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Ten Tables
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
597 Centre St(between Parley Ave & Pond St)
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Neighbourhood: Jamaica Plain
(617) 524-8810
- Nearest Transit:
-
Centre St @ Parley Ave (192, 35, 38, 39, 41, 48)
Centre St @ Lakeville Rd (192, 35, 39, 41, 48)
Centre St @ Lester Pl (192, 35, 38, 39, 41, 48)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
385 reviews for Ten Tables
Review Highlights
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"I am still drooling over the Thai Basil ice cream." In 24 reviews -
"Loved all the candles lit and the open kitchen." In 36 reviews -
"And the wine pairings were equally excellent." In 21 reviews
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385 reviews in English
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Review from Evan G.
Boston, MA
5/2/2012
I've been here a few times, most often on Wednesday nights for their 3 for $35 deal. Definitely recommended, as each course has great options (including one for veggies). I think it's best to sit on the bar side, because then not everyone has to eat from the special menu.
Service has always been great and not snotty (the employees down the block at Grass Fed could stand to take a few pointers from the TT waitstaff...). One time, I had a pretty incredible entree plate of fall vegetables and grains and I-don't-know-what thrown in there. I often find that vegetarian dishes are somewhat of an afterthought, but the chef here clearly knows his way around a vegetable.
If there's a dessert with thai basil ice cream, you gotta get it. -
Review from Sydney M.
Boston, MA
3/31/2012
Although I haven't yet been able to budget for dinner on the Ten Tables side, I can confidently say the Ten Tables has one of the best separate bars (the TT Bar) that I've been to. Definitely top 5.
The cocktails are fun, and yummy, and the waitstaff are knowledgeable and extremely helpful in aiding you to make an informed drink decision. So great. The waitstaff also won't judge you or make you feel snubbed for ordering just a few drinks or appetizers instead of running up a ridiculous tab. Also great. And unique among similar types of bars.
Also, the menu includes HOUSE-MADE RICOTTA CHEESE!!! Who knew that warm ricotta cheese could be so delicious?!?
The dessert menu also changes seasonally, and the ice cream pairings are always spot-on. The hazelnut is to die for.
The atmosphere is romantic, and cool, but impressively (and surprisingly) unpretentious. Way to go 10 Tables! -
Review from Michael C.
Boston, MA
3/26/2012
One of my favorite Boston restaurants. Its a bit outside of the city center but its worth the short trip. I have been here several times and enjoyed all of my meals. The dinning room is small and shares its space with the kitchen. I really like this since it allows you to watch the food be prepared. The menu changes fairly often and the chefs make sure to offer only the freshest and tastiest dishes.
The bar side of Ten Tables is also very nice. I have been several times for burger and beer Mondays. Their burgers are simply amazing, one of the best I've had in the Boston area. I highly recommend ten tables for any occasion. -
Review from Juliana C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
3/22/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I stayed away from Ten Tables for nearly two years, due to the misapprehension that it was too rich for my blood. It took a comped four-course tasting for me to check out the menu and realize just how wrong I was -- did you know you can snag beer and a burger for $15 on Mondays? Or artisanal mac and cheese plus a glass of wine for $14 on Thursdays? Well, knowing is half the battle -- get your ass in there already!
Any place with wine flights automatically wins my admiration, but when you add an intricately plated assortment of charcuterie items like house-pickled vegetables, innovative sorbet flavors like tarragon chartreuse and the best damn sea salt in five counties, the sum equals me becoming a regular, stat.
Ten Tables is tiny. Unoccupied spots are at a premium, especially at the bar. Acknowledge and accept this, sip some wine and admire the flickering candlelight as you wait; they'll have you seated and smiling in no time.Listed in: JP's the place to be
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Review from Vera K.
Boston, MA
5/16/2012
Only been once for a romantic dinner, was as delicious as it gets! Got to sit chef side.
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Review from May W.
Mountain View, CA
4/24/2012
Delicious tasting menu! The service was also impeccable and I really felt like it was a special evening with my friends. I had the wine pairing and it was a perfect complement to the meal. Definitely recommending their tasting menu. They also provide a vegetarian menu so everyone can participate!
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Review from Eliza W.
