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Radius Restaurant
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
8 High St(between Federal St & Summer St)
Boston, MA 02110
Neighborhood: Financial District
(617) 426-1234
- Nearest Transit:
-
South Station (Fairmount Line, Framingham/Worcester Line, Franklin Line, Greenbush Line, Kingston/Plymouth Line, Middleborough/Lakeville Line, Needham Line, Providence/Stoughton Line)
So Station Silver Line (outbound) (SL1, SL2, Silver Line)
So Station Silver Line (inbound) (SL1, SL2, Silver Line)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
240 reviews for Radius Restaurant
Review Highlights
"The tasting menu at Radius is 7 or 8 courses including..."
(in 28 reviews)
"Do get the tuna tartare, the salmon and the sea bass."
(in 10 reviews)
"...we split a goat cheese huckleberry cheesecake and 3 sorbets..."
(in 3 reviews)
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240 reviews in English
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Review from Kimberly T.
Boston, MA
11/26/2011
I was lucky enough to go to Radius for a holiday lunch with my manager and her other direct reports and was blown away.
I had the fish and it was prepared delicately and richly. The wine was fantastically paired (thanks to the waiter's astute recommendation) and the rest of our party was happy with their entrees as well (which included steaks, gourmet burgers, and more fish).
The staff was quite friendly and quick to help make recommendations to our party (we were a bit indecisive since everything looked incredibly appetizing). To top it all off, the assortment of dessert platters we had at our table was the perfect sweet ending to a wonderful meal.
I can't wait to go back here for another special occasion. Radius was spectacular. -
Review from Eric F.
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Preliminary bar review!
My friends and I gathered in the bar area for drinks for my bro's belated birthday and it was a great experience with strong execution across the board. Our server seriously looked like he came straight out of Mad Men - in addition to being impeccably well-dressed and composed, he did an exceptional job of taking care of our table throughout the evening. Cocktails included just about the entire menu with highlights being the SIngle Barrel Tea and Dapper Dan. A number of patrons around us ordered the Radius burger and it did look pretty amazing - will be sure to update after I try the food here next time! -
Review from Nick H.
1/22/2012
In my last post I admitted a dirty habit of getting into flings with gourmet burgers. My brief 10-minute affair with the Radius Burger was about as amazing as these encounters get.
First of all, the interior of this restaurant really gets you in the mood for culinary love-making. Classy, modern, upscale, dimly-lit - and the service really is exceptional. All I needed was a little Barry White or Al Green to complete the experience...
Weighing in at $20 - the Radius Burger is a force to be reckoned with. Here is a detailed account of each voluptuous feature, if you were to check her out from top to bottom:
* Thick, soft, nice buns, slightly toasted
* Mounds of lightly battered fried onion strings packed in on top
* Perfectly melted VT cheddar wrapping the burger in all its goodness
* A lovely, dense, incredibly juicy and well-cooked burger that is right on with flavor. The burger patty is thick and probably made from tenderloin it was so luscious.
* All of the above is caressed by the most amazingly light, creamy, horseradish sauce that really makes the burger and ties everything together.
I complemented my burger with a couple Duvels and loved every minute of the experience. A truly exceptional night of burger romance that will definitely have me coming back for more.
Could this fling turn into something more? Time will tell... -
Review from Gaurav P.
1/21/2012
Let's preface my review of Radius with a few things; I loathe Boston as a city, MASSholes, the Patriots' frontrunning fans and anything that has to do with Boston except for the premier universities it has and perhaps 3-4 decent restaurants. Radius came highly recommended to me by my AMEX lady and so, we went. The food was stellar and the desserts were DIVINE, wait, BEYOND DIVINE!!!! Here's why I'm giving it 4 Yelps though due to some imperfections in service:
Locations:
+ It's perfectly located in the financial district and was only a 7-8 min walk from my client on Rowes Wharf.
Ambience:
+ It is quite large on the inside, beautifully decorated (contemporary) and caters specifically to the attorneys and finance-y folks. If you're wearing something orangey-red like many folks happen to be on Thursday while I was there (We're past Christmas already, some folks seem to still be "in the spirit"), you'll match the decor on the wall.
+ Everyone from the waiters to the food runners are dressed in suits with buttons buttoned. Everyone in this place looks extremely sharp - you better be dressed well as most people during lunch are wearing suits. It's definitely a place that's oriented for the financial district...
Service:
+ & -. It's efficient, mostly on-point with a few mishaps. This is mainly the reason why it's getting 4 Yelps from me as opposed to 5. They are extremely busy during lunch and due to this it's very difficult to flag down your waiter. There seem to be several bus staff and food runners; the place seems to be a little chaotic with all the staff running around and detracts slightly from the ambience. They had forgotten my glass of wine 2x and it would've have been a big deal except for the fact that I couldn't flag my dam waiter down because he was nowhere to be found, or WAY across the dining room; this is difficult because the place is so large there's no way you can wave your hands to grab him.
Food:
+ Maine Lobster. $18. Fennel, grapefruit, parsley root, orange gastrique. This was fantastic and I'm really happy I chose this appetizer. It was beautifully presented, perfectly cooked, paired amazingly well with the grapefruit and parsley root puree and was just done damn well. Nice work guys!
