Dinner suggestions - contemporary/ bistros

[amitbanerjee]

Will be in Boston for two nights on a weekend in March. We have reserved Eastern Standard and La Viole (restaurant week menu) for dinner for the two nights. Just wanted to know if these are good selections considering we love pig-centric/contemporary food and bistro ambiance, places like Au Pied Du Cochon in Montreal or Balthazar and Les Halles during its good old days in New York. We were also looking at Pigalle, Mistral, Petit Robert and Hammersley, and are open to changing reservations. Any suggestions please?

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Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

Pigalle
75 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114

[barleywino]

for pig-centric it's hard to beat the tete de cochon or pied de cochon (for two) at Craigie. If you are around on a Friday night, do the baby pig special at Scampo.

[QCumber]

Not at the same level of ambience as some of the other suggestions, but East Coast Grill (http://www.eastcoastgrill.net/) has a different pig menu each Sunday. I ordered it a few weeks ago, but I was early and it wasn't done cooking yet - I had a delicious Yucatan style Mahi Mahi instead.

Q

[LeoLioness]

I like La Voile, but I wouldn't call the food contemporary. Are you only interested in French/French-influenced places? Also, are you only interested in places participating in RW?

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La Voile
261 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116

[amitbanerjee]

We are not overly eager to partake in restaurant week but don't mind it either. We live in Philadelphia were we get a awesome RW menu at Amada (tapas) and Zahav (Israeli). We are always up for good contemporary American (if possible BYOB) or a classical french bistro style place. Thanks!

[cambridgedoctpr]

byob; i think that is not legal in cambridge at least; I am not sure about Boston. it might be easier if you try ethnic restaurants but call first.

[CookieLee]

Oy, I just lost my post, I hate that. OK, I was saying, Boston doesn't have the BYOB restaurant culture that Philly has. I want to recommend Jacky's Table,, 1414 Commonwealth Ave., Brighton. It used to be called Chez Jacky. It is part of the Petit Robert Bistro group. It is a more casual venue, and I think it fits the description of "classical French bistro".

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Jacky's Table
1414 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02135

[cristinh]

Oh, yes!! I love Jacky's Table: great food, great atmosphere, and it's very affordable. Their moules frites are amazing.

http://thefourseasonings.blogspot.com/

[BostonZest]

If you like Amada and Tinto at home you may want to try Toro and Coppa. Toro is tapas and Coppa is Italian small plates and great salumi.

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/

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Toro
1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

[carneyvore]

Don't overlook Gaslight--good food & ambiance.

[amitbanerjee]

Thanks! The menu looks a lot like Balthazar's and Pistis' in New York. Definitely doable! Thanks again.

[Small Plates]

Yes, the aim at Gaslight was to imitate the Keith McNally model. Look at Gaslight - their masthead is almost identical to Pastis' and the interiors are similar - Gaslight is a little bit darker than Pastis. Food is very similar to Pastis - I love them both. My fav (if I had to pick one) restaurant experience is this very sort. Bistro du Coin in DC; Pastis; Les Halles (in the hey day and even now - I still like it - I loved the one in DC when we lived there.) I think Gaslight would work for you.

[StriperGuy]

La Voile has gotten some mixed reviews of late. You might swap that for Craigie on Main, Bondir, or Bergamot. I'm not a real fan of Mistral, or Hammersley's. Petit Robert is fine for what it is, but it is pretty basic.

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La Voile
261 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116

Craigie on Main
853 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Bondir
279 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139

[amitbanerjee]

Thanks! Craigie on Main looks very promising and they are doing their version of restaurant week with something called the "chef's whim" menu. We are in Copley Square so getting to Craigie is easier than Bondir or Bergamot (but not by much).

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Craigie on Main
853 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Bondir
279 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139

[cambridgedoctpr]

Les Halles is nothing special whereas Bergamon Craigie are; i have not been to Bondir.

If you are looking for something like les Halles, then you should go to Petit Robert or Brasserie Jo.

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Brasserie Jo
120 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

Bondir
279 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139

[amitbanerjee]

Les Halles wasn't always as bad as it is now. The last time we were there for lunch the food was awful. We probably wouldn't go there again. The loved the Park Ave location but the food isn't definitely isn't good anymore.