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Kenmore (Green)
Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Mention Yelp when making reservations and receive 20% off your bill (food only).
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I came here twice for a friend's bday as we wanted some food francais! And food francais is what we had! It is a cute little place, and was really nice atmosphere to be in and enjoy good food and wine, at a very reasonable price. Oh and the bread, sooo good!
I got the cassoulet which was pieces of sausage and lentils and legumes in a creamy broth. It was really good and very filling and nicely presented. They have a lot of great choices on their menu, so its hard to pick just one on the spot...but there will be something for everyone.
I now want to go back...badly.
Came in here with BF on last Saturday night. We tried to make reservations over the phone at around 6pm to see if we can go in at 7:30PM. The lady on the phone said the next available time will be at 9PM. Just as we were about to give up, we went on http://opentables.com and were still able to make reservations for 7:30PM. (Note! Don't make reservations over the phone!)
Anyway, we were not impressed with the dinner itself. We were both so excited to try this place after reading some good reviews online. Our experience however was far below our expectations. We started off with the quelles with lobster sauce (pretty good/ authentically prepared) and the seared fois gras. The fois gras was pretty tasty and very sweet. The entrees were dissapointing. BF ordered the frogs legs which lacked flavor and was very very bland. He was so excited to try it because we have tried frog legs in many other French restaurants and was hoping that it would meet/exceed that expectation. Unfortunately, it didn't- he said he would never order that dish there again. I had the steak frites. The steak was cooked very nicely. But whats steak frites without the fries! the fries were horrible- really cold and stale.... We were talking about how McDonald's fries would be much better than those.
Another thing, the host (I'm not sure if that is the owner or the manager) needs to smile a little. I saw him frowning the whole time I was sitting there. running around the restaurant (its a pretty small place and I had a really clear view of him from where I was sitting) looking so unhappy. Just something I noticed..
Probably wouldn't come back here, at least not by my own choice. It def was a MEH. I've experienced much better french food. (e.g. gaslight- the steak frites there is to die for and their fries are sooo goood)
I was inclined to give Petit Robert Bistro 3 stars instead of 4, but I am not the biggest fan of French cuisine, so I leaned towards the higher rating to account for that.
We had a number of courses, so I will speak to all of them. Once we were seated, we were served a fresh mini-loaf of french bread. Piping hot, straight out of the oven, the bread was absolutely delicious. I then had a bowl of Lobster Bisque soup, which was not great. It honestly tasted like squash soup. Not much taste of lobster at all.
We felt adventurous, so we had the Calf's Brains as a appetizer. It wasn't bad, but nothing to rave of. It tasted like tofu, which is to say it didn't taste like much. And it wasn't cooked in much to give it flavor either. The consistency was much creamer than tofu as well. When eaten with the accompanying salad, it wasn't bad, but needed salt. I did not account for this in my rating, as I have never had Calf's Brains before and didn't have anything to compare it to.
As my entree, I had the Duck Confit. The duck was cooked quite nicely and was very flavorful. The skin was very nicly crisped and the meat extremely tender. I was quite happy with it.
We ordered the Brussel Sprouts Provençale on the side, and I was sorely disappointed. Provencale is a garlic sauce, but this was really over the top, and they needed salt.
For Dessert, we ordered the Pot de Crème au Chocolat, which was exquisite. The chocolate was a perfect texture with a nice, punch of darkness.
Considering how much we ordered, the pricing was extremely reasonable. That definitely added to the 4th star. I also was very fond of the atmosphere. The room was nicely decorated in a brick and wood motif, and the lighting was very nice. The one consideration I would say is that the tables are extremely close together. You are very easily able to hear all of the conversations around you, and if you need to get up, you much excuse yourself to your neighbors as you move the table out of the way to get by.
I was very happy with the service, but I did find it slow at times. However, the wait staff was extremely pleasant.
I really love this restaurant - it's a little piece of home right here in Boston.
Cosy, intimate with wonderful staff - I don't think I've ever had an unfriendly waiter here. Nice, classic French tunes playing from the "Nostalgie" radio station.
The loaf of bread they serve after seating you is always delicious, hot and much appreciated in a city where good bread is so hard to find. And the food - wonderful. Here are my recommendations:
- Trio of pates, escargots
- Roast chicken, duck confit, coq au vin
- Tart brulee, pear tart, mousse au chocolat
Good, simple food in a casual atmosphere. I'm a fan!