+ Georges Bank Cod. $21. Squash, wild mushrooms, yuzu emulsion. The cod was probably the most butteriest cod I've ever had in my life. The wild mushrooms however being firm contrasted the fish very well but it wasn't what you'd normally expect in a rich heavy dish like this. You'd expect the mushrooms to be soft, succulent, very buttery and rich, instead they were finely chopped up (very finely) and firm. A bit of a surprise and although I enjoyed it, I almost would've preferred the buttery-ier mushrooms ya know? I think it may have complemented this dish well but I get why they went down the firm route so I won't fault them for it. The Yuzu emulsion was tasty but not over powering since the cod was so light, buttery and flavorful
Dessert:
+ Rice Pudding. $12. Sesame seed, mango, coconut mochi. They forget to mention that this FANTASTIC dessert and perhaps the best rice pudding I've ever eaten in my life comes with this gorgeous sugar bowl that was HUGE! The presentation was even more amazing or equally amazing as to how it tasted. The sugar bowl was fallen on its side as of the rice pudding was falling out of the bowl and a scoop of the coconut mochi was on top and my god, the flavors all went AMAZINGLY well. HOLY CRAP was this dish executed well guys...I'm not a rice pudding fan and in fact, I think the only good rice pudding is in India and is known as Kir. ORDER THIS NOW! The rose water they used in this added an absolutely amazing flavor foundation on the coconut mochi. WOW!
+ Cheese Plate. $17. It was a good combo of cheeses, sheep's, cow's and goat's, really nice caramel/honey gooey walnuts and great compotes for each cheese.
WELL!? Yes, you can damn well bet we will be coming back to Radius in the future, hopefully the service will be a half a notch better and I can make this place a 5 Yelp joint.
THIS has been a review by Gaurav -
Review from James S.
Boston, MA
2/4/2012
My fiancee and I were lucky enough to pick up a $50 gift certificate to Radius, and I must say we'll be going back!
The location is a bit strange for an upscale restaurant, as Financial District tends to clear out right around dinner time, and is totally empty on the weekends! What would be a great spot for an intimate dinner or an upscale bar for a late-night drink and snack seems just out of place, and it showed by the lack of patrons at 8PM on a Friday.
Perhaps the loss of Radius' management was the gain for my fiancee and I - the sparser crowd helped contribute to superb service. The hostess was gracious and prompt to seat us, and our waiter was as good as I've had in Boston! He was frank and helpful with the daunting wine list, and gave some great suggestions on the menu. To top it off, they offered us a complimentary amuse bouche AND a free dessert when we couldn't pick between the creme brulee and the cheesecake!
For a $150 meal, I can honestly say it was one of the best deals I've ever had! We started with a squash soup amuse bouche, which had maple and a savory crouton - unlike most squash soups, this was more subtle in its sweet kick, which I really enjoyed. We then split the lobster appetizer, which was a healthy portion of beautifully arranged and poached lobster. The orange gastrique and parsley root puree made for an interesting combination, though I didn't taste much of the fennel and grapefruit.
As entrees, my fiancee chose the gnocchi 1st course while I had the Colorado lamb duo. The gnocchi walked that careful tightrope between flavor and heaviness - too often they taste delicious but feel like lead pellets in your stomach after! The sausage mixed with it was delicious too - not spicy, not sweet, but still flavorful. Meanwhile, my lamb was as good as I've had. I love ordering lamb, as I can't cook it for the life of me! The duo was a chop of lamb and a lamb meatball - surprisingly, I fell partial to the meatball, just divine! The eggplant made a nice contrast to the richness of the lamb, jus and the panisse (which were tasty, but I would've preferred some potatoes as well).
Feeling gluttonous, we went for dessert and were surprised with two! I am not a big cheesecake guy, but this goatcheese variant was fluffy and the lemon infusion helped lighten it as well. The tuile "crust" was tasty, but tough to work with. Huckleberry ice cream made a nice a la mode topping too. On the flip side, the creme brulee was heavy and creamy and classically prepared. Just a great standby dessert one does not make for themselves at home.
First impressions DO last a lifetime, and I can't think of a better one than what Radius provided to us. Two big thumbs up! -
Review from Susan R.
Jamaica Plain, MA
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Review for sitting at the bar.
Found myself with Quinn E, filling our time before the 2011 Yelpies... and Radius comes up on the Nearby. Meh, why not? Might be too fancy, but Quinn's got a bow-tie on... so that will do.
Holy. Awesome. Burger. Batman. Like... lifechangingly awesome. Fries were excellent as well. We had a few cocktails (both really very good) and settled up (didn't want to miss the first apps of the Yelpies).
Bartender was shockingly nice, very down to earth, not pretentious at all... drinks were a little expensive, but very good and the burger is literally awesome on a plate.
Highly recommended. Bow-tie optional. -
Review from Phil H.
West Newton, MA
1/29/2012
Went to Radius for lunch and everything was excellent. The cod in particular is something special to mention, full of flavor and left me feeling totally satisfied.
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Review from Alina D.
