Bistro 5

Like many restaurants in the Boston area, this one leaves you feeling like you paid for more than what you got. Some dishes were really well crafted and worked beautifully together, some…were fine. The place is small, and has a lively buzz when it fills up. Service was good, but not exceptional. It was a nice date night out, but won’t be rushing to return.

My carnivore dinner companions loved their dishes, but, I'm sad to say, that this vegetarian was quite disappointed. The eggplant appetizer was bland, and while my entree of mushrooms, lentils and vegetables was creative it was deeply under-seasoned and bland. The lentils were cooked perfectly, but lacked seasoning, and the mushroom centerpiece was small and tasteless. Given the reputation of this restaurant and the price, I expected far better. (And, frankly, I don't like writing negative reviews, but a restaurant like this, which wows their carnivore guests ought to do much, much better for their vegetarian ones.) There was one vegetarian appetizer what was delicious, but it didn't make up for all the rest that left me so disappointed. By the way, the noise level in this establishment is refreshingly low, making it easy to have quiet conversations. Such a departure from so many other places where you can't even hear yourself think these days!

I was recommended by a local friend to have a dinner at this italian cousine. I am a big sweet tooth and I was NOT disappointed with my dessert!! The plate decoration was really cute but this basil ice cream is unbelievable good. I would never think that basil ice cream would be so tasteful!

Went there during restaurant week with a group of friends and had the prix fixe menu. I had the carpaccio which was very delicious, the beef was flavorful and the bed of vegetables had a very tasty dressing. For entree I had the truffle gnocchi, absolutely delicious and very rich. For dessert I had the creme brûlée. While it was very tasty, I think it would be better if it was served colder and with the caramelized sugar layer a little thinner. All in all a good experience!

Delicious and delightful! We arrived late - after a Red Sox game - and were welcomed by the staff despite getting there so close to closing time. The food was absolutely amazing and service top-notch. They are extremely accommodating for dietary restrictions (gluten free for me), and provided great recommendations within those guidelines. The burrata salad and house-made gluten free gnocchi were out of this world! Thank you, Kyle, for your hospitality! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and experience and recommend Bistro 5 to anyone looking for great food and service.

The food that we were able to eat, as usual, did not disappoint. Every dish was planned out meticulously from the bread and eggplant dipping sauce to the perfectly sweet and tart dessert. My halibut and short rib was cooked to the perfect temperature and the pumpkin lobster soup was heart warming. The service was where the magic was lost. My amuse bouche was served 12 minutes to me before it was served to my husband, we asked for utensils three times, I was not given the champagne that was supposed to be served with our tasting menu, and was given burnt food that the server tried to turn over to hide the burnt black marks. Let's hope the service improves, but if you have patience and would love a great meal, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

We love that Bistro 5 is nearby and serves consistently excellent food and cocktails. We've been coming here for many years and enjoy the creative and reliably high-quality dishes. I love the gnocchi with mushrooms as it cones with an abundance of mushrooms, and the gnocchi isn't heavy. We've enjoyed the duck, branzino, steak, and other entrees. The soups are also always very good, as are the appetizers such as the calamari, fried green tomatoes and burrata, and everything else we have tried. The desserts are good, but the description doesn't always match what you get. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is quiet and nice. I appreciate that they keep some stapme dishes on the menu and also have seasonal specials. There is always something new to try.

An amazing chef with delicious dishes. It is one of the best restaurants I've been to in a while. Everything is made with top-quality and fresh ingredients. I highly recommend you try their chef-tasting menu!

Nice interior and service was great, but unfortunately the food was just not good. We had two of the dine out Boston set menus, so it was $55+tax+tip each. I did really enjoy both desserts! The chocolate cake was very chocolatey, and both it and the creme brulee weren't too sweet (definitely better that way!) However, the appetizers were both meh, with the calamari being a bit fishy and the burrata just not that interesting. The entrees had their high points -- the pappardelle pasta was lovely and the greens served with the fried chicken were nicely seasoned -- but they were both let down by a major factor -- the pappardelle meat was way too salty and the fried chicken was not crisp. I do wonder if they do better when it isn't dine out Boston?

