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Categories: American (New), French
853 Main StChef's Whim-4-Course Tasting $39 Sun 9-10
Night Flite - Coffee, Dessert & Treat $13 after 9pm
Cocktail Whim-4 Mini Cocktails $20
Central (Red)
Tue-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
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I am afraid that making plans is not my forte. I have been trying to go to Cragie on Main since it was Cragie St. Bistro. Unfortunately it is not the type of place that (apparently) you can just go to dine without reservations. I bit the bullet and made reservations a week prior for my wife and I and another couple equally appreciative of world-class cuisine. Cragie on Main requires a credit card to hold reservations, $25 per person if you cancel prior to 24 hours in advance if they are unable to fill your table - based on the number of people the on a Saturday, losing any money due to a late cancel doesn't really seem feasible.
We arrived just prior to our 9:00 PM reservations; our table was not yet available, so we headed to the bar for a few cocktails. Good list, I would recommend the 1:2:3... The bar was packed and apparently has its own menu, made a mental note to come back and check it out separately.
We were sat at approximately 9:15. Our waiter arrived shortly there after to go over the menu. When you have prepared yourself to spend over $100 per person on a single meal you expect a certain level of competency from your gastronomic guide, our waiter (his name escapes me) exceeded our expectation. Not at all rushed, genuinely interested in our questions, confident in his recommendation without a hint of condescension. We inquired about the 6 course tasting menu ($90) but unfortunately all members of the table must participate, and my friend and I were unable to convince our dates, a shame, I'm sure it would have been fantastic. We settled on a four-course menu for $75 and frankly could not have ended up more pleased. My meal consisted of Pork belly, Sashimi, Venison & a cheese plate to top off the meal. Each course was unique but each shared a common quality to expertly prepared dishes, uniquely paired components that stand out independently but come together to exceed the sum of their parts. No dish exemplified this more that the sashimi - Assiette of Kona Kampachi Sashimi.
All in all I was very impressed, and my meal was among the best I have ever had. It was about $215 for the both of us, and frankly paying that seemed quite reasonable. I have spent similarly (L'Espalier- a bit more, T.W. Food - a bit less) on similar types of meals and left disappointed. In Boston, I believe this is about as good as it gets.
Great experience, great food.
We had a 6:30 reservation on Sunday night. We arrived at around 6:20 and were seated right away. Through Open Table I had requested a "comfy table" because we were planning on having the 10 course tasting menu. They seated us against the window at a nice table.
Our waitress came over immediately and brought water, and said that she heard we were interested in the tasting menu. I thought it was super that they paid attention to the OT reservation request.
We ordered a bottle of wine, and it came out just before our first course, which was a fish foie, squid noodles, and brandade on top of squid ink.
Quick rundown of the courses (all excellent - the boar could be my favorite):
Second course - scallop ceviche
Third course - seared fish.
Fourth course - trout collar - very good, dangerous bones!
Fifth course - wild boar ragout on some pasta.
Sixth course - pork belly with pomegranate and maybe chestnuts
Seventh course - pheasant
Then there were three dessert courses - panna cotta (two different kinds), the last was a hot chocolate with cardamom and chili. Who would have thought to put those flavors together? But they work!
The food was fantastic. Flavors were spot on, and it was a nice progression of the meal. Nothing was too heavy, and I didn't feel over-stuffed (well, until I put that last dessert course in my mouth).
It was expensive, but not more than we were expecting.
Craigie on Main is aces, baby!
Cragie on Main is excellent in just about every way a restaurant could be -- except for the price, I suppose.
The food is delicious, locally sourced, creative, and rich. The wine list (although interestingly un-local, with only Old World wines) is expansive, the cocktails (and bartenders) are top-notch, and the service is impeccable.
I took my dad here for his birthday and we both got the Sunday night's "Chef's Whim," a 6-course tasting menu which included probably the best lentil soup I've ever had (with a little slab of melt-in-your-mouth pork belly on top, natch), perfectly fried smelt, and a to-die-for Taza chocolate mousse dessert. If you're going to make it over to Cragie for a special occasion meal, I can't recommend one of the tasting menus enough.
Not to say you have to come to Cragie exclusively for tasting-menu haute cuisine experiences. I was here with friends earlier this week to try Cragie's legendary burger. All of the ingredients are calculated, including several cuts of fresh ground steak, bone marrow, and miso paste. Seriously. (http://www.goodeater.o...) It's not going to satisfy your craving for an old-fashioned burger, but it might push the boundaries of what you think a burger could be. Coarse ground meat makes it surprisingly light and juicy -- really a treat. Accompanied with duck fat fried brussels sprouts (oh my god yes) and a top-notch charcuterie plate, it made for a decadent weeknight meal.
Finally, it's worth noting that Cragie has a bar to back up everything. The $20 "Cocktail Whim" is well worth your cocktail dollars -- the expert bartenders will make your four miniature cocktails, drawing from a menu of both classics and more modern and original creations, starting from light, fruity, and sparkling and ending with something rich and desserty. Out cocktail flight ended with their original Jerez flip, merging sherry, Pimm's, Benedictine, and egg into an absolutely delicious nightcap.
Cragie may not be cheap, but I'd say it is worth the money. Mmmm.
This place is absolutely amazing! Sit @ the bar and get the burger - You'll never eat anything so amazing!
By far the best meal we've had in the Boston area in a long time. From the wait staff, to the environment, to the food, to the drinks, the place was top of its game. We had a hightop table across from the kitchen were we could see all the action and everything that was plated made us want to order it. We had the tasting menu and the favors got bigger and bolder as we moved through the meal. I also need to call out the cocktails as they made the night. We had a cocktail flight which meant we were able to sample 4 cocktails along with our meal. I would strongly reco you try this as it was the perfect way to try drinks you might not order yourself!
Fantastic night!!!