Since the chef Jacky Robert was the executive chef of Maison Robert from '96-'01 you are getting the same dishes you would get at M.R. for a much better price.
The escargot are outstanding. The frog legs are out of this world. Cooked to perfection so they fall right off the bone. Don't forget to order the souffle in advance though since it takes about 20 minutes to get that little piece of heaven on your table.
The only reason I'm giving P.R.B. 4-stars instead of 5-stars is the 40 minute wait between apps and entrees the last time I was there. It was the night of a Red Sox-Yankees game though so I understand if there were some issues that night. I still made the game on time however. That was the 1st time I ever had to wait like that.
If you enjoy 5 star french food at a 1 star price then make sure to hit up P.R.B.
Food is fantastic. The place tends to get very crowded, so expect a wait during peak times on Thursday thru Saturday.
The wines are way way overpriced.
I walk by here almost everyday since it's located between the nearest T stop and my apartment. I may hold white collar job but am blue collar at heart. Anyone who walks into this place looked posh-loving elitists whom I can't really associate with. Hence the aura this place projected kept me away from putting my foot in this place.
But boy, was I wrong...
It was really welcoming and comfortable atmosphere contrary to what I thought originally. Staffs were very polite and nice. And I did not feel condescended either.
I am absolutely a beer guy. I hate mix drinks. Most of mix drinks, I never taste alcohol and whatever-the-sweet-thing blended well or tastefully. However because of the atmosphere, it didn't feel appropriate to order beers. So I picked a mix drink by "mini mini mini moe" method, and happened to have "bijoux". And it was seductively smooth, not overwhelmingly sweet and it was just right.
While chugging on the "bijoux"(although I was supposed to sip it), I looked through the menu. Surprisingly none of entrees were more than $20! How reasonable was that? Among the list, I was torn between Frog's legs and Rack of Lamb. Again, I used "mini mini mini moe" method to choose one of two. And it was rack of lamb.
Its presentation was well executed as well as its taste. I ordered medium rare, but now I really think that I should've got it rare. For lamb, I think that it would taste better rare than medium.
Next time, I would love to have frog's legs. I hear a lot of good thing about it from those who've eaten it.
Like "don't judge the book by its cover", I misunderstood this place. This place may pose elegant and sophisticated look, but it's got its lightheartedness and modest price to make people like me not out of place. Also they had Sat night line up of "The Simpsons/Cops/AMW" on their TV at the bar.
That? I can reeeeally associate with.
So-so French food and snail slow service. I was here with my boyfriend's boss and work colleagues; although conversation was great, the food was iffy.
I would steer clear of the profiteroles. They were nasty and stale biscuits that had clearly been made at the start of the week and piped with unsweetened whipped cream, then coated with a huge layer of chocolate to mask their staleness. Ick.
Won't be making a return visit.
Dinner can be pricey if you have starters and dessert (which you must) but oh so worth it!
Must Taste:
Trio of Homemade Patés with Condiments
Moules Marinières
Tripes Provençale
Petit Calf's Liver Sautéed with Caramelised Onion and Bacon
Roasted Rack of Lamb with Haricot Vert and Pommes Lyonnaises
Mousse au Chocolat, langue du chat
Grand Marnier Soufflé
mmm yum
Took my family here for a nice night out in Boston. And oh, did I make the right choice.
We made reservations beforehand, which I strongly recommend. Space is limited and the place is always busy.
I will say the lighting was too dim for my tastes. Candlelight is romantic, perhaps, but I like being able to see. Decor was classy, very French, very sophisticated. It's a higher class of restaurant than I'm used to.
Onto the food, the important part:
We all agonized over the menu. Everything looked good. Except maybe the tripe and the calf's brains. We're not offal people. After some time deliberating over each item, my aunt and my cousin decided on the salmon en croute, my uncle ordered the coq au vin, and I had the cod bouillabaisse.
The bread was excellent, fresh and piping hot when it came to our table. We also received a second basket when our server noticed how quickly the first one disappeared-- now that earns bonus points with me.
We were all exclaiming over our entrees; I think we were all perfectly satisfied. I thought I'd had excellent seafood before, but I've never tasted mussels with so buttery-smooth a texture as the ones that came in my bouillabaisse; the cod was also excellent, though I had to be careful of the bones in the fillet.