Jamaica Plain, MA
5/15/2012
mmm! + ambience + real ingredients made of real foods (ginger cocktail with real ginger root infused) + adorable bartender from vermont + chill ambience = everything that it was cracked-up to be
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Review from Alyssa P.
Quincy, MA
3/12/2012
Absolutely outstanding in every way.
The atmosphere is so lovely. Although small, you don't feel cramped. The dim lighting, candles, and open kitchen are all such nice touches. The bar on the other side was buzzing, full of people, but separate from the dining area.
Food: phenomenal. My boyfriend and I enjoyed an appetizer, salad, entree, dessert, and coffee. All incredible. We didn't leave a bite of food uneaten.
Perfect for a special occasion. Very romantic and also reasonably priced for the quality you're getting. -
Review from Caitlin B.
Boston, MA
4/24/2012
I'm obsessed with this restaurant. Everything I've eaten and drank here has been phenomenal. So many combinations of flavors that I've never tried. We tried the tasting menu with wine pairings the first time going and then have had delicious things on the bar side twice. My personal favorite was the papardelle with rabbit and the TT burger. Literally the best burger I've ever had.
only cons:
- small, there was no place to stand when we were waiting to be seated and kept having to shuffle around for anyone walking by. but it definitely played into the romantic ambience once we were seated
- our waitress (restaurant side) was kind of snooty, didn't smile much or seem to care about us. but both times on the bar side our waiter was lovely -
Review from Sami W.
1/5/2012
The first time I set foot in this cozy restaurant with literally 10 tables, was back in 2003 to celebrate an anniversary. I remember very well that I as enjoying a nice steak when my (then) spouse and I got into a huge fight and she left the restaurant abruptly. I was torn between finishing that delicious steak or go after her. I went with the latter, but later I wished I did the former.
Fast forward to 2012.....
I came back recently with my (beautiful) girlfriend who suggested it. So we met up at the bar around 5:30 in the evening, the place was empty. We asked our friendly waitress to whip us 2 Martinis of her choice. She came back with this awesome orangy looking Martini that was yummy!
As we were sipping on our drinks we decided to share the $35 three-course meal special on Wednesdays only.
We started off with the Roasted Beet Salad which consisted of Beet of course with Baby Arugula, Apples, Creamy Goat Cheese & Walnut/Black Pepper Puree. And for our main course we got the Pan Seared Organic Scottish Salmon With Roasted Sunchokes, Baby Spinach and Lemon Bread Salsa which was to die for. Then we ended up with the Traditional Bistro Creme Caramel which was okay.
What I like about this place is that they specialize in traditional cooking techniques. All pastas are handmade and all meats and sausages are made on the premises. And most importantly, they try to support the local farmers whenever possible.
Highly recommended date spot! -
Review from Kristin C.
Northborough, MA
2/21/2012
Came here for one of their Tuesday night Wine Dinners and it was just fantastic! The dinner includes 4 courses and 4 wine pairings for $44 each. Reservations are a must and the regular menu is not available on these nights.
Every course included fresh ingredients and was perfectly cooked. You can really tell that a lot of thought and care goes into planning the menu here. The restaurant, as the name implies, is tiny, but feels intimate rather than crowded.
Bottom line: I'd come back here in a second. Go. You won't regret it. -
Review from Liz E.
Jamaica Plain, MA
2/7/2012
THE BURGER HAS BACON AIOLI.
I don't really think I need to continue. But I will.
The cocktails are awesome (try the pink elephant), beer is great, and food (I've only been to the bar side) is delicious.
Great service- the waitress I usually have at the bar side is excellent.
I'll definitely be back to eat in the dining room. -
Review from Shannon R.
Boston, MA
3/19/2012
My husband and I went to enjoy a burger and sat at a table in the bar area. I cannot even begin to explain how amazing our burgers were! My husbands first words were, "this is the most amazing burger I have ever tasted". The meat is perfectly seasoned but not overwelming. The caramelized onions were incredible. Homemade bbq sauce, slightly tangy, and homemade mustard on the side. Bacon aioli, ahhhh!!! The drinks were well made and the service was awesome! Definitely pricey, $14 for a burger...but oh, what a burger it was!
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Review from Fred D.
Brookline, MA
1/16/2012
Thank god for restaurants like Ten Tables.