Continuing with my method of giving stars by how much enjoyment I got at an establishment regardless of any other standard - I had a flippin' great time here. I ate - A lot. bone marrow, pig tails, shrimp, something something something. . .I just kept ordering stuff. And I drank - a lot. And it was awesome. There were people and a bartender and great wine and cocktails and really good bread with really good butter. I hope to get back someday and write a more detailed and coherent review referencing culinary principles and critiquing the ambience. . . NAH.
For now, I'd just say it's definitely worth the trip.
For me this place was just excellent. I think the combination of service, ambiance and food were just great.
I went with a friend for the 6 course chef's whim. My friend got the vegetarian whim and i got the everything whim. No matter vegetarian or not the whims were filling and great. Each course was unique and interesting. They took the time to explain the ingredients in everything and also answered any questions we had about them. We got a couple glasses of wine to go with the meal too. The waiters were excellent at recommending what went with our meal. I don't remember exactly what was on the whim but almost all the dishes were not on the menu.
All i remember is after the end of the meal i was in full and extremely happy. Especially since they ended with the sheep cheesecake.
If you are around on sundays after 9pm and want to take someone for an unique dinner take them here. You won't be disappointed. Your wallet won't hate you that much either.
Somewhere between the price tag and the meal size, somewhere in the ambiance and the attitude, Craigie On Main lost a star. I'm not saying the food wasn't awesome, because it was great, and the drinks too, but thanks to Yelp, the hype had me expecting gourmet orgasms, and frankly, I've had better.
Maybe I'm just in the wrong age group for Craigie. When we got there at 5:30 (the only time available for a reservation), the other parties who arrived were, shall we say, in the autumns of their lives. Robust, full-salaried, pearl-earringed autumns of their lives.
I got the steak special, and the BF got the two-way veal: sweetbreads and cheek, two unusual cuts of meat for our sheltered diets. It was good, but nothing worth writing home about (except that the consistency of sweetbreads makes me a little squeamish).
The atmosphere really didn't help things. It was supposed to feel cozy, I think, but the room was wide open and empty at 5:30, which made the loud shouting from the kitchen stand out all the more. The waitstaff wears jeans, which I think is supposed to reflect a relaxed, homey vibe, but there was an overwhelming air of stuffiness. Again, the place was empty, save us and some septo- and octogenarians who were giving their server the snobbiest third degree on a menu I'd ever heard.
But Yelp has convinced me to try again, with the two following points in mind - try the bar, and try the brunch. And I will, Yelp. I will. And I'll report back once I do.
Went to this restaurant on a Thursday night with some friends (6 of us).
I got there a bit early. Sat at the bar alone and the bartenders were very friendly. It was obvious from the talk that they were very knowledgeable. I ordered a sparkling wine and they told me all about it as well as let me taste it before ordering it. Nice.
Friends arrived and we sat. We all ordered the 6 course tasting menu. I wish I had written my review earlier, because I don't remember what everything was in detail - but I did like the food very much. The wine waiter was knowledgeable and suggested several good bottles of wine that went very well with the meal. I found I really liked not knowing what I was getting.
Be prepared however, if you - like me - have been on a low fat diet for the last 10 years. This is full fat. In fact, probably full fat with some extra fat injected. Everything has skin and... well... everything. Nothing light or healthy about this meal. Seriously, be prepared. I was sick as a dog the rest of the night and all the next day. I'm not used to to this type of food. I think it was worth it, but nothing I'd do again for another 10 years.
This place is amaaaaaazing. Yelp should let me give this place an entire galaxy of stars to rate it.
I've been here twice now - once for birthday dinner at the bar, another time for Sunday brunch at a table like a civilized person - and both times were mind blowing. The food is seriously the best out there, service is impeccable and ambiance is superb.
The best part? You can order anything off any menu and it is guaranteed to be the best that they can give you. Tony Maws and his awesome team know their way around a kitchen and this girl's tummy, for sure. It doesn't hurt that the bartenders know their way around cocktails equally as well. Well, that part might hurt the next day if you're not careful. But knowing you had a fantastic meal should more than make up for it.
If you are hooked on the Travel Channel's Bourdain and Zimmern and want something out of the ordinary this is the place for you. The service was awesome (at the bar, the only place we sit), the menu was eclectic, the decor outstanding. We got fried pig's tails, Hirmasa tuna shashimi, and roasted bone marrow sides.
It's a very cool place to hang out, my martini was $10, thats not bad, for the two of us it ran about $80.
The only bummer is there is no TV in the bar so if you want to see/hear any games its a no go. Other than that its really a must check if you are a foodie.
My ex took me to Craigie's original location for Valentine's Day dinner once upon a time. I can't even remember what I ate, and I'm not even sure I knew at the time--oxtail and all, with well-executed wine pairings to go along with each course--but it's kept me coming back on occasion, first to the old location, and now to the new, especially to brunch on Sundays and to the bar. When I drink, I invariably need food too, and this place has a nice little bar menu.
Also, my ex was a vegetarian at the time, but she definitely went carnivorous for the V-day occasion, and not because they didn't have a vegetarian prix-fixe menu for the night too. The meat-eaters menu simply looked that good.
My experience here for dinner last night was a little up and down. I had very high expectations going in. The atmosphere was quite nice, the service was well paced, and I did have a few moments when trying my friend's app and entree when I experienced fireworks on my tongue from the deliciously unexpected flavor combinations. She had the scallop cevice and the sea trout. I, however, found both my app (grilled octopus) and entree (corvina) to be much too salty. That was disappointing. I wish I had said something to the staff, because all I could really take away from my eating experience was salty salty salty. Also, I asked my server for a wine pairing with the corvina and I felt like her choice did not complement my food very well.
Desserts and cocktails were heavenly. The menu was heavy on foams, which was a little gimmicky. I tried dishes including green apple foam, leek foam, and banana foam... Oh well. I love what they're trying to do and I'll hope my overly salty food was just a fluke.
We went for brunch today and they were having a special prix fixe menu to support the Greater Boston Food Bank. This was by far one of the best meals I've had in Boston. I can't wait to go back for dinner.
