Need a $$ dinner rec for this Sun.

[Joanie]

I'm owed a big time dinner and can't figure out where to go. I'm thinking L'Espalier or Mistral. Since I haven't been to Mistral in many years, their unchanging menu would be fine for me. I was at L'Esp about a year ago and it was really nice. Just went to Mooo which had been on my list. Haven't been to Grill 23 in a while, that might work. Sensing? Anything I'm forgetting? Should be in the Bos/Camb/Newton area. This is on someone else's dime who's owes me like three b-day/Xmas dinners. Too bad I can't take much advantage of the booze aspect of things. Thanks.

[hotoynoodle]

mistral is a yawn for me, but you could do very well at hammersley's or prezza. not as spendy as l'espalier or o ya, but both consistent hits when i go.

or go to a steakhouse and order the shellfish extravagnaza and a 5-pound lobster if you just wanna wreck your friend's wallet, lol.

[arsonisfun]

My vote would be -

Any of Barbra Lynch/Ken Orringer's restaurants,
L'espalier, Oceanaire, or Mistral

As for steak places ... Grill 23 is pretty low on my list to be honest. I'd pick either KO Prime, Ruth's Chris, or Mortons over it any day of the week (in that order)

[justbeingpolite]

How about dinner at Scampo and then a night in the Liberty Hotel?

[BobB]

I'd add Troquet to that list. Great food, impeccable service, pricey but worth it. I had some lamb bacon there a couple of months ago that still haunts my dreams.

[MC Slim JB]

L'Espalier (get the Chef's Tasting Journey) or O Ya (omakase with a few real-Wagyu items) for a break-the-bank meal.

Not quite up there but still plenty expensive: Uni, Clio, No. 9, Locke-Ober, Sorellina, Rialto. Lots of other expensive places, but I can't recommend them.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[Parsnipity]

I would second these recs, pretty much in the same order as MC Slim, but if you haven't been to O Ya and you've been to L'Espalier recently I'd go with O Ya. Don't think of it as a sushi or sashimi experience, if that would bias you away from it. It's really a cross-cultural tastebud experience. You could also consider Craigie- their tasting menus are pretty pricey. By the way, I think you're looking for at least $$$$!

[Joanie]

Is that really true for O-Ya? Cuz I don't die for sushi the way most people do here. I'm tempted to take Hotoy's rec of Prezza cuz I've only eaten a full dinner there a couple times and love it. Possibly return to No. 9 but need to check on Sun. hours. No love for Sensing? I need to look at some menus.

[justbeingpolite]

It kind of is true. If you do the omakase each bite is different, some raw, some torched, some cooked, each with a different flavor profile (to coin a phrase). If you haven't done it once, you should. Particularly on someone else's dime.

[HostessCakes]

I second O Ya. With good alcohol, it'd run you about $300/person. Sounds like three birthday/Christmas dinners to me ... and the food is worth it.

Wouldn't bother with Clio. Disappointed.