Ostra

The BEST SERVICE EVER! It was such an amazing experience. The food was really a beautiful tasting journey and the service was incredible. So many servers, very friendly, passionate about the menu. We learned about the history of the restaurant. We had raw fish, lobster pasta and paella and finished with lava cake! Wow!!! We will be back!!! The most interesting part of the night was watching the chef who made certain that every dish was perfect’ And it really was!!!!!

Our dinner at Ostra was sensational. It was slightly difficult to locate their entrance, but once inside we were warmly greeted by the host and a elegant aesthetic. For our appetizers, we ordered fried calamari, truffle fries, and sweet corn (which was exceptionally delicious). Our main entrees consisted of the Salt Crusted Branzino and Roasted Cornish Game Hens, both were fantastic but the Branzino was most impressive. Perhaps the most impactful experience of the night was our desert, the "Snow Egg"; I struggle to find words that best describe this dish, but it was textured, flavorful, and quite unique. Overall, our meal and experience was worth every penny. Give this place a Michelin Star ⭐

Great dining experience! Everything we ordered was amazing - tasty and temperature appropriate. The wait staff is wonderful - attentive, but not hovering. The bread is to die for and served with a pretty pad of butter in oil - something for everyone! The noise level was energetic, which surprised me early on a Monday night. Had to do some repeating to be heard.

This is my favorite restaurant in Boston and best seafood I’ve ever had. I’ve dined here 6 times over two years and the food, cocktails, and service have been perfect every time. Great for date nights, business dinners or just a solo drink/snack at the bar. My only suggestion - bring back the simply grilled sea bass - that was one of our favorites.

I had a phenomenal three-course dining experience at this upscale restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious - I ordered a filet mignon with intricate plating that was cooked to perfection and arrived fresh and promptly. I also tried one of their game hends that was equally impressive. What truly sets this place apart is the unmatched service. The waiters were extremely polite, quick, and engaging in conversation. They managed the table effortlessly, anticipating our needs without interruption. If you're looking for an upscale restaurant with exceptional food and service, I highly recommend this establishment.

Our best meal during our 3 days in Boston was at Ostra. Our server, the bartender, was delightful and made a perfect martini! The room was very comfortable and not too noisy. I loved my oysters appetizer saddle of monkfish! Our blueberry tart with marscapone ice cream was amazing. My wife and I thought that Ostra was fantastic!

The best thing about Ostra is the service. Granted this is the first time I’ve ever been, but the litany of incredible people who attend your table and every whim is simply outstanding. The food is incredible, though I would have to sample much more of it to get a really accurate read on everything. We had the Hamachi Crudo for a starter (9.0/10), the lobster ravioli for seconds (7.5/10), and the Venician Paella last (8.0/10). The head chef was present throughout the whole night, and if you sit close enough to the open kitchen, you can see him check every single dish and do quality control throughout the entirety of the service.

Absolutely lovely dining experience. We had a fairly large group of 13 people and they catered to our needs. Great suggestions for apps, wine pairings etc. the seafood is divine. Wonderful lobster, sea bass & tuna tartare and of course oysters!

Phenomenal experience! I was visiting my sister in Boston for some girl time and we decided to have dinner at Ostra. It truly did not disappoint. We had oysters, king crab, hamachi crudo, and a Caesar salad as starters. For entrees, we had the lobster gnocchi and the crab risotto. Those two dishes were exceptional! I especially loved how they split the portions up into separate plates as we mentioned that we would be sharing both dishes. For drinks, we asked the manager for his recommendation on wine based on what we ordered. I forgot what he suggested but it was perfect. The one issue is that our server wasn't too attentive at the beginning (actually be was rude). He went to the two tables near us who were seated after us but not us. When he finally came to us, I called him out on it and he apologized but with no explanation.

Late post - stopped by before our play. The decor is elegant and understated, the dinnerware, glasses and cutlery all beautiful and stylish. All your senses are engaged. The food was excellent- the oysters, snow pea salad, corn cavatelli and paella all outstanding. Topped off with affogato for dessert. Must do again.

