Ten Tables

The staff is friendly and dedicated to making everyones experience fabulous. I'm a meat eater, and they do meat right...but, i reallllyyyy love their salads, especially the arugula salad. I've had many wonderful dishes here and I loved them all. Dessert is also amazing here, not overly sweet. Pros: great food Cons: reservations are a must more

I've been wanting to go to ten tables for quite some time as I had read good things about it and heard good things from friends. First, I do like the atmosphere there. The decor was nice and our service was friendly and mostly efficient. The food on the other hand was absolutely nothing special at all. Not even close to being special. My husband and I decided to go with the chef's menu, because we have had good experiences with those types of things at other places (Craigie on Main). You would think that the chef would want to showcase what he does well, but apparently not. Our steaks were overcooked and tough - something we could have done better at home. I guess I expect more from professionals. The real travesty however was my dessert. I had a piece of pound cake with a smear of honey and a few stewed cherries. The pound cake could have come from the grocery store. No, really - no exaggeration at all. I ate the cherries and left most of the rest. Our meal was not worth the $60/person we spent. For an mostly equivalent price you can do the chef's whim at Craigie on Main, which is at least an order of magnitude better. Pros: Nice atmosphere, good service Cons: mediocre food more

I have tried to get a reservation at Ten Tables on several occasions, and was unsuccessful. One needs to look no further than the quality of the food and the name of the restaurant to explain why: seating is limited. When I finally did get a reservation I was not disappointed, as Ten Tables provided excellent ambiance, service and, most importantly, food. I dined on a Thursday night, and found the warm interior more than inviting. The small size of the space means that the kitchen is in full view, which could be a distraction in any other restaurant this size. At Ten Tables, however, it makes perfect sense, as two chefs provided wonderful ambiance while I enjoyed my meal. The service was very friendly and attentive, and I had the distinct impression that they were legitimately excited to be serving me each dish. My waiter seemed almost hurt when I did not eat every bite of a delicious, but rich pate. America needs more restaurants like this. Pros: Organic, local ingredients, good value, great service Cons: Tough to get reservations more

I have only eaten at Ten Tables once, but before eating, I heard nothing but great things! When I called for reservations, the guy at the other end of the line was really accommodating to my idiosyncratic changes. Very patient, nice, and professional! (If I had taken his name, I would have purchased a thank you card for him!) Pros: Amazingly fresh food, superb ambience, inviting, intimate Cons: Desserts were not as ""amazing"" more

I have to agree with another reviewer - don't go here on a hot day . However, that would prove to be only the beginning of a bad night out for my wife and me. Pros: Waiter and manager were helpful. Cons: Chef needs to be refreshed on proper kitchen practices. more

Took my wife to Ten Tables last night (6/10/08) for our 2nd anniversary. Food and Service were terrific, but the heat level was absolutely stifling. Waitstaff did the best they could keeping water glasses filled, but had to leave prix-fix 4-course dinner early because heat was simply overwhelming. My recommendation: Go during Spring, Fall or Winter when you will be able to enjoy your meal without having to wipe your brow. Pros: Food, Presentation, Service Cons: Air Conditioning more

Creative yet unpretentious food, served in a cozy (literally, 10 tables) atmosphere with open kitchen. Great flavors, excellent service - an overall great experience. Pros: Atmosphere, food, service Cons: Parking (street parking, easy to find though) more

I had been wanting to try TenTables for a long time and recently got a chance to. Our night got off to a bad start perhaps when we saw which of the ten tables was to be ours - there is a table right by / in the doorway that we drew the bad luck to get. It was a cold night so while the wait staff was kind to police the door to make sure no one kept it open too long, it wasn't the cosy feel we were expecting. I felt that they really should change their name to Nine Tables and get rid of that one - or else warn you when you make a reservation that you're getting it. Pros: Local, fresh food; nice ambiance; great value Cons: ""Tasting menu"" is not a real tasting menu, tenth table is horrible more

We had been wanting to try Ten Tables for a while based on a friend's recommendation from two years ago, but we were a little nervous seeing some of the reviews from the spring and summer. We tried it anyway and were pleasantly surprised. Perhaps they had a problem wait staff that is no longer there, because everyone we encountered was professional and cheerful. The bathroom was clean, albeit warm and difficult to get to. The ambiance was, as many have noted, tasteful and inviting. And the food was excellent. The potato leek soup with blue cheese and bacon was smooth, rich and well-balanced. The steak with verde salsa and roasted marrow was also well executed. We thought the portions were fine and was an overall good value. However, the place is small and I can see how any hiccups could leave a party with nowhere to wait. Nonetheless, our experience was positive and I hope yours is too. Pros: Food Ambiance Cons: It is a little cozy more

I went to this restaurant with some friends, one of whom had recommended this restaurant. However, the service was bad and the food was tasteless. The decor was actually fine, and the table settings and dining room evoke a nice comfortable feeling, as does being able to observe the kitchen staff working. Our waitress was very crisp; she didn't smile at once for most of the meal, and only cracked a smile after one of my friends told a joke while ordering dessert. I don't require a smile, but there was a down right rudeness in terms of tone and being spoken down to the whole evening that was unacceptable and left a bad taste in my mouth. I actually thought the prices were great, until I saw the size of my dinner. It was so small that the appetizer was actually proportionally larger based on price. However, the bland taste really sealed the deal on this being an overall bad restaurant and bad dining experience. In the end, my friend felt very embarrassed for having taken us here. However, there was a fabulous dessert place right next door and that about made up for this whole mess of an experience. I've dined most of the other restaurants in JP, so skip Ten Tables and head over to JP Seafood Cafe, Bella Luna, Cafe D, or even the Purple Cactus would be preferable. Pros: Ambience Cons: Bad Service, Tasteless food, Expensive prices more