Upscale creative Italian, comfortable room, decent ambience and service. My spaghetti alla chitarra was outstanding (squid ink + saffron spaghetti, baby clams, octopus, calamari, olives, capers, cherry tomatoes). Parking can be tricky, allow time.

Impressed by their Dine Out Boston menu, a friend and I met at the bar for a nice 3 course meal. It was hard to decide as all the options looked great, we started with the Salmon Arancini (which I've never seen on a menu) and Fried Calamari. Both were perfectly fried and delicious. I could eat that arancini all day. They also gave complimentary bread with a super rich olive oil. For mains it was an easy choice - Gnocchi w/ Fat Moon Mushrooms and their Bolognese. Both so fresh and flavorful! We ended with a dessert of Crème Brulee and Profiteroles and cappuccinos. We shared everything and left so full. While the service was friendly we felt very rushed even though it wasn't super late and there were plenty of people in the restaurant. The servers kept trying to clear our plates when we weren't done (actually took away calamari we would have continued to enjoy). My friend and I don't meet often and were catching up and wanted a leisurely dinner. Parking is also very tricky but the food was so good I would definitely go back!

Had such a nice time for dinner! I went out with my family and we enjoyed it. We came about an hour before closing and they were accommodating. It wasn't too loud and they had some music going on in the background. The place was small and quaint. We also had kids with us and the server brought us kids menu with crayons. (It's the little things) We got a couple drinks and the bartender did not miss! They were delicious. I'd say the price is a little on the higher end so prepare for that. I parked on the street instead of parking further down the block. It was easy to find parking but if you park down the block, it's a bit of a walk. You can't miss it, the sign outside says bistro 5! Overall, it's a nice classic place to go to if you want a bite to eat, a drink, and go home.

Excellent neighborhood restaurant. Service was perfect, food was delicious, and drinks too! We had some apps to start, all 10/10. The steak and veal Milanese entrees were perfect. This is elevated food and service, at a reasonable price, in a convenient location. Can't wait to return

Very nice restaurant We ate couple of times At the table or at the bar Very knowledgeable staff Delicious and well presented food Bravo

Great place with inspired menu. Highly recommended. Tuesdays they often have oyster specials.

Bistro 5 has become our favorite local restaurant. There's always something great to find among their seasonal cocktails and they have an excellent wine list. The menu is a bit limited, but everything we have tried has been delicious so this doesn't end up being an issue. Most of the rotating Chef Specials have been excellent but there are plenty of great dishes on the regular menu as a fallback. The flourless chocolate cake and gelato are our favorite desserts - just decadent. The wait staff is always friendly and offers great suggestions, including wine pairings. The restaurant is cozy and while it is often rather full and sometimes loud, it has usually been easy to hear everyone at our table without shouting. Parking nearby can be tricky so plan for that, but once inside you'll have a great experience.

Fabulous drinks! I am a finicky eater so it doesn't cater to the faint of heart. Great ambience and a really nice neighborhood place to go.

Pre-pandemic I hosted a small dinner party at B5 and the experience was lovely. So when the time came to host a surprise 3 1/2 hour cocktail and dinner event with twenty close friends for my sweetie's birthday, I came back to B5 and was rewarded with a perfect evening : - Excellent and efficient pre-planning by the manager, including a small advance wine tasting two days in advance to confirm the selections - Beautifully appointed private room perfect for 20 - Attentive and thoughtful service throughout, with a perfect pace - Delicious menu selections, perfectly prepared and timely served - Extra attention to the food allergies of a couple guests. I can' say enough good things about our experience at B5. My friends loved it too - five days after the event we are still receiving compliments. Evening favorites: calamari appetizer, gnocchi with mushrooms, imma nebbiolo wine, profiteroles

Local upscale restaurant with a lovely and intimate atmosphere. Arrived early to a mostly empty restaurant but it filled up quickly. Our server was outstanding- friendly, competent and followed-up often. The wine and beer selections are varied but pricey for the area. Our meals were ok. My steak was properly cooked and was sitting on some broccolini with riced pickled cauliflower on top. The veal milanese was attractively presented with roasted butternut squash and a melange of vegetables. The entrees were tasty. The fresh baked bread with olive puree dip was delicious and the profitaroles for dessert were delicious. 4 stars for the food 5 for the service and ambiance.