Staff feel like family, the menu is daring in subtle ways, the whole place is humming with careful, earnest execution and the relaxed attitude that comes with experience and excellence. Up there with Hungry Mother and a very few others as a top table in Boston.
Only downside is that it gets lively, but the wine pairings on the tasting menu were so precisely on target that we soon forgot about that !
Awesome place for a romantic dinner or a small gathering of close friends. -
Review from John P.
Brookline, MA
2/12/2012
Intimate. Romantic. Flavorful. Creative. Thoughtful. What's there to say that hasn't been said?
Ten Tables is the real deal. Brick walls and ten literal tables are lit by candlelight. Dining space is shared with a small open kitchen. Menu is inventive and updated seasonally with fresh, local (and where available, organic) ingredients.
The lady and I shared the charcuterie platter (outstanding pork pate), in addition to hanger steak and braised rabbit entrees. Inventive and playful, each dish balanced creativity (enough to broaden your pallet) while remaining adequately familiar. Deep wine list for those with Dionysian proclivities.
Impressive service. Prompt and precise. In addition to our waitress, a floater monitored the ten tables (filling glasses, replacing empty bread basket, retrieving the check without a moment's hesitation). While service generally is a function of whim and luck (based on your waiter assignment), at Ten Tables, wait staff seemed systematically precise and polished. Therefore, I'm more confident than usual that this quality of service will be replicatable in future visits.
Ten Tables is a pleasure. Will there be a second date? You bet. -
Review from B. L.
Boston, MA
3/31/2012
I'm so lucky that Ten Tables is in my neighborhood- this place will forever be a favorite. Where else can you go to get a 4-course vegetarian tasting menu for $32?
I have come here a number of times with dates or family- it is intimate and the food quality is outstanding. The tasting menus definitely deliver bang for your buck. I am gluten free and have also come here with a vegan date; if you specify your food restrictions in your reservation they will definitely serve you a top notch meal.
Although they serve up great meat-focused dishes, their vegetarian tasting menu doesn't miss a beat, and it's significantly cheaper ($32 vs $42). So if you're looking for a budget-friendly way to have a great food experience, I recommend going that route. Last time I ate here I have to admit that I enjoyed tasting all my dates veg dishes better than my carnivore ones- surprising for this meat lover! -
Review from Bess M.
Boston, MA
Updated - 1/12/2012
I went back there for my 2nd anniversary with my boyfriend! We had a great time! This time we got the four course meal that included the different wines with every meal. It was great. The only thing keeping ten tables from the 5 stars is the fact that we felt a bit squished and there wasn't really a lot of room on the table for the drinks and food.
We love coming to this place I'm thinking this might be a tradition for all our anniversaries!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/6/2011
I went there last year in January for my one year anniversary with my boyfriend.
I couldn't believe… Read more »
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Review from Sara M.
Updated - 12/13/2011
A friend wanted to "try out" having a dog, so I got the night off from Peppy and decided to spend it dining here with my sweetie.
We managed to get a tiny tucked-away table on the bar side, which is a plus because you can order from both menus.
We started with a glass of champagne, the sausage special, and the roasted cauliflower. The sausage was delicious, smoky and in a tiny skillet. The Cauliflower was great, albeit a little salty as it is served atop of golden raisins, pine nuts and capers. We also had a carafe of the house white, which is - surprise! - draft! It is a steel-casked chardonnay, very light and crisp
Then we shared the papardelle with rabbit and brussel sprouts. We mentioned we were sharing (we share everything we eat, so we don't mind sharing a plate) and they pre-portioned it into two bowls for us, which was very thoughtful. We also enjoyed a carafe of the house red, also delicious
We rounded out the evening with the chocolate terrine with basil ice cream. Chocolate is often too rich for me to eat after a big meal, but the basil cut the richness and we polished it off in no time. An espresso and a sambuca were a perfect pairing.
Overall, dinner was well paced, the service impeccable, and relaxed. I love coming here for special nights and look forward to another reason to returnListed in: Dinner for two
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/9/2011
I love ten tables. My date and I sat at a tiny table on the bar side and enjoyed both the red and… Read more »
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Review from Jason H.
Brighton, MA
10/25/2011
To preface, I've only visited the wine bar and eaten of the bar menu.
