Petit Robert Bistro

(617) 375-0699

468 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215 42.3488 -71.0941

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Neighborhoods: Fenway/Kenmore, Kenmore

petitrobertbistro.com

Hours:

Monday To Sunday From 11:00 AM To 11:00 PM

Price:

$$

Last updated 10.16.11

Category:

Restaurants, Dessert Shops

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Brunch, Outdoor Dining, Chef's Table, Date Spot

Cuisine:

French

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Petit Robert Bistro

Featured Review

Eric Grossman

Contributor

The Scene – With a casual atmosphere, sinful subterranean pastry bar and classic menu, Petit Robert matches any Boston bistro in terms of authenticity. The main upstairs dining room's seductive lighting goes hand-in-hand with the open kitchen's alluring specialties. When the weather allows, diners enjoy their mussels marinieres and homemade pate on a sunken patio. Pleasant servers gleefully explain that the signature Dirty French Chef cocktail combines Kahlua and rhubarb juice in a balsamic vinegar-rimmed martini glass. – – The Food – Francophiles with a hankering for…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
A "burgerdog," one of the city's most unique lunch offerings, is a hot dog-shaped burger on a baguette with lots of cheese.
ambiance
68.75% positive
  1. “This Bistro is a great location (near Fenway Park) and has a fantastic menu.”
  2. “would recommend requesting a window table if you are going for a romantic evening--the window seats are conducive to privacy and have a very nice view--inside the restaurant the tables are very close together, much like a real French bistro.”
  3. “The sacrifice is that the atmosphere is not as nice as a top-tier restaurant but still very good with a casual feel.”
  4. “would recommend to anyone who enjoys good food and a classicly simple atmosphere.”
  5. “The place is definitely cozy, but tiny.”
  6. “The atmosphere is charming, the food is tasty, and the wine menu reliable.”
  7. “The lighting and general atmosphere are also very nice.”
  8. “Downstairs seating had a cold ambiance due to the tiled floor.”
dessert
75.0% positive
  1. “We enjoyed everything from the appetizers to dessert, especially the duck confit and macaroons!”
  2. “The pear tart was little disappointing, go for the chocolate Eiffel Tower.”
  3. “The pastry chef is also wonderfully friendly and quite skilled - I would recommend the creme brulee - desserts are not described nearly as well as they should be.”
  4. “Excellent food and the selection of desserts is great!”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “don't think this place is super cheap, but they do give you a fair amount of good food and wine for the price.”
  2. “The atmosphere is charming, the food is tasty, and the wine menu reliable.”
  3. “Good wine list: Has a nice variety of wines in terms of style and price.”
food quality
82.41000175476074% positive
  1. “Both of our entrees were fantastic and the fries were great too.”
  2. “mentioned to the manager at the end of the meal that the service was the worst I had ever encountered, and he smirked and said "uh ok.”
  3. “would recommend to anyone who enjoys good food and a classicly simple atmosphere.”
  4. “The atmosphere is charming, the food is tasty, and the wine menu reliable.”
  5. “the food was amazing, the service was friendly and prompt.”
  6. “The food was delicious (highly recommend the lamb) and the host was gracious and completely charming (and is French?)”
  7. “The pastry chef is also wonderfully friendly and quite skilled - I would recommend the creme brulee - desserts are not described nearly as well as they should be.”
  8. “Terrible service, subpar food”
  9. “HORRIBLE service eclipses the good food”
  10. “Slow service aside, the food was FANTASTIC!”
  11. “The staff is very friendly and the food is great.”
  12. “We came here because a friend of mine said the food was AMAZING (turns out it wasn't as good the time we went, but maybe you'll luck out).”
  13. “The food was great all around and the value was just as great.”
  14. “Although small in size, pricing is reasonable and the food is outstanding.”
  15. “want to come back again and again for the succulent food, but the service is so awful I just can't bring myself to it.”
  16. “best food in boston”
  17. “While the prices are a fantastic deal for the quality of the food, unless you have extremely high tolerance for bad service, poor mgmt., and don't mind sitting elbow to elbow, go for the food but adjust your service expectations to low.”
  18. “don't think this place is super cheap, but they do give you a fair amount of good food and wine for the price.”
  19. “The skirt steak looked fantastic and most of the other tables ordered the mussels.”
  20. “also tried the onion soup which was incredible.”
  21. “Just a really tight meal from start to finish, chicken pate to die for, esgargot amazing,skirt beautiful, choc souffle one of the best in the city, duck confit, oh stop me it was all fantastic, and our server Dennis was wonderful.”
  22. “The food is pretty good, the french waiters are even better.”
  23. “Excellent food”
  24. “terrible waitstaff, pretty good food”
  25. “Excellent food and the selection of desserts is great!”
  26. “ate here a couple of months ago, and am still telling friends and family about the wonderful food.”