Ten Tables is so incredibly fabulous that it almost makes me want to keep living in Boston. Really, it's... more

Ten Tables is so incredibly fabulous that it almost makes me want to keep living in Boston. Really, it's that good. Check out the Tuesday night win... more

My first meal at Ten Tables was really extraordinary- perfect in every way. (including the best brandade I've ever eaten!) Every time I've gone back since then, it's been a little less stellar. The menu is very limited, which is okay sometimes, but sometimes problematic. The wine list is thorough and includes affordable options, and the desserts are consistently delicious. The appetizers and entrees can border on mediocre. The staff, and even the chefs, are very friendly and warm, but the owner is cold and abrupt. The space itself is lovely, but the food quality is sporadic. It's a mixed bag. Pros: great space, friendly chef, local ingredients Cons: always feel rushed to leave, inconsistent quality more

I've heard such great things about Ten Tables. My friend David who has exquisite taste in food even loves this place. So it was quite a disappointment for me when I finally made it there. The first time I didn't realize I needed reservations and I was turned out quite coldly. It was jarring, but I convinced myself they must treat people with reservations much better. I went back with a reservation a few weeks later with 2 other friends. The appetizer was a combination of pates that was very fresh, but also more salty than most pates I've had before. The service was fine, but not as warm or inviting as I had expected. It's almost as if the chef is going one way and wants to serve high quality well prepared food, but her staff is going the other way and offering high brow snobby ""look down on you"" attitude. It also feels like the chef is so busy with the process of preparing food that they forgot about the importance of taste. The entree of raviolis I had was disappointing. It was very fresh, but also very bland, and very little quantity of it on the dish. I had thought with the prices I saw that it would be a good value meal, like Petit Robert Bistro, but in fact the prices coupled with the extremely small portions, makes this actually an expensive meal. One reviewer commented on the bathrooms and said it was moldy, but I found the bathroom so hot and dry that I question if mold could even live in there, but I'm also not a mold expert. And the ice cream dessert was probably the best out of the three courses. The ambience is wonderful and I love being able to look into the kitchen to see what's happening in there. But given the little amount of food and the taste of it, and throw in the questionable service, and relatively high price, I would not recommend this place. But Ten Tables does have a loyal following, so there appears to be 2 camps. I suggest readers make reservations and go try it out for themselves, and then write your reviews here. Pros: ambience Cons: service, food, price more

Awful. Never have I been treated so poorly. Forget about making a reservation with the owner of this establishment. Even if you do, she will kick you out in the cold in the dead of winter for more than 20 minutes without so much as a decent, human apology. First she'll probably make an embarrassing scene in front of the other 9 tables, acting as if you just strolled in at 8:25 without an 8:30 reservation. And if you get the same treatment that I did on my birthday, you will go home without a meal. Thanks Ten Tables. Jamaica Plain is better than you. Move to another neighborhood where people hate themselves enough to put up with your insolence. Cons: hated it more

Ten Tables is the only restaurant in JP where we NY food snobs can go and not be disappointed. Fabulous service, ambience, insanely cheap for the quality. Pros: food, value, service Cons: small space more

This place is terrible. My wife and I went there for a nice, relaxing dinner after a long hot summer day. We had to wait oustide for 1/2 hour even though we had a reservation. The restaurant was hotter inside than outside (and it was 95 outside). There were fans and AC but neither was turned on. The waiter even sweated on my food and on my wife. The portions were very small (a cherry, two nuts, and a small piece of cheese for dessert?) and very overpriced. The bathroom downstairs was dirty, hot, and moldy, very disgusting! The main room was small, noisy and crowded. I would rather rip my own face off than go to this place again. Cons: dirty, hot, overpriced more

My partner, my father-in-law, and I went to the Ten Tables fecentlyt and really enjoyed the experience. The food was very tasty (though those with a low salt tolerance might beware). The ambience was pleasant-- the modern jazz and the view of the open kitchen. The dining area was well decorated and clean, and our server was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The appetizers, entrees, and desserts were all delicious. The prices were moderate ($8-$10 for appetizers; $15-$20 for entrees; $6 desserts). The portions are not large, but the food is quite rich, and I was perfectly satisfied with my meal. It's probably not the best place for a very large party--might be best for a date or for a smaller party (3-4 people). Pros: excellent food, nice ambience Cons: not good for larger parties more

Ten tables is one of the more expensive places to eat in JP but is worth a visit. The food is very good and fresh, but the portions are very small. This is a very cozy restaurant. The kitchen is visible, which enhances the dining experience. The only complaint that I had was that the waiter that we had was annoying and sarcastic. Pros: fresh food Cons: expensive, small portions more

Great ambiance, great waitstaff, tasty food.but couldnt understand the concept of lilliputian portions in gargantuan dishes. Organic local ingredients cost more and portions need to be scaled down to offer affordable prices yes, and we could all lose a few pounds certainly, but why emphasize this by presenting everything in overly oversized service ware? Maybe it was just our visit: silver-dollar-sized baguette slices, 20 oz. wine glasses poured 1/3 full, delicate entrees served in colossal pasta bowls. Seems like a statement against the shovel-everything-in-mouth-in-10-minutes style of American eating; this experience definitely forces one to slow down and appreciate every grain, every crumb, every speck of food. more