Perfectly decent beer selection and incredible burger. Charcuterie plate was OK. Haven't had enough of the menu to develop and informed opinion about food.
Service is attentive- if a bit overdone. Intimate and hip atmosphere, VERY small tables.
Nice addition to JP's vast restaurant selection. -
Review from Jessica C.
Boston, MA
12/10/2011
I had drafted this review a long time ago........ now finally posting...
4 1/2 stars with almost 300 reviews?? I had to try this place. To my disappointment, this is NOT a 4 1/2 star restaurant. This may be due to the fact that I got the $40 prefixe meal on Weds night (I am officially swearing off pre-fixe menus unless that is all the restaurant offers..a "tasting menu" is diff than prefix..)
The restaurant itself is easy to find, and very quaint and cute. I felt like I was in a little home or something and it was packed to say the least. The service was decent, and boy am I glad we made reservations ahead of time. It got really packed, but the drinks were good... i had some sort of drink sampler with 3 mini drinks, very pretty and tasty with unique flavors.. -
Review from LeeAnn E.
12/28/2011
Had a great meal here during the Tuesday wine night prix fixe dinner.
All courses were excellent in terms of amounts and presentation. An elegant sufficiency. Great service; thoughtful and attentive.
Will go back. -
Review from Thomas B.
Boston, MA
4/23/2012
Fantastic little place with friendly, curteous staff, and a menu to die for. Definitely pricey.. but definitely worth it for special occasions.
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Review from Aine F.
Brookline, MA
3/9/2012
One of the better dining experiences in the area. My third time there, but this is my first review. Intimate, cozy setting, small room with adjoining bar room. You can see the chefs at their craft from where you sit.....there really are aproximately ten tables!
And the food, smallish portions, but delicious. A little freebie apertif served after you take your seats....a nice touch! -
Review from David C.
9/20/2011
With the possible exception of Giacomo's in the North End, I've never been to a restaurant whose decor tainted my experience so much as Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain. The main dining room is absolutely tiny, and my mother and I were packed in like sardines. We were seated in plain view of the dishwasher in the kitchen, and when I say dishwasher, I mean a human, not a machine. Watching him toil over every dish that came his way was heartbreaking. I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to have that going on behind the scenes.
TT also takes "mood lighting" to a whole new level. When you can't even see the dishes that the kitchen has painstakingly prepared in front of you, it really detracts from the experience. And the food, save for my chewy steak, was good--that's the hardest part. I would have enjoyed our meal (the four course tasting menu) so much more had I been able to see it. If I ever go back to Ten Tables, it will definitely be when the sun is up, and I'll request a table with a little more breathing room.
I don't want to sound like a cranky pants, so I will end this review on a positive note. The highlight of the night for me was definitely the Portuguese Fish Stew, a hearty concoction of hake, clams (actually clam, singular), potatoes, escarole, leeks, and saffron rouille that got better with every bite. If only I could have seen it! -
Review from kelli p.
Boston, MA
10/3/2011
This was hands down one of the best meals I've had in my 2 years in Boston. The service was excellent and the food was just lovely.
A girlfriend and I sat at the Chef's Table which is practically IN the kitchen. We got to chat with the sous chef and experience the intensity of a Friday night dinner rush firsthand. If you can get that seat, I highly recommend it. It isn't always pretty but it's worth it.
I had the four-course vegetarian tasting: soup, salad, entrèe and dessert. Every course was amazingly fresh and yummy. Being in the kitchen, we could see each course being prepared and could even ask questions about flavors, spices, presentation choices, etc.
I can't say enough good things about Ten Tables. This was my first visit and I know I'll be back again and again. -
Review from Nick H.
San Jose, CA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wanted this place to be perfect so badly...but unfortunately it fell just short of it. Nonetheless, a fine dining experience, but unfortunately probably won't be back all that soon. I'd give them 3.5 if I could; luckily their perfect customer service won me over.
$42 for chef's tasting menu + $24 for wine pairings per person should get you some pretty decent eats. Let's see what it bought us.
First, we had to wait over half an hour past our reservation because the restaurant (if the name didn't give it away) is very small and (if the Yelp reviews didn't give it away) very popular. BUT the maitre d' gave us some complimentary champagne to pass the time. So far so good!
