Jea Kim
Google
New restaurant in the Boston Athenaeum that's serving up small brunch plates and innovative vegetarian dishes.
Took a visit for brunch this past weekend. Much like Lehrhaus, Folio felt like a promotional front for the Boston Athenaeum—a two-century-old library brimming with historical books, paintings, and sculptures. This new restaurant offers the public a sneak peek into this exclusive club. Partnering with The Catered Affair, the culinary team behind the iconic Courtyard Tea Room in BPL, Folio serves up small European dishes with a farm-to-table focus and heavy French and Italian influences.
Despite the restaurant being “library-themed,” the décor only included one wall covered with book pictures. However, the green and orange accents throughout created an upscale lounge vibe. With a menu focused on small plates, we ended up sharing six dishes between the two of us, and each one was unique and amazing.
Some of our favorites included the Burrata, A Study in Carrot, and Tortilla de Papas. The Burrata, perched atop pea pesto, was a flavor bomb that kicked off the meal perfectly. I’m usually not a fan of mint and cheese together, but the mint leaves here added just the right fragrant touch, complementing the bright and tangy pea pesto. A Study in Carrot paired roasted carrots and carrot ribbons, all sprinkled with Middle Eastern spices. The real magic, though, was in the pistachio dukkah and hummus, which added a tangy kick and a bit of savory umami that made the dish truly shine. Tortilla de Papas was a creamy, indulgent treat. Its buttery texture did overlap slightly with the Cannelloni we also tried, but it was slightly more satisfying.
As the finale of our meal, we got the cheesecake, which was bathed in berry compote. It was a notch above Tatte’s strawberry cheesecake. The berry compote added an extra touch of sweetness, but the cheesecake's creamier texture was what really won me over.
The cocktail selections were some of the best I've had in a while. I had their signature Athena’s Ambrosia and the Callopie’s Cooler (mocktail), and both were amazing. By infusing scented water, both had a lovely fragrant undertone that beautifully complemented the fruity elements.
Overall, a true page-turner of a meal. While I might not sign up for their membership that offers a 15% discount on meals, I would definitely come back again for brunch.