We couldn't resist dessert, either. And at a French bistro it seems obligatory: if you want the decadence that is French food, you need to commit yourself fully. My aunt and uncle shared the apple-raisin bread pudding; my cousin and I split the chocolate mousse. Both desserts were as indulgent as could be hoped for. The mousse was sinfully chocolate; dark and creamy at the same time.
My words don't do our meal justice. Maybe I'm just tired. But this place comes highly recommended. I'll be back to try the obligatory french onion soup, and find out about that chocolate Eiffel Tower.
The service was lacking, we recieved our entre before the appetizer. The waitress ended up bringing out something we didn't order and brought out the fois gras we did order after our steaks had already come out. If the food wasn't so great I would not have given this place 3 stars. I liked the ambiance, though it was nothing spectacular. Previous reviews raved about the place so that's why I went. I'd say its not bad for Boston, but this Bistro doesn't compare well with places I've been to in SF. They do have excellent pommes frites. I believe in giving credit where credit is due. If you feel like french cuisine, this place will satisfy your craving. If you are looking for the best of Boston, look elsewhere.
I wish I could give them 3.5 stars, but 3 it will have to be. We went here for a wedding dinner rehearsal and were seated in the lower level, which was fine. The food was good, especially the apple tart for dessert. Yum.
However, they do not have a great wait staff. One could not understand what we were saying, possibly because it was incredibly noisy; another kept bringing the wrong food out. But the worse thing that happened was that the groom wasn't served until 10 minutes after everyone else. At least give him his meal in the first wave if you have to stagger it.
For the longest time, I wanted to try Petit Robert, but the bf refused. Why, you ask? Because their website has blinking text. You know, like 1996 Geocities-style blinking text. "But that says nothing about the quality of the food!" I'd exclaim - "you're oversimplifying." But he was adamant that the website is a reflection of the business as a whole.
Finally, he relented. The outcome? Good, but really nothing special.
And yes, we went all out: gratinee, wine, - even frog legs - but nothing really blew us away. RE: Frog legs - the +1's only comment was "I've had better." RE: Gratinee - Specifically, I like the one at Bon Savor in JP better.
The service and ambience, on the other hand, were great. Prompt, friendly, and all that jazz. Love the outdoor seating area w/ Parisienne mural (though I think it could do with some plants). But for the price and hoop-la, I'd rather go somewhere else.
Beautiful and delicious Frog Legs Provencale! Lovely waitressing. Ate dinner outside, which was a nice relief from the mugginess of the day, if a bit noisy from the passing car traffic. Inside is beautiful and lowlit.
The best souffle of my life! Grand Marnier that night, but it changes.
Friendly patrons and staff. Also, the chef and waitress didn't skip a beat when I requested no butter on my food. At a French restaurant, that impresses me.
This place is some major YUM.
A considerable group (8 in total) of us went here for a friend's birthday on a Saturday night and had an amazing time.
My friend and I split the garden salad, which is what it sounds like, but still flavorful without being boring. A good appe-teaser for sure.
But it was the entree that really sealed the deal. Petit Robert is the type of restaurant where your only worry is WHAT to choose. I went with the Chicken "Coq au Vin" with Buttered Noodles and my stomach practically leaped from my body with excitement. My friend's pork loin was also very tender, and I heard someone rave about the veal (if you're into veal). Even the side of spinach was delicious.
I also had a gin cocktail, which I BELIEVE was called something along the lines of "Sidecar," or at least had "car" in its name. Maybe. I could be making this up. I can't find it online, but it was THE ONE. Petit Robert really knows how to wine and dine you and send you home with a full belly and smile on your face!
I dont know why everyone loves this place. This is a mediocre restaurant at best. Perhaps to an average American standard, this is something special, but I tell you, Ive been around the world, and this place is just boring.
The service was slow and our server knew nothing of the menu or the wines.
The food was.....I dont mind spending some $$ on a good dinner, but the chicken I had tasted like ....Shaws rotisserie chicken. But at shaws you can get a whole three chickens for $20. I think the food comes pre-cooked and they just microwave it or something.
The decor is boring. France is much much prettier and way more stylish.
Avoid. Or go if someone else is paying. Dont waste your $$ here.
