Hamersley's Bistro

My favorite classic restaurant in the South End. I have had such great family meals here, the service and food are top notch. I don't like chicken but loved their roast chicken and have never been disappointed with their fish dishes. French classic fare, the perfect special date place.

It is rather unfortunate that this place will be closing at the end of the month because the food here is fantastic. Located in the Backbay area right next to Beehive, this place is gorgeous; plenty of seating and an open kitchen. With rotating seasonal menus, chances are you will never be bored when dining here. On a recent visit, my boyfriend and I enjoyed an appetizer of venison pate with figs, homemade mustard, and a sherry vinaigrette. Everything was spot on, and I wish I could eat it again. Main courses were the halibut with clams and double roasted quail. Both featured seasonal veggies and were bathed in two sauces that I still dream about. In terms of price, this place is a bit high end so don't go in there hoping for a cheap meal. Wine by the glass is an average of $11 while appetizers average out around $8. However, it is all worth it. Food is cooked with care and that only improves the already amazing quality. Try and make a reservation while you can!

Five of us went including one with gluten issues and two vegetarians. Everyone was happily accommodated. Terrific foods. Terrific service. Lively place. I had a corn soup and roast chicken followed by a great dessert. Everything is wonderful. Go. There's a reason it's been a success for 20 years

I came here with my husband for Valentine's Day two years ago and wouldn't come back. We chose Hamersley's as it was voted one of the most romantic restaurants and it couldn't have disagreed more. The table next to us was so close they should have just pushed our tables together. The service and food were both good - but not notable. Definitely better places in Boston for the money.

Gordon and Fiona's determination to create extraordinary food while keeping it accessible to general public is applaudable. The rustic set up of this place with a warm hue are instantly comforting and approachable- just like their food. Whether its lobster with risotto, their signature duck confit, roasted chicken or halibut and clams, there are no frilly adornments and everything on the plate has a contribution beyond visual pleasures.

I have mixed feelings about Hamersley's. We ordered 4 dishes: sardines, mixed seafood, mussels, and roast chicken. The sardines and mussels were solid---proteins were tender and seasoned correctly; sauces were excellent---seasoned correctly and flavorful. The mixed seafood dish was, well, mixed. The lobster salad was tender, seasoned, and dressed to enhance flavor; the lobster tail, however, was unseasoned and a bit tough; the shrimp were practically inedible---too salty; the scallop was luscious---super tender and flavorful due to a soy sauce marinade. The lowlight of the meal was the chicken---the *leg* was overcooked and mostly dry (how do you do that?!?!); breast pieces required being dunked in sauce to make them edible; the skin was covered in charred herbs, which didn't do anything for me; also, the meat was very underseasoned (no brine?). Except for the prices, everything about this restaurant made me feel like it hasn't changed one bit in 20 years. The food is mostly what you'd expect from a decent French bistrot---simple preparations with good flavor. But, the prices are a bit silly for this type of food, even considering the location. FYI: it seems that you have to spend over a certain limit to get decent wine glasses---we bought a $25 half-bottle and were served with stemware you can buy for about $1/glass. A nearby table with a Chateauneuf du Pape had what looked like nice Riedel stemware.

wow, i thought boston wasn't the place for continental cuisine, but hamersley's was easily the best meal i've had since moving to the city. the signature roast chicken with garlic, lemon and parsley is surprising in its depth of flavor. wine list is also reasonable yet superb.

The best meal I had in Boston. I went with a party of six and everyone's meal looked incredible. Go here. There is also a cool jazz bar next door that you can go to after the meal.