They made sure to ask of any allergies/conditions, and were kind enough to tone down the cream for my lactose fragile digestive system. Ten points to Gryffindor.
Tasting menu usually comes with four items of the chef's whim. Our servings were...
- COMPLIMENTARY BREAD: Um...REALLY stale, with only olive oil as a dressing. Hello?
- BONUS CHEF'S TREAT: A little shot glass of sweet potato soup with truffle oil. Yum! Back on track.
- APPETIZER: Chef's charcuterie with pork pâté, freshly made whole grain mustard, prosciutto, pickled vegetables, baguette, and saba (a new one for me; grape must syrup that tastes like honeyed balsamic vinaigrette). Paired with a very nice, dry white. Not filling (charcuterie never is), but fairly scrumptious (especially that saba).
- FIRST COURSE: Bourride, a light and creamy fish stew with hake (another new one for me; white fish with very light flavor and slightly tough flakes), swiss chard, a single clam, and soaked toast. Paired with a very interesting rosé with a peppery finish that went perfectly with the fish. Simple, homey, delicious, and plenty of stew to go round to moisten that horrible, horrible complimentary bread.
- BONUS CHEF'S TREAT: Again, to apologize for the wait, we got another surprise: a rosé champagne to cleanse our palate! They really are buttering us up...
- BONUS CHEF'S TREAT: As if that wasn't enough, we got ANOTHER surprise: shaved fennel salad with grapefruit and toasted pinenuts. This was absolutely amazing, and it's too bad it wasn't in our intended lineup!
- SECOND COURSE: And here's where it came crashing down. Hanger steak with cauliflower and potatoes au gratin. Cauliflower was very plain and a bit raw, potatoes were excellent, but the steak...oh, the steak. Upon our first bite, we looked at each other quizzically and asked, "WHAT does this remind us of?" And we figured it out...packaged beef jerky. All they had to do to win us over was cook a normal, simple steak medium rare, and instead we got cold, rare meat with too much smoked peppercorn. The paired red wasn't so hot either.
- DESSERT: Played it pretty safe here with a profiterole with banana ice cream and chocolate sauce. Would have been better warm in my opinion, but having the equivalent of a banana split was a good way to make me forget about that dreadful steak. A decent tawny port put a nice touch on the end of the night.
So judge for yourself...I expected a near flawless meal, and it unfortunately disappointed. There were definitely highlights, and the ambience/customer service were phenomenal...but the food just wasn't 100% there. Try harder next time, Ten Tables! I'll definitely thank you for it! -
Review from Minerva P.
Alhambra, CA
2/12/2012
Wonderful birthday celebration for Annelise! The food was fabulous as was the company! We will be back next year !
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Review from Hayley M.
6/23/2011
Yay!
Came in for a small birthday dinner. We were lucky enough to get a reservation at the bar, which did mean that we could only order off of the bar menu, but it was a fantastic experience.
The wait staff is incredibly well educated in all of the ingredients and menu items. Our waitress explained the differences between bio-dynamic and organic wines and answered every question we had.
We ordered the pickled octopus and pickled vegetables for appetizers. The two guys had the burger, which had a bacon aioli, caramelized onions, cheese, and a fried egg. The guys both proclaimed it to be the best burger they had ever had.
Both of us girls had the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Holy crap. I broke my "never order grilled cheese at a restaurant because you can make it yourself" rule and I am really glad I did. It had green apple, locally produced cheddar cheese, and the most delicious mustard I have ever had. I asked for extra so I could debate drinking it. The tomato soup was perfectly spiced, nice and thick. I was full about three quarters of the way through but powered through. There was no way I was going to let a single bite of my meal not get eaten!
Wonderful. Can't wait for next time, where I will most certainly sit in the regular dining room! -
Review from Doris T.
Brookline, MA
8/25/2011
This was my husband and mine first dinner as a married couple and I must say that the day was quite memorable. We started with a hibiscus limeade and it had a unique flavor that I had not experienced before. However, we did not like the appetizer options so we proceeded straight to entree. He had the hanger steak done medium well and loved it. I had the roasted bluefish with mixed grain salad and it was absolutely delicious! For dessert we tried the thai basil and the molasses ice-cream...Mmmmm... that was good!
