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Went last night for the first time. The food is good - 4 stars for me 5 stars for GF. The portions are good size you get full. The service is friendly and professional. The vibe is nice and the place is good looking. Overall, very good dining experience for an italian restaurant and as we all know those can be bad and overpriced. The food is pricey but worth it.
What is not worth it is the wine selection. We ordered 2 glasses of wine at $10 a pop, and they were less interesting than the 3-buck-chuck. We had two different wines (chianti and pinot noir) and they were both bland, without interesting flavors, worth 4 dollars at best.
So, beware of the wine, but everything else is great.
Amazing. Servers double as sommeliers and the kitchen is open to make whatever you want with the ingredients available. I told our server I was a vegetarian and he ran back to the kitchen and got a bunch of recommendations from the chef as to what the freshest vegetables in the house were. I told them to surprise me and they didn't disappoint. Gnocchi with mushrooms left me daydreaming for days - even surpasses the excellent gnocchi at Hungry Mother. Husband had the Salumi appetizer (duck prosciutto, boar prosciutto, figs, foie gras mousse and melon sorbet ) and the presentation alone almost brought me back to the dark side.
The bill was also a pleasant surprise - we each had three courses and multiple drinks and it was around $130 for the two of us. I could go on and on, because we spent almost 3 wonderful hours here and ate a ton, but I'll sum it up as such: GO!
Restaurant Week stop number two took me to a surprising place: Medfahd. Medford isn't exactly known for its fine dining, but my friend lives down the street from this place, so I figured that combined with its high Yelp rating made it worth trying.
I couldn't have been more pleased with my experience. In terms of service and environment, Bistro 5 gets the highest marks possible. Every member of the staff that I encountered was exceptionally friendly and professional. They made sure my friends and I were taken care of, but they didn't appear soulless, like so many higher-end restaurant staffers often do.
The food itself was awesome. For my appetizer I ordered the stuffed baby eggplant, which was perfectly cooked and bursting with different flavors. For my entree I got the salmon in a blueberry sauce, which was perhaps the most flavorful, perfectly cooked salmon I've ever consumed. I finished it off with the peach tiramisu, which was like putting a slice of heaven in my belly.
Of the three restaurants I've visited thus far for Restaurant Week, this was by far my favorite, which is saying something considering the location of the others (two in the Back Bay and one in the North End, both highly reputed for fine dining).
This has been one of those places we drive by all the time and keep saying we should check it out. We finally did. We had a very nice meal - and the service was superb. I think for the price their portions are really small. I'd go back but I am not dying to go back ASAP.
I had a craving for soft shell crab, and a little money burning a hole in my pocket. I got a tip that Bistro 5 had soft shell crab on the menu. I called. Confirmed. I said I was on my way. Just me. From Beverly. The gentleman on the phone, said, laughing - "well, I think, then, it's more proper to say you have a JONES for soft shell crab."
Indeed.
There are only 4 bar seats, and two of them were reserved. Seems like reservations are a good idea in general. The dining area is broken up into several rooms. The atmosphere is cozy, dim and candle-lit, but still lively. I wouldn't be afraid to have an animated conversation here. Every employee I met was warm, friendly, and competent, and seemed genuinely interested in the food and the patrons.
I started with a pear martini. OH SHUT UP all you people who say anything that's not just gin and dry vermouth isn't a martini, Words shmerds. This was an amazingly light, very slightly sweet beverage that was like running a cool, smooth piece of faintly green silk over my tongue, garnished with a ripe and crispy piece of pear to crunch on.
Served in a conical glass, whatever.
Bread: housemade focaccia, warm with discernable bits of sea salt, served with a little mountain of smushed white beans mixed with garlic, lemon zest and basil in a little pond of bright green EVOO. *mop, shove, chew, mop, shove chew* CRAP wait, I'm getting more food, slow down Bessie.
Crispy Tuna appetizer: It was beautiful. I stared at it for a couple minutes. The bartender looked at me. I looked at the tuna. Its.. . its. . .so beautiful, I.. almost can't. . .yeah I can. Chunks of lovely ahi somehow tightly wrapped in about 1.5 layers of filo dough (I'm imagining some kind of scene in the kitchen like Scarlet getting her corset laced in Gone With the Wind), seared so that they were crispy and brown ONLY on the outside, the fish still deliciously raw. Each piece, topped with a sprinkle of chunky black lava salt, had its own little drop of wasabi cream next to it. There was a nice lump of avocado salad topped with micro greens. I had one small wish: that there was a little more tang to the avocado.
