No. 9 Park
9 Park St, Boston, MA, 02108
No. 9 Park Menu
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Appetizers
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Entrees
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Cheese
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Desserts
Healthy Meal suggestions for No. 9 Park
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Appetizers
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Entrees
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Cheese
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Desserts
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
9 Park St
Boston, MA, 02108 - Phone (617) 742-9991
- Website https://www.no9park.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:30 pm - 10:00pm
- Mon : 5:30 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Daniel S.
Had dinner at No. 9 Park right after Christmas. Appetizers that were sampled included Hudson Valley foie gras, the Farro Farfalle (rabbit), prune stuffed gnocchi, mixed green salad. Across the board the appetizers were well received and nobody was disappointed. Entrees included venison, duet of beef, roulade of chicken, and scottish salmon. Again - everyone was very happy with the entrees. Finally came the desserts. Unfortunately I don't think anyone was thrilled with the desserts. Perhaps desserts are not a speciality, but each dessert seemed an odd combination of flavors. I'll be the first to admit that it may be even the case that the taste of the desserts was a bit over my head so to speak - but compared to the appetizer and entrees just a bit disappointed. Overall a very nice meal, nice ambience, very friendly staff, and great service. Would definitely recommend as a choice for a special occasion.
(4)Will S.
We did the Chef's Tasting Menu, which is the best way to learn what a chef is all about. This one didn't disappoint us. They highlighted the vegetables of the season (pesto with ramps was the highlight) and each dish was complex, composed and presented beautifully. The food was excellent -- maybe the best fine dining I've had in Boston. We were also pleased with the waiter's knowledge of the wine list. I'm no expert, but I know my stuff and their claim that they train their servers really well on wine was backed up. When prices are that high, though, I hold a higher standard and they didn't do a great job knowing who was getting what -- and there were only two of us at the table. My wife and I both did the tasting menu, but each chose a couple of different courses and on three of the seven courses, the plates were dropped in front of the wrong person -- including me being served the same dish twice. Because there are so many plates being dropped and cleared, they serve with a team approach. That can be fine, but it should remain seamless for the diner. The biggest flaw was the pacing. We mentioned at the beginning that we had show tickets and needed to be finished by 7:50 (we sat at 5:45). The waiter assured us that they would pace the tasting menu appropriately for our schedule. But we ended up having to rush through our final two courses, which diminished the enjoyment of them. Especially the fantastic dessert, which was a brown sugar and cornmeal cake. If he had told us we needed more time for the tasting menu, we would have just ordered off the prixe fixe menu. Again, I'm being picky because we dropped more than $500 on dinner and drinks for two. Overall, the food was awesome and the servers were friendly and knowledgable. The experiential elements were just lacking a bit. But if creative fine dining is your thing, you have to go.
(4)Kang L.
The elegant and sophisticated No. 9 Park represents the pinnacle of fine dining in Boston. Created by celebrity chef Barbara Lynch, No. 9 Park is the flagship shop of her dining empire in Boston; I believe it is one of the only few Michelin star worthy restaurants in the city. Overlooking the iconic Boston Commons, the restaurant attracts a very smart and classy crowd in its exquisite dining room and bar. Pictures at the-aftertaste.blogspot.… In addition to the restaurant week menu, we ordered additional wine pairings with our set. Each dish was accompanied by a specially-selected and unique wine... The seared duck foie gras was truly made to perfection. The creamy foie gras and spongy texture of the hedgehog mushrooms went extremely well together. And the delicious smell of duck fat would linger in my mouth until I had another bite of this delicate dish. Read the full review and pictures at the-aftertaste.blogspot.…
(5)Cooper D.
I took my girlfriend here for her birthday dinner last evening and it turned out to be a major disappointment. We had an 8:30 reservation and were there 5 minutes or so before then. We didn't get seated until 8:45 after ordering drinks in the waiting lounge. Our waiter brought our drinks to our table and mine was not the one I ordered. The waiter also took away our wine glasses before dinner without asking if we wanted wine or not which was a major turn off. The waiter also never checked in on us during the meal, except "here's your 1st coarse, here's your 2nd coarse". My food was okay and my girlfriends was relatively plain (she got the duck, I had the hake). The server charged me for the drink that wasn't mine. The server was texting around the corner all night just expecting 20%. This place needs some staff changes and more attention to detail to gain back my respect.
(1)Alice Z.
After living in boston downtown for 9 years, this place is, by far, my most favorite place in town to grab a drink and a bite with a friend on a chill night, or to go on a date. The food is fantastic if you are a fan of french food. There is italian influence in Barbara lynch's cooking (gnocchi!) and there is a lot of fantastic preparations of red meat, dark meat, and seafood. but the best part is sitting at the bar with a friend or on a date. The bartenders are fantastic (a lot of them train/rotate in at Drink), they offer you gougeres (delicious french cheese puffs), and the bar menu is pretty expansive. Obviously you have to order the prune stuffed gnocchi with seared foie gras and it comes perfect every.single.time. The atmosphere is a classy casual. I've been there both in dresses and sweatpants before. It's a delicious and delightful way to spend any evening just chatting with a good friend or meet new people at the bar. I even once met Barbara Lynch and her husband at the bar!
(5)Lucy E.
I'm not giving away the secrets of this place on yelp (nice try though). But go here and I promise you a five star experience (especially if you sit at the bar, wink wink).
(5)J E.
We came here for a date night on a Friday and thought we would chance getting a table without a reservation ~ and we did. The best thing I can say about the experience was the very attentive and knowledgeable wait staff. The problem was the food -- it was bland and small portioned. The chicken I got was something I could have thrown together at home. When the bill came it hurt. We have been to Menton and the Butcher shop which were totally worth what we paid in terms of the food and the experience so this was a total let down in comparison. I don't know if the kitchen was just having a bad night or what but at this price point I wouldn't chance trying no.9 again. :(
(1)Sara C.
While I've only yet visited the bar, this is an absolute beacon hill favorite - whenever I have an insatiable craving for a fabulous martini, decadent steak tartare, and classy yet amicable staff, this is my go-to. In other words, you can find me here on a monthly basis!
(5)Melanie D.
No. 9 Park is one of those places you put on your bucket list. And it was surely on mine. So when I got married two years ago, hubby and I decided (well, I decided and told him) that instead of getting each other gifts, each year we'd cross off one of those more-expensive-than-the-mortgage restaurants on our (my) bucket list. So this year, it was No. 9 Park. In order to get the full experience, we opted for the full 7 course tasting menu, with wine pairings and the additional course of the prune-stuffed gnocchi, which I've been told is something you just can't miss. As you would expect, the service here is incredible. From the moment you walk in and are greeted by the friendly hostesses, to the end of the meal when your bill is delivered with the final mini course, you feel like someone is always there to meet your every need. Especially when it comes to bread, which I felt like they were delivering far too much of, because they were at our side the second one roll was gone ready to give us another one (which we did not need with 7 courses to go!). Typically, I'd mention that speedy service is a plus, but I think that's actually one of the things I had issues with during my experience at No. 9 Park. I felt that the courses were not spaced out enough for someone to adequately enjoy a tasting menu. I got so full within the first few courses because they were delivered in rapid succession that I could not enjoy the 2 main courses as much as I would have liked. The food was all delicious. I just wish I could have eaten more of it. Especially the gnocchi - as a result of the fact that it was so rich and heavy, I could only handle 2 bites and then had to give the rest to my husband (lucky big stomached guy!). I really enjoyed the culinary creativity of the courses - never expected to be eating a cooked sunflower, foie gras, rabbit, or homemade vanilla marshmallows ever, never mind in one evening! The ambiance is also really nice - small and intimate - nice for a romantic date night such as I had planned. I've also heard great things about the bar area, and can confirm that while I didn't get to experience it, it was pretty packed the whole time we were there! Overall, I would recommend No. 9 Park for a really, REALLY special evening, and I would recommend to anyone thinking of trying the 7-course tasting menu not to eat for a few days in preparation. That'll save you the space in your stomach, AND a few bucks to pay the ridiculously high bill. :)
(4)Brian D.
I've come here for desserts and drinks on a number of occassions so we stayed in the bar area, and usually you don't need a reservation to sit there on a late night. As for the restaurant itself, it is in the top 5 for best dinners I've ever had (you'll need a reservation here). We had the chef tasting menu, with each course more impressive than the last. What was unique about it was that since my companion and I weren't real drinkers, the bartenders fixed us non-alcoholic pairings with the courses. Definitely a first for me - the variety and complimentary nature of the drinks alongside the food was incredible. Worth the splurge. Also everything people are saying about the gnocchi is spot on.
(5)Oguz B.
Been there for the Restaurant Week on a Wednesday night. Starting all the way from reservation, No.9 Park staff were quite kind and charming. That actually went on throughout the whole dining experience. We headed to the restaurant as a party of two, and welcomed by two ladies asking us about our reservation and for the coat check. We were taken to the tiny lounge are for few minutes to have our table ready. In the meantime, we were given the cocktails menu but didn't go that way to keep our appetite for the dishes. Not after so long, we were seated and our two-kind breads were served with butter. One of the breads were artisanal regular bread and the other one was more a cornbread-like fluffy one which we liked both. Our server kindly asked us for our drink choices as well as our food selections. I was also able to discuss with him about the food-wine pairing with the wine I picked from the ever-lengthening wine list. That is actually one of the most important things in a fine-dining restaurant I pay attention and it was checked for No.9 Park. Our wine was brought timely and served as expected. We were asked to whether have our wine decanted and we went that way. For both of our party, our selection was the Organic Green Salad. It was served in a large round plate with almost any fancy decoration, which for me is a way to express the confidence on the flavor. It turned out just like that. The dressing was almost invisible but we were able to feel it somehow. Goat Cheese as a creamy component confirmed that different bite profiles in a dish really elevate the quality. And last but not least the caramelized walnuts!! They were well beyond the limits and cooked to perfection both in terms of crispiness and sweetness. Going on, as we were done with our firsts, our plates were collected and our table was prepared for the seconds. We had both picked Skate Wing started waiting for that impatiently. Again it was served in the middle of a large round warmed plate and again it was not flashy. Well, I was really curious how it would come out, but with the first bite, it fascinated me. It was first time me having a Skate Wing, but I definitely figured that it cooked to perfection. It was neither dried out-even though it was fried-nor was lacking a delicious crust. It was served with sauteed swiss chard, roasted sun chokes and caper puree. The sauteed swiss chard was not special, but the rest of the garnishes were well out of the ordinary. My taste buds had really amazing time during this course and the portion was well adjusted so that it was just sufficient to please and satisfy. After the entree, I asked for chef Scott Jones to congratulate him on promoting to the Chef de Cuisine position in the restaurant. He came to our table with his wonderful joy and smile as well as with great modesty. We had a candid talk about his journey all the way from his medical education background to the outstanding table in front of us couple of minutes ago. With his kindness, he thanked us and got back to his beloved kitchen to keep astonishing other guests. Finally we had the desserts served, and it was the only course that we tried different things. I got the cocoa panna cotta and enjoyed it a lot. It was such a moment that I would never want to end but it had a finale as all good thing have. With the check, the pastry chef sent two kind of sweet bites one being a high-end piece of chocolate and the other one a turkish-delight-like-sweet that completed our brilliant experience. Altogether, it was way more than an awesome experience, and definitely worth to visit there rather than a restaurant week. Highly recommended to all good-food-explorers and to ones wanting to make a favor for their palates.
(5)Michael U.
See Blog for complete thoughts and pics, high Points below: Course 2: Titled "Dayboat Sea Scallop with potato mille feuille, chanterelles, baby leeks, and mushroom puree this clever dish featured a beautiful caramelized scallop to the right and to the left an equally attractive round of creamy potatoes that looked nearly identical. Pairing each with savory leeks and woodsy mushrooms I really enjoyed this dish and in all my times fine dining I have never seen this playful trick before. Course 3: Stinging Nettle Gnudi with ricotta, smoked veal belly, and sage was based largely on Lynch's roots in Italian cooking and thankfully while the veal was a mere undertone the five creamy orbs of Gnudi were immensely flavorful with notes of sage, smoke, and salinity all in perfect balance. Course 4: "Prune stuffed Gnocchi with foie gras, almond, and vin santo" was the perfect marriage of two of my very favorite foods and the sort of dish where although the portion size was ample I could have easily eaten it all night. On one hand intensely sweet from the potato dumplings wrapped around prune preserves and on the other smooth and savory with a gossamer finish from the liver the true brilliance of this dish was actually the vin santo sauce bringing both together while bits of crunchy almond added texture. Course 5: Featured an easily 3-4oz slice of pan seared Hudson Valley Foie gras perched atop "baked fig en croute" and alongside dollops of pistachio puree and drizzles of reduced port. Clearly intended to be served as a one-two punch with the gnocchi this dish was every bit as delicious but nearly the exact opposite in texture with the liver more firmly cooked and the figs still fibrous in their skins beneath the flaky pastry shell. Less reliant on the sauces for balance than were the gnocchi I will note that while I enjoy foie gras paired sweetly the port was almost too much in this preparation while the pistachio puree was creamy, subtle, and restrained. Course 6: "Native farm egg with house made sausage, spinach, and truffle brodo" was essentially a soup or broth that I'd have normally expected earlier in the menu but given the heft of its ingredients it also served as an appropriate sixth course. Arriving as three overlapping rounds topped with shaved summer truffles tableside this hearty amalgam first featured a disc of cooked spinach topped with a creamy golden egg, and finally by a pan seared slice of crispy sausage. Running the gamut from vegetal to creamy to savory to earthy this was a well crafted dish even with the truffles less aromatic than optimal. Course 7: Peking Duck Breast with confit leg, baby root vegetables, chestnut puree and sour cherry. Having gotten somewhat used to the complex flavors of aged duck breast during recent dining experiences (namely Paris and the night prior at L'Espalier) this fresh preparation was surprisingly tasty and although a bit "chewy" the skin was immaculate and crisp thanks to what I was told was a few hours of brining in soy, sugar, and Chinese Five-spice. Moving past the breast to the molten confit and the sweet/savory balance of accoutrements on the plate I really liked the way each ingredient seemed to pull a different flavor from the duck - particularly the cherries which highlighted notes of cinnamon and clove in the crispy skin. One Savory was awful, desserts were lacking, cheese cart was excellent, service was flawless. Well worth the price, overall, but not the cream of the crop in a city with O-Ya and L'Espalier.
(4)Stephanie C.
We stopped in for dessert on a busy Friday. Called ahead to secure a table and were happy to get a high top in the bar. I cannot stress enough that the smoked ice cream that comes with the cocoa pain is hands down an amazing taste. First of all, the cake itself was perfect and served two or three different ways. virgin, chocolate topping, and white chocolate topping if I remember correctly. But the ice cream, in my opinion, is the star of the show. It is like eating smores while sitting at a campfire. unreal. The other order of dessert was the olive oil cake which was equally delicious. The fennel was an inventive touch. cannot wait to return on another weekend for dinner sometime soon.
(4)John L.
We've been making the trek here once a year from NYC, so I figured it's time I write a review. This restaurant is spectacular in every way. In terms of food, it's fine dining based in a hybrid of classic french and Italian technique, with modern, international twists. Everything is always delicious and beautifully presented. In terms of service, No. 9 Park can't be beat. We've eaten at many three Michelin starred restaurants, and this is hands-down this is the best service we've ever experienced (with the possible exception of Eleven Madison Park in NYC).
(5)Jessica C.
I felt like everything was a bit off the night we dined at N9P. I was pretty disappointed as this establishment appears on Boston's Best restaurants over and over again. We were seated at one of the back tables, (I highly recommend requesting a window table) did the 7 course tasting menu (should have just opted for the 3 course) it was just not impressive at all. Flavors were boring and bland. I'm not quite sure what everyone else is raving about. Am I missing something? I wasn't drinking that evening and the waiter made an effort to see what the bar could make for me as a substitute. He described a fizzy elderflower citrus drink and I was sold. It was served icy cold in a champagne glass, and I could have had 10 glasses of that stuff. That was the best part of the evening. I forget what the name of the drink, but just know that they have yummy non-alcoholic beverages too. I'm not going to sit here and list out all the courses of the tasting menu. But like MC wrote on 2/24/2013--"unremarkable and unmemorable chef's tasting" that about sums it up. Since the theme of this review are "U" adjectives.. here's another one to add to the list: UNACCEPTABLE: Our petit fours: chestnut financiers--- they almost broke our teeth off. My poor husband ate his without complaint and asked me if they were supposed to be that hard. I literally could NOT bite into the mini cake. I swear you could chuck a financier at someone's head and knock them unconscious. I asked the waiter what happened. She, in a not-so-sorry tone dismissed us and said, oh, you must have gotten an edge piece. what the?! Totally rude. They tried to make up for it by sending out some of their homemade salted caramel popcorn. I ate it a few days later and that was pretty tasty, but still didn't make up for our overall experience at the restaurant. Anyhow, for 200$ a person, I would gladly eat elsewhere.... please refer to my O Ya review.. still my fav restaurant in Bos!! Presentation: 2 stars Food: 2 stars Service: 2 stars Overall: 2 stars
(2)Ninad S.
My favorite restaurant from when I lived in Boston. Understated elegance. Great menu, amazing cheeses and pretty decent wine list. The cocktails are excellent too.
(4)Rachel P.
I can't say enough great things about No. 9 Park. From the minute you walk into this cozy restaurant over looking the park, you know you're in for a treat. It's not a small restaurant, but the layout of different rooms makes it feel so intimate and exclusive. I dined here last Friday evening with my fiancé and my parents and we all raved about it every step of the way. I started with the seared foie gras. Every bite was amazing. My fiancé started with the fluke crudo and said that it was so good he didn't want to eat it because he wanted to keep enjoying it! My dad had a beet salad that was a work of art. I have never seen beets presented like that. For my entree I had a pasta dish that was off the chef's tasting menu but they allowed me to have it a la carte. It was a spaghetti like pasta with bacon and fav beans- delicious. Between courses we were brought out little treats- a salmon tartar side by side with a smoked salmon. My mom doesn't eat seafood so I gladly had two of these. We also had a parmesan risotto which they shaved black truffles into as we watched. This dish was unbelievable. We enjoyed delicious wine throughout the night, and I also had a cocktail that had reposado tequila and mescal in it. It was the perfect balance of bitter, smokey, and sweet without being to sugary. I loved this drink! Every single person that works here is extremely passionate about what they do. Even though they have Prix-Fixe and Chef's Tasting menus, they are very flexible. Some places designed this way don't allow you to opt of dessert or make any menu alterations. No. 9 simply cares about what you want. It was an incredible evening!
(5)Joe B.
The bar service and staff are excellent. John at the bar is the best bartender of any place I have visited. I love the apps at the bar. Casual and friendly.
(5)Ngan T.
I don't think I can put into words how excited I was for No.9--we've repeatedly ran into some type of conflict or other trying to do dinner here. New Year's Eve was finally our chance when we found out about the NYE Bubble Bash. I'd called beforehand to hold our tickets for the night. Thank goodness because it began to fill up fast by 10pm. From beginning to end, the experience was a mess, and a waste of time and money. We checked in and were told we were all set. But for what? People were still eating dinner everywhere, there were some at the bar just grabbing drinks. We were not told how the "bubble bash" would work. I grabbed a seat by the bar and we were grilled by two bartenders consecutively about sitting there without checking in. Both did their due diligence by walking over to the host stand, pointing to us, and came back to ask what we wanted. How embarrassing! Another bartender came by and took the time to explain to us what was going on. We could order as much champagne as we wanted and there would be hor d'oeuvres. That'd be great if there was anyone to order from. We couldn't grab the attention of the bartenders beyond our first glass of champagne. As for the hor d'oeuvres, someone call me whenever those come out. We brushed it off and ordered two entrees instead. The couple right next to us seemed to be having a stellar time getting their champagne and sharing a dessert plate. After our food came (admittedly fantastic but I expected no less), I couldn't stay any longer. More people were coming in and kept jostling us to get drinks. We waited another ten minutes for three people to figure out where our coats were. I was livid by the end of it all, and it wasn't even midnight!
(1)Connie W.
I had incredibly high expectations, and while the service was wonderful, the company impeccable, and the food pretty darn good, I guess I was expecting more culinary creativity and perfection especially for the price. I tried the fabled prune stuffed gnocchi with slivers of foie gras (which were melt in your mouth tender, fully flavored, punctuated with sea salt, and absolutely divine) but really it should've been foie stuffed gnocchi with shavings of prune...ratios were off for me. My tasting of pork was fine - the pork belly was good, but not spectacular or incredibly inventive. The pan roasted (slightly caramelized/charred) artichokes were probably my favorite part of the dish. The duo of duck had highlights and lowlights. I loved the pan seared duck breast served with the impossibly smooth pasrnip puree, barley, and pickled rhubarb. The confit, however, bordered on dry and stringy - strange because the waiter told us that this was a quality breed of duck of some sort and that we hadn't tasted "real duck" until we tried this one...maybe I don't like real duck? haha... For dessert, we had the orange blossom pastry cream filled beignets with pistachio ice cream, and the rhubarb tart with ginger ice cream. The ginger ice cream was my favorite thing. The beignets honestly could've been much lighter - they were surprisingly dense. I don't know if I'll be back...maybe I didn't order the right things. Perhaps I'll have to give it a second chance!
(3)Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Fit for foodies. Good ambiance and music. Did you know that No. 9 Park received the 2012 James Beard Foundation Award Winner for Outstanding Wine Program? Yes indeed! The wine list is superb! We ordered two half bottles of wine. This is what we ate: We ordered from the Three-Course Prix Fixe menu and an order of pommes purée. The pommes purée was almost as amazing as Robuchon's. If you have to ask who is Robuchon, please. 1. Parsnip Agnolotti: escarole, rabbit, honeycrisp apple. Savory goodness inside wrapped in a delicate pasta. 2. Prune-Stuffed Gnocchi: foie gras, almond, vin santo Light and cloud like yummy delicious with a sweetness then the foie gras adds a little salty decadence. Very delicious! 3. Yellowfin Tuna: spanish octopus, salsa verde, blood orange. Served perfectly medium rare with a light delicious broth. The octopus was done perfectly. A nice char on the outside, and tender on the inside. 4. Cervena Venison: macomber turnip, lentils du puy, chestnut. Beautiful cuts of venison well prepared. 5. Dark Chocolate Tart: pear, caramel, port. Amazing dessert! The dark chocolate was so rich and yummy. Very decadent. Topped off with vanilla ice cream and caramel. 6. Assortment of Cheeses: Excellent cheeses and great portions served with toasted baguettes, honey and candied walnuts.
(4)Nicholas S.
I can't say much more about No. 9 than what has already been said below, but I did feel obligated to give it the 5 stars it deserves. Get the tasting menu with wine pairings. Go here for special occasions, or if you would like to create one.
(5)Rae Lynne K.
Whoa. Foodie goodness. I wish I had done my research on this place before I came here, but it was a surprise to my bestie that I was in town, I came up with a friend and had no idea where we were going to dinner until it was about a half an hour until our reservations. Since we were waiting for my bestie to arrive, they wouldn't seat us until everyone was present, and of course, since I was the surprise, they were very accommodating to us with an additional +1. Kudos. I was after all able to indulge. We had some drinks in the waiting area, the bar was packed when we arrived, but a guy came and took our drink order. As we went to be seated, the same guy came and took our drinks on a silver platter to our table. That was very nice of him. Once the menu came out, the surprise of a totally prix fixe menu was slightly overwhelming. There are two options, the three course prix fixe menu or the chef's tasting 6 course prix fixe menu. Both are fairly decent in pricing, but when one has on the mind what they want to eat, and its not on the menu.... I sucked it up and went with the three course prix fixe menu. It was suggested by our wonderful waitress that if everyone at the table did the same thing the experience would be better and she was right. There is a decent selection of appetizers, but that night there was also half shell oysters that could be substituted. I tried the foie gras which was delicious, the brioche was excellent as well. Everyone at the table had something different, and I was able to sample multiple different appetizers. For dinner I had the striped bass which was more on the dry side and not as flavorful as I would have expected, but I was too drawn to my friend's short rib which came highly recommended and I wanted more. Definitely try the short rib. For dessert I had the crème brulee which was nothing very special and a little bit on the underwhelming side. The table split a bottle of wine, a very delicious bottle of Rioja, which was probably the second greatest highlight of the evening. Well, maybe the third, since surprising my best friend was the best, followed by the short rib. But I do not want to make light of the wine list. It is a must check out and if you have any questions, ask your server. The list is superb, I could have had multiple bottles of wine if the budget had permitted!
(4)Zig W.
+tasty gnocchi +ambiance +85% as pretentious as you hope it will be +pretty good food (for you) +close to apt -duck too dry -little bit too dark for tiffany -$175 for two people, sans drinks, a bit steep
(4)Susan N.
I haven't tried the food but if it's anything like the drinks... Browsing through the drinks menu, I spotted a Pisco Sour, the national Peruvian drink. I knew it was a risk ordering it but did it anyway. And just WOW. It was made so well and the bartenders really know their stuff.
(5)Danielle S.
My boyfriend took me to No. 9 Park to celebrate my birthday and I could not have been less impressed. The atmosphere is pretentious. The food is good, but nothing extraordinary. Everything is overpriced. And to top it all off, the waiter was incredibly snooty, which appeared to be the standard. I very much enjoy eating at nice restaurants and have a particular love for French food. However, I would not recommend even trying No. 9 Park. There are a plethora of French restaurants in the Back Bay and Beacon Hill area and this one is at the bottom of my list.
(1)Katherine L.
I brought my boyfriend her for his birthday and everything we ordered was so delicious! We both ordered off the Prix-Fixe Menu and got different things so we could try as much as possible. To start, I got the mushroom tortellini and he ordered the prune stuffed Gnocchi. Both were delicious! I, personally, liked the tortellini better. You can tell everything is fresh! Next we ordered the Atlantic Hake and Duet of Rohan Duck. Both were wonderful! The Hake was the perfect portion and I was so full eating the duck. When I cut into the duck it fell apart like a pulled pork. It was perfect! (it tastes a lot like turkey for those who have not tried duck). For dessert I got the Creme Caramel which was so amazing. If you go here you HAVE to try this dessert. Its simply amazing. At the end of the meal my boyfriend and I were both SO full. I would say the meal was definitely worth $69.00 per person. Additionally, the staff was so inviting and nice. John and Greg would answer any questions we had about the menu and make great suggestions on drinks (which are all amazing from the bar) and food depending on our preference. On top of that they were super nice and wonderful people to talk to. Thanks for a great experience!
(5)KT G.
We have had a gift card here for about a year and half so it was time to use it. We arrived with no reservation but had called about coming and learned there were tables in the bar open and it was first come first serve. Good for us. Our waiter promptly took our drink orders and he was very knowledgeable; however, he got pretty busy and wasn't hover around. Other random staff ended up helping us, which worked for us. We were just in the bar anyway. We split the salmon tartar. Our waiter said it was a big serving, it didn't seem like it at the time but after our other orders, it seems fine. I liked it but nothing crazy. I ordered the lamb fondue from the appy menu and it wasn't what I expected. Again, I liked it because I like gorgonzola. The lamb was fine and the bread was actually really good for dipping. My husband ordered the tortellini from the appy menu. He liked it, I didn't find it that tasty. We like to sample many things and found the servings to be large enough to satisfy, but we don't usually eat large meals. We ordered dessert to go - the banana tart. It was good. I would go back.
(4)Nicole L.
Three course prix fixe $69.00 - First course we chose the touchon of foie gras with peach, granola, and summer truffle ($9 supplement) which was amazing. The portion was generous, and came with perfectly toasted bread (fresh baked gluten free option available) to eat it with; we ate it slowly savoring all the goodness. - House bread - several options, awesome rustic and sweet butter - Australian black truffle over risotto or pasta ($35 supplement) - not great, overly salty, and it didn't have the pungent truffle smell or taste I was expecting - Colorado Lamb withcouscous, harissa, eggplant - very tender and melted against the knife when cut. Honestly though I was already so full at this point. - Ricotta Cheesecakeplum, ginger, sesame - amazing! Light and airy cheesecake paired with seasonal flavors, so good Service was outstanding, we arrived on time for our reservation and waited 10 minutes to be seated (with drinks in hand so it wasn't bad at all) and the hostess felt bad so the drinks were on the house. And then we had an awesome waitress, Enez, who was so accommodating to my friends gluten allergy and just our overall satisfaction of the meal that she even ordered us some of her favorite dessert wine that she insisted made our desserts that much better. Indeed our experience at No 9 park ended up being one of the most memorable meals of our trip, I would highly recommend it, one of my top restaurant experiences.
(5)Ted K.
Worthy of a birthday and they brought out what I expect is standard service which still I the finest class. We arrived early and sat at the bar where there are crafty cocktails as well as the normal wines by the glass you'd expect and really nice local and Belgian beers. Food was exquisite. Fois appetizer is if course rich and delicious with some fun twists and turns. We were gifted a plate of crab and salmon since mom wanted to try that but she went with the house plumb gnocchi. Also divine. Really tasty bread options but the butter was too cold and didn't spread well (that's me splitting hairs.) Entrees were exquisite. We had duck two ways for two of our guests and I dined on the lamb saddle which I really enjoyed. When's the next time you're going to have lamb saddle? That's what I thought. Super service, lovely spot, divine food. They make rating this restaurant easy.
(5)Scribal L.
Overall: pretty bad for the price. Service is attentive and nice. Ambience is urban and pleasant but crowd is fairly pretentious. The menu is a little confused. The bar menu is pub fare (steak and frites and other heavy stuff). From what I could tell on nearby table it looks like very high quality ingredients and good preparation. But smelling french fries wasn't what I was expecting. We ordered from the three course mix and match menu. It leads you to choose an appetizer, an entree and a dessert but you could order less and I wish we had. The third option is a full chef's tasting menu. The two appetizers we ordered, foie gras and a mushroom tagliatelle were both quite good. The foie was generously-sized and buttery rich. These two items and one of our desserts almost bumped the stars from 2 to 3. Our entree selections were very disappointing. The Wild Striped Bass (recommended by waitperson) was overcooked and dry and tasteless. It came with crab, mustard greens and a slightly spicy pepper sauce. I wanted piquante mustard greens and a flavorful sauce. Instead it kind of tasted like potatoes and did nothing for the tasteless fish. My partner's quail was mediocre at best. This place is not about the food (except maybe the foie) but about the pretense.
(2)Liz B.
Lovely, with the most gracious service I've experienced at a restaurant in ages. After a reservation about a week in advance, and I came with my parents for dinner during their brief visit, and we were seated at a table by the window which offered a gorgeous view of the snow-covered Common. With our server's guidance, we ordered a dry white wine which was incredible and paired nicely with our (mostly seafood) dishes. For bread, we all received both a roll and a rustic slice, with the latter as the standout. We all ordered from the prix fixe menu, which was actually pretty reasonably priced for a high end restaurant such as this one. APPETIZERS: -Sunchoke Velouté with fried oyster, hearts of palm, black truffle (Mom): She didn't realize that this was a soup, but it was hearty and flavorful. Perfect for a cold day. The fried oyster was delicious. -Oysters on the half (Dad): 6 oysters in their shells on ice, stunningly delicious and fresh. The highlight of the apps for me. -Prune-Stuffed Gnocchi with foie gras, almonds, vin santo (Myself): well, as a yelper, I had to go with the yelp favorite. The gnocchi were delightfully chewy and perfectly cooked, and the foie gras was buttery and decadent, but the prunes were just a tad too sweet for my palate preference. Still very good, though. ENTREES: -Atlantic Hake with endive, sprouted wheat berries, quail egg (Mom): the fish was perfectly cooked and flaky, and the quail egg was adorable. My favorite of the entrees. -Roulade of Chicken sunchoke, feta pasty, à la grecque (Dad): a complicated dish of chicken prepared with several steps. Pretty good but my least favorite of the three...the chicken wasn't particularly juicy, although the filling was flavorful. -Duet of Beef with lentils du puy, sanguinaccio, chestnuts (Myself): the hanger steak (cooked medium rare) was tender and delicious. The other beef part was fattier and tougher, and not my favorite. The lentils and other accompanying sides were hearty, wintry, and wonderful. DESSERTS: -Panna Cotta Al Pistacchio with chocolate, orange, honey (Mom): Mom picked the winner again. The panna cotta was smooth, creamy, and pistachio-y, and the chocolate sorbet was to die for. -Deconstructed Fig pudding (Dad): this was the only dish I didn't try...Dad liked it but wasn't blown away. -Caramelized Angel Food with lemon curd, apple and fennel, white chocolate (Myself): this dessert was surprisingly enormous, and a bit of a challenge to complete at the end of a big meal. The dessert chef was sweet to include a chocolate message on the plate (as you can see in the photo), since the dinner was a last chance to celebrate with my parents before I head overseas for a couple months. The angel food with a caramel crust reminded me of caramel popcorn, really enhanced by the incredibly tart and vibrant lemon curd. The white chocolate ice cream was delicious. The tart green apple slices were superfluous to me, but nice. Overall I was very impressed with the food and ambiance here, particularly with the gracious, attentive service which went above and beyond to accommodate us. I'd be happy to return, especially to impress visitors to Boston who want to get a taste of fine dining in this city.