We loved Petit Robert. We had our best meal in Boston here. The appetizer of herring and potato reminded me of what I used to be able to get in Paris. Delicious! My daughter told me that her steak was so tender, she did not need a knife. My rack of lamb was excellent. My son-in-law liked the tripe, and my husband enjoyed his chicken. The service was also polished and professional. Will definitely return on our next trip to Boston.
I have not been to many French restaurants, but I was told that Boston has some of the best French restaurants in the North Eastern region. I went with two other friends, and all of our dishes were delicious. We got the duck confit, salmon, and tilapia. I got the tilapia and it had a creamy garlic and rosemary flavor pan seared to perfection. The mash potatoes had a creamy texture to complement the tilapia. Unlike many places I have been in Boston, the service was fabulous, so it is almost an automatic star. I guess I can not give 5 stars since I do not have a comparison for French food.
It really doesn't get any better than this for the money. The food was simple and fantastic. Escargot & pate for appetizers (both wonderful), and scallops with mashed potatoes and spinach with crab meat sauteed in garlic, lemon juice and oil (also fantastic). Two apps, two entrees, and a bottle of wine for under $80 is unbelievable.
Not to mention the delicious warm bread (which they brought two of). This place far surpasses ANY of the competition on Newbury St. I honestly can't even recall any of the meals I have eaten at any of the restaurants on Newbury. Maybe Stephanie's, but I think Petit Robert was even better than that. Stephanie's is a bit overrated in my opinion.
Also, did I mention how full we were; portions were fantastic. I will definitely be coming back, and I'm sorry it took 4 years to try this place.
Very nice. I was expecting an expensive, pretentious place posing as a French Bistro. Instead I found a reasonably priced, friendly bistro that indeed remind me of places I used to eat at when I lived in Paris.
Their lunch-time croque monsieur with frites (fries) is tasty and cheap, but that's a hard thing to mess up. Their onion soup is delicious, the coq au vin was a little heavy but still good and their desserts are quite wonderful. While I find the Eiffel tower chocolate cake to be overrated, their mousse au chocolate is light, fluffy and yummy, and their profiteroles are a sweet treat to share. I agree with the commentor who said that this is French "comfort food" - what I like about Petit Robert bistro is that unlike other French restaurants in Boston, they don't pretend to be more than that and don't overcharge. The bread they serve while you wait for your food is very tasty!
In from out of town and this was a hole in the wall that shouldn't be missed. We did a Sunday brunch there! Amazing. On Commonwealth. Don't miss.
I've only been here, and it was with friends from out of town. We went for lunch and really enjoyed it. I had a cocktail, I don't remember exactly what it was but it was citrus-y and delicious! The service was not bad, they were friendly and helpful. The wait had not been too long, I think we were only there about 10 minutes before being seated. I must go back soon.
Incredible value for traditional French continental cuisine! I always get the foie gras and escargot and am never disappointed.
The menu has all the classics: Blanquette de veau, steak frites, Coq au vin, Duck confit. Even cooler: the waitstaff all speak french, so you can practice that good ol' high school knowledge.
They make all their desserts in house and are available at the dessert bar downstairs.
I took away one star because the tables are a bit too close together and you can hear the neighbor's conversation. Not so private.
I was starving one sunday afternoon, jonesing for breakfast and i didn't want to wait for a table for one. I passed petit robert, decided to go in and was immediately saved from my hunger. The brunch menu is very reasonably priced and the service was amazing. My french toast, eggs and bacon were cooked perfectly and the coffee never stopped. The clientele were pretty waspy but the waitstaff were wonderful. It's a good choice for dining alone.
Super fab date spot-- quiet and dim-- grottoesque really. The ambiance gets the mood going and the food will get you home.
I ordered iconic french food/drink right down the menu -- kir royale framboise, the Onion Gratinee Soup (which in other non-french restaurants would be French Onion Soup), Coque Au Vin for dinner, and then Chocolate Mouse for dessert.
Now I love (French) onion soup, but I usually just eat the top layer (you know the cheese, bread, and a little broth part) but I got straight to the bottom of this and considered licking the bowl-- but before I could ponder that too long, the waitress came with the next course.
Coque au Vin is a rustic dish consisting of chicken, pasta, and some wine brothyness. I'm a doggy bag sort of girl, generally portions are way too big for me-- but I ate the whole thing and didn't once regret it.
And then I ordered dessert. Strike me down for saying so, but the mousse was almost too rich. I ate about half of it and then relinquished it to FW to polish it off.
