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Enjoy three courses and be in and out in one hour or…
Copley (Green)
Back Bay (Orange)
Mon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Mon-Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Mention Yelp when making reservations and receive 20% off your bill (food only).
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I had a phenomenally exceptional experience here last night. To get more bang for the buck, we made reservations for L'Espalier's "Cheese Tuesday" night. The theme was Fall Harvest Cheeses...
First Course: An argula salad with the most delicious soft cheese "Hartwell" with balsamic vinaigrette, radishes, red onions, etc. What made it more brilliant was that the Chef owns a 14 acre farm and all the "green" we ate last night was homegrown!
Second Course: Roast Pork Belly with creamed cabbage. The cabbage was creamed with some sort of cheese...but it was very mild and the cabbage was .... well, cabbage (slightly overwhelming, but still good). The pork belly was to DIE for. It was fork tender, juicy, flavorful and cooked to perfection. I could have licked the plate.
Third Course: Applewood smoked chicken with pumpkin puree...the pumpkin puree was divine with the sharp cheese served (elegantly draped across the chicken). Apparently, the chickens came directly from the Chef's farm as well. Well-put by the older gentleman sitting beside us "I hope he didn't give them names."
Fourth Course: The Local Fall Harvest Cheese Platter. There were seven generous helpings of cheese plated and the "cheese master" (who was AWESOME) explained each cheese, where it was from (ALL from Massachusetts - with the exception of one from NH). My bf went crazy for the 'burratta' cheese which is a weird combo of mozzerella filled with ricotta and figs (made locally in Somerville). I thought the filling was delish - but the outside was too spongey and the texture was in combat with my gag reflex.
Each course was paired with amazing French wines (and they did generous pours, too). Dessert was a la carte, but after four courses it was completely unnecessary to even think about it.
The decor is beautiful. We sat in a library - books filled the shelves and we had a peek into the huge wine closet (see-through glass wall on one side of the room). Extremely elegant and fancy experience and I will, from now on, save it for extremely special occasions.
People thought this was:
I enjoyed lunch at L'Espalier at its previous Gloucester Street location in August 2008. My girlfriend and I were greeted warmly and escorted upstairs to our table promptly. The staff made us feel welcome and were quick to offer water and take our drink orders. My entree was a Niman Ranch pork belly on beans and a German potato salad. Excellent! The pork was not too fatty, not too lean either.
Since my first visit, I think I've been back 2 or 3 times ... because this restaurant is just so darn good! Patrick was our waiter every time, and he has been wonderful. My girlfriend couldn't choose between the dry-aged duck or the beef tenderloin last time we had dinner there. She told Patrick to surprise her, and he definitely pulled through. When the main course arrived, she got both the duck and the beef on the plate! Now that's service!
People thought this was:
I'm really torn between 3 and 4 stars. Unlike some other reviewers, my husband and I experienced exceptional service as L'Espalier. We ordered the tasting menu with wine pairings, the vegetarian option for me.
Our server was personable once he realized my husband and I are the chatty type. He was a little formal at first, but loosened up by the second course. He was kind enough to even offer us an extra pour of a wine we really enjoyed.
So why only three stars? We weren't all that impressed by the food. The corn sauce in one of my courses tasted exactly the same as the corn risotto in another course. My husband commented that nothing "wowed" him. At this price point, I expect more creativity or just superb food. The desserts were outright bad. The highlight of the night was the cheese course, which was so delicious I wish I would have saved more room.
One other complaint I had was concerning our table. I'm not one to complain about where I'm seated but our table was in a back corner and where the place settings were, the bench was uneven. On both sides. So my husband and I both had to sit with half of our body higher than the other half. We tried shifting around the place settings so we could sit evenly, but it wasn't going to happen at a 2-top. There were no other tables open so we didn't say anything but again, something that was disappointing at a restaurant of this caliber.
I expected a lot more from L'Espalier but was left disappointed with a majority of the food but very impressed by the service.
People thought this was:
The best meal I have ever had.
My boyfriend and I went to L'Espalier this July for our anniversary, while visiting Boston. It made for a very memorable experience.
Our hostess was very kind and our waiter was knowledgeable, helpful and fun. We are a younger couple and while I feel most waiters might have looked down his nose at us or not paid us as much attention, our waiter explained the menu and took the time to answer any and all of our questions.
We ordered the tasting menu (which I recommend greatly), which comes with a course of foie gras. I had never had foie gras before, and my palette is perhaps not as advanced as one needs to have in order to appreciate this delicacy. Noting that I had not touched the course save for a small bit, our head waiter inquired what was the matter. Upon learning this was my first taste of foie gras (and that I did not like it), our waiter stated it was "unacceptable" that I not enjoy my entire time there, and brought my boyfriend and I out another course (of salad) and a wine pairing for the salad.
Hopefully the next time I find myself in Boston for a special occasion, I can return to L'Espalier. Hopefully you will get a chance to splurge for a meal here, as well!
People thought this was:
I go here about twice a year. There is always that one spectacular dish that stands out everytime. Probably should have written a review a long time ago, since it is difficult to remember specific entrees now. Consistently great presentation for every plate.
Ambiance - first thing that strikes the customers. Love the L'espalier elevator and classy waiting area. Friendly staff. You will never feel overdressed.
Bread - excellent selection, terrific variety, freshness. Same with the cheeses.
I think they do a great job on their seafood dishes. Pork is above average. Incredible wine selection, good sommelier.
A dessert with Iced tea air - some sort of pastry dish, but the iced tea flavored foam on top was quite unique. Definitely try it.