(4)Scott M.
I have been eating at No. 9 for 15 years. Given the fact that I live in another state far away my anticipation for eating at this neighborhood spot is heightened. 5 or 6 times a years I end up eating at this special place. The location, the staff, the food are all special. Tonight, I started with a Manhattan on the rocks and it just just got better from there. 1/2 Dozen Maine oysters with a glass of Louis Roederer Bubbles...hard to go wrong. Followed by fresh "in season" Nantucket Bay Scollops - hard to go wrong when paired with a crisp bottle of JM Poillet. The final course was the Wild Striped Bass which requires no description other than "Fantastic"! Thank you No. 9 for being here for so long and keeping the quality and service so stellar!
(5)Andrew H.
Food = 3 stars: My friend and I had the tasting menu and two supplements, gnocchi and foie gras, with wine pairings. It was a slog and something I wouldn't do again (anywhere). The food was OK, but not mind-blowing as some of the reviews on here would lead you to believe. Staff = 5 stars: The staff was wonderful - attentive without being intrusive and friendly without being informal. I would return for three courses or a la carte, but I definitely won't be rushing back.
(3)Taylor B.
I have never had a better dining experience than at No.9. From the moment I walked in, the staff was kind, professional, and attentive. Their Valentines Day menu was superb and the wine pairings was on point. My boyfriend and I ordered the 5 course menu of Striped Marlin, Maine Lobster, Ricotta Pansotti, Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras, New York Strip Steak, and Chocolate Souffle. (As well as a cheese course, which was beyond words. The best cheese selection I've ever had). The Foie Gras was soft and melted on the tongue- most excellent. The staff was well versed in the details of the menu and wines. Questions were answered happily and they catered to our every need. We were very happy to have met the manager who had a presence in the dining room. The experience was amazing and I would recommend No.9, it was more than just a place to have dinner but a place to have a culinary experience.
(5)Jasmine C.
I wouldn't say the three course menu was worth the price. We ordered three different dishes for all three courses to share, and firstly the white truffle ravioli was surprisingly low on the truffle, and there was no dish which stood out to me as INCREDIBLE. For a 70 dollar meal I expected much more.
(3)Minh C.
I've been to No. 9 Park three times in the past month or so - twice for dinner and once for brunch. I would not go back for brunch as the food was OK, while service was incredibly slow. Dinner, however, is much better. Service has always been quite good, with attentive staff and food that always arrived just on time. Quality wise, I think No. 9 Park cooks the traditional French and Italian flavors really well, and keeps the flavors simple and to the point. That said, if you're looking for something that has a flavor kick / wow factor to it, this isn't the right place.
(4)Kim K.
I walked by No. 9 Park every day during my undergrad years at Suffolk. Back then I never paid any mind to it. Lately, now 30+ and an appreciater of fine dining, I was really itching to go. Foodies friends of ours invited my husband and I to go - I was thrilled. We all partook in the prix fixe menu, also ordering two additional mains to share mid-course. The staff was happy to accommodate and provide recommendations. In fact, for my prix fixe main course I asked our server to have the chef surprise me with whatever vegetarian offering struck his fancy that evening. I was completely impressed when the dish arrived at the table - it was a tasting of 5 mini vegetarian dishes that were all unbelievably delicious. In fact, I think everyone at the table was jealous because there was a lot of ooohhing, ahhhing, and staring. I definitely got the best dish of the night! The meal was meandering but perfectly so. The service was seamless and incredible. Prices were high but such a good value for the food, service, and ambiance. No. 9 Park is the real deal. I wouldn't come here every weekend or anything but this will definitely become our go-to place for a fancy night out or special occasion.
(5)John S.
You can't eat rich food quickly. The people behind No. 9 Park understand this, so they prepare themselves, and you, for a four hour dining experience. Over the four hours I spent there, I walked through some of the restaurant's signature dishes - the prune-stuffed gnocchi, the lamb, the duck. I tried some of my wife's "tell the chef to do whatever she wants" veg-friendly main course. Everything was expertly prepared (my good lord is it hard to do duck right) and beautifully plated. The service was, expectedly, attentive and well-informed. Water glasses were always full, wine recommendations were spot on, and no request we made of them ever seemed outlandish. Do you eat at No. 9 Park every week? No. Who has the time? But go once a year, if you've got the money. Let them entertain you for an evening.
(5)Emily L.
Have always wanted to try out the food here. Finally went and the service is impeccable. Our table was not ready yet so we grabbed drinks. We were told those were on the house since we had to wait 5 minutes. They have to walk you to the bathroom as that is part of the service. I wasn't exactly impressed with the food. I found it to be too salty. I haven't been back to see if they were just heavy handed that day.
(3)Meribeth D.
Six of us dined and we all had the three course, prix fixe menu. While the food was delicious and beautifully presented, service was lacking. The waiter picked up my husband's drink before he was finished. Mid meal, a server actually reached across my plate from my right to grab the butter dish on my left. We were seated at a round, six top near the wait station. Throughout our meal our chairs were bumped as servers passed and patrons squeezed by to get to the bathrooms. How disappointing! At these prices, there shouldn't be a bad seat in the house.
(3)Elena E.
My husband and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary here. We both ordered off the Prix-Fixe 3 course menu. For the first course I had the prune stuffed gnocchi and he had the Summer Pumpkin Veloutee. I enjoyed the gnocchi, though it was rich and heavy. The veloutee was nice as well but again richer than I would have preferred. For entrees, I had the striped bass and he had the lamb. We both enjoyed our dishes very much. The bass was served with semolina dumplings, tons of mussels and a few small shrimp. The desserts were the highlight of the meal. I had the creme caramel and he had the apple frittelle. Service, as expected was excellent and the wine list was great, though extremely pricey. The tables were a bit close together and we were able to follow the entree conversation going on next to us. Overall, I'm glad I went to No. 9 Park. I can say that I've been but I don't feel the need to go again. I definitely prefer Troquet if your looking for this style of dinning and food in Boston. No 9. Park may have won out on the desserts but Troquet wins for appetizers, entrees and for their wine flights.
(4)Mander H.
This restaurant is fabulous! One of the best meals of my life, and the atmosphere is wonderful--the staff is competent and educated but also has a sense of humor and puts you at ease. The only downside is the price.
(4)Maggie K.
No. 9 park is hands down my favorite restaurant in Boston. Every single dish on the menu is extremely well thought out and perfectly executed. Also they update their menu every season to take advantage of seasonal ingredients. The service is impeccable. The waiters are very attentive and knowledgable. Finally, if you're not sure what the ingredients listed are, definitely ask! The waiters will be more than happy to help you out!
(5)Aaron G.
The tasting menu is incredible for Mother's Day, but you should eat here like a local. Show up just after dark, sit at the bar, and shoot the breeze with the bartenders. Get the prune gnocchi, some steak tartare. Pick a cheap red by the glass and stick with it all night. Ditch out before midnight and go for a nice slow walk in the park.
(5)Fedor G.
My favorite fine dining spot around the Common. Excellent service and food of the highest standard in the city. 8/10 restaurant on the standard of NYC
(5)Denise P.
We had a great experience today. Great service from the minute you meet the host, the bartender, the waitress. Ask for a seat at the window and look at the park it is wonderful. As everyone recommends we opted for the tasting menu. They are accommodating and flexible if you want something different. It started with an asparagus salad, local fluke over a wonderful shrimp broth and fresh peas, pasta over broccoli rabe chili pesto, wonderful heat wish the pasta was done a little more, their signature dish fig angolitti with foie grad and it was outstanding but the served 3 fluffy pasta and only2 pieces of foie and think they could have afforded one more. The next two meat dishes, chicken and beef were good, but not served warm and I think could have had a better seat on it, the desert ended with a nice sampling.
(3)Eric M.
No 9. Park is by far my favorite restaurant in the city. I frequently try to go here as often as i can for tasting menu dinners, drinks or just food at the bar. Regardless of what you are looking for No. 9 Park has something fantastic to offer. First of all their wine list is expansive, boasting a James Beard award for Wine Program. They also have great cocktails; being part of the same restaurant group as Drink in the Seaport. Many drinks are not listed on the menu, but ask your server or bartender if they'll make something different and they typically will. Bar food is next - since No 9. Park is one of the most expensive restaurants in Boston, you most likely cannot eat here every weekend....or so you thought. Bar menu items are under $25 a plate and are the same quality as you would get in a Prix-Fixe or Tasting menu. The Steak Tartare is amazing, you must try it. The Crispy Berkshire Pork Belly is my personal favorite on the bar menu. Lastly, and most importantly the ever-rotating tasting menu. Everything that comes out is always fantastic and presented perfectly on the plate. The wait staff is knowledgeable and well trained and will pace the meal appropriately. Their bread is delicious so while you're waiting for your first course, make sure you get a second piece. If you have any allergies or aversions they will do an excellent job of substituting the listed dish for one that meets your needs. I've been to No. 9 Park several times and I have had nothing short of an amazing experience every time.
(5)Alexandra P.
Incredible, light fare, just the right portion size. The wine list is amazing. Recommend the tuna tartare. Best in boston.
(5)Tony P.
My goodness, very high end/with very high end flavors.. Went with the pre Fixe menu ..excellent. Asked the wait staff to pair wine with all of the foods & nailed it .. even brought out two selections of wine with each dish upon my request & was delicious.. Price not for the faint of heart...but then when you want to live it up this would be a good option.
(5)Bryan V.
I came in here on a whim as I was staying at the Omni Parker; I sat at the bar and enjoyed their large selection of whiskeys - the rocks were hand cracked by the bartender. He was incredibly personable and very knowledgeable regarding the menu. I had the Truffle Gnocchi, which was mouth wateringly incredible. The chef's compliments included immaculate fried sweet breads and a slice of beef carpaccio; these were excellent along with the fresh whipped butter and sea salt for the dinner rolls. The food was excellent and the attention to detail is great at this restaurant. It is a little expensive, but the food is well worth the price.
(5)Collette D.
This is my first yelp review. I felt compelled to write something since dining at No. 9 park this last time. We have been there maybe four times, and each time the service has been better and better. The bartenders are Outstanding, and have always been helpful,in recommending drinks. The palmero is my favorite, and in february when were there, they gave us the recipe (by mixing the drink sans alcohol in a little glass bottle with proportions written on the label). The food is always excellent, we have never been disappointed. This weekend when we ate there, the experience was perfect...we are moving from Boston soon, and could not,have asked for a better final meal there. No. 9 park has definitely been our favorite place to go for a date or celebrate in Boston. Reliably excellent service and food, amazing drinks.
(5)Daniel K.
Having been in Boston for 7 years, I had heard about No 9. Park and it's reputation as one of Boston's top 3. I think my intel may have been a little dated. I came here for a special occasion and the setting did not disappoint. Located on the corner of Boston Commons, we had a nice stroll through the park from the handy metered parking spot we were fortunate to find. Our table wasn't quite ready so when we arrived, (5:45 being the earliest time I could reserve 1 week in advance) we grabbed a drink at the bar, which is fairly small and seems to get pretty crowded after 5 on weekdays. When we finally sat, we decided to go with the chef's tasting menu. A little over $100 a head, I figured this was going to be one of the most memorable meals of my life. It was not. There were some high notes, including the soft shell crab with watercress, but the majority of the meal did not really impress me. This was my first time tasting sweet bread, which I also am not apparently a fan of. The Foie gras was excellent. The gnocchi was too starchy and didn't really give me much flavor. Our entrees were chicken breast, and a pork tasting, which were not incredibly memorable. I will say the deserts were quite good, and having told the management that it was a special occasion, they brought us a special cake/merangue that was very tasty. Overall the service is great, but I would not consider this to be in my top 3. My takeaways from this meal: 1. the tasting menu is massive and if you finish everything, you will not be comfortable 2. the dishes ranged from average to very good with maybe 1 spectacular dish 3. the menu seems to rotate, so maybe we came on a 'down' menu. I however probably will not be returning to see what else No. 9 Park has to offer.
(3)Riley S.
Unfortunately we weren't able to indulge in the full tasting menu but we all found an entree and app that caught our eye. The service is fantastic and the dining areas are intimate. The gnocchi and salmon were highlights, and hopefully I'll make it back for the full experience.
(5)Kim C.
No. 9 Park was an exceptional dining experience. Went on a celebratory occasion, and left very impressed with the food, service, and ambiance. Prices: surprisingly reasonable for a Boston institution. $69 for a 3 course prix fixe that will fill you up. No need to stop by for a pizza after this meal. Stuffy? Not at all. Compared to some of the other stuffy (and WASP-y) restaurants, felt very comfortable and relaxed. Food: Yum. Seared foie gras, the prune stuffed gnocchi, the duet of duck... YUM Wine list: Not super deep, but we ended up getting a half bottle of a difficult to find Italian wine. I would DEFINITELY recommend, and plan to go back for sure (when the occasion calls for it, of course).
(5)Jennifer S.
A true culinary treat! Beautiful space overlooking the Common, professional and attentive service, unique and reasonable wine selection that truly pairs well with the food, and amazing food - fresh, flavorful and just the right portion! I tried the following menu based on our server's recommendation: tortellini, chicken and milk chocolate parfait...so ridiculously good!
(5)Susan N.
I took my boyfriend here for his 30th birthday. We got a reservation at 10pm and I was a bit worried that we might be rushed through our meal. I could not have been more wrong! The birthday boy went with the Chef's tasting menu with the wine pairing. I HIGHLY recommend that you live it up and go with this option. Each course was expertly prepared. The portions were excellent amd each wine paired perfectly with each course. Our waiter knew everything there was to know about each wine and answered any questions we had. I opted for the three courses and chose the prune stuffed gnocchi, the duet of duck and the trio of sorbet. The duck was out of his world and the gnocchi was perfect. They started me off with a complimentary fish appetizer which was slightly pickled and really set the tone for the rest of my meal. We also enjoyed the complimentary zucchini bread witb lemon ice cream. The zucchini bread was so delicious I wish we bad an entire loaf! Dessert was amazing! I cannot say enough great things about this restaurant. ....another amazing Barbara Lynch experience.
(5)Susan L.
I came here on a Tuesday after work with my boyfriend for our anniversary and it wasn't too busy. The bar however was quite busy and with that you don't have to make a reservations, as told by our waitress. You can just give them a call and see if it's full or not, but typically people will just walk in. Service was decent, it wasn't bad nor was it great. This place seems a little more casual than it was fine dining because most people came in with jeans and a tee on and I'm not talking about the bar area, it's the dining area, maybe 7pm was too early to dress up? The dining area was hot, the AC wasn't on, but when you enter through the bar, it's nice and cool. Food was good, desserts didn't seem like it was their specialty. Wine menu? Wasn't too impress either. The boyfriend and I did the prix fixe menu at $69pp (drinks not included): My order - Painkiller (cocktail) - It was good and strong, but they used crushed ice so it melted really quickly and tasted watered down. Prune stuffed gnocchi - Delish! LOVE the foie gras! The gnocchi itself could have been stuffed a little more. Atlantic hake - I really enjoyed this one, it was crispy on the outside and perfectly seasoned on the inside. Boyfriend's Order - Corn agnolotti - Good, it was like the corn version of my prune stuffed gnocchi. They were both good in their own way, but mine was better cause of that foie gras (he agrees). Still good though! Duet of rohan duck - My boyfriend liked his dish, he preferred one of the duck over the other, he liked the one that's partially under cooked (it's cooked that way because it's a type of wild duck). Desserts - We ordered the coffee eclair and raspberry tart. They were nothing special, we had better desserts elsewhere. We also got the saracco moscato off the dessert wine list and it was yummy! Anything moscato is good though right?!
(4)Michael A.
Thank you No. 9 Park for making our anniversary night one of the most memorable experiences we ever had! The moment you walk into No. 9 Park, you're greeted with superb hospitality and service. Since I called ahead a few days in advance I requested a window seat for our special occasion and WOW what a knockout view of Boston Common! Guys if you listening, take note... it's probably one of the most romantic views to dine in front of in all of Boston! Onto my meal. I opted for their 3 course pre-fixe menu and had the following: Foie Gras and Veal Sweetbreads ... This brought me back to when I had foie gras in Paris, it was very authentic. It was buttery in texture and sweet. If you never tried foie gras before and think it sounds "gross" just give it a shot, it's an experience. Duet of Beef ... Simply amazing! Think about it, not one but two different amazing cuts of beef that throws your pallet into an epileptic shock! Pear and Almond Tart ... I don't know how to explain this delightful tart dream!
(5)Stephanie W.
Top notch start to finish! On a whim, I pulled the car over to ask the Valet attendants if I might be able to grab a seat at the bar with my daughter (8) before the Red Sox game; the Valet ran inside, ordered us a table and offered to park the car around the corner for us so we could pick it up after the game (we just hopped on the T from Park Street so I didn't have to park the car twice). Service inside was just as amazing; we were very underdressed in jeans and baseball shirts but we received a warm welcome and excellent service from the host and our waiter, Bob. My daughter had the fresh squeezed lemonade with marinated lamb and fondue, and I had the steak frites, both meals cooked to medium rare perfection. While we chatted and waited for dinner, the Manager came by with a plate of complimentary gougeres for us to enjoy. And since we had to run for the game without ordering dessert, Bob gave us a take away bag of small sweets to enjoy later. We could not have had a better dining experience - every need anticipated and attended to. No. 9 Park is my new go to restaurant when I'm in the city and I will happily spread the word to friends and family. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
(5)Lawrence P.
We were seated some 25-30 minutes after our reservation time. Place was pretty busy upon arrival. We had the 5 course tasting menu with some upgrades (cheese course). It was a lot of food to say the least as we could barely finish. We ordered a Brunello for wine and enjoyed a very nice meal. My wife even had ox tail!!! My favorite was the gnocchi which was an add-on. Why the four stars you ask? Simply stated, not dying to go back. A very good meal but not a very memorable one plus the desserts were really plain.
(4)Katerina B.
I was looking forward to visit No.9 from the excellent reviews I read here in yelp. However, I didn't not have the same experience. -We waited for our table for 40min, not happy about this. -the decor feels outdated. -the food was good but not worth the money. I went for the prix-fixe menu. - The appetizer was ok. i had Parsnip Agnolotti a bit sweet for my taste. - The main dish I had Colorado Lamb. I did not like this dish, the side it came with was very salty and the meat was hard. - desert I had the white chocolate mousse, and it was the best part of the meal. The staff overall was polite and friendly. I would not go back to this restaurant.
(2)Vivian F.
Let me start off by saying that as an upscale restaurant, No. 9 Park is impeccably run. Great location, great exterior and interior design, and great service (with an exception which I'll get to later). An offhanded remark about my birthday (between me and my friend - we weren't even talking to the host) before seating had the staff secretly bring out a birthday cake at the end of the meal. I was really surprised. We had the chef's tasting menu and I won't go over every single dish individually, but most of them were delicious. There wasn't one that really blew me away, but none of the food there can be described as "average". One disappointing aspect of the meal were the fish and meat dishes. These courses usually came cooked in two ways, and there was always one I liked and another that was overly salty/fatty. Now, I'm a big fan of having items cooked two, three, or even four ways, but only if it enhances the overall experience and done well. When the dishes consistently have one that was tasty and the other not so much, it starts feeling like the chefs are trying to appease customers with taste buds on opposite ends of the spectrum. The "well the customer should like at least one of the styles" mentality doesn't sit well with me. It's not "playing it safe" when it's so obviously done. It would be more impressive if the chefs strove to make the pairing complementary to each other instead of having clashing flavours. Also, like I had mentioned above, almost all of the staff were incredibly professional (we even loved the cheese cart guy), except one. Unfortunately, this waiter was our main waiter. My male counterpart and I were going to split the bill, but I guess this waiter assumed he (being male and all) was the (only) paying customer so the waiter made sure to pay him extra attention. I wish I can say that this "extra attention" was subtle, but he literally always introduced the dishes facing and speaking only to him and not to me. I get the occasional glance, but his entire body was always, without fail, angled away from me so he could face my partner properly. Rude, I know. Even if the guy WAS paying, this sort of behaviour is inexcusable. I'm sure the waiter is an anomaly in what otherwise seems like a solid waitstaff. I can see myself returning to No. 9 Park for a good meal, but perhaps not for a special occasion, and I'll probably skip the tasting menu next time.
(3)Karen D.
This was my second time eating at No. 9 Park, and my first time trying out the tasting menu with paired wines. I went with my sister. My gosh, it was phenomenal! The food! The wine! Eating here is a really special event, and yet it doesn't feel stuffy at all. Our server was Matt, and he was perfect...en pointe, helpful, funny, and just the right amount of casual to make us feel right at home yet pampered...which is a feat in a fine-dining establishment. My favorite part of the tasting menu experience was the way each wine was presented and we were told a story a story about its origins...This one "is made from grapes which grow so high in the mountains of Switzerland that they must be picked by helicopter". Another one "Thomas Jefferson ordered by the case". The favorite of both my sister and myself was a pinot noir which is made exclusively to go with Barbara Lynch's cooking...it was one of the best pinot noirs I have ever had! My favorite dish in the tasting was a hake dish with braised radishes and an unbelievably delicious broth that had a just a slight essence of hazelnuts...I could have eaten a huge bowl of that! My sister's fave was the famed prune gnocchi. No. 9 Park is a delightful special-occasion experience, and I hope that I get to return there on a future visit to Boston!
(5)AB H.
I'm shocked that I haven't written a review of No. 9 Park. I've been many times, and I always have an amazing meal. Last night was no exception. The service is impeccable, and these people know their food and wine. They recommended a lovely bubbly rose which was perfect! I started with the asparagus which was small and light, a lovely way to start. The mushroom ravioli were perfectly cooked and delicate. The foie gras was amazing; their brioche toast is excellent. I tasted the beef served with fava beans and some mint; it was perfectly cooked. Our desserts were not the best; I was disappointed with the flourless chocolate cake and did not like the homemade mint ice cream served on top. The cheesecake needed to be richer, and the cucumber sorbet was interesting but should have been of a palate cleanser than a dessert accompaniment. The cheese board is absolutely amazing, each one better than the next. They told us the goat cheese would be the best given the season, and they were right; they were amazing. They bring little cookies with the bill, and these were also just OK : a chocolate peanut butter cookie, a jelly square, and a fruit filled butter cookie. The butter cookie was the best. I will be back, this place is a lovely institution for me. It's such a treat, though I may skip dessert next time! We sat by the window and the view over the park at sunset was beautiful.
(4)Eric W.
This place rocks. Went there on a recommendation and was not disappointed. Almost started with one of the custom cocktails but switched instead to a glass of sherry of their incredible list. Matched that with the Duck liver moose, which was perfect but then had to pause before going into the 3 course tasting menu. My god; the choices are amazing and the only problem is deciding which to choose. First class problem, because you really can't go wrong. Not sure how people would survive the larger tasting menu. Service was truly excellent including the guys at the bar, who know the menu and wine list as well as anyone. Place has great ambiance to boot. Highly recommend this place either for a romantic dinner or a group food extravaganza.
(5)Edward O.
Intelligent, warm and busy restaurant in Beacon Hill. Waitstaff are timely and very professional. The prune-filled gnocchi were delicate and perfect. After ordering a particular Alsatian wine they surprised us with a complimentary special seared tuna between courses. For entree I had the porcelet: a miniature choucroute garnie with braised endive and apple. Susan had the raw oysters for her first (I helped, thank you) and Salmon. A superb and memorable experience.
(5)Teresa W.
No 9 Park is our go-to restaurant for special occasions. The view is romantic if you get a seat overlooking the park or have the State House in your periphery vision. The service is always impeccable; the selection of cheeses is divine; there is always a sommelier on hand to recommend a champagne that suits your budget (they carry selections from lesser known wineries); the cocktails are inventive and fun; and I can only agree with one professional reviewer who mentioned that the plum gnocchi would be his/her choice if you only had one meal left to eat!
(5)MaryBeth R.
Went here at the suggestion of a friend, who calls this restaurant "one of her standards" in the Beacon Hill area. I have to say that if I lived nearby it might quickly become one of MY regular hangouts! Atmosphere: We sat in the main dining room. While the bar area was filled with Restaurant Week diners and was REALLY loud, the main dining area was surprisingly quiet and really allowed for good conversation. I'm not sure how they pulled that off, but I sure did appreciate it! Service: Impeccable. The staff really let us dictate the timing of our meal - my friend and I hadn't seen each other in years and had a lot of catching up to do. I think we took about 40 minutes to get through our appetizer course, but the staff never rushed us, and clearly communicated our timing to the kitchen. The main courses arrived at a comfortable interval after we had finished our appetizers and were perfectly cooked. All in all, an excellent dining experience! Food: At the suggestion of numerous yelpers, I tried the fig-stuffed Gnocchi. Yes, you read that correctly. Figs. In Gnocchi! Suffice to say I have never had a dish quite like this one. Perfectly prepared with a lovely (brown?) butter sauce to balance the slight acidity of the fig filling. Had I known, I might have simply ordered this at an entree-sized portion and relished even more of the perfect flavors and textures. Heaven! Unfortunately, this dish was SO good that it was really hard for the salmon entree to compare. In fact, I can't really come up with anything about the entree that really stood out for me. For that fact, I'd probably give a 4.5 star rating if I could, but because my overall dining experience was otherwise perfect, 5 it is!
(5)jamie l.
I'm really giving this review 2-stars...but when you pair a 2-star rating with a $500 bill - it drops to 1-star. Let me preface this with a decision that my wife and I made recently not to try new restaurants for a while. We're tired of spending a lot of money on an only so-so meal and wishing that we had just gone with an old-favorite - a sure thing. That being said we had visitors (fellow foodies) in from Manhattan and we got lucky that there was an opening at 7p on a Saturday night at No9. My wife and I have eaten at No9 several times...as well as dined at Menton, B&G, Sportello, and The Butcher Shop (we tend to prefer B&G, although that lately has been only good - not amazing). With our guests desiring high-quality food we (per our recent decision) opted to take advantage of the opening at No9 - the sure thing - over a new restaurant that recently opened in the Back Bay. The meal was a disappointment. From the Prix-Fixe Menu we had the smoked mackerel starter, some oysters (probably the only good starter), and the sunchoke veloute. For entrée's we had the pork loin, the scallop and octopus...and the duet of beef. For desert we had the Bete Noire (it was good). We were a bit embarrassed because we talked up Barbara Lynch and No9 to our visiting family - as an amazing dining experience - and our guests were clearly disappointed (as we were) in our meal. Not sure what the issue was - but just so-so food and a bottle of wine for $500 is a really disappointing night out. That's the last time we go to No9.
(1)Ani S.
This restaurant introduced me to the world of PISCO SOURS when it first opened. Dining here is an experience. The food is delicious, the setting romantic and service exquisite. This converted townhouse in Boston's gorgeous Beacon Hill district is well known for their French/Italian dishes from simple and fresh ingredients. They take pride in their wine list and rightfully so, as their list includes some vintages not served anywhere else. Their Chef's Tasting Menu changes weekly- I highly recommend indulging in this sometimes as the creations are each delicious and highlight some hidden flavor within the ingredients. From their "regular" menu, I recommend: - the monkfish (made with oolong tea) - Tortellini with walnut pesto - Chestnut Beef - Lamb - Milanese Chicken - Chicken Roulade For desserts, I always favor their housemade sorbets... refreshing and delicious!
(4)A C.
Out of this world experience. The service was incredible, from the moment we called for a reservation with Sarah to our waitress, Ashley, and our lovely conversation with the maitre d'. The food was just as spectacular. Everything we tried was beyond expectations, but the venison and the mint chocolate chip glace are a must.
(5)Jenn Z.
I have been here for Restaurant Week, regular dinner, and a group event. I think the food here is tasty and well prepared. Although I do think the portion size is comparably smaller than those of other restaurants in same price range. Their service at the group event was very good. The servers came frequently to offer a variety of drinks and finger food. The dinner itself was also good with attentive wait staff.
(4)Brenda M.
Fun 80's night to end a night out in the city. There was a nice mix of people some young crowd as well as some other guests in their late 30's - 40's. The DJ was great and drinks were very good. We danced a lot and sang all the old 80's tunes. It was a lot of fun.
(3)jordan n.
Very Sad to say but will never go back. We first went to Park many years ago and really liked it. Last night My wife and I where excited about going. We sat in the bar area. It started off very well great waitress and staff, Drinks were good - got a manhattan. Antipasti came it was ok. Then the entrees I got the Tuna & my wife the Duck. The Tuna was a very small portion for $40 which would have been fine but it really did not taste great no other way to put very boring. My wifes Duck on the other hand was very chewy, not cooked well and the spinach had sand or dirt in it - meaning it was not washed. At the end of the meal the bill came to over $150. For what we got just don't feel it was worth it. There are tons of the BL resturaunts in town that are better not sure what up with Park but its off our list.
(1)Richard S.
Holy cow! This is not only the best meal we had in Boston, but it was one of the best meals of all time! Not only is the service impeccable, but the complexity of flavors and the quality of the food is unbelievable. One of the most memorable parts of our trip to Boston. I'll remember this meal for a long time!
(5)Roxana F.
No. 9 Park is hidden behind an unassuming black door on the corner of the Boston Commons. At first glance, one might think it had actually been closed down for quite some time, which I quite like because it means it keeps out the er, tourists (not that I have a thing against them...). The drinks here certainly did not disappoint. They have a creative cocktail list and my drink definitely packed a punch. Their drinks are on the more expensive side (as is the rest of the menu) but appropriately priced for the location, quality, and service. The atmosphere is nice: small and cozy, intimate, classy and unfortunately a little stuffy, and quiet. In terms of food, I'm not going to lie I was expecting a bit...more. One time I came here, my date and I ordered off the prix fixe menu (maybe that was our mistake?) and, while our food was good, it was nothing AMAZING. I was definitely expecting more because...hell, it's No. 9 Park! Another time I sat at the bar with a friend and ordered off the bar menu. I had the truffled mushroom gnocchi which was delicious for the first few bites, and then I noticed as I moved toward the center of the dish it was unbearably salty. #disappointed Might have just been that batch they made me but here we are. Will definitely give their food another try because...let's be real, you're going for the drinks anyway.
(4)Nichole V.
Husband and I went here the staff was amazing, atmosphere really upscale, but my husband wasn't nuts about the filet & crowd. We've been too a few of the B. Lynch restaurants as well and enjoyed those more . A little more casual dinning and younger crowd like 30's +, the night we were there it was a 60+ crowd we were the youngest couple in our early 30's by far. The wait staff I give 100 stars for sense of humor my husband has this habit of always asking for Starburst as a desert as a joke. So, my husband did his stupid joke, which he thinks is funny. No lie, 1 minute later waiter came with starburst on a silver platter for my husband, he was so excited 1st time in like 6 years it worked!
(3)Yuan W.
I feel bad about giving this place only 3 stars since I know it's a highly acclaimed restaurant. I'm rating it 3 stars within the context of fine dining places, not necessarily among all types of restaurants. Overall I thought the food was good, but I probably will not go there again if I want a fine dining experience in Boston. I just think there are other places that are more worth the money. My overall impressions were: -Food is good but not particularly memorable versus other continental cuisine inspired places -Expensive, especially since I didn't find the experience too memorable -Portions seemed a bit small. I ordered the quail and it was literally two legs and a breast - very little meat. It came with a small amount of greens and some dots of color on the plate. The positive highlights are the cheese plate was excellent, extensive wine list and good ambiance, but that's par for the course for fine dining establishments!
(3)David P.
An excellent place for a post-flight meal. Seems every time I come to Boston, I have a meal at No. 9 Park the day I land and every time, I'm glad I did. In the summer, I came here with my kids... they totally loved the lamb/blue cheese fondue. Me... I love the Steak Frittes. The service is great. The atmosphere is great with the kids and when I'm alone. The food is spectacular. The wine is very good. Awesome... just awesome.
(5)Joanna C.
