre food. It would have been one star if it werent for the lamb. -
Review from Brendan M.
Philadelphia, PA
4/14/2009
This is up there with the most expensive place I've been to eat.
It is also worth EVERY DAMN PENNY. The atmosphere is amazing, especially if you can get a seat near the enormous windows overlooking the park - breath taking.
The staff was stellar, the atmosphere was stellar, the food was stellar, stellar, stellar, need I go on?
If you are a big baller, come here regularly. If you are an aspiring big baller, come here semi-regularly. If you need to seriously impress a certain someone or you have big news to celebrate (think Nobel prize, publishing your first book, getting into med/law school) come here. You will not be disappointed. -
Review from Natasha A.
Cambridge, MA
2/15/2007
I enjoyed a Sunday brunch at Aujourd'hui. The service is spectacular and the dining area is gorgeous and luxurious and I did not perceive the place to be very stuffy. The brunch menu was extensive but a bit lacking in complexity. It offered standard brunch offerings such as eggs benedict and breakfast meats, as well as an over-fatty prime rib roast, chicken, various salads, plates of cheeses, fruits etc... The majority of the cooked food was simple although the crabcakes were impressive. The highlight of the brunch involves the seafood table of fresh chilled lobster, shrimp, oysters other fresh crustaceans.
The large selection of mini-deserts was amazing. The pastry chef at Aujourd'hui deserves many awards (and probably alread has many).
Overall, a great way to spend a lazy sunday afternoon. -
Review from Holly W.
Manhattan, NY
7/24/2007
Wow... just wow. Last night I had the pleasure of dining at Aujourd'hui with my boyfriend, family, and some family friends. What an experience! I have to say that the service and the ambiance are really what makes Aujourd'hui a five star restaurant. The food is not far behind. The dining room reminds me of the dining room at the Ritz, except a bit more modern and intimate. If you have a special request?? Just ask! One of the women that we were with had a cold and a sore throat and she asked for a glass of warm brandy with some hot honey and lemon... they brought it right away! They even made another later in the evening when hers had hardened. The restaurant wasn't crowded at ALL (although it was a Monday night) and we were not disturbed once by the people that were there.
The menu was incredible. Very well put together. They have a tasting menu, an a la carte menu, and a vegetarian menu. One of the waiters pointed out that we could also order from the starteds on the tasting menu. I started with a tuna tartare and watermelon dish - delightful! While I would normally not think of pairing tuna and watermelon, it was wonderuflly light and the flavor was fantastic! For my main course I had the rack of lamb which was also excellent. Very well prepared, accompanied by roasted vegetables (that were also prepared very well and one of the few times in my life I have eaten zucchini), and homemade tortellini. The lamb was so big that I had to take half of it home.
You can preorder souffles, but it was our friend's anniversary so we had special ordered a cake. Now - I have to say that I am not a big cake person and I am especially not a big chocolate cake person (usually too heavy for me). But I know a good chocolate cake when I taste one. And this was a good chocolate cake. Not so much cake as chocolate mousse, inbetween two thin layers of chocolate cake and a layer of mocha cream and chocolate ganache on top. I don't know if they made it in house or if they ordered it, but it was fantastic! After presenting it with two candles, they sliced pieces and brought them back out on very pretty plates with strawberry and mango sauce swooshed across the plate and a small handfull of raspberries. A very nice touch! My only regret on having a cake ordered was that we didn't get to sample any of the desserts from the dessert menu. We'll have to go back ;)!!
From the people that I was with I also heard that the lobster bisque and oysters were very good and the lobster entree and the rib eye were great.
Be prepared to spend your money!! Dinner without wine could easily cost $100+ and with wine... well how much money do you have?! Well worth the price, especially for a special occaison. -
Review from Margaret O.
Boston, MA
9/26/2007
We had a large family party in Le Soir, the Aujourd'hui private dining room this summer. Le Soir is both elegant and comfortable, with windows overlooking the public garden. You get food from the Aujourd'hui menu, prepared in the Aujourd'hui kitchen, and served by the Aujourd'hui staff in a private room that you have for the evening. For a family party that includes both fine dining and kids a private room is a must, and this one is very special.
