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Clio Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Seafood Canadian (New), Seafood [Edit]
370 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215
Neighbourhood: Back Bay
(617) 536-7200
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Commonwealth Ave (1)
Massachusetts Ave @ Commonwealth Ave (1, 193)
Hynes Station - Outbound (Green Line)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
153 reviews for Clio Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Foie gras terrine and Thai spiced skate were brilliant." In 25 reviews -
"Ken Oringer has complete mastery of the different tastes..." In 16 reviews -
"...thing I didn't particularly care for was the sea urchin." In 17 reviews
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153 reviews in English
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Review from Tiffany T.
Dedham, MA
5/17/2012
I came here for my birthday and had an outstanding experience. Since it was a special occasion, we did the chef's 7 course tasting, which gave us a chance to try a lot of items from the regular menu in smaller portions in addition to other surprises. I highly recommend this option.
Everything was so flavorful and presented beautifully. Chef Ken and his crew are so talented and creative. And not to mention the cocktails were very good. Service was superb.
The only course I didn't enjoy was the foamy lobster soup, which was a little too salty for my taste but lobster broth is naturally salty anyway.
I'm surprised this place doesn't have better reviews. Maybe it's a hit or miss, but I definitely had a fabulous experience. -
Review from Jamie G.
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for drinks and apps and had a very pleasant time. The bar is very light and open and comfortable. (A very picky detail I appreciate about bars is a ledge around the bottom of the bar to put your feet on and it is the perfect height for my feet.)
For a drink, I had the Shrapnel, with Rittenhouse 100 rye, Dolin sweet vermouth, dolin dry vermouth, apricot liquer, and orange Juice. Delicious. Not too strong and great blend.
For apps, I tried a few bites of the onion strings and the Vegetable Tempura. Onion strings were surprisingly very good... very very skinny and crispy but also very good, strong onion flavor. The sauce was poured all along the plate and onion strings placed on top- a very interesting way to do it. And the sauce was one of the best I've ever had. The tempura had a good mix of veggies all fried in a semi-light batter- peas, sweet potato, brussel sprouts, broccoli, etc. The sauces were okay- a soy sauce and a lemony aioli.
Bartender was very friendly and responsive and gave me water without asking and kept filling it up. LOVE IT.
My only concern, and the reason for 4 instead of 5 stars, was the fact that three drinks and 2 appetizers was $62. Seemed a little pricy, but at least everything was good quality. I'll be back because the drinks were creative and delicious- just as good, if not better, than Eastern Standard, and I was able to easily get a seat here, and I definitely do prefer sitting when drinking a classy cocktail. -
Review from Andrew D.
Boston, MA
4/9/2012
I'm totally puzzled by those Yelpers who say Clio was the best meal they've had in Boston. Perhaps Chefs Rodrigues and Oringer were spirited away by someone with a mental disorder who constructed the meal that my friends and I shared the other evening. From start to finish, every dish was completely unrestrained.
The foie gras laquee was the subdued high point, which says little given how many flavors (milk and honey puree, cornichons, fennel, dill, pickled rhubarb) competed for attention on the plate. The salmon was a train wreck of ingredients - salmon sous-vided in sugarcane juice with dehydrated pineapple, bok choy, water chestnuts, long peppers, and black tahini to name a few - which rendered the salmon indistinguishable from the rest of the melee. The most ADHD of all, though, was the special, an Allegiant farms lamb chop (really nice cut of meat) with a pea puree and twenty vegetables. What the hell is wrong with, say, three vegetables?
Food with this kind of complexity and creativity could be really compelling if it were executed properly, but instead it pretty much seemed insane. I kept thinking of what Coco Chanel is reputed to have said: "Before leaving the house, look in the mirror, and take off one thing." Listen up, Clio!
That criticism aside, the three stars reflect the fact that my group had a really enjoyable time in spite of the food. Drinks were fantastic, our server Jonathan was friendly and attentive, and the space was classy but not too formal. But for $140 a person, I'd expect a hell of a lot more (or less, as the case might be here). -
Review from Emmanuel S.
Cambridge, MA
3/18/2012
This place is amazing! The best place I have been to in Boston, maybe the US. And even in Paris, it is hard to find the equivalent.
I went there yesterday for my birthday. The cassolate and the foie gras are just perfect, a little bit more untraditional than the typical foie gras, mixed with sweet and acid tastes. I had the dear after this, the only thing was, a little bit salty. And then, the Kouing Aman (desert from Brittany) was very authentic!
Only "bad" note, the wine list, while being great, is a little bit expensive for the quality, while the food is reasonable for such a quality! -
Review from Parul L.
Back Bay, Boston, MA
3/11/2012
I had a lovely holiday dinner at Clio. My friend and I bought a 3-course meal deal on Travelzoo and got to celebrate the holidays in style. I remember having a salad, cod entree and a very chocolat-y dessert. The dessert was amazing - a chocolate ganache nouget with a nut caramel which tasted like a wonderful candy-bar escalated.
The service was great and the overall experience wonderful, 4 stars because the meal was nice but not as memorable as others I have had around town. -
Review from Sarah F.
Boston, MA
4/23/2012
Recent renovations nicely done! The food is excellent - although I must admit I am not enough of a foodie to always know what I was even eating! It all tasted good though! Impressive wine list as well. Only issue was that it was a tad louder than I would have expected. Well worth it for a special occasion dinner - and the cocktails worth it anytime!
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Review from Bryan R.
3/26/2012
Sadly, one of those situations where you feel the stars ticking away in your head as the hours pass. I HATE leaving negative reviews.
I go into every new place excited and expecting it to be a new favorite. As you spend more time yelping, filtering out bad choices and learning from fellow reviewers, you become comfortable as you reap the benefits of peer reviewed dining. Once in a while, you get a harsh kick of reality. I'm very much ok with random snags, food mixups, minor delays, etc; things happen. To me, good service is a two-way street. As long as I'm being treated honestly, I assume the best. It's when I'm treated like a customer "unit", a "thing" to deal with in someone's scripted yet crappy day, that I begin to sour.
