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L'Espalier
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
774 Boylston StBoston, MA 02199
Neighborhood: Back Bay
(617) 262-3023
- Nearest Transit:
-
Ring Rd @ Boylston St (9)
Boylston St Opp Gloucester St (170, 193, 39, 55)
Ring Rd @ Huntington Ave (9)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 2 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
411 reviews for L'Espalier
Review Highlights
"the SALON TASTING MENU WAS AWESOME."
(in 55 reviews)
"Great special occasion restaurant."
(in 35 reviews)
"Then came the dessert/ cheese course."
(in 24 reviews)
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411 reviews in English
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Review from Wendy L.
Boston, MA
2/3/2012
Most amazing experience of my life...I felt like I was living in a palace for a second. The fact that you must enter the restaurant through an elevator made it seem like going to a different world and believe me, L'Espalier is a different world!
I really enjoyed the complimentary mini appetizers that the servers brought us in the beginning. Forgive me for not being able to recall the names but they were super complex and delicious...definitely not something I would be able to find at a typical restaurant. You will not disappointed!
I highly recommend their Beef Tenderloins, Veal Sweetbreads and Lobster Mac n Cheese. Everything was cooked to perfection with unique flavors and the portions were just right for fine dining standards. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you order here!
In between our courses, the servers were extremely attentive in bringing us a wide selection of bread as we waited for our food. The service is impeccable here from the minute you arrive until after you sign the bill. The servers are extremely knowledgable about the dishes and the steps of service as well.
One of the best meals and dining experience I've had a Boston. I recommend making a reservation here and dressing up a little for this place. It can get really quiet during lunch so if you don't know your date well there might be some awkward silences! Dinner is slightly better because the restaurant is more filled but it never gets too loud either. -
Review from Mike S.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2012
Our dinner at L'Espalier was basically flawless from start to finish.
We weren't thrilled with the first table that we were seated at, but our server was happy to move us to an amazing booth overlooking the entire dining room. The staff was wonderful throughout the evening. The atmosphere felt a little stuffy at first, but it quickly warmed once we were seated and started receiving their delicious bread service and a series of amuse bouches.
The food was amazing, each course was like a work of art on the plate. Everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection. We started with roasted squab breast and consomme of rabbit, then venison and beef sirloin for our main courses.
The real highlight of the night, however, was the cheese. It was far and away the best cheese course we have ever ordered anywhere. We let our server select cheeses for us, and she did a wonderful job choosing unique flavors and textures. The accompanying fruit terrine was incredible!!! They also provided us with a small pamphlet that included information on each of the cheeses we were enjoying, which was a nice surprise.
The desserts were great. The compressed Asian pear with white chocolate was an inventive and surprising dish, and the mandarin orange yogurt mousse was a refreshing finish to the meal.
Overall it was one of our best meals of the year, and definitely the best we had in Boston. Highly recommended! -
Review from Mark L.
1/27/2012
I had the winter degustation, so here goes :
Moussed Butternut Squash with lobster apple and crisp rice
Smoked salmon with salmon roe
Foie gras parfait macadamia grape and grapefruit and white port gelatin
Grey sole (white fish) with earl grey sauce
Lamb veggie wrapped with bacon sponge cake
Food was so amazing. I would definitely come back! -
Review from Andrea B.
I recently discovered the magic of the word "degustation", which makes an update to this review very necessary. Until now, I had only been to L'Espalier for lunch during Restaurant Week, and had left feeling less than impressed. The Winter Degustation, however, was an entirely different experience.
This six-course lunch began with one Island Creek oyster topped with caviar and champagne gelee. It wasn't the best oyster I've ever had, but it was good and salty.
Next came a foie gras terrine served with pheasant, fig jam, and an absolutely delicious piece of brioche. I only wish they gave us more of it. You know, to go with the rest of the delicious foie gras.
Then came cod with a curry grapefruit emulsion and braised Belgium endive. As the server placed the dish before me, it smelled extremely fishy so I had my doubts over whether I'd like it or not. But it was perfectly prepared and I enjoyed it immensely.
Next came the main entree - the venison. The celery root purée, wild Burgundy escargots, and wild mushrooms that came with it were all delicious accompaniments, but the venison definitely stole the show. Perfectly juicy and tender, I can't remember the last time I've had meat this tasty.
And then, the Grand Fromage! Oh, how I love cheese, even the smellier ones. This cheese plate was definitely better than the one I had at Clio - seeing as this one came with six types of cheese instead of four, and was accompanied by bread, almonds, and fruit whereas the cheese plate at Clio did not.
The dessert was probably the most disappointing part of the degustation. Seeing as I was desperately craving chocolate, the coconut cake that was served didn't quite cut it. But who am I to complain, after an otherwise splendid meal?