Ambiance: ok let me start with the vibe of this place. It feels very upscale and elegant. It's a very beautiful place and felt very welcoming from the moment I got in. Food: okay, this is by far the star of the show. We ordered the risotto and branzino and they were both absolutely amazing. We also got complimentary tastings of the gnocchi which had truffle and it was my favorite dish (so it's a must). We also got oysters and really enjoyed the unicorn ones which were very flavorful and buttery. Drinks: I ordered an extra dirty martini with blue cheese olives and it's high on my list of places with good dirty martinis. My friend ordered a cocktail and she really enjoyed it. In addition, we got espresso martinis which were great. Service: we sat at the bar and our server was JJ. He was so knowledgeable about the food and drinks and gave us great recommendations. He was also just great to talk to and made us feel so comfortable. Overall, I'd come here again and can't recommend this place enough! Probably my favorite restaurant we went to during our trip to Boston.

Outstanding service, selection and food quality. Oysters were amazing as well as Monk Fish. Outstanding personable chef who visited us and shared his favorite items on the menu.

Amazing seafood, great service, upscale interior. We have visited for special occasions like a large family reunion and it was great. For food, we tried different fishes. My husband and I split the salt crust Branzino, which is a show and a dish! Delicious and not too salty. Their fish is very high quality and local so prices reflect that as well.

One of the better experience I've had in Boston for fine dinning. I went with my friend and decided to explore the menu a little. We started with the oysters and carpaccio, which were very tasty. I enjoyed the citrus on the carpaccio and the oysters were meaty and sweet. We then split the paella which was smoky and rich in flavor. Definitely enough to feed 2 people comfortably. The servers were super attentive and walked us through the menu. The decor was definitely upper scale and wear something snazzy to fit in! (There were some people in shorts though)

Had dinner at Ostra which was a graduation celebration this past weekend. Just a hype n over priced. Food was ok n quantity was not a lot. If u want to pay for the name n location then try it. The staff was friendly n attentive. This was our first time n don't think we will return. Had the kale salad, snow pea salad n gnochetti for appetizers. They were tasty but small Portions specially the gnochetti. For entrees we had the monkfish, Branzino, paella n filet. Monkfish tasted good n so did the branzino. Paella was ok n a lil Burnt. Filet was good. No side dishes w entrees. If u want sides u have to order it. For desert we had the snow egg, chocolate torte n panna cotta. They were ok but small portions.

Ate here again, 7 years later. What an Excellent dinner. Not cheap by any means, but service was top notch and the food/wine/cocktails were all delicious. I would not be surprised if this place is handed a Michelin star in the future. Go here for a special occasion - you will not be disappointed.

Ostra was simply amazing, the food, service and overall vibe! We went there for our anniversary and the extra attention was surprising and refreshing. We loved everything about the restaurant!

My goodness! One of the most amazing dinners ever. First time visiting Boston and we were so happy we picked this spot. The service was great and every menu item selected did not disappoint.

Top meal in Boston during our visit. Reservation was easy to get/modify. Ambiance was on point. Yummy drinks and food. One thing I especially like about this place is that they split the appetizer dishes into two for my husband and I...so we didn't have to cut everything in half as we share the appetizers (specially octopus and fish tartar--both were excellent).

What a spectacular gem! We decided on Ostra before seeing a concert in Boston and it was fantastic! The decor and the service was stellar! The gin martinis we ordered were STRONG and did not disappoint! We shared three items: the arugula salad which was scrumptious. the seafood risotto which was the star of the evening and so flavorful and the seafood paella which I found very yummy but my husband wasn't much of a fan (minus one star) and then we had fun dessert that escapes me now but I know it had cotton candy on top! Every time we got up from the table a sever would fashion our napkin into various shapes! I would definitely come back! It's $$$$ but worth it!!!