Came here for lunch last Friday. When we called, we wanted to get a group reservation for 12, but they said there were no openings so we went for 12:30. What was strange though was that when we got to the restaurant crazily early at 11:45, it was still empty. But at least you can order drinks and relax by the window while you wait. We all did the three-course holiday lunch for $45 a person. Considering how big the portions were, this was a bargain. They first offer you two types of bread: go with the focaccia. Soft and cheese crusted, it was a table pleaser. For the appetizer, I had the Poached Farm Egg, which was a pretty sizable portion. Loved the plentiful creamed kale in this dish and the egg was perfect as well. Personally not a huge fan of fried food, but I enjoyed the chicken liver and chose to skip the bacon. I then got the Rohan Duck Leg Confit. Could have used a little more flavor for the shrimp, but the duck itself was well flavored. It was way too much meat though so I ended up only eating half of the dish, but enjoyed it. The skin was perfectly crispy and the meat tender, though it probably could've been slightly juicier. Then came dessert! I ordered the Sorbet du Jour. I liked the fairly standard mango and passion fruit flavors. The third was a mulled wine flavor which was interesting. It tasted strongly of chai and wouldn't have been my first pick for a sorbet, but it grew on me. We also ordered the Madelines which were just the right amount of soft, lightly powdered, and fresh out of the oven, yay! Service was great the whole way through. Although the food didn't blow my mind, it was good and the portions were crazily large. I'd recommend getting a reservation as well: around 1, it was pretty crowded. Great little spot next to Boston Commons and the State Capitol that makes for an indulgent, relaxing lunch.
(3)Melanie D.
The chef's tasting menu was perfect and the location, service and interior are both exactly what you hope for. Fois gras, scallops.... Excellent. No one in our party could find fault in a single thing on the menu. A perfect spot for any special occasion.
(5)Anna G.
I went to No 9 Park last night for the first time. It was the only Barbara Lynch restaurant I had yet to experience, and it totally did not let me down! My boyfriend would have given 4 stars, but the service was just so spectacular, I had to give 5! Our waitress was awesome! The foie gras prune gnocci was amazing! A must have and definitely will come back for that. We sat in the front room with the window facing the park - I would suggest that versus the back room. The only downside was this super annoying drunk guy at the table next to us who literally yelled the whole night about Wellington - taking money from JP Morgan - and how successful he was. Ew. But I digress... No 9 Park is wonderful.
(5)Rachel G.
Perhaps the best dining experience I have had to date. Especially recommended to mark a special occasion. If you are going for such a reason, consider calling ahead and reserving one of the two tables which overlook the Common and Beacon Hill. The prune dish lives up to its stellar reputation. We elected to have the chef's tasting menu, which you ought to do, paired. Each course was a masterpiece, and was preceded by a different server or somalier, telling us about each item and drink in vivid, sometimes arresting, detail. Did you know, for example, that the lead chef was in a disagreement with Julia Child about whether champagne could be paired with a certain dish - and Child was forced to concede the point in the end? In a word, superb.
(5)Peter E.
This place is one of the 'signature' restaurants in Boston. Pretty fancy and upscale, but the experience more than matches. The service is amazing from the moment you walk in the door (host gets you a drink while you wait for your table) and the food is absolutely divine. We didn't go for the tasting course - just too much - but the prix fixe was amazing. My wife and I have been to some pretty high-end restaurants in other places - e.g., Canlis in Seattle - and this is up there with one of the best meals we've ever had...period. There were a few slip-ups with regards to our truffles order and my wife's tea coming out on time, but they MORE than made up for it (an extra plate of truffles, free desert, and free glass of wine? yes please.). We look forward to trying a few more of Barbara Lynch's restaurants.
(5)Alexander D.
No 9 Park is on the list of very good Boston restaurants aspiring for greatness. We love good food and good cocktails, so we had to come here. Our main courses were terrific - we ordered duck (see my tip) and beef two ways. The beef dish had a subtle theme - it had been poached in whey and came with house-made ricotta. Love those little touches! The appetizers and desserts, however, didn't hit the same mark. The much-touted stuffed gnocchi was unseasoned and virtually tasteless. The olive oil cake had lots of interesting things going on around it (strawberry paper and pickled fennel!), but the cake itself was--again--tasteless. Why the 5-star rating? Because of Kimberly, our server. She bantered about food with us, explained every cooking technique, and recommended a great bourbon. After the service, she emailed us an ice cream recipe that we talked about. GREAT service that made us feel special!
(5)Greg B.
Had dinner here with my family with good friends a few days back! What a dinner! We did a lot of tasting of the various dishes from the starters to the desserts all with an awesome wine pairing! The atmosphere and ambiance in the restaurant is great and the view of the park is also very romantic and enjoyable.
(5)Marilyn C.
Amazing! Came here for restaurant week and sat at the bar with 3 friends. The service is the best I have ever experienced, from the moment we walked in to 3 hours later when we walked out the door. I was blown away by how friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable the bartenders and the rest of the staff were. No. 9 Park, I'm smittened. The food was excellently timed and well crafted. There was a depth to the flavors in every dish. To start I had the salmon tartar which was light and not at all fishy. As an entree I had the pork which was delicious and good sized. I was sufficiently stuffed at the end of the meal and found the portion sizes were more than adequate. For dessert I had the cocoa financier. I love chocolate and this was good, but I did have a bit of dessert envy when I saw the panna cotta and the lemon tart. Really cannot say enough good things about my experience. No. 9 Park has set a high bar. I now plan to hold other restaurants to a higher standard. Time to re-evaluate the 5 stars.
(5)Juniper K.
Beautiful modern decor, wonderful wait staff, delicious food. The prune stuffed gnocchi was amazing.
(5)Nicholas D.
Oh my God - worth every penny! Have a drink or two at the bar first. Don't hesitate to have the tasting menu. A wonderful experience. Can't go wrong........
(5)Michael G.
What does it take to be a reviewer? Well, nowadays, it takes a camera-phone and a Yelp account. But does that make someone a GOOD reviewer? No. Trustworthy? Not necessarily. Granted, a sense of humor is appreciated, but I often find people trying too hard to be funny and the review loses some of its punch. I like to think of myself as a good reviewer. I'm an excellent cook. My step-son is a chef in France. I've eaten at all kinds of places, from the diner around the block (Village Cafe - delicious) to the local sushi take-out place (Super Fusion II - also delicious) to per se in NYC (beyond delicious). Why am I starting my review of No. 9 Park this way? Well, I've eaten there over 20 times, probably, and I've never written a review. I have a soft spot for Gruppo (The Barbara Lynch Gruppo) restaurants. Aaron did his externship at No. 9, and he worked at Menton for 2 years before moving to France, and I generally love my dining experiences at Gruppo restaurants (Sportello in particular). My 4-star rating may seem contradictory to what I'm about to say here, but I am basing that rating off multiple visits, so bear with me. The main reason I'm writing this review is in the hopes that someone in the Gruppo will notice it and make a correction because my last view visits to No. 9 have been... Disappointing. I've come to expect a certain level of service (Tyler Wang at the bar is a fabulous addition) and quality in my years eating at No. 9, but lately, I have been met with inconsistency after inconsistency. Sometimes the gnocci (the famous prune-stuffed gnocci) is a home run, but sometimes there isn't enough sauce. Or there's too much filling. Or the foie has a vein in it. Or the presentation is messy. And that's just on one dish. And the one place they are consistent is in the worst possible way to be consistent: terrible desserts. Before my most recent visit to No. 9, the worst dessert I had ever eaten was at Craigie on Main. I am not exaggerating; it was the absolute worst. Suffice to say, it tasted like fish oil. Unfortunately, No. 9 has joined their ranks. The dessert we got on our last visit... Oh, man. One ice cream was grainy. One was icy. One was simply so disgusting we couldn't eat it. I can't even tell you what flavor they were going for, but it was an abysmal failure. The chocolate tart-thing was sub-par at best. The cakey thing I tried had a terrible crumb and texture and the flavors weren't balanced. The pastry chef is being all experimental and stuff, but here's my coaching: you first have to learn how to make a good, basic dessert before you can go and "break the rules." You are serving the last bite of the evening, and lately, that last bite has flat-out sucked. We brought a good friend on our last trip. She hadn't been to Boston in a long time. She has a decent palate. She thoroughly enjoyed the meal but was so turned off by the desserts she said she never wanted to go back. I'm pretty sure this is not what you're going for. I know Boston has a reputation for terrible desserts, and the Gruppo is not immune (I'm talking to you, too, B&G Oysters). But the desserts at Sportello are consistently good. Great, even. Maybe someone should talk to them and find out what they are doing because it's hard to grasp why theirs are so right and everyone else's are so wrong. Sorry to be such a snarky bastard.
(4)Jeremy K.
I waited. I waited a very long time, too long in fact, to experience a meal at No. 9 Park. I wanted to go, but never managed to make it happen, that is, until Ericalynn G. and I decided to have an improvised dinner there. I was quite excited at the idea of dining at such an establishment, and made my way there, arriving thirty minutes early. I sat at the bar, a whiskey smash in my hand, quietly waiting and observing the decor and clientele around me. Having had a long week, I arrived on purpose so I could wind down with a nice drink. Or two. The bar is well stocked and the bartenders are both friendly and very attentive. They put a lot of work into their cocktails and it shows. The drink was great. The bar food looked very good as well, especially the cheese platter that the people next to me where having. Then Ericalynn arrived and we proceeded to get seated in the dimly lit dinning area. The table was in one of the corners of the small dinning area and was setup in a way which made us sit at a 90 degree angle from one another instead of face-to-face. I actually liked that better and it enabled us to peer right into the room. Quickly, both water and bread & butter arrived and we placed our order. As an appetizer, after much hesitation, I decided to go with some pruned-stuffed gnocchi which came with some fois gras, toasted almonds and some Vin Santo. Vin Santo is a sweet Italian cooking wine and it paired beautiful with the luscious, delicious pasta. It was surprisingly light and was very fresh. The texture of the pasta was fluffy and was delightful. The entree which arrived moments later was very intimidating, being platted in a beautiful manner. It was a real piece of art and I felt bad digging in. I had the Colorado Lamb Saddle which came served with rillons, grilled eggplant and provencal-style vegetables. Again, another hit. The lamb was cooked beautiful and was very tasty, lean and very tender. A real treat for one's palate and the sides were good. The portions also, I must add, were perfectly portioned. Before getting dessert, I decided to have some cheese. Chocking, I know but being French and all... I asked to have some Roquefort but instants later the waiter came back, apologetic, telling me that they were unfortunately out of it and instead of made an assortment of three pieces of cheese, which he also comped. A very nice gesture on the restaurant's part. The three cheeses were each very different but also very good. They came with two tiny sides, one being raspberry coulis and the other was fresh, reduced blueberries. For the dessert I had something very unusual and which intrigued me and almost excited me. It was a chocolat biscuit coulant, a sort of lava cake but the best part was the side which was a smoke milk glace. Yup, you read correctly, an ice-cream featuring smoked milk. The taste is like nothing I've ever had and it was pretty damn good. The side of cocoa nibs and cherry complimented the biscuit well. Overall the level of service and dining at this establishment met my high expectations. The waiter and staff there were both friendly, attentive and spot on when it came to providing services. They were there when needed but almost invisible in the routine tasks. The comping on the cheese was a very nice gesture on their part. The complimentary coat check was also a very nice touch. The prices are high but for what you get, this is a surprisingly good value. I look forward to returning there in the future for another great meal. Or for drinks. Either way, I'm sure I'll be very happy with my experience.
(5)D B.
Amazing bar service. Bob treated me great with great drinks. Food is creative and top notch.
(5)Misa N.
This was the first restaurant I ate at once I landed in Boston for the very first time. This restaurant provided me insight on how Boston will be for the rest of the weekend. The dining experience was impeccable. Initially upon calling the restaurant, the restaurant was not able to seat a party of two for at least an hour or two; however, upon further inquiry, they were able to accommodate us near the front of the restaurant as a small table opened up . The hostess greeted us warmly and offered to take our coats as it was a very cold night. Shortly after, our server came out and offered to take our drink and appetizer order. He was very thorough and explicit when explaining what the chef's specials were for the day. And being from California, our main interest was to eat foie gras, and the menu had no shortage of that!!! The server recommended several plates in which all of them were delicious. We ordered 5 plates: the prime steak tartare, duck liver mousse, Terrine of Hudson Valley Foie Gras and Veal Sweetbreads, Prune-Stuffed Gnocchi with seared slices of foie gras and lastly, the bone marrow. Everything was amazing and was delivered in a timely manner. The service was second to none as they were checking up on us in between each dish. Once we were done with the meal, we requested the check and to our surprise, noticed that two of the foie gras dish we ordered were excluded from the bill. Shortly after the hostess advised us that they comped the foie gras based on our out-of-state enthusiasm and our seemingly insatiable craving for it. In total, we ordered 5 dishes with 2 cocktails and the total came out to be $78.00 (foie gras excluded). We were so touched by the generosity and observation of the staff that we decided to tip them the correct total anyways. The gesture alone was deserving of the twenty percent AND some. Overall, definitely recommend without hesitation. We'll be sure to visit again on our next Boston adventure.
(5)Kiki P.
No 9. Park is a fantastic place for special occasions. Although it is a bit on the pricy side, the prices are not unreasonable. The ambiance is elegant and classy and it sits in an excellent location right at the top of Boston Commons. My date and I decided to go with the three course pre-fix. I started with Gazpacho soup, which is a Spanish classic cold tomato soup. This soup was rather different than the typical Gazpacho you find in Espana. Instead of a tomato base, the majority of the base was red bell peppers. It was a nice change from the traditional Gazpacho you would eat at a Spanish restaurant. My date started with prune stuffed with gnocchi, which is one of the restaurants signature dishes. It was unique with the perfect combination of sweet and salty. For dinner I ordered striped bass with vegetables . It was fresh and flavorful, but a little overcooked and chewy. They cooked the fish and vegetables with tons of olive oil which tasted delicious, however I would have preferred much less oil. Next time, I will definitely request my meal to be prepared with less oil. My date ordered native hake fish which he enjoyed very much. Dessert was a nice treat. I ordered the chocolate cake and my date ordered cheesecake. Both of which were pretty good. Overall, the food here is great, the ambiance is pleasant and the service is beyond extraordinary. I had special dietary requests, all of which were completely met. I really appreciated the excellent service. I would highly recommend checking out No. 9 Park.
(4)M C.
Unremarkable and unmemorable chef's tasting. Writing about it would only cause me to relive the disappointment. No thanks.
(2)Lee H.
I recently went to No. 9 Park with colleagues, for a business dinner. Haute cuisine is not really my cup of tea, but the evening was extremely pleasant. Good company, good food, good wine, good service. I'm being understated. The food was delicious and beautifully presented, and the flavors bold enough to appeal to my unsophisticated palette. The service was impeccable. Some things are a bit over the top. Putting an empty plate in front of you because you have the 3 course menu and others have the 7 course puts you in an odd position. Do you say "that was delicious"? "You forgot something"? "Thanks for making me feel included"? What? Also, the level of detail about the ingredients is almost comical, almost Pythonesque (recall the Crunchy Frogs sketch). The dinner was a long ritual, especially the 7 course version. You'd better have plenty to talk about (we did, no problem). Parking is awful - use the valet. Why not 5 stars? At those lofty prices, if the food doesn't make me think "how is that even possible?" I generally dock a star. Even on an expense account.
(4)Anna T.
This is a fancy place, so when I go to a place like this I expect nearly perfect service. We were interrupted multiple times. The cocktails were fantastic. My mom had one. When there was a little bit left, it was snatched from her without being asked if she was finished. I realize this was an attempt at good service - trying to keep the table clear, so when my mom said something, I assumed that they would just make her another cocktail, no big deal. They made another one alright - except it came out in a tiny glass with a massive ice cube in it. We're paying big bucks for this goddamn precious meal, and they can't simply make another drink. Instead they take the tacky route and bring us a paltry little parody of a drink. It came off as mocking and classless, not something I would expect from a seemingly hallowed place. Anyway, the food. I'm not going to use the correct names of the things I got here, as my brother and his girlfriend looked up everything on the menu before we came here and I do not remember anything. I got the soft shell crab risotto. The crab was so good - never had it before. The risotto was as tasteless as the service. For the entree I got the pork shoulder - which was cooked just right. It came with this mushroom puree thing which had a scatological look to it, but in fact tasted quite the opposite. It was delicious. For dessert I got the ice cream medley. The scoops could have stood to be (much) bigger, but who's measuring (me)? Overall, this place has a lot of hype and it doesn't quite measure up. If the hype were a bit less, maybe it would.
(3)Morgan M.
Arrived at 6:00pm on a Saturday night with hopes of sitting at the bar. Ended up at a high top table nearby instead which I think ended up being the better option. Split two apps, the duck confit salad and beef tartare and both were outstanding. Portions were a pleasant surprise. To end we split the prune stuffed gnocchi which were savory, sweet and delicious. I've paid more for less for other other dinners in Boston so this is worth the price as under $200 for two is reasonable. Couldn't help but notice the couple to our right drop four hundred and not bat an eyelash. The waitstaff was very attentive and friendly. At times it looked as if there was more staff than customers in the restaurant but they all move seamlessly about. I was pleasantly surprised by the ambience as it wasn't too stuffy, just right for the place. Will certainly be going back. Not to be forgotten the cocktails were excellent and worthy of the food they were paired with.
(5)Molly K.
The highest rated N restaurant in Boston is No. 9 Park, Barbara Lynch's Italian-French masterpiece located in Beacon Hill steps from the state house. With dark wood floors & multiple antique chandeliers hanging in every room, the restaurant exudes elegance. The menu consists of a 3-course prix fixe option as well as a seven-course chef's tasting menu. With multiple accolades under its belt including a AAA Four Diamond Rating, 2012 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Wine Program, and always placing on the Best of Boston and 50 Best Restaurants list, you will have a memorable tasty meal, every time. After ordering a bottle of Sancerre for the table, I started with the potato agnolotti with celeriac brown butter, chestnuts, and black trumpet mushrooms. This dish was my favorite of the evening. Little pierogi-like light pillows of delicious potato mixtures, I couldn't get enough! Apologies for the dim & washed-out photos, the candle mood-lighting got to me once again! As always, I had to order the chicken. I went with the Giannone Farms chicken with a sunny-side up egg and an escargot puff-pastry. The puff-pastry was a nice addition and texture change to the dish, and the chicken was obviously perfectly prepared. One of my dates went with the prime flat iron steak with roasted shallot, bone marrow bread pudding, a chard and spinach parcel, and a few roasted carrots garnishing the dish. My other date went with the dish I was so close to ordering: the medium-rare roasted Scottish salmon with potato mille-feuille, beet jus, and horseradish. To finish the meal, we went with dessert over cheese. I went with the cashew nougat glace with banana, molasses, and banana. Delicious once again, but I was still dreaming of my appetizer. The other desserts at the table were chocolate-focused. One of which I can remember nothing other than chocolate, mint, and meringue, and the other was the chocolate cream tart with bourbon raisin, smoked cinnamon, and banana. Another memorable meal, with fantastic service, and a beautiful setting. Next on my No. 9 Park go-to-list is their lunch!
(4)Dan C.
I had been psyched up for a what was supposed to be a top French restaurant, led by a top Boston chef. Frustration began when I tried to order a Captain Morgan and coke at the bar. I know Cap'n is cheapo rum, but EVERYBODY has it. Not No. 9. My request was responded with," Ohhh....wellll.....we don't have that....we have Mount Gayyyyy" Oy vey, Mt Gay is Mt Crap, it just sounds nicer than going sailing with the Captain. Then onto the dinnnuhhh. Dinner consisted of several courses of ok, but fussily prepared tiny portions. My main entree came on flat square plate, with the entree "artfully" distributed around the plate. If you have ever seen the movie "American Psycho" with the scenes in the 80's pretentious chic restaurants, you will know what I mean about the presentation. Needless to say, I left No. 9 Park hungry and unimpressed.
(2)Yue Z.
Service: 5 Food: 5 Ambiance: 4.5 I came here for vday dinner, so this review could be a little biased. We had a reservation but our table was not quite ready when we walked in, so we sat in the waiting/bar area for 10 minutes or so. They then took us to a nice table facing out the window. I was a fan of that fact that they put the two of us at the two edges of a four person square table, instead of the typical rectangular-face-each-other deal. We ordered a bottle of Syrah for $70, very decent and easy to drink. They have a very extensive wine last with all types of prices, but I didn't see anything lower than $60. We had the 3 course menu. I had the foie gras, farm chicken, and Friend Carnaroli Rice Cake. My favorite was actually the farm chicken, made with escargot, pithivier, and farm egg. The skin was just the right amount of crispy, and the meat very juicy. The foie gras was melt in mouth delicious, and the bread perfectly toasted. The cranberry added more depth and character for the flavor. The rice cakes were crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. Although I was already stuffed by dessert, I still made room for all of the dishes. I am typically not a fan of sweets, but I definitely enjoyed this one. They even gave us a free dessert and cookies at the end! I loved the food at this place, though the bill does rack up quickly!
(5)Vivian H.
I was about 20 minutes late to our anniversary dinner (oops rush hour traffic on the T...) but they were nice enough to hold our table. And give me a bandaid since I made myself bleed a little running in my heels (sigh). Boyfriend and I got the prix-fixe menus because we're not quite ready for the tasting menu at this point in our lives yet :) OYSTERS ON THE HALF -- moans and groans from the boyfriend are a pretty good indication that these oysters were goooood. PRUNE STUFFED GNOCCHI -- omg the foie gras was so ridiculously good, and with the light gnocchi and the almond.. mmmmm.. GRILLED SWORDFISH -- wonderfully cooked, good portions, and those little croutons were surprisingly good! MILK-FED PORCELET -- can't taste the milk-fed-ness and didn't find this dish to be out-of-this-world but it was decent... BLACK COCOA TORTE -- the curry ice cream & the pb actually worked well with the cocoa, though the torte itself wasn't very sweet/chocolatey PANNA COTTA -- yumm loved the bruleed bananas and the oats and getting everything in a single bite was like a wonderful little experience Service was really outstanding. Not only because they held our table but because they were patient with how indecisive we were with ordering, very knowledgeable while answering our questions, and super courteous throughout the meal. And then when boyfriend left a book under his seat, they sent a valet to chase us 2 blocks around the corner to return it. The service definitely bumped it uo to 5 stars.
(5)IamInthebiz ..
If you have not tried one of Chef Barbara Lynch's restaurants - this a great place to start. I have eaten here on several occasions and it is always fantastic. The bartenders make everyone feel welcome and can make a drink suitable to anyone's taste. The service is five star all the way (Thank you Matthew!) and never a rush. Make sure and inquire about "The Cheese Cart". Many finish with this but my girl-friend likes to begin the experience with this and what is not to like about cheese, especially cheeses like these. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation ASAP!
(5)Capt k.
This is a nice little restaurant situated right next to Boston common. The hostess place us on the side that over look the park witch is nice. Candle light romantic but it does not compare to looking at the sunset while we enjoy our food. The stuffed gnocchi is decent however it not light as I though it would be . Ok, this is all Tom Colicchio's fault. Watching too many episodes of top chef, I was expecting something light as cloud. I guess he is right. The dough is overwork when they stuff the prune. However the Foie Gras is perfectly cooked and is delicious. We split the duck as our 2nd course. The breast is really tender and confit is very flavor. The mushroom gastrique is a bit week and the sour cherry add a nice touch to the dish. My third course is beef trio (rib eye, short rib and bone marrow). The short rib and boasted bone marrow is delicious. The rib eye is perfectly cooked however the oyster hollandaise is a raw oyster and it overwhelm the beef and left my mouth a very very foul taste. I have to drink lots of wine to get rid of the raw oyster taste. Panna Cotta is a bit too firm for my personal liking, The peach spiked with alcohol is just ok. The staff are extremely friendly. However, the service is not impeccable. There are too many small mistakes during dinner (ie. don't explain the dish when the food is served, rusted knife, misplaced my credit card receipt and accuse me that I lost it on purpose, long wait to refilled my hot water.) 40 dollars for the duck course is a bit outrageous
(4)Heidi O.
Came here for my birthday and do not understand the hype about this place. I love love love foie grais but this was quite tasteless. I am always excited to try new culinary experiences but realized after a bite that I am not ready to appreciate bone marrow bread pudding. The quail entree was mediocre and artisan cheese selection unimpressive for being an upscale French restaurant. My husband menu choice of beef was much better than mine. Tables were placed way to close together, you are basically sitting as close to someone in your party as to the guest at the neighboring table. Nice touch was a complementary, nicely presented birthday plate although I did not order any dessert.
(2)Eunice R.
At first I was annoyed that even though I made reservations for restaurant week, I had to wait 30 minutes to be seated. But because they were so friendly, I couldn't get mad. They took our bags and coats, and we ordered drinks while we waited to be seated. At the end of my meal, the waiter asked if I didn't like my cocktail (because I didn't finish it), I said that I did, but just didn't end up drinking a lot of it because it was so strong. He then proceeded to tell me that they wouldn't charge me for it since I didn't drink much of it. Who does this??? Excellent service to say the least. Pre-Fixe: 1) FLUKE CRUDO (marcona almond, preserved lemon, harissa) - 4 stars. 2) DAUBE DE BOEUF (macomber turnip, bacon, petite vegetables) - 5 stars. 3) BUTTERMILK PANNA COTTA (coconut, almond, mango) - 3 stars. All of the dishes were good, but not very memorable taste wise. I do however remember that the presentations for each dish was superb. So if you're looking to impress, this is your spot!
(4)David C.
Disappointing does not even begin to describe my experience at No. 9 Park. Frustrating, unsatisfying, and depressing don't quite do it justice either. Disheartening is the only way I can describe it, thanks to the monumental expectations I came in with. Then again, I came for Restaurant Week. Am I allowed to be this disappointed? At a place like No. 9 Park, I think yes. It's not that the people at No. 9 didn't try hard (with the exception of our waiter, they tried extremely hard), but the overall product continually fell short. Case in point, the rolls. I have never been to a fancy restaurant that served such lackluster bread. Considering how many reviews have complained about this, I find it quite surprising that Lynch and Co. have done nothing to change this. I went to lunch at Sportello the day before, and their bread was delicious. What gives, No. 9? That was kind of a lengthy tangent about bread, but I really don't have much to say about the food, and that in and of itself says a lot. My boyfriend and I got the RW tasting menus, complete with No. 9's signature prune stuffed gnocchi, and felt nothing. Given the restaurant's reputation, I expected the dishes to dazzle, and they simply fell flat. I also can't help but feel a little cheated over the tasting menu. Two tasting menus cost us $110 (sans tax and tip), whereas the regular RW menu would have cost us $66. There were obviously more courses in the tasting menu (you got to have both the pork and bluefish entrees, as well as the gnocchi), but the portions were downsized to such an extent that the amount of food was basically the same. We would have been better off sharing the regular RW menu and an appetizer portion of the gnocchi. That would have ran us just under $90. My last complaint, it must be said, lay with the service. While the runners and bussers made sure to keep our water glasses full and our tables clean, our actual waiter appeared to us only sporadically throughout the night. (Side note: Tipping is difficult under these circumstances. Without knowing how tips are divided at the end of the night, do I tip based on the overall service of the restaurant, or simply that of my waiter?) I felt that we were constantly overlooked by the larger tables, especially those ordering wine and drinks. Disappointment, thy name is No. 9 Park.
(2)Renee D.
Attention to detail! From the cocktails right to dessert, a perfect meal. Just the right amount of food- we got the prix fixe menu, and for the price you are getting a lot of quality. I can't say enough about how thought out and delicious the meal was, and our server and all the staff were friendly and helpful, and very knowledgable about everything they serve. We do not have them, but they are ready to adjust for any food allergy. Truly a great, great dining experience. Thanks no. 9!
(5)Satchimo D.
Great food and probably the best service I've ever had. The staff are very attentive and efficient. An enjoyable dinning experience. The food was beautifully presented and well balanced flavors. For the price the 3 course Prix Fixe is the way to go.
(4)Snuffles B.
Thumbs up for the overall experience, however, it was also an evening filled with BUTs: Atmosphere: Very casual for fine dining. Basic decor - Back room fits the mold BUT the front is stark, almost depressing. Thank goodness I requested a back banquette in advance. Service: Very good, reserved/more formal BUT not as tight as it could be. Food: Delicious BUT unoriginal, a lot of been there, done that. Everything was very good, BUT nothing extraordinary. - No Amuse? - What the heck? - Bread - Average - Corn Veloute - Silky and refreshing, The best thing we ate. - Foie - Foie always tastes good b/c it is foie, BUT nothing special about this one - Prune stuffed gnocchi - Good, light for gnocchi, really tasted more like a stuffed pasta than gnocchi. - Bass - Good BUT the highlights were really the green tomato and polenta - Duck - Perfect confit leg BUT breast was blaaaand. - Raspberry Tart - The pistachio ice cream was good BUT the tart was too tart and boring - Cheese cart - Kind of loved this - our waiter picked out a couple of great ones: the Panerello and Raypanaer were really tasty. No buts here. - Complementary marshmallow and insanely adorable micro-macaron - both were excellent, particularly the filling of the little macaron. Honestly, as a total package, this place is goodt. BUT for the 25% mark up on the true value of the experience, I think you can get a better bang for your buck at lots of other places.
(4)Danielle R.
We arrived at 7:15 and were promptly greeted by valet ($16). We walked in and were greeted by the extremely nice hostess who asked us if we would like to grab a seat in the lounge while we waited for our table. Throughout the entire night we were very well taken care of and never felt as though we were being ignored. It was a "team" service the entire night and that seemed to work extremely well, from a guest's perspective. Chris and I both ordered a glass of pinot noir, relaxed and chatted, and were whisked away to our table promptly at 7:45. As we looked over our menu and snacked on our rolls, we ultimately decided to go for the seven course tasting menu (plus cheese plate and additional course)- go big or go home, right? Moments later one of the waitresses made her way over with the cheeses. She brought out a cart that had 25 or so cheeses on it, and began to go through explaining each one. It's origin, the type of milk, etc. We selected a cheese from each "group" and as we made our selections she sliced the cheese in front of us and placed it on a plate. She then quietly made her exit, and we began to dig in. In the mean time we were also brought a plate with honey, jam, grapes, and thin bread crisps to enjoy as well. I enjoyed the majority of the cheeses, however I prefer a harder cheese, so those were my favorite. Chris enjoyed all of it - and needless to say there wasn't any cheese left on the plate when they returned with what was (technically) our first course. Course 1 - Chilled Young Garlic Soup,served with pickled cilantro & assortment of fish. The first course was a cold garlic soup, accompanied by a barely cooked piece of salmon, a raw piece of tuna, and three shelled mussels. The flavor of the soup was incredible, and had a strong garlic essence without being overpowering. The various fish and shellfish were a perfect compliment to the dish, and the flavors married well together - but then again, what does garlic not taste great with? Also, I had never in my life had mussels before. I think the reason I agreed to eat them last night was a combination of liquid courage from the second glass of wine, and security one feels when eating dishes prepared by a james beard award winning chef - mostly the wine though. Course 2 - Smoked Bluefish, Cooked to perfection - meaty & tender. Great transition from the soup. The sauce offered a little bit of heat to the dish which was a nice surprise. Course 3 - Homemade Cannelloni, with ricotta, broccoli and potato. The pasta was cooked nicely and the ricotta was perfect inside. This was, for me, the least creative - but I love pasta and I loved this. Also the presentation with the broccoli was stunning. Course 4 (Added course)- Prune Stuffed Gnocchi with Foie Gras, and almonds I mean words can't describe how good it was. Although the dish could almost be considered sweet instead of savory, the texture of the pasta was amazing - and the presentation was similar to a dumpling or ravioli rather than your traditional gnocchi. From a culinary standpoint I can say that the foie gras was tasty, however I prefer to not eat foie gras, and this dish would still have been wonderful without it. That being said, this was the most fantastic dish, and neck in neck for tastiest (#6 is definitely a contender). Course 5 - Roasted Organic Squab, served with champagne grapes and cocoa nibs. This was a trio of squab, with one piece served over a puff pastry that was filled with the meat from the leg. The meat was the perfect temperature, and was very juicy. The consistency of the meat reminded me of duck, which is a favorite protein of mine. This was actually my first time having squab, and I didn't hate it :) Course 6 - Prime Beef Ribeye (poached in duck fat), served with brown butter and green tomatoes. I didn't even feel guilty about eating this dish because I know I will never have something like it again, and I had decided earlier that I would be taking the stairs at work for the next week. The only way I can describe the flavor is this - think about eating the fattiest part of a piece of bacon - how good that tastes. Now imagine if you were biting into a peace of steak, and bite after bite oozed this flavor, while still presenting itself like a regular old rare filet. I'm literally drooling while typing this. Course 7 - Homemade Red Currant Sorbet with lime- Nice flavor, and a little more on the tart side. This came as a little shocking to my pallet after what I had eaten as the previous course. Course 8 - Vannilla Cremeux, with aged balsamic, brioche ice cream, brioche tweel, & peach. Delicious! Great texture, great flavor, amazing way to conclude the meal. And as far as presentation is concerned, it was stunning. Overall this was my favorite collective culinary experience. The food was incredible and I truly enjoyed not only everything I ate, but the professionalism of the service, and overall kindness of everyone we encountered.