I can't say enough about what a great experience this was. The food was superb. The service was impeccable, and the staff managed to serve champagne to adults as if stepping over a two year old playing on the floor as you cross the room was perfectly normal.
The event planning staff was easy to work with and happy to solve my last minute problems for me - printed menus, flowers, etc. They also have kids meal options suitable for very young children.
Needless to say, it's pricey. But it's also a really wonderful experience. -
Review from B C.
Brookline, MA
Updated - 5/25/2009
I just read today that Aujourd'hui is closing this 6/27. I am so not surprised. The reason given by management for its closure is pathetic and self serving. Yes, the economy is in tough shape, but a number of its competitors including L'Espalier, Clio, No 9 Park and et al are doing ok these days. Bottom line, Aujourd'hui's food can no longer compete for fine dining food dollars in our current diminished economic environment .
I do not know of a single Four Seasons Hotel in the world (I have been to a number) that do not have a world class restaurant. This is an opportunity to bring in a world class chef and put this place back in the game.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2008
We have been here about half a dozen times over the years. The last time we were here was about a… Read more »
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Review from Ruth M.
Oakland, CA
2/10/2008
Very good service, atmosphere, and food.
This place is notably not my scene, but on a cross-cultural fancy date, I wound up going with a native of this environ. Let me tell you - this place is good, but not pompously so. One thing - we had something described as foie gras that wasn't, or at least not according to my date.
The best part of the evening (remember, this is still a cross-cultural fancy date) was when the monopoly man tapped me on the shoulder to alert me to the fact that my "beautiful, hand made sash" had gotten stuck under my chair. I'd call it a ratty old scarf, but it was kinda cool. -
Review from Lynn W.
East Watertown, MA
9/19/2007
Aujourd'hui is the only high end restaurant in Boston where my husband and I have experienced what we consider to be an immpeccable dining experience. After being introduced to this amazing restaurant via a friend who was visiting from NYC, I realized what every other single restaurant in Boston is lacking - personalized service.
The menu is always amazing (thier soups always leave me wanting more), the wine selection un-paralleled and the the over the top luxurious ambiance is never dampered by a pretentious attitude. This interaction between the mairtre d expresses that unpretentious attitude quite clearly (and makes for a good laugh as well lol)...
Not so cultured husband: "Can you tell me what the foy grass is?"
Maitre D: (Semi-confused, yet gentle look)
Not so cultured husband: "The foy grass ?" (points to listing in menu)
Maitre D: Oh yes sir, the "FOIE GRAS" is a delicious item on our menu blah blah blah
...and the gentleman so kindly proceeded to describe the dish for my husband in the utmost respectful and non-demeaning way (even I had a hard time keeping a staright face when my husband said this hehehe) - the prices are definitly high for the average restauranteur ($300 per couple when wine included), but it is truly an experience and one that you will always come back to on special occasions once experienced. They only allow a certain # of guests in per night so reservations are always required, but trust me, the preperation is well worth it. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do! -
Review from Jessica K.
Long Beach, CA
11/18/2008
We went on August 28th. My boyfriend and I had a lovely dinner for our 8 month anniversary (hey, any excuse to have a great meal, right).
We both got the poached lobster a la carte which was cooked to perfection and a few of the appetizers. I wish I had been able to find it on yelp sooner so that I could've written a more detailed review, but the lobster was the best that I have had by far. We also very much enjoyed the macaroons (the rose was my favorite) that came before (or was it after) dessert. -
Review from Lisa T.
Los Angeles, CA
8/20/2008
This place is well worth the price, which is, well, pricey.
But's is the four seasons! And there are probably more than four reasons!
- You're eating at a five-star hotel! Classy! Go ahead and valet the car!
- Incomparable service. The sommeliers/waiters even have accents. Makes any wine recommendation sound trustworthy.