After a thorough search for a high end Boston seafood specialist, we made our way to the back bay. Ostra completely delivers! The space is contemporary and spacious. There is a nice size bar/lounge area and an adjacent dining room, divided by the giant fish on ice display which is a nice touch. There is also a private room behind the bar area and on this night, there was an event going on so the place overall was hopping. We started with the hamachi crudo and grilled Spanish octopus. The kitchen, without prompting, split the octopus appetizer in two so we could share the dish. That was a lovely surprise. Both were incredibly tasty. The octopus was perfection, tender with a nice delicate char. The crudo was simply gorgeous and tasted as good as it looked. I had the monkfish saddle which was recommended by our server. To be honest, I was skeptical because this poor man's lobster is often overhyped and chewy. Tonight, though, I was blown away. The fish was cooked to perfection and floating in a scrumptious pool of mixed mushrooms and scallions. Although the menu describes a mushroom ragout, I would say it is an exquisite mushroom broth. Hubby had the grilled sea bream which was also delicious. In need of some greens, we did the broccolini with pine nuts along with the leafy greens and garlic. The veggie sides were really a highlight. And though the dessert menu looked enticing, we were sufficiently full and opted out. Two chilled caramel truffles arrived with our check and we devoured them. Ostra will not disappoint. The food and service are top notch. It's not inexpensive, but fabulous seafood never is. So glad my fellow yelpers helped me out in choosing this winner.

Came here to celebrate my bf's birthday and it definitely did not disappoint! Our reservation was at 7:45pm and right when we walked in we were seated right away at a nice booth. The entire night our server was friendly and always came back to check on us. Our tables were cleaned in between dishes with a bread scraper. Even though we were one of the last 2 parties in the restaurant to leave, we were never rushed and they let us take our time finishing our food and desserts. For appetizers we ordered the oysters, calamari, and Alaskan king crab tortellini. You MUST get the king crab tortellini, it was probably one of the best things I've eaten that night. For entrees I ordered the seafood paella and my bf ordered the salmon. The paella came packed with big pieces of seafood and the salmon was perfectly cooked. We both were so full from the appetizers that we took most of our entrees back home. For dessert we had a chocolate mouse with kettle corn and marshmallow. It was a perfect ending to an awesome dinner. Everything we ate you could tell it was freshly made and they cared about the quality of the food. Definitely will be back!

AMAZING. The atmosphere was modern, the staff were helpful and quick, the food was delectable. The Sea Bass Tartare was a highlight for us. A really sensational place for date night

I wanted to love the place; I've heard so many good things and was extremely excited to try it out but was somewhat let down with our visit. The restaurant is overwhelmingly large and loud. Despite being seated next to a pillar, which provided some seclusion, I struggled to hear what my boyfriend was saying from across the table. Multiple times, I had to ask him to repeat himself. The service was standard; it wasn't anything exceptional given the reputation of the restaurant as being one of the best in Boston. Luckily for us, our server made sure to check up on us and food was delivered at a reasonable pace. This restaurant is upscale, there's no doubt about that, but the price we paid for the food did not accurately represent what we received. I expected it to be exceptional, yet it fell short. Aside from the bread, which was very good, every single dish that was brought out was overly acidic. I understand that citrus and other acidic foods pair well with fish, but this was unpalatable. Having a sensitive stomach, the octopus appetizer was not a smart choice, as it came doused with a lemony vinaigrette topped with capers and raw onion. The octopus itself was cooked well, but the flavors just did not work for me. We decided to split the salt crusted branzino as our main and I watched as one of the servers poured practically an entire sauciere of lemon and oil over the fish. In combination with the quinoa salad and oregano vinaigrette, I could not finish anything I was given. This dinner was incredibly disappointing. Though I did appreciate the use of fresh ingredients, the experience was lacking and I truly regret spending as much as we did.

The service was incredible. It was like we had one waiter assigned just to our table. He was always there when we needed him. We had the twin lobsters which we served in a hot pot. They were completely shelled so we never had to touch a cracker. The gave us two types of butter; one was seasoned while the other was just melted. The ambiance of the restaurant was top notch. If I ever had the chance, I would return without thinking twice. This was a place to keep in mind if I ever return to Boston.