(5)Shia G.
Visited for some light fare and cocktails. We sat in the dining room which is very romantic and great for special occasions or saying farewell to an employee. The cocktails were great and a notable wine list. All great suggestions by the waiter who actually had the bartender make me an off menu drink after I explained my mood. I then had a soup (I can't remember) and the prune gnocchi, but had to pass dessert. Everything was incredible and well presented.
(5)Stephen Y.
Damn good !!!! Best meal in Boston in the past 3 years ! Tasting menu w wine pairing.... gnocchi w stuffed prune and seared foie gras.... paired w an excellent madeira... gave me dirty shivers ! Everything else (especially the hake... )... sorry- lost my thought for a moment.... Service was great and cocktails delightful.... We had the best table in the house w view of the common.... wow ! I am going to miss all this ! Bloody amazing !
(5)Cat C.
4 Stars for Food 4.5 Stars for Service Definitely not a 5 Star place though. All the food that came out was very good, well executed, but I feel like I've had similar dishes that were done soo much better. Favorite dish of the evening: the Sweet Potato Anglotti and the Prune Stuffed Gnocchi.
(4)Michelle F.
High-five to No. 9 Park and the staff working 2/5/11. I have to say this restaurant is wonderful! The food is excellent and the staff is awesome. Every employee from the bar staff to servers is extremely knowledgeable and quick to offer additional information on everything from the special butter on the table to the bottle of wine I selected. I chose the chiefs table menu and every dish was explained as it was placed in front of me. I was very pleased with the food and found the portions are standard tasting sizes. When dinner was over I felt satisfied, not stuffed. I highly recommend this restaurant for food and service. I don't think you will find such exceptional service anywhere else.
(5)Kim R.
Ok...so, I feel a bit of a fraud writing this review since I didn't actually eat here. However, the bar was great! The staff was incredibly inviting and friendly. I had the misfortune (or should I say fortune) of having the mixologist mess up my drink order which resulted in a handful of free drinks - thank you! I will certainly be returning and hopefully for some food. FYI - this is a great date spot - dim lighting, pretty quiet, and comfortable.
(5)Erin M.
What else is there to say about this place that hasn't already been said? Food was amazing and the service was top shelf. Paying the bill wasn't too fun, but that's understood. My roommate has been dying to go to No. 9 Park for years, but never wanted to foot the bill. As a birthday surprise, we blindfold her and walked her to our table of 10 (made reservations about a month in advance, which is recommended). The staff were very accommodating to our large party and the surprise, which made it all the better. They even brought out a candle and cookies for her at the end, which we didn't even ask for! The service was probably better than the food in my opinion. Waiters and waitresses were informative, prompt, respectful, and happy. We all got wine, and when we asked our waitress for a suggestion, she gave the most detailed descriptions for wines that I've ever heard. A few of us split the gnocchi appetizer (kitchen split it before serving it, which was also nice) which was by far the best I've had, with a dense sweet prune center and perfectly done foie gras to compliment it. I ordered the salmon entree which was cooked exactly right, although it was pretty simple for a salmon dish, but that's how it is. Rolls and butter are served quickly throughout the meal, too, which is exciting but filling. No. 9 Park definitely lives up to the hype, although next time I think I'll be cheap and just do the bar menu.
(4)Steve F.
What a great meal! The bartender this night - and two other nights I have gone here just for drinks - was friendly and knowledgeable and made me some fine cocktails. The server this night - for my birthday a month ago - was extremely gracious and attentive, but not overly so. My date ordered the wine, and it was awesome. I don't remember the entrees, but I do remember the foie gras. It was amazing. You have to get this. The server recommended it, and she was right. To top it all off, the view of the Common with the Christmas lights in the trees was amazing.
(5)Dario B.
Absolutely fabulous dinner. Everything was off the hook, the wines, the food, the ambiance, the night, our mood, the non-intimidating service but the prune-stuffed gnocchi.....it's another world. It's their signature dish for one reason, it's deliciously addictive. The texture of the gnocchi, the foie, the wine reduction, the stuffing....heaven. It refreshed an entire section in my brain, leaving space for more stuff to learn in the culinary world. So enlightening. According to Yumi, this is the best dinner she has ever had in Boston, better than l'Espalier. I believe her, I have no doubts, beating this attentive quality is an hard job. Overall it's a roller coaster of delicate and bold flavors brought together by attentive technique. All the dishes had a remarkable depth without compromising lightness. I have no memories of the desserts...nuff said.
(5)Tyler A.
Good, but did not live up to expectations. I am sad to say I feel this restaurant tried to rake in some money for restaurant week, or, that it did not treat us patrons the same as other perhaps. Mostly everything was very good, as well as service, However, with a price tag for the 5 course, plus a few drinks (180 with tip) Im a little disappointed to find small problems. 1st course was overly salty and garlicky, 2nd course (skate) was great, but the braised spinach was sandy.... and the dessert and parting treat were un memorable or not that good. Overall good, but with with the price, a little disappointed. Think they must have cut some corners for restaurant week.
(2)Maggie G.
I had a wonderful experience at No. 9 Park. Walking in, the atmosphere is sophisticated and romantic. The bartenders, or honestly they should be called mixologists, are experts and can help someone pick out the perfect drink by just asking a few quick questions. The wait staff was friendly and attentive--from the bread guy (go with the buttermilk rolls) to the Service Manger,Ted (who was extremely knowledgeable about the food and the restaurant itself)--I felt like they were happy to have us there. The food was delicious! The Foie Gras and the Mahi Mahi just melt in your mouth. The portion sizes are perfect and allow you to actually savor your meal instead of gorging yourself. I highly recommend checking out No. 9 when you're looking for a special meal, great service, and a beautiful view of the Commons.
(4)Matthew V.
So I have to start off by saying I am review the fixed menu during restaurant week for 2011. This was blissfully mundane food. This was the first time I have eaten here and unfortunately I was not so impressed to go back and pay twice as much for half the amount of food I got at the Restaurant week deal. So I get everyone loves this place, I understand that I am going in during restaurant week and there is probably a lot of behind the scenes stress already happening. But I am truely sorry, if you are representing yourself during Restaurant week as a fine dining experience like no other in town than you failed. Its like giving out free food, you dont want to give out crap because you wont get people to buy it. You give them a taste of something great and let them know there is more where that came from. This was not that type of experience. This food was good. Let me repeat, good. It was gone in about 2 seconds no matter how hard I tried to make it last. The Mussel dish looked like about 4 mussels and 3 flatten calamari. The sauce was bland and had no flavor and seemed as though it had been prepped the night before or perhaps the week before. The main course was salmon with 3.5 fingerling potatoes about the size of a pinkie. Again the taste was good but a little bland. I was expecting to stop and really be shocked and taken back. I was sitting there trying to convince myself that it was good instead of being blown away by what was in front of me. The dessert was a banana nut item that was a bit dry and again dull in flavor. I dont know if there was just too much shelf time or if all of those dishes are just bland to begin with. The best item on the menu was a beet salad that was packed with cheese, beets, and lettuce. It was crunchy and was bursting with flavor. But seriously if I am raving about a beet salad and remembering that over my main course there is obviously some thing wrong. I am sure this is a great place and I have heard great things about it...but just be cautious of RestWeek at super high end places. Lessoned learned. But by all means go here, bring some cash and eat...you will most likely have a great meal.
(2)Josh K.
I was floored by the service here the minute we walked through the door. All the staff were courteous and friendly, without having an air of snobbery that sometimes annoys me at similar high-class restaurants. When my wife and I were unsure of what wine to order, our waiter came out with two bottles for each of us, and let us try them both. They really push the stuffed gnocchi on all the guests, but I suppose with good reason -- it was as good as they said. We both ordered the 3-course tasting menu; I had oysters which tasted fresh and clean, and a quail dish for my main course. One cool thing we noticed was that the menu was printed with the day's date, so presumably they put out a new menu every day.
(5)Matt O.
Had two delicious Christmas meals here with co-workers. Both times we did the three-course prie fixe lunch. Plating is fantastic, service is attentive, the cocktail list is short but full of interesting drinks, plus they have a full bar so order anything, and of course the food is great. I had a Scottish Salmon entree the first time, beautiful cut of fish, cooked to perfection in a light glaze with crumbled bacon on top, wow. Only strike is once the Foie Gras appetizer was served quite cold, to the point of being unappetizing. Perhaps this was PETA's way of telling me to eat more humanely. Would go there again, but admittedly I've been there twice for free.
(5)T T.
This has to be one of the most overrated restaurants I've ever been to. I had been looking forward to going for months and was thoroughly disappointed; I was taken for a graduation dinner present, but in the end, it wasn't worth the wait. I ordered the chef's tasting menu, which started with a hamachi dish, which was okay, but the portions were ridiculously small (which followed throughout the entire meal). I love crab, but I was insulted with the peekytoe crab dish presented; it was lazily fried, and as my dining partner said, "I've had better at a Chinese restaurant." The prune stuffed gnocchi with foie gras was not as heavenly as others have described it; in fact, the gnocchi was quite dense and heavy. The presentation of most dishes was not very inspired, and there was a lot of green in the menu, which can be summery, but ended up being very repetitive after 3 courses. In our dessert course, the server told us that the cake required 3 days of preparation, but none of this paid off in actual taste; actually, it didn't taste much different than store-bought cake. There was no standout dish of the night, although the beef was cooked well and the drinks that I had were good; my friend and I had the freshly squeezed pomegranate juice with orange blossom and lime with seltzer. However, two good drinks does not justify a horribly overpriced meal; I would definitely not recommend it.
(1)Ben K.
Impeccable, impeccable, impeccable is all I have to say about No. 9 Park, Barbara Lynch's flagship restaurant in the quaint Beacon Hill. We had the three-course prix fixe, beginning with the prune-stuffed gnocchi with seared foie gras (their signature dish), which was ethereal... unreal... laughably good. Then had the poussin with the foie gras (couldn't help but to double up on the foie mmmmmmm) in puff pastry, with these little turnips that were earthy and peppery and delish. Finished with the fig cake, which was like a sticky-toffee pudding and gingerbread on crack combined. Totally moist, warm, fab. They also had Saracco's Moscato d'Asti, which I really enjoy. Our server, Melodie, was perfect-- laid-back, helpful, and extraordinarily knowledgeable about the wines and vineyards. She even brought us tastes of a wine that we were asking about. Not once did we feel rushed, and everything was paced to the T. I can't wait to go back to revisit this gem of a place-- certainly one of Boston's best.
(5)Jen F.
My boyfriend and I both chose the prix-fixe three-course menu and were delighted. The portions may seem small for the price, but they pack a flavorful punch! I certainly wasn't wanting when I left. Ditto to everyone here who has raved about the cocktails! The BF was on medications and not drinking, so the waiter suggested we let the bartender work his magic. One elderflower and orange blossom tonic later, and I was hooked on No 9 Park. We had a bit of an incident with our original table, and the response of the management could not have been more exceptional.
(5)Amanda B.
siiiiiiigh. Can I go back yet? Holy wow. Went for restaurant week last night. Was very very impressed with the service. Although we were restaurant week folks (aka they knew we can't usually afford the place) we were treated like royalty and No. 9 Park assured itself of 2 new customers who will return when we're rich (or celebrating). The service started while I was waiting for my date to arrive and the hostess came over and in a furtive whisper asked if we would be willing to wait a few moments while one of the "best" tables was cleared. Sure! We were seated and served by an amazing staff. It was a great balance between snooty french waiters who you don't even notice filling your water glass and friendly waiters who call you by name and treat you like a friend. The food was good. The highlight for me: the little honeycomb topper on the raspberry tart. For you brits: imagine a crunchie bar sans chocolate. Bliss! But to be honest, the food was just an addition to the great night instead of the main attraction. Had a wonderful time. One downside: given restaurant week, there was a large table of "foodies" who were consistently talking about the "hints", "essence" and "nuance" of the flavors. funny.
(4)Peter H.
I visited No.9 Park with some friends for a final going-away dinner for a friend entering the realm of student post-grad frugality. I can only describe the No.9 Park evening as an experience, not just a meal from start to finish. The little touches throughout made it unquestionably one of the best foodie nights I have enjoyed in Boston! The service was discrete and professional with our main server proving to be massively knowledgeable about everything on the wine and food menu. He was open, friendly but quietly reserved and attentive. Service was brisk and efficient at all times. The little touches like folding a persons menu whilst they go to the restroom was one of the nice simple touches. The food was excellent and everything was seasonal and fresh with some creative touches - the stuffed gnocchi is amazing and the entire meal service was memorable and delicious. The cheese selection was huge, all served from a large wooden kitchen blocked wheeled to your table. The dining room style is cosy - its a small restaurant but its quite atmospheric, dark and intimate and very suitable for dates. All in all, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend No.9 Park for that special occasion. The service, food, experience and indeed price range are all befitting of 5 stars.
(5)Jeremy O.
The tasting menu is a little pricey, but the food is pretty good, except for the fish appetizer. The service was prompt and attentive unlike most other French or fine dining restaurants. Parking is impossible to find, so just let the young valet kid do it for $16, and enjoy your meal. If you are near the window during the day, you get to people-watch from across Boston Common, and on the weekdays when the State Legislature is in session, you get to meet a few politicians at the bar. This must be the only place in the world where men have to queue for the bathroom, while women don't have to!
(3)Nicole R.
Testament to how excited I was about this: my friend and I were reviewing best ways to cleanse our palates beforehand. I think he had some citrus and a cracker, I rocked lemon sparkling water. Also we reserved QUITE far in advance. We basically had countdowns set up. So there's your prologue. This is a 4 star review because really, after some thought---No 9 is really overrated. And with her new Menton endeavour, Barb is really just obviously reaching for the stars here. Chill out, there's a time and a place for $150 prix fixe. Is there really a demand for such a place in a city riddled with students and academics? She sold me on Sportello, but now she's just taking it all and running. Everything I had was great, but it wasn't surprisingly good. It wasn't knock me out, hallucinatory delirium good. And that's what 5 stars mean: hallucinatory delirium. BUT, I did come for resto week, and honestly I can't blame them for not knocking me out when they're losing money on this. The space is great, small, but very nice and cozy. Also the service was really impeccable, from the time we walked in to the time we left I suspected our waitress might not have any other tables. She was friendly and welcoming, though perhaps kind of overly into getting us drinks. I helped her out by getting a LaCroix cabernet/syrah and a cappuccino with dessert. She also opened a brand new bottle for me, and spent about 5 minutes describing the wine itself as long as a bit about the history of the vineyard. Very impressive. Water and bread flowed like...water. App: roasted beets with radishes and chevre (?). This was fantastic. Beautifully plated in tiny circle and square cuts, with faint drizzles of olive oil and liquified goat cheese here and there. Also allow me to digress about this cheese. I thought at first that perhaps it was tofu. It looked like tofu, felt like tofu, moved like tofu. Hm. Tofu at No. 9? Strange. Well. It was certainly goat cheese. Lost its gelatinous character instantly upon eating, and turned smooth, creamy, and melty. YUM. I want to know how they did this, because it was wonderful. Besides the cheese though, this was a very simple dish. I would have been interested in more seasoning/more surprises here. Solid and delicious, but unimpressive (excluding the cheese, which perhaps was supposed to shine on it's own). Main: Potato Gnocchi with mushroom ragu and smoked kale. Ahh pillows of heavennnnn. This was really superb, star of the night for me. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly prepared, perfect perfect perfect. The kale was to die for. I love kale, but this was really amazing. Many different sorts of mushrooms, and unlike most places they actually gave me several of them. This was a joyyy Dessert: CHEESE Oh boy. The girl who presented was quite knowledgeable. I ended up choosing a Cabot 10 month aged sharp cheddar (aged enough to have the texture of parmeggiano), and an exceptionally creamy (borderline melty/runny) aged goat cheese. Both were fabulous. The cheddar, which usually I am not a big fan of, was sharp and complex. This was a great match for my rich, smooth, and creamy goat cheese. I am very happy I chose this option. Cheeses were served with a plate of grapes, hazelnuts, crackers, and tangy marmelade. Lovely. Bill was received with a plate of salted....something (caramel gelee?) over a chocolate crispy thing. I am sorry I forget what this was, because it was delish. Overall certainly impressive, but probably not 100% deserving of all its praise.
(4)Karin V.
The service here was outstanding. Our was very knowledgeable about the food and wine, yet came across as very unassuming and hospitable. He was extremely helpful in selecting our wines and gave superb recommendations on the food. Prune Stuffed Gnocchi with Seared Foie Gras: Much larger and less dense than traditional gnocchi, these soft pillows were laid on a small pool of Vin Santo sauce. I couldn't really taste the Vin Santo; it was lost amidst the stronger flavors of the other components. I usually find prunes to be quite unappealing, but thoroughly enjoyed how their sweet tartness cut the richness of the foie gras. Roasted Ribeye with Braised Oxtail and Potato & Truffle Mille-Feuille: While I wish the beef had been more tender, I still enjoyed the components of this dish. The braised oxtail was rich and comforting, chanterelle mushrooms were earthy and succulent, and the potato truffle mille-feuille was moist and buttery with a perfect crispy crust. Concord Grape Clafoutis: OUT OF THIS WORLD!! The clafoutis was cut into small cake wheels which were dense yet creamy and had a rich nutty flavor. The dessert also contained stewed concord grapes, grape gelée, caramelized peanuts, and peanut ice cream - mixed together it was an explosion of flavors and textures. What a sophisticated and decadent play on the peanut butter and jelly sandwich! I will definitely come back here for the 7 course chef's tasting menu!
(4)Lily L.
Hands down, this is the best restaurant I've tried in Boston (yes, better than L'Espalier, T.W. Foods, Pigalle, Meritage, etc). I came to No. 9 Park during the Spring 2009 restaurant week. The entree of hake just blew me away. Wow! It was cooked to perfection. I love seafood but don't like fish. However, growing up in Florida, I've had my share of fish. I've never had a fish as tasty as the hake that I was served at No. 9 Park. I'm usually not that impressed by food. The other entree that I ate here was the pork belly. It was pretty good but I couldn't cut the skin for the life of me. The appetizer of salmon was delicious though small. My friend's appetizer of salad was HUGE. The desserts were good, I'd have gone for the cheese plate over my tart and my friend's chocolate. The service was great and they're pretty attentive to my water. Always makes me happy. =)
(5)K S.
Came here during restaurant week, the staff was very welcoming and friendly, even to our table of 8 youngsters that seldom fine dine. If you leave for the washroom, the waiters immediately refold your napkin. The appetizers were delicious, the drinks were very strong, I have to admit, I was slightly buzzed off of one martini. The main courses were very good. Minus one star because my fiance ordered fish but received pork, we didn't want to be troublesome to change it.
(4)Angel D.
So I won't make this a long one since the pp below did a great job describing their experiences and the food. I took my boyfriend here for his 30th in November, we decided on the three course meal. Everything was really good, the only small complaint was about the service, our waitress didn't take our wine order until AFTER our first course came out.
(5)Melaine P.
Visiting Boston with my best/foodie friend, No. 9 Park was a must-eat meal. This place gets it right! Great ambiance, if not a touch understated. The staff was warm, inviting, unobtrusive, and extremely knowledgeable. The entire staff was involved in orchestrating our meal, and they all seemed to genuinely enjoy what they were doing. The 7 course tasting menu was excellent, but made spectacular with the wine pairing option. The wine pairings were nothing short of genius. The signature dish, a prune stuffed gnocchi with foie, paired with a Veuve Clicquot demi-sec, was a game changing dish. As your server to recount the story of Julia Child and the President of Veuve bringing the restaurant to a halt after tasting this dish. There were some other courses that were similarly successful, all memorable in their own right. Overall, stunning. GO!
(5)Cecilia Z.
Just because you get to eat at a restaurant during restaurant week and pay $$ for the $$$$ place, it doesn't mean that it automatically gets a 5 star. Or, just because you want to show that you can go to a $$$$ place here and there, you don't have to give it a 5 star. No. 9 Park is not one of my five star item. I, too, went for restaurant week. My expectations were high: Drink is my go-to place for nice cocktails and Sportello warmed my heart on a chilly winter night. The whole "I grew up in Southie and made a female and ever-more-successful version of Gatsby" thing about Barbara Lynch is very appealing and attractive. So I thought No. 9 Park must be the crown of the jewel. She started here, didn't she? Well. I wasn't impressed with the dishes. Bluefish was okay, yea, just okay. Gnocchi is a standard dish. And No. 9 Park didn't really make it all special either. Pork belly was dry. Fried pork lard is the best when crispy and crunchy but still melting as you bite down. Well the plate we had was definitely over fried. I had panna cotta for dessert and, to be honest, I remember the wine pairing better than the dessert. There are a couple of things that could have contributed to my disappointment and what some people may call harshness: 1. I had very high expectations; 2. the AC was broken on one of the hottest and most humid nights in the summer. However, I really think that I appreciate food enough and my dress was thing enough for me to concentrate on my food. Unfortunately, I really can't say that there was anything rememerable about the meal, except for the wine pairings. Now, I think the service is EXCELLENT. Not because they apologized for the broken AC and sent a complimentary drink and a complimentary sorbe over, but because they offered to store my lovely bouquet in the fridge for me and really know the wine stuff well. I will give No. 9 another chance just for them and maybe my perception will change drastically. Until then, I really can't say that I'm a fan.
(3)Sara M.
The quick version: if you are rolling in money, of course you should come here. If not, the food alone isn't worth the cost. I went here for my husband's birthday. We both had the three course prix fixe menu and overall we agreed it was one of the most wonderful dinners out that we'd had in ages. From the moment we walked in it was abundantly clear that the restaurant caters to a very high-end crowd. The greeter was extremely attentive and the woman who took my coat appeared immediately. We were smoothly ushered over to the lounge to have a drink while we waited for our table (we arrived a little early). I was really impressed that the employees were so friendly and welcoming. For some reason I always expect very high-end restaurants to act as if I don't quite belong in that world (yet!), but No. 9 Park did not have even a hint of that elitism. The great service continued throughout the meal, and they were even super nice when I asked whether I could include a tip on the giftcard we were using to pay for the meal that evening (yes, I could, no problem). The food was great. Not the best I've ever had, but overall very well-presented and tasty. Appetizers were yummy: oysters for me and stuffed gnocchi for him. I loved my entree: pollock wrapped in bacon over lobster meat. My husband liked his ok (the duck) but wasn't blown away and missed having a side of starch like potatoes or rice (yes, it's that kind of restaurant - meat is served by itself on the plate). I wasn't bothered by the lack of sides since by the end of the meal we were totally full and satisfied. The desserts were definitely not their strong point. Mine was fine (pot of chocolate mousse) except I think they try too hard to push taste boundaries. My dessert came with a scoop of saffron ice cream and that flavor just killed the plate for me. I know it's interesting and artsy to pair chocolate with things like saffron, and for the first bite I did think it was interesting, but then I just couldn't stand the flavor in my dessert anymore. (For the record, I do like saffron. And let me go off on a brief tangent about "pushing the boundaries" by including unusual flavors and items in dishes because this restaurant does that in spades. "Stinging nettle pottage" is an example. Really? I'm all for trying new things. But I can't help but shake my head in bemusement when pretty much every item on the menu has something like stinging nettle pottage in it. It just strikes me as funny.) My husband's dessert was just not good. Some cake soaked in rum, with gelatinous sticks of passion fruit something. He was not impressed and I didn't care to eat his leftovers. The final tally for food + wine + tip was $280 for two people. I feel bad nitpicking the food though, because clearly half (if not more) of the reason you come here is for the elegance of the location and the skill of the service. I can see this restaurant being equally good for a romantic night out or an important business meeting. That is why I say, all in all, we had a really wonderful night. Next time we'll try sitting/eating at the bar where the prices are more mainstream.
(4)Katherine N.
Whenever I come back to Boston, I come here every other time. All I have to say is CHEESE CART and gumbo. small portions, but their deserts are ammmmmazing. and good wine list! I first came here when my sister worked here when she was going to school at Tufts, and her boyfriend was the main chef back then. Which made me able to afford the food there since I would get discounts. but the waiters/waitresses are sweethearts with a good knowledge in food and pairing the wines
(5)Nicole M.
No. 9 Park has been on my radar for about five years. Finally, the hubby and I went with another couple. Love the location and love the space, but I wasn't crazy about the ambiance. It felt too stuffy/old money. Obviously, I am neither, so I kind of felt out of place. I still enjoyed the evening. Service - STELLAR Drinks included a blueberry cobbler and then 2 bottles of some delicious red wine. Yum. The food was ok. I started with a salad, then we ordered the $80 truffled risotto mid-course (seriously - $80??), and I got the halibut for my entree. The salad was nothing to write home about, the risotto was damn tasty, and the halibut was pretty bland. I think I'd like to return to sit at the bar and have a few drinks. But I don't think I'd return for dinner. Especially because I'd be living off ramen noodles for the next week to justify the cost of the night.
(4)Ligaya T.
Phenomenal. Care for a quick example? Even a list? Allow me... The following ingredients made their sly way into our THREE liquid concoctions in the smoothest of combinations: ginger beer chamomile basil gelatin maraschino cherry liqueur egg whites lemon lime gin rye whiskey special chilean bitters (not angostura) Are you still breathing? Barkeep Ryan was engaged, knowledgable, affable and incredibly talented. Show me more creative and better executed cocktails this side of the river and the round's mine.
(5)Clark C.
A chef friend of mine recommended this place and his recommendation was a great one. I enjoyed the meal from start to finish.
(4)Laura t.
This place rocks :)
(5)Sonia S.
Went there on Valentine's day for a 6+1 course for $165 + $12 per person. As other yelpers have mentioned, food is hit and miss. The foie gras dishes (an additional $12) were hits, the rest was mostly miss. At the end of the day, you can get more bang for your bucks at many other places in Boston. Service was really good though.
(3)Melissa C.
It's been too long since I was at a restaurant where the service was beyond perfectly acceptable. I've come to accept service that is very good, but secretly I judge them by the standards set in the south. Where even diner staff at the end of a double-shift greet you with a warm smile and a drawn out term of endearment. Where servers in higher end restaurants may first spend six months to a year in training. Either way, the current running underneath service that I consider excellent is a level of care. At No. 9 Park, a fleet of servers worked seamlessly to create an excellent dining experience. Everything was done with the fluid skill of those well-practiced in traditional courtesy. Upon asking if the tasting menu could be prepared to meet any dietary restrictions, the server answered confidently in the affirmative and the tasting menu was prepared to be pescitarian friendly. Whole plates from the menu were replaced, and she offered to have the prune stuffed gnocchi prepared with a brown butter sauce rather than foie gras. The plates were balanced. The presentation was simple and clean without being stark. The flavors were brilliant. Two of my new favorite things are pistachio oil and sesame seed puree. I left perfectly sated, although I did take care not to finish every delicious bite to ensure that I could make it through every course. The cocktails are served strong, a variety of combinations, nothing too sweet. If want to go some place where you can feel sure that everything will be perfect, I suggest making a reservation at No. 9 Park as early as possible.
(5)Alpha M.
Been here twice. Once for the prix fixe with friends and we all had fun. We were a huge group but service as excellent. They adjusted the dishes based on each person's dietary needs or preference. Went back for chef's tasting and that was even better than prix fixe. We were able to pick our seat, so we were cozy. Looking forward to going back.
(4)Mike R.
One of the best upscale yet casual date restaurants in Boston. The prune stuffed gnocchi with foie gras are excellent, the poussin impressively flavorful, and the duck very good. Dessert, unlike most restaurants, was not a disappointment, either. Their cheesecake is comparatively light and fresh (and delicious), and a brown butter tart is complex and rich. Service throughout the meal was excellent and friendly. Possible alternative fun date restaurants with great food you can wear jeans to: Hungry Mother.
(4)R Y.
Good food but way overpriced if you order a la carte. The price fixe menu is more reasonable. Love the gnocchi. I actually enjoy their appetizers more than their main menu offerings.
(4)Mike G.
3.5 stars good food highlighting american flavors. opt for the 3 course prix fixe. the chef's tasting menu just doesn't compare with better tables. and at $130/person (with an optional dish) i expected but didn't get: good bread, an amuse bouche or intermezzo. at a recent 8 course dinner, each (save for dessert) was served cold - a pet peeve. inexcusable for an experienced kitchen like No. 9.
(3)Marilyn T.
The space is so elegant yet modern and clean. It's classy but not stuck up, and it's nice to have the option of the bar, the cafe, and the dining room. Though we sat in the cafe area and weren't supposed to order off the regular menu, I had a special request for prune stuffed gnocchi with foie gras, and the chef promised to make it a "part of my meal," asking me to otherwise order off the cafe menu. When the food came, it turned out I had a full sized portion of the heavenly light yet indulgent dish, compliments of the chef. The meats were seasoned and cooked perfectly, and all other dishes were executed precisely. The presentation of dishes was simple but really highlighted the food, rather than the adornments. The setting in front of the commons is very classic and romantic. It was the perfect place for a date, and service was impeccable, despite that we were the youngest couple in the restaurant that night. I now know why the Barbara Lynch empire is such a success.
(5)Shannon A.
The cheese cart they wheel out at the end of the meal is worth the trip. It is like they've rolled out all of Formaggio for your choosing. The meal was divine, the atmosphere initimate. Four stars (and not five) because of the price. It is really pricey, but DEFINITELY a dining experience for which you should save your dough.
(4)Ryan V.
5 stars is pretty much hard to attain but this restaurant deserves it. The waiters and waitresses are very attentive to your every wants. They are also very knowledgeable on what is in the dish itself. The alcoholic cocktails are somewhat average. It's probably better to get the imported wine or beer. The food was exquisite!! I order the bay scallops and it was cooked to perfection. The scallops pretty much melted in my mouth. The duck confit was also cooked just right. The atmosphere is very cozy and very intimate. This is the place where I got engaged. The perfect place for special occassions, business meetings or a high end dinner setting. You may need to bring a fatter wallet to dine here and parking can be a problem. I would recommend taking the 'T' in for this restaurant. I would definately dine here again!!
(5)A Y.
I had dinner here a few weeks after moving to Boston, and being easily confused by any city that is not on a grid system, I had trouble finding the place (a very nondescript place that is easily missed). Being a recent NYC transplant, I was convinced Boston could never compare to NYC in terms of dining. I was proven wrong in this case as the food at No 9 Park was actually good, very comparable to the finer restaurants in NYC There was a old world/classic elegance about the place and the service was very attentive. The appetizer I got, the Prune Stuffed Gnocchi was very flavorful and beautifully presented. No 9 Park is probably one of the nicer (aka pricier) venues in Boston, so I would suggest this for a special occasion or if you are looking to impress an out of town guest.
(4)Liz E.
My meal at No. 9 Park was one of tne of the best meals of my life. You know when everything just clicks? I had great company, great service, great food, and a darn great time! We were here for a special occasion and decided to do the tasting menu. It was well worth every penny. If the other people at your table are game, DO IT! It's amazing. Every part of the evening went so smoothly, from the host to the bartender to the busboy. It feels like this place truly works as a team to give you a beautiful evening. Our waiter was excellent- there at the right time, not there at the right time, willing to answer any questions, helpful with the wine pairings, and friendly as all get out. I will certainly be back, as this is my new favorite restaurant, hands down!
(5)Sayaka T.
Very good for Boston! Entrees were kind of rich...especially the gnocchi. Would recommend the asparagus with uni appetizer though...definitely try it.
(4)Kate I.
Wow fancy, money, spend it! woo hoo, shhh it's delicious... France! Wine! shhhhh... Yeah it's great, but blah, who cares. I just want to say CHEESE PLATE. Not even a cheese plate, but cheese cart. They wheel it over to you, and then you get to pick what you like best. And eat it. You can't go wrong when cheese is wheeled to you in its own vehicle.
(3)Kate K.
This place is delish! Went here for restaurant week and my food was fantastic! I got a salad to start, gnocchi for my entree and a amazing chocolate desert with caramel, yum! My boyfriends meal wasnt as good, his entree was overcooked but he loved everything he tried from my plate...I would most def come back here again for a special occasion or restaurant week next March! Service was very good too!
(4)Sean M.
No. 9 Park is a world class restaurant. Because it is pricey I usually go for a special occasions. This is the jewel in the No. 9 Group crown. On the Barbara Lynch scale this is my 2nd favorite, B & G Oysters is my favorite No. 9 Group place. But I love oysters and the South End. Don't know who Barbara Lynch is? Suffice to say this is "required eating" for any Boston Foodie. * Elegant food served deftly. * Wine list is "crafted" and the by the glass list has a glass for everything. * Prixe Fixe lunch is a great way to try this place on a budget. * An innovative martini list. But this is NOT a "for drinks only place", if you go here eat something.