Clio messed up. We came there to have a few drinks while eagerly anticipating late-night ramen. We came early, close to an hour before ramen was to begin. I was immediately impressed with the interior and kind of blown away with the cocktail menu. A great mix of classic and experimental without loads of fauxtails like most restaurants. The bartender was very friendly but surprisingly new to be manning the bar on a Saturday night. It took ~30 min to get drinks, and while it was busy, it didn't help that he had to look up the recipe for every drink that he made, including a number of classics. I'm ok with this, though. No reason to get upset, he's learning the ropes and making sure the quality of the product is upheld. The drinks were great.
Where the evening began to circle the drain is in the management at the host table. Having come before there was any line, we'd thought we were in for an early table come ramen gametime. Gametime plus 10 minutes, we're still waiting. Uni is small and there's a disappointing number of chatty kathy types nursing their ice water and checks while the burgeoning line 15 feet away is drooling over ramen. Finally, some tables open up. A ha! We must be in. No! those tables are two tops, and pushing them together won't work so they leave them open for a while until two twosomes come in. Another table! Nope, sorry, friends of the host, please keep waiting and we'll get you in as soon as possible. Gametime plus 30 minutes. Another table! Nope, you see, those people that had no idea about ramen and came after you'd been here for close to an hour? Well, they ordered one appetizer and Clio is wrapping up their food service so we're going to move them down to Uni ahead of you. Eh. Keeping cool, starting to sense the inevitable dropkick of crappy service with a smile but maintaining optimism for out of town guests. At this point, we can't order drinks, can't order food, we have to stand there and take it. Every time we check in politely with the host table, we get a stream of half-assed explanations and excuses but never, ever... an apology. Not even something that could be misconstrued as an apology. Just a lot of tripe when all we want is ramen.
At some point in the wee hours of the evening, we were shuffled down into Uni and more or less concluded the scope of this review.
Will I be back? Probably not. And this is unfortunate because prior research and initial impressions all pointed to a place I'd enjoy frequenting. I did everything I could to keep the evening positive but it just sucked. What else can you say about being made to stand by a door for two hours, given no service or whiff of compassion, all the while smelling the food that you had planned the evening around and been looking forward to all day? -
Review from Jessica B.
Quincy, MA
3/25/2012
What an amazing meal! Went here last night for my husbands birthday and was eager to jump on yelp today and review. We did the 7 course tasting menu and my husband has his with wine pairing. As I am pregnant they had called to confirm and ask for any special circumstances so I told them. Our waiter was already aware and also double checked about anything specific he should make note of. It really only affected one course- my husband had raw kingfish and I had it cooked. Every single course was outstanding, starting light and then finishing with savory courses. I was so full, yet i could not stop licking my plate clean. Our waiter was fabulous and the service never felt pretentious to me, just upscale and catering to my every need! I can't wait to go back.
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Review from Andrea B.
My dinner at Clio was, as the French say, comme ci comme ça. The vouchers my friend and I had purchased on Travelzoo got us a five course tasting menu, of which some courses were great, while others were just disappointing.
And those five courses were the following:
A non-alcoholic martini - Interesting, to say the least. I enjoyed it but I really prefer courses that are in non-liquid form.
Beet salad - With Thai spiced peanut and charred onion that was a little too charred. I love beet salads, and while this one didn't exactly disappoint, I would have been happier if the onions weren't burnt because they overpowered everything else.
Spaghetti squash soup - Best course of the night, absolutely delicious. I only wish they served us bigger bowls of it.
Salmon - Served with bok choy, water chestnut, pineapple, and green beans. I'm not a big fan of salmon so this dish is one that I could have lived without, and while I liked the pineapple, water chestnut, and green beans, I felt that they didn't go all that well together.
Miso dark chocolate cremeux - The miso I could have done without, but I enjoyed this dessert aside from that. It was served with a (very small) scoop of banana ice cream that was rich and creamy. I could have eaten a whole lot more of it with ease.
My friend and I decided to buy the "Plateau de Fromage" as an additional course, and while it was fun, it came with samples of only four kinds of cheese and probably wasn't worth the extra $24.
I wasn't thrilled with the service - Our server kept trying to clear away plates that I wasn't quite finished with - major pet peeve of mine!
I liked the restaurant itself, and it was pretty busy for a Monday evening. The atmosphere was elegant without being overly so, but I think my friend got the classiest view of all - due to a precisely hung mirror on the wall, he got to gaze at the reflection of Sweet 'n Nasty across the street all night.
All in all, an interesting experience, but probably not one that I would repeat anytime soon. -
Review from David C.
12/19/2011
I've barely had time to digest my 5 course-tasting menu at Clio, and I'm already writing a review. That, my friends, is addiction. To say I was excited to dine here would be an understatement. To say I was a little disappointed upon leaving would also be.
After a temporary snafu and a miscommunication with our server regarding our TravelZoo vouchers, our meal was underway. After a forgettable amuse bouche and some lackluster bread came our first interesting course--a tomato juice martini. It honestly should have been served as an amuse, as the flavor became overwhelming after a few sips, but I at least enjoyed it for a little while. My friend and I lovingly referred to it as swamp juice.
Next came a one-two punch of beet salad (which was slightly overpowered by an abundance of blackened onions) and a delicious squash soup that simply stole the show.
Our server asked us at the beginning of the meal if we had any allergies, but she really should have asked us what our food preferences were, that way I could have avoided the salmon I received for my entree. I've never met a salmon I truly liked, and tonight was no different. Others might have savored the dish (although even the accoutrements seemed to be a little off flavor-wise), but it was pretty much wasted on me.
Our cheese course (aside from a bland and unimaginative sheep's cheese) was good, but definitely not worth the huge $24 price tag it cost to tack onto the tasting (compare that to L'Espalier's Grand Fromage, which offers two more varieties of cheese and a host of other fun add-ons for $7 less). The miso dark chocolate cremeux that followed was a nice way to end the meal, but it was a little insubstantial for my tastes. More is always better, in my opinion, unless of course you're drinking swamp juice. -
Review from Jan Mark H.