If with a large group, ask to be seated in the library. If not, the other dining areas have great large windows with a good view of Boylston. Expect to spend a lot for regular dining, so I recommend restaurant week or power lunch. Macaroons on the way out really is just a cherry on top. Truly a total package restaurant experience from start to finish.
Food (9/10)
Presentation (5/5)
Atmosphere (10*/10) - favorite decor in Boston.
Service (5*/5) - impeccable everytime so far.
So disappointed. Sweet bread tasted good but tasted like any ambiguous fried food. Pate tasted like butter and missing all the lovely gaminess liver should have. Fish entree was over cooked. I'm sorry but I think for the price all food should be cooked perfectly. Surprisingly my favorite part of the meal was dessert, and I'm definitely not a dessert person.
Cheese Tuesday = awesome
People thought this was:
Absolutely Delicious!
My wife and I keep L'Espalier for special occasions and it never disappoints. I love the fact that you can swap out items on the tasting menu and adjust them for the flavors you like most. In our case a seared foie gras versus to cold offering.
The staff is very attentive and are great - It is pricey but well worth it.
People thought this was:
Superbly Delicious!
Nicely done food with great presentation.
Huge debate whether to go because they request jackets at dinner. So as a compromise, we had to break up our day of tourist activities to visit L'Espalier for lunch, which is less formal. I'm so glad that we went!
A must for anyone who lives in Boston or is visiting. Just remember their dress code.
-1 for the snob of a waiter
People thought this was:
I'm living in San Diego now but I had a craving for this place for awhile now. I haven't been home in Boston in over 3 months and have been dreaming of eating at this place. Seriously, if I have to have a last meal anywhere, it would be here.
The service here is great as well, they're very friendly and fast as well. They were very accommodating when they learned that I'm allergic to mushrooms and made sure that the cook didn't use anything with the same pan as mushrooms.
This place is a little pricey for some people but I don't think it's pretentious at all! Though you do have to dress up for dinner, so make sure you're dressed for the occasion!
We decided to try L'Espalier after reading all the positive reviews on Yelp and magazines in the hotel. We decided to go there for lunch time because I did not pack the right clothing for this trip.
We were greeted by a very lovely hostess. However, our waiter is a bit snobby. I am a bit upset because he did not go though the menu with us like the other wait staff did with their diners.
After studying the menu, I decided to order the Power Lunch because there are somethings on other set meals that I do not feel like eating that day (i.e. black pudding, oysters). We also ordered the lobster BLT to share.
My first course is pork and veal rillette. The rillette loaded with shredded pork and veal and top with light salad. The flavor is simple and straight forward.
The second course is our split lobster BLT. The sandwich is good. However, I think the bacon over power the delicate flavor of lobster. The BBQ chips were hit and miss. I would have preferred frites.
The third course is the fried chicken thigh roulade with potato rösti and ratatouille. Chicken thigh is juicy and flavored with salt and pepper and the ratatouille has good flavor and not over powered by the curry. However, I still cannot figure out why my plate has three chicken roulade ends.
The final course is Panna Cotta with Blueberry Mouse. It's light and not too sweet and a nice ending to a light lunch.
Overall, I am very happy with the food. I will pack a pair of dress pants next time I visit Boston. I want to go back to try the dinner.
OH, THEIR BREAD IS HEAVENLY AND IS A VERY NICE SELECTION.
People thought this was:
I came here for a lunch yesterday with a group from work. The entrance is a bit unusual. You enter into a small space where you are greeted by a hostess and escorted into an elevator that brings you up to the restaurant. As a large group, we felt a bit cramped entering this small space. The restaurant, however, was quite spacious. We were greeted by a coat check person, asked to wait briefly in their lounge, and then shown to our table. There are lots of options for lunch, from the 3 course $24 power lunch (all courses pre-selected by the restaurant) to the $40 prix fixe menu (with more choices for appetizer and entree and one pre-selected dessert). There is also an a la carte menu featuring a lobster roll, a burger and a cheese plate. We ordered the cheese plate for the table and it was served after our entrees, but I would have loved to have just ordered the cheese plate as my meal. This was some seriously awesome cheese. The selection we enjoyed featured a soft, Italian cheese, two delicious blue cheeses (one from Vermont and one from France) and three harder cheeses. All very delicious. Notice how I completely skipped over the appetizer and entree... the cheese was that good. Getting back to the appetizer, I ordered from the prix fixe menu and had a duck and apple salad with pommegranate seeds. Very nice. For the entree, I had cod with mushrooms and small potatoes. Also, very good. However, I reserve all my enthusiasm for the AWESOME CHEESE PLATE. I will be back for the delicious cheese. I ate so much cheese, not only did I wish I had not eaten the appetizer and entree, I could not even eat the dessert (panna cotta). We also opted for the wine pairings which accompany the lunch options (an additional $20). The wines were excellent. However, what I will remember the most from this visit was the CHEESE. Worship the cheese. So wonderful. If you love cheese as much as I do, this is cheese heaven.
Other things to note:
You will need a CC to reserve your table
L'Occitane en Provence products in the bathrooms (fabulous)
Open for lunch daily from 11:30-2:30 (We arrived at 12 and stayed until 3. Plan for a long lunch, especially if you are ordering the cheese plate and will be as determined as we were to eat all that delicious cheese).
For a mere broke peasant, Lespalier (work keyboard not producing apostrophes, commence awkward writing style and misspelled restaurant name) provided an extremely memorable meal, definitely shining above the two other restaurants I visited for Restaurant Week - one of which aspired to attain a similar atmosphere and paled miserably in comparison.