We ate at the bar since we didn't have reservations and I think if I went back I would probably sit at the bar again. Great to people watch and the bartenders are all great. It's nice that they don't make you stalk people for their seats and have an order. I've honestly never seen that at any restaurant.
I started with the fruit salad and yogurt, which was perfect while my husband had the fresh doughnut. The doughnut was warm and perfect. I had 2 eggs sunnyside up and the skirt steak. The skirt steak was PERFECTLY cooked and PERFECTLY seasoned. My husband ordered the burger, which was good but not amazing. I think I prefer my burgers to be more classic and I didn't particularly like the sauce on it. The fries were ok, but I don't particularly like shoestring fries, so that's just probably a personal preference. The burger was well cooked though.
I had the fruit crisp with ice cream for dessert, which was good but nothing stellar and my husband had the profiteroles with peanut butter ice cream, which was also good.
After a year of their being opened, hubs and I finally made it to Craigie on Main right outside of Kendall Square in Cambridge. I had a meeting with http://Plummelo.com, where I will be guest blogging twice a month (check out my first post: http://blog.plummelo.com/), and since Craigie was close by and it was Thursday night, we decided to make a reservation. Highly recommended to do so.
Upon arrival at Craigie on Main, we were seated at the most perfect table, all the way in the back corner. Romantic, but also ideal for a shy food blogger who HATES taking photos of food in public. I want to have them; I don't like feeling like a weirdo, and I am afraid I may get yelled at!
I started the evening with a champagne cocktail, the Tavern Sparkler, which was made of the following:
Medicinal Spiced Elixir
cider, Becherovka, honey, Champagne
Definitely medicinal after a rushed afternoon, and delicious, this drink was the perfect way to start an autumn meal. It tasted of sweet honey and spicy cider and a slight hint of effervescence from the champagne.
My dining companion had a Piraat Amber Tripel IPA which was delicious but not as good as the beer he had later in the evening. Keep reading to find out. . .
The menu at Craigie offers a long list of tempting, local creations.
As you can see Craigie locally sources just about everything from places like Verrill Farm. They make their menu after buying their ingredients, ensuring the freshest food possible. Unable to decide on meals, we opted for a six course tasting menu and the staff at Craigie were very happy to accommodate my no venison, no beef, no lamb, no rabbit request. Apparently all of those proteins were options though, showing the breadth of dishes one can try at Craigie.
Our first course was an amuse bouche of three seafood delights.
The middle dish is a monkfish liver, and the one on the right is crispy brandade de morue with squid ink. I can not remember what the dish on the left was, except completely delicious, I want more of it.
Next up, Hiramasa sashimi with red onion shiso salsa, avocado, and harissa-rose vinaigrette.
I loved this dish. The bite of the onion, the creaminess of the avocado, and the perfect fish was subtly spiced with the harissa vinaigrette. It was light and flavorful.
Then there were the grilled monkfish cheeks, meaty, substantial, delicious.
I think it was at this point that I finished my cocktail and requested a wine pairing. Our outstanding server brought me a glass of 2007 Grüner Veltliner 'Lois', a nearly clear Austrian wine with an acidity that went very well with the richness of the seafood. We often think of seafood as lighter, but as the meal progressed, we definitely had some very substantial fish dishes. The wine stood up to them without overcoming their flavors. This wine exemplified the elegance and flavor of the Austrian wine that we tried in Vienna, wine that was beautiful and strong, like many things Austria has to offer. . .
The hubs ordered another beer, a Foret, which was like champagne. No, not like the champagne of beers. Like real champagne, with a beautiful bubbly, yeasty nose.
Next up was collar of a fish whose name I can not remember (sorry!) with a salty, messy, sticky miso laced sauce. Our server made sure we had plenty of bread prior to this course, and now I know why. We wanted to mop up every drop of the sauce!
Think we were done after that? Not quite yet. Our next dish was
Ragoût of Local Forest Mushrooms, House-Made Rabbit Sausage, Hakurei Turnips and Romanesco
farm-fresh egg, Macomber turnip purée, herbs
This may have been my favorite part of the entire meal. A farm fresh egg makes such a huge difference. With the crisp radish, earthy mushrooms, and ooey gooey egg yolk, this dish was both rustic and elegant.
Our final savory course was grilled pork belly with pomegranate arils and a thick apple sauce, brought to us by a server and Chef Maws.
To end the night, our server brought us Olive Oil and Taza Chocolate Mousse and Long Island Cheese Pumpkin Parfait. They were both perfect, but the Taza chocolate mousse and olive oil offered an unbelievably rich and smooth treat. The pumpkin parfait offered exquisite fall flavors. I loved being able to taste the squash flavor of the pumpkin along with a little bit of sweetness. Again, perfect portions and balance of flavors.
Craigie on Main offered such a special, delicious meal, and I can not wait to go back!
How many ways can you say 'over easy' for eggs?
Let's count the ways:
1. In English, you say 'over easy'. DUH
2. In French, you say 'au plat'.
3. In Vietnamese, it's 'op la'. (From the French word: au plat)
4. In Spanish, I think it might be fácil a los huevos... I don't know.
(Ok, so I only know 3 ways so far. Who's counting when you wanna drink in the morning??)
There might be some errors in the translation here, but when you say
over easy egg at Cragie, you will get a perfectly easy over egg.
Yes, some place actually do it wrong!
Either eggs overcooked, tough, and rubbery... or egg whites still slimy!
When here, if you don't pay attention,
don't ask me where it is,
because I inhaled the egg. That fast.
So I heard through the grape vines, that their steak and eggs are excellent,
but I enjoyed my egg and morning drink.
Homemade donuts? Oh yes, that too.
Get extra, you wouldn't want to share!
My dining experience at Craigie On Main may have been my best, ever.
First of all, I love what they have done with the place. It is an amazing restaurant, but it's not pretentious. All the waiters wear a black shirt and jeans and the tables are simple, dignified wood.
And the food - ohhh the food. We got the four course meal, and while I wasn't wow'd by the bite sized first course (this may have been my fault - I ate it in small pieces and I think you're supposed to just stick the whole thing in your mouth and chew), the other courses were incredible.