- If you really want to indulge, there is a wine-pairing chef tasting menu. It's the most amazing thing you'll ever read off a piece of paper. Imagine if you actually CONSUMED IT. God on a plate. Jesus in a wine glass. THIS is the Eucharist.
- Even if you don't choose to spend your life-savings on one meal, every dish is bound to blow you away. Pretty much the best food you can find in Boston.
- Desserts! The waiters went around the table asking if we wanted a souffle, and half of us were helplessly compelled to utter YES. And boy did were we happy we did. Other stuff was great too (the ones who said NO to souffle found something else they couldn't resist).
The interior and seating arrangements could be a bit better since it's all a bit scattered, but if you're with good food and good company, and thus are spared from awkwardly looking around the room for conversation topics, that could be forgiven, right? :) -
Review from Michael L.
Phoenix, AZ
1/19/2009
One star for service
One star for ambiance
Two stars for the food
and one more star just because I liked it.
The warm baby beet and goat cheese salad was great.
The butter poached Lobster was just yummy.
I will be trying other dishes. -
Review from Winston G.
Chicago, IL
7/29/2008
Had the 5 or 6 course tasting menu with the wine pairing. The food was beautifully created, and very enjoyable. I don't know if I will definitely be back, as the meal was not extremely memorable in terms of any specific dishes standing out to me, but was more of a typical fine dining experience.
The decor is beautiful at the restaurant, as there is a great view that overlooks the Boston Common from many of the window side tables. The service was also phenomenal, as the waiter was accommodating of any dietary restrictions on the tasting menu, and the master sommelier was always by our table, asking us about the wines and also anything else he could do to make the meal a better experience.
Went with my sister for her 21st birthday. Definitely not a first date place, unless you are a true high roller. More of an anniversary place. -
Review from Marilyn T.
Palo Alto, CA
3/16/2009
Bubbly bar Fridays was a great deal. The passed appetizers included truffled popcorn, tuna tartare, and many other unique and flavorful bites to compliment the sparkling wines.
The space is very classic and elegant, and it's a perfect way to unwind after work and begin your weekend. It was a nice pre-dinner stop, and I will definitely go back to try the regular menu there. -
Review from Jenny L.
Marina del Rey, CA
2/5/2008
Went here for Sunday brunch and I have to say it did not live up to my expectations. I had called in advance to make a reservation and they told me the only time available was 10am. We were there for about an hour and a half and there were still a ton of empty tables by the time I left.
The seafood buffet of lobster, crab, oysters, and shrimp was quite good...but other than that, the rest of the food was pretty ordinary and the selection was not as extensive as I would have imagined given the price.
While the dining room was spacious and gave you a great view of Boston Common, there's nothing that disappoints me more than a bad dessert section at the buffet. First of all, there were not a lot of items to choose from so I was disappointed right from the start. To add to that, the creme brulee was runny and undercooked and the cakes looked like the came out of a box.
If you're looking for a great Sunday brunch with a pleasant atmosphere, I would highly recommend trying Cafe Fleuri. They have a WAY larger selection of food and desserts and you can't beat the live jazz on Sundays. Plus it's cheaper than Aujourd'hui!
Oh...and one more thing...while this place may be dressy for dinner, don't show up too dressy for brunch or you'll stand out. All the other guests were in jeans and shorts. Definitely killed the mood a little for me. -
Review from Geoffrey R.
Cambridge, MA
9/15/2008
If you have to ask how much, you shouldn't be there.
With that said, Aujourd 'hui at the Four Seasons is a true dining experience. A beautiful old school dining area and amazing wait staff. It was my wife's birthday and almost the entire staff stopped by to wish her a happy birthday, always a nice touch.
The suggestions by our waiter were spot on, I should have listened to him as well as my wife did, her wine pairings were better than my overide. We had the 5 course tasting menu and it was great.
I would suggest white wines, (yes it changes but if it is not meat heavy still suggest the whites, the overpowering reds can overpower some of the more delicat flavors) they have a Rosé wine that is the perfect pairing I KNOW I KNOW, but it is actually good (one of the bad wine overrides i made, it was actually fantastic)
Try the Alcyone desert wine too, very unique! -
Review from Cathy H.
