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With its plats du jour and 100-bottle wine list, Aquitaine is the South End’s answer to casual Parisian dining. Beneath Aquitaine’s French posters, artwork and mirrors, regulars dine on such bistro classics as mussels with shallots and fresh thyme, lobster bisque and, but of course, steak frites. While many of its patrons are from the ranks of the beautiful, servers are surprisingly down to Earth and gracious. The bar is tiny and makes for an uncomfortable waiting area, so be sure and make reservations.
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L’Espalier recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and patrons need take only one step inside the 19th century Back Bay townhouse to know why. Taste chef/owner Frank McClelland’s New French cuisine, and those same visitors can easily imagine this Boston favourite making it another quarter century. Consistently lauded for both its décor and food, L’Espalier is the ultimate spot for a romantic evening. Try the three- course prix fixe menu for its slow-roasted Hudson Valley Rabbit in pistachios or the white truffle & veal marrow ravioli. For true decadence, order the caviar tasting. Service is flawless and formal and jackets and ties are recommended for men.
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Tucked into an 1803 mansion beneath the State House, No 9 Park may appear unassuming at first glance. But inside, Boston-bred Barbara Lynch serves up nationally acclaimed French and Italian cuisine suitable for both power lunches and cosy romantic dinners à deux. Start off with the foie gras and squab salad and graduate to Lynch’s Vermont pheasant with ragu of fall vegetables or crispy duck with pear tatin and sauce au poivre. No 9 also offers a seven or nine-course chef’s tasting menu paired with wine by the restaurant’s celebrated sommelier, but beware: it may just spoil you for lesser fare permanently.
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A favourite of the Cambridge intelligentsia, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the appeal of master chef/owner Raymond Ost’s Alsatian bistro. Nestled down a side street in the heart of Harvard Square, Sandrine’s is distinctive both for the beautiful, bright- coloured ceramics on display and the eatery’s hearty bistro fare. Highlights of Ost’s inventive menu include the tarte flambee – crispy Alsatian flatbread topped with cheese, bacon and caramelised onions – and Hudson Valley foie gras served with kumquat-peach-cranberrychutney. The atmosphere is casual and very lively, usually left-leaning, discussions abound.
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