Newton, MA
1/29/2012
Lunch at Radius-
The most overwrought financial district eating experience. Ordered the over $20 a dish Cod and they delivered a 3" piece of fish with no starch or vegetable except for a creamy pureed mushroom sauce. God forbid they were to toss some sauteed vegetable or 1 or 2 potatoes? Would that have broken the restaurants revenues? Had to gulp tons of water to keep up eating with my friend's salad. There has to be a better alternative to spending your money for lunch. -
Review from Milena P.
Cambridge, MA
12/13/2011
I just had lunch here with a co-worker. It was pretty awesome!
First off, the place is very well laid-out, the bar looks comfortable and they have some armchairs. By the look of it, I'm not the only one who thought this is a great place for a business meeting-- the place was fully booked for lunch.
We ordered the tuna tartare to split and they were nice enough to bring it in two plates. It was really delicious, teeny-tiny portion but enough to whet my appetite. I ordered the burger (I had greens instead of fries), and it was very good. It was hyped a lot to me, perhaps a bit too much as I was expecting this to be the absolute best burger I've ever had. It wasn't-- I'd have to give that title to the burger at the Butcher Shop with the smoked tomato jam, only served for lunch. But the burger at Radius can claim a feat no other burger has claimed in my 22 years of existence: I, an unwavering yellow cheese hater, knowingly had a burger with YELLOW cheddar (btw, who even uses yellow cheddar anymore?) and LOVED it. (But seriously, get white cheddar.) On that basis alone, this burger is worth the $19. (Also, it's quite big. I was full half-way through.)
Also, service rocked. The waiter recognized my Brass Rat and gave me a shout-out and my glass was always full of nice, cold water.
Come to this place, be it on your budget or on an expense account. Just come. -
Review from Camille H.
Boston, MA
1/29/2012
We've been here for restaurant week and a second time to have the famous Radius burger. Restaurant week options were good, although the service was a bit rushed. According to my boyfriend, one of the best burgers he's had. It's quite a lovely spot.
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Review from Philip H.
10/19/2011
Radius is the real deal and worthy of your money.
Funded by a Gilt City $50 voucher giving to us by a good friend, we made reservations at the bar for 6:30 PM. I didn't get there until 7:15 PM, mind you, parking here is more non-existent than finding a camel in the north pole and GPS is ultra-inaccurate because of the tall buildings that surround the area.
Everything we tried here was amazing and exceeded my expectations except the Lobster Sliders. We started with the $17 beet salad... holy shiznat... lotta expectation riding on these beets. I didn't think a beet salad could be worth $17, let alone $10, but Radius nailed it on the money. The beets were cut perfectly, so perfect that I figured they must have used an razor blade or something. They were cut in tiny wedges rather than slices of chunks. They also used at least 3 types of beets, golden, baby candy cane beets, and a red beet. The beets were layed among a small garden of greens and fresh greek yogurt then sprinkled with crushed pistachio and porcini dust. Nomlicious.
Next up were the house rolls. My wife says I am sucker for good dinner rolls/bread and this is so true. If the bread is good, I'll slap on butter (hopefully soft and spreadable) and request seconds and thirds. =) The rolls were slightly crispy on the outer layer and nice and chewy inside and had a nice sweet finish. I asked the waitress if they were freshly made in house and they were! I knew they had to be. I ended up getting 3 rolls and was so happy.
Next up was "The Burger" and the BLT Lobster Sliders. The lobster sliders were okay. After having the perfect dinner rolls, the buns the lobsters were in between tasted stale and unfresh and I felt like I was eating the sliders for the lobster's sake. I folded my hand on the sliders, refilled my Sam Adam's Oktoberfest, and redirected my already salivating taste buds and palate's attention to the burger. The color of the meat couldn't be more medium-rare and the temperature and juices looked well stabilized, so this thing wasn't going to dry out and or go medium or anything. I took the first bite and smothered the burger meat with all my taste buds. Over the next 5 seconds, endorphin levels hit major peaks, huge dopamine secretions followed, ending in foodgasm. I found my new gourmet burger spot to enjoy with beer. =)
Radius, you nailed it right here with this burger excellente. Better than the Craigie burger? Yes, yes, yes. I would ride my camel to the north pole if I had to for a burger this good. End of story. -
Review from Kirby E.
Boston, MA
1/3/2012
Went here for NYE dinner. 7 course tasting was unbeatable. Nothing we were served was less than perfect. Very roomantic ambiance. Wait staff was great, not too snooty like in some restaurtants. No question as to why the Chef has a James Beard Award for being the "best in the northeast". Not your everyday place but great for a special occassion. Food was savory, rich, flavorfull. Worth every penny. If you need to impress someone this is the place to do it. Oh and the tequila cocktail.. Javielento (sorry I am not positive of the name but something like that) was incredible!
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Review from Jon D.
Boston, MA
10/30/2011
I go back and forth between here or bucther shop for the best steak in town. Not to mention the tasting menu, the service, and the ability to accomdate a vegitarian was off the charts...
Like others suggest, the burger off the bar menu is killer. -
Review from Jason H.
Cambridge, MA
10/12/2011
They really don't lie about the burger at this place - pretty fantastic. You should come hungry, it definitely is 8 oz and will fill you. A nice bite to the horseradish mayo...it almost doesn't need the cheddar, as I don't think I tasted it. Comes with nice crisp fries - very solid, but not world crushing.
