L'Espalier--RELOCATED

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30 Gloucester St (at Fairfield Street)
Boston, MA 02115

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(617) 262-3023
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L'Espalier--RELOCATED - Boston, MA
Reviews
( 19 )
( 7 )
( 6 )
( 3 )
( 4 )

Best

My girlfriend and I went went to L'Espalier for Restaurant Week. We had to change our reservation from Friday to Saturday - however, we did not realize that they did not do Resta...

Worst

My wife and I chose L'Espalier for our New Year's Eve this year, but were disappointed on a number of fronts. The first disappointment was the lighting in our room: only three so...

July 10 Disappointment 7/16/2004

For a fine dining experience, try somewhere else. The maitre d' had dirty shoes and a dirty jacket. I ordered the degustation meal with the wine pairings. The amuse included sorbet, for which no spoon was provided. The coaster on which the bottled water was placed was dirty. The champagne was a house brand, filled to near the top of the glass, a sure sign you an inferior product. The volume of the seared foie gras was no more than that of a thumb. The white wine for the 2nd course, a single piece of seared tuna, was also an inferior house brand. The ""rack"" of lamb (one small chop) was, however, very flavorful and perfectly prepared. While the service was attentive, attention to detail was lacking, inferior wines were served (at a cost of $75), food presentation was uninspired and unimpressive. I would not recommend this resaturant. Pros: Attentive service, Pleasant atmosphere Cons: , Negative value/cost more
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Best Dinner Ever! 5/4/2004

I've never had a more amazing meal than at L'espalier. Two years later, I still recommend it to everyone. I even suggested it as the place for my brother to propose. The food is delicious. There is a salad with honey-rose water dressing that I shall never forget. The service was perfect - we were given a small plate of cheeses and port wine ""just to try it out and taste it"". I've never spent three hours dining, but this was worth every second. To top it all, the ambiance lends to a most romantic evening. Guys, take your special dates here! Pros: Ambiance, Food, Service more
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Close to Perfection 1/31/2003

This restaurant embodies french nouveau cuisine. The chef strives to provide new and creativity dishes based on fresh ingredients. The meal was exquisite as was the service. Yes, the pace was slow and there was no music. However, if you are in such a rush, go to Mcdonalds. Music is unnecessary if you are with the right company and enjoying superb food. I wonder why people go to fine restaurants when they don't understand the purpose. Fine dining should not be a pretentious power move to impress your friends or date. It should be to experience a form of art, and L'espalier is ART. I am so sick of complaints about small portions. Are we animals? Do we need to stuff are faces? Find a different trough with music if you are too close-minded to experience art. Pros: Cheese Course, Service, Venison more
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Formula movie 1/15/2003

It's like a formula movie applied to a restaurant. They have all the right things (i.e. romantic place, good food, etc.), but no spirit to pull it off. To me, fine dining is the total experience of being in a restaurant. The waiters were deliberately stiff to the point of being rude, never gracious. The chef actually did the rounds of the table, but again it was part of the routine. No joie de vivre. Pros: Romantic, Good food, Decent wines Cons: Stuffy & bad service, Overpriced, Go to the 4 Seasons! more
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Let Down on New Year's Eve 1/2/2003

My wife and I chose L'Espalier for our New Year's Eve this year, but were disappointed on a number of fronts. The first disappointment was the lighting in our room: only three sources of dim light, and no light source on our table -- this left us straining to read our menus and reduced the food on our plate to varing shades of gray. The greatest disappointment was the food: although the ingredients were outstanding, the execution and flavors were dull. Finally, after spending $500 on a dinner for two, one would think that they could have afforded to pass out a glass of champange at midnight (standard practice at every other restaurant that we've spent New Year's Eve). We will not be dining at L'Espalier again. Pros: Decor, Ingredients Cons: Too expensive, Too dark, Lacks details more
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poor French imitations... 12/19/2002

As someone who resides in London and is fortunate enough to travel throughout Europe, I was looking forward to my French dining experience combined with American warm hospitality and customer service. Firstly, when arriving on time my guests and I were told to wait 15 minutes or so for our table - with no alternative seating nor apology. To add insult to injury, the food was merely adequately presented, bland and obviously prepared with lack of attention and expertise. All these things would have been an oversight in such a lovely surrounding, yet the service was mediocracy embodied. Perhaps its reputation has jaded its mission, and I feel the ownership would do well to visit its transatlantic equivalents and realise where and why they are failing miserably. more
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The Best in Boston 12/19/2002

Fabulous. Words can't even begin to describe. By far the best food, ambience, and service in the city. You must go to try it for yourself. Enjoy! Pros: cheese, wine, service more
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For the Elite at heart... 11/8/2002

Yes the food is superb, but the ambiance is another story. When my husband and visited L'Espalier, we were immediately uncomfortable. The room is so quite you can hear a pin drop. With no background music, it was impossible to talk at normal decibels without being overheard. All of the men were wearing suits and the women wore clothes designed to show off their jewels. We were the only guests under 50. The wine was fabulous, the cheese, heavenly and the desert, divine. The entries were more interesting in texture and presentation than in flavor. We would recommend this restaurant to people who like to get dressed up, spend gobs of money, and desperately want to achieve high society stature. Pros: remarkable cheese, spectacular deserts, wine selection Cons: no music, old crowd, suits more
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Truly Superb in Every Way 9/2/2002

