No. 9/L'Espalier/Capital Grille/Lumiere for Restaurant Week?

[bairice]

My girlfriend and I are planning to test out some restaurants during the upcoming restaurant week, but we have some concerns about booking at the top end restaurants for RW based on some reviews here and there about poor service, "dumbed-down" plates, etc. So far we're looking at No. 9, L'Espalier, Capital Grille, and Lumiere. We had a great time at L'Espalier last time, so that's a definite. As for the second restaurant.. for No. 9 Park I keep hearing about small portions, being seated at the bar instead of the actual dining room, and they also haven't published their dinner menu for RW. Capitol Grille is less "fancy", but has pretty good reviews, and a nice steak menu. Lumiere has great reviews too but we're not overly excited about their menu.

Does anybody have any thoughts on these restaurants, specifically during restaurant week?

Thanks!

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L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

Lumiere Restaurant
1293 Washington St., West Newton, MA 02465

[bairice]

Thanks for all the replies, they were most informative and helpful--We have decided on Capital Grille and L'Espalier, and hopefully they will exceed our expectations!

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L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

[edgewater]

I think you will be very happy with Capital Grill. They have done an outstanding job in the past.
We were disappointed in L'Espalier for RW. I hope you have a better time.

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L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

[stomachofsteel]

I usually will not go anywhere for RW that hasn't posted a menu. I've been burned by so many dumbed-down RW menus that I want some proof ahead of time that I'm getting something interesting. If you aren't too excited about the Lumiere menu, avoid it.

[bakerboyz]

Going to Capital Grille and L'Espalier, I will report back. My experiences at Steakhouses and at Oceannaire during RW, here and in other cities, has been very positive, largely due to the fact that they serve items off their normal menu without making portion sizes smaller, unlike other restaurants that "dumb down" their RW menus with less costly dishes and items that are normally not on their regular menus.

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L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

[MC Slim JB]

Firsthand, I will say that Lumiere has done RW right, a very good value and a fair approximation of what they do at full price. L'Espalier is a place I would avoid for RW: there's simply no way they can deliver anything remotely like the full-price experience for $33, and I know many folks have said, "Bleh." I haven't done a RW visit to a luxury steakhouse, but Devra First cited them as among her best experiences when she did a RW survey a year or so ago.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

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L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

Lumiere Restaurant
1293 Washington St., West Newton, MA 02465

[jessabella617]

Capitol grill is a good deal during restaurant week, as well I discovered Mamma Maria did a fabulous RW dinner last summer. Many places are just attempting to fill their tables during the slowest times during the year and are not expecting repeat customers (Most who come in during RW never return for the regular menu) so they tend to do food that is the cheapest and Capitol Grill was pretty booked two weeks ago so I cant imagine you will get a table and Im certain No9 is totally booked.

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Mamma Maria Restaurant
3 North Sq, Boston, MA 02113