Also the kir royale framboise (like a regular kir royale but with raspbery stoli in it) would have knocked me on my ass if I'd had it without food. I'm a lightweight, I admit-- but champagne, vodka, and chambord had me tipped even with a full stomach. Well done!
6 Stars? 7 Stars? This place is amazing. Every entree I have gotten has made my tummy veeeeery happy. They have a reasonable wine list and some very interesting cocktails. I got a Peartini. Not surprisingly, it tasted like Pear Juice. VERY good. Reason enough to go back right there, before you factor in the food, service, and atmosphere.
Get a Peartini, you'll see what I mean.
I went here for Brunch for several friends. The inside of the restaurant is really nice. Casual, yet sophisticated. Very cozy. The breakfast food we had was declicious. I have yet to try the lunch or dinner menu's, but I'll definitely be coming back at some point. The only reason I'm taking off one star is because the service we received wasn't friendly at all. The waiter wasn't helpful, wasn't friendly, quick to rush us to order (even though there were only 2 parties in the restaurant at the time including us), and he looked a little bit like the villain from the Charlie's Angels movie. Okay, that last part didn't change my review, but I swear its him. Either way, probably not the best French restaurant in town, but worth a try (at least for breakfast or brunch).
Last Sunday evening, C---- and I decided to stop by Petit Robert for an early dinner. It was around six-thirty and already the dining room was full. We did not have a reservation. I didn't think it would be so crowded so early on a Sunday evening but C---- reminded me that although the college kids abandon Boston for February vacation, there were still a few grownups kicking around who might want to enjoy a Presidents' Day or St. Valentine's Day dinner out. The hostess suggested we sit at the downstairs bar where we could order immediately or we could wait about a half-hour for a table. C----- wanted to eat quickly so she could get home in time for "The Amazing Race" but I preferred a table so we compromised and ordered drinks at the bar while we studied the menu.
I grew up watching "The French Chef" (I was a strange child) and as I read the menu, I imagined I heard Julia reciting the menu with her eminently imitable speech impediment: coq au vin . . . pot-au-feu . . . boeuf bourguignon . . . saumon en croute . . . PBS just doesn't produce shows like that anymore. The hostess interrupted my memories of food cooked with pounds of butter and drowning in buckets of heavy cream to announce that our table was ready. We'd waited only about fifteen minutes. She also thoughtfully had our bar bill transferred to our table. In retrospect, I think we screwed the bartender out of a tip.
I ordered the coq au vin and C---- settled on the tomato-carrot soup and ratatouille. We split one of the special hors d'oeuvres, a lobster macaroni and cheese. It was very rich and quite tasty with nice chunks of lobster but I could have done without it. My coq au vin, however, served with buttered noodles, was perfect. C---- clearly enjoyed her soup and ratatouille and for a moment I was afraid her tongue would collide with her plate. We did not order wine and C----- cheated me out of dessert so she could make it home in time for her program. (Honestly, can you believe she'd choose a television show over dinner with me?) The service was great, the food enjoyable, and our bill, which included hors d'oeuvres, two beers, one cocktail, one entree, soup, and a side, came to just over sixty bucks including the tip.
It's great to find a French restaurant that's neither super-fancy nor break-the-bank expensive. Petit Robert is not haute cuisine. It's just a neighborhood bistro serving French comfort food in a simple, cozy environment. Best of all, Petit Robert is versatile: you can take a date, bring your parents, or even try dining by yourself on a quiet night. Whatever you do, though, save time and room for dessert. Also, try to stay away from the frog legs. Like Kermit, I submit that there's nothing sadder than the sight of millions of frogs with tiny crutches.
"Bonjour"!!! Screams a wonderful-yet-all-over-the-place French woman. She promptly greets my party of two, slightly underdressed for this beautiful restaurant, and offers us a bottle of water. "Sparkling Perrier will do" I kindly asked, and sparkling it was.....
I went on a limb here and ordered a few flavors that would not compliment many others. I started with a cream of mushroom soup because it was cold outside and my only purpose was to heat up. It certainly did the trick. I ended up eating the entire bowl (and the serving was bountiful).
I became more and more daring so I ordered Tripes Provençal, not a traditional Wayne experience. Knowing I was getting a dish with incredible flavor (so I hoped as the flavors in a Provencal dish usually compliment each other very well) I ordered a glass of rose wine. Sophie would have been so proud!