I asked about the organic Santa Julia Tratorres and was given a very generous taste. It was light and summery, slightly sweet, not at all acidic. I had a glass. A huge glass. They do not skimp on the pours here. Amazing wine list, very knowledgable staff. You won't go wrong in any way asking for recommendations. They offer a chef's tasting menu with wine pairings, either 3 or 5 courses. I will definitely do that if I'm there with someone who will drive me home. Or you know, I can find someone there to drive me home. heh
The Soft Shell Crab appetizer: It was crusted with panko and mustard seeds. It was also beautifully plated with a generous drizzle of ancho chile remoulade, around a little haystack of frisee. With pickled ramps. The urge to yell "OH FUCK YEAH!!!" and fist pump almost overtook me, but I summoned my last vestige of impulse control and sighed. And ate. and sighed. and ate. (repeat)
Thank you. . . .
HELL, this is going well, why stop now!? I had some sparkling muscadet. Delicious. All the desserts looked so good. We had a long circuitous discussion about creme brulee vs. chocolate pots de creme, and how one is baked in a bain marie and so is more custard-like and would not hold up a person if a person were to stand in it, whereas the pots de creme just MIGHT hold up said person as it is baked dry and is therefore more dense. But how much wine has this person had. . .
Wait. . .what was the question?
I want to go dark now. Chocolate please. And cappuccino. Someone insisted that I try the vin doux naturelle with the chocolate because it just goes so well. Oh OW stop twisting my arm. . .OK. And you know how it's made? They squeeze the grapes, the fermentation starts, they take the squeeze remains, which have a proper name I don't remember, to make grappa out of, and before the wine is done fermenting, they add some grappa back in which kills the yeast, stopping the fermentation and. . . . VOILA. Who knew?
I had one small wish. . . that the foam on my cappuccino was a bit denser.
The pots de creme was rich, perfect, one twist away from fudge but beautifully smooth -with a little dollop of espresso cream and an almond brittley crunchy caramel sweet cookie wheel.
I suddenly reached capacity. There was one bite left and I couldn't do it. The bartender looked at me. "Are you SURE?" I looked back in wide eyed surprise. "yeah, holy cow. . I really am full!"
Perfect sateity. And only two light fluffly wish clouds floating by in an otherwise flawless summer evening of delicious, beautifully presented food served by friendly, intelligent people in a cozy comfortable atmosphere.
SIXTY BUCKS.
NO shit??
That's a deal, my friend.
As a Tufts student, I never expected to find a place like this in Medford. In fact, I had pretty much relinquished all hope that food other than pizza and grinders existed within 5 miles of my apartment. I was wrong.
Just as classy as any Newbury St. restaurant without the snooty attitude. Very knowledgeable staff members are always helpful with wine pairings, and have been extremely accomodating when I was nearly 25 minutes late for a reservation. That said, the food is quite good.
Although I don't think they are still serving it, I had the rabbit ravioli when I first came here. Tender, peppery meat inside a slightly al dente dough.
Veal milanese is a rich, flavorful dish. I love the crunch provided by the pistachios. Profiteroles are homemade tasting with high quality vanilla ice cream. Yum!
Bistro 5 is one of the best Italian restaurants outside of Boston. I've been a patron of theirs since 2002. And each time I go I fall in love with something new, whether it's a new app, a new wine, or how the chef came to our table and let us try fresh ground (at our table) wasabi root with our Tuna app.
The food is spectacular, Chef Ettitore (sorry if I misspelled it) is super. The menu is concise and always is exciting. I highly recommend stopping by the restaurant during restaurant week, the tasting menus are always a great example of what they have to offer and a great value. The wine list is fantastic.
My favorite item on the menu is the Veal Milanese, it's Italian comfort food at it's best.
This place is just off the commuter rail... you can hear and feel the trains as they pass by. Read the signs when looking for parking - avoid permit only areas unless you have the required permit (residential, commuter).
Went for Restaurant Week. In addition to the publicized menu, they had additional choices available that night for appetizer (tuna tartar) and entree (duck breast) at no extra charge.
I ordered the Eggplant Tower, Veal Milanese, and creme brulee. I found the appetizer a bit bland - if I didn't already know that the cheese was goat cheese from reading the menu, I would have had no idea! The veal was nice and crispy, and the mashed potatoes were well flavored. Dessert came in an unexpectedly long shallow dish, and wasn't too sweet.
My friend had the calamari, steak (which replaced the Sweet Potato Gnocci on the RW menu), and Chevre Cheesecake. The calamari was well cooked and lightly crispy, but I found the tomato chutney neither sweet nor spicy as it was described. The steak was a bit tough and the content of the plate lukewarm. (my sides were only just warm too... as if both our plates were waiting for the veal to be ready to be served) The cheesecake a not too sweet kind.