Most impressive to me was the staff. Our waiter was the best I have ever had, and he (and everyone else) provided extremely unpretentious, unassuming service to my friend and I. On our visit to Asana next door a few days earlier, we were given pretty much the bare minimum of service and faced noticeable condescension from our waitress, which led us to expect similar shunning in any "classier" establishment, especially since Lespalier was clearly a notch above. How wrong we were! The service here treated us just as they treated the other customers, and while it was almost overbearing receiving such extravagant treatment, it was definitely welcome and alleviated the sinking feeling of being underdressed and underclassed.
The meal was great, but I think that is to be expected at a place this pricey and well-reputed. I got the RW prix fixe menu of sweet pea soup with shrimp, steak with Bearnaise sauce, and a chocolate cake dessert. All of these were quite tasty. We also pegged on a cheese course (the Grand Fromage) to go all out. I enjoyed the pecorino and goat cheese offered the most. They also provided occasional extras - hors d`oeuvres and the like. The little macaroon they gave us on the way out was a cherry on top of an already extravagant sundae.
While it will be a loooong, long time before I can afford to dine here on even a semi-regular basis, I would certainly come back for lunch on a special occasion!
People thought this was:
Though I am no New York Times food critic (not like I haven't pretended), at this point I feel like I know good food when I taste it. And though I a college student with a budget to match, I know exceptional service. My dining experience at L'espalier was nothing short of (insert adjective synonymous with omgitwassogoodineverwanttoleave).
I've been waiting three years to go to L'espalier and when a good friend of mine told me she had a reservation for two, would I like to come because her other friend was totally gonna bail, I was all like, "I mean yea, maybe, I'll see if I have room in my schedule - OMG YES I'M SO THERE. WHAT TIME? WHAT DO I WEAR?!"
This place reeks of class. But not like in an old money-stinky perfume kind of way. Quiet, composed, subtly lavish. Kind of like me when I drink martinis. Leave your debauchery at the door - along with your outdoor voices. I commented that I couldn't believe how quiet the place was. Everyone was talking, of course, but probably about classy quiet things like investments and their residence at the Mandarin Oriental upstairs... I mean, I assume.
I came with an adventurous palate and it thanked me later in the form of a food coma. And not the bad kind after a corned beef hash induced breakfast. We're talking an oyster sitting on a bed of ice with teeny bit of roe on top. And a duck plate with the most incredible foie gras I've ever had EVER. And a cheese plate worth writing home about (I actually considered calling my parents to say "dudes guess what I did?!").
.. AND as for the restaurant week food: field greens and lamb sausage (divine) and pork that as my companion said a few times "made me a believer" and chocolate decadence cake that I ate with salted caramel ice cream.
I was spoiled. It was like the most lavish mani/pedi/massage except for my mouth and soul. I felt like a princess.
I've never been to the other location but I can say for certain that this is probably what I how I want my home decorated. So I may move in after graduation. I hope it's cool. I don't need a lot of space, I'll just hang out in, I don't know - L'esaplier's PRIVATE BATHROOMS?
An experience not to be missed. Go for restaurant week if you must but get some add ons. Drink and be merry.
Say hello to me under the table. I'm not creepin' I just live there now.
People thought this was:
Definitely prefer the old l'espalier better when it was in that townhouse. The new one is a different feel but still very cozy and romantic and fun. Love the food, excellent service, decor and ambiance.
Last time I came here was on my first date with the BF. really happy experience. And I also like how they give you this little wrapped to-go baked cookie when you leave the restaurant.
People thought this was:
We went here back in April for Wine Mondays for my boyfriend's birthday. Yes, even after 6 months, I remember the experience and the courtesy they showed to me!
Starting at 6, there are "courses" and wine pairings on Mondays with a different theme. We went to the French wine and cuisine one.
I was actually late (maybe 20 mins?) and running in with a million bags and stuff (I had a course that ENDED at 6pm about 6 blocks away from the restaurant). Still, the hostesses were VERY accommodating, asking if I needed help and reassuring me that it was OK that I was late. They took my coat and I was off to the table to meet my boyfriend and two other friends!
As I mentioned, I was very late. I missed the first course and wine pairing. Nevertheless, the servers were completely on top of it. They kept my first course warm and explained to me what it was. That was particularly helpful, since I'm not an expert on French cuisine (though I do SPEAK French). After the sommelier was done explaining the 2nd wine pairing to the entire room, he actually walked over to my table and gave me the whole explanation on the first wine (the one I missed the whole speech for) which I thought was really, really kind of him. The food and the wine was exceptional! They don't give you the "cheap" wines that nobody wants... (which is the reason I was weary of the whole wine Mondays thing at first).
Each wine pairing was chosen very intricately. The sommelier explained the wine, the region, the taste, the reason for the pairing, etc. He really knew his stuff - other than the few times some French words were mispronounced, but it was still good overall! He even made some jokes and really got the crowd going, asking questions and having everyone participate.
The food was AMAZING. The wait staff was extremely courteous and understanding, never taking away my plate until I was done (even though another course was coming, since I was really 2 courses behind!) I really, really enjoyed the experience.
During the time for eating and tasting the wine, the sommelier remains in the room. Since I had a few questions about the wines, he listened attentively and answered all my questions. He was just as attentive to all the obvious "regulars" for Wine Monday, as well as a newbie like me.