I almost forgot that Radius is a really high-end place, as I was so dead set on the burger. Amuse bouche featured smoked swordfish and a shot of green tomatillo juice with lime and cilantro - quite refreshing!
Decor is high-end, with many touches devoted to the theme of circles. Only strange thing is the center ceiling of the dining room reminds one of a generic office or classroom...clashes with the whole vibe, not sure why they'd leave it this way.
I tried hard to ignore the rest of the menu, as each entree description one-upped the next. Here's hoping the next time includes dessert - updated daily selection of cookies sounds right up my alley. -
Review from Karlis B.
8/26/2011 5 photos
Call me slow, but I was not expecting Radius to be a circle themed restaurant. It was truly amazing to see how dedicated this place is to that theme: the place is a circle, the napkins are folded into a circle, the sinks in the bathroom are circular and more! Maybe it's that continuity that made us feel totally at ease and comfortable here. But I have to give the servers some credit for that too. While being attentive, even to the point of escorting us to the bathrooms, they made us feel like we were free to sit, talk and enjoy each other's company without being rushed.
The food was fantastic, too (though not always round). While it was RW, the regular menu was also available at a supplement cost.
Appetizers
- Maine Lobster with avocado purée, meyer lemon, tarragon, bacon vinaigrette ($19): I was surprised at how well the avocado and meyer lemon complemented the lobster claw, but this was a well balanced dish
- Housemade Potato Gnocchi with English peas ($18): a healthy portion of pillowy gnocchi. I preferred the lobster, but this was pretty good too
Entrees
- Herb Basted Cod with summer vegetable "tart", herbed cous cous salad, tomato vinaigrette (RW menu): the cod had a great crust and a toothsome center which is hard to achieve. But I have to say with the cous cous, this dish was dry. The vinaigrette would have been better served over the dish, instead of as a garnish
- The Burger ($19): the favorite of the table. I found the mayo and fried onion mixture to be a little too salty and overpowered the taste of the meat. (The Back Bay Social burger is still my number one.)
Desserts: we ordered everything on the menu, but here are the standouts
- Pilon de Chocolat bittersweet chocolate cone, peanuts, fenugreek ice cream, raisins, caramel ($14): crazy flavors, for real. Sweet and salty mix.
- Goat cheesecake with huckleberry ice cream ($13): can't go wrong with ice cream and cheese
I would visit Radius again and I'd recommend to a friend. The service alone warrants another visit. -
Review from Brooks C.
Newtonville, MA
10/25/2011
I chose Radius for a special occasion with my wife. We went on a Tuesday night and there were not very many people there. The drinks were very good, the staff was very friendly, however a little slow. I would understand if they were busy, but we were two of about 10-15 people in there.
The menu is very nice, but the portions are very small. If i had known about the bar menu, I would probably have ordered from it to get the burger. The food was very nicely prepared and tasted very good.
I recommend this restaurant but know that you may still be hungry after. -
Review from Baking M.
Boston, MA
8/26/2011
Michael Schlow, a fearless contender on Top Chef Masters. Have been hearing that the Radius burger has been on Nationwide Burger contests in the same rankings as Mrs. Bartley's and Craigie on Main, so we had to give it a try.
The steak tartare was delicious and had a balanced seasoning. The scallion pancake was crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside, comparable to ones you find in Chinatown.
Steak Tartare Negamaki Style, scallion pancake, spicy mango, soy gelee
The chicken meat was tender and chicken skin perfectly crisp. The yuzu emulsion was a bright surprise.
Although this $19 burger is on the bar menu, I ordered it for dinner. The beef is tender, very juicy and extremely fresh. The onion, horseradish concoction had the right sweetness and tang, and the crispy fries were unbelievable. Fantastic burger and worth the try. -
Review from LARISA M.
11/20/2011
What a great experience! We chose Radius to host our cocktail for our Board members because of all the recommendations from our Bostonian friends and reviews on Yelp. The environment was hip and there was just enough privacy at the Communal Table so that it felt like our own event but out in the open enough to feel like we were part of the crowd. We had open bar and stationary food displays - sliders, sushi, veggies, all delish! - for 2 hours and the bill was very reasonable. Our server Matt rocked and seemed to always anticipate what we would need! My only comment was that we paid for an hour of dessert service but it came out so late that most people were gone by then and could not enjoy it. They could have timed that a little bit better but that would not deter me at all from returning or recommending this place to everyone!
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Review from J C.
Washington, DC
1/14/2012
This was definitely one of the best meals of my life. Maybe we were lucky that we went on a quiet night because of the Pats game, but everything from the food, to the service, to the ambiance was perfect. The tasting menu and wine pairings were fantastic and definitely worth the money (which is not always true of the wine pairings in my experience). I will happily spend that kind of money again for such a great dining experience!
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Review from Anne W.
8/2/2011
Went here on a Monday night. My two friends had Living Social coupons.. but I had heard so much about this place that I had to go. I was fully prepared as I knew this could be another No. 9 Park situation where it was hyped up but not that good.