San Diego, CA
11/2/2007
Amazing dinners? Yes.
Fabulous wine selection? Yes.
Beautiful location? Yes.
The utmost in service? Yes.
But above all... the hands-down, most fantastic Sunday brunch I have ever had!! (And that is my favorite meal).
It wasn't just the quantity of food, the always-perfect preparation, or the champagne... it was the combination of all of the above, with a selection to die for! The standard (upscale) breakfast stations: Carving station, cereals, fruit, eggs, pasta, etc. (all amazing) But... they also had an extensive seafood table (sushi, lobster, shrimp, mussels, oysters, salmon, etc.) and a table with small selections representing the most delicious thai, chinese, japanese, and indian foods... wow! Oh, and the dessert table too!
(Sigh, I have just made myself extremely hungry.) I can't wait to go back!~ -
Review from A Y.
Boston, MA
4/16/2009
Great restaurant and great chef....The capalachi filled with escargot, leeks, and a little bit of potato was absolutely delicious as the flavors are rich without being too heavy. The roasted rack of lamb had a nice consistency, was generously portioned, and did not taste gamey at all
Check out pictures of my dinner and interview with the chef himself here: http://www.financefood... -
Review from Brandon L.
Cambridge, MA
2/27/2007
I go out to eat almost every night and been to most upscale restaurants in downtown Boston and Cambridge area and as far as the ambiance is concerned, this is the most amazing place....especially if you get your table by the window over looking the garden. I have been there 3 times so far, the food is OK, not excellent, the service is great, the wine is amazing. During my first visit,
I ordered the six course sample menu. Very fancy food in tiny portions, served by older career waiters who are more than eager to change your cutlery at each course and will let a snicker if you happened to choose deliberately the wrong knife. Again my main complaint about these expensive French restaurants are the portions are so damn small as if it's a joke. As far as food is concerned, the chances are you'll get a better cut of steak at Grill 23 or downstairs at the Bristol Lounge. -
Review from Ari F.
MA
12/14/2007
Eating at this restaurant is a fine, fine dining experience that is actually not all that expensive for such quality. Even the most indulgent, 3-course meal with a couple glasses of wine will set you back less than $100. And it's worth it- the food is amazing and original, the wine list is enormous, and the service is spectacular. Also, the 19th century Parisian ambiance helps catapult you into that privelaged, royalty feeling as you sit there with your delicious action, mulling over how much to tip the waiter who called you "your highness".
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Review from Cara P.
Cambridge, MA
10/16/2007
Well at 21 years old. What the hell did I know....I had pizza almost every day and hell if I ordered pepperoni, I was being luxurious!
So for my 21st birthday, someone had the bright idea that we celebrate the occasion at Aujourd'hui...Ah ja what? I had no clue...I didn't really care to be honest...wait what?? I had to dress up? Are you serious? A hotel restaurant??? Oh god, are you serious.....at the time it just screamed old people......don't ask...I was 21......
My sister was practically wetting herself when she found out we were going here and she was getting a meal on my fathers dime....she tried to explain that this place was high end, had a unbelievable chef and was at least a couple hundred a person.....still, I didn't care...i just couldn't wait to whip out my I.D. for my birthday drink.
So even though this was several years ago, I still remember I was freaking nervous! I worked myself up so much...I envisioned that I would try to get a snail out of the shell and I would ping it off the head at, I dunno, the mayor of Boston-just like in pretty women.......or I would fall as the hostess walked me down some red carpet to our table.. Who the hell else would eat dinner at such an expensive place..Better yet, who would invite five people to eat dinner at such an expensive place...Than, I started to get excited...well, maybe I will see someone, like, really famous...You know if they are in town and they want the finest in life, they will be here? right?