At the end of the dinner, we were again greeted by the hostesses and they gave us our coats, as well as a little piece of meringue to go. When we heard music next door, they explained that their sister restaurant, Sel de la Terre was having a special night as well. They were all very friendly about it, and weren't trying to "sell" it to us, which I appreciated. I loved Wine Monday so much that I purchased their cookbook, and have since made lamb and other recipes from it! The book too is very informative. I would HIGHLY recommend L'Espalier!
People thought this was:
Another Restaurant Week selection, and while I was not amazed like I've been at some restaurants, I gave it a 5-star rating because it really was the total package.
It seems a little pretentious at first, but I found that the serving staff, our server especially, were extremely warm and friendly and helpful.
We arrived a bit late and frazzled, and they offered us a drink in the lounge before sitting down to dinner, which we turned down but should have accepted (and will next time!). We were immediately seated in a litle booth that overlooked the restaurant - a great point from which to people-watch and sit comfortably. The hors d'oeuvres they iniitally brought out had salmon, to which I have an allergy, so they immediatley brought out a substitute, which impressed me greatly. The amuse bouce was a delicious cevice, which Scuba Steve normally doesn't like but did like this one.
The Restaurnat Week menu was a bit disappointing, but I think they knew that because you had an option to upgrade each couse to have the option of selecting something off the regular menu, so you could upgrade a la carte without getting the regular menu. The regular menu consists of the 3 course prix fixe, a 7 course prix fixe, and the chef's prix fixe which I believe is 10 courses.
We started with the spinach and leek soup - which was served from a soup tureen they brought to the table, and served ina bowl around a little grilled shrimp.
Entree was squab, which was incredible - laced with foie gras and a delicious sauce. And while Scuba Steve's lamb wasn't his favorite, I enjoyed it so we traded!
We finished with dessert - chocolate torte for me and some delicious fulffy peach concoction for Scuba Steve. Wine was great and my martini was AMAZING - lavendar and chili infused vodka with strawberry water...sounds weird but was the most amazing combo of flavors.
Can't wait to eat and adventure again!
People thought this was:
A decent establishment, but underwhelming.
Had my very first visit here today for RW, and it was an excellent lunch. After being greeted once at the bottom of the elevator and once at the top (how chi-chi), I felt a bit underdressed in my jean skirt and flip flops, but relaxed when I saw others wearing the same. The hostesses and staff were all very welcoming and professional without being condescending (they must be used to we RW riffraff by now).
After the nice sourdough/foccacia bread starter, for the first course my two dining companions and I chose the watermelon soup with grilled watermelon, feta, watercress(?), and shrimp. This was my favorite part of the meal... I'd never had the watermelon/feta combo before and it totally worked for me, what a great flavor profile. I spooned this down to the last drop, yum.
For the entree I chose the pork with pureed potatoes, beet, and cabbage. The jus/sauce the pork/meal had drizzled over it was the highlight of the entree, I really wanted to sop up every drop with some bread (but restrained myself as that may have been a bit too uncouth of me, ahem). Everything was really well seasoned and the flavors went together nicely... I don't really like cabbage but this version had ham in it and wasn't bitter at all, I ate it all up. The pork itself was nicely tender and seasoned, very tasty although not *amazing*- just very good, I'd say. My dining companions got the Lobster BLT for $12 extra which they very much enjoyed.
For dessert I got the chocolate decadence with white chocolate daubs and an apricot drizzle, which was wicked rich and filling. Better than your typical chocolate dessert cake-thingy, not quite the very best I've ever eaten but still delicious. I tried the other choice, some cake thing with peach and ice tea, and it was good for what it was, but it just wasn't up my alley. Loved the fact that you get to take home a fresh macaroon as you leave (it's like dessert, the sequel).
The three course meal was a perfect amount, I was right at the "full" mark without feeling stuffed/gross, and the glass of rose I had went very well with my meal. It goes without saying that service here is absolutely impeccable and in itself is a reason to come here. Solid food, solid dining experience, not quite the best meal I've *ever* had but up there on the list and completely worth the $ (it's an absolute steal for the RW price, IMO). I'd love to come back for dinner and/or non-RW to check out the 'full' L'Espalier experience everyone else is raving about. *Sigh* one day...
As much as I wanted to love the newer location inside the Mandarin Oriental, L'Espalier just isn't the same. The charming old house on Gloucester totally made the atmosphere, and I am so sorry they couldn't find a way to make it wheelchair accessible. Boo.
I absolutely love the weekend Fantasy Tea. The sandwiches are these heavenly little morsels, and each bite is so flavorful and fresh. Loster salad crostinis are my favorite. The pastries are exquisite and delicious. This is a Boston experience not to be missed, and it is fairly affordable ($36 per person!) for extremely high-end dining.
Dinner, while somewhat relaxing at the old location, is not really as special as it used to be. I couldn't shake that "corporate" feeling (you know, the kind you get at Morton's) seemingly provided by the grayish carpet and waiters in suits. It just wasn't right. Perhaps if you hadn't visited the old location, it would be different.
The chef's tasting journey is a TON of food; however, all of it is delicious and a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion. If you tell them that you are celebrating a birthday, graduation, etc., they will put a small candle in your dessert for you. Nice touch. Great wine selection, too. But it was all better at Gloucester!
TIP: Don't let yourself be upsold by the waitstaff. All luxury dining establishments are feeling the recession; that doesn't give them the right to ask three times if you want dessert!
People thought this was:
I finally made it here for Wine Monday last night. The entire experience was unique and amazing, and worth every penny.