Since we were so impressed, we also ordered the poached hake with pesto spaghetti to take out and noticed something quite curious. Although the dishes served at the restaurant were just enough for one person, the take-out fed the both of us! I wonder if the larger portion is just part of the dish itself...oh well... but it was worth it! The pesto was one of the best I had even though my husband found it a little strong.
The wait-staff there were quite polite and very knowledgeable and efficient. Overall it was a wonderful experience!
The few cons about the place include the small space and crowd. But if you plan ahead and send in an online reservation, it can become an experience worth remembering.
Oh and for the more bold eaters out there: I have heard good things about the chef's taster menu.
For the more cautious eaters: Just ask if you are not sure and the staff will help you with the fancy food names ;) -
Review from Kevin L.
5/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The boy's personal trainer, in reaction to my mentioning that we went to Ten Tables...
PT to boy: 'You took him to the one in JP?!'
PT to me: 'You made it back alive. That's a good thing.'
Me: 'Huh? What's wrong with Ten Tables? I thought it was great!'
PT: 'Oh, you know. JP's kind of known for being a pretty rough area. There are shootings there all the time.'
Me: ...
Me: 'But the food was stellar... and I thought JP was known for all the lesbians.'
PT: ...
----
Shootings and women-who-love-women aside, Ten Tables was 120% worth the trip out to Jamaica Plain. It was possibly the most enjoyable meal I've had in a long while, and for an astonishingly affordable price, no less!
Since everything on the menu sounded mouthwatering, we discussed with our server regarding how best to sample as great a variety as possible. Between the two of us, we ended up sharing one carnivore chef's tasting, one pescetarian chef's tasting, and cocktails aplenty. Given the tastings are presumed to vary from season to season, I won't get into the food save to say that everything was prepared exceptionally.
Similarly, drink-wise, you can't go wrong, either. I was particularly fond of the beverage I started with, The Nasturtium. With Aperol, Genever, St. Germain, and lemon, it was brightly refreshing without being cloyingly sweet. This theme runs true throughout their cocktail program. Whoever's behind the wheel here has some finely honed taste I can appreciate!
Ten Tables serves well as a solid choice for catching up with good friends, but truly excels as a date destination if you're really trying to impress your companion. The lively, boisterous environment, endless entertainment (in the form of an open kitchen), and amiable service all add up to a gustatory theatrical experience worth sharing.Listed in: Eats in Boston, Date Night in Boston, Beantown Drinks
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Review from August L.
Jamaica Plain, MA
1/20/2012
A rare specimen in the restaurant industry - small but actually cozy, beautifully created food but very edible and enjoyable, attentive service without being cloying or pretentious.
They often have special menus. On Wednesdays it is 3 courses for $35. You choose among ~ 4 or 5 appetizers, 5 entrees and 3-4 desserts. We shared two different meals for every course, and they were all delicious. Another day it is a prix fixe menu, with a meat option and a vegetarian option.
VERY vegetarian friendly. This is not a place that puts some soggy grilled vegetables on plain pasta. They have a true vegetarian or vegan option for each course, and sometimes two options. The meals are creative, seasonal and wonderfully executed.
AMAZING cocktails. Seriously. The Basil Gin Gimlet was devine. The wine selection is heavy on the European offerings and seems a bit overpriced.
The space has a great energy without being crazy loud or frantic. The bar area has its own menu and is a great choice for a more casual evening. We've eaten there a few times and have always been impressed.
Ten Tables has consistently been a wonderful restaurant, and is excellent value for the price. I would recommend it over many other 'top' choices in the Boston/Cambridge area. -
Review from Jessica G.
Boston, MA
8/24/2011
I was so excited to finally make it to Ten Tables. The atmosphere alone, is something worth making a reservation for. I'm a big fan of open kitchens, and fortunately we got to sit about 10 feet away from the action, which MAKES the experience.
To start we ordered the salad, nectarines, pistachios, vinaigrette dressing, which was pleasant. As entrees we had the Giannone chicken and the bluefish. Surprisingly, both were very very salty, which moved our meal away from great/5 stars to 4 stars(believe me, I'm a big fan of salt, but it was really a little much). Overall, the meal was very good, and The Boy and I would definitely like to return for a second shot. -
Review from Justin Y.
Ann Arbor, MI
7/10/2011
It is a very popular but small restaurant so it can get very loud! But other than that, great restaurant.