The dining room is spacious and modern. Very pleasant. The waiters are fit and wearing fitted suits. The hostess looks nice and friendly. I am already impressed.
The drinks were awesome. I had a ginger something.. and it was just delicious. I had heard about the Radius burger for years. I finally had it although it is not on their dinner menu. You have to ask for it. And if I were you, I would ask them to leave off the mayo. It's disgusting.. and that's why it's minus one star.
I think this place is awesome.. they gave us so many free goodies. Totally made this place worth going to. The PEI mussels were very very good.. the chilled corn soup was delicious.. the sorbet as a mouth cleanser was yummy.. the pan fried hake fish was good.. and the dessert (chocolate something) was very good. I was not a fan of the watermelon/lime juice.
I would totally go back again. You almost don't really need to order the 7 course menu because you can get all the other stuff for free. It was pricey but really well worth it.
The 3-course dinner looked really good. The dessert looked decadent and according to my friends.. it was. -
Review from Brian D.
Cambridge, MA
The second stop on our Boston Burger Tour definitely found the #2 burger in the city (sorry, Craigie on Main just can't be touched). Our entire group loved this burger for so many reasons.
The radius burger features a perfectly charred, massive piece of meat, vermont cheddar, crispy onions, and horseradish sauce. The meat is done incredibly well - perfectly charred on the outside and a juicy medium-medium rare on the inside. That's almost impossible to do at home on the grill, but Radius perfects it in their kitchen. The horseradish sauce had me worried that it would overpower the burger, but it is perfectly mild and adds a strong enough flavor without being too pungent. The fries have recently been changed, and are no longer shoestring but just thin fries that are very well seasoned. One of my friends liked them so much he got a second order.
This was the clear 2nd place winner on our tour. The overall burger was fantastic, the meat quality just couldn't keep up with Craigie. The Radius burger is more of an "everyday" burger you could eat more often, while the Craigie burger is too rich to be eaten very often.
I'd go back anytime to Radius though, and the service was top-notch. The dining room is gorgeous, and is a great spot for lunch or dinner!Listed in: Boston Burger Tour
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Review from Jill T.
6/20/2011
Pricey but delicious. I've only had lunch at Radius and some after work cocktails, but I've always been pleased.
The restaurant's signature salad for lunch is amazing! All local fresh ingredients in an appropriate portion size makes the perfect little lunch when you're in the city.
In the evenings the bartenders are very friendly, resourceful, and knowledgeable. We asked the bartender if she knew how to make a bramble, to which she responded that she did not, but was happy to try. We told her what the measurements were and voila! two perfect brambles was set in front of us. She was also very friendly. Being new to the city it wasn't easy to meet people or know what places were good to go, and she was more than forthcoming with suggestions.
Excellent staff, wonderful food, great drinks! I recommend this place if you find yourself in the Financial District. -
Review from Subhash R.
Lexington, MA
8/4/2011 15 photos
Went to dinner with my wife last night and had a 3 -course tasting menu courtesy of a living social deal and my wife had the 4-course tasting menu. We had far more courses than that thru the evening. Great dinner.
First things, first. Great meal, flavors were balanced. For most of the meal, it was tasting familiar items differently. Very cool and enjoyable.
Only miss of the evening was the tuna tartare could have used some more seasoning.
The standouts for me were the desserts, the Argula gelato and Fenugreek ice cream were simply amazing. Fenugreek ice cream is what you wish Maple Ice Cream was sweet, slightly smoke, deep flavor, but not cloyingly sweet.
The slow cooked steak was very good and tasty, a radius staple.
The diver scallops and cod were perfectly cooked and the crust on the cod made the textural contrast perfect.
Last but actually first :) Had a cocktail Japonica - Yuzu really made this drink.
Pictures are on my flickr page
http://www.flickr.com/... -
Review from Dan P.
Chelsea, MA
11/3/2011
Stop number 5 on my Best Burger in Boston tour. I went here after a friend recommended the burger. To say it simply I wasn't that impressed. The burger was good, but not great. If anything, I think it's the horseradish sauce that makes this something to talk about. The fries were good, but not anything to right home about.
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Review from Mike M.
Boston, MA
11/9/2011
Best burger in Boston, hands down. Sure, it's $19, but it's definitely worth it. The bar is also great for cocktails.
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Review from Katie V.
3/16/2011
My lunch at Radius was simply one of the best meals of my life. Now, I have an industry connection and got VIP treatment, but still, every course was insanely good and meticulously prepared. Complex flavors and textures in nearly every bite.
My favorite items: the rabbit gnocchi (app) and the grilled calamari (app). The tuna tartare was also exceptional and prepared in a way that was unique and innovative. Lamb ravioli was also superb. Lobster BLT was good, but you can probably imagine what it tastes like without ordering it.
My appletini was delicious; made from house-infused apple vodka, not Pucker. And even the plate of cookies for dessert didn't disappoint -- there were 2 oatmeal "sandwiches" stuffed with an amazing creamy frosting, two chocolate mint cookies, and two cookies that tasted like key lime pie.
The service, from start to finish, was impeccable. The food was timed correctly and we were looked after just the right amount. This place has earned its reputation, in my opinion. And I'll definitely be back to try to burger. -
Review from Kathy Y.