No, no and no......No to everything I thought........duh.......
first, our waiter was new. you could tell of the bat.....He was so cute and really intimidated by my father who can be very loud.......I think he knew about as much as I did about the menu. All I know is when I glanced over the menu I knew this guy made a pretty penny....yeah my sister told me it would be pricey, but I had to see for myself the hoopla.....I don't think I knew much about the entrees....I made out a few words....I quietly asked questions to my sister who loudly answered back, "THAT MEAN WITH A WINE SAUCE!" Thanks sis....
So I I ordered duck...why? I don't know...........but I remember it was SO good! The presentation, the colors, the taste...........holy crap, my first foodgasm!
I have been back since one time
Same expensive menu, another hot young waiter that my dad startled, same dim lighting, same seating by the window that will blow your socks off, same couple to the right that just got engaged, cheating husband to the left trying to impress the "other woman"......no kids......no mayor.......no Ben Afflek....
Just a luxury dinner, meals most can not pronounce, gorgeous bar with great variety of drinks and perfect opportunity to have an elegant dinner on someone's else dime!
Just remember, if there is ANY chance your date or SO will walk out on you (i.e fight, break up) before the bill comes and you planned on them paying, BRING YOUR PLASTIC..no way that $120 in your wallet will cover it.......
PS the lobster app is to die forListed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Catherine K.
San Francisco, CA
2/21/2006
There are many things to love about Boston but this is one of the best temptations Boston offers! Definitely get a window seat, order the prix fixe and enjoy the finer things in life. The wait to get in here can be daunting, but the service and food make you totally forget that it only took you 6 months to get a reservation here at 830 pm on a Friday.
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Review from Drew S.
San Francisco, CA
2/17/2008
Ok, So I went here for Thanksgiving this year... the raw bar section of the meal was amazing, but so much more of what was being offered left so much to be desired. Considering what we were paying per person for this meal, I was not only upset that the food was mediocre and sometimes lukewarm, but I was super bummed that a meal which was advertised as being a traditional Thanksgiving meal barely had any elements of what is traditionally part of Thanksgiving. I mean, there was not even pumpkin pie... get it together Four Seasons... for the love of the pilgrims!
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Review from Chris D.
Billerica, MA
7/2/2009
Readding my review with names removed.
I'm giving this place 3 stars, and yes this must mean I am officially a restaurant snob. Now let me clarify that this rating takes into account the whole picture, especially what this restaurant is supposed to be. I went with my family to celebrate, and we thought we would shake things up and try out Aujourd'hui. After all, we've heard nothing but great things! The decor was very nice, and we were greeted by a friendly staff. So yes, it looks nice on the surface. Well, I suppose I should just get right to it. We started off with a bottle of Schramsburg champagne errrr, sorry, sparkling wine. No complains there, highly recommended. I began with a warm parsnip soup. It tasted ok, but the curried dumplings were much too hard and tasteless. The crispy duck confit was pleasant, but overall the soup was just plain mediocre. Others at the table agreed with my assessment. My brother rated the lobster bisque also as mediocre (he is certainly a fan of lobster bisque so that was unfortunate). The warm baby beet and goat cheese salad did not win over my wife, as she felt it was uninspired and began rattling off places with better salads (ok ok ok!). We waited a very long time for the entrees to come out (problems in the kitchen?) and while we waited they kept throwing more bread at us, but of course you don't want to fill up on bread. The waiter who was refilling our sparkling water was so sloppy that he constantly spilled it as he retracted the bottle. Later on in the dinner (I know I'm skipping a head) he even splashed some into my espresso! Anyways, back to the entrees. They finally came out (no explanation nor apologies), and I received my colorado rack of lamb. The lamb shoulder tortellinis were ice cold, but the rack of lamb itself was ok. I haven't had a lot of lamb, but I've had my share. Taste wise I found it to be middle of the road. My wife and others had the (forgive me I can't recall the name) scallops. Some of them were not fully cooked and had to be replaced, and according to her she has had "much better". For dessert we all had the chocolate souffl, which was delicious. I had an espresso macchiato which was great until the waiter spilled water into it. I believe we spent about $120-$150 per person for a group of 6. This is not a case of sticker shock, as I've eaten at most of the good restaurants in Boston (hammersley's, radius, etc). This was just plain overpriced mediocre food presented at a good location that left us all shrugging our shoulders. For this price you have your pick of so many amazing places to eat, and I for one know we won't be coming back here for a long time. It's
a shame really, I certainly wanted it to be good.