We were among the first to arrive, and were seated at a round, 8-person table in the center of the room. Other couples arrived and were seated at private tables in the corners of the room, and we initially wondered how they got so lucky. As it turned out, we were the lucky ones. The three couples that sat with us were an eclectic crowd of recent grads, a wealthy but charmingly humble power couple and two world travelers from L.A. in the middle of a US tour. Everyone was so friendly and the overall experience was enhanced by the conversation at the table. If you like meeting new people, this is an awesome way to do it.
This particular week the wine "theme" was Australia and New Zealand. Over four courses we enjoyed mussels, Merguez sausage, free-range veal and a sampling of cheeses, paired with wonderful wines. I particularly enjoyed the veal, the glass of pinot, and the deliciously strong Roaring Forties blue cheese.
The food and wine were excellent and the service was spectacular. 4 courses paired with wine for $60 per person is a pretty good deal anywhere, but at L'Espalier you are truly getting more than your money's worth.
People thought this was:
For my birthday, my boyfriend graciously took me here. We decided on the seasonal degustation.
Amuse bouche: one Skip's Island Creek oyster with shiso sorbet and North American caviar.
This was a lovely way to begin the meal. This was pretty terrific, albeit sweet, even though I prefer my oysters tasting of the sea. It doesn't have sorbet the way you may think of sorbet. So it's not like an oyster with caviar and ice cream....
1st course: duck pastrami with watercress and a lemony sauce.
Very tasty. I like duck. Duck, duck, duck. My boyfriend didn't like the lemonish sauce, but what does he know.... :)
2nd course: Torchon of foie gras with Muscat gelée and red wine pickled shallots.
Apparently torchon means - a method of cooking foie gras by which it is placed in a towel (torchon in French) and poached. It was small and roundish. Much like the panna cotta. I've had foie gras before and loved it but not so much in this course. Perhaps it was because it was seared and accompanied with figs the last time I had it. I wasn't sure how to eat it, but ended up putting some foie gras on the toast and using my fork to eat it. Ahhhh, fancy places.
3rd course: My favorite!!!
It was Colorado lamb with eggplant puree and some sort of dark brown sauce. It looked a bit like soy sauce. There were beets and a parmesan crisp chip thing that tasted very sweet to me. I would go back just for this dish. It's AMAZING. I tried everything, less licking the plate, to get as much of the sauces onto the lamb. God, I'm salivating right now.
4th course: five cheeses.
I sure wish I could recall what these were. There was something very similar in texture and taste to brie, next was a creamy yet slightly crumbly cheese covered in spices (perhaps tarragon?), the third offering was a hard cheese that was slightly pungent, fourth was another brie but more pungent flavor and the last cheese was a very strong blue. They were all fantastic. I'd love to go back to the bar and just drink wine and eat some cheese. I'll take notes next time.
5th course: desert tasting.
There were three desserts - Greek yogurt panna cotta with a raspberry. I've had some panna cotta in the past that was chunky and disgusting. This was phenomenal. Super smooth and creamy and deliciously sweet.
There was some sort of chocolate cake with a thin layer of chocolate ganache topping and a early grey infused vanilla ice cream. It was good but honestly nothing terribly special.
There was also some raspberry "caviar" that I ended up eating with the chocolate cake as it's one of my favorite flavor combos.
I believe the waiter told me that the sorbet was raspberry but I'm pretty sure it was strawberry. In any event, it was served on top of crumbles of graham cracker and maybe a little sugar. It was very good as sorbets go.
I had a terrific time and can't wait to go back during the next Restaurant Week!!
People thought this was:
Been meaning to write this review since my visit last Fall. Had the chance to lunch here with the parents visiting and it came with many accolades. This was back when they were still at the charming house location in Gloucester but now has since moved to the Mandarin Oriental.
The Spring tasting menu was hit and miss. Certain dishes were bland but the dessert was delicious. The biggest aspect of the meal was the exceptional service and elegant atmosphere. Things which I hope they haven't lost in the new location.
That being said, comments of pretentiousness and stuffiness held true. I would take business clients here, not my friends or family. Hopefully can try the new location to compare.
The service was very friendly and accommodating. The food was prepared perfectly and looked amazing. However it it lacked something. It just missed that factor that leaves you blown away; which is what I think a restaurant like this aims for.
I'd go back again to see if they can wow me. I want to like L'Espalier but the food just didn't set fireworks off in my mouth.
Top quality. Everything you could ask for. Nothing more to say except this might be the nicest, most impressive meal in Boston, and if not, it's in the top 5. Having to take an elevator to dine helps.
People thought this was:
This place is in the top three restaurants I've ever been to.
My husband and I had reservations at 8:30 and didn't leave until midnight. We got the prix fixe menu (5 courses plus cheese and bread) and three wine pairings. Everything from the atmosphere to the food to the waitstaff was absolutely wonderful. In addition to the 5 course meal, the maitre'd kept bringing over samples of delicious bites of food (e.g. smoked salmon and cream cheese thinly layered about 5 slices thick and goose meat over a biscuit with gravy).
Everything was unbelievable; the cheese platter (7 cheeses that were laid out in order of strongest to mild) which came between the third and fourth course included some of the best cheeses I have ever had. It came with a selection of breads, jams, and pine nuts in a sweet sauce - all very good.
At the end of the night we had spent about $280, but we were very full, tipsy, and extremely happy with the experience. This is the type of place that comprises an entire evening, it's not a dinner and theatre place. This is the food and entertainment for the night, and it is well worth the money.