The restaurant would be five stars if it wasn't for a bit of confusion with the wait staff. There were almost too many people waiting on our table, and it cost confusion as to what we had already ordered. The restaurant was extremely modern. Everything was white and marble, the most notable dish for me was the monkfish, which was extremely flaky and cooked perfectly.

What an experience... excellent service, taste, preparation and vibe! This place is a winner! Lovely wine list to boot...

Maybe the best seafood in Boston, but also the most expensive (over $200 for two adults without alcohol, for a moderate amount of food). The bread to start was very good, similar to Moo (same restaurant family). My first course was the lobster gnocchi, which was incredible. My wife had the calamari. It was good, but be warned it comes with fried jalapeños. For the main course I had the simply grilled Sea Bass. It was cooked perfectly, just the right amount of char, and a nice light sauce. For dessert we had the mascarpone cheesecake, also very good. Would definitely come here again for a special occasion.

* Without question the best fine dining seafood restaurant in Boston * 5 Stars from the Boston Globe are Well Deserved * Elegant, Sophisticated dining with food to match * 8 page wine list with 20 selections by the glass, 15 half bottles and prices are close to three times retail If you're a serious foodie and seafood enthusiast the way to best enjoy Ostra is to share as many small plates as you can to truly appreciate the quality, composition and artistry of the kitchen. You can be basic and conventional and just order an appetizer and an entree or you can be extra and create your own tasting menu, even if you're just two people, and that's what we did on our recent and previous visit. Ostra is one of the few restaurants that will, without you having to ask, split dishes into two perfectly composed presentations. That's a lot of extra work for the kitchen, and we appreciate it. Our photos are all half portions. Here's what we had: * Sea Bass Tartare with black truffle carpaccio and fennel pollen crostini, a hit * Hamachi Crudo, the only miss dish that was overwhelmed with vinegar * Salmon Tartare with a smoke presentation, very nice and always a good show * Tuna Tartare, scrumptious * Ricotta Gnocchetti with Maine Lobster, couldn't be more perfect * Crisp Snow Pea (Salad), wanted something healthy, wasn't expecting much, but it is a wow dish. You don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this * Spring Asparagus Risotto with King Crab. Was debating if we should order another starch after having gnochetti. Glad we did! Desserts are all good as well, forgot to take a photo. The wine list is extensive with a focus on old world but a fair collection of New World hits. Unfortunately on both occasions our Sommelier agreed our bottles were off. I've never had that happen two times, or rarely ever. There could be some storage issues. But both bottles were recognized and gladly replaced. Kudos to our server Calvin, a true professional with a passion for good food. If you love seafood in a fine dining setting deserving of premium prices Ostra is a do not miss must.

My husband and I went here yesterday for our wedding anniversary and were both very impressed with the cheerful, professional, top-notch service and the excellent food. Our waitress was fantastic: she and the bartender concocted a delicious beverage with glitter in it on the spot, simply because I said I wanted a pretty drink that was not too sweet. The fresh bread was delicious and addictive. We ordered 4 different apps (octopus, sea bass tartare, hamachi crudo, and gnochetti with lobster) , side of truffle fries, and the branzino and paella. Our favorites were the gnochetti and sea bass tartare -absolute must-haves! Every single dish came beautifully plated and was delectable. We really appreciated how the restaurant split each dish for us so that we did not have to manually split and serve ourselves. Because it was our wedding anniversary, they surprised us with a lovely sorbet and some chocolate caramel truffles. We are undoubtedly coming back!