(5)Dottie P.
The food, while good, was not outstanding as would be expected from BL. They made us wait in the "lounge" for 40 minutes when there were many empty tables (all night). I believe this is to sell cocktails, which we bought. I liked the Peckin Duck with lavender but I wish that there would have been something green served with my entree. They were out of the red we ordered. The desert was forgettable (as in I can't remember what I had, but do remember it was dry when it should have been moist). I love the decor and ambiance. It is nice not to be in a cold, echo chamber like most "hip" restaurants are nowadays (including Drink). The atmosphere at No. 9 is somewhat reminiscent of 21 in New York. Will go again, but will skip dessert.
(4)Brian D.
A perfectly acceptable list of reasons to go to No.9 Park follows: -you have a gift card that you are pretty sure has enough value on it to buy two people a pile of booze and food -people watching on the weekend before the Boston Marathon is comedy gold -you have never been, feel like gitn' all gussied up and really want to be impressed with a restaurant for once Yup, that all works out just dandy. No. 9 is by any standard that I can think of, a genuine 2 thumbs up or WOW experience. I sat and ate at the bar on a busy Saturday night and had a very intoxicating and entertaining time. Ben the bartender is a master of the art of getting you half in the bag within 2 or 3 drinks, the house drink list is stand up and offers quite the variety of hard to pronounce ingredients that well read food and drink snobs probably drool over - so try some of that stuff. OR challenge him with 'I really like X but am in the mood for Y' he will rise to the occasion. And the food, good heaven up above thank you for raining down this grub. Amen. I think because we had been having a great time with the bartender and playing 'have you had this' and 'do you know so and so' that they thought we were critics or something, because out of nowhere the tasters from the kitchen (on the house) started flowing and piling up in front of us. Yeah, no complaints on the squid cerviche plates. Do you like butter? Good, because the little sourdough rolls with local butter aren't there for decoration - that butter is so fresh you can still hear the mooooooos - ask about the cow. And dinner. Well, we got full on butter and squid bits but did order 2 (yes it is pricey) scallop appetizers and the fig gnocchi. VOMIT, just kidding yeah, more mouthgasms follow. Need more reasons to go to No.9? I hope not. Please bring enough money to pay for dinner, it is pricey. And, sadly, if you are more of a burgers n fries kind of guy, you might want to skip the whole trip. Just say'n...
(5)Anissa K.
Great place for pre-dinner drinks, we sat at the bar for drinks and apps and overall it was a nice place. Seemed to be a great couples date place.
(3)Catherine D.
I had the prix fixe: stuffed gnocci with foie gras to start, wild boar, and chocolate macaron to end. My manfriend and I were here to celebrate his birthday. The service was great (waitress with curly hair had great timing and noticed when I was getting cold, amazing). The ambiance--modern/classic? And of course, the dinner was delicious. Sadly, I was too full to finish my main and dessert.
(5)Nick M.
My favorite restaurant in Boston, really an experience. I have had the bar menu and the regular menu and would recommend both! The ambiance is quite sophisticated and the staff accommodate everyone properly. It is certainly one of the best restaurants in Boston by far.
(5)Mel C.
Normally when friends want to go to a nice French restaurant, I just think "ugh. generic overpriced French restaurant that gives customers the allusion of being fancy. I wonder how this one prepares their duck confit.." I went into No. 9 Park having very low expectations (my confidence in "worth it" French restaurants in Boston was shattered by my experience at L'Espalier), but the food completely blew me away. The soft shelled crab risotto was top notch (yay! they can cook risotto properly!). The prune gnocchi was decadent. The cheese CART was beyond impressive. Thanks No. 9 Park staff for a great dinner. I'll be back soon.
(5)Ron J.
I had been waiting years for the right occasion to visit the renowned No. 9 Park. What a disappointment! I was prepared for the obscene prices and tiny, nouvelle-style portions -- but in return I was expecting heavenly food from start to finish. Instead, the only enjoyment came from a couple of appetizers (not the burned octopus, by the way) and each of our 4 entrees was seriously flawed and even more miniscule than expected. The only thing good I can say about No. 9 is that the front-of-the-house staff is highly professional. As for the rest of the experience -- the word "scam" comes to mind. Save your money.
(1)Sarah F.
Get the chef tasting menu. You are paying to eat here....you might as well go all the way. Try to eat with someone else so one of you can get the gnocchi add-on and the other can get the foie gras add-on. Yes foie gras. Do it. It is fabulousness in your mouth. It may never happen to you again. Ask for Joe. Great, super knowledgeable without being snooty and pretentious. You will leave in a food coma. You will not regret it.
(5)Rob B.
Without a doubt, the best restaurant in Boston. You leave every time fulfilled but not full, intrigued by all of the fun new things you've eaten, and impressed at the culinary range. Go for the tasting menu!
(5)Caroline T.
I got the prune stuffed gnocci based on the Yelp reviews and was blown away. One of the best dishes I have ever eaten in my life. Just a perfect dish - salty & sweet, and the gnocci is excellently cooked. The foie gras on top of it is ridiculously bomb. The rest of our meals were fantastic as well - service wasn't perfect but close to it. The atmosphere here is a little stuffy - my fiance and I are in our late twenties and we were definitely the youngest people there. Go for the food - but if you're looking for a more lively night I would suggest go somewhere else.
(4)Anthony A.
Absolutely loved it here. The food was delicious. Everything was perfectly cooked. Had the steak special which was amazing.
(5)Ted F.
I really like the location and atmosphere.... drinks are very good. I still am torn between this Barbra Lynch restaurant and Menton.... while Menton is great this is different as Menton I feel is going for the closest to Michelin Star as you can get.... here is a bit more laid back yet still very upscale. The foi gras is on point here, and other menu items are A+ Very recommended
(5)Bex M.
Barbara Lynch does it again! It's the holidays so we went with the holiday lunch menu, and once again, I was blown away by the food. I was full after my appetizer but had to make room for the other courses to come. We basically sampled the whole menu and there was only one dish that I was meh about: the chestnut corzetti. My main entree, flat iron steak was delicious and the potato mille-feuille was divine. I'm all for super adventurous and was impressed with the coconut curry sorbet. It threw my senses into a frenzy, but was a tad too rich for me. By far, the best foie gras in Boston. Get it before they ban it like in California!
(5)sasha h.
4.5 stars. To this day I can never forget the prune stuffed gnocchi and orange wine. I come here quite a bit for client dinners, various special occasions and to just hang out at their bar. They have specials pretty often where for like $50 bucks you can get a pre-fix in their lounge - food isn't as good as normal but plenty good for a night out with friends. Add yourself to the mailing list so you know these types of events come up. Much like boston, this place is historic. It feels a little stuffy and old world but you get used to it. Service isn't slow per se but they definitely take their time. I've asked on multiple occasions to speed it up. They staff is attentive and has always made great recommendations. Love the cheese, always incredible. Definitely make your way here if you haven't already, its one of Boston's top 10 restaurants, hands down.
(4)Raymond W.
I thought that it would be appropriate that I made my 500th Yelp review for No. 9 Park. You see, I went to school at BU and the 4 years at BU was what made me into the "foodie" I am today. The holy grail of restaurants was No. 9 Park which has the local celebrity chef to boot and after 4 years at Bu, I wasn't able to crave out the budget to try out No. 9 Park. After moving back to Boston last year, I finally made it a mission to try No. 9 Park out. After a few failed attempts to snag a restaurant week reservation, I finally decided to just cave and go with a few BU friends who were instrumental in my food quests. The restaurant was dark and lively, especially at the bar near the entrance, but once we were seated in the dining room, the space was a lot more intimate. Something that the older gentleman and his likely mistress would appreciate at the table next to ours. The service was impeccable, coordinated, attentive, and knowledgeable throughout the evening. The prune stuffed gnocchi was rich and would made Scrooge McDuck proud minus the part of pan seared foie gras. Boston should be proud to have such a signature dish at one of the premiere dining destinations. For my entree, The hake was flaky, tender and delicate, although I think there are other restaurants capable of creating a similar dish. It was delicious nonetheless. As for dessert, it was likely the low point of the meal and my friend's dish was too smokey. Overall a must try restaurant for a special occasion.
(5)Cody S.
Took my girl for a surprise getaway to Boston, and this place kept popping up on all my searches for a nice romantic restaurant. Once the concierge at our hotel confirmed this was the place to be we made reservations. I must say I was NOT let down. This place was amazing !! we arrived a tad early and sat in the lounge and had a drink while they prepared our table. Which by the way, they career non mainstream liquors that were out of this world. Because we waited an extra 10 mins, the staff took care of our drinks which was sweet. For those who aren't used to fine dinning, like us, the menu was a bit confusing at first . You have two options, either take on a 7-9 course meal, which you can include an optional wine tasting, or go with the classic three course. Of course you can pick each entree a la carte, but its not the way to go. If your on a romantic date, take on the 7 course. Thankfully our awesome waitress Abby walked us through the process, even helped me choose the perfect wine, while allowing me to try a couple other options. the staff there was phenomenal, matched only by the food. This may sound cheesy, but for the first time in my life, I understood what all the food critics talked about when they describe food. I had the Gnocchi app, with the beef entree. The flavors danced on my tongue and lingered there for what seemed forever, I kid you not, after tasting the gnocchi, I was literally lost for thoughts and words, and only the flavor existed for a few moments. AMAZING. Staff was awesome, helped me understand how to eat the Bone Marrow in a smart way, the food was pricey, but worth it. And they definitely live by the value of " we are here to feed them, not fatten them" The portions were perfect, I didn't feel like I ate a lot, but I was very satiated. If you have the cash, I would recommend this to anyone, even if its out of your way, place is great !!
(5)Lilia S.
Overall, we had an amazing experience. The service was superb and the food was great, in both taste and presentation. We were immediately sited and offered beverages. We were sited at a table that offered a gorgeous view of Boston Common's and the surrounding area. One downside was the A.C. It was fairly chilly at our table, which we were not prepared for. We would have probably lingered longer if it was a bit warmer. The bread served at the table was also nothing to write home about. However, that is probably a good thing as it left us hungry enough to truly enjoy the rest of the meal. The portions are fairly small. However, due to the richness of the food that is a good thing. It also ensures that you really take the time to taste and immerse yourself in the flavorful dishes. You leave the dinner full and happy but not uncomfortably stuffed. We had the 3 course Prix-Fixe menu, and we each got a different appetizer, dessert, and main course. Our server excelled in answering our questions about the different menu items and making recommendations regarding food and wine pairings. For appetizer, we tried the prune stuffed gnocchi, the Corn Agnolotti (essentially a corn stuffed gnocchi served with very fresh lobster meat), and the Native Beets dish. All were beautifully presented on the plate, with a melt in your mouth taste. For the main course, we ordered Maine Halibut, Roulade of Rabbit, and Prime New York Strip. Again, the presentation was flawless. The halibut was well prepared and flakey. The rabbit meat was very tender and delicious and so was the garnish of pistachio puree and bing cherries. The rabbit was served with what appeared to be a meatloaf, which, well, tasted like a meatloaf and personally was not a favorite. The New York Strip was delicious, but the meat cut itself was a bit tough, which was a bit surprising in a restaurant of this caliber. As to the dessert, all I can say is... amazing, whatever you choose you can't go wrong. However, the Poached Peach and the Raspberry Tart were a favorite at our table. I ordered the Coffee Éclair, frankly because I have a sweet tooth and can't resist dulce de leche. The dulce de leche sauce and coffee gelato did not disappoint. I was less impressed with the éclair itself, the pastry for the éclair reminded me of a piece of toast. Despite the above comments, I do not hesitate to give this place 5 stars and would defiantly come back for another amazing experience, albeit I might make some different selections.
(5)Sarah C.
Perfect for any special evening, as long as you're willing to break the bank. It's worth it though! Seriously - the tasting menu...with the wine...my brain is falling over itself. Wait, brain? I mean tongue. Wait, no, stomach. All of the above perhaps? This place is incredibly fantastic - from the bar staff, to the wait staff, to the service, to the food, the view through the windows, etc. Oh and the drink - damn I can't remember it's name - it's their most popular...it takes like limeade and it has a little mint-airplane perched on the glass. Really freakin' delicious - one of the best cocktails I think I've ever had. But really, I think I would eat the prune-stuffed gnocchi every single day if I was allowed (i'm a sweet-savory fan.) And the dessert I had - black sesame mousse with a chocolate coating and chocolate cardamom sorbet. HOLY SHIT. I've never been more impressed by a restaurant dessert, nevermind a dessert that sounded like it was going to be awful. Long story short (for real this time!) go here, go here go here. Maybe only once every 5 years (cha-ching) but do it, nonetheless.
(5)Cathy G.
For the full review including high res pictures of all the dishes, go to marlboroughmash.com/2012… No. 9 Park is a gem in the Barbara Lynch portfolio of restaurants. This French / Italian place sits on a slope in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. The interior is small and cozy, dimly lit and rather spartan with the starched white table clothes and very little else. My dining companion and I both ordered the Chef's Tasting menu which is a 7 course prix fixe dinner for $112-a bargain in hindsight given the price and quality of the ingredients used. I also opted for both the optional supplementary dishes-a foie gras dish and a prune stuffed gnocchi dish. Another highlight is the service-the servers were warm and unobtrusive, never haughty. My wine glass was quietly taken away and my bread roll replaced...all without my notice-a certain sign of meticulous service. Overall impressions: top notice ingredients and excellent preparations. The first two seafood dishes were delightful starters. The raw scallops were wonderfully sweet and sat in a uniquely exquisite green apple consome-it's bright fruitful flavor was distinctly apple and paired with the mild scallops well. There were also two tiny pieces of uni in the dish that lent a nice creaminess to the dish. The next dish, the lobster dish, was also a home run. The sweetbreads were the best I've ever tasted...just barely breaded, allowing the very special taste of the sweetbread to shine. The cabbage gave the rich dish nice balance with its tart flavor and crunchy texture. The chestnut cortezzi was a little disappointing after the first two dishes. Well executed but I found it to be too heavy on the butter and rather bland otherwise. The prune stuffed gnocchi was also rather bland. I probably would not order this supplement next time. Note: it does include a small piece of foie gras. The foie gras was your standard foie gras and came served with two pieces of a very dense sausage. A good dish but nothing special. The egg and flat iron steak where both delicious dishes. The flat iron steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and was moist and superbly tasty. A standout dish. Before serving, a rich beef broth is poured over the steak which enhances its flavor greatly-I actually wanted to drink the broth, it's that good. The dessert (we skipped the cheese dish...we were both getting very full by this point) included a sweet potato "sorbet" that was extremely creamy and not icy at all. It was very pleasant and cooling and very mildly sweet. The main dessert was cranberry clafoutis which was absolutely delicious although I detected no miso. Dinner finished with petite fours...orange madeleine cookies and raspberry (I think?) fruit squares. Conclusion: A wonderful experience. The restaurant is quite romantic but I did see a larger business group there as well. Food and service are both top notch and more creative than I had anticipated (especially the apple consume). If I were to go again, I would certainly get the prix fixe menu but probably would not get any of the supplements (or perhaps share the foie gras dish). Without the supplements, expect to leave the restaurant full but not about to burst (ala PerSe).
(5)Lisa S.
I'm updating this review because I had the chance to do their tasting menu last week! For my friend's birthday, I decided to take him to No 9 Park. I told him that if he wanted to do the tasting journey, I'd contribute money towards it as his bday present. He decided to go for it! No 9 Park was great about accommodating a birthday. They let me put my credit card on file before the dinner, and asked me if I wanted to add tip on beforehand, or if I wanted the check dropped off at the table at the end of the meal. For the dessert course, they also wrote 'Happy Birthday Mike' on his plate and put a candle in his dessert, and wished him a happy birthday when they brought it out. It was perfect! The tasting menu itself was a blast. I've only done a tasting menu once before, at L'Espalier. The menu at No 9 Park is 7 courses ($112), and changes weekly. In addition, you can add on 2-3 more courses for $16 each (the foie gras, prune stuffed gnocchi and cheese course). We opted to add 2 courses: we shared the foie gras & prune stuffed gnocchi for one course, and the cheese course. We asked the waitress some advice for a red wine that would go with most of the courses, and she pointed us to wine I hadn't heard before, for only $50 (quite cheap for their wine list!). She told us it was one of her favorites, and it definitely worked well with all the courses. We also ordered a round of cocktails before the meal- my friend went for a drink made with foie-gras washed bourbon, and I went for a drink with tequila. Both were tasty. Our courses, very briefly from memory were: sashimi, monkfish, whole wheat pasta with ricotto, prune stuffed gnocchi + foie gras, quail, ribeye, cheese course, ginger soup, dessert (fennel sorbet). I have to say that I'm not a fish person, but the monkfish course blew my mind. The sashimi was a close 2nd, and the ginger soup was another favorite. Everything we had was good, but I was a bit disappointed in the meat courses- they just paled in comparison to the other ones. The pace of the meals was perfect, and the service was great, as usual. Overall, it was a great meal with no real complaints (besides the sticker shock at the end of the meal, when your check arrives!) The tasting menu at No 9 Park is definitely something everybody should try to do once. Fantastic experience!
(5)Shaloo S.
Overall I would say this was a good place - attentive service, good ambiance and location, good menu and cocktails. The actual food left something to be desired - but my caveat is that I am a vegetarian.
(4)Shea D.
*deep breath* I asked...SHE SAID YES!! :D *jumps in the air* After the pacing back-and-forth "will you PLEASE just look at what's waiting for you on the door already?!?" part was over, we mosey'd (skipped, jumped for joy, what have you) on over to No. 9 Park for the best engagement dinner one could possibly hope for. I learned on Thursday morning that I was taken off the waiting list for a Friday evening table for two, and I asked them in advance if they wouldn't mind bringing out some celebratory champagne after we'd sat down and before we received our menus. That's it. That's all I asked for. Here's what they gave us: - the best table in the house overlooking the entire Boston Commons, the State House, and a view of the entire city - the celebratory champagne ON THE HOUSE - multiple congratulations from pretty much everyone on staff - the words "congratulations" written in chocolate syrup on both of our dessert plates when they were brought out - incredibly attentive and wonderful service !!! No. 9 Park really helped make this an absolutely perfect night for both of us. We both did the 3-course prix-fixe meal with an accompanying wine pairing. For the first course I went with the Maine lobster and she had the stuff gnocchi (and she doesn't even like gnocci that much!). Both were absolutely divine. I was worried that there was no way the second course could follow the lobster I'd had, but I was very much mistaken. I've never had better chicken in my life...ever. It fell apart like well-cooked salmon does when I attempted to cut a piece, and it was incredibly delicious. She went with the scallops, and they were probably the best scallops we've ever had. There's nothing I can say about this night that can do it justice. As I told my (now) fiancée, I wanted to show her a glimpse of the kind of life we're working toward despite the temporary long distance, law school for her, the grueling federal hiring process for me, etc etc, and No. 9 Park was one of several factors that really made that a success. It was worth every penny!
(5)Michael C.
Dined at No. 9 Park for restaurant week for their tasting menu. I decided to go for the 5 course tasting instead of the standard 3 course for $55. The only advantage of the 5 course is the variety of items you get to eat, the portion for the 3 or the 5 course is actually about the same. Overall I really liked it but I don't know if I would run back I had: Smoked Salmon Rilletes - Not having tried anything like this before I woulld almost call it a salmon tar tar. Pretty tasty. Native Bluefish - Great fish, cooked perfectly. Prune Stuffed Gnocchi - I was really looking forward to this dish. Sadly you only get 3 Gnocchi's in the order. It was my favorite dish. Pork Shoulder Confit - It included what look like pork cooked 2 ways. One looked pulled the other was a tender chunk. If you like pork you will enjoy this. Creme Fraiche Parfait - eh... If it wasn't included I wouldn't have got this one. Refreshing and light but bland.
(4)Brenda P.
Had an 8:30pm reservation and got seated at 9:00pm. The place was buzzing with activity. It has a conservative modern decor to it. Mostly grays with random pops of color here and there. A waiter came by to take drink orders while we waited and all I asked for was a ginger ale which must have stumped him because he took almost 10 minutes to bring it. By the time he did, we were on our way to our table and We were going to order a wine bottle anyway. Had the Chefs tasting menu which was 5 courses and upped to 7 with an added cheese course and an added gnocchi or foie gras options. It ended up being way too much food. I was having a really hard time finishing it! Phew! Quite a task. My faves were the salmon tartare, the gnocchi and the ox tail. Ox tail! Who would have thunk it? Certainly not my usual! The cheese course was spectacular as well. The dessert left a lot to be desired though. Overall, the food was really great. It ended up being a little over $ 500.00 with tip including a bottle of wine and the supplements to the tasting menu. Certainly not cheap but worth it for a special occasion I would say. 4 stars because of the wait, drink hold up, cold bread (though I did ask for it to be heated) and lackluster dessert!
(4)William M.
This past weekend my family and I had the pleasure of dining at No. 9 Park and boy did it deliver in more ways than one. This place is a foodies dream! Our servers name was Kimberly and she did a fantastic job. She was very knowledgeable about the entire menu and extremely knowledgeable about wine. She recommended we all do the chefs tasting and we took her advice and we were all so impressed with the taste and presentation of each dish. In my opinion this is the only way to dine at an establishment such as No. 9 Park. Let the chef make the decisions for you. All you need to do is get a drink and sit back and relax. Although all of the dishes were delicious I do have to point out the fresh crab, hearts of palm, apple and pumpkin seed ash dish... PERFECT. So simple and so elegant, a perfect way to start any meal. I do have to say that I rarely take the time to write reviews however; in this case I have decided to take the time. You see when dining at an establishment such as No. 9 Park, impeccable service is expected. But when impeccable service, in this case, is met with someone going so above and beyond it needs to be recognized. Let me explain... On our way in I noticed that my car was warning me that I had low tire pressure, and I really thought nothing of it cause the sensors are so sensitive. After the conclusion of our delicious dinner we routinely went to valet to reclaim my car. The valet informed me that when they went to get my car, the left rear tire was reading 0 tire pressure so they routinely did what any valet service would do and brought my car to a garage and had it fixed!!! I couldn't believe my ears and never in a million year would I have expected that be done. So on top of an unbelievable dining experience is followed up with this experience with the valet team. Take it as you want, maybe a random act of kindness or just some of the best customer service I have ever experienced. If I could give this review an extra star I would. Cheers!
(5)Daniel Y.
I thought it was one of the best fine dining places in Boston. The gnocchi was out of this world.
(5)Kathy A.
So happy that I finally got to try out No. 9! I would say it is a 4.5 or so. Very close to a 5 star review with just a few minor complaints. I absolutely love the ambiance to the place. It is very cozy, dimly lit, but not to the point that you can't see anything. The service is very good with everyone being incredibly attentive. A friend and I went to try it out and we both opted for the 3 course prix fixe. We have very similar taste so we ended up ordering the same thing for each course. To start we, of course, had the prune stuffed gnocchi. Considering every other review on No. 9 I don't think I need to elaborate much on this dish. It is exquisite and I absolutely understand what all the hype is about. For entrees we had the bacon wrapped pollock with lobster and américaine sauce. It was also very good. It was three small pieces of fish with chunks of lobsters beneath covered in the delicious sauce. It wasn't as heavy as I expected which was a pleasant surprise. Finally for dessert we had the chocolate gateau with black sesame ice cream and cocoa nibs. It was a delicious dark chocolate flourless cake topped with a shiso foam which, go figure, was very light and airy but didn't really add anything to the dish. The black sesame ice cream was amazing. I know it sounds a little scary, but the flavor was very delicate and just plain YUM. Beneath it was the cocoa nibs which were quite good and a great contrast in texture to the ice cream. As I said before the service was great. Our waitress Kerri was sweet and incredibly good at describing each dish and helping us make decisions. They were very good about keeping our water glasses full and constantly resupplying us with bread. This is the only restaurant I've been to where I couldn't eat my bread fast enough before they were ready to bring me another piece (and I eat A LOT of bread when I go out and FAST). Only problem was the bread itself wasn't anything special and you expect it to be nice and warm and steaming when you break it open and instead it's just plain cold. Overall, fantastic experience and if I were rich I'd be going back many more times.
(4)Russell B.
Simple, yet elegant interior. Service was precise yet warm and friendly. Wonderful food. It's [subtly] fabulous.
(5)David T.
FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY I got to try No. 9 Park!!! As a grad student with a not-so-high paying job, who eats out FAR more than he should as it is, I wanted to wait for restaurant week to treat myself to Barbara Lynch's signature restaurant. After scheduling conflicts interfered with the past several restaurant weeks, I just had to get to No. 9 this time around. I called 3 weeks in advance for a reservation and had to be wait-listed. A Wednesday night (7.30pm) slot opened up and when they called me I gave them an orgasmic YES. Since I got the reservation from being wait-listed I expected a mediocre table but that was not the case at all. My friend and I were pleasantly surprised with a wonderful corner booth. Service was top-notch from the moment they took our coats at the door. The courses were perfectly timed and the bread and water were constantly refilled. Now on to the real excitement; the food. Mind you, this was the RW menu so some items may differ from a normal meal here. *1st Course: Terrine of Foie Gras (served with langue de boeuf, housemade sauerkraut, soft pretzel). I usually prefer my foie gras seared but this was a nice presentation and extremely velvety. The tongue was very tender and the sauerkraut was mild and slightly tangy. In fact, I usually hate sauerkraut but their's was delicious. The Dijon mustard that accompanied gave a nice bite and the pretzel balls were adorable. *2nd Course: Crispy Pork Belly (served with sweet pea veloute, bacon jam, sauce gribiche). Pork belly is always flavourful and No. 9's was no exception. The crispy layer on the top gave a nice texture in contrast to the fatty middle. Could have been a bit more tender but, especially as a result of the bacon jam, the dish was still a winner. Bacon jam you say? Yes, yes, OH YES. I have never heard of such a thing and now I never want to forget it. Such a unique twist on bacon and an even more unique twist on jam; it was fatty (in a good way), salty, sweet and savory all at once. Texturally it was more like a marmalade but these are mere semantics. If you ever have a chance to try it you must. You will love it, and if you don't you are crazy. *3rd Course: Chocolate Torte (served with malt, caramel, cocoa nibs). Cake was extremely moist with a rich chocolate flavour. Cocoa nibs added a nice crunch and the caramel was smooth and very buttery. Portion was just the right size to end an extremely rich and exquisite meal. No. 9 Park is a special place and deserves it's reputation as one of Boston's premier fine dining establishments. I will certainly return one day now that I have been teased with the delights they have to offer. A meal here is an unforgettable experience.
(5)Clif P.
My wife and I had a good meal at No. 9 Park. We had the chef's tasting menu (adjusted to be pescatarian), and had a few beers and cocktails. While the food was good, I can't give it more than 3 stars for a few reasons: 1. My expectation was a restaurant that would compete some of the top NYC and Chicago tasting-menu spots I've been (Alinea, Moto, L2O, Le Bernadin, wd-50, etc.) No. 9 Park wasn't anywhere near the level of these restaurants. 2. I was not a fan of the 'optional supplement' part of their tasting menu. I think that if I'm paying hundred of dollars for the chef's vision of a tasting menu, include everything. Besides that, the prune gnocchi wasn't anything special (which means a lot coming from someone who loves gnocchi). That being said, I would recommend this restaurant to those looking for a nice meal in Boston, however, skip the tasting menu, save the money, and order what you want.
(3)Jennifer D.
I used to think that No. 9 Park was a fancy, special occasion, super high end restaurant. I wasn't entirely wrong, but I've since had many chances to stop by after work, or on a Sunday, or just any random day, and sit at the bar and banter with the bartenders, and enjoy a few expertly made cocktails. No. 9 Park is some of the best food in the city. But it is not pompous. It is friendly and fun when that's what you're looking for, or elegant and special, on those occasions when you want to celebrate more serenely. The service is top-notch, and the food (again) is beyond compare. I enjoyed a 4 hour lunch this past December, and I'm still reminiscing about it. It has become my local neighborhood bar, even though there are several watering holes that are much closer to my apartment. If you sit at the bar, keep an eye out for Tyler, who has an outstanding ability to shake the heck out of a cocktail shaker.
(5)Christina R.
This restaurant never disappoints! The chefs tasting menu is to die for. It is always creative and delicious with just the right amount of food. We had a spectacular meal but with that comes a hefty price tag, of course. Come for a dining experience, not just a meal but be prepared to spend a lot of money!! It was worth it though. The prune gnocchi were amazing as was the artichoke course and the desserts were very interesting. Mint ice cream made with fresh mint . . . There is a difference!! It was fantastic!
(5)Lorrie M.
Hello my new love. No.9 Park, you are spectacular. I never expected this, in fact, when I was walking around Boston earlier, I passed by this place and thought to myself, how odd that it looks so small inside. I never expected to be completely wow'd by my experience here. To speak of the bar, when you order a drink at your table, your waitress brings it to the table in the shaker, shakes it up at the table, and pours it into the glass. Who does that? It was awesome and fun! Their cocktail menu is very creative so you definitely can go nuts here (along with the selection). Now the food ... and probably you already know this but the gnocchi was out of this world. My bf doesn't even usually like gnocchi, stuffed, or anything with cream sauce since he feels that it's typically too heavy but my GOODNESS was it good. Winner for sure. I also had the pleasure of tasting their regular foie gra dish which was very delicious and well paired. I got fish dishes and they were very well cooked with the flavors balancing perfectly. Even dessert was phenomenal. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was upscale but relaxed. I felt like I could laugh and it would be okay! I really, thoroughly, absolutely enjoyed this place and at $69 for a fixed price menu, count me in!
(5)Caitlin A.
The boy took me here to celebrate my birthday and we decided ahead of time to get the chef's tasting menu. It was a cozy, dim dining room and we sat facing out the window, looking at Boston Common all lit up for the Holidays. It made for a very nice atmosphere. It was our first time ever getting a tasting menu; seven courses and we added in the cheese plate supplement. All of the courses were very good, but only the pork shoulder blew me away completely. The service was outstanding; attentive but not overbearing. Because it was my birthday (which the boy had called to alert them of prior to our arrival), the final dessert had a candle and a beautifully chocolate scripted 'Happy Birthday'. Very classy. Overall, I was charmed and happily full when leaving the restaurant and walking back through the park. It was the perfect setting for a wonderful birthday dinner.
(4)Harri S.
Firstly, a DISCLAIMER: We went for the Restaurant Week Prix-fixe dinner menu. I have often wondered if places like this dumb-down their restaurant week menus, so as not to waste food on stingy customers. This dinner was nowhere near fantastic and definitely not what I would expect from a James Beard Foundation Award winner. I decided to go in with an open mind. SO the menu was as follows: APPETIZERS: Mackerel- Local mackerel with beets, radish, watercress and one halved fava-bean sized potato which they dared to call potato salad. What utter horse shit. Foie Gras- TOTALLY worth the extra 9 dollars. So succulent so rich. I think it's the first time in a long I had to wait a minute to articulate my feelings. This was what I had hoped for from No. 9. MAIN COURSE: Braised Short Rib (with shredded ??oxtail??)- So there was a shredded some meat along with the beef. The texture of the short rib was rather tender, but the dish was certainly over-salted. NOT the kind of amateur move I would expect from a restaurant of this caliber. Sea Bass- Served with seared calamari and tomatoes, this dish was the least enjoyable of the night for me. The skin on the sea bass was delectable. The fish itself was tough. Not a texture I would typically use to describe fish. The dish on the whole appeared to be trying to much. Jasmine green tea, basil, fennel and the kitchen sink are not all necessary to achieve taste and flare. Simplicity goes a long way. DESSERT: Raspberry tart: Very good, Had a great balance of flavors and textures wasn't too sour or too sweet. Loved the spun sugar crumbles on top! Chocolate Cake: With a classic dessert No. 9 HAS to try a lot harder than this. The candied hazelnuts were good though, as was the cherry compote. SERVICE: Yes, they were very attentive, but I've had similar service at cheaper places that tasted better. The never-ending bread rolls were a bit tough, but the softened butter was much appreciated. Like I said, maybe we got the scraps of what No. 9 normally features, but this experience really had me wondering whether 1) People like this place because it's SUPPOSED to be good, or 2) If No. 9 Park decided they had enough of a following to just do whatever.
(3)Briana C.
The waiter was fantastic. Sometimes I feel out of place/not fancy enough for restaurants like this, and usually don't understand half of what the waiter is talking about it. This one made me feel comfortable and provided interesting explanations (Wagyu beef vs. Angus beef...). The food was good, not great. In the restaurants defense, I should have ordered better. I tried some new things to find out that I didn't like them. Fig gnocchi did not have enough fig, but everything else was really good. Desserts were some of the best I've ever had!