People thought this was:
This place was amazing when we went to the last location. Haven't been to the new one, but hopefully it's just as good.
The wine tastings offer the best bang for the buck. We got a 4 course meal (portions are small) with 4 glasses of wine for around $50 about 3 years ago. They're only offer early in the week...Mon, Tues, Wed.
As I updated the contents links on mine and Hana's tea blog, I had to click the down button more than a few times for L'Espalier. Their other culinary skills may be in place but their afternoon tea has slipped to the point where it's mildly insulting that they still bother.
I'll save you the 'old-world charm lost to modern corporate chic' and cut straight to my fire-eyed Kanye West-esque statement...
"L'Espalier Doesn't Care About Afternoon Tea"
It used to be so well done, but now the whole service feels like a token gesture. Why bother stressing with tea and fancies when there is money to be made on tasting menus and when the lobby of the very hotel you are resident in also puts on an afternoon tea service? (Lobby Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental... looks good).
The service we received left us feeling second-class to the tasting folk around us, the tea preparation was shoddy and the lack of introductions to the various bites was a cardinal sin. I don't eat Foie Gras and was pissed off to have not been told that was what was in front of me.
Is there any silver lining to this? Well, they're still not the worst tea in town by a longshot, but for the high price you'd expect a lot more. 2 stars is a measure of how bad it felt leaving, knowing how good it used to be.
You can hear more of our outrage and see shiny photos here: http://www.bostonteacu...
My advice to L'Espalier is simple - if you don't care, then give it up.
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18 people in a room - how long before one pulls out a ring?
In fact at L'Espalier, 18 people taking…
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$550 well spent.
The service is way over the top, echelons above anything else I've experienced. 3 people will deliver your food (one for each dish, and your waiter to provide the description.)
Each course was delicious and interesting.
I mentioned that I didn't like one of the cheeses that came with the plate (tasting menu) and it was promptly replaced by another selection which ended up being my favorite.
Portions are perfect for the sheer volume of courses they will present you.
Wine pairings were perfect and the helpful explanations of their origins and importance made for an exciting adventure instead of just a good meal.
Highly recommended. Easily the best restaurant I've had the privilege of dining in.
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This place is FANTASTIC! The food is terrific and the new location is sophisticated and modern. They have three dining rooms which are all a little different. We had a great table right by the window peering down on Boylston Street. This is a high end restaurant so the price may be a bit prohibitive. I suggest coming for "Wine Monday's" which is what we did. For $60 a person you get 4 COURSES with WINE PAIRING! At $12 a glass, that means you're basically paying $12 for your food. The event was really fun and educational, I learned all about wines from Spain.
1st course: Fried oysters paired with a sherry. So good!
2nd course: Tuna carpaccio paired with a Godello. Fantastic.
3rd course: Flank steak paired with Toro.
4th course: Cheese plate paired with a Muscatel. I love cheese!!
Overall it was a fantastic meal so why the 4 stars?
1) Whether it is fair or not, it doesn't quite stand up (for me) to the charm of the old location.
2) It was a four course pairing but for some reason I thought there might be options. I do not eat meat and when I saw the steak for the 3rd course I was really conflicted about what to do. The overall service was excellent but it is a high end service style where you do not have a specific waiter which for some reason inhibited me from asking for a veggie option. I thought maybe I could just eat the sides and when the dish arrived and the meat was piled on top it was apparent that I would not be able to eat around it. I placed the dish to the side and a server immediately came over to ask if everything was ok. When I explained that I don't eat meat he promptly brought me a new dish. I'm not sure why I felt so stressed out about it.
If I could give this restaurant 4.5 stars I would! This place is a must try for food lovers.
Four Solid Stars.
It's too bad michelin has not arrived in Boston yet. We made reservations the morning of, Friday, and got a 5:30PM time slot which ended up being fine by us. The service was really great, they addressed me by name, miss yu, as we arrived and were seated. the restaurant itself is pretty little, to the point where the bar is out of a wet bar, but that did not bother me, since i like small and intimate anyways. we ended up having almost a 3 hour meal, a few hilights include:
*a 2 seater window table looking out to Boylston street
*peach sweet tea cocktail, very refreshing and delicious
*coddled egg salad: so unique and very delic with the vinagarette dressing they used
*Split pea soup with prawns: the soup was really fresh tasting and peas were grown and from a farm in essex
*solid entrees: the salmon with risotto was not as good as the chicken with truffles and potato.. the salmos had a little ume (plum) taste and some pickled veggies--asian influence taste, it was a little much for me...the chicken was very tender, and i dont even like chicken that much!! i obviously am not describing the exact features of the entrees, but they were very yum.
*apricot dessert: this one beat out the dark chocolate with rice krispie. this was a mousse, gelatin, cake combo dessert, many layers, many different textures, not too sweet, lots of flavours.
*petit fours: asian influenced shiso truffle and rasberry jelly squares
*l'occitane hand soap and lotion in the bathrooms :)
*individually wrapped american style macaroons as a departure gift, i ate it the next day, and it was quite a nice treat.
Save up. Get your wallet out. Relax your butt cheeks. And let them take you for a wild ride.
The eclectic food intertwines complexity with simplicity. Good food makes us human. And sometimes good food makes us poor. But good food always makes us happy.
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This is a great French restaurant. I was pleased with everything about it. It's on the second floor of the building and the hostess who met us was very polite and called up the elevator upon confirming our reservation. The glass elevator oversees a bank to the left and a bar to the right. Upon exiting the elevator, you are given a coat check option. Just be sure to hold onto the number they give you if you decide to go with the coat check.