*UPDATE* I am changing this review to one star for the following reason. Upon reading my honest and factual yelp review of the business, the maitre de took it upon himself to call my poor mother and complain about it. No offer to make it better was made. He didn't know who I was, or what my name is, so he took information from my review and went back and figured out who the booking was for. Using that, he called the person who booked the reservation (my mother, who's crime apparently was booking a reservation there). He then "discussed" my review with her, when in fact she had nothing to do with it. So yes, he is reading all your reviews, and if you have a bad experience, don't worry because he will call your mother just to make it even worse. Can't speak for other members of my family, but you can be sure me and my friends will never return. Amazingly unprofessional. -
Review from Kristin S.
Somerville, MA
1/23/2007
Aujourd'hui is the epitome of a 5 star restaurant. Amazing service, amazing food, amazing atmosphere, amazing view. Some reviewers (not yelpers) have criticized the service as slow, but I would call it "relaxed" and, even so, we were in a rush to make our date and without even telling them we were in a rush they were very attentive the entire time and we were in and out in an hour and able to make our date. My husband was able to make a reservation for our wedding anniversary just a few weeks prior without any problem. We arrived just a few minutes early and had a glass of champagne in the lounge area.
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Review from Sweta B.
Abington, MA
7/29/2007
What can I say...it has been one of my best dining experiences. I and my husband went there on his birthday. The favours of the sauces were amazing, the dessert was divine even the bread was probably the best I have had in any french restuarant before...I decor and aumbience was five star...if you want someone to feel special on a special day take them their...they will love you for it.
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Review from Lisa C.
Quincy, MA
1/1/2009
I was here for brunch and everything but the price was perfect. It was about $122 per person at my party and considering it was just brunch. It was pricey but hey, it is a restaurant at the Four Seasons.
The buffet was large with a good selection including Asian dim sum, eggs benedict, raw shellfish, lobster cocktail, sushi, fruits, salads, and a wide range of desserts. Of course, there was a ton more but I'd like to keep this short silly.
We all had 1 or 2 mimosas at $10 a glass. The buffet itself is $68 per person. It's a big splurge for brunch but the food was great. Whether or not it's worth the cost depends on how much you eat and what you eat. So if you plan to go there to only eat eggs benedict, hash, and fruits then obviously, it's not worth the $68. -
Review from Erik M.
MA
2/22/2007
Unbelievable food and service and the ambience is reminiscent of the great room in some European estate. I can think of only one other restaurant in the city that is on par (both price and food) and that is Oishii on Washington Street. Tip: if you want to go, but don't want to spend the huge amount of $$$ needed to enjoy a full dinner here, grab a cocktail at the bar instead (not the Bristol downstairs, but the one just off the dining room) and choose one of the less expensive--still not cheap--appetizers on the Aujourd'hui bar menu. Same atmosphere and service for a fraction of the price.
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Review from LouLou C.
Boston, MA
1/14/2008
Truly one of Boston's finest restaurants, and one of the most romantic as well. Ask for one of the tables facing the park if you can. Besides the food being impeccable, the service is as well. Albeit on the pricey side, well worth if for eating here at least once in your lifetime!
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Review from W A.
Cambridge, MA
1/23/2008
Classy, pricey, excellent service. My friend came from out of town and I took him to Aujourd'hui for Sunday brunch. It was absolutely worth it. Variety of choices, great food, AAA service.
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Review from Nate Y.
7/14/2007
Went there for my birthday. As every other review has mentioned the service is impeccable. Our waiter was perfecto on the level of his attentiveness and was very personable as well. Every course was excellent, including the complimentary root beer float from the chef. The souffle is not to be missed and the surprise birthday dish was wonderful. Well worth the money if you can afford it. Makes a special occasion that much more special.
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Review from Christine L.