The service was excellent. They started with an amuse bouche of some cold soup which was light but had lots of flavor. My friend ordered pan-roasted gianonne chicken which was very tender and juicy. The hanger steak with duck fat fried fingerlings was amazing though. The meat was cooked perfectly and pretty much melted in your mouth. The frisee and fiddlehead garnish was a perfect complement to the steak and gave it great taste. The portions for both main dishes were perfect and people could easily order appetizers to share without having to worry about ordering too much food. -
Review from Maura N.
Boston, MA
3/30/2012
We went to 10 Tables for my Birthday. We sat at the Chef's table and had the tasting menu. The food was fantastic. We could not decide which plate we liked best because they were all fabulous, Charcuterie, Trout, Bourride, Rabbit, Chicken and dessert.......YUM. The chefs table was fun and Chef Eric was friendly, informative and entertaining........ A great night
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Review from oiyan p.
Boston, MA
6/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I think I ordered the wrong thing because I was underwhelmed by Ten Tables last night. Or maybe my expectations were set too high. I wanted and expected an experience that would bring me near tears.
I had the 3 for $33 Wednesday night deal - appetizer+main course+dessert prix fixe. My favorite course was the complimentary amuse bouche, which was a cold carrot, ginger, and saffron soup. YUMMY. For the app, I got the charcuterie, which had a delish balsamic (?) reduction sauce, some slivers of yummy prosciutto, and a slice of their house made pate. My main course was the hanger steak, which costs $6 extra. The steak was chewy!!! I expected tender. The peppercorn crust was a bit overwhelming too. Disappointing. The dessert I got was the chocolate terrine with Thai basil ice cream and maldon salt. The ice cream was really great. the chocolate was wonderfully rich, but overwhelming.
I tried the duck breast with red rice, which my dad got, and it was heavenly. So perhaps chalk the disappointing main course up to unfortunate ordering. I also tried my mom's pound cake with labne ice cream and rhubarb compote dessert, which was amazing.
Service was fab!
Lesson learned. This is not a steak joint! -
Review from Michelle C.
Brookline, MA
5/10/2011
I've been all down to get down with Ten Tables for awhile now but let's be real ... it's kinda pricey, it's kinda a pain to get in, it also requires a trip to Cambridge. Oh wait, it doesn't. Because there's one in JP and I dig on JP, not to mention I can walk there (in spite of the firefights and throngs of lesbians referred to in every other post ... psh.)
So, dapper companion made a reservation on Opentable and off we went ... tucking in to a bottle of red wine and a lengthy conversation about open-carry laws. If you have an aversion to people, deal with it because you're in your neighbors laps, but Ten Tables is, as a general rule, trendy and therefore full of sexy and intellectual folks that you don't mind touching awkwardly when you get up to go to the bathroom. SPEAKING of which, it's tucked in a corner and I'm fairly certain the table right next to it is within pee-splash earshot.
Which brings me to the next point; I believe that this table is probably not tops in terms of preferred seating, but since there's only a handful of tables here to begin with, get yourself a reservation.
Oh! The food! Right. It was pretty spectacular. We were greeted with a taste of parsnip soup (pretty tasty, although parsnips are awfully bland to be the main ingredient in a soup ... but I digress.) Rustic bread with a GOOD olive oil for dipping and then there's the food! A relatively small menu is daunting for some but literally every single dish seemed mindblowing. I ended up with the seafood stew, which featured surprises such as giant capers and golden raisins. A tomato based stew with fish-eye pasta, perfectly cooked squid and a tender piece of hake. Said companion ordered the duck breast with pork fat. Mmmm. Oh, yes, there was also a pickled octopus appetizer in there as well as a flight of ports. We stumbled home, drunk and happy.
So, in short: supremely cool ambiance, hands-off but attentive servers, top-notch ingredients and great skill in the kitchen. This may be the beginning of a love affair. -
Review from Amanda G.
Somerville, MA
12/22/2011
4.5 stars is more like it. Ten Tables Cambridge is a must-try because the food is delicious, the service is top-notch, and the experience is unlike most places in the Boston area. The highlights:
-- The tasting menu. A fairly priced experience you won't get most places full of gourmet surprises based on seasonable ingredients.