For dessert, a cafe latte and a bluberry shortcake. The flavors in the shortcake were a bit weak but considering the personalities of the staff it did not matter. I was full by that point anyway.
If you haven't been, you haven't lived.
It seems almost every week that you see some prof on The Daily Show pimping out his latest book on 'The Power of Groups' or somesuch topic. You know, how groups of people can influence each others decisions and how collective opinion can rule. Well, those theories cut both ways this week for PRB.
Firstly, the peer-pressure of a gang of trusted Yelpers affected my typical decision-making and had me booking here instead of my usual haunts of ethnic food or cocktail-heavy diners. Secondly, the power of the group I dragged here was able to quickly come to a consensus on practically half the whole menu, simply by totalling up the number of smiles and frowns at the end of the night. Our mob-made verdict... average.
Individually, I actually had a good meal... trois pate, crusted pork loin and the dramatic Il Flotant dessert made me happy if not bowled-over. But all around the populace of our group, there were pockets of discord such as the $11 for a glass of house red, the simply rubbish version of parsnips, the lack of exciting or daring options, the almost complete disregard for vegetarian options and the unavailability of most of the specials even before 8 pm. These murmurs were subdued by fine bread, a helpful server and wonderful mash potato, but the group consensus was surely heading for a 'Meh' until the desserts arrived. Thank god for their pastry chef.
But again, the peer-pressure of crowds is troubling my choice - was it really just average or did our group hit a spurious outlier? Perhaps the gear-up for the St Valentine's Day amateur night had PRB off the ball this week and we were the data-point falling off the regression line, while they prepared to woo and wow the masses and their inexplicable desire to link French food to romance.
The Fiancee loves rural French dishes which was something I discovered when we went out on our latest date. The food was very good and our waitress was almost fluent in French, was able to answer my questions very well since I wasn't familiar with the cuisine, plus she was super approachable. It was an overall 5 star experience. From cocktails to dessert we had a wonderful time.
Note: Frog's legs don't taste like chicken. They taste like chicken cooked in fish. Not bad, just different. Don't let the man lie to you.
I've never been to France, but I imagine it to be lined with places like this. Small and intimate, with a slight view of the kitchen and some great food. And yeah, they have escargots (only my favorite dish ever).
The wait staff was very friendly, even though I think that some of their "french" accents were fake. The host was nice enough to pull the table out so I could squeeze into the bench seat (the tables are THAT close together).
For starters, I ordered the escargot plate on the "specials" menu - baked in puffed pastry and it was absolutely delicious. My main dish was the salmon - which may or may not have been a little undercooked - but was still completely delectable. The bread was also delicious. Yum!
We were too full for dessert, but we were allowed to order the gateaux chocolat to go, which was really nice. Once we actually ate it about an hour later, it still tasted as good as if it was still on the plate, I'm sure.
I'm heading back there the next time that I've got some extra cash hanging around and feel the need to eat some French food.
I don't understand why everyone is so crazy about this place. I thought it was average at best.
I don't mind spending $20 for an entree, but I DO mind it if the entree is bad. I got the chicken "au jus" and it was average at best. My friend got the special, and her fish tasted like it had come out of the freezer.
I started with the Soup du jour, and it was completely flavorless.
We won't be going back. Yuck.
With a name like "Petit Robert Bistro," I always assumed this restaurant was another typical "French influenced" bistro like those you will find in every city and town across the US. So when I stopped by for a light evening meal one windy Monday night in December, I was completely surprised with what I found.
Petit Robert Bistro is a traditional French restaurant with a wonderful, relaxed country atmosphere. It's sophisticated, but lacking pretension and the uptight, stuffy vibe you might expect from a typical "traditional French" restaurant.
The staff was friendly and attentive. And in a sign of an excellent French restaurant; the staff all speak French. This was sweet music to my Francophile friend, who immediately switched to French for the remainder of the meal. The waitress had no problem addressing my friend in French, then switching back to English for the unsophisticated slob she was with (me).
The menu was rather extensive and consisted primarily of traditional French dishes.
I was pleased to see several 'exotic' dishes on the menu, including Golden Brown Florida Frog's Legs, Tripes Provençales, Pan Seared Sweetbreads and Petit Calf's Liver (the gentleman at the table next to us was raving over the liver).