So this is my advice to anyone who has only been to L'Espalier during Restaurant Week - Go back. You absolutely must. Everything from the food to the service was impeccable. The servers were great about keeping bread (make sure you try the foccacia) on our plates and water in our glasses. Looking forward to the Spring Degustation already!Listed in: My Boston Favorites
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/29/2011
I came here for lunch during Restaurant Week, and I was worried that I was under-dressed. But once… Read more »
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Review from Olivia F.
Syracuse, NY
1/17/2012
I came here in March 2009 for Restaurant Week and thought, for the price of $20, that it was worth it. The food was decent, but not great. I would never come and pay the full price if the food was the same -- although I've heard it's much better when it's not RW.
I remember having a soup (onion, maybe) that was creamy and pretty tasty, but there was so little in the bowl that it was gone very quickly.
Entree was a piece of salmon. A square about the size of a brownie, and too rare for my taste (I prefer salmon cooked through). One of the people at my table was a vegetarian and ordered mac & cheese and the portion was unbelievably small.
Don't remember dessert, but I think it was something chocolate, so even though it didn't stand out, I probably liked it because I'm a chocoholic. -
Review from K L.
Boston, MA
1/22/2012
I'd have given this 4.5 stars if I could've--it was pretty close to perfect.
This place is a Boston institution for a reason. We had the $185 chef's degustation menu. As it changes constantly, I won't detail every dish--but most of them were exquisite and carefully crafted, with dramatic flavors and textures and a variety of pleasurable challenges to the senses. The surprise that attended each dish's presentation and consumption was a huge part of the fun, and I don't want to ruin this for anyone by listing the high points.
I will say that the cheese plate and the extremely charming fellow who came to our table to geek out all over it were FANTASTIC. Generally speaking, the service here is, unsurprisingly, terrific--attentive, solicitous, and not overly formal.
We informed our server on being seated that we had another engagement about 4.5 hours after our reservation time, and asked if we could still manage the degustation. He assured us that we could, and indeed we did--but the pacing felt rushed. This may have been because of my question about timing, so I hesitate to even mention it. However, other tables having the same menu seemed to be being served at a similarly rapid pace. I will allow more time next time I have this sort of meal here, and will hope we're allowed to linger a bit more between courses.
For the purpose of giving feedback--not that the managers of L'Espalier are reading Yelp for hints, but it's worth a try--I felt the dessert was a downer. We were served three set mousses (dark, milk, and white chocolate) shaped like Vienna sausages and served with shmears of flavored purees in red, yellow, and white. Looked like a cafeteria lunch, tasted like meh. Additionally, I did not like that the petits fours were served to the table out of a box presented tableside, with the diners asked to select what they'd like to taste. Of COURSE we want to taste it all--didn't we just get the tasting menu?--but it feels piggish to ask for that. These should be served on a plate, with leftovers packaged into a little take-home cellophane packet. Or not. Just don't make me choose. -
Review from Barry G.
Watertown, MA
1/18/2012
Will this review bring a detailed answer to teh age old question " Is there value in a $700 meal for two?"
Ok, maybe no one has asked that, but you know what, YES, there is.
And it is not all about the food, but the service, the drinks, everything.
CN: Had drinks, wine, Chefs Degustation, dessert, and spent a lot of money. and it was WORTH IT
Long:
So I brought my Ex here for her birthday. All dressed up, nice meal planned, etc. Well, we were not going to buy a $10,000 bottle of wine (yes, they have them), but we knew it would be pricey (well, I knew, she could care less, part of why she is... oh nevermind, off track)
You check in on the floor level, and they call the elevator for you. very nice. Bring you upstairs, take your coats, and you can relax. Even though our reservation was at 8, and we were there at 7:55, there was no rush to seat us, and no pressure to rush. They asked if we wanted to sit down, relax, have a drink, so we did in the salon area. Champagne, which was fantastic.
We then went through to our table, and say the different dining rooms, the glass walled wine room, etc. We sat (by my request) in the 'library', right near the fire place.
Great feel, great ambiance, nt to noisy.
now before I get into the meal, I must point out, EACH table had a staff of four. A sommelier, a busboy, a water and a bread steward. the service makes the experience just as much as the food does.
We had, as mentioned, the chefs degustation. Basically, a 4 course entree/11 course meal with wines paired with the entrees. Mini appetizers, 4 entrees, a cheese course, sorbet, 6 desserts, and fresh bread
why do I mention the bread, because there were four different kinds, including pretzel rolls that were fresh made. Yes, at one point we were told it would be a short wait for bread since it was just coming out of the oven
Unbelievably good food. Chicken, lobster claws, braised ribs. 6 different kinds of cheeses, tremendous desserts, etc
But the service. When the appetizers were brought over, the entrees, etc, the waiter explained the food, its origins, how it was prepared, etc. WOW. The sommelier then explained teh wine that was matched with it, the origins, why it was picked to match, etc.