Bedford, NH
1/2/2012
Oh Ken Oringer what happened to your once so great restaurant/bar ?
I've been to Clio a few times and so far it's always been an ok experience (would love to say great but it never blew me away) .
However on our last visit we ended up being very disappointed on all fronts.
We arrived early for a cocktail at the bar but as it turns out their "bar" is really just an average hotel bar with old seats/bar top and a huge pillar which often will split up a group of 4 into separate parties of 2 :( .
Also the cocktails are nowhere near to the ones you get at other places such as Drink. We ordered a few cocktails from their menu but out of 4 we ordered two have been unavailable due to lack of ingredients...
So if you are looking for a place to go for a drink this is not going to be my first pick.
The restaurant is becoming a little bit dated and has a strange mix of people who are dressing up and other who show up in jeans. Also the ambiance seems to be past its time.
We went for the tasting menu and added the extra pasta/risotto truffle course offered.
The tasting menu did somewhat disappoint as it had too much fish in it and it didn't have a real theme / flow to it.
The pasta course (each an extra 80$) with truffle was ok but the risotto was an overall disappointment (tasted more like rice pudding).
So I hope Ken will get things sorted out as it's a shame to see such a landmark restaurant fall down. It has much potential and I hope they regain their stride.
This particular visit was also tainted by an incident with the valet folks who damages my car without telling me (only found out when cleaning the car the next day). Judging from the damage this was not just an oversight but obvious stupidity on their end (front and rear bumpers scratched).
To Clio's credit they worked with the valet company and had the issue promptly resolved. However given the caliber of Clio and its reputation I'd have expected more skilled/trained valet folks. -
Review from xuxcys s.
Cambridge, MA
3/31/2012
Excellent!! We were seated in a private dining area below the main restaurant. It was nice and quiet and the ambiance was excellent! The waitstaff was very friendly and attentive!
The appetizers - chicken and vegetable tempuras - fantastic!
First Course: Foie Gras Ravioli - although a little salty, I loved it!
Entree: Duet du Boeuf - hands down the best steak I have ever tasted! It was juicy and tender and slurrp yu,mmm yummm
Dessert: Kouing-Aman - warm on the outside with a hot salty center with ice cold ice cream on the side - WOW! hit the spot!
I was stuffed and happy at the end of the day! Loved the place! Will go back again!! -
Review from Phillip W.
Los Altos, CA
12/25/2011
Had the set menu for $49.
Course 1: Sunflower rissoto - this was not impressive at all. Tasted kind of like oatmeal. Did I mention that I could pretty much eat the ENTIRE serving in 1 bite? yeah...its that small.
Course 2: Fish - this was good. The fish was cooked nicely and was served with a cauliflower puree as well as some spinich. Flavors were good. Again, very small, this was about 3 bites.
Course 3: Butter pear with some ice cream: this wasnt good at all. In fact, it was weird.
Service was good.
Afterwards, I went and ate 15 chicken nuggets from mcdonalds to make up for the 4 bites of dinner that i had....that i just paid 50$ for plus tip and tax... I do understand that "fine dining" portion sizes are smaller, but this was WAY TOO SMALL. And it wasnt even that impressive, outside of the fish. I just expected more, and got badly dissapointed. DONT GO HERE -
Review from Roxanne B.
Los Angeles, CA
3/18/2012
Not only is it one of the best meals you can get in Boston, it is one of the best meals I've had in my life and thats saying something (I eat... a lot).
Ken Oringer is pretty brilliant and is clearly doing something right. The flavor of every dish is on key and exquisite.
I had wine all night but my friend enjoyed a really tasty whiskey sour and I know they had other very interesting (complicated?) cocktails.
I had a beet salad which was light and delicious and a squash soup. The soup was poured over a bowl of different greens/purees/gelees and every time I lifted the spoon to my mouth, I had a different and delicious flavor to experience- it was so cool...
My boyfriend had a delicious white fish sashimi with some kind of citrus/yuzu/ponzu marinade and a lobster dish which he devoured.
The restaurant is gorgeous and elegant, the service is top-notch, and most importantly, the food is delicious. Dont come too often though because it is pricceeeyyy! -
Review from Adam M.
Boston, MA
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh how the mighty have fallen! At it's peak, Clio was truly one of the most creative and special dining experiences I have had in Boston to date, however, my most recent trip makes me think that the team has been stretched a bit too thin by expansion into newer restaurants and endeavors!
The beet salad had great promise but was sadly dramatically overpowered by the charred onion (which just overwhelmed it in volume). Fortunately, the Cassolette of Sea Urchin and Lobster was delightfully prepared and every bite was savory, special and delicious. Unfortunately for Clio, the meal piqued at the Cassolette. We went on to have a ravioli course that was badly overcooked and, despite a delcious oxtail marmalade inside, the texture made it impossible to enjoy.
We then moved on to entrees. While the venison was perfectly cooked, the entire dish lacked restraint. While the espresso oil and coating added a unique twist to the dish, the shocking number of additional flavors and textures (that didn't really marry with the venison or the espresso) on the plate were only distractions. The squash puree was confusing and the cake (that may have been potato) was tasteless. The butter-basted lobster was admittedly delcious and did give some redemption to an otherwise underwhelming meal.
The wine list, as always was nothing short of specular and the cocktail list is truly sublime. I will definitely return again and just hope that this was an "off night" rather than the neglect that is indicative of the older restaurant being upstaged by its newer, hipper, sister-restaurant. Don't let Clio die! -
Review from David P.
Cambridge, MA
2/26/2012
Solid 4-star, 10-course tasting menu.
Became full after the 7th course. The 8th and 9th course we took home. Braved through the 10th course (dessert).
Service was good.
Overall a very good experience. -
Review from Coco K.