  27. “enjoy their food.”
  28. “Food was excellent but the time was ruined because of the terrible pacing of our meal.”
  29. “The food was good.”
  30. “We didn't fault them then for not yet having their act together, and the food was so good and the value fair that we decided to go there in May to celebrate a family event.”
  31. “My family and I went for a Saturday Birthday Brunch and the food was fantastic.”
  32. “feel that the food is overpriced for what you get.”
  33. “The foie gras was fantastic, crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside with a couple of apple slices in a nice cinnamon sauce.”
  34. “It's great to finally have a reasonably-priced restaurant in my neighborhood that actually serves good food.”
  35. “The food was top notch and the service impeccable.”
  36. “Petit Robert Bistro is delicious!”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Good wine list: Has a nice variety of wines in terms of style and price.”
  2. “This Bistro is a great location (near Fenway Park) and has a fantastic menu.”
  3. “Felt that the menu could have been a little more creative.”
  4. “Excellent food and the selection of desserts is great!”
  5. “The atmosphere is charming, the food is tasty, and the wine menu reliable.”
  6. “The menu looked great, so I was really excited to try out this restaurant.”
  7. “Overall prices reasonable on whole menu.”
overall
60.0% positive
  1. “It is not the best French restaurant I have ever been to.”
  2. “The sacrifice is that the atmosphere is not as nice as a top-tier restaurant but still very good with a casual feel.”
  3. “Petit Robert Bistro is a great little relaxing restaurant serving beautifully prepared simple bistro fare.”
  4. “It's great to finally have a reasonably-priced restaurant in my neighborhood that actually serves good food.”
  5. “would recommend requesting a window table if you are going for a romantic evening--the window seats are conducive to privacy and have a very nice view--inside the restaurant the tables are very close together, much like a real French bistro.”
return potential
0.0% positive
  1. “want to come back again and again for the succulent food, but the service is so awful I just can't bring myself to it.”
service
65.78999996185303% positive
  1. “On a Tuesday night, every table was taken, the noise level allowed for conversation and the service was very good.”
  2. “Terrible service, subpar food”
  3. “The pastry chef is also wonderfully friendly and quite skilled - I would recommend the creme brulee - desserts are not described nearly as well as they should be.”
  4. “The wait staff was friendly, knowledgeable and very accommodating.”
  5. “The host was more than accomadating and our waitress was knowledgeable and gracious.”
  6. “HORRIBLE service eclipses the good food”
  7. “mentioned to the manager at the end of the meal that the service was the worst I had ever encountered, and he smirked and said "uh ok.”
  8. “The staff is very friendly and the food is great.”
  9. “The service was fast.”
  10. “While the prices are a fantastic deal for the quality of the food, unless you have extremely high tolerance for bad service, poor mgmt., and don't mind sitting elbow to elbow, go for the food but adjust your service expectations to low.”
  11. “The food was top notch and the service impeccable.”
  12. “the food was amazing, the service was friendly and prompt.”
  13. “The waitstaff is horrible, however that saves me money on tip when I only have to tip the waitress $1 for her terrible service.”
  14. “Just a really tight meal from start to finish, chicken pate to die for, esgargot amazing,skirt beautiful, choc souffle one of the best in the city, duck confit, oh stop me it was all fantastic, and our server Dennis was wonderful.”
  15. “(Susan was a great waitress) we had.”
  16. “want to come back again and again for the succulent food, but the service is so awful I just can't bring myself to it.”
  17. “The food is pretty good, the french waiters are even better.”
  18. “Slow service aside, the food was FANTASTIC!”
  19. “didn't understand why people are so unhappy about their service.”
value
72.7299976348877% positive
  1. “The waitstaff is horrible, however that saves me money on tip when I only have to tip the waitress $1 for her terrible service.”
  2. “feel that the food is overpriced for what you get.”
  3. “The coq au vin is definitely affordable for a nice dinner out on a college student's budget ($16, not bad).”
  4. “Good wine list: Has a nice variety of wines in terms of style and price.”
  5. “We didn't fault them then for not yet having their act together, and the food was so good and the value fair that we decided to go there in May to celebrate a family event.”
  6. “Although small in size, pricing is reasonable and the food is outstanding.”
  7. “While the prices are a fantastic deal for the quality of the food, unless you have extremely high tolerance for bad service, poor mgmt., and don't mind sitting elbow to elbow, go for the food but adjust your service expectations to low.”
  8. “Great bistro with great prices”
  9. “Overall prices reasonable on whole menu.”
  10. “don't think this place is super cheap, but they do give you a fair amount of good food and wine for the price.”
  11. “The food was great all around and the value was just as great.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/18/10