The tables were always cleared of plates quick, everything was neat and professional, etc
Even when the cheese course came, they explained the different cheeses, and which order it was suggested we eat them in.
We had dessert, another bottle of wine (thank goodness for cabs, we were each at about 8-9 drinks at this time)
All in all, we were there for about two hours, and we were never rushed as if they needed the table. We went to leave, they got our jackets, and gave us macaroon cookies with a thank you note attached to the bag, and a notice of an upcoming special event.
The service makes the restaurant, I think. And they were above top notch. The food was unbelievable too
Will I eat there again, I have. But the best time is when there are deals (although deals are relative). look for tastings and pairings and pris fix menues from time to time. you can get out spending $150 on two people (or less) on a weeknight
but you get what you pay for, and I have no problem syaing there was value in paying $700 (including tip) for a meal. it really was worth it -
Review from Alias L.
Cambridge, MA
2/4/2012
One of my FAV in Boston! So good!
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Review from Tiffany Y.
New York, NY
1/30/2012 2 photos
Met up with some old college friends for an afternoon and we decided to try the afternoon tea at L'Espalier. Overall, I had a great experience. My friends and I all ordered Little Red Riding Hood's Baskets and all enjoyed ourselves. It's not often you can get away with only paying a little under $50 to enjoy a great restaurant like this. The service was great, our waiter was very attentive and took the time to explain our sandwiches and pastries.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere the restaurant and its staff gave. It was a classy place, but very comfortable. I'm still a little embarrassed that the maitre'd came to seat us and I was on my cell phone trying to give friend directions.
The tea, sandwiches, and pastries were all delicious. I didn't end up finishing half of my pastries though, because I was already so full from the sandwiches, but it was truly a treat. My only complaint is my tea started off lukewarm at best and quickly turned cold.
I definitely want to go back to L'Espalier again to try their lunch or dinner. -
Review from Marie-frances R.
ALLSTON, MA
12/27/2011
I had dinner with my boyfriend at L'Espalier last night, based on the YELP reviews I was expecting to be blown away! Not the case! Though this is one of my first haute culinary dining experiences, I know what excellent food tastes like and for the money we paid for the 6 course winter degustation, many courses failed to impress.
The highlights:
The service was impeccable!! I felt comfortable the entire time and we had a corner booth, which was very intimate. (This is why I rated this 3 stars and not 2)
The presentation of the food was really gorgeous, one of the seafood courses came out in a fishbowl type dish, it was very cute!
I'm having a difficult time finding a course that wow'd me, perhaps the smoked salmon bite with creme fraiche? I enjoyed the foie gras and pheasant terrine, but do agree with the Yelper about the animal cruelty!
Oh yes! The cheese platter was delightful....And the desserts were fun!
Ok, the lowlights:
The oysters we ordered were terrible, they did not taste fresh and were beyond briny and I mean BEYOND briny!
While I enjoyed the flavor of my lobster course course, I thought it was a bit undercooked.
The lamb course was ok, the vegetables on the plate were a bit under cooked.
The major and overarching lowlight was that there was no real highlight in terms of flavors. all in all the experience was classy, but the food was nothing memorable.
We're going to be trying other places in Boston to find an exquisite and beyond delicious dining experience, Salts in Cambridge is next on the list.
And that's the TRUTH, folks! -
Review from Jessica O.
Malden, MA
1/24/2012
I ate here on Valentine's Day last year. It was incredibly expensive (over $400 for two people), but it was a once in a lifetime experience. The staff was incredibly attentive and queer friendly. The food was terrific. I can't really remember what I ate that night, but it was all very good. GF says that it is the best meal that she's ever had in her life.
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Review from Lana T.
Definitely one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Everything is impeccable, from the service to the environment to the presentation to the food itself. When I asked where the restroom was the waiter pulled my chair out for me, folded my coat, took me to the restroom all the while saying "excuse me, excuse me" and parting the small crowd of other waiters like something out of Moses and the Red Sea, and led me to this beautiful little room. When I came back my napkin was freshly folded, silverware replaced, and they promptly pulled my chair out for me again. Now that's service.
In fact, the first time I came here, we loved it so much that we immediately booked a reservation for the next night and canceled our original reservation to go some place else.
When you first enter it's like this tiny little room with an elevator. Then you go into the elevator and realize it has glass walls and ascend to where the restaurant is located, feeling like you've stumbled upon a secret entrance or something. As soon as you get out they greet you with your party's name and immediately take you to your table. You can request tables next to the windows or to be seated in the "crystal room," which is exactly what it sounds like. When you leave they give you extra coconut macaroons and a coupon for a discount on lunch. I don't really like macaroons, but I'm a fan of surprise dessert!