The sashimi was a heavenly mixture of tastes and textures (soft and crunchy) and the venison was incredible. We also had ordered a side of brussels sprouts in duck fat - yes, yes. My scallops were also amazing, and the dessert was delectable (I have never, never used that word before) and it came with a generous serving of port - yum!
It's hard to express through writing how completely amazing this restaurant was. This isn't food, it's like art that you eat. It was absolutely incredible, and as soon as my bank account is replenished, I will go back. I could gush all day about this place, and I still wouldn't do it justice.
Also, this review is really long already, but the cocktails were fantastic!
A word of warning - do not go hungry (peckish I would say is okay): the quantities are small, and though your tastes buds may be overwhelmed, your stomach will be just fine. They cook every thing to order, so you can expect your meal at least an hour after you sit down. If you're like me, and your hunger can cause you disengage from reality (my friends call it "murdering hungry"), definitely have a snack beforehand. There is bread, but, you know, I get hungry!
This review is quite possibly the easiest review I will ever write. I could take the easy route and just say it this restaurant is incredible, groundbreaking, and sets the bar like no other restaurant I've been to, and this would suffice.
This place is so amazing I am almost speechless..and a bit overwhelmed because I want to go into extreme detail about everything..but not this review. I'll save that one for the next time around.
The service was wonderful. All of the waiters were knowledgeable, friendly, polite and encouraging of questions. They all made sure to let us know that they would accommodate us in any way they could - from the drinks to the actual food, and they did.
The menu is incredible. As a vegetarian, it was one of the few times that I actually regretted not eating meat because I felt as though I was seriously missing out. Every plate that was brought to us not only looked perfect, but tasted perfect. Even though we didn't really eat a lot of food or drink a lot, we were still treated like favored patrons, and were given not 1, or 2 or 3 but 4 complimentary dishes. One of the complimentary dishes given to us was raw tuna, and one of my friends is pregnant, and I am a vegetarian, and they were so gracious about taking them back - and bringing out yet another complimentary dish that was vegetarian, and so delicious that I couldn't help but savor every single bite.
We sat at a spot that gave us a direct view of the open kitchen. We were literally sitting a few feet away from where the kitchen staff performed something akin st synchronized swimming. There are some folks that when they go out to eat, prefer to not see their food being made because it takes away from their appetite, but me? Watching these men and women at work...the accuracy and dedication that went into each dish being prepared, made me want to taste everything they were making.
I have not had a dining experience like this in so long...I plan to go back and spend half a weeks paycheck in one sitting.
I can't stress enough how incredibly wonderful the staff is at this place. EVERYONE seemed to be in tune with each other, but more importantly in tune with the diners.
Craigie is worth every cent spent...and more. And though my next statement has nothing to do with food, it added to my atmosphere - there were two chefs who were very hot, one who I kind of couldn't stop looking at (heh)...and watching them making this food that could be considered art, made my dining experience that much better.
I never thought I would find a place where I was happy with everything...but I have found that place with Craigie on Main...and I am already planning my next visit, where I will have the full vegetarian meal, and as many of their amazing cocktails as I can stomach.
It is pricey, but I can honestly say that here, you get what you pay for...which is excellence created by passionate people who are good at what they do and work hard at it.
I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for an all around incredible dining experience, and if you are lucky to sit by the open kitchen, I suggest you take the seats...because it is a show worth watching...even though the performers are not really performing (they are only focused on what they are doing, not who is watching), but creating meals that please all of the senses.
Simply put? I am in love with this place and plan on going there any and every chance I get.
Crowded for a Wednesday night at the beginning of winter so they must be doing something right. I started with the pate, which was good and followed up with the special of the night, suckling pig head split between two people. It was interesting to see a restaurant serving this and the pig was delicious. My husband was a little disappointed because the pig ear (the best part) was a little burnt and we couldn't eat it.
All in all the service was good and food was good. Nothing mind blowing, but worth going back.
Craigie on Main is hands down one of the best restaurants in Boston -- fresh, local ingredients cooked and seasoned to perfection. The service is outstanding and the ambiance is relaxed yet sophisticated. The open kitchen is a great touch. Dinner is great, but brunch is fantastic as well. Highly recommended.
My experience at this place was amazing. I came with a party of three to meet a party of two for after dinner drinks. Firstly, the decor and ambiance was tasteful and elegant. We were seated after a brief wait at the bar. The barstaff was extremely friendly, amiable, and attentive. They maintained a decorum but were also fun. Because the dinner menu was closed, we were given bar menus. I ordered their hamburger. It was absolutely delicious. It comes with ultra thin sheared fries, lettuce leaves, and a small but super-tasty burger in a sesame bun, as well as tiny sides of pickles and radish slaw. Despite the late hour the kitchen was able to craft something filling and memorable. I can't wait to go back and try their full-on dinner menu. It was expensive but you get what you pay for in ambiance, service, and taste. Highly recommended.
The Maître d', hostess and I are locked in an eternal battle of wits whenever I try to make a reservation and am told that I should just forget about eating there cause every seat in the house has been reserved at 15 minute increments from open to close. Ridiculous! Food is decent and on some nights, potentially deserving of 4 stars. Word of advice, service quality heavily correlates with busyness, minus 1 star. If you find yourself at the bar waiting for a seat, don't just stand there, be sure to talk to the bartender and get your name penned, tattooed and burned onto the 'bar list.' After waiting 3 hours one particular night, we wandered over to Salts across the street and had an even better meal with truely exceptional service and Cuchi Cuchi for an even livelier nightcap.
Desperately trying to fit Craigie into my (not so) busy schedule before the end of the year, we finally made it over last night. If you haven't been, it truly is a spectacular space, open kitchen right when you walk in, well lit, and overall very appealing. We hustled to get there right when they opened at 5:30 pm to make sure we could grab a table at the bar area (the only place to get the burger) and were fortunate enough to be seated immediately. We've been delegated to eating in bar area's before (see the Met Bar) but have never been treated this well. In my experience the service in the bar is never as good as the main dining area, and in the case of Radius, the service overall was borderline arrogant and snobby despite eating in the main dining room. Craigie does not mess around, as the service, and everyone we interacted with, was impeccable, very attentive, and made it feel like a special night even if we were just eating burgers, again, the polar opposite of my Radius experience.
