07/10/09

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

by Tiffany M

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

09/04/07

Great bistro with great prices

by canarycream

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

05/16/07

terrible waitstaff, pretty good food

by cindierock

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

03/24/07

reasonable french

by kaia8

I didn't understand why people are so unhappy about their service. Our waiter was serving most of the table on the floor, but answered all our question regarding the menu. I liked the way they serve glass wine. Our server came to our table with the bottles and let us taste it before he generously filled our glasses (almost to the rim). We had potato salad , fois gras, lamb stew, and avocado salad. Potato salad was not what I expected (no mayo, sliced thinly and sauteed in LOTS of oil), but the simple combination of onion, carrot, and herring worked out very nicely. I've never seen such a big piece of fois gras... It was very well prepared, and I enjoyed it, but I still would rather have smaller serving at a lower price. The lamb stew got a bit too strong lamb flavor for me, but my date liked it a lot. There was nothing special about the avocado salad. We had dark chocolate mousse for dessert. It was good, but not like, really really good. And yes, the server didn't come offering to refill my coffee (which doesn't bother me much). I don't think this place is super cheap, but they do give you a fair amount of good food and wine for the price.

• Pros: good food at a reasonable price
• Cons: parking maybe?

02/26/07

Great Food and Fun

by chocoriver

My family and I went for a Saturday Birthday Brunch and the food was fantastic. The wait staff was friendly, knowledgeable and very accommodating. With out asking they brought me my desert with a candle in it and happy birthday written in French. The food was out of this world, very tasty and different. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys good food and a classicly simple atmosphere.

• Pros: Great wait staff, delicious food
• Cons: a little chilly

01/17/07

Excellent food

by fhemes

Overall It was a good experience. After we sat down my friends were pretty quick in choosing their dishes but It took one of us to stand up to talk to the manager for him to take the order. We did not know who was our server. The rest of the evening was great. Excellent food and the selection of desserts is great!

01/01/07

Reasonable Prices

by kellbell1919

Good wine list: Has a nice variety of wines in terms of style and price. Overall prices reasonable on whole menu. Felt that the menu could have been a little more creative. Especially liked the white chocolate bread pudding.

I personally prefer Sel de la Terre.

• Pros: Price
• Cons: A little cramped

10/09/06

Rude Server, Ruder Manager, average food.

by caitlin314

The menu looked great, so I was really excited to try out this restaurant. Our server started the meal with "announcements" and then "so what do you want." He told us that it was "impossible" to substitute fries for potato soup, even if we paid the higher price. I had to ask to have my coffee refilled three times, and the restaurant was not at all busy. My favorite part was seeing the manager, our server, and another employee laugh and roll their eyes at our party while we ate. I 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." Finally, the server returned to the table to "apologize" or rather accost me for complaining to the manager. I felt extremely disrespected and will NEVER go back to this restaurant.

The food was ok, although we waited close to 45 minutes for omelets and salads.

Bottom line, don't bother eating here unless you like to be mocked, lied to, and accosted when you dine out.

• Pros: Cute interior.
• Cons: Everyone on the staff. Including the manager.

10/08/06

Terrible service, subpar food

by shashmash

I had my worst dining experience in years here. Our waiter told my friend that one of the entrees on the menu was unavailabe, but then we saw him serve it to the people next to us 10 minutes later. His excuse? He just didn't remember that it was available. He refused to make a simple substitution with my entree (the sole), and when it arrived 45 minutes later, it was a burnt piece of salty, congealed oil that barely even resembled sole. I wouldn't come back here if you paid me.

08/12/06

Straightforward bistro provides Kenmore Square with an affordable, accessible destination for French cuisine and gourmet desserts.

by Eric Grossman

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 a meal of onion soup gratinee, beef bourguignon and apple tarte tatin need not break the bank, as the bistro keeps its prices on the low side (all entrees are under $20). Other bistro classics on offer include a flavorful tripe provencale, savory escargots bourguignon and roast rabbit moutarde. Those with a sweet tooth enjoy the pastry bar's made-to-order lemon souffle or a rich chocolate gateau with a chocolate Eiffel Tower.