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Miel
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
Intercontinental Hotel510 Atlantic Ave
Boston, MA 02110
Neighborhoods: Waterfront, South Boston
(617) 217-5151
- Nearest Transit:
-
Atlantic Ave. @ Congress St. (4)
Purchase St @ Pearl St (4)
Atlantic Ave @ Seaport Blvd. (4)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sun 2:30 pm - 11 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:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
120 reviews for Miel
Review Highlights
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"might i INSIST that you all try the olive oil ice cream." In 6 reviews -
"The chocolate torte dessert was AMAZING." In 7 reviews -
"My husband had the ham and cheese crepe and he was a happy..." In 4 reviews
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120 reviews in English
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Review from Melissa C.
San Diego, CA
3/17/2012
I came here for lunch, so I can't comment on the dinner. It was a Sunday around 2pm, and there was plenty of space to get a table.
I had the crab cakes and the shrimp cocktail for appetizers. They were delicious! The remoulade that came with the crab cakes was great. For my entree, I had the Angus Beef Burger, and it was cooked as I ordered it. I asked for medium well, and that's how I got it. The spicy mayo mix on the burger was also great. The french fries had a generous amount of truffle oil on them! While nothing was the best in my life, the seafood was fresh and my burger was yummy! -
Review from Nina D.
Boston, MA
5/23/2012
The brunch was to celebrate my law school graduation. It was all of our first times there. What is interesting is that I heard about Miel and called several months ago to discuss the possibility of having a grad party there. After talking with their event manager, Monica for half an hour, we decided to follow up with email on a number of things we discussed during the call. It was obvious that I was interested in moving forward - never heard from her again despite many calls. She did call up two months later, ready to pick right up where we left off. Um, no thank you. So I had the best party possible at the W hotel and we were all well taken care of.
The place is just cold or as my cousin put it, 'sterile'. Pretty French in that respect; no one greeted us at the door - its like you are walking in alone to a little girl's french bedroom and you are just hearing sounds...of voices...to guide you to some form of human contact.
The waiter was slow and slightly cocky. "Can we order off a lunch menu?" EEeeh, no I am sorry.. he said. Damn you are so negative. "Can we order raw bar?" Eeeeh No, I am sorry - only at the bar. Oh, well can I walk over to the bar, eat a raw oyster and walk back into this little girl's bedroom nightmare? Eeeeh, I dont know about that. Look my friend, if I hadnt just graduated with honors after 3 long years of chasing a Juris Doctor degree, I would have been extremely more upset...so that is really what saved the event - my sheer happiness of a recent accomplishment.
The food - we mostly got burgers. They appeared on the plate, large in size with just the bun (Does this come with fries? Eeeeh, no, it doesnt.) ha, silly me!
The lettuce that sadly lay beneath the oversized beat up tomato slice was wilted..
So basically you can go to Miel as long as you are so HAPPY! about something that you are immune.
GO and dont think of me..
Love
Nunes. -
Review from Yuxuan H.
Boston, MA
4/1/2012 1 photo
Came here for dinner. Had the duck leg confit with white bean. The duck is sweet. Taste OK but a little bit dry inside. White bean is not bad. My husband ordered the steak which in overpriced compared with the ones that you get from a steakhouse. The atmosphere is nice. You can see the water right outside the window. They also offer seats outdoor. It's a good option when the weather is good. The service is really slow. The waiter thought we ordered the dessert but we didn't. He took it off the bill at the end, but he should not mess up at the first place.
It's a Ok Ok restaurant. The food is just ok. I don't really want to go back. -
Review from Katie M.
Cambridge, MA
3/26/2012
Went to Miel on a whim with my friend Friday night. We wanted to sit outside. We waited for about 30 minutes to get a table in the bar area, the waitress there was so rude. We sat outside, and although the waiter was nice, he was less than attentive. My friend ordered off the restaurant week menu and it looked okay. Her cod came out mostly cold, and it was dry. her gnocchi were hard and not delicate pillows they should be. I ordered the standard half chicken with frittes, but after about five minutes I realized my friites were not coming out, I had to ask for them, oh yes the chicken comes with frittes... I then ordered coffee while my friend had dessert, it took 20 minutes so I finally asked the busser.. just a total disaster, no quality of service.
the food wasn't awesome. -
Review from Kelly O.
3/26/2012
Not a bad Saturday brunch spot for a group of 8, especially for this area where your only other Saturday brunch option is dim sum.
The dining room is beautiful and cheery, and the overall setting was classy and upscale without being stuffy (so we didn't feel weird that we wore jeans). I love the view of the water, and they have patio dining for good weather. For such a lovely setting, the brunch menu was surprisingly normally priced ($12 for an omelette, $14 for crab cake benedict, etc), so everyone was pleased with the menu and the overall ambiance.