This is a fine dining restaurant with amazing food and atmosphere! I absolutely loved the vegan options and chef! The lentil dish had veggies with parsnip puree and mustard- so creamy and amazing. The spaghetti/mushroom was also so good!! For dessert- guava and passion fruit sorbet was wow! Made me want to be on vacation. Perfect meal, atmosphere, and service. A+++!

Went there for a girls night out and it was delightful. We had no complaints. The food and service were both on point.

My husband and I have been going to Bistro 5 for years... since they first opened (shortly after we bought our home in West Medford). The food is always great. We love to sit at the bar and order drinks & appetizers, or split an entree.

Worst service one could possibly imagine. From waiting 35 minutes past our reservation time to get a table, to having the waiter tell us "stop complaining aren't you comfortable enough at the bar?". They then charged us for the drinks we thought were complimentary due to the long delay. Food not too good for price. Diners beware - plenty of better restaurants in the area

Great food! Great drinks! Great ambience and service! Definitely a hidden gem in Medford.

I have been a patron of Bistro 5 for over 30 years. It was my got to place for special occasions and just a great meal out. We have only eaten out a handful of times since Covid and took an out of town visiting relative on Thursday October 19th for dinner there. The menu seemed to have our favorites still. The appetizers were good although the fried calmari was a bit dried out. My wife and cousin's dishes were excellent although I dont remember what they were. However, I had the Veal Milanese which I found terrible with oil saturated breading that I found inedible. I sent it back after tasting one corner. The waiter said they would make me a fresh one. Here's the weird part. The waiter brought back the exact same piece - still with the cut off corner and the salad re-piled and NO explanation. I was confused. This has never happened to me before. The waiter looked embarrased and said the chef said that was how it was made. The waiter took my order for a new enteree - grilled steak - which seemed to take a long time to get. If we were not with a guest I would have insisted on talking to the chef. I have met the owner-chef many times before, but I suspect he was not there that night, Hopefully he'll reply to this. It is too bad to have a terrible experience at an otherwise great restaurant. I left a 15% tip instead of my usual 20-25% in the past here.

What a great find! Restaurant has great ambiance. We didn't realize that they would bring out bread with a chickpea spread (that was delicious), so we ordered a small plate of eggplant dip (very smooth and different than expected- yummy), the calamari appetizer (over an amazing tomato chutney) and we each had pastas. The gnocchi with mushrooms were like pillows, and the spaghetti chitarra with octopus was very smoky and tasty. It was too much food to have dessert. We are going back soon! Would love to sit at the welcoming bar!

Great restaurant in a small town. The ambiance and food were upscale. We ate the crostini and buratta as appetizers. The buratta had pear, watercress, and a brioche. The crostini had ricotta topping with truffle oil and mushrooms on top perfectly cooked. We personally liked the crostini better. For main dishes we enjoyed the truffle mushroom gnocchi. It was mouth watering goodness! Please oh please order this! The bolognese had a fabulous homemade flat noodle pasta that made it work. I would've preferred slightly more sauce or acidity for pop. The tiramisu dessert special was the best part of my night. I loved the whipped cream (the same or similar homemade whipped cream they use in their espresso martinis) and liquor they used at the bottom of the tiramisu topped with strawberries. I loved the passion fruit mocktail they made me. Perfect date night, quaint intimate restaurant, and reasonably priced for upscale dining. Will be back!

*Rating based solely on FOOD* Presentation: 4.5 Texture: 4 Flavor: 4 Would return? Yes Must-try: Whatever special they have that day! I liked this place and would come back to try different dishes. The menu is not extensive but I still struggled deciding what to eat because everything looked good. The best thing I tried was the appetizer which was the night's special - unfortunately not in the pictures - a porcini arancini filled with smoked mozzarella, a bottom of pesto and arugula on top. Every bite was out of this world - perfect combination of flavors, well seasoned and great textures. Then for entree we had another night's special (so you may not find it) - Boar Cavatelli - it was really good, although I deducted some points because the dish was cold (which I particularly hate with any pasta) and the cavatelli needed another 30 seconds of cooking. The monkfish (regular menu item) was also great and had very unusual flavors. Perfect balance of textures and I found it very pleasing to eat, however, it lacked salt and hence flavor. These small imperfections add up, specially at a place of this caliber. I'd say you can't go wrong here! Maybe order the special they have that day! Non-Food Stuff: I enjoyed the ambiance, very cozy and welcoming. I could tell the place is popular because it had soooo many people coming in to pick up an order (which ruins the vibe of the place a little). Service was very slow, but professional and friendly. Hope this helps! Z.