3 course prix fixe for $85, tasting menu for $125, and something called the chef's journey for $195. I tried the former 2 and they were both excellent, although I'd probably recommend just going with the prix fixe if they have anything that catches your fancy on the menu. If you like cheese, though, then the tasting menu is great, as the cheese course was wonderful. However, I honestly did not have anything that I did not love, and I would especially recommend the seared foie gras, sea bass, and caramel souffle. The chef's journey will have to be saved for more fortuitous times...
No complaints. Go to L'Espalier... it will change your life! -
Review from David C.
Updated - 11/16/2011
Another impeccable dining experience at L'Espalier, this time notable for the kitchen's willingness to accommodate my request for a souffle to complete my degustation. Oh, and what a souffle it was--rich and decadent milk chocolate served with a side of gianduja ice cream and a lavish caramel financier.
Two seasonal degustations down, two to go.Listed in: The Real "Best of Boston", Restaurant Week
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/11/2011
I don't know what made me go back so soon after my disappointing experience during Restaurant Week,… Read more »
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Review from Irina R.
Westhampton Beach, NY
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had Thanksgiving dinner here, so I can't comment on the regular menu. Our dinner was fantastic and the service was outstanding. This is truly a classy restaurant. We were also celebrating my birthday and they were very attentive and respectful of my wishes: no songs, no candles, no fuss. Well done, and I was wished happy birthday.
They have an excellent wine list. We had a Margeaux that was worth the investment. -
Review from Sarah C.
Boston, MA
12/11/2011
My boyfriend and I came here in July 2011 for lunch, and we each had the chef's tasting journey. My boyfriend had the traditional tasting journey, and I had the vegetarian one.
The food was good but not terribly memorable (i.e., creative or tasty); it's probable that French food is not my passion. I'm docking a star because it's ridiculous that the restaurant is still serving foie gras. Shouldn't that be illegal by now?! Who likes their meals flavored by guilt or the exertions of denial? I won't be eating here again until f.g. is no longer being served or there's some really good story about how this particular f.g. is produced.
The service was very good. One waiter persistently thought I was having the same tasting menu as my boyfriend and would give me identical utensils. A few minutes later, another waiter would give me new utensils. This happened several times and was part of the charm.
The decor is utterly tasteful and bland. It feels a little like a Westin. A family with a baby in stroller sat at the table next to ours, but the baby was quiet most of the time.
If you're passionate about French food, this might be worth it. If you haven't been to a formal restaurant before, it also might be worth it. Otherwise, I suspect a lot of this place's appeal comes mostly from a subconscious desire to justify cost. -
Review from creighton k.
Wellesley Hills, MA
Updated - 1/15/2012
Another wonderful experience . . . was a special occasion for us - our 12th year anniversary so we decided to we were gonna step it up a notch in terms of a wine. I was surveying several of their DRC selections when Kate Moore suggested something that i didn't notice. It was a 1990 armand rousseau gevrey "clos st. jacques." The food was excellent as usual but the wine made every bite that much better. The service, the suggestions, food & wine made it well worth the money. Looking forward to our next experience there. Thanks
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/9/2011
Great experience from beginning to end. Tasting menu was tops coupled with our Peter Michael… Read more »
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Review from Victoria V.
Matawan, NJ
1/31/2012
By far the best dining experience my boyfriend and I have ever experienced. We will definitely come back again the next time we're in Boston. We both had the Autumn Degustation paired with a half bottle of Margaux. The food and wine was phenomenal and the service was impeccable.
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Review from Katherine S.
Kirkland, WA
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here with a friend at the end of the summer and I loved their tasting menu. It was so delicious and elegant. The wait staff were so formal and pleasant. Every single dish was fantastically made and tasted great. My favorite was the milk chocolate served with a side of gianduja ice cream and I generally don't even like dessert! It was so awesome when they served it because they cracked the chocolate which was in a cylindrical shape right in front of you and all the deliciousness came pouring out. They also have a grand wine selection that is totally worth looking into. The place is very expensive but totally worth going there and eating their food. No complaints whatsoever.
ps another cool thing about the restaurant was their costumer service. When I arrived at the restaurant and checked in, I took an elevator to the top where they greeted me and addressed by my name. Also, as I was leaving, they also addressed my name. Overall, the extra little touch that they do to make you feel special does the trick. -
Review from Greg Y.
Boston, MA
12/28/2011
Over hyped, over priced and under cooked...
Came here for dinner on a Tuesday night on the week between Christmas and New Years. Maybe that's where we went wrong? We will not be going back any time soon and here is why:
Compliments of the Chef: fluke sashimi. Absolutely delicious! If this was a sneak peak at our next courses, I would have been very happy. Unfortunately, it wasn't.