I got the crab cake benedict and it was presented beautifully, with the 2 small benedicts sitting in a small cast iron skillet atop a wooden plank, with a piece of toasted peasant bread leaning against it. I was disappointed to see it didn't come with any sides, AKA some kind of potatoes like you'd normally get with a benedict (I guess the bread was the side?)... this was especially sad when I tried the potatoes that came with the omelettes my dining companions ordered, which were really tasty. (The omelettes themselves were also well received, everyone was happy with how light and fluffy they were.)
The benedict itself was OK... the 2 eggs were a bit less runny than I like my poached eggs, and the hollandaise wasn't memorable or plentiful, but the well-seasoned spinach under the eggs was a nice touch. The crab cakes themselves were chock full of crab, but weren't crispy on the outside at all, and since there was no English muffin on the bottom or any other additional component, the whole dish lacked textural contrast and was overall mushy and a bit lackluster. Also, given the size of the 2 small benedicts and lack of side dish, I was still a bit hungry after cleaning my plate, so it's a good thing we got 2 orders of the beignets for the table because I was able to fill up on those.
The beignets themselves were really tasty, although could have used a bit more of that famous honey Miel's known for IMO. The server ended up forgetting we ordered them, so they came out after we had already eaten half our entrees. He did offer to comp our next round of drinks to make up for it, but none of us really heard him say that or it just didn't register or something, so none of us ended up getting a second round of mimosas (also by that time, we were full and ready to move on anyways)... I appreciate the gesture, but I think it would have been better for them to comp either the beignets or our first round of mimosas.
Overall, not the most impressive brunch I've had, but the setting was lovely and everyone else really enjoyed their own food and the overall experience.Listed in: Al Fresco, Breakfast/Brunch Joints
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Review from Cate S.
Medford, MA
5/9/2012
I had a reservation for brunch for 12 people on Saturday April 14,2012 at 11am. This was for my birthday. This was a disaster. I've been to Miel one other time and had a great experience this was the complete opposite. I called Wednesday April 11th to make the reservation, called Friday to confirm and found that no reservation was actually made.
Saturday when my guests and I arrived tables were not put together. So it was designed that my party would have to sit in separate places. I would understand if the restaurant was crowded and space was tight however there were only about 10 additional guests there, and they were all outside. Thankfully staff moved the tables.
Drinks and food took an incredibly long time to come out to us. Again this is my birthday brunch. By the time I received my egg dish - the eggs were COLD. I finally spoke up to the assistant manager David who told me there was a printer issue in the kitchen. While David offered free dessert and took off numerous dishes, I still strongly believe that what the bill was did not match the quality of service or the quality of the food we received. At the end of the meal I tried to brush things off and order a last beverage but it took several minutes until I decided to just cancel it. I do not understand why the manager or waiter didn't manage the orders better since we were practically the only guests seated inside. I was completely embarrassed that I had invited my party there for my birthday.
To make matters worse when we tried to pay, one of my guests was charged around $200 instead of $30.
I was so utterly surprised that such a great hotel and restaurant would tank so miserably. I hope this can be fixed for other guests. I even tried to reach out after the brunch to a manager and received no response. -
Review from Lesley C.
Cincinnati, OH
5/1/2012
The food is not nearly as good as the hotel. It's a shame because the place is right on the water and it is so beautiful inside.
I had lunch there one day, French onion soup. It was weird with meat in it. But it tasted ok. The French baguette they served us was abysmal. Dry, not at all fresh, and for a French place you would think they could serve some good bread.
Had brunch there another time. It was just not memorable. Nothing about it was interesting or out of the ordinary. I had the smoked salmon eggs benedict, and while the salmon was good, the eggs were way over cooked and the hollandaise was drying out and very sparse. It was just nowhere near as special as the look of the restaurant would leave you to hope. -
Review from Soojin C.
Cambridge, MA
4/25/2012 Seated via OpenTable
The only reason why I made a reservation here is because a friend was in from out of town and we wanted a place to eat outside since it was a beautiful day. There is really no other reason to eat here other than to enjoy their patio view of the waterfront.
The food is alright if you stick to the crepes and truffle french fries. Nothing else noteworthy about this place. -
Review from J Y.
Methuen, MA
4/21/2012
The food is good, the ambiance inside the restaurant lovely and the view from the outdoor seating beautiful. The only reason this restaurant loses points is because we had a waiter who was near the end of his shift, and he appeared to be intentionally chasing away customers who came in because he didn't want to deal with them just before leaving for the day. I know it's hard to believe that he'd do this, but we saw three different parties come in, and after getting a hard time about where they wanted to sit (for some reason the staff only seemed willing to offer two specific tables to guests), all three groups left in frustration. We found this to be extremely odd, and the problem apparently stopped as soon as the new server arrived and took over. Our server was never really rude to us, but he was not very friendly either.