Love this place! Such a hidden gem and always have a wonderful meal here. We typically sit at the bar which isn't usually crowded. Bartenders are top notch and the food is excellent! Waiting to try their burgers which are only served on Tuesday.

I was looking to try a new restaurant for my 30th birthday and bistro 5's menu called to me. It's scary to try a new place for takeout because you know I'll never be as good as dine in but this place delivered. We ordered (half the menu) the steak, the porchetta, the monkfish, the gnocchi, the orecchiette, the kale salad, and beet salad. The spread was phenomenal! Honestly I think we got much food it took us two days to finish and the quality was impeccable. I'm so happy I was able to find this gem of a place during covid. I will continue to support this business as the food is A+. I'm sure it's even better in person!

Been coming here for years. (just starting writing reviews) Love this place, great food, good drinks, good service and prices are good for the quality of the food and experience.

Thank you Bistro 5 and bartender Cristiano for making our quick stop for drinks and snacks such a treat. Your warm, inviting dining room and bar keep us coming back and we really loved the new Boston Americano cocktail!

Phenomenal! Wonderful and homey atmosphere, friendly and attentive service, delicious food and drink. Calamari, gnocchi, and seared chicken were incredible. Spinach was best I ever had. Can't wait to come back.

I organized a wedding rehearsal dinner for my sister-in-law at Bistro 5 and everything from the pre-event communication, to the food, to the service, to the space was perfection. I have to say though, the cocktails were my favorite. I came ready for good drinks and they delivered! Highly recommend the Pisco Sour and Espresso Martini!! Also we loved doing the after-dinner amaro flight. For any night out Bistro 5 would be great but I also highly recommend it if you are looking for a private event. Thanks, Bistro 5!

Drinks good Pasta dishes ok.. had gnocchi and the bolognese.. not the best Italian in Medford for sure Dessert of chocolate profiterol.. waste of time Cost $14.. best spent on better ice cream from the supermarket and any Italian dessert takeout Wanted it to be good but... overpriced Sadly not likely to return , but so local

Nice restaurant and overall good experience. Very limited menu. I thought there would be more options when we arrived, but the specials included just one additional entree. We had a few big eaters and they should have ordered double portions. Wait staff was good.

Seduced by the ambiance and menu I had high expectations. Environment: Lovely outdoor patio but the commuter rail runs through about every 10 minutes. Food: Everything on the menu sounded delicious but the execution was not there. We ordered the salmon with lentils and scallops with risotto. The salmon dish was cold. The scallop dish was better. The scallops were well cooked. The risotto was warm not hot and al dente. Mostly I was disappointed with the cocktails. Their viuexxe carre was bitter and as a whiskey drink was meant to have one big ice cube rather than crushed.

Met some friends here - since it was in the middle of people coming from different directions. The reviews were good and they wanted kind of an upscale place. I have to say - I was disappointed in what we got for what we paid. The portions were quite small especially for the price. The chicken was tasty, but not for that price! The desserts were soooo small too. I mean c'mon. Desserts usually are big enough to share! Lastly, the bread was totally tasteless. I will say the place was packed so I guess others don't mind. I would not return.

Wow!! Delicious food and drinks, the best of both worlds! And the bartender Gabriella is very sweet & gave great recommendations. Outstanding experience

I came here specifically for the Duck Duo, prosciutto Duck and Foie Gras creme brûlée. It was okay, I might challenge whether or not the brûléed liver was actually Foie, as it distinctly tasted like Pork or Chicken. I'll never know, but if you're a fan of Foie you know the difference in taste. Boo hoo

What an amazing meal. The tasting menu was divine and the wine paring was superb . An amazing meal with friends! Not to be missed - a true treasure of a restaurant

I went recently with my family for a birthday dinner. We were all blown away by the food. Our favorites were the calamari and eggplant appetizers and the gnocchi entree. Everything was excellent, made delicately and with detail. The atmosphere is pleasant- you have some distance from other tables but it feels cozy. I didn't get a chance to dive into the very long drink menu but one of my dinner companions really enjoyed their creative cocktail. I almost didn't want to write this review so that this hidden gem doesn't become overrun. I would take this over any place in the North End any day.