My friend and I made a reservation here today for lunch during Boston's Restaurant Week to take advantage of the prix fixe menu prices. I went with an onion soup with flan, almonds and Sherri for the first course. It was perfectly made and not too salty. The main entree was a mushroom crusted grilled salmon. The mushroom looked like a thick piece of seaweed. There was also a kind of curry and caviar garnishing the fish. The dessert was a chocolate souffle with mango sauce. The contrast of tangy and sweet was pretty good.
There was a Boston couple who sat next to us and asked me where I was from. The lady asked because she said I sounded like her son who lives in California. I suppose my Californian accent attracted her attention, so it only confirmed her suspicions when I said I was from Los Angeles.
I would definitely come back here if I happen to be in the area again. The service was professional and the restaurant was classy with a nice view of Boylston street or the Copley Place mall (depending on where you sat). They have a nice lounge area for you to wait in case your table was still being prepared and the restrooms are actually individual stalls rather than a common room. Only problem with those is that you have to wait to get into one and there's no way to tell from looking whether one is occupied or not. It's a non-issue, but if the restaurant can fix it, more power to them.
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OMG the seasonal degustation is so ridiculously delicious.
I would love to eat here all the time, the new location is beautiful although not as cute as the old place.
4 stars due to the $500 bill for the two of us, but oh my, it was good.
I have not been to this new location. I had been twice to the old location, so this review is very dated. But I would like to say my meal was superb. Nothing very modern or new, but perfect classic french. Both times, I had the 10 course tasting menu. The portions were perfect (although I was so full I made everyone walk home each time). I loved the fact that they only had one seating so you could take your time and savor your food. I thought the service was impeccable. Our host was very prim and proper without being overly pompous, our sommelier picked us a fantastic bottle of wine which was on the cheaper side. The food was timed perfectly. In comparison to other restaurants like Aujourd'hui in Boston, L'Espalier is head and shoulders above them.
Definitely a place for a special occasion or for that special someone.
Okay, call me a sucker for choosing L'Espalier on Valentine's Day.
I knew it would be absolutely packed; it IS the best French restaurant in Boston, and people associate French food with romance. I knew the management at L'Espalier would cram all the tables that could possibly fit into the restaurant and it would most likely be pretty cramped.
I was prepared for the crowd.
I was not prepared, however, for the 81-dollar markup on the Winter Degustation. After looking at the online menu, I thought $104/person was reasonable for the top restaurant in Boston. It was our first Valentine's Day and my girlfriend doesn't drink wine, so we could have a romantic, nonalcoholic, gourmet meal for about $250, right?
Wrong!
The first thing my girlfriend said to me after looking at the menu was, "Did you know it was this expensive?" She then offered to split the bill. "It's okay," I replied, willing to go to the poor house, rather than compromising my masculinity (she was also taking me to Aujourd'hui the next morning for brunch, so I figured we'd both be bankrupt by the end of the weekend).
"I guess I'm"m eating peanut butter and jelly the rest of the week," I thought.
After spending about 20 minutes ruminating about the impending bill, I decided to suck it up and have a good time. We ordered sparkling water, Voss, and the show began.
The meal started with a trio of petite appetizers. There was a braised lamb toast thing, a terrine of smoked salmon, and a goat cheese puff pastry. All were about one bite. A nice start to the meal.
The amuse bouche was a goat cheesecake (round cake of goat cheese). Also good. The first real course was foie gras with pickled chanterelle mushrooms and concord grape foam, for me, and butter poached Maine lobster with risotto cake and butternut squash nage, for her. I had never eaten foie gras, and it was decadent, but her lobster was victorious. I've had plenty of lobster in my life, and this was the best I've had.
Next was the seared Hawaiian escolar (firm, white fish, like sea bass). It was good, but not phenomenal; I've prepared better fish dishes, in my opinion.
For the third course, I had the famous Thai spiced Colorado rack of lamb (see the most recent Boston Magazine article) and my girlfriend had the Bluefoot chicken with black truffle au jus. Each dish came with an individual pasta packet (i.e., ravioli/tortellini), which took the essence of our particular dishes. My lamb was awesome. Her chicken was good; the truffles in the sauce made the dish. We both agreed that the lamb won, hands down.
The grand fromage featured three different cheeses, with quince jam and candied walnuts. I love cheese, so I really enjoyed this plate.
For dessert, we had some sort of almond cake surrounded by chocolate, with oozing caramel. It was good, but I wouldn't have ordered it, given the choice. I'd have to say I enjoyed the petit fours that came last, even more than the dessert course.
$486 later, I can now say that I have dined at L'Espalier.
Now, back to my PB&J...
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Words cannot express how much I wanted to go to L'Espalier. I had dropped hints to my husband many times and last night, on our 1 year wedding anniversary, he surprised me!
You know how sometimes when you want something so badly, you build up your expectations beyond belief and then when you finally get it, you're disappointed that it didn't meet your inflated expectations? Well, that did NOT happen.
I assumed we'd order the 3 course Prix Fixe menu and a bottle of wine, when all of a sudden my husband said "the Chef's Tasting Journey sounds intriguing". I was giddy. Those words sounded almost as magical as when he said "Will you marry me?". And, if that wasn't enough he added "Let's add the wine pairings. Let's just go for it! It's a special occasion." (He had today off and could sleep in - I didn't).