Great menu, freindly waiter, fair price

by HouseOfLancaster at Citysearch

My wife and I work and live in the neighborhood and decided to give this place a shot. Foie gras with rhubarb compote, goat cheese & beets, onion gratinée soup, grilled lamb tongue, pan seared scallops, profiterole with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce, and a great glass of wine for $100. With the exception of the goat cheese & beets which were bland and way too rich, everything was perfect. The only thing better than the selection and quality was the waiter. We'll be back....A+++

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/16/10

Really delicious Americanized French food

by gethebassics , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

I love coming here for special occasions with family and friends. The coq au vin is definitely affordable for a nice dinner out on a college student's budget ($16, not bad). Their salads are also really good, but a bit tiny. Customer service is usually very prompt and polite. I love being greeted at the door by the guy with the French accent! I've also been to the location in Needham, but Kenmore Square is just so much more urban - the Eiffel Tower sculpture outside the window makes you feel like you're in Paris!

  • Pros: Yummy food, good desserts, cute bistro atmosphere
  • Cons: Smaller portions for the price
3 Star Rating: Average

07/10/09

The food is pretty good, the french waiters are even better.

by Tiffany M at Citysearch

We came here because a friend of mine said the food was AMAZING (turns out it wasn't as good the time we went, but maybe you'll luck out). The food was good. I had the steak-frites and in comparison, I've had better at other Boston restaurants. The other restaurant was a better cut, but more expensive, so you get what you pay for.

We splurged and got profiteroles for dessert and you really have to order them when you go! They're huge, so you should share them unless you're a better person than me. If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten dinner.

And even though our waiter forgot to bring bread to the table until late and sometimes forgot to bring what we asked for, he was cute and French, so we didn't care.

  • Pros: Amazing dessert, charming waiter
  • Cons: I've had better steak-frites, but it was still good
4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/04/07

Great bistro with great prices

by canarycream at Citysearch

I have eaten here three times--two years in a row on my anniversary and just a few days ago with my family to celebrate getting my master's. I love it. For French food, it's very reasonably priced - about $16-20 for entrees. The atmosphere is charming, the food is tasty, and the wine menu reliable. I have not had problems with the service--the woman who served us most recently didn't seem to know too much about wine but she was cheerful and we were celebrating so we just picked a pinot noir and it was fine. I would recommend requesting a window table if you are going for a romantic evening--the window seats are conducive to privacy and have a very nice view--inside the restaurant the tables are very close together, much like a real French bistro. I find this restaurant does pacing really well--you won't get your entree thrown at you while you're still eating your salad. The lighting and general atmosphere are also very nice. All of the appetizers are fantastic--I confess I haven't been to adventurous with the entrees but eating with my whole family gave me the opportunity to try some new stuff and it was great. I'm sorry I'm not very good at describing food, but I can say I've never had any complaints about blandness, saltiness, hotness or coldness. I really like it here for a nice but not wildly extravagant night out.

  • Pros: Great food, atmosphere, wine list and prices
  • Cons: menu's a bit heavy for summer dining, but still tasty
3 Star Rating: Average

05/16/07

terrible waitstaff, pretty good food

by cindierock at Citysearch

I've been here a few times since the first day it opened. I enjoy their food. I feel that the food is overpriced for what you get. It is not the best French restaurant I have ever been to. The waitstaff is horrible, however that saves me money on tip when I only have to tip the waitress $1 for her terrible service. I had a dead fruit fly in my water.

  • Pros: soups
  • Cons: waitstaff, price

The Details on Petit Robert Bistro

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • delicious petit robert bistro
  • more creative menu
  • heavenly everything
  • gracious waitress
  • reasonable overall prices
  • great relaxing restaurant
  • horrible waitstaff
  • very nice general atmosphere
  • enjoys simple atmosphere
  • worst dining experience
  • really good salads
  • fantastic fries
  • tiny place
  • very friendly wait staff
  • great experience
  • quite skilled pastry chef
  • not as nice atmosphere
  • highly recommend lamb
  • great desserts
  • good wine
  • incredible onion soup
  • terrible service
  • overdue dining
  • charming little bistro

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