The service was good, out server was able to help us with dinner choices and drinks for the night. Our glasses were never empty. Potato Bread with Butter and Olive Oil: The bread was very soft and fluffy, and even though we had a lot of food ahead of us I couldn't stop myself from finishing the bread. Drinks - Metronome and Mello Bravo: both very good, the alcohol was well masked. White Asparagus: this was my first time having white asparagus, it's a cold dish, not bad but wasn't amazing. I think it was a fun first experience, but I would try something else next time. Alaskan King Crab: This was one of my favourites, the meat of the crab was sweet, cooked perfectly, and paired with a nice sauce. Spring Asparagus Risotto: This risotto contained crab and asparagus, it was delicious and they split it into two for us. One of the best risottos I've ever had. I would definitely get it again. Crispy Calamari: The best calamari I've ever had. The texture of the calamari itself was unlike any other. The Roasted Garlic & Lemon Aioli was a perfect pairing. Mushroom Medley: A buttery medley of mushrooms, it was simple and good. Salt Crusted Branzino: This was delicious and more than enough for two. The saltiness was balanced by the brightness of the citrus. If you want a picture of the salt crust, take a picture when they come by because you won't get another chance. Mascapone Cheesecake: Not too sweet, very light, and a great dessert to end the meal on. Salted Caramel Truffles: This was complementary and delicious! Overall, I'd come back just for the bread, the risotto, the crab and calamari. The salt crusted branzino was delicous, but I want to give their other dishes a try.

The food? Delicious! The service? Second to none! The ambience? Fantastic! We arrived early and were seated right away. Staff took great care of us and the food was out of this world! Can't wait to go back.

Good food and options! It's in a nice location easy to get to and park. I would definitely recommend

Came here with a reservation on a Saturday evening right at opening and we were seated quite quickly. The space is really large and filled up slowly so it felt very lively by the time we left - definitely come with reservations to avoid waiting! Service was excellent - we never had to ask for any water or anything as they came by on their own accord. Food came out quick as well but at a good pace so we weren't done eating too fast - just overall really pleasant experience. The menu had a wide variety of food and we went with an appetizer as well as two entrees and a dessert - it was more than enough food for the two of us, especially with the free bread that we got two loaves of. Excellent starter as the bread was super fresh and delicious! The calamari was yummy, however didn't necessarily stand out beyond other calamari dishes I've had at other restaurants; I'd recommend getting something else unless you really love calamari. The two entrees we got were amazing honestly - the paella had a good amount of seafood and was super filling while the fish was so well cooked and left us wanting more. The vegetables that it came with were yummy as well. The dessert we got was unique as I've never had basil, raspberries, and merengue mixed like this along with the mousse - amazing, honestly. I'd recommend this one on top of everything else! The chocolates at the end were a great touch and ended the experience in a positive way. If you're looking for a nice dinner with good service, yummy food, and fair prices for portion and quality, Ostra is a great choice!

Ok so Ostra has been one of my favorite restaurants for the longest time but when we went this past weekend, not so much! I mean you walk in and everyone is super dressed up and I don't mean just the customers, the staff as well. I get it though it's high end but they make you feel worthless, or maybe it's just me? They make you feel not good enough to be there and especially when you're not "super dressed" up like them. Our server was nice but since we weren't spending hundreds of dollars I felt like he didn't care if we were there or not. Our back server was better than him. Good wine, good food even though our steak was overcooked but I will say I was appreciative that they took it off our bill. Boston has lost some type of attitude when it comes to dining out. It's the customers that bring them the business so they should treat us like gold, am I right? I don't feel like they do lately, it depends on the place and location. If you have another restaurant to go to go there because I did not feel like they appreciated us being there and didn't love our experience, and that is sad for us all. Hoping they can do better next time. Cheers!

I keep returning to this restaurant. Best restaurant for seafood in Boston. Amazing service at the bar. Very attentive and friendly staff. I had the Malbec by the glass. The owners of Ostra know the owners of the vineyard in Mendoza. The branzino was fantastic and also the broccolini. The egg yolk dessert was delicious!