First Appetizer: oysters. Got two different varieties. My wife loved the Wellfleets, the others were a bit briny for her taste and way too briny for me. My wife loves oysters so she didn't really miss the fancy sauces that most other restaurants provide with oysters, but I sure did.
Second Appetizer: salad for me and scallops w/cauliflower and ham consume for my wife. The salad was not anything fancy, seemed a little disjointed with a bunch of different vegetables and twiggy looking things on the plate. The scallop dish came in a bowl that contained RAW scallops, the consume was poured over it and I am assuming was supposed to cook the scallops...well it wasn't hot enough and My wife ended up eating raw scallops. Gross.
Main Course: my wife's lobster tail was grossly undercooked. It was slimy to the point where she couldn't bring herself to swallow it. The dishes were dropped off and the waiter never came back to ask us how they were. By the time someone came over, I was done with my plate. They were apologetic and started cooking another one. My wife told them she didn't want it, but they still brought it over. Funny thing though, they didn't bring over a new complete dish, just the tail (which was the part that was undercooked the first time around). My sea bass appeared to be steamed and was served with skin still on. Let's just say the skin was far from crispy, kind of unappetizing. Left me wanting more, like a starch maybe?
I didn't feel like there was enough substance to warrant an $85 price tag for my dishes and $105 tag for my wife's.
Dessert: we were pretty annoyed at that point and just took 2 deserts to go, which we gave to our babysitter.
The waiter did acknowledge that the lobster was undercooked, apologized several times, and comped us a portion of the lobster dish. We also got an extra free desert. Still, both of us left feeling cheated and disappointed. -
Review from Dan D.
Northborough, MA
10/13/2011
After my one-star review of Aquataine, I took a lot of heat about putting the screws to a pseudo-French restaurant. Well, after visiting L'Espalier, all i can say is "mon dieu, incroyable." This was one of the best meals, if not THE best meal I have ever eaten.
Sandy and I went there to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We had the Seasonal Degustation prix-fixe menu paired with the juices (since we don't drink, we didn't have the wine pairing).
It's been said that the French raised cooking and eating to a new height, and L'espalier delivers a purely heavenly experience.
The service was astonishing. Only in France have I found truly professional wait staff. They watched without watching, anticipated when we needed more bread, water, and the next course. The whole time unobtrusive, and friendly. The end result was an atmosphere of intimacy, relaxation, and enjoyment. Think of it like a relationship massage.
The dinner included oysters. I'm allergic to seafood, so Sandy ate mine and said it was the most divine taste imaginable. Fresh, not chewy, incredibly flavorful in a subdued way. That was followed by a paté course, halibut with roasted vegetables that were cooked to absolute perfection, a beef cut with potatoes that words cannot describe, a cheese course with an eclectic selection of cheeses including goat cheeses and artisan cheeses paired with crackers and bread. The dinner ended with perhaps the best dessert I've ever encountered that included a mousse and chocolate cake. The sizes were perfect to ensure we didn't get too full, but we WERE full when we were done.
The juices were perfectly paired to complement the meals. Imagine a blueberry and basil juice drink paired with paté. My mouth and tastebuds thought they'd died and gone to heaven.
Overall, this is one of the top restaurants I have ever been to, and I travel a lot! I highly recommend it for your next romantic evening.
Tip: Park in the Mandarin hotel parking lot for reduced rate validated parking.
It is expensive, but for a splurge, definitely, absolutely, positively worth it. You won't be disappointed. -
Review from wilbur s.
New York, NY
1/2/2012
Totally agree with Marie-Frances - not blown away, not memorable at all. All the food was "nice" but I'm already having trouble remembering what we ate. We were also overcharged $90 so check your bill on the way out.
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Review from phil w.
New York, NY
10/17/2011
We celebrated our engagement here and and they hooked us up with the best table in the restaurant. I told them I'd likely be proposing earlier in the day...but that if plans fell through I would need their help at the restaurant with Plan B. They told me they'd be ready and all I had to do was let them know. Indicative of their professionalism (and experience), they made sure upon our arrival only to gently probe whether we were celebrating anything (so we could secretly implement Plan B if necessary).
I don't agree with the reviewers complaining about the service. The staff are friendly, professional, and unassuming (like those at Danny Meyer restauants in NYC). Portion sizes of the Autumn Degustation menu were actually a little too big, but that can hardly qualify as a complaint. Lots of reasonably-priced (and good) options on the wine list as well.
Overall fantastic food, beautiful presentation, and excellent service! -
Review from Capt k.
Kirkland, WA
A perfect lunch to end the 10 days eating in New York and Boston. Yum Yum. I LOVE the creamy Main lobster risotto. The escargots bourgogne with roasted bone marrow is just divine. The chocolate decadence cake bring a nice end to the perfect meal.
