Red Lentil Vegetarian - A pleasant surprise!

[Science Chick]

Checked this place out last night for the first time. Packed at 7:45pm, we first sat at the counter and moved to a table within minutes. It was really very good, and fills a much needed empty place on the local vegetarian scene.

We started with a beet/arugula/walnut salad. Very generous size, nice greens. The beets were a little unusual...shaved and seemingly raw (?). I liked them, but my DC didn't. Walnuts were lightly maple glazed and tasty. We then sampled the belgian sweet potato fries, sesame coated seitan and the pistachio-herb crusted tofu with corn cake. The fries were full length vertically silced sweet potatoes. Nicely cooked..not crispy in the traditional sense, but worked well with a bbq type sauce. The seitan was AMAZING. Somehow caramelized with crispy edges, served with a wasabi-laced mustard dipping sauce. Finally, the tofu...delicious! Could really taste the pistachio. Nicely spicy as well, with a jalapeno relish bordering the plate. Topped with sauteed spinach. Corn cakes were bursting with fresh sweet corn and made with sweet peppers, which balanced out the spiciness nicely. After splitting these items, we were pretty stuffed!

$39 including tip. No drinks or dessert. The owner/chef was coming around to make sure everything was ok. Waitress was very nice and service was efficient. We'll definitely return.

[Soxfan49]

I had lunch there over the weekend and concur with all the over reviewers. The food was excellent but the service was a little slow. The beet salad was great, nice to see a few golden beets thrown in, my DC loved her veggie burger, and my portabello sandwich was good, could have used a few more mushrooms for my taste. The staff seemed a little out of sorts, everybody seemed to be doing everything, rather than having designated responsibilities and they'd didn't seem to communicate with one another (three people approached us to ask if we had been helped). I will definitely be back and I'm sure the service will improve as they get more experience. They were featured in a globe article on healthy dining, so I'm sure that has driven a lot of people to the restaurant.

[StriperGuy]

Gotta say, ate there last night. Food was excellent. Service was a bit amateurish. Took them 10 minutes to clear a table (with 4 empty) for us to sit. Found out the owners are first time restauranteurs.

That said I would eat there again in a second.

The fried cauliflower app was amazing. Both mains we had were excellent.

The type of veggie food where you forget it is veggie. Really, really good.

[Science Chick]

Thanks for reminding me of my own review.......I need to go back there and work them into the rotation!

:)

[Bob Dobalina]

Agreed - have made two trips in the new year to Red Lentil - the cauliflower app - Gobi Manchurian - is really outstanding - would go just for that. Also really enjoyed their chili - not spicy type, but hearty and satisfying. Also had the sea vegetables salad which I really liked - similar principles to the ubiquitous seaweed salads, but with different kinds of fiddlybits that make it more interesting.

I have stuck with the veggie-only dishes and cannot comment on the dishes with seitan, etc., but there are a few if you are into that.

Stopped in for brunch on Sunday and had a lovely omelet with goat cheese, butternut, arugula - oniony homefries and tasty buttered or margarined? toast. DC had the huevos rancheros - they were ok - could have used more spiciness - decent, but my omelet was the better choice - maybe ask for hot sauce on the side or bring your own (does anyone do that anymore?) Good coffee that was refilled early and often. For all your folks who don't want to wait out in the cold at the Deluxe Town Diner across the street, you should give this place a try.

Agree on the service the first time - but at brunch, there were no issues - the food does not come out super-fast like some people might be accustomed, but it's really not a problem.

[StriperGuy]

I had the sea veg as well. In my book a bit too much carrot, not enough sea veg. It was my one tiny quibble with the whole meal.

[yarm]

I was wondering if the service improved at all since I went in late September or so. I was not alone in wondering their waitstaff had ever worked in a restaurant before this one.

Worth going back to support them, but wow, some of the worst service I have had in the past year.

[StriperGuy]

I think the service has improved a tad. But there was definitely no hustle, none of the "well oiled machine that a good restaurant should have.

[Ruprecht]

Agree with your assessment of things. I am the furthest thing from a vegetarian (well, I suppose there are people who won't even consider going to a vegetarian restaurant) and I was quite happy with our dinner there a few weeks ago. Most everything was tasty, the prices and portion sizes were reasonable. I live in Watertown and don't think I'd travel across the state for this place, but it compares favorably with most any reastaurant in the area.

Also, I was in a party of 7 that included a 4-month-old and an 18-month-old. The staff was very accomodating, and there were several other small children in the place.

[Science Chick]

Thanks for concurring....I wish more folks would try it. It WAS fairly busy, but I would hate to see a gem like this not do well. There are so many places like this apparently flourshing in NYC, but nothing in Boston.

[Taralli]

I, too, am in the neighborhood and noticed a party of about 8 complete with party hats having a wonderul time last week.