Always a great experience. Bistro5 never disappoints! The food was amazing, the wait staff was engaging and very helpful. Our family event was made more enjoyable.

Ordered the prix fix dinner special. Servings were ample and delicious. Helpful server. Outdoor seating was a plus despite the constant commuter rail and other noise.

I stopped by here for a birthday dinner on a Saturday. It's clean and has a modern feel, with hip, upbeat music. Our server was polite and accommodating. It's a bit cozy, but doesn't feel too crowded or cramped. For the appetizer, we had the duck duo, the calamari, and the escargots from the tasting menu. All were quite tasty, although since the duck duo comes with a crème brûlée foie gras, it is a tad sweet for my taste - the duck prosciutto was a great pairing in the dish. For main dishes, I had the spaghetti alla chitarra (?), and my mom had the chicken duo. The spaghetti was awesome - light with tender seafood (I really liked the octopus!) and that handmade pasta texture. My mom's chicken duo was awesome. I've never tasted such juicy and flavorful chicken breast before! For dessert, we had the local strawberries with panna cotta off the tasting menu, and the chocolate mousse. The panna cotta with the strawberries was delicious, especially with the less sweet panna cotta. The chocolate mousse was really good too. I liked the espresso gelato on the side. I recommend this place for dates/romantic dinners, or other special occasions!

After reading so many glowing reviews we had high expectations of this restaurant. Service was stellar, but the food left much to be desired. It wasn't bad but not great either. We started with olives which were decent, calamari was good, beet salad good but nothing out of the ordinary. The veal was well cooked but the dish was missing a sauce, balsamic drizzle or something to tie it all together. Two of us had the veal and agreed the dish was missing something. The steak was well cooked, but rather flavorless--not well seasoned. The yucca fries that came with the steak were really good though. Food's presentation and cooking technique were good, but flavor profiles were below average. For this price range and in the nearby area look for Scutra, Season to Taste, and Gran Gusto, your taste buds will thank you.

I actually had to really take the time to search this place up again, since I don't live in the area and was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. I remember the service was very pleasant and our waiter was able to suggest great wines for us to pair with our food. We chose the restaurant week option, and for the entrees my cousin got the gnocci and I got the sea scallops. I can't even begin to explain how amazing the sea scallops with risotto was. I had only started to eat scallops again, and this definitely made me fall in love with scallops even more. The scallops were cooked perfectly--slightly raw and not overpowering with the seasoning. The risotto was perfect--a bit light and not overwhelmingly heavy. The truffle gnocci on the other hand, was just okay. I wasn't the biggest fan of it, and it really paled in comparison to the sea scallops.

Obsessed. Love. So good. We came here for our anniversary and had the tasting menu. Mushroom polenta, short ribs, peach chocolate torte. It was heavenly. The wine pairing was perfect. So so good. Thanks for a perfect night.

Great spot, had a very nice dinner here. On the pricey side but 100% worth it for the service and quality of the food

What can I say that others before me haven't? Last time I was in there it was one of the best five meals I've had in the last 18 months. Service was impeccable. Chef came out from the kitchen to serve us truffles with the special I got that evening. Kitchen staff was very friendly as well. Food was amazing. You probably have in total 2 to 3 small abs couple of side plates in on meals. There was one dish that I wasn't bonkers over. It was prepared extremely well I just didn't dig the flavor profile. If I lived near Bistro 5? I would be there weekly. A+

