Ten Tables Jamaica Plain

07/13/09

Overhyped

by alk1977 at Citysearch

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

01/16/09

Boston's Best Neighborhood Restaurant

by mattkaz at Citysearch

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.

The food itself is delightful. It is not the most extravagant cuisine in the world, wrapped up in fancy presentation or delicate flavors. What Ten Tables excels at, rather, is providing fresh, familiar, almost Old World flavors in a new way. Think of it as upscale comfort food. The pate was delicious, as was the handmade sausage appetizer, served with cabbage, bacon and pear. The aroma alone is reason to order it. For entrees, the ricotta cavatelli and lamb ragout was full of flavor, but needed a little more moisture to balance the dish. The pork chop was perfectly cooked, served with a tasty sage butter. The side of potato gratin, however, was the best thing I ate all night. For dessert, the chocolate terrine and the profiteroles with banana ice cream were both delicious. Most entrees fall between $20-25, making it one of the best deals in the city for food of this caliber. For a delicious neighborhood setting with excellent service, Ten Tables is the best choice.

• Pros: Organic, local ingredients, good value, great service
• Cons: Tough to get reservations

06/30/08

JP Comfort and Fine Living

by prustitant at Citysearch

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!)

When we arrived, we had to wait a little longer after our reservation time - about 10 minutes - during which we perused the lovely flower shop next door (which does the flower work for Ten Tables). Because it was a Wednesday, there was a prix fixe menu that included an appetizer, a main, and a dessert for $29, which allowed my date and me to purchase a bottle of wine. For the appetizer, I had a chilled soup with a pistachio pistou, and for the main I had some freshly made bucatini with calamari and vegetables. The soup was such a pleasant surprise, and perfect on a summer?s day. The pasta?s freshness was clear and perfect for the array of calamari and veggies. It was so apparent from the taste of the food that the chefs really care about each dish they put out! The only disappointing meal was the dessert. The profiteroles were edible and pleasant, but not as surprising as the previous courses, and the mint ice cream had too much fresh mint!! The waiter was nice and informative, and the price was pure perfection! I can?t wait to try the vegetarian tasting menu!

• Pros: Amazingly fresh food, superb ambience, inviting, intimate
• Cons: Desserts were not as "amazing"