Boston, MA
8/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
NOTE: This is a dessert and cocktail review only. I have yet to have dinner here, but considering that the cocktails and desserts basically sent me to Cloud 9 I will definitely be coming back.
So I was walking home from a nice long stroll across Mass Ave. bridge and I came upon Clio with a strong craving for a really indulgently delectable cocktail. I asked if I could see their drink menu and the hostess graciously gave me what looked to be a BOOK of cocktails that they offer. I mean I've never seen such an extensive cocktail list where every single one sounds absolutely amazing.
I sat down at the small, but inviting bar and told the bartender a few ingredients I like (St. Germain, gin, prosecco) and he came up with a fantastic spin on a French 75. At least that's what I thought it was. To go along with my cocktail my friend and I ordered their Chocolate Coulant and their Passion Fruit Tart.
It's hard to put into words just how good the Chocolate Coulant is. I mean what could be better than having oozy warm dark chocolate seeping out of a deliciously moist chocolate cake that basically sends you into a chocolatey daze? Nothing. The Passion Fruit tart was very inventive and a nice palate refresher. A great choice for a summery dessert.
To wrap up this luxuriously delicious cocktail and dessert binge I ordered a gin a tonic. BUT WAIT! This wasn't just any gin and tonic, the ice cubes had sliced chilies frozen inside that slowly added a nice spicy touch to the drink. GENIUS!
I was blown away and I can't wait to go back and get blown away by their dinner.Listed in: Get Your Cocktail On
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Review from Jade R.
Boston, MA
12/2/2011
One word: Sublime.
We went for the 10 course tasting menu.
I was full after the 6th course...
Kept eating because it was THAT GOOD (and I couldn't wimp out!)
And had room for dessert, of course.
The service was impeccable, I am so aggravated that I can't remember his name.. (I just remember he used to work at Rialto!). I was with my father who was asking several questions about the wine menu, and this guy, well, we couldn't stump him if we tried. He was incredibly passionate and knowledgable about the wines and food. It was so impressive, and a breathe of fresh air to have a sever so invested.
Will I be back? Yes, however, I think my next round will be to forgo the 10 course meal so I don't break the bank.
Most memeroable bites:
1. the cold tomato soup martini... it is brilliant.
2. They offered a special dish with white truffles... we had that on top of our risotto... and when i say white truffles, i mean, A LOT of white truffles... they dont skimp out!
3. Butternut squash soup: GET IT. That's all I have to say.
4. Oysters - I know, you can get oysters anywhere... but, these truly stood out, especially with the sweet vinegar they used.
I mean, I can go on and on.. but, just go for yourself to experience the magic! :) -
Review from Lisa R.
ALLSTON, MA
8/21/2011
My boyfriend and I went here for our anniversary. Yes, our dating anniversary (I noticed our server's suspicious glances at my ringless ring finger). My boyfriend is a fine dining chef and we both really really love to eat. After moving to Boston and hearing that Clio was the best restaurant in the city, we couldn't wait to go.
Upon arriving we were seated at a small table in the middle of the restaurant. We debated asking for a more intimate table off to the side, but decided it was alright.
Our server helped us pick out a delicious bottle of wine and we decided to go with the 10 course tasting menu. We told our server that I was allergic to certain raw fruits, stone fruits in particular.
We were started off with a chilled tomato martini amuse which was interesting and refreshing. Our server came over to ask if I was allergic to lime juice for the next course and I told her I was not.
After a couple more cold courses, we were served cold foie gras with stone fruit (plums, peaches, and cherries), ALL of which I am allergic to when raw. My boyfriend tried the fruit and told me that it was crisp on the inside, definitely not completely cooked. I pushed the fruit to the side and just ate the foie (which could definitely have used the fruit to balance the richness of the foie). AFTER we had both finished eating, our server came by and told me that the fruit was cooked. It would have been nice if I was told this when the course was served, and I believed my boyfriend's assessment over her anyway.
We were then served a fish course. When the food runner brought the dish out he simply said "here's another one, enjoy!" What?? We had no idea what kind of fish it was or what was in the dish. The fish was cooked perfectly and the dish was all together really tasty, but we didn't know what type of fish we were eating until we flagged down our server and she told us it was hake.
This happened a couple more times throughout the meal. We were served food by different people each time and a few of them didn't give us any sort of explanation of the dish. In my opinion, that is completely unacceptable when you are spending $150 each on a tasting menu.
The last savory course was short rib, another course which we weren't given an explanation of. There was a large green shmear on the plate. When I tasted the sauce, I couldn't believe how strong it was. It tasted like some sort of lemongrass chive sauce (both are flavors I love) but it tasted WAY too strong, like no one in the kitchen had tasted it. Of course we had no idea what it was supposed to be because no one told us when it was served. Although the dish tasted good, it was difficult for my boyfriend to enjoy because he makes a short rib with better flavor combinations at his restaurant.
The food here is really good, but I wasn't as blown away as I expected to be. My overall rating is a 3, 4 for the food and 2 for the service. -
Review from Jared L.
Manhattan, NY
12/14/2011
3 friends and I went to Clio last night and had an incredible meal, although there were a few dishes that we were not big fans of. Two of us got the special three-course menu for $50. We should have known we would not get big portions with that kind of price, but the appetizer was almost laughable. We both opted for the sunflower seed risotto. Aside from it being tiny, the taste was a little odd...a mix between sunflower seeds and oatmeal. I would definitely not recommend. Another friend ordered the scallop appetizer. Although it was tasty, the dish came with three baby scallops; probably not worth the price. Lastly, the fourth person ordered the Fall Squash Soup which was delicious!! we were all grabbing for our spoons and could not get enough.
Luckily, the entrees were MUCH better. The two girls got the duck, which was outstanding. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender and it was all sitting on top of some spread that was such a complement to the meat. The men both got the Duet du Boeuf...everyone kept going back and forth about which one was better...the short rib or the skirt steak. Regardless, every last ounce was eaten up.