The burger was not like anything I've had all year, I wouldn't call it gourmet, but it's not your run-of-the-mill burger either. This felt special, I still can't say any burger is worth $18, but the effort is there. It's beefy, and unbelievably so, cooked to a perfect medium-rare, the cheddar fully melted and tangy, the house-made bun crispy and chewy all at the same time. The mace ketchup, again house-made, is nice, with a complementary sweetness to it, and there are so many different flavors going on, it's difficult to pick them all out. There is some serious Umami, with the miso flavor the true backbone of this burger, it really takes it to another level. It's easily the best tasting burger I've had in a while. It's not a perfect plate, however, as it comes with shoestring fries, which as I've written before are not my preference. I never know how to eat them, if you use your hands it's nearly impossible to dip in to ketchup, otherwise your using a fork to eat fries and feel like a fool. And there is some seasoning on the fries that I don't love, not quite spicy, but assertive, I much rather just see some regular fries. But unlike most shoestrings, these are fried perfectly and are utterly crispy. The fennel slaw on the side also adds a much needed refreshment component to the meal.
Craigie on Main easily delivers the beefiest, juiciest burger of the year, and although it's become a hot destination for burger lovers alike to come to, it's still a process. You need to come early to guarantee a seat, and for two burgers and one beer plus tip, it costs nearly $30 per person. We're talking burgers here, fundamentally, I still take issues with spending that much on a burger, but at least on this night, it was worth every penny.
Craigie is the go to place for an über romantic getaway for the moment.
When you're stuck in that heated "where are we heading, what does our future hold" debate, Craigie on Main reminds (or distract) you of what's important and worthwhile. A drink of what the mixologist mix is just what the doctor (or therapist) ordered.
Slurping oysters with candied lemon mignonette as you stare into each other's fervent glances. Diving into the house salad with cured greek sardines and smothering each other's toast with Tony Maws's famous roasted bone marrow while sprinkling it with the house kosher salt take away the relationship blues. And when that doesn't work, just stuff each other's faces with the Assiette of Three Terrines accompanied with very traditional cornichons and grain mustard.
Dessert is a must when you're in this state of mind and remember, what doesn't kill you can only get you drunk.
Amazing food, service and atmosphere. We had dinner in the bar in a cozy booth (great for people watching) and it was fantastic. The waiter was well versed on the bar and the menu.
Crazy food here (pigs head, sweetbreads, octopus) if you are adventurous. The organic chicken 2 ways was the best chicken I think I've ever had. Loved it and will definitely go back!
Craigie on Main is absolutely charming--like French countryside meets Southern hospitality. I loved the little piggy touches of decor and the open kitchen space. We came for Sunday brunch and had a lovely meal that included highlights like THE best corned beef hash and homemade donut with confiture de lait (aka caramel sauce).
The boy had the $29 prix fixe course, which was a good deal considering that it includes coffee/tea, starter, your choice of entree and dessert. We share the homemade donut as starter and it was incredible--crisp, sugared outside with a soft, cake-y inside. Topped with a sweet caramel sauce, this was like warm bites of HEAVEN.
The boy's entree was the corned beef hash. It was really rich with great meat and potatoes flavor enhanced by a farm fresh egg and a judicious amount of creamy hollandaise sauce. I had the sausages with biscuits and gravy and while it was good, I thought it was lacking a certain richness. The biscuit was slightly tough and--dare I say it?--perhaps could've used a touch more butter. The sausages were great though.
We ended our meal with delicate profiteroles filled with calamintha (a mint-like herb) ice cream, covered in bittersweet chocolate sauce. Soooo good. The pastry was supremely light and crisp. Profiteroles are usually not my favorite dessert, but the combination of the herbed ice cream and perfect pastry shell made them stand out.
And on a note unrelated to the delicious food, I admire Craigie on Main for being a family-run business operating on a core set of principles that allows them to be a successful and responsible member of the community. In our checkbook, I saw that they outlined these principles in detail and explained their passion for local and seasonal ingredients. I think it only adds to their charm. We walked out feeling full and pleasantly satisfied, vowing to return for dinner on another occasion!
After several unsuccessful attempts to get reservations at four other restaurants we decided to drive to Craigie's and take our chances. We arrived too late for the dinner menu but were pleasantly surprised with the bar menu which has plenty of interesting and delightful options. The ambience, décor, is outstanding and I love how the kitchen is part of the dining room; the state of the art cooking station was made in France. This was my third visit and I was surprised to see the place half empty; I've never been able to get a seat at the bar. The staff has always been very knowledgeable about the food and drink menus and tonight was no different. We were sat as soon as the staff cleaned and set our table; within minutes our server greeted us and asked if we would like bottled or tap water. I checked out the extensive wine list, most bottles are in the $45-$100 range with a few in the thirties. This was my second time ordering 2005 Faugères 'Vieilles Vignes Château d la Liquière from the Languedoc region at $34.00 and we've been extremely pleased with the quality and consistency. It's a darker, heavier blend of grenache, carignan, syrah, cinsault and others; there are some bold tannins, probably oak-derived, with a smooth vanilla finish.
I was happy to hear our waiter offer the roasted bone marrow to the table behind us (it's not on the bar menu), I've been eager to try this resurrected dish for a while. The sour dough bread (which happens to be my favorite) had a beautiful hard crust; soft on the inside with large air pockets and the perfect balance of sourness. We started out with the Dodge Cove Oysters on the Half Shell with candied lemon mignonette; fresh, plump, and succulent; the lemon mignonette complimented the oyster's butter texture. Next up were Maine Mussels with toasted garlic, chile caribe, miso, and herbs; my first reaction was holy $%&* these are the largest, meatiest, mussels, I have ever seen. They were served with plenty of toasted sour dough for dipping in the jus.
