NUMBER 9 PARK

Perfect dining experience. My husband & I had the tasting menu. Food was delicious, service was perfect, from timing, to very knowledgable staff. They were relaxed & very pleasant. An unexpected highlight was the cheese course, which I had ordered as an accompaniment. It was outstanding and actually turned out to be my favorite part of the meal. Wine pairings were amazing. Yes, it's pricey, but if you truly appreciate great food, it doesn't get any better than this.…

Lovely bar experience. After a less than pleasant dinner experience at another Beacon Hill restaurant last Friday night, a friend and I decided to venture elsewhere for dessert and drinks. Neither of us had been to No. 9 Park before and it's been on both of our wish lists for quite some time. So we decided to give their bar a try (we also figured we were somewhat under-dressed for the main restaurant).

Once at the bar, we found both bartenders to be supremely helpful. While we were reviewing the menus, the bartender poured us tastes of a champagne and a wine he thought we might like based on what we had said (to each other). At first, I thought it was a bit presumptuous, but I quickly overcame that once I tasted what he'd provided and realized that he was right on the money. He then explained that the champagne he poured wasn't normally offered by the glass (typically the smallest size is a half-bottle priced at $65!), but it's one of the wines used to accompany the tasting menu in the restaurant so if there is any left after main restaurant service ends, they offer it by the glass ($14) to any patron interested. Lucky us!

We also ordered the milk chocolate ganeux (sp?) to share. It was so incredibly creamy and rich and delicious!

All in all, it was the perfect way to salvage what would have been an otherwise disappointing food night. I can't wait to go back!…

Barbara Lynch's labor of love maintains its destination status by combining a stylish setting with award-winning, inventive cuisine.. The Scene
For the foodies, powerbrokers and well-informed tourists who make reservations weeks in advance, one bite of Barbara Lynch's ethereally light, prune-stuffed gnocchi is worth the wait alone. The restaurant's interior is likewise understated in a classy way, the better not to distract from the food. Service in the two minimalist dining rooms and casual bar is attentive and well-informed. Inventive house drinks (passion fruit margarita) and a truly eclectic wine list leave no patron parched.

The Food
Lynch has won national acclaim from the likes of the James Beard Foundation, and a visit here only confirms the wisdom of that award. Her signature crispy duck has become a baptism by calories for local gourmands. Other standout dishes include the aforementioned gnocchi (topped with foie gras) and a "duet" of Niman Ranch pork (flavorful bacon and buttery tenderloin). Typical of the breathtaking desserts is a coconut meringue cake served with rhubarb marmalade and lime sorbet.

Photo by Justin Ide…

Delicious, but not worth the hype.. I have been a consistent Barbara Lynch fan, and have been to the bar at No. 9 Park before. Tonight, my husband and I made reservations at the restaurant and were looking forward to a delicious meal. The food and service were decent, but I was very dissapointed that the 7 course tasting menu (for $90) can neither be shared nor ordered by just one person at the table. I was interested in trying the tasting menu, but my husband was less intrigued. It seems strange to offer the option if only available for the entire table. I think the restaurant needs to reconsider the elitist perspective that everyone who wants to enjoy delicious food can afford a $90 meal. We each ordered an appetizer and entree instead, and although the food was very good, there are plenty of places I would rather go and feel more comfortable spending the $250 for dinner.…