For dessert, we split the Miso Dark Chocolate Crèmeux and the French Butter Pear. Can't really complain about either!
Lastly, the drinks were AMAZING. I was told they recently redid their bar menu, and it is definitely worth it.
Between all that and the great service and attentive waiter, we would definitely go back again soon. -
Review from D Y.
Boston, MA
Updated - 3/4/2012
POSTSCRIPT (2/23):
COULD IT GET ANY WORSE! We had originally planned to go to Clio on New Year's Eve. We called five days in advance to inquire about what we believed would be a limited menu. We were told "that that night's menu would be on their web site later that day." Two days later, it was not. Called again, told the same thing again and, surprise, surprise, no menu. Finally, called on the 31st and after being put on hold for 5 minutes we were advised that the menu was not on their web page but on their Facebook page. Arghgh.
After perusing the menu on Facebook, we could not find options that appealed to us without glutens which was our original concern. We immediately called back to cancel the reservation and was told there would be no problem given the circumstances. She then presumably noted this in OpenTable.
And here we are 6+ weeks later and there is a $150 charge on our credit card for a meal we never had! When we called the restaurant to inquire, the person on the other line was rude. He first asked "why we had waited six weeks to call." LOL, perhaps he is unaware that many people look at their credit card statements once a month. He then begrudgingly took our information and advised us that we would receive a call from someone to rectify this. Of course, we never heard from anyone at the restaurant and finally just took the route of initiating a charge-back with our credit card company.
Clio has SERIOUS service problems. No restaurant, from the local pizza joint to this supposedly well-heeled restaurant should have these types of problems. I WOULD AVOID THIS RESTAURANT AT ALL COSTS! OUR EXPERIENCE CAN'T BE AN OUTLIER. JUDGING BY THE OTHER COMMENTS IN THIS FORUM, I CAN SEE THAT IS INDEED NOT THE CASE.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/14/2012
For our visit in late January 2012, the food was great but the service was shockingly below par.… Read more »
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Review from Kevin K.
Manhattan, NY
3/6/2012
This restaurant mischarges credit cards and willfully avoids correcting mistakes. I had a reservation for 4 for New Year's Eve that I wasn't able to make - so I paid the $75pp fee to cancel the reservation ($300 total). I had known about this fee when I made the reservation, so no complaints from me on this. The restaurant was gracious enough to provide a gift certificate (when I called and asked) so that the $300 was not entirely wasted. When I later checked my credit card statement, there were two separate $300 charges. This, by itself, is a problem but wouldn't drive me to write a negative yelp review if they fixed the problem once it was brought to their attention. Which leads me to this review.
I have called Clio several times over the last 2 months - on six separate occasions. Sometimes, the manager is not around; in these cases, the host / hostess says that the problem will be fixed right away and that the manager will call me back to confirm. They then take my phone number and I am never called back. Once, I was able to get through to the manager - I wish I remembered his name now to include in this review - he said that it was no problem to fix their error and that he would correct it right away. After several weeks, the extra charge is still on my credit card and I have not heard back from this restaurant.
So - after eating at Clio several times and enjoying the food and atmosphere, I don't expect to return. I also don't expect to return to other Ken Oringer restaurants in Boston (Uni, Toro, Coppa, La Verdad and KO Prime) - not because the food isn't enjoyable but because I don't trust them to correctly bill my credit card. I don't want to have to scrutinize my credit card statement for their errors after every meal, particularly given their established pattern of willfully avoiding correcting mistakes.
If someone from Clio happens to read this, I can be reached at 860-946-9151 if it would be helpful to discuss over the phone.
Kevin -
Review from Cheryl J.
Boston, MA
3/1/2012
Perfection.
I can not say enough about this restaurant.
From the moment you are greeted by the host you feel special.
The bartender mixes up the most amazing, interesting cocktails.
The server and assistants were so attentive.
Even the manager made it a point to check on us.
AND THE FOOD!!
How wonderful and creative! Each dish presented like a work of art.
This is a very special place. I can not wait to go back. -
Review from Subhash R.
Lexington, MA
10/23/2011
My wife and I dined on the 8-course tasting menu + wine pairings courtesy of a Gilt voucher I purchased. We have dined at Clio several times earlier on various tasting menus, but it has been about 5 years since we have been at Clio.
The pace of the service was right, didn't seem like we waited long for any one item, but at the same time the pace was not rushed.
Have to say the pairings made the experience truly special. The sommelier's expertise in emphasizing different elements in the dishes made the progressions work flawlessly.
Our favorite of the evening was the wine pairing with the seared Foie which brought out the gaminess vs. the sweetness. It was the right balance as we were moving to meatier items.
Minor quip - Sea Urchin Cassoulet was very indulgent, but I would have loved the previous prep with some coffee grounds.
Pictures of the items are up on my flickr account.
http://www.flickr.com/... -
Review from Dave F.
Boston, MA
8/8/2011
My fiance and I dined here to celebrate our engagement. Clio rose to the occasion. We arrived about fifteen minutes early and were seated at the bar. Given the near 100 drinks on the cocktail menu, I was initially skeptical of the bartender's ability to make any particular one memorable - a skepticism unfounded after enjoying a wonderful Mescal concoction.
We then were seated, and treated to one of the most extensive wine lists I've seen. Given the occasion, we were naturally going with a bottle way out of our normal price range. The sommelier suggested a 2005 Volnay Burgundy, and it is probably the finest wine I've ever tasted.
We then started with the summer watermelon and heirloom tomato salad. It refreshed the palate and prepared us for the rich dishes to come. I ordered the duck and my fiance ordered the lobster. Both were perfectly prepared, packing powerful and interesting flavors. The lobster was especially wonderful, infusing this traditional New England dish with rich French flavors.
For dessert, we ordered the market strawberry confetti, and were also treated by the restaurant to the miso dark chocolate cremeux with banana ice cream. Both were fantastic.