The staff is less stuffy then two years ago. A major plusListed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/27/2009
We decided to try L'Espalier after reading all the positive reviews on Yelp and magazines in the… Read more »
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Review from Lori A.
Boston, MA
12/20/2011
Formal and elegant french food at it's best. Service, decor, mood, lighting...everything was top-shelf. Dinner will run you back a few bills, but cheese Tuesdays and Wine Mondays are mega-deals.
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Review from Jenny S.
9/7/2011 8 photos
the SALON TASTING MENU WAS AWESOME.. i can't imagine how much better their regular dinner menu is!
Michael D & I each did the $20 tasting menu since were college students on a budget & cant afford their regular dinner yet!!
3 COURSES one from each section
----"bites" we tried the escargot which was eHh but the goat cheese w/ foie gras was divine!
----"samplers" we ordered the mushroom ragout that comes w/ buttery brioche & the butter-poached lobster YUM
----"plates" (not any larger in size) we got the halibut & sirloin which was one of my favs!
every minute ingredient on the mini plates was PACKED WITH FLAVOR
NOTE:
---dress up or you'll feel out of place at this beautiful restaurant
---they have an extensive wine list + cheese cart
---you get free macaroons w/ a coupon for your next visit at the end of your meal!!! (although i wasn't a fan of these)Listed in: My TOP eateries!
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Review from Trina B.
Chestnut Hill, MA
1/1/2012
This is my favorite restaurant of all time. Elegant, beautiful service, eloquent wait staff, and greeters. Entrees are served in the most beautiful fashion, almost mesmerizing.... and the cooking itself is superb. The dishes are excellent. Fine dining at it's best . But I don't wait for a special occasion. The deserts are scrumptious and I love the cheese courses offered as well.
I'm fortunate to live close by. But if you're in Boston, eating here is a must, but make a reservation! -
Review from Alena K.
West Newton, MA
9/16/2011
WAITRESS SPILLED WINE ON MY DRESS!!!
Okay, I grew up in Boston and I have been wanting to go to this restaurant for years. I am not hard to please, and it is so ironic that the one time I finally get to dine at this famous restaurant I end up having one of the worst dining experiences of my life. I came here in July so this review is way overdue but I needed time to cool down. lol
Firstly, our waitress was extremely rude and would constantly interrupt our conversation when she came over. Like really? She wouldnt even excuse herself, she would just walk over and start saying something while one of us were mid sentence
Towards the end of the meal she came over to refill our wine glasses and YES I SWEAR she knocked over my wine glass and wine went flying all over my face and clothes. WOW never in my life has this happened to me, very ironic that the one time it happens is at the fanciest restaurant in Boston. She was so mortified I felt bad for her, even though she had been pissing me off the entire meal. I didn't make a big deal out of it because she looked like she was about to cry, luckily for her I am a softy!
The manager brought over an envelope with $20 in it, no discount on the meal or anything, LOL THANK YOU SO MUCH, THIS WON'T EVEN COVER THE DRY CLEANING FOR MY GIVENCHY DRESS. Luckily for them, I am very polite & would never make a scene. I am so grateful that I can take out all my bottled up anger here on yelp.
oh, and by the way, the food was really good, too bad I will never be going back -
Review from Neva C.
Boston, MA
10/24/2011
I've been here twice now, once for a very fancy anniversary dinner at the chef's table, and once with my mother for lunch. It is really, really expensive. It is entirely worth it.
The food is exquisitely prepared, the sauces delicate and flavorful, the fish and meat dishes cooked the perfect amount, and the dishes are inventive and delicious. At lunch I had oysters, and now oysters anywhere else seem dull in comparison. It was like tasting the essence of the sea.
Service is so good as to be almost obsequious at times. My one minor complaint is the wine accompaniments served with our meal at the chef's table - some choices were inspired and others were strange and disappointing. (Since we know about wine, we probably should have just chosen it ourselves.)
If you can't afford dinner, go for lunch - still pricey but at least it won't break the bank. -
Review from Julia L.
Scituate, MA
12/28/2011
My husband and I have gone to L'Espalier for years, both the old location and new, and every time they manage to wow us with spectacular food and service. We bought a rue la la deal this most recent time for each of us to have a $65 7 course lunch tasting. They allowed us both to use our vouchers at the same time, which many restarurants DO NOT do, so we each got a tasting for $65 that costs around $105 each. They then allowed us to share a wine pairing, the wine pairing was a pricey $100, but when shared over seven courses it is quite reasonable for fine dining standards. I also must mention that the lunch was for 7 courses but we ended up with 9, wine pairings and all. It was dinner at lunch and it was fabulous!