We shared the Trio of Homemade Patés with Condiments, and I ordered the Escalopes de Venison with Blueberries while my friend selected the Golden Brown Florida Frog's Legs Provençale.
I was a bit disappointed with the Patés. The Foie Gras was excellent, rich, soft and creamy, but the other two were cold and hard as if they'd just come out of the freezer.
The venison was INTENSE; lots of pepper and spices, which worked well with a tough, gamey meat. The meat had a lot of fat and grit on it, but besides that it was quite good. The blueberries complimented it excellently. The waitress recommended a Pinot Noir, which pared well with the patés but was simple overwhelmed by the venison. I'd recommend a big Cab or the Malbec that I was eyeing on the menu.
In fact, both Pinots (the Joseph Drouhin, Laforet Burgundy and the MacMurray Ranch, Pinot Noir Sonoma) were disappointing. I've tasted some great Pinots this year, though, so I might be overly critical.
I was, however, struck by the frog's legs. I'd never ordered frog's legs because I never thought such a small dish could satisfy my appetite, but that did not stop my friend (or me from mooching off her plate). I found them to be tender, flavorful, and potentially quite filling. I will almost assuredly be ordering them my next visit.
And I hope that next visit will come soon. Petit Robert Bistro earns four stars and two return customers.
Lobster Mac and Cheese, Skirt Steak with Pommes Frittes A+, Service B-.
This is a wonderful place for a long Sunday afternoon lunch. Nice atmosphere, terrific French onion soup and incredible crème caramel. Go easy on the bread; you can easily go through a couple of baskets.
My only complaint was service. Our server seemed in a hurry to move us along ( 1/2 the tables were empty the entire time we were in the bistro) despite my repeated request to slow down our courses. During the end of lunch the staff was changing over the settings for dinner. There were loud exchanges between the kitchen staff and the dining room staff that were very distracting. There was fair amount goofing around by the staff. There is a definite need for some adult supervision for the lunch staff.
Time of Day: Early still sunlight dinnertime.
Server: Clearly French. Recommended a good simple bottle of red.
What I recommend: Chicken "Coq au Vin" with Buttered Noodles (easy pick)
This is the best French cuisine I've had in Boston so far (haven;t been to Salts yet) because it tasted home cooked and hearty. The richness and creaminess mixed with that tender chew in each bite. When everything on your not so complicated dish falls apart gently ..good sign.
Meal wasn't a drag and totally casual in there. I was with a postman for godsakes..
I think Petit Robert is so worth going to even if it is for their complimentary bread rolls...Yum yum yum how do you make the bread so deliciouso?
What i find incredibly appealing about Petit Robert is their prices. You will rarely find entrees priced more than $20 here, even though I think they can get away with charging much much more for them (Don't you dare changing the prices on me now, owners of Petit Robert). i went recently there for lunch and their lunch prices on sandwiches are solid for the amount of food you get (usually less than $10 for sandwich, salad and fries). The staff is usually very attentive but every single one of them has an unbelievable french accent which I find very odd - do they only hire french-speaking waitstaff or is it that they ask their waitstaff to put on a french accent? Regardless, it is a worthwhile visit if you like food.
Excellent escargot and a great romantic feel. Been there for our anniversary and have always had a good time.
We had a nice, very affordable lunch at Petit Robert, but I wasn't blown away by anything I tried. I had the salade nicoise, and BF had a brie sandwich with french fries (or should I say pommes frites?) The salad was tasty, but nothing I couldn't make myself at home. I didn't understand why there was a large piece of broccoli in it, but maybe they were out of green beans that day. I tried the french fries, and they were a little on the soggy side, and not very hot. Service was good, and I liked the atmosphere, but the food was really nothing special.
This is one of my fiance's parents favorite places, so I have been several times.
My first time there, I was thoroughly looking forward to it as I love French food: cheese! bread! wine! meat! butter! YUM!
To begin, four of us went through 3 baskets of bread and then ordered a bottle of Rosé win. We picked a dry one, so I didn't love it, but it complemented the meal really well.
I then surprised myself by ordering Venison (deer) and while it definitely tasted different, it was really good. The presentation for all the meals was really nice, especially the dessert, which was an intricate chocolate Eiffel Tower (which we promptly ate).
All in all, Tres Magnifique!
Since then, I've branched out and tried some of the less common meals and have been disappointing. The salads are very nice and I think that for now on, I will stick to a steak and be very happy.
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