Clio was an outstanding choice for this most special of occasions. -
Review from Jaime M.
Boston, MA
Updated - 4/3/2011
Clio has been one of my favorite places in Boston for an elegant/creative and delicious meal. I ate here last night with my parents to celebrate a special occasion. The reservations were made several weeks in advance with a note in the reservation that it was for a special occasion.
We arrived on time for our 7:30 pm reservation. We were led over to our table which was right in the entrance to the "sit down" part of the restaurant. I try not to be picky with tables, yet when I'm eating at a 'fine dining restaurant" for a special occasion with reservations made weeks in advance-- one would kind of expect a not so 'in the way' table.
Anyways-- I request to the hostess if we could have another table... perhaps one that would not involve being in the way of constant foot traffic. She said she could get us another table but it would take about 15 minutes. No problem.
The next part is what is completely appalling... 5 minutes later she comes back and says to us "I have a solution... I'm going to have to lose a table."
I look at her blankly-- she is not really telling me this is she?? She continues "I can give you a more secluded table but I will have to bring two tables together and I will lose a table tonight."
Again I stared at her blankly-- what the hell kind of hospitality is this? She walked away. I was ready to walk out at that point. I think it was absolutely rude and appalling that a hostess at such a nice restaurant would have the audacity to tell us that she was 'doing us a favor' and would 'give up a table'. My dad went over to her and told her NOT to lose the table and that we would wait-- no one is going to do us any 'favors'.
We were finally given a more secluded table that did not involve the hostess 'giving one up'. I quietly pulled the manager aside to let him know about his extremely inhospitable hostess-- I always think its important to give the restaurant a chance to make it right if they screw up. He apologized and said there was no reason why she should have ever said that-- and that it was not even true-- they would not have lost the table. He was sweet and sent over a glass of champagne.
That initially put a huge damper in the evening, but the food and kindness of the manager definitely made up for it. I had the appetizer special of crab salad and avocado which was absolutely delicious. The star of my meal was my entree-- the butter basted lobster with mushrooms. Out of this world good !
The dessert was a disappointment-- I ordered the chocolate cremeux which lacked flavor and decadence.
Service was friendly and attentive... yet our bill was handed to us on an appetizer plate which made me feel like I was eating at a greasy spoon style diner. It's those little touches that make me feel as though the quality of service here has been lost. The food here is outstanding-- I love K.O.'s restaurants... yet they need to remember the notion that 'customers will eat at your restaurant for the food--- but they return for the quality of the service'... I will be back to give it another try...but not any time soon...Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/6/2010
I love Ken Oringer so much! I go to Clio whenever I want an incredibly delicious, elegant yet quiet… Read more »
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Review from Sandy V.
New Boston, NH
1/21/2012
I gave Clio a 3, but it is closer to a 2.5. I was very disappointed with my experience here. I expected a classy place with outstanding food. Instead, it looked old and outdated and the food was just satisfactory. The service was good. I really wanted to love this place, but do not plan on returning.
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Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
5/2/2011
Convenient location and casually elegant atmosphere grossly overshadowed by lackluster service and underwhelming food. The boy and I had our anniversary dinner here with the 7-course tasting menu and it was just weak all around.
Applause for creativity but if the grub don't taste good, it really don't matter, do it?
Tomato martini was cold and strange. I like tomatoes but this got to be too much after a while. The boy hated it--he hates the taste of raw tomatoes.
Sashimi from Uni was the best dish of the pack for me.
Oysters with salty sorbet--not bad, but not amazing either. Points for creativity again. Boy dislikes oysters.
Foie gras with rhubarb soda. Creative. Not actually that good. And boy hates foie gras too.
Creamy soup (vichyssoise-esque) with some sort of caviar garnish at the bottom of the bowl--hearty and delicious. First good course of the meal.
Lobster with housemade risotto and onions--Good but too little in portion.
Seared beef with trimmings--Yes, but I'm still hungry.
Dessert: coffee-chocolate ice-cream with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate, and chocolate mousse with banana ice-cream. Mousse was boring and the coffee ice-cream was gross. And I'm a fan of coffee-flavored things.
Drinks: Had some rum-based thing with cinnamon and nutmeg. It tasted better than it sounded. Was also way watered down.
Here's the thing: If they'd bothered to ask us what our dietary/taste preferences were, we could have skipped at least some of this heartache. I've never had a tasting menu experience where I wasn't asked for my preferences. Service FAIL.
For the price you're paying, Clio is a serious letdown. Isn't this supposed to be Ken Oringer's flagship restaurant? Why is it so crappy compared to Toro? Mysteries.... -
Review from Kelsey P.
Manhattan, NY
3/9/2011
I just had dinner here (four course meal with wine pairings), and it was inventive and delicious. I usually don't like it when restaurants are too creative; usually they take a solid dish and ruin it with novelty. Clio, on the other hand, is one of the few restaurants whose absurd dishes actually end up being very satisfying.
We started with an amuse bouche that surrounded liquid squash with a white chocolate squash shell, topped with caviar. While the texture of the shell was a bit mealy, the delightful explosion of squash was well worth it. The first course was a celery root flan (beautifully plated) that mixed a half-dozen different flavors without any of them dominating the dish. This was followed by a slow-cooked egg with ham and maple flakes - simple but flavorful. Our main was a very tender beef shortrib dish; this was perhaps the most conventional of the courses, but it was rich and filling without being overwhelming. Finally, the meal ended with a really strange (but tasty) coconut noodle and aloe ice cube dessert, swimming in mandarin caramel sauce.
All in all, a mix of strange flavors, all in good balance, presented well, and more than creative enough to keep things interesting. -
Review from Farrah K.
12/29/2010 2 photos
Since we love to try new things and varied experiences (A.D.D.?!) I decided to treat my boyfriend to the 14 course tasting menu at Clio for his birthday (18 Dec). We had seen Chef Oringer on Iron Chef and the fact that he won and was from Boston made us feel a sort of hometown pride such as bandwagon Boston sports fans feel during winning times. We decided we must go there one day.