For literally 3 hours we sat and ate the most amazing food and drank the most amazing wines. It was incredible. It was romantic. It was something I will never forget. I had never done a surprise chefs tasting menu before. Each time our waitress came over with another plate or another bottle it was like Christmas. By around course 8 (and wine glass # I forget) I started to think, I can't physically ingest anything else - but of course, I did.
I ate so many things I had never eaten before and loved every one of them. I can't very well comment in detail on every course we had but I will list them as best I can remember:
- Started with a smoked salmon amuse-bouche
- A shot glass sized portion of chilled mellon soup
- An oyster with champagne topped with Jonah crab and caviar
- Butter poached lobster with sweet corn and more caviar
- Crisp black cod (I forget the accompaniments but I think there was cous cous)
- Frog legs and escargot with Neiman ranch ham and mushrooms
- Asparagus ice cream with parmesan crust served with a chilled glass of juice and a side of Campari flavored roe that we were instructed to drop into the juice.
- Braised rabbit (I forget the accompaniments)
- Foie gras with sunchokes and roasted strawberries (normally I would never eat foie gras, and I still feel a bit guilty about it, but it was a very small portion and I am not inclined to ever eat it again)
- Lamb kidney and fava beans with gnocci that melted in your mouth
- Lamb tenderloin with eggplant puree and roasted beets
- Cheese plate (several were from Vermont) with honey & nuts
- Deconstructed Boston Cream Pie (that looked so pretty I didn't want to eat it)
Throughout these courses wines were paired including Champagne, Reisling, Roussanne, Muscat, Sryah, a Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot, Port - and some I'm probably forgetting. (We did get a menu print out but it's at home right now and I'm not). At the end of the night I was in such a food and wine induced coma that I almost wandered into the kitchen trying to find my way back to my table.
It was gluttony in its finest form! Human beings have no business eating and drinking that much in one sitting. But, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will cherish until the day I die.
There's really no need to go into detail re: the impeccable service, given the fact that there are close to 200 reviews on here. I am glad that I never made it to the old location because I have nothing to compare last night to. The space is gorgeous and we had a romantic table and for the last part of the meal we were 1 of only 2 tables in our dining room (there is more than 1). Plus, they were seated all the way on the other side of the room, so it felt as though we had the entire place to ourselves.
I'd say the only foible was the valet service. Considering the fact that we spent enough money there that if we ever do have a child, he or she probably can't go to college now, it would have been nice if the valet opened my door for me. It's the little things. Also, it cost $17 and when my husband gave the valet a $20, he didn't even attempt to give my husband change. Obviously, he would have gotten the change as a tip anyway but the valet probably shouldn't have made that assumption.
PS - I'm eating salad for the rest of the week now.
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What more can I add that wasn't in my first review? The new location is exquisite. A classy, modern, and lovely upgrade from the prior location. The service is excellent - each member of the L'Espalier staff truly makes the experience that much better. They are attentive, courteous, and so knowledgeable about the food, teas, and the correct way to run a high end restaurant. The quality of the food is like none other. Each item is carefully constructed and decadent in it's own way. The surroundings are beautiful. A lovely way to spend an afternoon having tea.
Of course, it's pricey. I have not yet found another restaurant that I would happily pay any price for the cuisine, service, and experience like I can get at L'Espalier.
See my pictures!
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L.Espalier is, hands down, the classiest, most elegant, wonderful place I have ever been in the city… Read more »
Very satisfying experience! Excellent service, decor was simple and calming, and the food was delicious and delightfully presented.
Clear winner of one of the best restaurants in Boston!
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I had very low expectations before going to L'Espalier. It was going to be expensive, and I didn't have a lot of money to splurge on food. For the amount of money I spent, I could have had 20+ course meal over at a Chinese restaurant. I could have had 100+ pizzas delivered, etc, etc... Of course, people go for the service and the atmosphere -- but then, it wasn't all that ~ it wasn't a place where you must suit up in coat & tie - it's rather casual but upscale dining experience.
The food was delicious. I wouldn't say it's better than the best Chinese/Japanese/American dishes that I had in the past, but all the dishes were prepared well and in a decent portion too! But the only real great part is the bread. They got 4 different kinds of bread and it's all-you-can-eat buffet style !
When we first sat down, the breadman came with his basket of bread. He said to me, "for bread, today, we have blah blah, blah blah, blah blah, and blah blad." I said to the breadman, "you know what, let me try all of them please."
"Certainly sir," he replied.
I really enjoyed this dark bread that tasted like olive and oil... it wasn't warm tho, but I still liked it. So then, when the wine lady came with the wine, I asked, "excuse me ma'am, but may I have more bread?"
"Certainly sir, " she replied.
Soon after, another breadman came and asked what kind of bread I wanted. I pointed to the dark bread and he gave me one. I mmfed and asked, "may I have more?"
"Certainly sir," he replied as he gave me two more slices.
After the wine and the delicious oyster and caviar appetizer, the cleaner came to take away the dishes. I know the main course was coming up so I said to the cleaner, "will more bread be coming?"
"Certainly sir," was the reply as he whisked away the plates.
As I munched on the bread and my super tender rice & salmon, I thought to myself ~ had I an entire loaf of this bread yet? My tablemates certainly thought I did, and couldn't contain themselves with commentaries. I did love them bread tho. During the meal, I think they got the point and I was not without bread for the short duration of the salmon feast.
In any case, they took away my bread plate for the dessert course, so I figured they wouldn't be all too pleased if I asked for more bread along with the chocolate thingy they gave me. It's just too bad the bread basket wasn't kept in a warmer...
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