Ten Tables Cambridge---question about the Sunday 3-course deal

[bella_sarda]

First, is the prix-fixe ($33 for 3 courses) menu the only option, or can you order a la carte on Sunday evenings as well? (I know there are choices for each course within the $33 menu.)

Also, has anyone done the Sunday-night menu and how was it? I know the menu changes weekly/seasonally.

I went to Ten Tables in Provincetown last summer and really enjoyed it but haven't been to the Cambridge location.

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Ten Tables
5 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, MA 02138

[Bob Dobalina]

Pretty sure you can order ala carte. We did the price fix and each got different dishes, so we ended up sharing the six different tastes. Don't really remember what we ordered, other than thinking that it was all ok, not spectacular. We agreed that none of the dishes were so good that we would have wanted a full size serving of each, but as shared, they played well off each other.

[bella_sarda]

Well, we went last night and you can't order a la carte on Sundays, but there are 4 choices each for the appetizers and mains, and 3 dessert choices, so we hardly felt restricted in our options. Unlike your experience, Bob, almost everything we ate was indeed spectacular. I would have raved even at higher prices, but taking the price tag ($33) into account this was really an extraordinary value. The portions were so generous that my DC and I basically split one of the entrees, took a few bites of the other, and had them box the rest of other one (in two separate portions) for us to take home.

Brief review of what we had (we basically each split everything we ordered):

Apps:
Arugula/pear salad, with some goat cheese and toasted pepitas: unbelievably fresh and delicious. Not sure what was in the dressing but we both agreed it was one of the best salads we had tasted.

Pumpkin soup (using cheese pumpkin): delicate, delicious, simple; not too thick, not too thin; just pure pumpkin flavor, velvety texture, with some croutons for texture and a swirl of creme fraiche.

Mains:
Homemade ricotta cavatelli with porcini broth, delicata squash, brown butter, sage,and crushed amaretti: unbelievably divine; combination of sweet, savory and mild spice; excellent combination of flavors and textures; cavatelli were perfectly toothsome, porcini broth was just right (and in just the right amount to avoid this becoming a soup).

Pork and sausage stew with white beans and toasted bread crumbs: very rich and delicious; tender pork. Can't give much detail since I only had a few bites, then had to set aside given overwhelming amount of food. Looking forward to leftovers this evening.

Desserts: these were comparatively lackluster, but still solid
Chocolate terrine with thai basil ice cream: the terrine was just OK, a bit pedestrian as these things go; no complexity really; but the ice cream was delicious and unusual

Arborio rice pudding with toasted pistachios and toasted coconut: served cold, which was not what I was expecting. It had a high ratio of liquid to rice; I would have preferred more rice; pudding itself was mild and pleasant, but it would have been nothing without the delicious pistachios on top; coconut was not overwhelming, which is good.

Service was excellent. In sum, I highly recommend this place and they really don't skimp on the prix-fixe, as many places do.

[Bob Dobalina]

Thanks for the review, bella. Those entrees sound really delish for a cold Sunday evening dinner, especially the cavatelli - will try to get back there soon.