It would be impossible for me to visit Craigie's without sampling the Terrines, Assiette of House-Made Charcuterie: Duck Rillettes, Pate de Campagne, Foie Gras au Torchon; with a home made mustard, some type of blackberry sauce, and again plenty of toasted sour dough. The texture was fine, smooth, not a country style; well seasoned and perfectly executed. As we were enjoying these our server brought over the Crispy-Fried Pigs' Tails with pickled peanuts, nuoc cham, cilantro; a little too greasy for my wife but well worth the effort if you don't mind using your hands and getting a little dirty. She thought the cartilage was fat; it does look similar. Crispy Fried Nova Scotia Smelts pickled peppers, preserved lemon, dried black olives, squid ink anchoiade; these were large and de-boned which made it easier for us. I do prefer the smaller ones with the bones intact, you can eat the bones and heads; these are one of my father's favorite foods. Perfectly seasoned but could have been a bit crispier and slightly less greasy in my opinion.
I guess our main course would be the Local Grass-Fed Beef Burger and a pricy $18.00. The burger was pretty huge at least 8-10 oz with Shelburne Farm cheddar, house made red wine pickle, celery root slaw and mace ketchup, house made sesame seed bun and crispy shoestring potatoes. It was ordered medium rare, but it came out slightly undercooked and rare (which was acceptable), we enjoyed the burger; it is easily big enough for two. The texture was smooth and moist, but I'm not sure if it beats Fuddruckers, I might have to do a side by side taste test. The shoestring fries reminded me of some chips that I would eat out of the can as a child, I'm still not sure if I prefer them with the shoestring cut. The service throughout all of the courses was timely, not overbearing or annoying, the server topped off my wine and water when it was low and answered all of our questions; he gave his opinions on beverages and dishes when asked by my wife.
Last but not least was the Peanut Butter Parfait house-made hobnob cookie, cocoa nibs, banana foam. I guess the banana foam could be considered molecular gastronomy; but to us it just tasted great and made sense. http://Store.gourmetsl... describes cocoa nibs as "simply roasted cocoa beans separated from their husks and broken in to small bits. The nibs are a new chef favorite and can be used in place of nuts atop ice cream or in cookies and even as a snack"
Was everything 100% perfect? No, but it's about as close as one can get; definitely a solid "A". My wife didn't finish her Hot Buttered Rum Cider with Fragrant and Lush
Appleton Estate, canella, orange, and clove; she found it too buttery. She didn't complain about it, but our attentive waiter noticed and told us he had them comp the cocktail. I thought that was a nice touch to a perfect evening.
I found the environment cramped and stuffy without enough room between tables along with the usual know it all arogance often encountered in Boston. The wine list was an assemblage of over priced French wines which by the way r no longer the best in the world. I found the portions small and appetizers limited. My scallops were three and over cooked. The bread arrived late and our server refused to offer me the great looking mussels that r only part of the bar menu, buzzard indeed. I did like the kitchen action but overall I felt cramped. Broadening the wine selection would help imensely, better values can be found.
This place ...transcends. It's the first time I've ever eaten somewhere where I felt that I lacked a sophisticated enough palette to enjoy the food offerings properly. For my money it's the top food experience in Boston I've had. The staff here is..mm..elegant. Even the people bussing our table knew everything about what we were eating, where it was grown, what to suggest for drinks - offered very informed suggestions when they thought we may enjoy another wine more - the whole deal.
From what I understand, the menu changes daily as everything is chosen fresh that morning. The night I visited last week, one of the specials was a pigs head meant to be shared - my friends and are rather adventurous so we went for it, and while a bit daunting it ranks as the most amazing culinary experience I've ever had. If you're there - definitely order a pigs head. I've never tasted anything quite so savory and delicious. There are few dining experiences I can point to and say I will remember that night for the rest of my life, and that was definitely one of them. :)
Is there no part of the pig which these people can't make taste amazing?
We weren't able to sit in the dining room, so a group of 8 took over the bar and ordered everything on the bar menu to share family-style. I'm glad we ran the board because it encouraged us to go deep into the strange but rewarding stuff like fried pig tails. The potato galette with salmon roe was also a pleasant surprise. My favorite was the charcuterie plate with its buttery foie gras and earthy rabbit.
The wine list is expensive and limited, but carefully curated for quality. Those who ordered the "whim" flight of cocktails were very happy with the offerings. (I admire a place gutsy enough to serve a Corpse Reviver to someone who has not specifically ordered it.)
Now that I've been introduced to this place, I need to go back and try the half pig's head and the chef's whim menu.
Word of advice: if you're planning on ordering the Chef's Whim menu on Sunday, make a reservation if at all possible. Seatings happen only every half hour and you may have to wait a long time or look for other alternatives.
Brunch at Craigie on Main was a revelation. It provided a new perspective on the classic Sunday meal, with innovative preparations that impressed far more on palate than on paper.
My friend and I opted for ringside seats, from which we had a complete view of the busy open kitchen. I would definitely recommend this spot - the kitchen is exciting! Our waiter was awesome and pointed out various interesting tidbits about the kitchen and the food both with and without prompting from our annoying inquisitive mouths. He even brought us a sample of the house-made ketchup when we expressed our curiosity as to its dark orange color. Both the ketchup and the service were fantastic.
For my meal, I went with the prix fixe, but it wasn't necessarily a bargain. I think it came to a couple dollars' worth of savings, though I suppose it did include a pot of tea. My friend went with two a la carte courses and we shared the prix fixe dessert (which, incidentally, was our choice, regardless of what it said on the menu).
We whet our tongues with alcohol. I opted for a Bloody Mary and my friend went with a 1771. My own was more my speed, a truly special preparation of the classic libation. Craigie's version came with house-pickled onion, fresh horseradish, and a celery stalk infused in-house with agave and jalapeño. My, that celery was a treat. The drink itself was excellent, with optimal thickness and swimming with spices.