-
Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
8/15/2011 7 photos
BEST MEAL I'VE HAD IN BOSTON. I'm a med student, so I'm in debt like half a million bucks. SO i can't afford to eat in the main dining room just yet..
instead, Jenny S. and I grubbed in the lounge, where they have a SPECIAL for 20 bones! You get a choice of one app, one sampler, and one plate. YES, the plates are all small, but they were SO flavorful. Each little ingredient added something SPECTACULAR to the overall dish. You can totally tell chef put a lot of thought into these dishes.
The dishes are actually so complex that I can barely remember what I had.. so sorry for the shitty review, but ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW is that you should come here... every dish we had was PERFECT, and I can almost guarantee you that you WILL NOT be disappointed, no matter what you order!
OH, and being a $$$$ restaurant, you should dress up a little, or you might feel out of place :) -
Review from Christopher B.
Irving, TX
9/23/2011
Spectacular. I was sent here by some friends from Daalas, and it didn't disappoint. The two of uus started with champagne and then decisded to have the degustation. And wow!
An amazing array of tastes and textures. gelees, sauces, gorgeous lamb, turbot, scallops, US cheeses....
Its an interesting place. It isn't sumptuous to look at. But the food more than makes up for that.
It is quite pricey - $450 or so for the 2 of us, so you don't want to do it often. -
Review from Jeff B.
Boston, MA
10/2/2011
Absolutely one of the best restaurants I've ever had the pleasure to experience. I've eaten here twice, so far; once for a birthday celebration with my family, who were all visiting, (this was at the old Gloucestor St. location), and secondly during restaurant week for their lunch with my mother & some good friends.
Dinner was the more spectacular of the two; 5 courses, each paired with wine, multiple waiters providing hover service (but not overbearing); just a brilliant evening.
Lunch was still excellent, though the value of lunch here is a bit tough when it's not a discounted restaurant week-style affair.
For a special occasion dinner, however, it's absolutely stellar; a must-go. -
Review from Andrew C.
Boston, MA
10/22/2011 Seated via OpenTable
A delayed review for a long-time favorite establishment. We have eaten here for dinner roughly 8-9 times over the past several years, and it has never lost its luster.
Perfect food, wonderful service, and a serene environment. Great for a big dinner party, a romantic date, or a casual lunch. Seriously, if you have not been here go. If you can't afford it right now, save up your pennies and then go. It's worth it. -
Review from Barry M.
Dallas, TX
7/21/2011
My wife and I picked this spot for our one-year wedding anniversary dinner. We had the immense pleasure of enjoying the fixed-price, chef's tasting menu (without wine pairings). Over the the course of the two or three hours we were there, each dish was exquisitely prepared and presented. It's difficult to over-state the delicate balance of flavors and the richness of taste. No doubt this is much as result of expert preparations as it is of high-quality ingredients.
Initially I was a bit worried that my non-red-meat diet would present a problem (or be an "insult" to the chef). Neither was the case. At every step, the staff made every effort to meet or exceed our needs and expectations. When my wife raved about the rolls (boy, they were good!), the waiter offered to provide us more to take home (at no extra charge). Toward the end of the meal, several members of the kitchen staff came by our table to personally thank us for our visit and assure our pleasure in dinng. Lastly, we were presented with a souvenir: paper copies of our menu, complete with our names and the date.
Granted, one might say the fuss was made because it was anniversary; and that would be a point well taken. But one gets the impression that, for them, service is a matter of pride and esteem, that everyone who walks through the door is entitled to a fantastic experience, regardless of his fame, stature, familiarity, or propensity to spend.
I recommend L"Espalier to everyone. It's a "special occasion" place (for most of us), for sure, but it's definitely worth the effort. -
Review from Jessica C.
Bellevue, WA
9/4/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Pros: Good service. Amazing food. A wonderful find in Boston. Very romantic if you want it to be.
Cons: This was the first place we ate after landing and it made all other restaurants taste just "eh".
After just landing from a long six hour flight, my husband pulls up yelp for local area restaurants and decided we're going here. Sure, why not? After walking three blocks from our hotel (the Sheraton- not recommended) we arrived and were greeted, took the elevator up to the dining room and realized we were quite underdressed. Men were in jackets and women were in dressy attire. The greeters and servers did not care, they were so attentive and great! I love that!
Food- omg good. My husband ordered the Seasonal Degustation and I ordered the vegetarian counterpart. Each course was really wonderful, very well prepared and thought-out. The portions were small so you really could enjoy even the last course without feeling stuffed.
Just thinking about this place makes me happy! -
Review from Cathy S.
Cambridge, MA
9/6/2011 11 photos
I went to L'Esplaier the day after the Labor Day long weekend for its lunch-version of Summer Degustation to say goodbye to this summer.