-- The food! Really everything was delicious - I'm not a big meat eater so I wasn't *in love* with some of the offerings but that doesn't meant every bit of the meal wasn't special, tasty and presented beautifully. My favorites -- and this will change based on when you go -- were the blue fish pate appetizer, the butternut squash soup (to die for) and the white fish in broth which was cooked to perfection. My main was probably my least favorite - chicken & pork sausage in mashed potatoes - not because it wasn't delicious but because it was literally a giant sausage and I felt slightly accosted (my boyfriend's favorite part of the meal).
-- The service. Spot-on, five star service and they'll make adjustments to the tasting menu if you have certain diet restrictions which is fab.
The only downside and 1/2 star dock -- it was 100 degrees in the restaurant despite the cold weather outside. The place is pretty small - nice, though - and the kitchen isn't closed as far as I can tell so it got steamy. My thighs were sticking to my seat and my boyfriend was concerned he'd sweat through his shirt. Also, they have a small amount of parking available but we didn't know that so we had to hike from Harvard Square to get there.
Lastly, dress nice. This place isn't fancy by any means but nicer/more romantic than we'd expected based on other Yelp reviews.
Definitely a unique, wonderful experience I'm sure to try again! -
Review from nomo c.
Boston, MA
6/15/2011
Came here for an anniversary meal and was blown away.
We started with a charcuterie plate and some margarhitas. the real stuff not the icy slushy stuff.
i had the steak and he had the seafood stew. I think we passed on the dessert because we ate every last bite of our app and entree. Everything melted in my mouth. The waiter was polite and knowledgable.
Would definitely go again if it weren't always so crowded! Trust me, we've tried. Try to go at an off hour, either early dinner or late dinner. But its definitely worth it. -
Review from Ishmael S.
Peabody, MA
4/7/2011
One of the best sit down dinner experiences I've ever had. My wife and I went for a special night out, and it was perfect.
The atmosphere was somewhere between trendy/casual and semi-formal. The open kitchen was really cool, and the decor was really great. The tables were a bit close together, but it didn't negatively impact the meal. The wait staff was attentive and friendly, and the food was excellent. We ordered a 4-course meal thing, which I highly recommend, since we got to try some items we wouldn't normally order.
If you're looking for a good date night dinner spot, this is a perfect place for that! -
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
5/2/2011
Ten Tables epitomizes New England cuisine. This is what anyone passing through the region must try at least once. Cheap? Not exactly. Chic? Not always. Fresh? Most definitely. Delicious? Always.
The boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we did the simple yet filling 4-course tasting menu.
We were greeted with shots of hot parsnip soup with sea salt and chili, and on an overcast 50-degree day, it was absolutely perfect.
First course was a charcuterie plate with chicken liver pate, mushrooms, carrots and housemade mustard. Even non-fans of ground-up innards can enjoy this. See boyfriend for proof.
Second course was seared ocean some-kind-of-fish with orange vinaigrette, chick peas and a simple vegetable ragout. The light sauce was absolutely delicious. Just a simple, savory flavor like a well-done chicken stock. The vegetables were crunchy yet perfectly cooked and the fish was melt-in-your-mouth tender.
Third course was a seared duck breast with rice and shiitake mushrooms. Again, this dish epitomizes Ten Table's simple, flavorful and hearty cuisine prepared with just the right amount of elegant presentation.
Dessert was two-fold: I got a chocolate terrine with Thai basil ice-cream and a glowing candle and the boy got a pistachio semi-freddo with orange pieces. Both were fantastic, but I just could not get over the perfect pairing of salty basil ice-cream and sweet chocolate terrine. It was absolute heaven for the palate.
The service was very "village raises the child". No consistent waiter/waitress yet water carafes were never left empty and empty dishes were cleared away immediately. The restaurant won't win points for fancy interior decorating and hardly exudes a romantic ambience, but unless you plan to propose there, it really won't matter.
And praise for the cocktail list: So few places really try to go above and beyond with their drink menus, offering cocktails that are one-of-a-kind unique, amazingly creative and filled with ingredients (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that you would never in a million years think to pair but somehow work. In that elite class (Tier 1) of cocktail places live such establishments as Craigie on Main, and now, Ten Tables JP. The Emerald Necklace was just fantastic.