Boston, MA
5/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for one of my fine dine out nights. I like to get fancy once in a while. It was a great experience. The atmosphere was nice. I liked the ambience and decor, never expected the inside to be like that.
This is on the higher end in terms of price, so I already anticipated on it being on the expensive side.
Started off with amuse bouche, compliments of the kitchen. It was some type of rock shrimp and a pineapple/orange shooter. The sauce on it was delicious. I am sure this varies everyday, so it's not something you can actually order.
For the entree, had the Slow Roasted Ribeye - robuchon potatoes, haricots verts, pearl onions, red wine sauce. Let me tell you, this was the best ribeye I had by far. It came as a thick piece, cooked perfectly. The presentation was great, the extra colors brought out the dish. The sauces def all complimented each other and the robuchon potatoes gave you that starch and texture you should have when you eat steak. I enjoyed it so much I wish the plate didn't end! I def. recommend this dish.
We complimented this with a bottle of Losada Bierzo 2007. A Spanish Red. It is a little lighter than what I am use to. But not a bad wine at all.
For Dessert we had the Vanilla Creme Brulee. This was good. But your typical creme brulee dessert. -
Review from Brianna W.
Boston, MA
5/1/2011
I went with my boyfriend for our anniversary. We ordered the 4 course tasting menu paired with wine. I felt like a Top Chef critic during the first round.
It started out with a mussel over pistachio puree and cous cous and a "green apple shooter". Both were impeccably presented, but really fell flat. Next was a parsnip soup with peas, pea tendrils and bacon. When perfectly combined the salt of the bacon really played with the sweet of the parsnips and peas, but it was hard to get all 4 flavors in one bite and the tendrils were so long that I was slurping them into my mouth.
Next was a sashimi in a cucumber broth with tomatoes. The sashimi was chopped so small that there was no texture left to enjoy and I was unsure if I was eating a tomato or tuna. The cucumber broth actually ended up overwhelming the sashimi.
We then had a salmon course over bell peppers. The salmon was perfect broiled, but the bell peppers were just too much and I ended up just pushing them aside to enjoy the salmon.
We ordered the foie gras, which came, I felt, at an odd spot in the meal. It wasn't bad, but honestly, it wasn't anything that I couldn't purchase from Whole Foods. The plate also included a pistachio foam, which I couldn't help but chuckle at.
Finally, the first glass of red wine arrives, served with the most perfect rib-eye of my life. This plate turned most of the meal around for me.
And dessert, was a chocolate explosion of nuts, mousses, raisins. I have no idea what it was but it was fantastic.
Ambiance wise, it was a little bright and servers kept coming behind me, which put me on edge. When I was leaning in to talk to my bf, more than once, I was pushed off the table so they could use the little crumb guy to clear the table. COME ON. Let me enjoy my meal in peace, I am not that messy.
Other than that, the servers themselves were fantastic and the card at the end of the meal was a nice gesture, but the price and the complete let down on the first 3 courses will keep me from coming back anytime soon. -
Review from Alison Z.
Las Vegas, NV
1/17/2011
I almost feel bad leaving a bad review, 'cuz they've won so many awards and stuff. But awards don't mean much if you can't make food outside your very narrow menu. This restaurant is described as French, not carnivore, and they claim to pride themselves on seasonal ingredients. But this vegetarian has had better luck at Burger King.
Don't get me wrong, they tried. But their salad was a plat of bitter lettuce with some balsamic vinegar on top. It was really the worst salad I've ever had, and the only appetizer without meat or fish in it. The entree sounded promising: vegetables 5 ways! Yay! But the only way they came out was sort of lukewarm. They ask you what kinds of veggies you like/don't like. Maybe next time I should specify that I enjoy cooked food to be hot?
My husband, who eats meat and fish, loved his meal and ate every bite. So I'd imagine that if you're not a vegetarian, you'll love it. But don't be fooled by the veg-friendly sounding menu. It's seriously lacking. -
Review from Katie B.
Somerville, MA
5/8/2011
I went here with my boyfriend for dinner on a Friday night. After being seated, we had to wait a very long time for our server to bring menus, then we had to wait another 10 minutes for him to ask us what we wanted to drink. The server had a pompous attitude and didn't make us feel welcome at all. Once we decided what we wanted to eat, we had to wait AGAIN for the server to take our order. The host could tell we were getting impatient at this point, so he actually came over to take our order!
One nice thing about the restaurant is they offer a complementary taste and shooter before taking your order. While the shooter was non alcoholic, it was quite tasty and refreshing. The shrimp on a spoon, however, was just that...It was lukewarm with a bland green sauce and tasted like it had been previously frozen, yuck.
For an appetizer we split the handmade potato gnocchi. While we should have known ordering gnocchi at a French restaurant is a bad move, we expected that a James Beard Award-winning chef would deliver. It was so bitter due to the mint sprigs and this weird foam. We were not pleased.