For our starters I ordered the coriander and cashew granola and my friend got the house-made doughnut with confiture du lait. The granola was good but unmemorable - I prefer mine chewier. The doughnut, on the other hand, was phenomenal. It looked bewitchingly simple, just a small sugared doughnut in a small puddle of sauce. It blew our minds - fresh, warm, perfectly textured, and with a mouth-filling doughnut and caramel flavor that managed to please without cloying.
For our mains I got corned beef hash and my friend got the shrimp and grits. The hash was made with grass-fed and house-brined house-cured beef, and it came with a gorgeous slow-poached egg and crispy onion rings. This dish was so delicious I nearly fell off my stool. The textures, the seasoning, the consummate hashiness...I could eat this every day. The shrimp and grits were more earthbound but excellent as well. Composed of creamy Anson Mill organic white corn grits, bacon-braised greens, smoked rock shrimp, and sauce d'homard, it felt sophisticated but still plain tasty and comforting.
For dessert we opted for the sour milk panna cotta with blueberries and blueberry coulis. The presentation was very simple and vaguely reminiscent of block tofu, an observation I offer without judgment. The panna cotta tasted incredible - creamy and silky soft with modest sweetness and a hint of tang, it would've shone alone, though the fruit and sauce were lovely accompaniments.
This meal was so good that my friend made reservations to return for dinner that very evening, from which he texted me the contents of every glorious course. I recommended Craigie to my parents on their trip to Boston and afterwards, my mother and I spent a decent amount of phone time discussing the virtues of the doughnut. This is a brilliant restaurant with stellar service and unforgettable food - it is not to be missed.
An epicure's delight as long as he/she doesn't show up with an appetite.
The food was extremely complex and flavorful, and the presentation was very appealing, but the portions were meager at best and not at all a good value. The appetizer was more generously portioned than the entree and quite delicious--a ragout of wild forest mushrooms, vegetables, egg, and rabbit sausage. My entree was Vermont Organic Beef Rib-eye a la Poele, which arrived at my table as two minuscule pieces of rib eye (i.e. a few small bites each) , two sweet potato spears and a small side of creamed spinach--all for $40! I can appreciate the penchant of some restaurants/chefs to concentrate on complex flavors and smaller portions, but I also buy groceries each week: $40 worth of rib eye could feed several people very well. This was just pretentiousness unbound.
The waitstaff was charming and attentive, and having a view of the kitchen was very enjoyable. The space itself was hip and lively, and would be a great venue for an office holiday dinner
I've heard that the brunches are tasty, so it might be worth a return visit.
The service at Craigie on Main is *exactly* what you want (/deserve) when you are paying top-dollar for your meal. Considerate, incredibly helpful, funny, welcoming, and grateful. Or at least they act like it, which is what matters.
Naturally, I can only pretend to afford their cocktails. Still, a fun place to go out to!
Best restaurant in the city.
They are located right on a corner in a funky space - it's a bit tight when it's packed (and seriously it's ALWAYS packed - one Friday night we were there every table was filled till 11:30 at night). Reservations are not easy to come by here, but it's worth it - so book in advance.
Service is always good - the staff is so friendly here. But it's the food and drinks that keep folks coming back. The dishes are inventive (like pigs head!) but absolutely delicious. I've been here a half a dozen times and never tasted anything I didn't like. And the cocktails are so tasty - not the standard ones you see at every restaurant. Even ones I was skeptical I'd like were awesome (like the northern lights and ardoise).
Arrived with 3 other people, no reservations, at 915pm Saturday night for drinks. Decided on getting a table at the bar and we were seated right when they said we would be (930) though the table had been set and ready for the entire 15 min that we waited. We were told upon being seated that the kitchen was backed up and no menus were available, but did we want drinks? Yes! It took 15 minutes til we were able to order and 40 (!) minutes to actually get drinks to our table! Could not believe it! We also ordered a couple appetizers and an entree. All were good but nothing to write home about. Will not be back in a hurry because of the 40 minute wait for just a drink!!!
Brunch Review only:
Sad face. I really wanted to love Craigie on Main because my fellow yelpers adore it so... But I just didn't. Maybe brunch just isn't the best time to experience their talents.
I have to start off with the Bloody Mary because the description was awesome; offering different types of house infused vodkas to choose from. Unfortunately, the experience was sullied due to the HUGE chunks of horseradish. The chunks were so large that using a straw was completely impossible and you could not swallow them, so you had to actually chew on horseradish. Nevermind the massive amounts of it..No, no thank you.
I ordered the Shrimp & Grits. I know COM is expensive and I'm okay with that put the portion was very, very small. The taste was just okay. (maybe my shrimp & grits bar is set too high being a Mississippi girl and all) I got a side of the Pork Belly which was delicious and the highlight of the meal. My boyfriend got the sausage, biscuit and eggs. The scrambled eggs were so runny that he referred to them as 'egg soup' and couldn't eat them. He also commented that the dish, which was served with 'gravy', lacked much gravy.
So yeah, it was A-OK but I won't return for brunch anytime soon and I'll probably hold off for a while on coming for dinner...
Four words, quickly becoming my favorite four in the English Language: Fried. In. Duck. Fat.
Yes yes, I know. Not healthy. Does it help that the fried items involved were Brussel Sprouts? Because, it must be said, they were beyond delicious. They were also just the after-thought add-on to the amazing 4-course meal I had with my grandmother a few weeks ago.
I really can't say enough good things about Craigie. I'm a big foodie and work in the service industry and my grandmother is, well, just really really difficult to please. We came out of that meal fat, happy, and the perfect level of drunk. Everything we had was really creative and fresh, with eat first bite usually followed by "omg, you gotta try this!" The waiter was very nice and attentive and paired our two meals with a great bottle of wine. The menu changes often enough that I don't know if the pork 3-ways or the scallops poached in oil and curry are even offered anymore, but if they are, you really have to try them.