From the warm reception, to the elegant decor, to the gracious service, to the magnificent preparations, beautifully presented (incredibly appealing menu, too), all nicely paced. As close to perfect as we've ever experienced. One tiny quibble - no music? Pros: Appealing Menu, Gracious Service, Beautiful Decor Cons: No music? more
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re-consider 9/1/2002

Tremendous effort and inventivness do not guarantee complete success. The degustation [summer] dinner in August 2002 was more interesting than successful. I compared the duck to the Long Island duck at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor. It did not quite match. The wines were surprisingly light in all four tastings. Only the champagne was impressive. The rose was coloured water - Id have preferred a cheap Rose d'Anjou. The cheeses were wonderful [a terrific Tasmanian and sublime Spannish were included] but no wine was designated. I chose a Bordeaux and it nearly burned my mouth after the blandness of its predecessors. Pros: good service, adventurous chef, valet parking Cons: drab decor, pretentiousness, odd wine choices more
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Best in Boston 8/29/2002

For a special event, this place can't be beat. The food, atmosphere, and service are (IMHO) the best in Boston. If you are celebrating something special, be sure to let them know as they usually deliver a special message with dessert. more
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Tasting Menu Superb 8/26/2002

I was looking forward to attending L'Espalier this summer since I recently was given a gift certificate. After reading some of these horrible reviews, I was having doubts. Well, I am happy to report that I had a wonderful experience. The tasting menu was a nice change of pace, and my only complaint was there was too much food for a tasting menu. After about 9 courses, my boyfriend and I were so full, we decided to go right home to digest. The waitstaff was attentive and polite, and even brought us some wine to sample over the course of the evening with no charge. I felt welcomed there (even though my boyfriend and I were not celebrating anything), and loved the fact that I wasn't rushed. It reminded me of France where they don't rush you, and dining really is an entire experience and night out! more
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Supremely good 8/24/2002

The restaurant has a feeling and a mood that exudes charm and romance. It made our anniversary dinner the best ever. I would highley recommend L'Espalier. Pros: atmosphere, courteous, Timely Cons: none, none, none more
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Meal of a lifetime 7/29/2002

This is where I proposed to my wife (married 10 years now) and since she said yes, I will always recommend this restaurant. more
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So Romantic! 7/29/2002

I had the best meal I've ever had in Boston at L'Espalier. Try the tasting menu - your meal will last the entire evening and the staff will never rush you. The decor is wonderful, and the setting is perfect for that special evening. A must for any Boston resident. Pros: Tasting Menu, Excellent Service, Beautiful Setting Cons: Expensive more
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check out the competition 7/16/2002

Having been here a few times I would say - while the food is first rate, and the service attentive on slow nights.. L'Espalier does not merit the very high price tag. In many ways it reminds me of Locke-Ober in the last days of their prior incarnation. If you are looking to splurge perhaps funds would be better spent at Julien, Aujourd'hui , Radius, Lumiere or Clio? more
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complete dissapointment 7/1/2002

I have no idea how L'Espalier has managed to get such high ratings. Whilst the decor was lovely, every other aspect was a complete disappointment, especially the food. The staff had attitude and were uninformed about the menu-but I would have been able to tolerate that had the food been edible. There are much better places to eat in Boston. Pros: atmosphere, valet parking Cons: bad food, attitude more
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L'Outstanding!!!!! 6/15/2002

A truly exceptional dining experience. Got all dressed up, arrived 10 minutes early but seated immediately. Multiple course meal with matching wines. Food exceptional. Truly a gastronomical delight. Wine pairings gutsy and very successful. The complexity of the food echoed in the complexity of the wine. Service superb, food moved on a timely basis but we never felt rushed. Wait staff very friendly and made us feel at home. Actually too full at the end of the meal. Memorable evening to say the least. Pros: Food, Wine, Service more
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L' Overated 6/13/2002

L'espalier is THE most over-rated place in Boston. The setting is okay, but the real problems are the food and service. The waiters are snobby. When you are finally actually served, the first reaction is that you are shocked at the fact that you need a microscope just to find the damn thing on your plate. But, trust me, you don't want to find your food anyway because the food has to be THE WORST food ever, especially their vegetarian concoctions. Not only was the food not good, it was not edible. Not only is this place certainly not worth going broke over, but I honestly would advise that you not eat there even if the food was free! more
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Jeffery 6/12/2002

I took my girlfriend out to dinner on our anniversary this week. The place was very nicely decorated. The host was pleasent when we arrived, our table host (Jeffery) was very nice and helpful and very pleasent. The food was good, not splendid. The wine list was amazing, the vintage collection was great, but very expensive ($400/bottle). The sommalier was a bit crude and vague when making suggestion on wine. Pros: Great Service, Great Wine List, Romantic Cons: Ordinary Food, Old Crowd, Expensive more
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Menu for L'Espalier--RELOCATED


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Editorial

  • One of Boston's most storied establishments for immaculate, no-holds-barred high-end dining at its former location on Gloucester Street, L'Espalier mesmerizes diners anew in its second location in...

  • 9/2/2009 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Diner's Club, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Prudential / St. Botolph, Back Bay, Back Bay West
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