We had French onion soup, a Cobb salad and a sandwich and burger with fries. All dishes were quite good. The bread and butter were excellent. -
Review from Stella Y.
1/5/2012
I came here for a company dinner while I was in beantown on business. I ordered the filet mignon and while it wasn't the best steak I've ever had (or even close), it was seasoned well and the texture was nice. They cooked it to temperature just as I had asked. Definitely better than decent. The filet came with grilled asparagus and was kind of salty (but I think I'm sensitive to salt). I don't recall the rest of the meal very well, but that may have something to do with all the mandatory hobnobbing and drinking that was done beforehand with colleagues.
I've read a couple of reviews of this place and it seems some consider Miel to be ultra upscale. Really? I didn't get that vibe at all, but I also lived in Manhattan for 8 years so maybe I'm a bit desensitized. I would liken it to a Financier Patisserie in the city, except the dinner version...
Only other comment is that the restaurant layout is a bit odd. It's not one of those large, sleek and modern, opulent spaces. Nor is it cozy and intimate. It's sort of in between with a bit of awkward spacing towards the middle of the restaurant where people can stand around and mingle (around you) while you're having dinner. Thus, I wouldn't go here on a date...probably better to go for business, hence why we were there! -
Review from Lizzy M.
Boston, MA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been here twice, once for dinner and once for brunch.
Both experiences were fantastic. The dinner was restaurant week in 2010 and was pretty great from what I remember. Good enough that I wanted to try their brunch, and was pleasantly surprised by a superb "Saturday" brunch.
I had the crab cake benedict, the crab cake was flavorful, egg was poached to perfection and the hollandaise sauce was delicious!
Two of my friends had the salmon rilletes and did not find them the best, even though the waiter said those were his favorite.
Overall, attentive waitstaff, reasonably priced and a beautiful dining room that is French Country style.
Another interesting tidbit, they opened an apiary in the hotel and make their own honey which is used in some of the recipes.* Don't be fooled though, the cute little jars of honey they give when you order tea has their logo on it, but the honey is actually from Vermont if you read closely * -
Review from Cheikh F.
Boston, MA
1/2/2012
Amazing experience and Top service at Miel. This is a highly upper scale provincial restaurant .
The decor and staff are top notch. I ordered a soup the size texture of their clam chowder is very rich
I highly recommend the desert and ratatoutouille as a side dish -
Review from J S.
Norfolk, MA
4/23/2012
I really enjoyed dining here for brunch with my friends. It's pretty, has nice water views, and a reasonably priced menu -- yet it allows you to order interesting things like crab cake benedict and bottles of champagne. The advantage to dining here, especially on a rainy day, is definitely the valet -- and if it's not too busy, the doorman can keep the car up top for you since you won't be there too long. My only complaint are "some" of the waitstaff. The host chose not to record my opentable reservation, even after he asked me to spell my name, which was pointless. I was actually yelled at for smoking a cigarette outdoors because I was not in the "right" area, which I understand; however, there are nicer ways to inform someone. Our waiter was really nice but the rest should seriously consider whether or not they would like to continue to work in the service industry. Especially in this economy, there is always someone else who would be much happier to have their job and do it well. Management should take a look into this, seriously. They are definitely losing patrons and better reviews because of this.
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Review from Malek K.
Milwaukee, WI
Updated - 1/1/2012 3 photos
Amazing and extremely nice experience! when I visit Miel i get to enjoy the roots of food and traditional yet unique tasty cooking!
First the head chef David Chinta came and introduce himself and provided us a description of the food, and cooking technique. I was amazed by his knowledge and skills!
He offered 2 complimentary dish - Tuna Tartar Marinated with Tomatoes,
Avocado, Black Olive and a complimentary amuse bouche Desert Chocolate creme DeMint. The chocolate was so intense and rich!!! I loved it ! (the picture that I have uploaded does not give a fair review of the tastiness and richness of the chocolate)
As entree I took Pan seared Atlantic Cod. It is very fresh yet The fish melts it is one of the best fish that I have tasted! He adds to it anchovy butter.
My friend took a Pitsou soup (Vegetables and Basil Soup) and ratatouille as a side- the ratatouille I tasted it is so fresh!! it reminded me of the movie
The service was top quality - Stephen did a great job. They make me always feel home
It is just another level of Restaurant!!! my best!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/27/2011
Excellent - As good as it gets!!
Excellent for a romantic date , you have different section with… Read more »
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Review from S A.
Concord, NH
3/18/2012
Short and sweet review. This place is Absolutely the worst. Service was extremely slow (we had to wait 30 min for our meal to show up). Food very greasy. Unfortunately we came here for special family occasion and it was gave disappointment. I'll never come back here.
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Review from Clare F.
8/19/2011
This review is for the Restaurant Week menu especially.
Many places half @$$ their restaurant week menu - mediocre pedestrian food that makes you wonder why you didn't just pay $33 at your local favorite.