(4)G M.
I went to No. 9 for my birthday, and the overall experience was excellent. Barbara Lynch does a great job with this restaurant including everything from the unadorned but sophisticated ambience to the intimate nature of this restaurant. The service was excellent. The staff here are attentive yet not overly attentive and are acutely aware of what you might need. In many ways, I felt they anticipated concerns and addressed them promptly. They were also extremely friendly. The food was also very good. The price is a bit high relative to the quality; however, the tilefish I had was quite excellent and I would recommend the tasting menu. We had the prix fix menu which was fewer but larger courses. I would definitely return!
(4)Marie B.
Coming from Chicago where palates are spoiled, the Prune stuffed Gnocchi was melt in your mouth delicious. I know-Prunes. That's what I was thinking after this dish was recommended by a friend. It was so good that my friend's and I dipped our bread into the gnocchi sauce. Ha! The rest of the meal was impressive. The service was ok. Our table server was great, but found it weird how they wouldn't let us order drinks directly from the bar while we were waiting for our table to be ready. We had to wait for a server who was completely slow and brought my friend's wind first and I didn't receive my cocktail until we were seated at our table. I guess it got lost in the shuffle! Other than that a good choice while in town
(4)Nate Y.
In terms of service and cuisine, Barbara Lynch has replicated this at Menton. The service at both restaurants is the best I've had anywhere. Decor obviously different; No. 9 with it's traditional, authentic old school Beacon Hill digs versus Menton's modern minimalist. clean lines in black and white. If you can, go with the chef's tasting, you can substitute dishes, and they can accommodate allergies and/or dislikes (i.e. prefer seafood or not). Yes, be prepared to spend $$$$, especially if you go with cocktails and/or wine. The cheese tray is well worth trying, even if by that point you are stuffed (which I was, and for me, surprisingly so). Just the description on the variety of fromage is worth hearing. Love the sorbet with cinnamon and basil and the complimentary bites of decadent chocolate terrine and sugared pear jelly. So I'm thinking what next? Butcher Shop, B&G Oyster, Sportello?? Hmmm.
(5)Liza K.
While on a pleasure food eating tour my husband and I decided to stop by No.9 Park for the Che'f's 7 course tasting menu. We figured why not go balls out. We did, and we were impressed. Every dish had amazing contrast, it was like a piece of artwork. The first dish came out and I was concerned that it wouldn't be enough food since each plate did seem to be small portions. I was wrong, all 7 courses left us satisfied. It helped that the courses were spaced out nicely giving us time to admire what we had just eaten. The service was spot on, after each dish was taken away a new set of silverware was placed. My only regret is what we were absolutely too full to try the cheeses. They have a jaw dropping cheese CART..yes CART...that I so wanted to wheel back to the hotel. This will definitely be a meal I remember for a very long time...not just because it was basically a $300 meal for 2people but because it was truly an "eating experience"
(5)Emily F.
I went for Summer 2012 Restaurant Week; but I have been before. Basically, OK to amazing food, not so great atmosphere, and some sketchiness with the staff and hygiene = my review. Food: Had the Air Mail champagne drink ($15 = meh), the Salmon tartar, the Gnude (nude-y = PlayDough pasta = gross), and the Cheese plate (yum). The cappuccino was delicious too. Atmosphere: The waitstaff were mixed; some pretentious, some very normal down-to-earth people. No overall complaints except... Hygiene/manners: used the lavatory as humans tend to do, and went to refill the roll of TP and noticed a giant syringe and all of its wrapper parts in the basket with the paper. OK... super gross, and super bizarre. Fair enough, the restaurant can't control what its clients do! (I am upset with whoever that particular client was). So to be helpful, I didn't act upset, just reported it to the nearest staff member (a young woman, possibly helping to manage the floor?). She looked alarmed, but did not offer any sort of apology or compensation of the sort; just ran away. So while the food is impressive, it seems weird that when a patron is concerned about the image of the restaurant, the least they could do was buy me a cappuccino. Go for: a pricey meal in a hyped-up location which ends up being delicious.
(3)Susan F.
I went in for Restaurant week while visiting Boston for a friends wedding. This place was amaZING! The food was some of the best I've ever had. Worth the splurge! I am gluten free and have mulitple allergies, they were very attentive to me and my needs. They even made me some fresh gluten free rolls, hot out of the oven. And when i asked for the recipe, they emailed it to me =) We were completely satisfied and dleighted by the experience. Wine pairings were perfect. Service was excellent! If i was local to Boston, i would have to eat there, a LOT! Compliments to Pastry Chef Jaimie on some of the best desserts i have EVER had!
(5)Mike H.
First the bad: way too warm in the dining area, evidently an issue every summer with the old building. Not what I expect with a restaurant of this renown. (Evidently a known issue in the old building, since the servers knew this, brought out water every two minutes and provided wet cloths to keep cool. SHould have told me when we made reservation and we could have dressed appropriately). Saying that, every other aspect was tremendous, from the impeccable service to the imaginative food. Server knew all of the wine pairings we had with the tasting menu, as well as the history behind some of the dishes and pairings. I had the Chef's Tasting (including wine pairing) and was duly impressed, even added in the three optional items (Prune-stuffed Gnocchi, Carpaccio, and Cheese Tasting). Highlights were the Gnocchi, Whole wheat pasta with spicy peppers and salted fish paste, and the gorgeous, funky, wonderful cheese cart.
(4)Stephanie Elena G.
The. Real. Deal. This is not only the most amazing food I've ever had in Boston but the most incredible service experience as well. I've only been in one other time, and the bartender recognized myself and a friend when he was serving in the dining room. The staff is not only friendly and operates like a well-timed and oiled machine but is also completely enthusiastic and knowledgeable about everything you are about to eat (or order when you go back, because you'll want to go back). This place is beautiful, but small. And obviously, it's a pricey meal, but worth every penny. I'll use any special occasion as a reason to go back and relish in every bite again.
(5)Daphné A.
While I am still digesting a great 3 course dinner, I want to capture my feeling about this place. Let's start by what is outstanding: The service: perfect, discreet but extremely helpful and attentive. This is probably the best place I have been in Boston where the service was exactly on that edge between being attentive to any need but not interrupting. It was better than at DeuxAve. The wine: the champagne was very good; Louis Roederer... and perfect temperature. The wine list in general was very large with a thorough variety of choice. We tried 4 different wines, that I won't describe here, but they were serve at the right temperature. The red one was poured in a decanter. And when we had a second bottle of the white we had during our appetizers, the waiters changed our glasses to avoid mixing the bottles. Also, they informed us it was a different year, so another reason to taste. It was BTW more uplifted and therefore a nice little surprise. Now, what was just good: The food. I am sorry but at this reputation and price point, you cannot be wrong. I had the gnocchi, and it was perfectly coked, but the contrast of flavors was not very harmonious. I felt the Fois gras was very good, and the dough of the Gnocchi too thick and too present. It shadowed the prune filling which therefore almost disappeared... I then had the pair of duck. It was ok, but I wished there was a tiny bit more vegetables. My meat was a bit tough, but I asked for medium well, so my mistake. The quality of ingredients is very good. No complains in general, just a slight lack of veggies to balance the textures. Then our party decided to try the outstanding cheese tray: try it it is awesome, and the waiters really know their job. I am not crazy about the toasts they serve to go with the cheese. And finally I had the vacherin for desert. I was a bit disappointed by the dessert: it didn't looked like vacherin at all in my opinion, although it tasted alright, the texture of the cake was between biscuit and sponge. I have mixed feeling about that desert. The ice-cream was fantastic and so it contrasted with the flavorless cake. So overall, it is one of the best place in Boston for sure, at this high end positioning, but there could be few improvement in perfecting the balance of flavors in the dishes. Final note, the room decoration. It is sophisticated yet neutral, the silver ware and glassware are fine and this really enhance the dinning experience.
(4)Kelly O.
The boy got me a gift cert here as a gift, knowing how much I've been dying to try it, and last night we got to get all dressed up and pop our No.9 cherry. Atmosphere and ambiance: we were clearly the youngest people there (late 20s), and the lighting was dim and cozy, classy but not pretentious. It was relaxing but still a bit formal, and I really liked the view of the garden from the dining room. Service: as has been said here, it was exceptionally professional and kind without being pretentious. Everyone was very kind and pleasant, and extremely knowledgeble about everything from food preparation to cocktails (and never hesitated to send us their good wishes). I was a bit nervous we'd be looked down since we were so young, but we were treated with respect just like everyone else (love the whole, let-me-fold-your-napkin-whenever-you-get-up). The boy's scarf somehow fell out of his sleeve at coat-check, and the hostess literally was crawling on the floor trying to find it, a level of dedication and service you don't see too often. I did notice that the older 4-top next to us got a bit more explanation and hand-holding regarding the menu (explaining how the prix fixe worked, detailing out each main course), but that may be because we were a bit more decisive about our choices and only had a few simple questions, rather than because of our age. Drinks: Love how they come out in shakers and are poured at the table. I had the pear martini which was divine, and the boy had the No. 10 which apparently the first time around had some sort of schmutz in it, so it was whisked back and replaced in the blink of an eye with a sincere apology. Very classy. Bread: I liked the unlimitedness of it, and loved the homemade butter plus salt on the side, but was a little disappointed in the rolls themselves... they were cold and nondescript in flavor. Was expecting something a bit more memorable. App: the gnocchi, of course. This was actually my first time having fois gras, and I really enjoyed the balance of this dish. It had flavors and textures unlike anything else I'd had before, and the homemade pasta was made just perfectly. I didn't think this was a life-changing dish, as many on here do, but it was definitely delicious and a well-crafted dish. I don't know that I'm a fois gras convert at all, but it worked well here. The boy had the turnip veloute with duck pastrami which was really tasty, smooth and rich full of flavor, and the pastrami was unexpected and flavorful. Main: Hake en Croute. Littered with shrimp and cockles and covered in a brown butter-parsley crust, the fish was delicious. My favorite part of this was the uni butter sauce, absolutely delectable, I would have licked the plate if I could have. The boy had the venison, which was his first (mine too) as well as his first escargot (mine too), and he enjoyed it... it was quite beefy tasting, not sure if that's normal? We don't really have much to compare this too since it was our first, but presumably it was cooked to perfection. Dessert: Baba au Ruhm. Really pretty plating, lots of different components to the plate, some I liked better than others... the cakes were a little *too* soaked with rum, but the passion fruit gelee thingie was delicious, and the banana ice cream was wicked banana-y (in a good way). Could have done without the random orange slices scattered around though. The boy had the cranberry glace which he generally liked (he's easily pleased) and I thought was interesting, not so much my cup of tea but presented nicely and excellent for what it was. Extra comped dessert, because I had recently celebrated my birthday: trio of house-made frozen yogurt, tangelo sorbet, and some kind of other sorbet (tea?) with "Happy Birthday" written at the bottom. I'm a sucker for homemade ice creams and sorbets so I really loved this, especially since it was unexpected and free (so nice of them!). Overall, it was a lovely dinner and a lovely experience, great for special occasions, and I'm so glad my sweetie gave us the opportunity to finally try this place out for ourselves. I did enjoy myself and the food, but I'm not sure if I'd list this place as one of my tops ever (I wasn't completely blown away), and likely won't be returning any time soon as I just don't have the bank (frankly, I found the prices a little high for what it was, I've found comparable quality and technique for far less, I.e. 10 Tables, Oleana, etc).
(4)Lauren D.
I dream about a childhood where Barbara Lynch packs my lunch every day for school... Alas, this was not the case. But now I have the pleasure and privelage of being able to dine at one of her several restaurants, my favorite being No. 9 Park. The atmosphere of No. 9 Park, for gourmet restaurant, has a very low-key, unpretentious feel. The service is exact but gracious. I typically eat in the bar area, but the main dining room doesn't have any uppity airs either. The food is fantastic. You seriously can't order a bad thing on the menu. And the price is well worth the quality of your meal. Hands down my favorite restaurant in the city.
(5)Katie V.
Best meal I've had in Boston. It's as simple as that. If you are getting a fat tax refund, I'd recommend blowing it on a meal at No. 9 Park. The food is exquisite. I did the tasting menu, which changes weekly. Two delicious vegetable dishes (one starring artichoke hearts, the other with cauliflower), a halibut dish that was otherwordly, then....FOIE GRAS AND FIG GNOCCHI. It deserves the all-caps. Then there was squab, which is sort of like a gamey chicken. Then "surf and turf", aka a little bit ot steak and a bit of lobster on top of a puff pastry. Then a palate-cleanser of plum sorbet before the chocolate finale. I can't think of anything bad to say about the food. The service was also excellent. Amazing wine list too, with many half bottles. It was an incredible dining experience.
(5)Marie C.
Top notch is an understatement...my husband & I have been visiting this divine restaurant for 10 years..all I can say is -- GO! The food is outstanding, well presented, and fresh..the wine list is unique and the bartender is friendly..and all of the staff are professional, kind, knowledgable, and always make us feel welcome..this is the kind of place you can go on a romantic date, or a work dinner, or a special family celebration with older children. Tasting menu is amazing..cheese plate -- an experience in itself, and, yes, the prune gnocchi are terrific!
(5)Jaime G.
I tried this place on a brief stop-over in Boston. They didn't have any reservations available but we showed up with the intention of sitting in the bar area and they kindly accommodated us with a table for two by the door. Not the best table in the house but we were happy to get in despite a full reservation book. We decided to do the multi-course tasting menu with paired wine. Both the food and wine were good if somewhat prosaic. Everything was perfectly cooked and seasoned but the amount of food on the plate was a bit on the miniscule side (and I say this as a veteran of Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay and Eric Rippert tasting menus). The runners who brought the food out of the kitchen seemed a bit light in their knowledge of some of the ingredients and where the food was sourced. The dishes were certainly the work of a competent chef. But we didn't feel as though any of the dishes surprised or delighted us, nor did it push any boundaries. A foie gras course, with a somewhat tired peanut butter and jelly riff, was presented to us as if it hadn't already been done by just about every chef back in 2005. I found the staff, without exception, to be warm and friendly But the biggest issue of the evening was that when my dining companion (who picked up the check) got his credit card statement someone at the restaurant had added a $100 tip to his bill. In a lifetime of fine dining I can't say I have ever had this happen to me. Of course he called the restaurant and spoke to the manager who was obviously very apologetic but who never looped back with a sufficient explanation of how this happened. He filed a dispute and the restaurant did end up crediting his statement later for the entire value of the check, a kind gesture. But the experience gives me pause both about dining at No. 9 Park again and recommending it to others. Bottom line. Competently prepared, somewhat interesting dishes if not cutting edge. Tasting menu is a bit too tiny in the manner of "bring back the 80's nouvelle cuisine." And be sure to check your credit card statements after you dine there!
(2)Courtney S.
The food at No. 9 Park is fabulous. The service is pretentious and snobby beyond anything I have ever experienced. During the last Restaurant Week, a fellow foodie friend called with exceptional news - she somehow managed to secure Friday night reservations for No. 9. Every Restaurant Week I'd tried to go to No. 9 and it was always - ALWAYS - booked. Getting actual reservations for a Friday night? I was thrilled. If you've ever been to No. 9, there's two sides to the restaurant - the more formal dining room to the right and the more boisterous, casual bar/bistro area to the left. We got to the restaurant, checked in, and were pretty promptly seated in the dining room. Soon, a waiter came by and gave us menus - the regular menu. No Restaurant Week menu in sight. When we inquired, he informed us that Restaurant Week was only being served in the bar. OK, so right away, this leaves me a little cold - apparently, the No. 9 dining room is simply too good for Restaurant Week. But no matter, they'd accidentally seated us in the dining room, we'd already ordered drinks, surely they'd correct this by simply making an exception for us and allowing us to order the RW menu in the dining room, right? WRONG. The hostess came over and basically told us if we wanted the RW menu, we'd need to move into the bar. Ok, that was an affront, but I suppose we would have been willing to do that. Then they hit us with the fact that it was an hour wait! When we balked, she accused us of making a mistake in our reservations (my friend insisted that she was clear in booking RW reservations) and then proceeded to tell us that we should be LUCKY that they were squeezing us in. Needless to say, we were outraged. Unfortunately, they had us over a bit of a barrel. By then, it was 9 p.m. Friday night. We were hungry and certainly the wait most other places the Friday of Restaurant Week was sure to also be an hour. So we stayed, but the bad taste of the incident stayed with us all night. I consider myself to be a bit of a foodie and pretty knowledgeable about Boston restaurants. I am not afraid to drop a few hundred dollars on a meal once and a while. I use Restaurant Week as an opportunity to explore high end restaurants that I've never visited before, and then decide if I'd like to return for the full menu sometime. No. 9 Park lost an opportunity to ever have me as a diner again, based on the attitude of the staff. Apparently, No. 9 staff isn't afraid to offend the "riff raff" enjoying Restaurant Week, because clearly they can't afford better. Again, wrong. Their loss.
(1)Scott P.
To all the staff at No. 9 Park you have it right! April 6, 2010 was the day I had been anticipating for months...no years! The moment I walked into this historic building turned restaurant I just knew it was going to be amazing. I will start out by saying my partner and I agree that this was the best dining experience we have encountered over the years. The food, wine, and service was perfection. They put the T in the word Team. Every single staff member from my team (team 2) was knowledgeable about every aspect of the meal. We arrived a bit early and took a seat in the corner bar banquette. Our hostess came by and offered the wine list and chatted with us a bit. I was gushing about how long I have waited to come and experience this restaurant in Barbara's empire. She stood for 5 minutes listening to me gush and sincerely seemed happy that we were guests that evening. Once we were escorted to our table we were put in another lovely corner booth where we could view the entire restaurant and the show that was before us. The rooms are a bit small and the place was packed so the room was a bit hot. I went to the host and asked if we could relocate due to the heat. Without question they suggested they put the air-conditioning back on and see how that worked first. They then checked on us every few minutes to ensure we were happy. And we were! I could just go on and on gushing about the food and service and it will all be true. This is just one of those experiences where you walk away feeling so happy. Like a few other guests I enjoyed the Foie Gras and Fig Gnocchi. It was presented so well and just worked with the wine. Much to our surprise the waitress even brought out a treat from the kitchen. A glass of the most delicious white wine accompanied with an extra dish from the chef. This could be something they do all the time or perhaps it was for us because they knew how much I loved the place. Regardless it was the best little touch to round out a special meal. No 9 Park, Team 2, Barbara, and everyone else who came into contact that evening you should feel very proud about the work you do! I will be sending a personal note to Barbara and look forward to her visit to San Francisco where she will hopefully be signing Stir at Omnivore Books in Noe Valley. I know she has already been there to check out the location and I pray she approves of it. Barbara if you are reading this I will be in contact with you and hopefully we can enjoy a cocktail together. Thanks again!
(5)Alaina H.
The staff is attentive without being overbearing and is quite friendly - not at all pretentious. I was impressed with Matt's excellent service, even with a full restaurant/ many other tables to attend to. I had the gnocchi and duck - both absolutely perfect. I liked how in depth the back servers described each course. Matt talked with us knowledgeably about the wine list and directed us towards great pairings. Everything about my experience at No. 9 Park was flawless. I felt like I could enjoy all my courses without being rushed.
(5)Bri T.
VEGETARIAN HEAVEN! Had the vegetarian 7-course tasting menu. Fantastic, and can't wait to go back. I'm not vegan, but was told they can accomidate that as well.
(5)Nik B.
The bar at No 9 park could be equatable to a modern-day Cheers bar. I say this only because it's homely comfortable and the bartenders treat you like an old friend. Your conversation at the bar easily becomes bar-wide conversation. Upon taking my chair at the bar, I was asked what my favorite liquors are. Of course my answer was Rye Whiskey and Absinthe, and of course, the cocktail he made me had neither of those. Instead prepared a Mezcal Sazerac for me (Arrack wash). It was exactly the type of cocktail I like: clean, bold, strong and zero vodka. It also featured flavors that I don't usually associate that way. The Arrack did a great job pulling out the smokiness of the Mezcal. It was delicious. I also shared the charcuterie plate with my buddy elleF. It featured rabbit terrine, duck riet and lamb sausage. My favorite was the lamb sausage in its salty savory goodness, especially when dabbed into the house mustard and washed down some red wine. When looking for a real Drink near Boston Common, skip the uncomfortable tourist trap of Cheers, skip the overpriced hotel bars, and come get some get some real comfort, some real drinks, and some real food at No 9 park.
(5)Jessica H.
Be prepared when coming to this restaurant to spend a good deal of money, but the food is great, and oh so worth it. Each plate came out of the kitchen looking like a piece of art. Beautiful. My dinner guests and I opted for the 3 course prix fixe in which I had the foie gras to start which was so smooth and so buttery. I really enjoyed dining here during my trip to Boston and it definitely falls into the category of one of the best restaurants I've dined at.
(5)May W.
This was such a fun tasting menu! In the end, we probably consumed 10 courses. The servers were really attentive and explained everything. The plating was also well done. Definitely try their No.9 wines. That's all I have to say. The tasting menu was amazing, and I loved the ambience and the view outside the large windows at Boston Common.
(5)Suzanne S.
My husband took me here again to celebrate my birthday. What is not to love! Perfect service and excellent food. Of course I ordered the gnocci's and my husband ordered the pistou soup, which we shared. I had the striped bass, he had a steak. Wine was perfectly paired.
(5)Mike S.
Their allergy accommodations are to die for! They made me gluten free bread - freshly baked on demand, and were happy to offer me extra, which I accepted! They also made me a custom gluten free and lactose free pastry desert which was awesome. My wife enjoyed the hand-churned butter from their Vermont cow they own (I'm serious!) Great food, very upscale, superb service.
(5)Michael N.
This is the definition of a five-star dining experience. Alas, I can only visit when the parents are in town (and, therefore, are picking up the check). But their one visit a year is worth it. You'll never eat more delicious food served by a happier, more informative group of servers. It's a pitch-perfect dining experience. A tip: sit at the bar, where you can eat dinner and converse with the extraordinary friendly bartenders, who can tell you pretty much everything about any drink you can order. I listened, rapt, as one of them described the history behind the first cocktail, and then invited us to sample his version of it. That was followed by another tasting of an egg-based alcoholic drink that was the restaurant's own creation - it sounds strange, I know, but it was remarkably light and tasty. I've never had a better cheese-plate sampler for an appetizer. Hunks of delicious cheeses, separated by animal (cow, sheep and goat) and accompanied by sweet fruits, nuts and delightfully crispy apricot-flavored crackers. That was followed by a heavenly andouille sausage pappardelle, with thick ribbons of pasta around succulent meat flavored with kale and peppers, paired perfectly with one of their excellent beer selections. It was Valentine's Day when I went, so the restaurant had a complimentary hot-chocolate bar - presided over by their pastry chef - which dispensed cup after cup of jaw-meltingly good dark and spiced chocolate drinks. Mouth-watering. And, to cap off the whole night, the chef / owner Barbara Lynch was there mingling with the guests, and couldn't have been friendlier to us when we went over and thanked her. You can't get better than this in Boston. Hell, I don't think you can get better than this in America.
(5)Barney B.
Once a chef reaches a certain level of fame, the restaurants they open start to really seem like they are 'phoning it in' - don't believe me? I give you as examples: wolfgang puck, todd english, emeril... I wrote the above paragraph in my review of a miami establishment which luckily bucked that trend. But sadly it's appropriate for this review because I think Barbara Lynch might prove my point. Simply put, at 200 bucks a head, there shouldn't be room for mediocre - but from drinks and apps, thru entrees to dessert... It all was just 'ok' - nothing bad, just.... ok. The service was pretty good, but at this price point that should be a given. Boston could be such a foodie town - and places like TW Food, Craigie on Main and Oleana prove restaurants with inventive menus can thrive in the city. But they seem drowned out by places that charge silly prices for the sheer privilege of dining. And sadly, I didn't walk out of here feeling very privileged.
(2)Karen M.
We arrived early for our reservation, and they were able to seat us right away which was really nice. I appreciate the way the restaurant foregrounds the cocktails by having them poured for you at the table by the bartender. In some restaurants you feel the point of the cocktail is to dull your senses. Here it's really part of the meal, like an appetizer, and taken that seriously. The palmyra was bracing and opened up our appetites. Beware if you are hungry, the food portions are small. My husband somehow was prescient about this and had a snack at home beforehand! I had eaten lightly all day to save my appetite--not recommended. But the food is rich and the flavors intense, which helps. One thing I don't understand, though, is why such a stingy hand with the sauces? I was rationing my sauces so there would be enough to have a little with each bite. A little more sauce would set my mind at ease. Oysters from all over the world were lots of fun, fois gras spectacularly buttery (shout-out to the brioche toast, just perfect, firm on the outside, dense and soft inside), vegetables not too raw, not too cooked, not too salty, hooray! The swordfish was done the way I asked, and the venison was incredibly tender, close to a rare beef tenderloin in consistency. The desserts were OK. Olives on the chocolate got scraped off after bite #1, the yogurt panna cotta was unobjectionable and refreshing. The service was excellent. Our servers made us feel at home and were knowledgable and not a bit arrogant about the wine. The dining room felt comfortable, cozy, a tiny bit too crowded, but on Beacon Hill that's probably unavoidable. The atmosphere and music made it acceptably romantic even when the room filled up. I hate the way most restaurants put my silverware back on the table and expect me to reuse it course after course. It's so nice finally to be in a restaurant where they know enough not to do that! I guess that sets a kind of low bar but the silverware thing has just been getting me down lately. Do I have to pay $200 per couple to get two forks? Maybe I do. The platings are artistic and done with an eye to appetizing color. One weird thing, a lot of the food is served like it was molded or squeezed out of an elastic bag in a pointy egg shape? Why? Also amusing: the butter for the bread is unsalted so it comes with a little dish of salt in case you like salted butter! I thought a 3-course prix fixe for $69 seemed appropriate for the level of craft in the cuisine. If you have the money to add extra dishes and cheeses to appease hungry appetites it's the perfect place for a celebratory dinner.
(4)aaron t.
No9 park has been around Boston for some time and is a classic location for that "special" dinner but it's also a great place just to catch up with fiends without the need to dress up and have a great time. It has a classic bar with a cozy corner to sip of cocktail beforehand or while waiting (say hi to TED), and has maybe 20 tables... The food is very fresh, local, and changes often but the favorites stay on the menu. Come here for a celebration, a special meal, a great bar experience, and if you like cheese oh my, they have an astonishing cheese platter...also a great wine list. Price is not too bad, but expect to pay around $65+ per person or more. No 9 park is a staple of the Babara Lynch group which also runs sportello, drink, menton, butcher shop, b&g oyster, and a few others... amazing group. all their places rock!
(5)Asya N.
Delicious. If you go for Restaurant Week, definitely pay the extra $9 for the foie gras. Amazing service, never a shortage of rolls, and delicious food.
(5)Chris B.
Came for a $100 lite-meal-in-the-lounge experience... kind of confused what happened. ~ Steak tartare and foie-prune-gnocchi were both excellent. The gnocchi were incredibly rich, so just the 3 I had were quite enough. Really appreciated trying the gnocchi though, as they were pretty special. Small bits of foie on top always add to the fun, and these were well cooked (lightly, really). The tartare was very creamy, which was a nice change of pace from some of the others I've been having lately. ~ Bread was unfortunate - dense, not exciting in any way, and plopped on the plate to come to rest sideways. I always laugh at other reviewers who critique the bread at places too much, but hey, someone should write something about this one. ~ Drinks were outstanding -- probably the best in the city. I tried a cocktails flight (3 mini drinks) which I can only imagine creates havoc for the team. Each cocktail came out amazingly well -- crisp, expertly composed/balanced, and with lovely herbal aromatics. Of special note is the pear martini which came out not sweet -- thankfully. I know Barbara Lynch runs Drink as well, but based off this one flight I think the cocktail service at No 9 Park is quite a lot better than Drink (and this is a bit confusing, as Drink just won a few awards in the cocktails convention down in New Orleans). ~ Panna cotta was playful -- just the right portion size and thickened up far more than I'm used to, accompanied with lots of interesting tastes (thickened sauces, etc.). A chocolate dessert (I forget the name... not a triumph, but a... blank!) was not particularly appealing to me, as it had freeze-dried miso sprinkled very lightly on top. I love miso soup, and so I think I'm a bit more attuned to the flavor than most Americans -- and so the dessert didn't come together for me; I basically just tasted miso on top of chocolate. ~ The server seemed unsure how to handle us. We were the youngest people in the room at that time (in our upper 20's!), and I got the feeling he thought we weren't buying a lot because we couldn't afford it. That's not properly true; we just weren't overwhelmingly hungry -- in fact, we didn't have a reservation, and we basically dropped by simply because it was near Park Station & my work (where I was at, unfortunately, until 10pm on a Friday night). He made several weird kind of communications throughout the night that made us feel we were getting treated differently -- not badly, per se, but kind of mismatched expectations. ~ We recognized an attending physician from Stanford neurology at the bar, which was fun. All in all, I love Barbara Lynch's places (Sportello, Drink, B&G Oyster, Butcher Shop), and I would return particularly to No 9 Park for cocktail service -- but I'm not entirely convinced I will ever choose to go for the tasting menu here. I'm also a little confused about whether Menton would be a good choice for me or not.
(4)Mary G.
[3.5 stars] My friend and I had talked about going to one of Boston's nicer restaurants, and this is the one he recommended. No. 9 Park isn't a place my foodie friends (who tend to be fond of Gastropubs and the sort of place that will serve marrow) aim to go at, so I hadn't heard too much about it. While Ultimately, the food was outshone by the service. We showed up without a reservation and asked for bar seating. We were placed in a (drafty, but otherwise comfortable) lounge, and had our drink orders taken. After waiting awhile, I was starting to wonder where our drinks were.. Shortly after a waitress arrived, and we were alerted that our drinks would be ready after we were seated. We were seated, our drinks arrived. They were light and refreshing, and it was a pleasure watching the bar tender assemble drinks for other patrons during the course of our meal. We were presented with a complimentary amuse bouche; a white cheese with butter nut squash. We decided to split a prix fixe, and buffer it with some bar plates and appetizers. The bay scallops came out, and while well-plated, nothing about them stood out. Roulade de Tete was next: crispy pigs' tails wth wax beans & whole grain mustard, served over four large slices of head cheese. The head cheese was fatty and paired nicely with the mustard, the tails were melt-in-your mouth with a well-fried crispy exterior. Definitely a good bar menu item for sharing with a friend. Foie Gras au Torchon, a thimble of rich, dense, "melts-at-your-body's temperature" foie gras with three toast points. Again, a good dish for sharing. Then there was the baby octopus with squid ink, which was a playful take on spaghetti with meatballs... pasta in a red squid ink and lobster puree sauce, with 'meatballs' of ground octopus. I did find the pasta somewhat undercooked, and the meatballs a bit tough and fishy. Perhaps not the best presentation. We were brought out a complimentary plate, from the tasting menu, 3 little raviolis each, filled with sour cream, with braised beef, and accompanied by a borscht broth. Again I felt the pasta a little undercooked, but the components of the dish paired nicely. We were prompted with the dessert menu before our main course came, then they promptly apologized. For the main course, we got the Atlantic monkfish with braised oxtail, matsutake, and celeriac. The celeriac was a nice contrast to the meaty mushrooms, fish, and 'tail. Honestly, the dish was incredibly salty and I found my self alternating between that and my water. However, when the bar tender asked how the dish was, and I said "a little salty," he immediately offered to take it back and fix that up. I asked how, exactly, would he fix it, to which he explained that they would basically make a new one. Perhaps I should have taken him up on it, I had found most of the dishes a bit too salty, but I was happy enough to finish it as is. Bete Noir was the dessert; a tasty, undercooked, low sugar brownie is the best way of describing it.. with two balls of a caramel-like accompaniment, and a quenelle of vanilla ice cream. The bartender was appreciable company, and happy to share his opinion, though we were promised some savory pate a choux that never arrived. So, in writing this review, I switched my star rating from 4 stars to 3. The service was wonderful, the food was well executed, but honestly nothing really floored me. I feel mildly odd giving a restaurant four stars when I would not insist it to my friends as a "must try," or fill with excitement when a friend insists on taking me there, as I do with Oleanna. So, it is 3 stars.
(3)Dara C.
