Sucker for a tasting menu?

[zizzpudding]

I'm a sucker for tasting menus like T.W. Food in Cambridge and Eclanos in the North End. I like to try new and different foods and tasting menus allow you to try several courses of interesting stuff.

I have a frequent guest from out of town who's a big foodie and I want to impress him.
Can you share your experience about restaurants in the downtown Boston (Beacon Hill/Financial Area/Fanueil Hall/NorthEnd) or Cambridge (Central/Inman/Harvard/Porter/Davis) area that have adventurous chefs and offer tasting menus?

[firewrx612]

Aujourd'hui

I took my wife there for our first anniversary. We opted for the 6 course with a wine pairing which was one of (if not the) most enjoyable meals of my life, but far from cheap.

I've been told by someone I know that works at a 5 star that the tasting menus are a money maker. Not necessarily a bad thing, it can be a good deal for both. He also recommended asking for the "blind" tasting menu. I guess that's where the chef really shows their stuff.

[chefbrendan]

Clio for molecular gastronomy, rare ingredients, beautiful presentation, amazing flavors and textures No. 9 park for refined, clean, modern french and italian

[whs]

Enjoyed the tasting menu at EVOO

[NiKoLe1625]

I recently did the 14 course tasting menu at Clio with the wine pairing. It was by far one of the best meals I have had. I have not done the tasting at No. 9 Park, but the food is fantastic, so i'm sure its great also.

[Sgt Snackers]

I'll second the Clio recommendation. The tasting menu there is excellent, very inventive, and comes close to some of the best tasting menus I've had in restaurants in SF and NY.

[finlero]

A few of my favorite tasting menus around town:

Cambridge - Salts and Craigie Street Bistrot

Boston - Troquet, No 9 Park, Clio, and definitely O Ya

There's been so much chow chatter on all of the above that I won't go into details here, but search the board and see what lines up with your personal tastes.

[Splendid Spatula]

Just had the 10-course tasting menu at Craigie Street a week ago. Terrific! Thoughtful, interesting, seasonal - highlights for me included the soft-shell crab, the scallop, the asparagus soup with pork jowl croutons, the squab, and the jasmine green tea infused panna cotta (among lots of other deliciousness). A knowledgable and helpful without being obsequious staff made for a perfect evening. Leave yourself three hours if doing all ten courses; you can do fewer, too.