Lydia Chew
Google
tl;dr: Our group of 5 noticed a surprising lack of consistency across the same dishes. While I personally enjoyed my first two courses, others in our party weren’t nearly as impressed. The quality wasn’t uniform, which left the experience feeling a bit hit-or-miss.
I visited during Dine Out Boston and overall, the experience was fine. The ambiance definitely leans upscale, with romantic lighting, stylish bar, and outdoor space. There's also no obvious host stand (how European!).
Dine Out Boston dinner was $38 per person, covering an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. I ordered the assiette de saumon fumé (smoked salmon plate for a $3 surcharge), cabillaud rôtis & légumes de saison (roasted cod fish with seasonal veggies), and riz au lait (rice pudding). I skipped the fromage course for an extra $6 for two cheeses. With all the upcharges, it felt like the value of the prix fixe menu was undermined - but compared to their regular pricing, still seemed like a deal.
What kept surprising me was the inconsistency. Two people ordered the pâté de campagne and ended up with dishes that looked nothing alike. The side salads didn't even have the same ingredients - one came with radishes and tomatoes, the other greens only. The mains had the same issue, this time with the cod - mine was thoughtfully arranged, while the other was thrown together haphazardly, with different veggies and a less refined appearance overall.
On the flip side though, portion sizes were unexpectedly generous! I felt full after the starter and stuffed after the main. By the time dessert came around, I could barely manage a few bites of the riz au lait (which wasn't that good, so fine by me).
The salmon itself was decent, though the white bread was a bit sad. It almost looked like there was caviar on top, but I was perfectly happy with the blackberries that it turned out to be. The roasted cod was also excellent, and the vegetables were exceptional for hanging perfectly in that "just right" spot.
On a side note, the bathroom didn’t live up to expectations. While not terrible, it was noticeably dirtier and smellier than the rest of the restaurant's interior would lead you to expect.