Not Miel. Not even a little bit.
The service was good. Our waiter was just attentive enough, left us alone but checked in every so often. There was a bit of a time lapse between courses, but that can be overlooked.
We all absolutely loved our food. Loved with a capitol L. Each course was treated as though it was just a regular course on their usual menu, prepared perfectly. I started with the scallops, which were grilled to perfection and on top of some sort of grapefruit and fig sauce, that was browned just enough to make it not too sweet. The gnocchi dish was a bit small. I was disappointed at first, until I remembered how filling gnocchi was. This stuff was a doozie. Served in some sort of olive oil sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and zucchini, it was absolutely divine. I only cleaned my plate because I shared with everyone.
Onto dessert. The crowning glory: Honey Creme Brulee. I don't think I need to say anything else. I was a tad put off because the hard shell on top didn't need to be broken, but that didn't keep me from enjoying the dish. Oh, if only I could have had a second stomach, just so I could finish my creme brulee.
Miel is in the InterContinental, which mostly makes it casual-to-dressy. However, tourists don't always remember, and come down from their rooms in their recently-purchased Victoria's Secret Pink sweatsuits.
I want to go back for a drink when the sun is out so I can sit on their lovely patio. -
Review from Sean M.
Stamford, CT
7/17/2011
This is a review of their Sunday Brunch.
It is amazing, I don't know if I've ever had better. It's just a good deal, $32 for buffet line with the standards, pancakes, great scrambled eggs, sausage, fruits, cheese plate...some pastries and a great dessert table. The buffet alone is easily a meal in itself, but included in the $32 are 2 entrees per person off the brunch menu. Any one would be enough to fill you up. I had the french toast and the ham and cheese crepe they were both excellent. Coffee and Juice is included as well. Food is excellent, and the price is great value. The brunch is only on Sundays from 12N-3P, I'm surprised it wasn't packed, but it was almost empty. -
Review from Niti F.
Brooklyn, NY
5/9/2012
My husband and I chose to experience brunch at Miel last Sunday. I sat down and noticed the meal being eaten by a gentleman at a nearby table. It was sirloin steak and eggs (based on the menu). My husband and I ordered this meal. However, when our dishes arrived at the table, the stake was not sirloin, but instead was flank steak (a less desirable cut of beef). My husband went ahead and ate because he was starving, particularly after waiting forever for the meal. We felt deceived. This bait and switch angered me. When I inquired about the switch up of my dish, no one (the server and Restaurant Manager) satisfactorily addressed the issue. The chef never came out to apologize. Instead, we were offered a free meal. HOW INSULTING!!! We were NOT there to get a free meal. We were there for a quality and enjoyable dining experience, and certainly not to be deceived. I never got to eat brunch at the Miel on that day because the wait was unbearable. I had to go across the street to the Panera Bread. Stay away from Miel because it can't guarantee that you will get what you ordered, the food sucks (according to my husband), and the service is very slow (other customers had to basically abandon their table and attempt to close out their bill at the maître d's station). This is definitely not high-end dining. The flank steak and eggs served to us could be found at a nearby Denny's. What an AWEFUL PLACE!!!!
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Review from Lindsay M.
Boston, MA
9/15/2011
I always enjoy coming here, the ambiance has a romantic french-countryside feel, the staff has always been friendly and helpful to me (I've heard the bad reviews, so I've been lucky I guess) and the food...YUM
I recommend the olive oil tasting - always fun to do with friends, each one is so flavorful and different!
The food is always a delight - I've been here for restaurant week as well as the regular menu and there is no difference in taste! -
Review from David V.
5/27/2011
Eat good food within view of the water in Boston? How can that be??? The waterfront is ringed by overpriced, pedestrian establishments that peddle views and not much else. I guess tourists are like seagulls - they'll eat whatever is near the water and lands in front of them.
I've only ever been here for lunch, but at said lunch you can (and should) order the Burger Trilogy - a trio of three small burger-esque creations. In the middle is a rich, savory kobe beef slider, and to the sides you'll find a lobster roll and tuna topped with roasted red peppers. I thought the red peppers were a bit overkill and removed them. They had soaked into the bread enough that it gave just a hint of their presence without overwhelming the delicate flavor of the tuna. The kobe slider used to be offered with the decadent upgrade of foie gras, but sadly that's no longer an option.
The prices here do seem a bit steep, but this is an area that caters to wealthy tourists and local executive types, so who can blame them for charging what they do? Though the service can be hit or miss, it's adequate and the food is great. -
Review from Edward F.
Cambridge, MA
1/2/2011
Great food, a little TOO energetic ambience, and the service was HORRIBLE enough that I will likely never return there or recommend others to this restaurant.