Exceptional food, but lazy service. Loved this place because we definitely had the best seafood in Boston here. We started off with the yellowfin tuna tartare. It was super fresh with perfectly balanced flavors. For entrees, we had the grilled sea brim and the simply grilled Branzino. Both dishes were extremely flavorful, yet light. We also shared the shishito peppers, which were rather lemony, but we still enjoyed them. The chocolate torte with the vanilla ice cream was pretty good, not kind blowing though. Service was pretty bad considering the caliber of the restaurant. Our waitress did not take the time to recommend anything on the menu. We had to ask for bread to be brought to the table after waiting and noticing that they forgot. Our waters were not refilled the entire time while we were eating our entrees. Additionally, the bread plates, which we set off to the side of the table, were not picked up until the table was completely cleared before dessert. Someone other than our waitress came to take our dessert order. It was a Sunday night and it was not that busy at the time we had dinner, so the lack of attentive service was disappointing.

So Boston doesn't have a Michelin guide. But if they did, I would bet real money that Ostra would be deserving of a star or two. For starters, the service was impeccable. The gentleman who poured water never spilled a drop and made sure our entire meal that our water glasses were never more than half empty. And he had other responsibilities, too. Catherine, our server, was extraordinary. She had a lot of tables and was running around, but was knowledgeable and made us feel special. The food was very special - practically everything on the menu was delicious, but for the two most expensive dishes - the branzino (which cost $250!) and the Wagyu, which was unfortunately overcooked and too stringy vs. the melt in your mouth Wagyu one would expect for that price point. But the sides, oysters, all of the first courses, paella, and lobster (what a SPECIAL dish) + the service + the wine selection made the dinner really special. We walked out full, happy, and out $200 a person, but it was worth it. I would probably get a double order of the lobster next time and skip the steak and branzino. Truly special spot.

I was expecting something more delicious. But still ok. The sea bass tartar is the best of all. I have also tried the brazino. Ordinary level.

I wanted to love it, I really did. Read the reviews and thought it would be incredible. From the moment we sat down, I knew it would be an off night. Our server was inattentive and it seemed like we were bothering her. Seabass ceviche: lacked flavor, no salt, and the only good thing was the truffle. Calamari: Literally tasted like frozen from the store. Was so disappointed and I love nothing more than great calamari. Pasta app: Perhaps the only good thing of the night. While the pasta was over cooked, the sauce was stellar. Black bass entree: Nothing to write home about. Boring, fishy, soft skin. Would not get again, certainly not for $50. So many better options for seafood in Boston.

Celebrated my nephew's birthday here last night, and we all left extremely satisfied with full bellies. The servers here are so quick on their feet and really attentive. Whenever your water cup goes down a bit, they're already on it and pouring you more or asking if you need anything. Here's what we ordered: - raw unicorn oysters and clams: recommend both as they're so fresh and sweet tasting - grilled octopus: highly rec as well with the crispy capers and sliced octopus--it made for a delectable bite - tuna tartare: quite forgettable, but the overall flavor was good with the lemon - salt baked branzino: the star of the night. Perfectly baked, salted and melts in your mouth - sea bream: tender and perfectly grilled and seasoned - monkfish: definitely the meatier fish out of the bunch. I wasn't really feeling it, but the mushroom gravy it sits on is really umami and tasty - truffle fries: some of the best fries I've had. Super crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The fries also taste like it's been cooked in beef fat rather than normal oil The night that I visited, it seemed like the overall crowd skewed older with business dinners, but i definitely see this as a great date night or family dinner spot.

It has been years since we've been here - always remember it as over the top food. Not so much last night unfortunately. Service and ambiance were great - felt like a nice fancy night out. The food was lacking. My wife had the monkfish saddle. Too big, too much butter, too much salt - couldn't taste the fish. I had the paella. I was excited for all the listed seafood. When it arrived it was dry - had clearly been cooked a while ago and sat under a heat lamp. The seafood (mussels, clams, calamari, lobster) was pretty dried out and chewy - the calamari in particular - like rubber. The rice base was also pretty dry. Two appetizers (just OK), two drinks each, and the mains above plus tip was $350. Yikes. We won't be back unfortunately.