The service is impeccable, professional and polite in every aspect. Lunch there during weekdays is suited for foodies since there are very few guests. I almost had the whole room to myself and it helped me relax and concentrate on the food.
The food is solid. I uploaded the photos of every course so feel free to check them. L'Espalier knows how to play with presentation and how to layer flavors. I would say that they get the essence of high-end French cuisine. But the execution is not perfect. On a scale of 1 to 10 i will give them an 8.
I will be back for their other seasons' degustation menu. For $60 a person (during lunch), it is a great deal. -
Review from Tina D.
8/23/2011
I will preface this review by saying that I dined during restaurant week. They presented me with a menu that only had the restaurant week dining options, so I am assuming that is all they offer for lunch that particular time of year. That was fine by me because it usually means everyone is treated fairly!
L'Espalier is actually attached to Sel de la Terre - you can walk into the L'Espalier door and go right into the other restaurant. I checked in downstairs and headed up the elevator. I was promptly greeted by name and escorted to my table. The service was impeccable. Our waitress was so nice! She gave us wonderful suggestions and was very accommodating. Their portions are actually bigger than I expected. The highlight of my meal was definitely the roast pork loin. It was incredible.
I also decided to split the additional cheese course between 3 people and the portion of cheese was astounding. I was sure that when the check came, I'd be charged for 3 cheese courses. Low and behold, I was not! It was just a lot of very yummy cheese. I had a very light and creative take on strawberry shortcake for dessert. It was a mouth watering mouse with fresh berries - perfect for summer!
Along with the packed up left over cheese, our waitress gave us a list of all their cheeses with the ones we had marked off. That is so helpful! There was also a list of upcoming cheese events with their fromager... oh yes, I will be attending at least one of those! -
Review from M N.
Newport Beach, CA
9/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Was in town to visit one of my best friends last year (I know, I still remember the experience like it was yesterday!). We spent the morning window shopping and decided to grab a nice lunch to celebrate our August birthdays. Found L'Espalier on yelp and went looking for it. A little hard to find, but we figured it out eventually (such a small, small door!).
A hostess greeted us upon entry and showed us to the elevator and after heading up, we were quickly seated.
Decided to skip lunch and wait an extra 20 minutes for afternoon tea.
So glad we did! We started off with "Three Blind Mice" The cheeses were great and came with a little card that explained where each cheese was from and what is was made of. Moved on to "Red Riding Hoods" basket and the tea sandwiches were FANTASTIC! Plenty to share and the variety was exquisite. Favorite was the lobster salad on pretzel bread and the classic smoked salmon tea sandwich. Dessert pastries included were of a variety ranging from chocolate cake (YUM) to a coffee cream puff shaped like a swan. Panna Cotta was nice and the scones we didn't care for.
Excellent service. Very friendly waiter who made sure that we were enjoying ourselves and had everything we needed to celebrate. I still dream of going back! -
Review from Russ L.
Boston, MA
9/6/2011
This is the best restaurant in Boston. We have dined in the best restaurants in the world including El Bulli, Noma and Alinea. L'Espaler is not at that level, but the staff is perfect, the food well thought out and prepared, and the wine is fabulous.
We have been to the wine nights, lunches, and just regular dinners. From the moment you walk in to the final goodbye, it is a great experience. -
Review from Claude F.
5/1/2011
Yelp Math:
$$$$ prices + $$$ Quality Food= 3 Yelp stars
What a disappointment! I actually held off writing this review because I was tempted to just write one word:
Meh!
Now to be fair to them: I have Very VERY High standards in French Cuisine: Both My Mom and My Dad are amazing cooks of French cuisine so I grew up in a food jaded house hold thinking that every family had world class Coq Au Vin on Thursdays. So when it comes to eating French food the bar is set very high for me.
That said: L'Espalier is just L'ordinaire (at best)
I ordered the (very) deconstructed salad, the braised short ribs, and the chocolate mousse for dessert. Which ended up being a true hat trick: I have had all three infinitely better many many times! The salad was très médiocre , the short rib was short on taste and the chocolate mousse was clearly NOT made with TWO sauce pans as all GOOD mouse should be.
However, the wine selection was indeed impressive and the service was some of the finest I have received in Boston (other wise it would have been 2 stars all the way!)
Special Food Note: shocked! SHOCKED! That the menu listed Foie Gras! Terribly cruel and, much worse, terribly 1980's! Real Modern French Chefs refuse to serve this. Just like they refuse to listen to Duran Duran. It's called having ethics and taste.
So, all in all, if you are French food spoiled like me: you are better off saving your money for a trip to Quebec (really not too far or expensive for a weekend trip from Boston...trust me) but if you eat out primarily to imbibe on Wine and be served by others this may be okay for you (but please don't message me to go with you: you will just get a lame excuse of "sorry, tonite's my break dancing night")