I had come here with my fiance on New Year's Eve to celebrate the special occasion and our "monthiversary." In my note to Miel, I requested a side-by-side seat w/ a nice view and also notified them of the special occasion. While being brought to our seat, we noticed a table for 2 open with this setup and thought we were going to get that one. However, to our dismay, they opted to place us in a viewless chair-facing-booth setup. We later asked the waiter if we could be moved to the better table, and they were accomodating, which was nice.
Service 3/10
I was not feeling well due to the fact that I felt a little dizzy/nauseous after watching TRON 3-D at the AMC Loews Boston Common. I felt nauseous and needed some water or nourishment to calm my stomach. After specifically requesting warm water with lemon (8:50PM), it took 30 minutes for us to receive ICE WATER (9:20 PM) and another 10 minutes for HOT water with lemon (9:30 PM). After we sat down at around 8:50PM, we looked at the New Year's Eve prix fixe menu, and it wasn't difficult to make a decision on what we wanted to order. However, it wasn't until 9:40 PM (nearly an HOUR later) that we were finally "allowed" to order; this is terribly unacceptable!
They provided no acknowledgement for our special occasion. Time between dishes was around 20 min.No bread unless asked. When we asked for our photo to be taken, the waiter passed it off to the bus boy. That's all fine and OK, but when an older couple at a nearby table asked for a photo, he took it himself! Maybe he was busy at the time, but it seemed rather odd or unfair that he would provide the service to another party, but not to us; we felt a little jaded at the time. The bus boy was attentive and provided good service to us, he was quiet and hard working and very well-mannered.
Ambience 7/10
It was good that it was energetic and lively, but it was TOO noisy because of the loud bar scene of Rumba and the entire area, so you really have to scream to be heard by both the people sitting next to you and the waiter. The live pianist was a nice added touch, excellent music provided by him! The view from our seat was excellent! Could not have asked for more!
Food 8/10 - Value for Money 4/10
On the positive side, the food was very good. The only options were the prix fixe 3 or 4 courses for New Year's Eve. The four course simply included the dessert. We ordered the sea bass and a chicken for our entrees and both were incredibly good. The sea bass even came with a baby lobster on top! An excellent touch. HOWEVER, I would say bang for your buck, I would not say our meal was worth the $190 (including tax and tip) that I shelled out for it. You can definitely receive better food and service at other institutions, namely Lespalier (Prudential, Boston MA) or Upstairs on the Square (Harvard Square, Cambridge MA). -
Review from Daniel T.
Pittsburgh, PA
12/22/2011
This elegant and romantic restaurant in Boston's Intercontinental Hotel is an excellent place to unwind. The restaurant features a substantial wine list, succinct menu, and polite service. The gnocchi was incredible, with dense flavor packed into every bite. I highly recommend trying this French provincial restaurant.
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Review from Zsaleh H.
Jamaica Plain, MA
12/27/2010
I came here a few weeks ago for lunch with my co-workers for our office holiday party--our boss was treating. The decor is lovely. It feels very airy and light--very French, according to the one European in our group. The drinks, appetizers, and desserts were excellent.
My entree, the salmon, was a little disappointing, though. The description on the menu was "Pan Seared Salmon with Crisp Camargue Rice Cake and Lobster Nage with Tarragon." Maybe I just need to touch up my French, but as far as I know, nothing here indicates that the salmon would be served with a heap of mushrooms over the rice cake. I hate, hate, hate mushrooms, so I would have appreciated some kind of indication that they would be smothering the rice cake.
The service was also a little disappointing. Our boss ordered the round of drinks as soon as we sat down, but they didn't come for at least fifteen minutes--and before they came, once our waiter had to return to ask again what our boss wanted to drink. But after our lunch two of the waiters very kindly took pictures of all of us in their private dining room, so I guess that cancels out.
All in all, a lovely place to have lunch. -
Review from Jack M.
Boston, MA
12/20/2010
I liked it well enough. I wasn't super impressed but had a nice enough time.
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Certainly a swanky kind of place. Not very cozy feeling - it's a very open and bright space. The angle here is French - some french menu items and waiters that speak with a heavy "Franche" accent. Pretty expensive.
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Croque Monsieur: Best lunch item they have. Comes with these delicate fries that I swear have truffle oil on them (maybe they do - I didn't see it on the menu though).
Chicken Club: Good enough, but pass.
Pasta dishes: everyone raved about them - maybe that's the thing to get.
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Service: Good enough. Little slow. But overall it was fine.
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Deserts: Creme Brule was very nice - had a hint of lavender to it which was unique. Espresso will certainly wire you up.
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I don't know. I liked it well enough but I can't say I am drawn to return.... -
Review from Rebecca W.
Boston, MA
6/8/2011
The perfect Miel experience is: the burger trio (tuna, lobster, and beef sliders) outside on the channel in the heart of summer.
Inside, it's a bit cavernous and lacking character; outside, well, you're outside, and we have a long winter.