I visited here with some friends, the food was amazing but the customer service was the worst I've ever experienced. The food was great and we were having a lovely time so we ordered two desserts. Our waitress came over with 3 spoons and we waited and waited and waited. We had a show to attend so we were running out of time. In the meantime we had asked for the check so we could make it out in time. While waiting for our dessert we received the check. Our waitress, Alex, charged each patron the bill total of 140.00ish dollars instead of splitting the 140 by three people. When she came over we told her and she told us then that she forgot to put the dessert in, had an excuse as to why she messed up the bill and offered no apology. So she then charged us the split bill. So now each of us has almost 200.00 dollars pending in our bank accounts, 600.00 for a meal split between 3 people. Also, there were fruit flies all over the place, landing on our plates and flying all around us. When we left we were really put off by the lack of care given by the waitress about the money and the fact that she forgot the desserts. In my opinion, good customer service would have been to offer free dessert or take something off the bill. When we went to leave we mentioned our concern to the maître d' and she starts yelling at us from the kitchen in front of the whole restaurant. It was absolutely humiliating. When we spoke to the maître d' about our experience we kept it extremely professional and kind, we are three teachers and moms who do not have a bone to pick with people but thought it was important to share our experience. The financial put out on the three of us alone was really difficult to swallow and the lack of care is really what made us feel terrible. Once we were yelled at we really felt terrible and frankly it ruined our time out. We won't be back, as we're not local, but thought others should know. Very upsetting.

I went here for my birthday and it was fantastic! From the food to the service, everything was great. I will gladly return to give them my business. I'm happy that a place like Bistro 5 is in West Medford. They will do well for a very long time. Prices are in line for a higher end establishment. Street parking is available. The atmosphere is cozy. Thanks

This place was so impressive- such incredible food. Went with my dad and got an app, entrees and a dessert and everything was so good and high end.

Best restaurant in town! Always new and interesting dishes, and great, knowledgeable bartenders. Vittorio tends to Every detail.

First visit and I look forward to going back. We live in Medford and we were excited to support local restaurant. We went on a Thursday night for their burger special and to escape the heat. We did get the burgers, but the restaurant was hot! They definitely need to work on their AC. Sitting at the bar was enjoyable. The bartender was friendly, had great recommendations and took good care of us. We were served bread w/ a chick pea and oil purée, it was delicious. We started with the calamari which was tasty. And both of us had the burger special which we both enjoyed. Cocktails were very good. Other than the heat, my only other critique would be the price. Burgers were $19 each. Although the quality and taste were great, it's hard to consider visiting on a regular basis for a burger at that price point.

Great staff. I changed the time of the reservation and number of people a couple of times because my son had to work late and then his fiancée joined us unexpectedly. They were kind and welcoming as could be. We ate outside and enjoyed watching the trains go by. I had the seafood pasta and it was excellent, and then profiterole for dessert. Everyone else was very pleased with their food and drink. I stuck my head inside and there is a great center bar area (or U-shaped?) that will be wonderful to visit when the vaccine/Biden is in wide circulation. Will always have a place in my heart - met my future daughter in law at this dinner.

This place is just off the commuter rail... you can hear and feel the trains as they pass by. Read the signs when looking for parking - avoid permit only areas unless you have the required permit (residential, commuter). Went for Restaurant Week. In addition to the publicized menu, they had additional choices available that night for appetizer (tuna tartar) and entree (duck breast) at no extra charge. I ordered the Eggplant Tower, Veal Milanese, and creme brulee. I found the appetizer a bit bland - if I didn't already know that the cheese was goat cheese from reading the menu, I would have had no idea! The veal was nice and crispy, and the mashed potatoes were well flavored. Dessert came in an unexpectedly long shallow dish, and wasn't too sweet. My friend had the calamari, steak (which replaced the Sweet Potato Gnocci on the RW menu), and Chevre Cheesecake. The calamari was well cooked and lightly crispy, but I found the tomato chutney neither sweet nor spicy as it was described. The steak was a bit tough and the content of the plate lukewarm. (my sides were only just warm too... as if both our plates were waiting for the veal to be ready to be served) The cheesecake a not too sweet kind. Basically, I found the appetizers relatively bland, the crispy veal the best part of either entree, and dessert just okay. Service was fine. The candle-lit room a bit too dark. I'd be willing to go back sometime, but I won't be in a huge rush to.

Ordered a bunch of apps and entrees to split and was not the best. Pasta was flavorless, everything else cold despite the 4 minute drive home. Their cocktails were fantastic though!