The plating was clean and interesting. I have a few complaints about a lobster dish as it was overcooked and rubbery. VERY surprising for a place like this. But, it was a nice experience and overall the food was innovative and delicious. I rave about the veal dish we had. We also had the wine pairings and this really made for a great evening as the wine selections were all very good.
Our waiter was very informative and attentive as long as could be. As the night went on (it took us almost 4 hours to complete the 14 courses), he was less available due to the demands of this popular and crowded restaurant. As a result we had other waitstaff explain our food and wine to us at times. NOT GOOD. I think we ended up with the one good (exceptional) waiter in the restaurant.
Others were a bit on the unhelpful side. I was very dissapointed that some of the food wasn't explained properly and this one rude man with rectangular rim dark glasses serving our wine mumbled and didn't repeat his descriptions when I asked. He just looked at me disdainfully! Horrible service for two people sitting down to a meal which without tip was $550. But this isn't uncommon for them I suppose.
We had also tried a couple of cocktails as the mixologist, Tod Maul, is supposed to be amazing. These were very good and did not dissapoint.
Also they knew it was my boyfriend's birthday and a the end of the 14 courses sent over an extra little birthday dessert with a candle, which was very nice.
Overall, VERY good to experience once, but the tone of the place (except our lovely waiter) was slightly off-putting. I may dine there again, but should I when Boston has so many other fabulous dining experiences to offer? -
Review from Chad T.
5/2/2011
The tasting menu here is definitely the way to go. You'll be wowed with innovative dishes, wonderfully spiced and perfectly presented. Some of them are true works of art. Here's what we had tonight:
1. Fried Lichen and Cod Roe amuse bouche
2. Crispy goat cheese with tomato water martini (this was really wild, where they take tomato juice and keep straining it until it is clear, then serve it in a martini glass with basil oil)
3. Kampachi with yellow chive vinaigrette
4. Deconstructed roasted potatoes (a la Robuchon) with sour cream powder and caviar
5. Foie Gras Terrine with Rhubard Soda
6. Soft Shell crab with sorrel emulsion, pickled cucumber noodles, and home made kimchi
7. Scallops with a curry spice and garlic yogurt
8. Saddle of Venison
9. Chocolate with banana ice cream
Some french influence, some italian influence, some japanese and korean influence. You can't put it in a box, but damn is it good. -
Review from Eric F.
3/28/2011
My friend and I met here for pre-dinner cocktails for my birthday and Todd Maul did not disappoint! I kindly requested that he put his on twist on my favorite, a Vesper, and it was easily the best one I've had yet. He switched things up using Death's Door gin and Cocchi Americano with the result being a thicker, richer consistency. The Sparkling R and Ramos Gin Fizz were also fantastic and the latter had an impeccable balance of citrus flavor and cream.
I should also point out that our waiter did an outstanding job not only with his usual duties, but also answering all my questions thoroughly and even providing some history on the similar origins of Cocchi Americano and Kina Lillet. It goes without saying that I'm really looking forward to my next visit hopefully in the very near future =D -
Review from creighton k.
Wellesley Hills, MA
10/9/2011
My wife and i have been coming here for 8 years. We noticed over the past few years, things were not the same . . . people with shorts, t-shirts just made it hard to believe this was the type of special place it once was. Then this past Saturday, we spent the evening listening to a crying infant for 2 hours? Really? And why was this family seated in the first place? Everyone in the dining room had their headed turned every 15 minutes wondering when they would leave. When you fork over $200-400 for a meal on Saturday night - you do not want to hear screaming infants. The manager apologized but told me it was Clio's policy not to turn away any guests . . . really? Then to top it all off, the "sommelier" did not know his wines at all - complete beginner but I presume he was not a real sommelier. WE WILL NEVER GO BACK.
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Review from Anne G.
Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA
11/18/2011
This was an amazing restaurant! Granted, you have to be willing to spend a good amount, but the quality is worth it! Ken Oringer is hands-down one of my favorite Boston-based chefs - I visited with my dad, and we ordered the tasting menu. It was undeniably one of the best meals I've had in Boston, and the service was impeccable. If you are looking for a place to commemorate a special occasion, this is your place!
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Review from Karen T.
Boston, MA
11/14/2011
I celebrated my anniversary with their pre-fix market menu. The service was right as I expected. We were seated at a small table, with a couple of very loud girls. The entire night I could hear them talk about their wedding plan etc, as if they were talking to me, which completely ruined my experience there. In general, as a high ended restaurant I would expect a more quiet environment, but i could hardly hear my conversation with my husband.
The Sunflower seed "risotto" was an interesting one, I like it a lot, very special.
For main course I picked the scallop, which was very fresh, matched with baby bak choi I found that a very creative combination. Since the scallop was fresh I felt that the chef was a little too heavy on the salt. If he could lighten up the salt a bit would be even better.
My husband had their veal, we both found that not as impressive as the risotto and my scallop. Deep fried veal, nothing special about it, the sauce... i gave it an ok.
The desert is was amazing! I have never had such a wonderful desert before! It was a mixture of sweet, bitter and sour! Have no idea how the desert chef made it but it was so fun to try!
All in all the food can be better, specially with that price tag, but it was a delight to enjoy their plating.
I don't think I will come here for a second time, but I will definitely try their sister restaurant: Uni Sashimi Bar, which is right next to Clio. -
Review from Michelle S.
Oakland, CA
4/25/2008
"This is for all you girls about 25, livin' in a tiny apartment just trying to get by...."-Martina McBride
I feel upon extraordinary circumstances at age 25. I became an orphaned only child while I was living on my own in a tiny suburban apartment. I lived modestly. Then my 26th birthday started to approach. What to do? My parents always made a big deal of my birthday and suddenly I had this great urge to do something different. Fortunately, one of my best friends, Dani, was a grad student at BU and I was just itching for an excuse to visit her. Well, a birthday is as good of an excuse as any right?