AMAZING seafood restaurant, you'll will not be disappointed!! One of the best restaurants in Boston. The food was absolutely outstanding. First of all, the complimentary bread and butter/oil is 10/10. The bread is cooked fresh, fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, and the butter is lightly salted- you will want more. For dinner I ordered the prime sirloin carpaccio, the yellowfin tuna tartare, and the ricotta gnocchetti (with lobster, beech mushrooms, and black truffle). All 3 dishes were exquisite- presentation was executed very well, and the taste was clean, crisp, and fresh. My favorite dish was the ricotta gnocchetti- the pasta was light and fluffy (not too dense) and cooked al dente, with large chunks of buttery lobster scattered throughout. Just make note that it is a FIRST course, not a main course- it is a VERY small dish. Every single bite was a bite of Heaven, but there were only about 5 bites. And the other 2 were true appetizer sizes as well. It can be unclear of how much food to order, I wish the waiter would've explained the setup of the menu better, and maybe suggested how many dishes to order from each section. For dessert I ordered the warm chocolate torte with ice cream (made to order)- very rich and velvety chocolate cake, with a smooth vanilla ice cream. All the food is a little pricey but is well worth it. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful, white and clean, lots of natural light, and very elegant. Service was both friendly and attentive, and all of the seafood was fresh. I love Ostra and cannot wait to return for dinner.

I had high hopes for Ostra. We came on a Friday evening and the restaurant was busy. We ordered two salads (snap pea and a special beet salad) to split but only one came out split. I was very torn about it but I ordered octopus and it was completely overcooked and rubbery. I was dining with friends for a special occasion so I did not want to ruin the mood by sending it back but I was not happy. I feel like this restaurant tries hard to be fancy and great but if you overcook your seafood at a seafood resto, that is a problem. Desserts were fine (blueberry tart, chocolate torte and floating snowball(??)) but not amazing - again, perhaps my expectations were too high. In MA in late July, I thought at least the blueberries would be really delish but they had very little flavor. I would choose Mistral over Ostra.

I booked this place for a birthday. My guest loves seafood and I heard this place was really good. We had an early dinner during the middle of the Christmas and New Year's week so I wasn't sure if it was going to be busy. The place was empty when we arrived but filled up as the night went on. High ceilings almost museum like ambiance but still very clean and well decorated. Our server was excellent and talked about the menu giving us recommendations. We ordered oysters, grilled octopus and hamachi crudo. All of the appetizers were excellent the oysters were fresh and briny but the hamachi crudo was by far and way the best appetizer. There were 4 of us and 3 of the 4 ordered seafood. We ordered salmon, paella and branzino. My non seafood guest ordered the filet mignon well done. Overall the food, experience and service were excellent. There were a lot of people waiting on our table which is great. 5 stars

I agree that it is subpar. we tried a variety of things on the menu and I have to say my two favorites were the bread and the pasta - which is odd considering it seemed to be known for seafood

Service was very efficient & dinner felt a bit rushed. We both had fish entrees and neither was outstanding. Fish was of good quality just rather bland. Pretty room. Price was high for what we thought was an average meal.

The ambiance was good, the service was middle-of-the-road for the type of restaurant it is. The food was not bad at all, but nothing impressive. Ok place to have dinner if other restaurants are full, but you can do a lot better at this pricepoint with the other options in the general area.

Came on a Monday evening with my fiance for dinner. We were really excited to try an upscale place in Boston! Service was really slow overall. We ordered 3 dishes including the Salt Crusted Branzino and it ended up taking 2 hours for our order to come! By the time the Branzino came out, I was already pretty full. Fortunately, they took care of the fish and calamari for us. My favorite part of the meal was the ricotta gnochetti. It was so creamy and the lobster was super fresh. I loved that they also split the dish into two for my fiance and I. I also loved the bread with garlic pieces on top. Absolutely perfect with olive oil. Overall, I appreciate the "fine dining" experience, however I was very disappointed overall with the pace of the meals.