San Francisco, CA
8/12/2008
The tasting menu is fantastic. Of course, the menu changes often but my experience was lovely. The service is what you would expect at an upscale restaurant. The sommelier was knowledgeable and courteous and the waitstaff were prompt and unobtrusive. The food was so delicious - I don't normally like foie gras but the chef made it more than edible. The decor is luxurious - heavy, dark wood with lush carpeting and dim lights. Aujourd'hui is perfect for special occasions!
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Review from Nichola G.
Stoughton, MA
7/22/2007
Can I just say this is the best place I've ever been to!!!! This past father's day we took my old man to celebrate his greatness and we in turn received greatness. The wait staff was wonderful. I mean to the point where they took it upon themselves to grab some items off the buffet they thought we might like and serve them to us. I mean when have you ever been to a buffet and the wait staff gets the food for you! And lets talk about the food. Can you say finger licking good. The best food I've ever had. From breakfast to brunch to lunch I was so stuffed I couldn't walk around after to go on the swan boats. When you have alot of extra cash and feel like going to the best buffet in town I say stop on by. They will treat you like royalty.
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Review from David H.
Boston College, MA
9/1/2007
Aujourd'hui is without doubt the best hotel restaurant in Boston. I have eaten here about forty times over the past fifteen years and it is extremely consistent; although they have probably over four different chefs over the years. The service is always excellent. I have only really had dinner and brunch here and both are very good. The dining room is quite formal and over the years they added a nice bar with great selections of wines and drinks. It great for a special occassion and it is really fine dining so keep that in mine. The restaurant is on the second floor of the Four Seasons Hotel. Reserve a table over looking the Boston Common. Valet parking is available though the hotel. Desserts of course are great.
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Review from Mabel C.
Berkeley, CA
6/1/2008
Nice atmosphere, especially the bathroom. I had the 6 course tasting menu; I wasn't filled, but the food was good. Some of them looked too pretty to eat.
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Review from bon t.
6/2/2009
Unfortunately, I was there with Cindy the night we went for a celebration. I don't like repetitive reviews either, so I'll make it short (compared to how much I really want to complain about this place) and just state some things I felt.
Service -
That waiter. Urgh. Not only did he took the liberty to decide that we were not going to order wine and proceeded to demand for IDs in the worse manner ever, he also had the guts to assume that I didn't know demi sec champagne would be sweet, insisted that I changed to another choice, and just stood there until I did. It also took him at least 20 minutes to realize that he needed to let us know when the bottle required chilling. We may have agreed to wait, but this really does not mean you can serve the food first, then bust out the somewhat chilled champagne in the middle of courses. He couldn't have made the experience more stressful.
Food -
I assume it's fair to expect something a bit more than mediocre here. Everything was served just warm enough to almost be eaten, but I'll take this as the waiter's fault, since he's been really slow with everything although he only had one table to serve. So I'm trying to be nice about it, but
Lobster bisque - too 'oily' (may just be too cold), and ugly. who wants a cheap orange round mousse in the center of a orange soup? and when you poke that mousse to see what the heck is it, some green oils ooze out from the asparagus bits underneath it...
Escargot - a bit bland, but really I think escargot with sand is unacceptable no matter how well you think you had prepared it.
Lamb rack - the veggies have been so overcooked? that everything is way overpowered by olives, they were so sour, salty, smelly, I wondered if it was meant to be eaten.
Red Snapper - Dry, overcooked, but whatever. Just don't put fish on a daily special if it's not fresh!
It caused me great pain to admit that I had a really bad time there, because I really wanted turn a blind eye and pretend to love this experience (hence not sending back any of the foods or changing my waiter). But when almost everyone have moved on to focus on how you serve and how you cook, and this place cant even get what they serve and cook right... It's honestly quite impossible to lie to myself anymore.
Oh, I almost forgot, the only reason I managed to put it with the meal was because of the other person serving the bread and pouring the wine. Surely the job is not that enjoyable, but he was constantly smiling and polite. Too bad he's not a good enough reason for me to ever step foot in this restaurant again.