We decided to go somewhere fancy for my birthday dinner. However, I'd never been to Boston before and Dani was a ramen-eating grad student with no money. What to do? She sent me information about "The Phantom Gourmet." I tried prying my boss who was a post-doc at MIT. He then put me in contact with a foodie post-doc at MIT.* Through a chain of emails, Dani and I decided on this place. Dani then made the reservations for my birthday.
This place was absolutely perfect for the occasion. It was gorgeous with very explicit attention to detail (ie, embossed paper towels in the bathrooms). I kept drinking my water so that the good-looking water boy had to keep coming by to refill it. Our mojitos were pretty good (though, in retrospect, I would say the mint was muddled a little too much). I had the halibut and Dani had the duck. We liked our food so much that we took pictures of it. The service was very attentive. The prices were far more extravagant than I expected and the portions were a bit on the small side. Of course, now that I treat myself to fine dinners all the time, the prices do not seem so shocking now. And then, because we couldn't afford to get drunk at Clio, we finished off my birthday with Jameson shots at Kilroy's...which I now hear is closed...and that is a shame.
So, that was certainly one of my best birthdays. That trip probably ruined me forever. On top of learning to not feel guilty for buying expensive dinners, I also learned just how big of a deal the Boston Marathon is. (My birthday is around the same time as the event and the finish line was still painted on the street). So, two years later, I am no longer living a modest lifestyle in the suburbs. I became a foodie, trained for a marathon, and became the self-proclaimed Urban Socialite. This means that I am now poor with permanent knee damage. It's all your fault Clio and Boston!
*How can an MIT post-doc afford to be a foodie in Boston? Is HE the Phantom Gourmet? -
Review from Erica S.
Media, PA
3/31/2008
Birthday extravaganza: PART I
My parents brought my sister and I here for dinner to celebrate our birthdays. Fancy! Let me tell you, this is a place that I would never normally come, and could never normally afford, but it was a really fabulous way to enjoy the decadent life for one night and let Chef Ken Oringer show me how it's done.
They love foam here (think Marcel from season 2 of Top Chef), and it works! My mom had a fabulous appetizer that featured sea urchin (better than it sounds!) and lobster in a lemony herby foamy concoction they called a "cassolette." The foam made a second appearance at our table in my entree, the Maine lobster. The pre-shelled lobster tail and claws were delicious and flavorful, served with chanterelle mushrooms and fava beans.
Possibly my favorite dish of the night was my step-dad's entree, the crunchy sauteed Atlantic halibut. It was cooked to perfection and served in a ginger brother that made my eyes roll back it was so good. Oooh I traded him several bites!
For dessert we were ridiculous and had a cheese platter with interesting pairings, along with 3 other desserts, starring some kind of molten chocolate delight that finished my night off right. I left feeling absolutely stuffed silly, but that I had gotten a lot of fancy bang for my (parents') buck.
Plan to spend about $100+ per person on appetizer, entree, dessert, and wine. Not bad considering this beautiful, cozy restaurant is home to one of Boston's top chefs. Bon apetite! -
Review from Chin C.
Quincy, MA
4/11/2007
I planed to dine there with such a high expectation and booked the table two weeks before. All that leaded to one big disappointment.
We arrived and being seated promptly and decided to explore the 3 hr tasting menu of 12 courses. The first 2 courses were drinks, not a simple drink but the creative one so we thought the tasting would be great.
The following courses were served, all tiny portions with one bite or two bites max. We were frustrated on the portions and asked our server to make sure that we would not have to leave hungry and he assured we wouldn't.
The $135 12 courses incl sashimi, foie gras, lobster, meat. shellfish, fish, cheese, drinks, and dessert. Just few out of the whole courses were excellent, the rest weren't live up the expectation. And in the end we spent 3 hrs and $170 each then left hungry since the portions were so small even if we put all the food together in one plate, it would be smaller portion than the regular entree!
We felt the tasting menu might not be the one we should order but in the other hand the tasting allow us to explore many kind of food at once. We tried tasting menu several times at other places and Clio was the only place that we weren't given enough food to stop our hungriness. -
Review from Leighann F.
Astoria, Queens, NY
Updated - 7/26/2009 1 Check-in Here
In my second go round at Clio, we passed on the sake bombs and sushi and sat proper at the bar nearest the dining room, sipping craft cocktails concocted by Todd Maul and dining on appetizers from their abbreviated bar menu.
It seems to go without much saying that the food here is fantastic, if not extremely expensive. Shrimp tempura will run you about $17, but won't taste like that oily tempura you've had in the past. The soft shell crab sandwich, also $17, is worth the dough as well. Both portions were quite generous and, paired with a cocktail, make for the perfect evening snack.
It's a different vibe in here though, a bit more tame and quite a bit pricier than Uni. The highlight for me was the cocktail consumption. Todd crafts some of the finest in the city, including a special taste he whipped up for us using Swedish Aquavit and celery bitters. The end result was a savory, fall-inspired cocktail with a very unique flavor.
And don't worry, you can sit in the dining room, at the bar or down in Uni and still sip Todd's delicious creations.Listed in: Best Back Bay Businesses, Beija Cachaca in Boston!, Hot Date Spots in Boston, Boston Restaurants with Great…, Seafood in Boston
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/24/2008
Sake Bomb Sundays.
Nothin' says fun like getting together with some of your best buds and pounding… Read more »
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Review from Bill K.
New York, NY
4/18/2006
Fantastic.
There is no doubt that Clio's food is just to die for. I had a corn chowder here that was better than sex.
The room is extremely elegant and really just a lovely place to dine.
However, where makes Clio so special is the way they knit together the food and the room with fantastic service. My server here made everything so easy. He was able to anticipate all my needs, down to making sure my wine glass was never empty, without being intrusive.
So, unless you're an i-banker or have inherited wealth, you probably won't get to dine here frequently. But, for a special occasion, it's hard to find a better place in Boston.Listed in: Where to go when NOT on a…