delicious meal with excellent seafood: hard to say which starter was best *Crispy Native Oysters Cornichon Remoulade, Spicy Aji Aioli *Ricotta Gnocchetti Maine Lobster, Beech Mushrooms, Black Truffle *Risotto Alaskan King Crab, Spring Asparagus Spuma, Parmesan, Fine Herbs *Roasted Local Monkfish "Saddle" very meaty Cannellini & Garbanzo Bean Ragoût, Morel Mushrooms, English Peas, Fine Herbs *little saltier Grilled Sea Bream in Trevisano Leaf Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon Snipped Herbs, Seasonal Accompaniments fun dessert Snow Egg Meringue, Lemon Curd Mousse, Raspberry, Basil with nice presentation

Ostra is a one-michelin star restaurant located in the heart of Boston, MA. We came to Ostra to celebrate our anniversary during our trip to Boston. I reserve this place a month earlier but I think getting a table here is not difficult. Moving forward to the dishes we had: Starter: 1. Oysters: Boston is very well-known for their oysters and of course we had to try the ones in Ostra. It is good but it is not amazing, definitely can find better oysters in non-michelin star restaurants. 2. Sea Bass Tartare: I am a big fan of any tartare. This one might be one of my favorites. The sea bass is soft and delicate, melts in the mouth. Topped with few slices of truffle which were married well together. Mains: 1. Ricotta Gnocchetti: For me this one is good but I'm not really into gnocchetti. The dish is well executed and some lobsters that go well with it. Overall not bad! 2. Paella: I was really excited for their paella especially it include boston seafood. But I was quite disappointed by this dish. Although the dish has a generous portion of seafood, but the rice itself is lacking of aromatic flavors. It tasted quite dull and not appetizing. We could not much of it. 3. Branzino: This branzino is also a huge miss. There is also a lack of flavors in the fish, perhaps it missed some seasoning. Dessert: 1. Panna Cotta: I always order Panna Cotta wherever I go. This one is good but not amazing. I've had better ones. 2. Snow Egg: I think this dessert is pleasing to the eye and definitely photogenic. But taste-wise, is not so much. A huge miss too. In terms of ambiance, it is great. Spacious restaurant, tall ceiling great vibe. Servers are pretty good, kind to explain the dishes well. Overall this place is more suitable for family or work dinner. I would not really recommend this place for a date. The food here doesnt spark nor memorable in any way.

The food here is excellent! It's pricy but it's worth it. I wasn't let down like I've been before at some other expensive restaurants. To start, we got oysters, calamari, and the grilled octopus. The octopus was cooked well. For entrees, we did family style and shared the ricotta gnocchetti, grilled branzino, paella, and a side of truffle-parmesan fries. I really liked the gnocchetti. The sauce was creamy and well-balanced. The fish tasted fresh and light, which was exactly what I wanted. The paella was definitely made to share and was really flavorful. For dessert, we got the torte and panna cotta. They were ok. I wasn't wowed by them.

Ostra hosted a fabulous night for my friends and me! If I go back, I would skip the mains and fill up on other appetizers and dessert. This is an expensive restaurant, but worth it for a special night out. Our server Catherine was not only knowledgeable and attentive but also patient! The empress of love cocktail so light and refreshing but not too sweet. The tuna tartare and grilled Spanish octopus were so incredible I'm still thinking about both. The monkfish was a good portion and the sauce was light and delicate, however I found it a little lackluster compared to the exciting flavors of the first course. Any ambivalence I had went out the window with dessert. The snow egg was the stand out! It's a risky choice but I don't think you will be disappointed if you order it! You can't go wrong with chocolate torte or panna cotta either

We came here for our anniversary. Everything was super expensive but the food was amazing. We started with 6 oysters and tuna tartare. The food took a while to come but it was really fresh when it did. My husband got the wagon steak and he said it was the best steak he's ever eaten. I got paella which was huge and way too much food for me. It came with a ton of great seafood.

Delicious food, great service. It's not easy to make fish really really great without a lot of rich sauce but Ostra did it. The ambience is also elegant and it's a great pre-show dining spot.

Food, service, and ambience is excellent. The dishes were well prepared with creativity. I had a great experience. Definitely will return when I am in Boston

Very good food and the staff is friendly. The steak I had was great and the special scallop dish was good too. The paella's was good and had everything that a good paella should have but just a little salty.