Basically, I found the appetizers relatively bland, the crispy veal the best part of either entree, and dessert just okay. Service was fine. The candle-lit room a bit too dark.
I'd be willing to go back sometime, but I won't be in a huge rush to.
This gets 5 stars because it's consistently excellent and is the best restaurant in Medford by a landslide. (And is in walking distance from my house). Truthfully, if I were comparing it to some of the better Boston resturants, it might end up on top, but it can't be beat for the Arlington/Medford area. We've had the mushroom gnocchi as an appetizer portion and it's heavenly - such a unique taste, with the earthyness of the mushrooms and the saltiness of the cheese. The specials are always the best. Hands down the best guinea hen or game bird I've ever had. The only so-so dish is the veal, because it seems a little out of the restaurants comfort zone.
If only they had a full liquor license! Don't be fooled, they are SAKI martinis. :)
Foodies out here, this is one of my favorite restaurants in the Boston area. The tasting menu is always creative and absolutely delicious. I usually go with the 3 course dinner plus dessert. Wine pairing is excellent here. The atmosphere is casual elegant and relaxing. The wait staff is friendly and knowledgeable. A couple times, I also got a chance to chat with the owner/chef Vittorio. Last time, it was about his recent visit to Napa Valley and how we liked the duck that evening. He is fun to talk to. He is genuinely interested to know how his customers like his food and apparently loves to talk about food and wine and all the exciting places to dine.
Overall, it has always been a pleasant dining experience here at Bistro 5.
I didn't really feel like going into the city for Restaurant week, so was excited when I found a foodie-friendly spot in Medford. So glad I ended up here, because the menu was quite innovative and packed with flavor; and the service was great!
I ordered the tuna app, scallops, and the cheese cake. Felt like I was on top chef with the plating of the dishes.
The restaurant was a little confusing to find, but well worth the destination. Also thought this is a great date place.
Stopped in for restaurant week.
Overall the food was great, the wine list was decent, and the service was good as well. The point of offering a RW menu is to attract people to come back, and I will be doing just that. I'm kicking myself I didn't do the wine pairing, but there were several of my favorites on the regular wine list...ah well next time =)
I absolutely love this place. I had eaten here a few years ago, but then revisited on restaurant week and since have made it a monthly habit to dine here with a good friend. The menu is always fresh, with some staples that are there most of the time and new seasonal surprises. The food is absolutely amazing. In the four times I have eaten there I have only had one near miss (the chanterelle mushroom tart on the fall seasonal menu was not a tart and not that good). Everything else is delicious. They also have some surprise daily items that are also great (we have had tuna and salmon tartare and enjoyed them both). The waitstaff is very courteous and we seem to have had great waiters every time who have been very knowledgeable about wine pairings and pointed us to some amazing bottles.
This place is indeed a hidden gem and I plan to keep coming back to discover what's new on the menu.
Some of the best food being prepared in Boston and deliciously few know about it. Gorgeous little room, great wines, and attentive service that's never obnoxious. Bravo!
Bistro 5 is one of my favorite restaurants in the Boston area. I used to live down the street from it and it's the thing I miss most about living in Medford.
Entering the restaurant, you feel like you've stepped into another world. Goodbye, Medford. Hello, Elegance. The dining room is dressed in dark and warm colors and the light fixtures are draped in glorious fabric. The inimate space is great for couples and small groups, though I did at one point host a reasonably sized dinner party of eight in one of their side rooms.
The food. Oh, the food. I'm drooling right now at the thought of it.
Chef Vittorio Ettore runs a tight kitchen, and his menu features strong Italian cooking (with some influences from other parts of the world). His dishes range from fanciful and innovative to comforting and home cooked. He uses fresh, seasonal ingredients and the food is always dynamite. Calamari! Rabbit with gnocchi! Veal Milanese! Risotto! Delicious desserts!
Chef Ettore also will come to visit the tables from time to time himself to check in on the meal and to chat with his guests. A very nice touch.
Above and beyond the food, Bistro 5 features a very knowledgeable and experienced waitstaff. The collection of wine and beer at the restaurant is quite good, and the servers and folks behind the bar can make recommendations for pairings with your meal in an educational and often entertaining way.
I do recommend getting a reservation if you plan to go - the place can be hopping during the dinner hour, and a reservation can help keep the meal a leisurely and smooth one.
What a fine place!
