Chef Table for two?

[jshaper]

I am looking for a very nice restaurant that has a chef table. It is a 30th birthday and we both love watching cooking shows and such... Since the Birthday Boy absolutely loves cooking I feel as though a chef's table is the way to go. What in your opinion is the best chef's table in boston along with having the best food. How far in advance do you need to book one we have a 3 week stretch in february in which we can do it... Cuisine isn't a big issue as he will eat anything under the sun once.

[jshaper]

Thank you all for your sugestions I am looking into Via Matta , L'Espalier, and Asana. Any recomendations as far as those places or should I be looking into different ones. The birthday boy is a huge foodie and enjoyed Sorellina but wasn't blown away. Do you think any of these places will blow him away?

[lipoff]

L'Espalier, not Via Matta or Asana, could blow him away. Sitting at the counter at Ten Tables or at Craigie on Main will be a fun experience as well and very high level food. Menton has a chef's table as well, and could also blow him away. The best seating at O Ya is at the counter, and O Ya is probably the restaurant in Boston most likely to blow anyone away these days.

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L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

O Ya
9 East Street, Boston, MA 02111

Via Matta
79 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116

Craigie on Main
853 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Ten Tables
5 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, MA 02138

Asana
776 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Menton
354 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

[gansu girl]

We did the chef's table at L'Espalier in Nov. '09 for our anniversary and it was fantastic. They're very accommodating in terms of food preferences/allergies and you are in the kitchen itself, not separated by glass (as I think you are at Asana). The table's set for two, and you're the only gig in the kitchen that night, so there's no rush. The Tasting Journey is exceptional - be prepared for a long evening of eating (small courses, of course, but by the end I wanted it to stop!). The staff will come and chat for a minute. A very memorable meal and well worth the expense. Highly recommend!

GG
http://www.semisweetonline.com

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L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

[barleywino]

Asana in the Mandarin Oriental has a chefs table but i have not been there

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Asana
776 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

[mgcmonkey]

L'Espalier does a chefs table dinner. Its 1 seating a night. The table is in the kitchen with full view. They're pretty accomodating to requests etc. Give them a call.

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L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

[CocoDan]

The only place that comes to mind that might arrange something (?), is Via Matta. They usually require more guests for a chef's table, but a little sucking up and begging might do the trick. They are usually very accomodating. give it a try.
Enjoy,
CocoDan

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Via Matta
79 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116

[cambridgedoctpr]

not exactly a chef's table, but you can sit and watch people cooking at Cragie on Main. There are 4 seats there, i think. I avoid this place in warm weather; maybe it is just right in cold?

[jshaper]

Thank you for the sugestion but i don't know if they want to have 2 at a 4 top and I don't exactly want to be next to another couple on a birthday...

[Gabatta]

I've always thought of a 4-top as a table. The referred to space at Craigie is a high counter looking into the kitchen, not really a table you'd be sharing. You are going to be hard pressed to find a private 2 person chef's table anywhere in Boston.

You might want to reset expectations and find a nice 2 top somewhere with an open kitchen, or hire a private chef for an in house demo. Friends have really enjoyed Barbara Lynch's cooking classes and demonstrations (http://stirboston.com/) as well.

[Mike5966]

Ten Tables in JP also has 4 seats arranged as a high counter, directly facing into the very intimate kitchen.

[dlin2007]

The chef's table at Ten Tables JP is set up with only 2 seats. We dined there for our anniversary dinner a month ago, and it was excellent!

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Ten Tables
597 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

[Mike5966]

I concur... only two seats. The waitress tells me you have to book this way in advance, especially for the Tuesday night 4 courses and 4 glasses of wine for $42 deal.

[cambridgedoctpr]

there are other tables at craigie that look directly into the kitchen. You might want to take a look.

[kimfair1]

My wife and I have sat at the Craigie counter looking into the kitchen. Two other patrons took the other two seats. It was a ton of fun watching the cooks and chef run around preparing food.