I went several months ago with two close friends, so time--and wine--play a part in this review. Suffice it to say, everything was fantastic. We three did the chef's tasting, which we paired with champagne. No, no special occasion. Just a Thursday, and the rare experience of being flush with cash for once. The food was incredible. The first course was so simple, just fresh garden vegetables with a simple green goddess dressing. The flavors were so clear and fresh, I wanted to cry on them (but my salty tears would have ruined everything.) I remember clearly holding an asparagus spear and staring at it, smiling, glad for its existence. Following was a good fish course (pardon me, I forget the fish but it came in a delicious, creamy green soup.) Then the legendary prune-stuffed gnocchi, which deserves its reputation. The foie gras was rich and decadent, the prunes nicely sweet, the Vin Santo a perfect flavor. There was lamb, also perfectly-cooked, and then pork belly. Omfg. I'd never had pork belly but this was like bacon's hotter older sister. So well done, fatty and juicy. It melted away on my tongue. Dessert was a chocolate-dusted beignet, which was good but not terrific. Then again, I don't like chocolate. BUT we were given a complimentary dessert wine that was perfect. (Again. Perfect. How many times have I said that? Stop GUSHING, Dar. It's not attractive.) The food was simple but beautiful, and not fussy in the slightest. Nor was the service; our server was warm and attentive without being obtrusive. Even the backwaiters were great, with nary a water glass unfilled. The ambiance was dim and old-money. Crisp tablecloths, warm candlelight, Boston Common glowing right outside the windows. How could you not enjoy that? I didn't find it claustrophobic at all. Must go back for drinks. I'm sure they too would be perfect. Five stars: food, ambiance, service, wine, and the ability to make me regret the eight months I was vegetarian, because I wasn't enjoying pork belly the entire time.
(5)Jeannie H.
I have an interesting relationship with No 9 Park. This was, I believe, my 6th visit overall but only my 2nd visit for Restaurant Week. I enjoy No 9 Park for their incredible consistency, both in quality of food and service. I know I will never have an upsetting experience; however, I also know I will not have a particularly memorable dinner either. To me, every great meal must have that one course that is ingrained in my mind forever, and every so often, I must relive the pure joy of that moment. For Paul Bocuse, it was the truffle soup. For Daniel, it was the warm basket of madeleines. For Le Bernardin, it was the langoustine ravioli. For No 9 Park, I've never experienced such a revelation. ATMOSPHERE - I actually find their dining room a little sterile. Most of the times I've been there, they have had some serious ventilation issues but I'm glad that seems to have been sorted out. SERVICE - Very attentive without being stuffy. The waiters/waitresses know the menu, wine list, and cheeses well, which I greatly appreciate. The courses have always been well paced. There are never serious blunders like Craigie on Main. However, I have found some of the servers to be overly chatty. FOOD - I've never been a fan of the bread. I'm an admitted bread snob so I get a little stuck on the quality of bread. Smoked Boston Mackerel (pickled beats, potato, chickery) - Beautiful presentation but slightly bland in flavour. Seared foie gras (curry, wax beans, red bliss potato) - The foie was perfectly seared; however, I found the cubes of potato to be incredibly dry and the wax beans bland. Although it's cliche, I do believe that the best accompaniment to seared foie is something sweet and tangy such as quince or cherries. Wild striped bass (braised calamari, tomato escabeche, padron peppers) - The bass was perfectly cooked but I'm not sure the rest of the ingredients added much to the dish. Grilled beef shortrib (bigoli freddo, pickled vegetables, and black garlic) - This was, in essence, Korean BBQ. I mean it was well cooked but it was still Korean BBQ. It was also on the salty side. Cheese plate - For a restaurant, they have one of the best cheese selections in Boston. Once again...decent food, good service, and well, not particularly memorable. I have yet to try Menton but out of all the Barbara Lynch restaurants, this is definitely one of the better ones. I've found B&G and The Butcher Shop to be over-priced for the degree of mediocrity.
(4)Tingting H.
It's been 2 days, 3 hours, 26 minutes, and 49 seconds since I last had Gorgonzola Fondue. Unforgettable...
(5)Khai L.
Five stars, hands down. Three times I have been to No. 9 Park, three times I have not been disappointed. Food is well presented and absolutely delicious with the right amount of complexity in flavors, service is excellent, and their dessert is quite yummy. Thank you, Barbara Lynch.
(5)Nelly N.
Went a few days ago and got the 3 course prefix. Appitizers was just ok. The flavors was very one dimensional. Main course was not so good. Scales and bones in my fish made my entire very hard to eat. The desert course was the only thing that made this place a 2 star for me.
(2)Heather G.
Not a bad restaurant by any means. i love the decor and the location, but that's as far as it goes. Your food is good, No. 9 Park. It is. Is it great? No. Is it worth the price tag? Absolutely not. the combination of flavors and presentation on the plate are both very dated. This is not the fine dining of olde, my friends at No. 9 Park. This is a new era, one that shakes things up with inventive colors, textures, flavors, ingredients, and presentation. I can't help but gaze down at my plate and feel as though i've been transported back in time to when fine dining was for the stuffy and wealthy, and was completely lackluster and inaccessible to the rest of us, perhaps not on price alone but on the aura that these places exuded that seemed to be one of exclusivity. Make fine dining more accessible and interesting, please. It doesn't have to be stuffy, it doesn't have to be little veg on a plate, a lump of fois gras here, and smidgen of truffle there. Wouldn't go back until i saw some indication that they've shaken things up a bit.
(2)Johnny L.
Amazing place. I went their during the restaurant week, but I ordered the "chef testing menu" . It's a five courses dinner. Everything were amazing. Moreover their service was perfect. We got there around 1030pm and left around 1230 am. It's kinda late but no one rush us. I'll def come here again
(5)John C.
We had been meaning to come in for a while, and finally made it to dinner at No. 9 Park. We were seated in the front dining room with a view of the State House (and excellent people-watching). We opted for the 3-course prix fixe menu and added a cheese course. The food was flawless, the flavors were absolutely solid. It was a delicious meal, start to finish. It just wasn't incredibly...exciting. All of the options were "safe," so to speak; properly prepared and presented, but nothing we hadn't seen at similar restaurants. Perhaps the chef's creative energies are focused on Menton at the moment, but this menu could use an update. The cheese tray had a great selection, and was skillfully described (cheese by cheese) by the house fromager (Abby?). She was an excellent server all around. The decor was vintage-y, but the bathrooms were tired. In need of redecorating. Prepare to spend a decent amount for a thoroughly enjoyable meal. If you're looking for risk-taking, I'm not sure you'll find a lot of that here.
(4)Parul L.
No. 9 Park is great spot for a night out in Boston. I loved the 3 course meal I sampled (we were there on a weeknight). The meal started with a lobster salad appetizer, then a duo of duck, and finally a berry tart for dessert. I didn't expect the portions to be as large as they were, and I could not finish each course - in anticipation of the next. The service was great and the overall experience was divine. The meal was a pricey one, so its not great for everyone and every casual night out, but it is a great spot for a special night on the town.
(5)Erin C.
Pure perfection in every aspect of what makes dining out memorable. From the food, the service, ambiance, decor, wine... even my Johnnie Walker Black Label tasted better than it does when I'm just sitting at home alone sipping on it. I probably don't have to add anything new here that people haven't already said, but I will reiterate that this is a great place for a special occasion. The 'rents came into town and since it was my stepmom's birthday I wanted to go somewhere special. They went all out for everything. When we chose dessert as part of our 3 course meal, she ordered a sorbet.... *snore* How are they gonna put a candle in a sorbet?? Well the waitress thought the same thing and when they brought out desserts they gave us another dessert from the list that we didn't order for free. Perfection. Even my 18 year old brother who's tastes center around hamburgers and fries ate everything and loved it.
(5)Rosie Z.
Everything on the tasting menu was extremely well executed. There were both robust and subtle flavors in each course. My partner complained that the pork dish was too salty, but growing up with Chinese food, it was just perfect for me. They had a special birthday cake for me which was a nice touch, the chocolate and coffee layers were heavenly yet not too sugary. Our waiter was funny and knowledgeable. Despite having amazing food, I can understand why it is not Michelin rated. Its service, though friendly and tentative, is definitely not the classic french you would expect at Jean Georges or Thomas Keller. However, minus one star for not even offering to put our (large amount of) left over birthday cake (which costs extra)
(4)J R.
First things first. The food at No 9 is creative and some of the best in Boston. The service is professional and the space lovely. However, this is a VERY EXPENSIVE restaurant. When you pay over $100 a person you expect exceptional food and absolutely spot on service. When reviewing a restaurant that thinks it is worth these prices, you must hold them to a higher standard. Did we get $100 a person food and service, not entirely. You need to understand that No 9 wants you to order either a 6-course tasting menu for $112 or a 3-course dinner for $69 (some choices will increase this somewhat). If you don't want all three courses you are free to order just one or two, but you pay a flat fee of $21 for appetizer, $39 for main courses and $14 for dessert. This results in some dramatically overpriced items. Want to start with raw oysters? They will cost you about double what you would pay in many other town level Boston restaurants. And lets face it, the kitchen does nothing to t a fresh sucked other than open it, serve it on ice with a dab of sauce. Some of the choices are complex and deserve the high prices. Entrees appear to be especially high priced. One fish dish offered about a 6-oz portion of hake, one of the least expensive white fish sold in Boston markets. But then, no one comes to No 9 for bargain food. How was the food? Some were divine and well worth the price; other choices were less successful. The scallops and octopus consists of two medium sized scallops and a baby lobsters. The octopus was poached in wine and then grilled, but in our case it was charred and overdone. It was served with fired kale, a dab of granola and pureed grilled scallion that was lathered on the side of the plate. Frankly, the smeared green puree, the green kale and the burned octopus, while good (not great) was one of the most unattractive plates I have seen in a long time. The Roulade of Chicken was exceptional and the beef also very good but with a very stingy accompaniment. We passed on the $14 sorbet. Deserts were good, but we have had better. To put all this in perspective, we could have overlooked the flaws if we felt the price was more in line with the quantity and quality of food. Service was generally excellent, although the waitress delivered the desert menus and then disappeared for far to long. A lapse we would have overlooked it the bill was not as high as it was. When we first got to the restaurant we had drinks at the bar. To our surprise, the wines by the glass were excellent and actually very reasonably priced. We looked forward to having a bottle of the white with dinner. However, we were told that the bar wines are only available by the glass. Their dinner bottle wines are very expensive. Bottom line, we were glad we went, should have stayed with wine by the glass, and we has some (and I use that term specifically) great food. However, at these prices every dish should have been memorable and we should not have experienced the gap in service. We will probably not be back.
(3)Renee B.
We had the tasting menu with the wine pairings and it was out of this world. We like to sit at the bar and I am very glad we did. The bartenders were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The described every wine, answered all our questions and the whole group at the bar was in a great mood. The food and wine pairings were very well done. Much better than what we had at TW Food. We were stuffed at the end and forced down the desert only because the pecan pie was amazing. It is expensive but we enjoyed every morsel. The staff was great. The chef definitely knows what they are doing.
(5)Meghan K.
Amazing! My husband and I came here and both got the prix fixe option. The service was excellent - the waiter gave us perfect menu recommendations. To start I had the prune stuffed gnocchi which was amazing! As an entree I had the pork which was delicious and good sized. I was very satisfied at the end of the meal and found the portion sizes were perfect. Great experience, excellent date location - will be coming back!
(5)David S.
Stoped and had drinks with some friends. Easy access to parking in the Common. Kinda upscale and not for familys or Kids. Right accross from the state house.
(4)andrew k.
I LOVE # 9 Park. The food, the service and the attention to detail. I prefer the cafe side to the dining room, as there is a larger variety on the menu. The wines that Cat brings are wines you do not regularly encounter and are a treat to expose the palate to new grapes and tastes especially when paired to the tasty, delicious and finely presented dishes. Bravo!
(5)Wendy L.
Definitely one of the least impressive meals I've experienced. Almost all of the food I had was virtually tasteless and bland. The dessert was decent but definitely not worth the money.
(2)Logan S.
One of the best meals I've had in 2 years in Boston, though I had severe munchies when I arrived. That's not something I've ever done before a fine dining experience in the past. It was due to a spur of the moment and bizarre bannana bread baking "experiment" nearly 10 hours before that would just not wear off. So I admit my judgment may have been altered a bit as I was ravenous. I also don't remember much about the decor. Elegant but a tad stuffy seems accurate. What I do remember-the service was excellent and friendly, though a little pretentious in an unoffensive way. The waiter casually made overstated and even absurd remarks like how incredibly fresh the truffles are this time of year. I wasn't so out of it as to order the $80 truffle risotto, though I kinda wish I had. The waiter also was very helpful with wine and cheese. The appetizers and the cheese were by far my favorites. We had an incredible prune gnocchi and lobster napoleon. The relatively broad and interesting menu reminded me a bit of Hammersley's another favorite of mine, though it's a bit stuffier and more expensive (entrees in 30's instead of mid and high 20's and pricier wine list). The cheese cart was the best I've seen in Boston, probably 15 cheeses to choose from, all fabulous and with excellent descriptions from the waiter. The entrees (lamb and venison) were very solid, but like at most restaurants, not as good as the first course. Delicious bread too. They have a bar/cafe next door which I think has similar food at much more reasonable prices (we defintely spent over $200 for too with 3 courses and wine). I think I'll try that next time, though I'd definitely go back to the main dining room.
(5)Brian K.
One of my favorite restaurants in Boston hands down. I usually get the prefix menu with the wine pairing.. usually this is not only a great deal but they also have some unique wines hand picked from small wineries. If you have not been here put it on the list of places to try.
(5)Daniel H.
A small gourmet restaurant quite popular with a bistro feel across from the State House. Food Rating = 4 Stars Service Rating = 4 Stars Decor Rating = 3 Stars
(4)S S.
If there were 6 stars for this place i would probably give them that. What made all the difference in the world was their service! I have never had such good service ever. We were there to celebrate an anniversary-they gave us their best table, and host wished us. We had the seven course which i highly recommend. They are very good about substituting dishes. We got a complimentary dessert, and we had already ordered dessert, which came with a candle and happy anniversary written in choclate. Yum! No we didnt arrange for that. Plus a complementary glass of wine, that the chef recommended with the dessert. I would say thats great service, wouldn't you?
(5)Christopher N.
I think Barbara is amazing. Supposedly, that is the chef here. The Yellowfin Tuna Nicoise appetizer is to die for. Really, last meal kind of goodness. For entre, I had the striped bass. Yes! I overdosed on the fish, but like the appetizer, the bass was some incredible eats. I was able to try the roasted lamb and although I am not a lamb connoisseur, it was delicious. It is a pricy place, but if you're looking for a fancy Beacon Hill dinner, this is the place to go. People say it is one fine Boston treasure, and I must agree.
(5)Dan S.
Really should be 3.75 stars. The service is unparalleled, but I care mostly about the food. I had the 7 course tasting menu, plus the small complimentary dishes as well as a whole complimentary course (prune stuffed gnocchi). Everything was solid, but nothing was exceptional. The foie gras is pretty delicious and they certainly make use of it in most of their dishes, ultimately making a lot of the dishes just creamy goodness, leaving the other ingredients out of the spotlight. I was very content with the meal, however, this is not a menu that will wow you with bold and unique flavors, instead you'll find a lot of rich and creamy flavors that will satisfy your more primal appetite. Definitely worth trying as long as you don't set your expectations as high as all of the hype that surrounds this place.
(4)Matt Y.
Food was great! Annoyed the hell out of me because I couldn't do the chef's tasting menu due to the fact that the whole table didn't order it. Come on, if Julia's Kitchen in Napa can coordinate odd numbered tasting menus, surely this restaurant could. Also, either the folks in Boston take themselves way too seriously or the staff is trained to just be obnoxious. SF "nice shirt and jeans" wear is definitely snubbed. Cheeses were amazing! However, the cheese man said everything was "most excellent." He needed a thesaurus or should be more sincere.
(4)Robert G.
Not one of my favorite places in Boston - and definitely not my favorite Barbara Lynch Restaurant (I'd say go to B&G if you want a great meal!). The food was okay, the wait was so long (even with a reservation), the place is crowded, and the wait staff was pretentious. It's definitely a great "celebratory" place - great views, the chance to see someone "famous" (for Boston at least) and a price tag to save up for. I wouldn't head back for a meal anytime soon, although maybe I'll check out the bar at some point.
(3)Kristin G.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? -amazing food -amazing cocktails -amazing desserts -amazing service -convenient location
(5)Annie C.
There's a lot of hype surrounding this restaurant and it will not disappoint! Although I felt a little guilty walking past the line of people waiting to get into what seemed like a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, I'd come here any chance I'd get. Our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly. We had the highly acclaimed prune stuffed gnocchi and it was heaven! The wine list was expensive, but worth it. I recommend trying a Savennières. The cheese plate was a perfect conclusion to the best meal I had in Boston.
(5)Kevin C.
This place rocks, rather quietly and very reservedly, but nonetheless, it rocks! Come prepared to taste combinations of ingredients you won't find anywhere else. For example, the prune stuffed gnocchi sounded rather bizarre, but the obviously experienced waiter insisted I give it a try -- it was incredible! Other menu items are equally astounding. One of the more adventurous menus in the area without the risk of an unwanted culinary excursion.
(5)Will E.
My fiancee and I went there on May 2 for her birthday dinner. We got the 9 course tasting menu. It was absolutely amazing - each course was really great and interesting. Waiter was friendly and helpful. The matire d' was nice and accommodating when we asked for a different table than originally offered. This place is pricey - make no mistake about that - but if you're looking to shell out for a fancy dinner in Boston you won't go wrong here. Highlights of the tasting menu were the crab ramp which is a kind of cold crab soup and the lamb confit - absolutety amazing. Cheese selection was excellent. Mini chocolate log was very interesting. Not too sweet which is how I like it. The wine is very pricey here - we did okay with a $29 beaujolais which was the second cheapest wine on a long menu ($28 being the cheapest). The decanter was a nice touch. Also, the custom cocktails we had to start off in the bar area were good. Overall: a top notch experience
(5)Tonia C.
Went to this past weekend for the first time. We heard extremely good reviews so our expectation was really high. We were 20 minutes late for our 5:30 reservation due to the train delay, the front desk offered us a 7:30 rebook or dine at the bar area. We chose the bar area and were able to be seated right away. The bar area is just as nice, with a table for two and the noise level was energetic which made us at ease. For starters, we had Prune Stuffed Gnocchi and Corn Veloute (Corn Soup w/ lobster tempura and truffle). The Gnocchi was very good and in good size, the prune balanced really well with the foie gras. The soup came in a plate with 2 piece of turnip chunk with thinly sliced truffle on top and a lobster tempura. Then the soup was poured from a pot in the form of grey-ish liquid (maybe due to the miso they put in). The taste was lighter than I thought but I couldn't taste any corn. I'd say the soup was just OK. For main courses, we had Pekin Duck (3 ways) and Milk-fed Porcelet. The duck was really good and packed with flavor. But I can't say the same thing for the piglet. Coming from Asian families, roasted milk-fed piglet is a prized dish during celebrations for its tender juicy meat and cripy skin. But what we had at No 9 Park can only be passed as a good tender pork chop, too dry for a piglet. Our waiter recommended 2 desserts: the Carrot Biscuit and the Coconut Cremeux. Since I don't like cinnamon, we had to pass the carrot biscuit and just share the coconut cremeux. The dessert turned out to be one of the best we've had, both in terms of taste and presetation. It came with 2 small chunks of chocolate, 2 pieces of smoked banana and 2 pieces of cashew cluster and a coconut creme on top of cocoa bits. The flavor of each piece was distinct and unique. If I could, I would give this place a 3.5 star for 3 of the dishes we liked and the good service we received from the wait staff. There were still 2 dishes we thought were just OK. The interior decoration and ambience are not that impressive for its class. The total plus tip came in over $150 and we had a $100 certificate to apply to it. There are definitely equally good if not better places we can go for less than that. Regarding some of the preview comments on the portion size, I think they are pretty decent indeed. The dishes may seemed small because they didn't put to much of useless decoration, but instead gave you solid portion of what you ordered. We felt very full afterward. All in all, it's a good meal although I wouldn't come back in a rush - OK, maybe I will come back just for desserts
(3)Carolyn S.
t's not often that I have the opportunity to try out a fabulous restaurant for free. And when the chance came along, I took full advantage. We unanimously voted to go to No. 9 Park for an end-of-semester dinner celebration. As we were a large group and the restaurant is relatively small, we were given a prix-fix menu. Typically I would be irritated by the forced limitation, however, the options were so tempting I couldn't be bitter for long. I started out with the truffled gnocchi with Maine lobster, fresh peas and mushrooms. These hand-made pillows of deliciousness arrived steaming hot and served on a FABULOUS lobster cream sauce. The bits of lobster were perfectly cooked, the peas were al dente and the little mushrooms rounded out the flavors. I sopped up every bit of sauce with the crusty bread that was constantly replenished by our retinue of waiters. For a main dish I choose the prime sirloin, served with potato galette, short rib wrapped in swiss chard and a sauce made with bone marrow. The steak was tender and perfectly cooked. I could have done without the sprinkling of salt on top (it masked the flavor of the meat) and the short rib wasn't the best I've ever had. However, as a complete dish, I would say it was well-worth the price (esp since I wasn't paying!) For dessert I opted for the chocolate and cardamom mousse with Williams pear sabayon and salted butter glace. The mousse was not too sweet and deliciously chocolatey. The salted butter glace wrapped in a paper thin butter cookie and served with a dollop of whipped cream or crème fraîche perfectly complemented the intensity of the mousse. Our server, with impeccable manner, offered a selection of cocktails before dinner. The flight of No. 9 Park specialties included a fabulous pear martini, a pink campari drink and a gin based cocktail with fresh lime and mint. All were wonderfully constructed. When asked for a wine recommendation I was offered a full-bodied Sirah, but then served a wine "even better" according to the server. It was a wine made specially for No. 9 Park: spicy, aromatic and a perfect complement to the sirloin. The combination of fabulous food and impeccable service ranks this restaurant above most others in Boston. The waiters were always available, but not intrusive; the host was friendly and paid close attention to our party. I liked that the service was well-mannered, but not pretentious. Certainly a splurge (all told, our meals would probably break the bank of a graduate student) but entirely worth the investment.
(4)Allen G.
I have yet to eat in the dining room but I ate in the cafe and was extremely impressed. Clearly a lot of love went into everything and the cafe experience was a tasty, non-pretentious laid-back affair. Having this limited experience coupled with a night at The Butcher Shop it is clear why Barbara Lynch's reputation extends outside of Boston.
(5)Marni J.
Reservations Only pls. Or else you are not going to eat. They do offer a smaller menu on the bar side. No. 9 Park is definitely one of the best restaurants in Boston. It's an Culinary experience. . .which means smaller portions, Prices are high but reasonable given that the food can give your taste buds a good trip. I would compare their food more or less to the great restaurant "AUREOLE" at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas in a smaller scale. Decor is classic sophistication. Service is in the general-excellence level. This restaurant is frequented by politicians & the Beacon Hill Power suits crowd. Take your date for a very Special Treat or impress your potential BIG client. *
(5)Bianca G.
Finally got to dine at No. 9 Park a couple of nights ago and it was fan-freakin-tastic. Really, really good, especially - oh especially! - the foie gras. My friend joked that the whole table (all 5 of us ordered it) had a collective foie-gasm. Everything was perfect, down to the very last detail (even the butter served with the crusty bread was so gloriously rich and creamy). The cheese selection was amazing, and our charming server went through every cheese in detail. And I like the freebies that the chef sent our table (tuna tartare app, plus the salty chocolaty squares that came with the bill). The place was really cozy (a positive term for "really cramped") but the lighting was low and romantic and this would be a wonderful place for a big-splurge date night. No wonder this place received so many accolades (and can justify the sky high prices). Mouthwatering food, seductive plating, intimate setting, impeccable service. I'd love to go back!
(5)Alexandra L.
I haven't had the chance to have the full No. 9 experience yet, but I went there for drinks for a friends birthday (who happened to also be a former employee) and we had a fantastic time. The drinks were stellar and the service was fabulous. They were very accomodating for our large party in the bar area - and we had a spectacular time. I can't wait to get back to experience the tasting menu.
(5)Kathy M.
Went there for my husband's birthday in July. Had let them know beforehand, and so we were seated at a fabulous table in the front with a park view. Dinner was fabulous--Colorado Lamb Saddle, Roased Rib Eye. Had the prune stuffed gnocchi for an appetizer (of course), which didn't disappoint. The service was perfect -- and the dinner was well-paced. My only complaint was the wilted brown edge on the one mint leaf in my cocktail. Sounds rather trite, but everything else was so perfect, and this just stood out. (doesn't someone check this kind of stuff?). But, I'll just let that go and will definitely go back.
(4)Andrew B.
No. 9 is one of my favorite bars to make a night out of. Ordering drinks is less of a stressful process and more of an adventure as one of the many fantastic bartenders guides you on a certifiable journey of drinks throughout the night. They will remember who you are and what sorts of drinks and food you enjoyed when you return another night, which has the wonderful effect of making you feel right at home. The food is amazing, and I will always have at least a desert tray if not a full meal whenever I'm there enjoying their impeccable service. Not many places can live up to their inflated prices. No. 9 is worth every penny.
(5)Jess P.
If you are having the kind of week where you need to feel momentarily like royalty, head to the cafe at No. 9 Park. The cafe/bar menu is cheaper than the restaurant menu, but just as swoon-worthy. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed, and the bartenders are the friendliest in Boston, not to mention the most innovative. Ryan was featured recently in Food&Wine (Jan '06). The gorgonzola fondue (lamb and brioche for dipping) is out of control. Their seasonal martinis are also killer (look for the watermelon in summer, and the apple brulee in fall).
(5)Christina N.
Our service was phenomenal, which really took the dining experience above and beyond our expectations. Our server was amazing-- such a cheery disposition, and explained everything well. Her descriptions of all the food and wine were perfect. Everything was perfectly timed, even our valet [will get to that later]. The dishes always arrived at the right temperature.. this is definitely a leisurely dinner; not something you'd want to rush. As far as the food, we loved the wine parings, and everything seemed to come together fairly well. There is a lot of food, and the portions are on the larger end for the French portions they are... so I'd refrain from eating a lot during the day if you're going for the chef's tasting menu (which I'd highly recommend). There is also a lot of wine [at least for me] with the wine tasting... but we didn't particularly want to make any choices this evening, so we went with pretty much everything. I love the unsalted, fresh butter and the fleur de sel with the fresh rolls. The first three seafood courses were lovely-- tasted great, and were slightly more adventurous than the duck and the beef dishes. We opted for the prune stuffed gnocchi- absolutely heavenly and a must if you visit. The duck was good, but it wasn't as interesting as the previous courses. The beef was great too, and I didn't know turnips could taste so good... but a little conservative [although I don't know if you can do very much with beef]. Do opt for the cheese dolly if you're not full yet. My SO loves cheese [sometimes more than me], so it was a given we would get some cheeses. We're not much for strong blue cheeses, so we got three milder cheeses-- a gouda, a young blue, and a brie-like cheese [I don't remember, although it's not brie]-- which were all great, but I loved the gouda the most. SO loved the the brie-like one. The palette cleanser afterwards was pleasant since I like grapefruit, and it did its job. The dessert was divine... chocolate and maraschino cherries like how maraschino cherries are supposed to be. yum. We also got some tea, which was decent.. mostly just to get something warm after that rich dessert and all the wine. The sea salt chocolates are good, but the [I think] passion fruit or fruity something was so good... Thankfully, the meal took three hours, so everything could digest a bit. After our meal, we left the car for another two hours (which our server said was just fine), and came back. When we handed the valet guy our ticket, he said, "oh, you just came in time" and led us outside, where another guy was sitting in our car, driving to the curb... strangely prophetic, much? We didn't ask questions, and just left because it was that strange. I don't think he went in a joyride either, since the gas and mileage were not drastically different. Perhaps they move the car every two hours or something. Anyways, all in all-- a perfect experience.
(5)Laurinda U.
I was here for Restaurant Week last week and thought it was good but not spectacular. I ordered the calamari, crispy pork loin, and duet of cheeses. The calamari was three mouthfuls and while the pork loin was very filling (read heavy), it's very reminiscent of what you can get in Chinatown. The service was very good. This is a place you go to say you've been and not really for the food.
(3)Jennifer L.
Dragged kicking and screaming all the way through Boston Commons, I was forced into No. 9 Park for a martini with Fernet in it. We arrive to find out it's not just Fernet in a martini, but a martini made with some other stuff and Fernet FOAM. It's just wrong. But fine, some people like Fernet, I get it. Bummer for him, they were all out of Fernet foam, but Joe, the guy who these drinks were named for, said he'd get him something else Fernet based - the Toronto I think? The two of us with functioning tastebuds went for some of the sweeter house specialties. Hers was something fresh and lime-y, mine made with pear (garnished with a dried, near paper thin slice of pear). We all thought we got the best one, so it seems things worked out just fine. The space was minimalist elegance, but I thought it felt a little bit cold. The service however was absolutely stellar, so I can only imagine the attention you get when dining here. I'm confident it's worth five stars (and for the prices they're charging it had better be), but as I couldn't force myself to take even one more bit of food, even at No. 9 Park, I have to reserve my final star for a day when I do.
(4)Sarah k.
Maybe I had high expectations based on reviews. It was my 12 year anniversary, I did some research and wanted to find the best restaurant in Boston to celebrate, so we picked No.9 Park. Maybe I've been ruined because I ate at Le Bernadin (Chef Eric Ripert's 3 Michelin star restaurant) a few months ago and have never experienced such amazing, attentive service (amazing food too). We were treated like royalty, seriously. Well back to No.9 Park. I was under the impression that No.9 Park was one of the best restaurants in Boston, so I assumed I would be getting food and service on the level of Le Bernadin. Waiting over 20 minutes for a table was not a good way to start the night (we had reservations). The food was pretty good 7/8 out of 10. But the service lacked, especially for a "fine dining" restaurant and the prices they charge. Our waiter that handled us for the first 4 dishes of our 7 course tasting was nice. Nothing above and beyond but nice enough. Then for the last 3 dishes he disappeared and we had a new waiter who sucked (inattentive, little knowledge of the food he was serving). I guess our first waiter got off his shift? who knows. Anyways, the end of our meal was kinda ruined by our shitty waiter. I would've given this place a 3 but for the price we paid, the service was not up to par. We each got the 7 course chef tasting with the wine pairing, so our bill was over $500. For that much spent, you should have an amazing, memorable experience, like the one we had at Le Bernadin for $600. Hopefully, Barbara Lynch's other restaurant, Menton will give me the fine dining experience I'm looking for in Boston.
(2)Joyce Y.
THE best restaurant in Boston. Period. Luckily, I have wealthy friends who take me here for birthdays. Appetizer, dinner and a glass of wine here literally cost an entire week of groceries at Wholefoods. But don't let that stop you. The service is magical- silverware appears out of thin air, food is presented graciously, and the breadcrumbs swept away before you can blink. And the food... I weep upon my first bite of the prune stuffed gnoccis with foie gras. The ever creative Chef Barbara Lynch must be endowed with the finest taste buds in the world. Come here with that special someone for that extra special occasion. You won't regret it.
(5)Deepa C.
came here for a business dinner on saturday and was blown. away. oh. my. god. i was new to the company so i wanted to see what everyone else was getting before i ordered (if people were going to get wine, apps, etc), so when they suggested the tasting menu (the whole table has to get it) i was thrilled (but tried not to show it too much:) ). we had a few dietary restrictions (no dairy for some, no shellfish for others, no red meat/pork/goat for me) and the kitchen handled it superbly. we were all amazed. we had heirloom tomatoes, scallops with this mushroom puree, oyster risotto, poached lobster (for two of us, everyone else got pork belly), seared tuna (everyone else got goat - which they loved), a grapefruit sorbet course and dessert. now the dessert was something else. everyone got this white chocolate accented chocolate dish with ice cream (the non dairy's got a sorbet) but i got something else altogether. when asked why, the waiter came back from the he kitchen and said that the white chocolate in everyone else's dishes had an animal by product, so he brought me one without. we were floored at the attention to detail. every dishes was better than the last; i felt like a queen. the waitstaff was flawless. all 6 of us were served at the same time; there was no waiting for people to get their food to start. dishes were cleared and utensils seamlessly replaced. water glasses and wine glasses were filled and we were in want of nothing. with the wine, the cocktails (i had the pisca one - superb, the rainforests martini looked good as well), the 6 tasting menus and the cheese course, the bill must have approached $1000, but i will definitely be back with the hubby. we may not go as all out as we did for the meeting, but it is an experience i want to have again (and again).
(5)G N.