I've been here twice now (maybe thrice) and have been very impressed that this little gem hides away in West Medford. This truly is a best of breed experience, being the best of all those fancy bistros in Boston, Cambridge and now Medford.
First, our reservation wasn't until 8pm, but the host (who was quite amiable) gladly sat us an hour early. We had a good server (to start) but then got placed with a great server. I say great because he was honest, which is so rare in restaurant staff these days. He told me quite clearly that he wouldn't have ordered any of the items I chose, not because they weren't good but because it simply wasn't his taste. (He seemed to vibe more taste-wise with my husband.) Anyhow, I appreciated his frankness. I'm so over servers all over the city who tell you want you want to hear, or what they think you want to hear.
The food was yummy. I will say that the appetizers were more original and sparkling than the entrees, but chefs get more chance to play there, no? I loved my polenta with taleggio and a trio of wild mushrooms. My husband adored his duck proscuitto (house-made, btw), with a nice sliver of foie gras and tart kumquats on the side.
Our entrees were nice. My husband's wild boar was tender and had the texture of a good delmonico steak. My sea bass was nice but a bit overcooked, as evidenced in the almost too-charred top. It also needed a slightly thicker sauce, something more substantial than the practically translucent pomegranate-lemon-thyme white wine sauce.
Overall, we had a great experience, and the host and server made it even more so, treating us like friends rather than absolute strangers. Our bill was high, but we anticipated to pay for the fine dining experience, even though we were in a sleepy side of Medford. Price didn't keep anyone back, the place was packed, so make sure to make that reservation!
I've been to B5 recently for the second time for my dear friend's birthday. I hope she had a good time there. The food is awesome, even for its limited menu selection (typical fine dine style) and because its in Medford, parking was a breeze. Everything we ordered taste great, and they've split our portions for us (there were 5 girls there) when they can. I took half a point off for all the clown paintings they have all over the place (even in the bathroom!!), and for someone who is semi-coulrophobic, you know what a turn-off that can be. I also took half a point off for our luke-warm service. Our waitress was doing her job, but in comparison to other waiters making the other tables laugh and joke about the food, I felt I was given the short end of the stick. The quality of food is a total 5 star, but not a place I would feel a certain attachment to in the fine dining category.
http://www.bistro5.com/
I've been eating here since it was a byob with just a few tables. Vittorio is always a gracious host and he seems to hang on to the waitstaff for years. I've had good meals here (the scallops were just ok the last time) and great meals here (I fell in lust with the duck prosciutto), but the atmosphere is what makes me come back for more. A warm space, a gracious host, non-rushed service - like a great friend who has a house you love to hang out in and drink wine for hours. A seasonal menu and a solid wine list - make sure you get a little taste of each course or go for the tasting menu, with or without a wine pairing.
Recommended for couples, groups, or even a well-behaved toddler or two.
This is a really top-notch place. It's kind of in a random location, but it's worth the journey out to Medford. Apparently this is an Italian restaurant? I didn't really get that. I seemed more Spanish-inspired to me. But that's neither here nor there.
I got the salmon, which was cooked to perfection. Leek and butternut squash puree? Sure, why not! French vanilla creme brulee for dessert. I leave Bistro 5 satisfied and happy.
Highly recommended!
Everything was great except the clowns.
I was impressed by the food. I went with a group and we tried a couple of appetizers. I didn't think the calamari was anything out of the ordinary, but the other one - Crispy Tuna - was incredible. I am not going to do it justice by describing it here, and even the menu's blurb really can't convey its unique blend of flavors.
Entrees were also tasty. I had a scallop risotto, which was very good. The portions aren't huge, though they are decent sized. All 5 of us practically licked our plates clean. For dessert, I had this Pot de Chocolate (something like that), which was just sweet enough.
Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable, though slightly long-winded. He did explain to me what was up with the aforementioned clowns. I don't want to knock the clowns, because apparently the chef/owner's culture hasn't demonized them in quite the scary, horror-movie-esque way that America has. To him, the clowns, sorry - I think they are actually harlequins - represent something more pleasant and light-hearted. That would explain why there are paintings of them all over the restaurant. There's one wall with a collection of harlequin masks - our waiter advised me not to go look at it if I was creeped out by the paintings; I gladly agreed.
I took my family here (well they took me) for graduation dinner #1. The menu is really very limited. My brother decided to be picky and was unhappy. My mother, my brother's fiancee and I tried to forget about how difficult my family was being and drowned ourselves in three bottle of wine. My mom must have really enjoyed her meal (or just the three bottles of wine) and asked for the chef to come out so she could personally thank him. He appreciated it, or so we drunkenly thought.