The service has been quite good the many times I've been here (work lunch favorite). I recommend you get here early if you want to score one of the coveted patio spots. And order the trio of sliders - but take my advice -- even though they are small, they will fill you up before you know it. So start with your favorite. Don't make the mistake I did and leave the best for last. -
Review from Aaron B.
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
good food but pricey. Adjacent to the bar which seems to be busy all the time even during the week makes the atmosphere for the right person uplifitng. This can go the opposite way too because it is rather loud
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Review from Howe L.
Cambridge, MA
8/2/2011
Went here for a business lunch, and the experience was quite enjoyable. The service was fine (except for a long wait to be seated by the hostess when the place was empty). Scenic view of the waterfront, as if we were situated in a garden along the Seine in France. Quality food, as expected. I loved my salmon and everyone's dishes were pretty clean. Little too fancy for my comfort level, but good eats nonetheless.
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Review from Shane C.
San Francisco, CA
6/23/2011
I don't like to be dramatic because it doesn't lend credibility to posts, so I will simply recount my experience at Miel.
We waited a very long time at our table before anyone acknowledged us or even brought water to us. Our server arrived and was not rude, but not very friendly either. He took our drink orders and food orders and left. (By the way, one glass of Vueve Cliquot is $28.) Our server returned with our entrees, dropped them on the table and left. The problem was that we were missing our side dishes and the guy had completely disappeared. Finally, after waiting for our entrees to get somewhat cold, another guy swooped in and dropped the side dishes on the table and left. Meanwhile, both my partner and I had empty glasses that were never refilled. After we finished eating, we basically sat and stared at our empty plates for at least 15 minutes. At this point I was angry because our server had walked by us several times, looked at our table, and kept going. In the end, I had to ask someone else to find the manager for me. Of course, suddenly the server appeared out of nowhere and starting clearing our dishes and fawning all over us.
The shame of this entire experience is that the food was actually really good; pricey but good. Good food only goes so far when you have to sit through bad service. -
Review from Rita V.
Hudson, MA
Updated - 7/25/2011
OK so you made it with Brunch! The place was packed and service was outstanding! They finally got the crabcakes right, food was ON POINT, and the manager, Charles - WHAT A CLASS ACT! Chris D was not in the house, so it broke my heart not to be able to tell him myself. A different station chef was there, and he was cranking the 'lettes. WONDERFUL service, I always order the salmon tartare, excellent! My mom in law loved the crab cakes so much - she ordered TWICE! My picky younger son ate his weight in bacon... but ventured to try so much more. Fruit was wonderful, grilled veggies were spectacular, cheese plate was hefty as always, the petite desserts were great - Miel, you got my 5th star! View was perfect, thank you for helping me impress the in-laws!!!
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/19/2011
4.0 stars for Fathers day brunch... Great view, they have definitely improved the crab cakes- LOADED… Read more »
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Review from Lynne S.
Stoneham, MA
7/20/2010
Miel is an absolutely adorable little Provencal bistro inside the Intercontinental Hotel. Our party of 5 was seated immediately on the patio for lunch. The view of Boston is spectacular and there were even gorgeous lavendar plants nearby, which enhanced the feeling of dining in Provence, France!
The entire menu looked scrumptious but I can only speak to the few things we tried. The Basil and Honey Scallop appetizer was served over the best green lentils I've ever tasted. Sooo yummy! And the artisan cheese plate was beautiful and delicious. It was served with a pear-fig chutney that was out of this world! The Croque Monsieur was bite after heavenly bite of crunchy baguette filled with salty ham and cheesy goodness. Served with a side of baby pickles and Miel''s special pomme frites, it was one of the best lunches I've experienced in a long time! I was definitely ready for a nap!
Although they were not busy in the slightest, the service was just okay. We weren't offered a coffee or dessert menu and felt a little rushed at the end of our meal. Otherwise, Merci Miel for a fantastic French meal! -
Review from Ligaya T.
San Francisco, CA
1/12/2008
I had the bright idea to have an impromptu birthday gathering on a Saturday night and after a frustrating ordeal of trying to get into four different spots for our party of five we ended up at Miel.
Admittedly I was pretty grumpy about it (sorry, pals) as the idea of a hotel restaurant seemed oddly unattractive but once we were seated in the lovely dining room which reflected the style of rural southern France, and playing olive oil roulette (there were six different kinds with their own flavor and scent) I settled right in.
The clientele was a bit older and snazzier dressed then us (with the exception of YiHwa who looked ravishing) yet there was no pretentiousness. Our mission was clear to the garcon who was helpful and cordial.
I was thrilled to see that they carried wine from Chateauneuf Du Pape. The food was solid, but I actually expected a bit more for the price point. Thank you my friends, for a your generosity and a wonderful evening! But I'm still looking for a Provence-style favorite. -
Review from Morgan F.
San Francisco, CA
4/24/2008
4 words
TRUFFLE OIL FRENCH FRIES!!!