After another long, awkward, period of waiting and virtually no sign of our server, we were finally served. My boyfriend ordered the Colorado Lamb and I had the Cod. While the cod was good and had an interesting texture, I'm pretty sure I could replicate it at home. There was also a weird mix of mushy vegetables on the side and a smear of very buttery mashed potatoes. I could tell that my boyfriend was not excited about his $42 medallion of lamb. Not only was it extremely small, it was undercooked. Now, on to the worst part about his dish--the side. There was a weird pile of parsley on top of grissile. Yes, grissle. Aside from the grissile, there were also weird smears of sauces and a pile of mushed, unrecognizable vegetables.
If it wasn't for our $50 gift certificate, we probably would have sent our food back. We were so eager to get out of that place....needless to say, we won't go back. -
Review from Angel C.
Boston, MA
8/2/2011
Michael Schlow, I'm impressed. I came here with the Living Social coupon, and what a deal! What was advertised as a 3-course dinner ended up being an extravaganza! It was more like three courses with a bunch of on-the-house treats. One thing I was very pleased with was that I went with a friend who didn't have the coupon, and she got to enjoy the freebies too! Very well done, Radius.
- PEI mussels and watermelon/lime juice (but not together) - The mussel was served with pickled jalapeño (very tasty). The juice was light on flavor, but that's expected given the ingredients. Simple and refreshing, a good compliment to the more bold-flavored mussel.
- Corn soup - It was more like chowder, but cold. Very hearty. Pretty good.
- Tuna tartare - Technically, the first course! The best part of this dish was the roasted chickpeas that were sprinkled on top. Everything else was kinda bland.
- Fish (skate or sole, don't remember) - Who gives a complimentary fish dish!? These guys do. And it was really good. It was served with a few sauces, the more impressive one being a squid-ink vinaigrette, and sauteed vegetables on the side, which had their own tasty sauce. The fish itself was very well prepared, with a slightly crunchy and peppery crust.
- Ribeye - This was the entree (course #2). It's their signature dish - the only one they've kept on the menu since they opened - and I can see why. A medium-rare cut of beef (thank you for getting the doneness right!) served with vegetables, pureed potatoes, and red and green sauces. The presentation was outstanding. Ok, fine, I'll describe it. From the outside in, you see a ring of green sauce, then a ring of red (wine) sauce, then a ring of the potatoes with the vegetables on the potatoes, then a perfectly round piece of meat in the center coming out of the plate. Concentric circles, woo hoo! Best ribeye I've ever had. Doesn't beat the filet I had at Capital Grille, but it's up there. I can see why this item is still on the menu.
- Palate cleanser - You'll have to pardon my horrible memory. It was a juice that had ginger flavor with other stuff and a dollop of basil and something sorbet floating in it. The ginger in the juice packed the punch you would expect from ginger, which I loved! I didn't care much for the sorbet, but probably because my taste buds had been assaulted by the ginger, and I couldn't taste the flavors in the sorbet.
- Chocolate mousse cake with chocolate ice cream - OMG. DROOL. PLOP. This cake was delicious! It had a little bit of a spicy kick, and I LOVE spicy chocolate. Fluffy like mousse, but you could tell it was heavy. The ice cream was really good, and I'm usually not a fan of chocolate ice cream. AWESOME dessert. And the official third course.
- Three little sweet treats to tickle your palate one last time before you go home - One was really good, one was pretty good, one was meh.
Did I just count 8 courses!? But I only paid for 3! Yup, that's right. My non-Living Social friend was very pleased to have gotten 5 free courses. She ordered their famous burger, which you have to specially order because it's not on the menu, but wasn't too pleased with it because it was slathered with mayo, which she is not a fan of. Also, good cocktails!
Their decor is very classy and very modern. I like how it feels like you're sitting "on the round" (the main dining hall is arranged almost like a circle in the center of this very large room). But I see why they charge so much money - they have a RIDICULOUS amount of open space. Must pay a lot in rent. Oh!, and don't forget to go to the bathroom. You get ushered downstairs to a lounge-like space that is just as big as the upstairs, but there was no one there! Again, the rent for this place must be insane.
All told, the food was 4.5 stars, but the service easily bumped it up to 5! -
Review from Sasha B.
1/31/2011
I went to the bar for the famous burger, and Radius did not let down! The meat is some magical, perfect blend that just melts in your mouth. The crispy onions give a nice crunch, and the chedder/creamy mayo sauce is the perfect contrast. The bun is soft and a little sweet. Each bite was heaven in my mouth. Definitely worth the $19.
The drinks were fabulous too. I had my standard drink, a sidecar, deliciously made. But the winner was the Fireside, a maple infused bourbon with cinnamon oil and other deliciousness, it complemented the burger fabulously.
The one problem was I had a massive stomach ache that night because the burger was so big and rich. I mean, I probably didn't have to finish/lick the plate....but I just couldn't help it. -
Review from Amanda B.
Middlesex, MA
3/18/2011
Went last night for Restaurant Week (not on purpose), and was not impressed enough to make a trip back.
The location: super convenient if both you and your date work downtown! It is also right near to South Station, so would be easy for outside-of-downtowners to get to as well. Would NOT try to find parking around here.
The food: it was fine. That's it...just fine. The menu was a bit off-season. Now granted, we were there on the first warm day after a long winter, but the menu was heavy, rich and to be honest, just not what I wanted to be eating. Ever read a menu and just feel uninspired to eat anything?