But anyway. Ahem. I recommend the sea scallops. From what I remember they were impressively done. I couldn't tell you what my mom ordered but I should ask her since it resulted in the chef being thanked. Or maybe she was really thanking him for keeping the wine flowing? Who knows!
I came here during Restaurant Week with three of my best ladies. I'd been wanting to try Bistro 5 for some time, but the prices are high for Medford so I have never been. Leave it to the glamorousness of Restaurant Week to lure me in. A three-course meal for only $32? I'm sold! Tack on tax, coffee and booze and it was more like $80 for me.
My appetizer was a tasty semolina encrusted calamari. My tablemates went for the polenta with mushrooms, which they all enjoyed.
For my main course I chose the Veal Milanese with sage mashed potatoes and garlic escarole. It was superb and the portion was huge. The reduction that accompanied it was a perfect blend of sweet and smoky. The garlic escarole was so incredibly garlicky, I was in heaven.
For dessert...Crme Brulee. Oh. My. God. Potentially the best I've tasted. Light, fluffy vanilla perfection. Yankee Candle should make a scent called Bistro 5 Crme Brulee.
My gal pals each ordered a cappuccino... they were huge and totally foamy, just fantastic. I ordered an espresso and it was also very good... not cheap!
My only disappointment here was the wine paring, which was offered for an additional $20. We were served a measly half glass with each course. So, effectively I spent $20 on 1.5 glasses of wine. Oh well. Just had to order another glass on top of my pairing.
Bistro 5...Pricey, but damn worth it.
Bistro 5 was an absolutely amazing dining experience. I have lived in Medford several years, and am kicking myself for not trying it sooner. From the wine to the apps, the delicious entrees were beautifully served. Our server was polite, engaging, and very knowledgeable. The dessert was to die for. I would highly recommend this hidden gem!
This is one of my favorite restaurants outside of Boston. It's tucked away in West Medford - easy to get to but all on its own in an unsuspecting area. I have yet to have a bad meal or dining experience at Bistro 5. The staff are superb. The food is delicious. The atmosphere is cozy and elegant. If you're looking to conserve on cash, sit at the bar and enjoy a fabulous glass of wine and an appetizer. I think the calamari is the best in Boston. There's something here for everyone - from those with the most sophisticated palettes to those wanting something as simple as homemade pasta, beef, or chicken.
Went here last April for the hubby's birthday and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. This place is small, with no more than 10 or 12 tables, which makes for a romantic & cozy meal. The waitstaff gave us wonderful recommendations for wine pairings, and the chef came out to personally talk with each and every group of diners to make sure we enjoyed our meals. I'll definitely go back and would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a special meal.
I had the opportunity to dine here during Restaurant week. I had heard that sometimes restaurants skimp on their ingredients for their fixed price menu, but at Bistro 5 all of their offerings were taken directly from their regular menu. The service was exceptional, the atmosphere was romantic, and best of all the food was cooked to perfection. I will definitely come back here for my next special occasion dinner!
I reserved a table here on Thursday Sept 4th. I really appreciated how accommodating the host was to moving us to a quieter section of the restaurant as I felt like they seated us in the busy and somewhat loud section(on the right side seating area). The left side of the restaurant was a lot better, quiet and dark yet warm and cozy. I liked how they had decorated the wall with masquerade masks it was a rather nice touch. My girl and I started with the calamari dish as a appetizer. I felt the dish was OK, I mean it was simple but a little bit too simple -- it needed some more flavor to it. I had the Sea Scallop Risotto and my girl had the mustard seed crusted king salmon dish. I did enjoy the Risotto, it was creamy and flavorful. My girl liked her salmon dish too it was cooked perfect and the strawberry balsamic vinaigrette added an interesting and sweet flavor. I must say my favorite part of the meal was the dessert, vanilla bean Creme Brulee - it actually took a work to crack the top layer of hard carmel but that sweet rich custard underneath was really delightful and made the meal complete.
Years ago, my ex-fiance's friend introduced me to this place. I just remembered a place that was across the train tracks and Dunkin Donuts near by. Long story short, I ended up in Bistro 5 (well, I proposed to my current fiance. Technically, we got engaged in Africa but that's a long story), and the food here was good. I would describe bistro 5 as a typical european bistro style, where chef prepares limited dishes, and you go there to enjoy food and wine. This isn't your typical american restaurant where they will always have fish, meat, and vegetarian dish. If you are open minded and willing to go with the flow, you will enjoy this place!
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Medford, MA
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Medford, MA
Category: Restaurants
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