I was hosting a wine party, had skipped dinner and then headed out for drinks. By the time midnight rolled around I was starving but had pretty much given up on finding food. But at about 2:30AM as we were heading home from the bar a friend reminded me about Miel! He told us he was not sure what it was, but that the french fries were to DIE for and we must try them.
Well, even though I am not usually a french fry person I was convinced and off we went to Meil! My friend drove and surprisingly it was easy to find street parking just around the corner! (probably because it was like 3am!)
We entered the hotel and were surprised to find it almost empty! BOSTON! THIS PLACE IS OPEN 24 HOURS!! We complain about there being nothing, and then it was basically empty? I digress. We ordered a round of veggie omelets water and french fries!
When the fries arrived, they were TOTALLY AMAZING and my friend and I were able to pin point the delicious flavor, they cover them in truffle oil. Drool.....now I am hungry!
In the end, it was a little pricey for 3 omelets and fries. Not that much, but more than I am used to paying at something like South Street.
I CRAVE those fries now, and I will be back! I have been to the hotel for other events and the patio is lovely in the summer :) I can't wait to go!Listed in: Truffle Oil!
-
Review from Lys W.
Jersey City, NJ
7/11/2008
So this is THE spot for a late night munch that isn't dripping in grease and you don't have to sit in a filthy booth. After a long night out in the bars, coming to Miel is a nice way to chill out your evening, and the delectable portions are perfect for warding off that hangover.
I love their coffee, and their cold soup is one of my favorites. Whenever I am out downtown, this is my stop! -
Review from Eddie Y.
Honolulu, HI
6/15/2008
"Yes I called you honey"
Could it be one of my luckiest days?
Although it was very cold walking from the North End to the Intercontinental Hotel, I am reminded that I sometimes miss those "refrigerator days" living in the warmth of Hawaii.
As we entered Miel, the warmth of the fireplace was so welcoming. What a beautiful brassiere, much different from the ones we went to in France was decorated in a fresh modern country style. And what luck the place was almost empty due to the Red Sox playoffs. I can only hope that the Red Sox are always in the playoffs when I visit Boston.
We sat as a big beautiful table overlooking the harbor and you could see the city lights reflecting on the water. Good news our friend Betty knew the manager and he sent to the table complementary champagne! Delightful!
As sipping my champagne and looking over the menu my first thought was how will honey work as the focal point for all their dishes well dear yelpers not only does it work but it works superbly.
I ordered the clams on the half shell as my appetizer and wow! what a presentation! I also ordered scallop salad, the scallops were pan seared and tossed with a honey and balsamic reduction and were absolutely incredible. The honey in this dish lifted the subtle sweetness of the scallops. This worked like nothing I have ever tasted before.
My entree was the salt-crusted sea bream with a tarragon sauce. Our waiter brought out the dish during the cooking process to show me the chefs preparation. This was the most moist and flavorful fish I have ever had, simply delicious.
My desert was the grilled peaches with berries and here again the caramelized honey made a wonderful touch.
I was in honey heaven! -
Review from Megan M.
Ashland, MA
11/11/2007 1 photo
This is for breakfast only.
The decor of Miel was terrific, bright sunny yellows, and a definite French country feel. I loved the chandeliers on the ceiling.
The service...again. Same as the hotel itself, and Rumba. Sucky. When we arrived, the hostess asked us to hold on for a sec while she checked tables. We could see from where we stood that the place was pretty empty. After waiting a good 5 minutes, she returned, and sat us. Where we remained for another 10 minutes before any waiter came over. He didn't explain our options (buffet vs. menu), and we just fended for ourselves.
We both opted for the served breakfast over the buffet (not a fan), and the food took almost 30 minutes to come out. The eggs were WAY undercooked, the potatoes lukewarm (and terrible), and missing ketchup, jelly for the toast, and sugar for the coffee.
Given the other reviews saying nighttime service is bad too, I don't know if we'd come back. -
Review from James Z.
Amherst, MA
12/17/2007
I have been to Miel about... 15 times. My first time was with co-workers. The most recent was a late night excursion at 2am. Miel has offered, consistently, professional and amicable service. I've never had a server rush me or my guests a check. In fact, my longest dinner lasted three hours there. The bill is very, very reasonable. This isn't world class cuisine, but country eating in the big city. So please, keep that in mind.
Highlights:
-Burger Trilogy: a cutesy, grand display of three petite burgers (tuna nicoise, lobster, and kobe beef)
-Creme Brulee: Just right. Not burnt or soggy--can crack with a spoon.
-Oysters: Excellent presentation
-Crab Cake: the one at dinner is fantastic! (late night one looks too much like a cake)
-Late Night Snacks: Angus burger and Strawberry Crepe
-Wine and Champagne: Server does his part to fill when "x" is remaining. About 1.8x retail
Cons:
-I haven't found any yet. I've been to more expensive and classier restaurants in NYC, but this is a quaint, enjoyable experience. Bring someone here for the evening if you just want to chat all night! -
Review from Catie C.