The atmosphere: fine. Radius has an elegant dining room. I was thrown off a bit by how BUSY the staff was. This was NOT a calm atmosphere at all. I witnessed one waitress practically sprinting to the kitchen with an armful of dishes. It kind of made me nervous.
The service: nuh uh. I had high expectations. They did all the small "fancy restaurant" touches like sweeping bread crumbs off your table and having a hawk-eyed waiter who refills your glass after one sip. But when my date wanted another gin and tonic...no one was there. When we wanted the bill...no one was there. The timing of the meal was off too...between the app and entre we waited maaaybe 15 seconds. I was literally still chewing when the next plate was set down, yet we had our empty entrée plates on the table for a good 20 min before they were cleared. -
Review from Anonymous T.
Newton, MA
9/25/2011
This may rank as my new favorite restaurant in Boston. I came here on a date a few weeks ago for restaurant week, and the minute you walk in, you are treated like royalty. The restaurant inside is absolutely radiant and spacious; the tables are far apart, which gives you lots of privacy and intimacy if that's what you're looking for.
My date and I ordered from the restaurant week menu, and everything was absolutely delicious. I had the herb-roasted cod, and my date had a pork dish. The pork literally melted in my mouth, and the cod was extremely flavorful. I got a creme brulee for dessert, and it was perfection.
The service was impeccable; our waitress was so nice and attentive. Even the woman who served us bread was super friendly and funny. The staff really made me feel comfortable and they make it not seem pretentious (most fancy restaurants make you feel out of place or inferior, but this place didn't at all).
Of course, the prices are a little expensive, but not ridiculous considering the amazing food and service you are getting.
Radius was the perfect restaurant for a date- especially if you want to impress a girl. We keep talking about how we are definitely going to go back! -
Review from Heather G.
Boston, MA
9/10/2010
This is a 2-star place for me except for the fact that the Radius burger is amazing. Ah-MAZE-ing. Yes, it's $19. No, it's not the most expensive burger you can get around here, but it's up there. However, if we're doing a price/taste breakdown, I'd say this is a great splurge on occasion. And by "splurge", I mean both for your bank account and for your waistline, as this burger is basically a juicy, fatty slab of burger covered in crispy onions and cheese and served on a buttery brioche roll. The fries are tasty, but they're like the supporting actor to a headline film starring a flashy, over-the-top diva. This burger is certainly the diva.
Other bar items are OK - the tuna sashimi plate is 4 squares of bright red, fresh tuna atop small, fluffy, crispy fried tofu squares. While it's definitely tasty, it's a really lousy value at $14 and does nothing to curb hunger.
Cocktails are extremely expensive. My Negroni was certainly tasty, but it wasn't $14 tasty given the small glass and abundance of ice.
If you're here on a weekend, you may find the ambiance a bit sad (read: deserted). This is really more a weekday-financial-district place, so if you're hoping for a going-out type of trendy Saturday night dinner filled with people-watching and across-the-room-eye-flirting with sharply-dressed hunky banker-types, Radius isn't for you. However, if you want to grab an indulgent, upscale bar lunch or after-work bite, you'll find yourself up to your eyeballs in this demographic. -
Review from Tara G.
Cambridge, MA
12/22/2010
After my meal I fell asleep
On pillowy soft clouds of gnocchi
In my tummy.
Too bad --
It had been my lunch, and therefore
My nap was at the office. -
Review from Ash T.
Boston, MA
8/29/2010
Pros: the burger (on the bar menu) is probably the best thing to have at this restaurant. In general the food was good.
For drinks, the Negroni was amazing but this drink can be too bitter for some
Cons: somewhat pricey...the service wasn't that great. 3 people serving us were so slow as if they rode chariots pulled by snails
Apart from the service, this is a good place to have drinks and a small bite to eat at the bar -
Review from Ameesha C.
Cambridge, MA
3/24/2011
My fiance and I came here after buying two of the living social deals for the chef's tasting menu. Everything was superb. The service was quite possibly the best I've ever had in Boston, and the food was great - they even let my fiance have the renowned burger as his main entree.
I have also been here for lunch, and did something then that I almost never do: I cleaned my plate. -
Review from Jeff M.
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food at Radius is very good and is executed to perfection with French technique. However the food felt a little uninspired; nothing too innovative on any plate. Starters of foie gras and chilled lobster were the best dishes. The duck was great and the bass was a little under seasoned for my taste. Desert was nothing I could not get elsewhere. The bottom line is that I have a nice meal but I feel no need to get back to Radius.
-
Review from Barry A.
Brattleboro, VT
4/12/2011
Thank God mini-skirts and great shoes are back in. (I'm kinda gay, so don't call me a lecherous creep, I just appreciate short skirts and killer pumps on beautiful women. I said "kinda gay.") That was an added perk of standing outside Radius in the financial district while we waited for friends to join us for a superb, albeit early, dinner.
The atmosphere was elegant but not overwhelmingly trendy or gauche.
The food was excellent, the wine was excellent, the service was superb (its all about subtle details and graciousness), and the dinner conversation was between the best of friends. That's what life is about - having it in a fine restaurant that does everything so right is just an added perk. Big bucks (well-spent) for a very big dining experience!