I only have one very minor criticism, but it's nothing that would ever stop me from going again, or even take it down to a 4-star review:. If you make a reservation, request to sit on the perimeter of the room, or at least not in the very middle. The rest of the dining room seemed so cute and cozy, but we were smack in the center. It gave a great view of the open kitchen (which i personally love), but also felt a little like we were just kind of an island in a very busy ocean. Wine helps that, however.
Accommodating! Very accommodating.. This is not a trait you find at swanky places that could easily be snooty and dismissive, but they're not! They're very nice at Craigie,
We came ready to sit at the bar, have some bar food and a couple cocktails, and it was completely packed. We waited around awkwardly and it was only a few moments before the bartender approached us, and perched us on a counter near the bar. He gave us drink menus and made us feel more at ease. He, like any great bartender should, was able to recommend great drinks based on our preferences. He was also nice enough to make me a great drink not on the menu (Corpse Reviver No 2). Ultimately, he got us a place to sit, and our food was brought to us momentarily.
Uh, fried pig tails? I had never heard of this before. And my curiosity got the best of me. I had to try it. And as the bartender described "you have to get messy and get right in it." Pretty true. You'll have to use your hands to eat them, but they're pretty tasty. Good bar food to go with your alcohol. Good amount of heat, perfect amount of crisp, and the peanuts and garlic go real well with it.
I also tried the seasonal sparkler (can't remember what it's called.) I'd say it was a bit on the dense side, but still delicious nonetheless. A very sweet, autumn spice taste at first, and a very bitter ending. Great drink.
I wish I lived in Cambridge so I could come to Craigie more often.
I'd like to think that I know a lot about food. I've tasted it and experienced it in many ways growing up in France and it's always been a huge part of my life. The food network is always on in my apartment and I spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen when I can. Hell, the only reason why I'm not in the culinary industry is because I'm allergic to seafood which would have limited me. But I digress. I've had many meals but the one I've had earlier this evening at Craigie on Main was one of the best.
Their menu is very modern and eclectic and we were lucky enough to get the ringside seats (there's only 4 of them available in the restaurant) because a previous reservation had cancelled rendering them free. Those very special seats are for a select and very lucky few and overlook the kitchen directly. You even get to interact with the chef a little bit. That alone made my night.
Then came the amuse-bouche, which in my case was pork belly sliced very thin over fennel and mozzarella. It was very tasty and opened up my pallet nicely for what was a memorable meal.
Not being able to eat seafood I settled for Potage of Sweet Butter and Sugar Corn which was absolutely exquisite. They replaced the seafood sausage pieces that come with it with fried squash flowers. A very interesting item that I had never tried. At that point I was very impressed and was looking forward to my entree. I saw that they offered bone marrow and it has to be my favorite dish ever, all time. It's literally what I want for my last meal and it's not found everywhere so I jumped on the occasion and thus ordered the hangar steak which comes with bone marrow, smoked beef tongue, shiitake mushrooms, Camargue red rice and huitlacoche jus. It was very intriguing yet very tasty. The bone marrow portion was HUGE which made my night as well. It was so, so good!
The wine paired it very well. Then we had a sour milk pannacotta. I had quite a bit of wine at that point and can't quite remember what it was exactly, but it was flavored with tea and had a very delicate, soothing texture. It was wonderful. My friend and I both ordered the same desert, which was the Market Fruits Crisp, a crumble which featured berries. It wasn't over sweet at all which was nice. They let the natural sugars in the berries express themselves.
To end the meal, we were given shots of a hibiscus froth.
Overall it was a very intriguing, fun and wonderful experience going to Craigie on Main. The prices are high but you get what you pay for. Their menus change daily based on what's fresh and what looks good and the chef and staff are very attentive to the food they serve and the details making for an excellent experience. A dish never sat more than 10 seconds at the pass before being picked up by the runners.
What I do recommend you do is try to get the ringside seats (or whatever it's are called) so that you can sit and get to peak at the kitchen. It's very entertaining and you'll learn quite a bit. The head chef is very friendly and for those feeling adventurous, you can order a half of a pigs head, roasted. They have a whole bunch of interesting items on their menus and my friend and I made a deal that we will be heading there every three months from now on to experience the menus as they change with the seasons.
I love this place, it's a real gem! And boy will I remember these lovely 2 and a half hours of delightful food!
Feeling adventurous? Save up and do the 10 Course Chef's Tasting. I believe it may be the best way to experience the range of deliciousness and inventiveness available at Craige on Main.
I took my parents here during their last visit (August 2009) - after realizing that not only the Elephant Room & Cuchi Cuchi were totally closed on a Sunday night - we showed up an hour before our reservation and tried to unsuccessfully find room at the bar. Fortunately, the staff stepped in and cleared out a bar table for us to roost in while waiting for our diner table to open up.
We were seated a little before when our reservation was supposed to start in the far back corner. I wish we were seated closer to the window, especially since all the tables were not filled but our waiter turned out to be awesome. After looking over the menu a bit, our waiter came over and told us about Craige and the options available to us. After not -too- much deliberation we decided on the 10-course Chef's tasting which is about $125 per person.
Our first few courses were light and fresh - almost entirely seafood based. There was everything from squid noodles to a delicious piece of lobster salad to a plump juicy scallop. They were all delicious but the next 3 savory courses were incredible. A couple of those stand out in memory - especially the Sweetbreads and Chicken Confit plate and the Lamb three ways: OMG. Those were seriously out of this world. Our waiter was really helpful in telling us about everything on on our plate and kept the water, drinks and wine coming for our table. It was quite an experience.
Our dessert courses were so unique (there were 3 of those) - one course was a tea-infused Panna Cotta - Absolutely amazing - the tea tingled my senses and I highly recommend this if your are a fan of herbal, light desserts. We were also served 4 different things all in the same course - each of us got a different plate and we took turns sampling each other's plates - Out of that course the Taza Chocolate Mousse stood out as well as a Peanut Butter Ice Cream dessert that was out of this world.
I recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to splurge on a true culinary experience. The chef even came out to talk to us. Craige, thank you for an awesome experience vs "just a meal" - I will and my family will be back!
+ Wednesday Late Night Raw Bar
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