4/3/2009 9 photos
I was here for Restaurant week which does it justify for subpar service? Or was it we were not Caucasian? The server seem to be more tentative towards other tables.
First of all, we were never offered a wine list?? I had to ask for it so I can order a bottle of wine. The hosting was whacked. They didn't even preset the table for our party size which I thought was abnormal for a upscale restaurant. They took a way one setting and chair as we sat down at the table.
2nd of all, on top of the prefixe we ordered 12 raw cherrystones. when the first course came, my party was wondering why the clams didn't come first. I gave the benefit of the doubt that the server wanted that out after the salad/soup. After all, soup is first course! Well, after we were done with this, they placed the dinner settings down... so I thought I'd remind the server about my clams before I get pissed off. He gracefully runs to the kitchen.
Seriously, it prolly took an hour before we reached to our dinner course.
As dinner came along, I asked for ketchup and sugar for my fries. I patiently waited for 10 mins. My peeps noticed that he was just standing around or tending other tables. So again, I stopped him for my damn ketchup and sugar so I can eat dinner! At this point I was pissie cuz he was not busy and he forgot 2x already. We all decided that his lack of actions will reflect on his tips.
Is it a new trend that we pour our own bottle after the initial? Or I was just spoiled by some restaurants in the past?
Time to talk about the food, right. I had steak and fries which came out perfect and tender. But the peeps that ordered the seafood dish, they all said it was too salty. One of them even added water from her water glass!
The cherrystones were tiny. Size of littlenecks. The scallop salad was tasty. They give a good sized scallop so I can steal a bite from my mom!
All in All, I wouldn't come back here. We left a 15% tip instead of our normal 20%. -
Review from Rachel S.
7/20/2007
Just got back from a business lunch at Miel. We probably could've sat outside, but for comfort's sake it's always a safe idea to choose indoor seating. The hotel itself is amazing. The lobby is intimidatingly big; almost feels like a museum. The hotel is very modern and as you walk to the back of the lobby, you'll see the Rum and Champagne lounge. The lounge fits right in with the rest of the lobby, however, Miel is bright yellow.
Miel is a nodd to French country dining. Good service, I thought, however, my colleague mentioned that this might not be the kind of place you'd want to go for a quick lunch.
I ordered the Chanterelle Gnocchi. mmm. good.
These are not cheap eats, but I wasn't surprised or scared at the prices either.
This is a good corporate lunch eatery. I probably wouldn't do dinner here just because, I bet, at night it's a little too romantic-ish. Now, that I think of it, this place may seem a little feminine because of the dainty kitchen ware displayed on the shelves and, again, the bright yellow-ness of the place.
It's worth a go, especially if you feel like you need to try something new. This good try. -
Review from Michael T.
Sudbury, MA
10/20/2009
The food here is good. But at a place you can pay $29 for a hamburger, they better get the service right. And here, they did not.
It started with a maitre d who asked if we had a reservation, then audibly harrumphed when we did not. This despite a room that was virtually empty. Strike one.
I sat down with a coat and hat, which no one asked if they could take when I put it down. Ball one, by a hair.
There is a soup and sandwich special on the menu, and when I ask what it is, the person who comes over to ask if we're OK has no idea what it is. Strike two.
After all that, they bring my entree while I'm in the middle of my soup. I truly hate that. Seriously. Should I dunk it, or what?? STRIKE THREE. Sit down, Casey.
Now.. none of these are tragic offenses. I don't even expect that level of service at Chili's. But the burger there is $8.99, and it's pretty damn good. -
Review from Sarah V.
Cambridge, MA
6/21/2007
"Brasserie Provencale"
Miel is a really delightful place for a meal. The food is really really good. The menu is unconventional, each plate is separated by taste rather than course. If you want sweet, there is a section for sweet, savory the same. It is light and airy, the yellow....everything....and blue stripped chairs along with the sun pouring into the restraunt gives it a real south of France feel. It will lift your spirits in the winter, and in the summer you can sit outside and enjoy the fort point area.
The waitstaff were fantastic. They were professional and would hold conversations with you. Never in a rush to the next table, yet getting their work done.
I work near bye to Meil and never felt akward coming in my work clothes (which usually is shorts and a sweatshirt) or is more fancy attire.
The restraunt bar was ok, this "Rhum and Champagne" bar had really interesting cocktails, and had a British Virgin Island feel to it. The bar tender was mean to me (thus the loss of a star) but after that ordeal we had a very sweet waitress.
Both Miel and the Bar are very expensive. For 3 people having afterwork drinks and appitizer at the Bar it was over 100$. For two having lunch at Miel it was about 150$ (no alcohol). It is worth it though! I will be going back again soon!