We came here after making last minute reservations on Opentable on a Tuesday night. Fabulous dining experience. Service is smooth, knowledgeable, and seamless. Exceptional cocktails, well balanced flavors. I would advise the specialty drinks. There are tasting flights if you can't decide. The chef's 9 course tasting menu was tempting, but looked like too much food. We ended up getting the prix fixed 3 course dinner. We each ordered something different and shared our courses (in effect creating a 6 course tasting menu for a significant discount). Each course was layered with different tastes and textures. The portions are artistically arranged and small, but each bite was heavenly. They are also very rich bites, and we were stuffed at the end of the meal. For appetizers we had the Veloute de Morue (cream of salt cod soup) and prune stuffed gnocchi (prune dumplings wrapped in a soft potato dough). Our mains were the Milk-fed Porcelet (pork belly? with crispy skin) and Atlantic Monkfish (accompanied by a seared oxtail meat patty - the real star of the dish). Our waiter matched wines to our dishes. I can't remember what they were, but they accompanied the food well. We had perfectly pressed expresso, nutty and creamy with no bitterness. For dessert I opted for a cheese platter (with a wonderful creamy stinky robiola and a unique aged Dutch blue cheese) and my wife had a sumptuous chocolate torte. No. 9 Park has the best food in town (L'Espalier coming in a close second), and ranks among my tops in the country. Expensive, but worthwhile. I'll spring for the chef's tasting menu the next time.
(5)Lauren W.
I really, really wanted to like this place. I will say, the food was excellent (although that's to be expected when you're paying this kind of money), and the service was good -- once the meal actually got started. Two things really irked me before that, though. First, they were late with our reservation by about 15 minutes (they were very apologetic, but I hate waiting), and second, they didn't bring us the wine list, or tell us about the tasting menu (which we specifically came for) until we asked about both. But, whatever. The cheese cart was so amazing that it basically redeemed the whole experience. The bottom line? Yes, it was a good meal, but I won't be back in a hurry -- I expect a bit more from a meal that came to a thousand bucks for the four of us.
(3)Tim S.
we had the 7 course tasting menu with wine pairings ($112 & $75). summary - 2 of the food courses were great. the others were ok, but not memorable. 1 of the wine pairings was perfect - the others were either ok or awful. despite the extensive (and expensive) wine list, this restaurant is not good a matching wine to food. details - 1st - peekytoe crab. nice start to the meal - light and pleasant. sparkling french wine was blah. 2nd - pasta with scallops. nice taste, but the pasta was dried out. not al dente, but actually dried out - like it had been cooked and then sat for a bit under a heat lamp. wine pairing was nice (dry, slightly smoky white). 3rd - sea bream. very nice. crispy skin, perfectly cooked, tasty greens. wine pairing was *disgusting*. (ridiculously sweet reisling.) 4th - sweetbreads. well cooked. served with a mushroom/truffle "soup" (more like a little bit of extra sauce on the plate) that tasted nice, but looked kinda gross. they also were using these weird little chinese vegetables that literally looked like grubs. they didn't have much flavor but did add some crunch and weirdness to the plate. wine pairing was ok. 5th - lamb. this dish was amazing. (if only the others were up to the same quality.) loved, loved, loved it. wine pairing was also perfect. 6th - intermezzo. nothing memorable at all. some fruity frozen thing. 7th - desert. carrot cake. this was unbelievably disappointing. there were two itsy bitsy pieces of carrot cake and a bunch of candied carrot bits strewn about the plate. uninspired and almost flavorless. wine pairing was poor - (sweet muscat). service - friendly, (mostly) knowledgeable, and helpful. however, there were several missteps. 1. first round of sparkling white that was poured was flat. they had to come back and pour from a new bottle. 2. they brought the wrong cutlery for one course and had to come back, completely clear the table, and reset it. 3. one of the servers told us our dish came with cornells. she meant to say "quenelles". ROFL i'm being so harsh, primarily because of the price. for ~$200 per person, i expect an amazing experience at every course, and this didn't come anywhere near that. i've had *much* better overall experiences at other (and cheaper) boston restaurants. i would not return.
(3)Kirs P.
Husband and I went to No. 9 after my swearing-in ceremony to become all lawyerly and stuff- a lovely lunch to celebrate the accomplishment. We wanted something fancy, and for the most part, got it. But, there were just a few things that couldn't bring No. 9 to the mighty five star level. When we first arrived there was no one manning the maitre'd station. We had to stand around for several minutes waiting for someone to acknowledge our presence. Kind of irritating. Once someone figured out we were there we were seated promptly. Perhaps it was just because I was already slightly irked for having to wait right away, but it seemed to take an inordinately long time to get menus. So far, I wasn't impressed. Luckily our waiter, Joe, turned out to be awesome. Fine dining waiting is an art form, and he did a very good job. It's tough to find that perfect level of attentiveness without seeming pushy. Once Joe was on duty, and not the flighty hostess, things started going very smoothly. I ordered the 3 course Prix Fixe meal (a steal at $26) and Husband ordered the well-fleet oysters and Cacciuco. My meal started off with a very nice gazpacho- really nice texture and flavor. It didn't just taste like V8 in a bowl, which is the fate of many a gazpacho. The oysters were presented beautifully, but were a bit on the salty side. It probably didn't help that the shells were actually positioned on mounds of salt. (Can something become salty through osmosis?) Next came our main courses- I had brandade (which I had no idea what it was- thank god for google on my phone- it turns out it's a potato and cod thing). I liked it- very light and tasty. But nothing was better than my Husband's scallop in his dish- it was perfect. (I also managed to pick out a bottle of wine that went pretty well with the dishes- they had a great wine list. A little on the pricier side, but then, this is a pricier side restaurant). My meal came with a dessert, but we also opted to get a cheese plate. They had a great selection of cheeses- some I'd never even heard of before. Even though we had ordered the 3-cheese plate Joe added on a slice of his favorite, which we had toyed with getting, but opted for something more exotic. We should have listened to him to begin with- it was a perfect slice of cheddar. And, as an added bonus, he brought out a glass of an amazing desert wine- free of charge. The desert was simple (cherries, cream, and a little scoop of cherry ice cream) but delicious. And the final sign of a good restaurant: a decent cup of espresso. So, the reason for four stars? Well, the little annoyance at the beginning and, quite frankly, the ambiance. It was lacking. I wouldn't call the place stodgy or stuffy- it was just incredibly boring. The whole place looked a little worn down- and the grey walls and chintzy looking chandeliers didn't help. It just wasn't a very warm or welcoming place. And, finally, for the reputation this place has, I really wanted to be blown away by the food. It was good, but I wouldn't say great. Honestly, if it wasn't for our waiter, there's a good chance No. 9 would have gotten only three stars.
(4)Sutanuka L.
very happy with the food. simple but nice and delicious.
(5)Ariela M.
Wonderful dining experience, both the service and the food itself. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the wine list and helped us choose a great bottle of wine. We had the signature appetizer (prune stuffed gnocci) which was delicious. I had the duck, and the other people had the pork and the striped bass. We all enjoyed our dinners immensely; the food is wonderful and presented in a unique and creative way. We had the chocolate ganache for dessert, which was also great. I know other people have complained about the atmosphere being stuffy, but I did not find that to be the case. The servers were very polite, and overall it was a great experience. The crowd is definitely older and more "businiess" oriented rather than couples (that's what you get being near to beacon hill and all!) but everyone was very nice to us. I would definitely come back.
(5)Abdullah A.
Perhaps the poshest restaurant in Boston. The atmosphere is rich...I mean it screams "what financial crisis?". Great cocktails, but honestly the food did not blow me away. I appreciate fine dining, but for some reason this one did not hit the right note.
(3)Leo S.
Probably one of the best places to eat in Boston and still felt a little something was missing. Decoration was completely off and not deserving of such a place (think about hard wood chair, very poor (think cheap) lighting on the low height ceiling. Service was prompt, polite and knowledgeable. While waiting for the food we were served very unwelcoming bread buns (hard and cold) with uninspiring butter. Food however was divine and their signature dishes had something original of a blend between new American and new Italian (gnocci with foie gras and prunes, soft shell crab risotto for appetizer, cripsy halibut with apple sauce and slowly cooked veal loin for entrees). Desserts could do much better, in particular their chocolate cherry biscuit. The olive clafouti is a creative twist of dessert, but is the goal of dessert to be creative of perfectly executed? Philosphy talks in the restaurants would be interrupted by sights of multiple ostensible dates in the restaurant. Would come back if a minimal effort would be done on decoration and price tag. Wine list could do much better too for the French snob that I am.
(4)jenilee p.
ask anyone to list out the top five find dining establishments in boston, and surely no. 9 park will be among the best three of those top five. though i had had my doubts about the restaurant being over-hyped, i was impressed. on a bitter cold friday night, one is immediately greeted by gentilemen opening the restaurant doors situated in a street lit by the glow of the massachusetts state house. through the doors to the dining room, you are likely to spot massachusetts politicians and other statesmen getting a well needed drink during these difficult economic times at the bar. generally, diners themselves seem to be a good mix of boston's wealthy regulars, "noobs" who had been brought on a date by a companion that felt the need to $$$ impress ("you had me at no.9 park..."), and a few fortunate in-betweeners out for a special occasion, like myself. now a few items of note, a la "why you should come here": a) the service is flawless. not stuffy, as one may expect, but each server comes across as genuinely excited about the food they serve, and knowledgeable about each ingredient and intent of said ingredients by owner chef barbara lynch. and they smile at you, charmingly content that they are adding to the enjoyment of your meal. b) the sommlier is tremendously skilled. now, i am not wealthy enough to be overly knowledgeable about wine. however, i think anyone can determine the difference between a good wine, a nasty wine, and that some wines bring out the flavor of a dish better than another. this sommlier has managed to select wines for each course of no. 9's tasting menu that complement the flavor of the various dishes, but also selects bottles that many even adept palates have not seen before. our servers delighted in describing the popularity/history of each maker, and even once went in the back to show us a bottle of a special mix commissioned specially for the restaurant. c) a fine french chef possesses two skills: 1. perfectly cooked proteins. 2. interesting and flawless, textural purees and sauces. these are two elements that must be paid particular attention when dining at no. 9 park. and now onto the food. hamachi tartare - a chopped top notch quality yellowtail is served up as a tartare, adorned with raw quail egg so that the yolk sits atop the square-molded fish. a helping of onion fragrant soubise is dolloped on the side of the main ingredient, and a half teaspoon of paddlefish caviar is gingerly placed aside the yolk. steamed black bass- a wonderful little cut of steamed black bass is served barely cooked to preserve the ultimate tender, but not stringy texture. the sauce was a miso foam with just a touch of miso fragrance that did not overpower the dish. show stealer? the dish contained the finest tiny day boat scallops i have ever eaten, literally seared to the peak of their sweetness. homemade ricotta gnudi- i fully suspect that barbara lynch was exercising her pasta muscle on this little dish. gnudi has a pillowy consistency, a fluffier version of gnocchi. it was served in a pesto-type sauce of arugula and almonds and consume. terrine of foie gras- the smoothest foie gras terrine i've tasted outside of paris: with sprinkled fleur de sel, a pinch of ras el haout (spicy middle eastern ground spices) is presented on the side, and coconibs on one end of the terrine block. underneath is a carpacchio of sliced yellow beet. dueling pureed beet sauces finished the dish: red vs. yellow. clever, creamy and sweet to the last lick. squab en crepinette- one slice of breast of squab is seared rare and stuffed with foie gras. a second is simply seared to perfection. thirdly, a leg of squab is seared rare and angled onto a rectangle of cooked macomber turnip. all is served on a salted wine reduction sauce. a game bird we rarely see, cooked perfectly. colorado lamb loin- IT'S TRUFFLE SEASON! tender, seared cubes of lamb loin join quartered roasted brussel sprouts, and wonderful sliced black truffle (perigord truffle), and two separate sauces, one which resembled a lamb wine reduction, and a second that was fragrant with truffles at the moment our server placed the plate. unforgettable. after a palate cleanser and cheese course (definitely order the cheese course, and make sure to catch the spanish queso azul de valedon and the tomme de savoie), we received a trio of panna cotta for desert. as it was my bigger half's birthday, his plate had scrolling letter work in chocolate congratulating his special day- a product of conspiring with my favorite server. the panacotta: coconut & curry, honey & sesame, and cardamon & yogurt were a wonderful light end to the meal. overall, i think everyone should visit no.9 park for a special occasion, and when learning to appreciate fine cooking techniques. the tasting menu is a splurge to be had just once, but i will return again when i can to order a la carte, seeking out my favorite proteins... and maybe some serious raw milk cheeses. well done, barbara.
(5)patti t.
Great food, ambience and of course the cocktails.
(5)Flora B.
Went for drinks after dinner. It seemed kind of old and stodgy...
(2)Jason F.
Leaves you truly breathless. If you go, and I hope you do at least once in your life, you must get the tasting menu paired with wines and cheese to finish. You won't know what hit you. The most exquisite food in Boston.
(5)S A.
It was ok. The food was good, drinks were good, service was good. I just didn't think it was amazing. I'm a big foodie and French is my favorite cuisine so I'm used to small portions but a couple dishes were just ridiculous. I think there's better restaurants at the same price point.
(3)Brandon L.
I heard so much about this place how it's supposed to be the best restaurant in boston, etc...yes i only went there once but based on my experience (since i've been to just about every expensive place in boston)....this was not so. It was fine but not really the best. I told the waitress to prepare my fish low salt and under cooked but it came crisp and salty. We all know french type of restaurants like to prepare dishes with heavy sauce and high in salt but they should at least try to accomodate when a customer is asking a healthier version. My date who's also a foodie was not very impressed either. The wine was so so. If you're looking for a better place try the Bristol Lounge at the Four Seaons and their wine menu and lamb is also much better.
(3)Kate B.
Honestly, the service, including the valet, was the best part of my experience at No. 9. The food did not strike me as anything spectacular. Good, but not all that special given the price and the tiny portions. I don't think it lives up to the food hype, but I felt the same way about Lynch's 2 other restaurants, B&G Oyster and the Butcher Shop. The recurring theme seems to be that the vibe and "experience" are more important than the food. I felt that I could've enjoyed dinner just as much at any number of less-hyped Boston restaurants, and at a much lower price.
(4)David D.
I'm gonna say, best bartenders in the nation. This place is unbelievable. I actually can't say enough about the drinks here. Personal favorite is the Tom Collins, but anything you order will be amazing. Not to mention you can ask the bar tender the history behind any drink and he will tell you, in detail, everything you could possibly want to know about it. The price is 100% worth it.
(5)Kally Z.
This has been one of the restaurants that I have been very excited to try. Yes, the place is very nice and quaint, even romantic. The waitstaff was very attentive and polite. The food, not so impressed with, I had four courses and nothing stood out as great to me or even good. It is extremely overpriced for what it is. I think they are trying way too hard with the menu, I had something with chestnuts in it, I think they forgot the chestnut and just put the shell, I could have lost a tooth on it. The entrees are $40.00 plus and my fish came out cold. I would have sent it back, but it just felt too uncomfortable at a place like that, to ask them to heat it up. Even the dessert was nothing to go crazy over. I am very disappointed with a place I was so looking forward to. I agree with the other review, that B & G is much better and alot more relaxed.
(3)Lynda M.
I am on the fence about this one. For all the hype about this place I guess I expected more. Stuffy atmosphere and so so service. Food was good but there was very little of it. My entree looked like an appetizer. For the money I would rather head to the Fed!
(3)Joseph C.
The staff was amazing; the food was well thought out and executed; the wine list was unique and wonderful. With a view of Boston common and the State House from the small, elegant dining room I cannot imagine a better dining experience. We had the prix fixe as we did not want to be too full nor have had too much to drink at the end...it was perfect. I had heard rave reviews of the prune filled gnocchi appetizer which was amazing...topped with crispy foie gras it was a true indulgence. The corn agnolotti was equally impressive for a first course. The duet of guinea hen was a flavorful and well executed entree...simply perfect! The seared yellowfin tuna with octopus confit was lacking flavor, and was not well thought out. The staff was amazing and after returning that dish, we had halibut with a complimentary wine pairing...it was perfect as well. For desert we chose the cheese cart...many choices, every cheese was amazing. This would be my top choice for an amazing dinner in Boston...a must!
(5)N A.
This restaurant defines excellence. My girlfriend had the seven course I had the three course and sampled each of hers. The waitstaff were beyond attentive providing detailed descriptions of each unique course. They even provided complimentary courses so I didn't have to sit there without food while she ate. Our waiter kneweveru wine by heart and reccomended the best Riesling I've ever tasted. I was skeptical at first because usually the hype is beyond the restaurant but in this case it was all o could have hoped for and more. Would go back as often as possible. The menu is always changing.
(5)Elizabeth M.
I went here recently to impress a friend. We just wanted to sit at the bar but it was full so the host sat us at one of the tables next to the bar while we waited. (I thought this was strange) A server came over and we ordered some drinks while we looked through the menu. About 15 minutes later, we hadn't gotten our drinks and began to look around for our phantom server. A few seats opened up at the bar and we said the hell with it and took the opportunity to relocate. We sat, and without ordering anything from the bartenders, he was immediately served a beer and, myself, a flight of cocktails... Not at all what we had ordered, so naturally, we were confused. After a few minutes they realized the mistake and all was remedied. The food here is so delicious and the bartender was so charming that, by the time we left, the original encounter was laughable.
(4)Eli G.
Just went here for lunch and I must say it is impressive. I was under dressed in my jeans, t-shirt and puma jacket, but they did not treat me badly. The food was top notch with very interesting flavors. The one problem was slow service, but that fits here and would have been fine for dinner. Next time I have 4 hours to kill I will def try the 8 course tasting menu, sounds amazing!
(4)Scott P.
Who should eat here: Highly recommend for anyone living in the Boston area looking for a unique 5 star dining experience. Also highly recommend for visitors. 1 Star - Lacking/Turn Off 2 Stars - Needs Work, But fixable 3 Stars - Adequate 4 Stars - Near perfect, rough edge here or there 5 Stars - Can't get much Better Ambience/Atmosphere: 4.5 stars. Very nice comfortable atmosphere, nothing is over the top, but I would describe the feel as modest elegance. The bar/cafe in the front is nice, and has a great vibe, good for a drink if you are in the area, and just want to get a feel of the restaurant. I was surprised with how young the crowd was (30 to 45), as sometimes these uber-upscale places can be a bit snooty, with a bitter crowd. Not here. Very refreshing. Service: 5 stars. Overall the staff at No. 9 park is fantastic. I have to say they did everything perfectly. They were never in our face, kept the meal at the perfect pace, and were extremely accommodative in every fashion. Our main waitress had a great feel for the menu, and a great understanding about how and which wines to match with our food. To me the staff here views their positions not as jobs, but as careers, they are professionals and you will be able to tell this immediately. Food: 5 stars. My favorite part of the experience. Hands down the best food I have had in Boston to date. They have a chef's tasting menu that looked super tasty, but it was a little bit too much food for us so we opted for the a la carte. We started with the Prune stuffed Gnocchi and the Chestnut soup. The Gnocchi really stood out, very traditional Italian form, with little pouches of the most delicate dough filled with a rich interior. Not the little belly bombs of dough you get most places. Devine. The soup was very tasty, especially given the chilly weather out. The chef then brought us out sweatbreads on the house, because he thought the dish would go spectacular with the first wine we ordered. I thought this was really cool, and really makes a place like this stand out, they want you leaving having had nothing but a perfect experience. Oh, and the sweatbreads were awesome (and I am not really a fan of organs). For main dishes we had the venison and the squab. Both dishes were incredible, and I would highly recommend both. Everything was cooked to perfection, and the flavors really were perfect. Next the cheese tray. All I have to say is save room. The tray contains about 15 different rare cheeses, we tried 5, and all were interesting and delicious. Unfortunately I can't remember any of the names of the cheeses we had. For dessert we had the bittersweet Ganache. This was the only real downer of the meal. It was good, but I guess my expectations were too high. Maybe try something else, not that memorable. Wine: 5 stars. Very extensive list, with moderate pricing. There our a couple of real standouts about the wine program here. First the staff is very knowledgeable about the list, a rarity. They have an great understanding on which wines best complement the food. Secondly, their list is not just a whose who of producers, it is a well thought out group of wines designed to best bring out the experience of the food. Thirdly, is you don't have to spend an arm and a leg. You can go there if you want, but they also have some really spectacular selections under $100. What I would recommend is to pick your food, and let the staff then direct you to some wine choices. Overall: 5 Stars. A must try. Its not a meal, its an experience - a culinary journey. Well Done!
(5)Anonymous P.
This restaurant isn't stuffy, but it is pricey. $65 for today's Mother's Day prix fixe lunch menu. Breaking that down, that means roughly $40 for the entree, $15 for the appetizer, and $15 for dessert. These prices are above, say, Rialto, where we went last night. So the food had better be perfect. At Rialto the food was oddly perfect and unspectacular at the same time. At No 9 Park, the food was spectacular but lacking. The lobster risotto had stunning flavor of top-quality vanilla bean and caramelized orange peel--amazing. But plating was ugly, the portion was too small, and it was missing something to balance--perhaps even a few peas. The chicken was awesome. However, something interesting along with it would have been nice (and expected for $35). Dessert was very good, but I wouldn't have been shocked to get it at Burdick's for $4. Espresso was terribly underextracted, and should not have been served at a restaurant of this caliber imo. Perhaps the camel-back-breaking straw leading to a Yelp star reduction was that my mother managed to get three asparagus stalks as an appetizer and three with her entree, even though they were only four of each to chose from on the prix fixe menu. This seems like a screw-the-customer, cost-reduction move on the part of a restaurant charging $65 per meal. I feel bad giving four stars at a restaurant this good, but price matters.
(4)Me B. M.
Don't believe the hype. When No. 9 first opened, I had my best culinary expereince to date in Boston. Over the years, I have returned many times with each meal devolving into something worse than the previous visit. The past two attempts were so bad, that I was actually embarassed to have invited guests there. Not sure what went wrong, but I am not risking it again to find out.
(1)RonAnderson ..
One of the finest meals I've ever had in my life, and possibly one of the most expensive. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Impeccable service. Highest quality food. (try the braised short ribs, but all the dishes looked amazing). Definitely deserving of all the praise it gets. I was very very impressed. Be sure to make a reservation at few weeks in advance for the best dining times.
(5)Jennifer B.
Delicious, although entrees were not the best part. The lobster napoleon and prune gnocci appetizers were superb--large chunks of fresh lobster meat between apple slices, and hand-made gnocci that melt in your mouth with sweet yet savory prune filling. Exceptional cheeses and wine. Entrees were excellent, but not a standout from other high-quality restaurants. Was definitely worth the price tag, but much of the meal was not as interesting as Hammersley's Bistro, for example. Service was first-rate. Decor modern and elegant but not especially trendy. Bar area seems like an excellent option if you don't want to spend a fortune. Our dining room meal was around $200 for two people with appetizer, wine, and dessert.
(5)Ted G.
Went there a while ago and was disappointed. I had the pork belly and my wife had chicken. For the money I feel there are too many places in Boston that offer much more and better atmosphere. My meal was just fair and 9 Park feels 'clostrophobic' to me. Restaurants nearby like KO prime and Mooo are more worth the value with nicer atmosphere and the service is just as good.
(2)Pam D.
My husband, when he was my boyfriend, had a roommate who worked in the kitchen at No. 9. We went there a lot. We sampled pretty much everything on the menu, whether we sat in the cafe for an after work nosh or when it was a birthday, an anniversary or people were coming to town. On the day the boyfriend became the husband, we ate at No 9 for our first meal as husband and wife and were treated to some amazing food. Maybe once out of twenty (give or take) times was our meal not spectacular and I chalk it up to a new sous chef or an off night. Great food, creative touches abound. A bright spot on the boston culinary map. Don't know if it's on the menu any longer, but the prune (yes, PRUNE) gnocchi rocks and the gorgonzola fondue is not to be missed.
(5)suzie q.
my favorite place in the whole state. this is our go to celebratory place and it never disappoints. service is always kind, professional, and warm. They make you feel special with their way about service whether it is at the bar or in the dining room. we recently dined there after not having been in a bit and it was five starts all around. we miss the cafe menu though....
(5)w w.
Great job across the board!!
(5)Sara T.
Went here with high expectations given the hype this place gets as it is supposedly one of the best restos in Boston. Went here for anniversary so we spared no expense and got the 7 course tasting menu. Fish was overcooked and not properly seasoned and portions were very small so don't go with someone who might want to try your dish!!! I guess bottom line is the food is just mediocre so you are really just paying for the experience. Its overpriced for what it is and the ambiance is very industrial restaurant - doesn't have much character like the old L'Espalier or Upstairs on the Sq in Cambridge. I don't mind paying for good food but don't want to pay for mediocrity. I was expecting some level of creativity but there wasn't much interesting about the menu. If you are looking for someplace special, Sorrelina or Mistral is better (still lack character in terms of ambiance but better food, drinks and overall experience).
(2)Doug M.
best restaurant in Boston at the moment - definitely do the prix fixe - great wine list - only downsides are the $$$ and the fact that it's tough to get a reservation...
(5)Caitlyn H.
This bar is amazing. It hands down has the BEST drink in the city, in my opinion of course. It is called the Capetown Collins, and it's a mix of bombay vodka, simple syrup, some kind of exotic iced tea, and a sprig of rosemary. It's impeccable!
(5)Heather B.
Stellar. Treat yourself to the chef's tasting menu for the meal of a lifetime.
(5)Ashley M.
Whenever I have visitors I take them here - it is the nice restaurant not to miss while you are in Boston.
(5)D H.
if i had to judge the experience on just my meal, this place would get 5 stars. but my bf and i switched plates half way through (we always do this) and i really disliked his lamb confit. it was shockingly dry~ but my choices were spot on. i started with a pisco sour.... i always try a pisco sour if its on the menu just to see if it's authentic. it was pretty good but not enough pisco. nice consistenty and fluffy egg white though. i started with the foie gras then had the duck. finished it off with a lovely dessert wine. it was very similar to an ice wine/sauterne. it was german,... could not remember the name of it for the life of me. but it was delish. i had a bite of the other desserts that were ordered... nothing that made me want to lick the plate. the foie gras was awesome. but that's a bit unfair in that i've never really been disappointed with a foie gras. but they made up for it with the duck. o the duck. and i never order duck! but it was soooo divine. salty with a crips skin and soooo juicy. and it had the gorgeous XO sauce. this dish was very memorable~ i look forward to going to boston again to try the other dishes : )
(4)Matt W.
Wow. We heard about this restaurant's status as one of Boston's elite. We live around the corner from it, and drool with envy every time we walk by. We had dinner there for our first year wedding anniversary in June, 2006. It was a Friday night, and we were sat at 5:30 in the main dining room. First, the service is second to none. They have a small army waiting on you. We decided to try the 7 course tasting menu. We asked our waiter for a suggestion for a red wine that would pair well throughout the meal. He made a few suggestions, and we chose the wine. Since this was a special occasion, I did not care about price, and he did not mention how expensive the bottle was. He could have easily sold us a $1000 bottle, but when the bill came it was only $45. Good man. The tasting menu was fun, and excellent! I hate seafood, so they accommodated me with non seafood alternatives. The only downside about this restaurant is the overwhelming sense of entitlement some of these guests have. I thought I was on some southern plantation in the 1850's by the way the table next to us was treating the server. However, he played it off well, and never lost his cool. Another couple brought their 10 year old kid in for dinner, and acted like they came here every night. Kind of a shame that a great dining experience like No. 9 Park will be lost on that poor 10 year old who probably would have been happy with a burger. Nonetheless, it made for some good people watching! My favorite by far was the smoked dark chocolate "soup." It sounded disgusting when I first thought of smoking a brick of chocolate, but the end result was amazing. We booked our reservation on Open Table, and I indicated it was our 1 year anniversary. When the dessert course came out, the chef had drizzled chocolate on the plate that read "Happy 1st Anniversary." Excellent! One side note: No. 9 Park is currently the only place in Boston to procure Pisco, a south american liquor that is absolutely fabulous. When you go there, order a Pisco Sour, and you will not be disappointed. When we got ours, the bartender poured the bitters over the frothy egg white in the shape of a 1. Don't go here every week. Save it for a special occasion, and you will appreciate it more!
(5)Raphael F.
I came here for Restaurant Week and for the price it was definitely worth it. The best part of the meal was definitely the entrees. The hake was incredible, some of the best fish I've ever had, and the pork belly was also very good but as another reviewer mentioned the skin on the pork belly was impossible to cut. I was pretty amazed by that given that pork belly seems to be on the regular menu. We also had the salmon and foie gras appetizer. I wasnt particularly impressed by either to be honest, and I think I've come to the realization that I don't like foie gras. Although I don't remember any specifics about the dessert, they were good but not incredible, but I remember thinking that the size of both was perfect. Not overwhelming and a nice sweet end to the meal. Overall it was a nice meal, but I would not have felt as satisfied had we paid the usual fare. Lastly, contrary to most restaurant week spots, the service was excellent. Two thumbs up for restaurant week.
(4)Melissa F.
Had an absolutely amazing dinner here last night. Came here on a whim and we ended up sitting at the bar. The bartender was great, he was talkative with us but also didn't hover (and more people were sitting at the bar later on.) I had the best steak frites of my life omg. The fries were deliciously seasoned and the meat was perfectly cooked to my liking. It also didn't have excess fat which I appreciated. I inhaled the damn thing and every last fry :) had the semifredo for dessert and all I can say is that it was like a much better version of a snickers ice cream bar, and I LOVE those. Atmosphere is upscale, yet inviting. I feel it's a misconception that you have to be dressed up and fancy to come here, and while you wouldn't be out of place if you did dress up, you can also come here dressed more casually.
(5)Mai T.
Such a delightful visit we had. A cozy sexy restaurant across the way from Boston Commons. There are only two menus: a 3 course or the 7 course tasting menu. We opted for the 3 course and it was plenty. Started with the most fresh scallop crudo I've ever had in my life. Hubby started with the carpaccio, nicely beatened. We were sent to gastronomical heaven with the Halibut and the duck. I honestly was too full to enjoy dessert but I couldn't turn it down. We ended our trip to heaven with the white chocolate cheesecake and the chocolate/hazelnut bar. I forgot the name but our server, whom was super awesome, suggested it to us. Thank you again for such a wonderful anniversary dinner.
(5)Tracy M.
Everything here was perfect. From the moment you walk in the door, a great subdued, mature ambiance. We were seated a few minutes after our reservation but we got some drinks at the bar to start. We were soon seated and decided to order from the pre-fixe menu. But before that, we enjoyed some Orleans oysters. Yum! For my meal, I enjoyed the below: - Gnocchi with foie gras: rich and delectable. Really was more of an asian dumpling IMO however it was delicious. - Duet of veal: tender and tasty. Loved the different textures between the duet. - Buttermilk beignets with apricot: buttermilk and beignets, what's there not to like?!? I could've done with the apricot on the side rather than on the inside but a perfect ending to my meal! Service was impeccable. I will be back!
(5)Greg P.
In a word... sublime No. 9 Park is part of the Barbara Lynch Gruppo and has been one of the standards for celebrating special occasions among Bostonians. Located right on the Boston Common, No. 9 Park carries the elegance, prestige, and warmth of its Beacon Hill neighborhood. Steps away from the State House, No. 9 Park is a frequent haunt of business moguls, political masterminds, and those seeking to challenge their already elite palates. But more importantly, it is a place where couples, families, and friends come to mark an important occasion. In the case of my wife and me, we were celebrating her birthday. Arriving at No. 9 Park is fairly painless. Because it is near the Common, one can take public transportation (the T a great option) or drive. The Common has ample parking but the restaurant also has valet (for $21). Upon arriving, we found the staff to be very warm and friendly. I had dined at No. 9 once before and remembered how pleasant the staff are. The interior is dark but warm; elegant but not pretentious. No. 9 Park synthesizes elements from traditional Italian and French cuisine but arrives at something very unique. The menu offers ala carte options, a 3-course prix fixe menu (~$70/person), and the Chef's 6-course tasting menu (~$120/person). Given our need to celebrate, we went for the 6-course tasting menu (and added one additional course). If the desire is to enjoy a great meal but not break-the-bank, the 3-course prix fixe is a terrific option. We knew going into this that we were going all-in. The highlights of our meal included: 1) The hamachi crudo: fresh sushi grade yellowtail tuna with a buttermilk vinaigrette, sweet corn, and thinly sliced red pepper. It was a perfect, refreshing way to start the meal 2) The arctic char over a basil pea puree: the fish was fresh and perfectly seared with a incredibly savory crunchy skin. Light but with great flavor. 3) The homemade linguine with escarole, pistachios, and a butter sauce: perfectly cooked pasta with just enough resistance to the teeth. Although rich, the sauce was delicate and the flavors understated. 4) The prune stuffed gnocchi (supplemental addition) : large stuffed gnocchi with sweet prune and a foie gras sauce. The salt from the foie gras perfectly balanced the sweet gnocchi. My wife had the sauteed foie gras supplemental course and loved it. 5) The speck-wrapped squab was to this point the peak of the meal. Smoky and salty, it was served on the rare side and was juicy and tender. 6) The roasted lamb exceeded all expectations. Like the squab, it was served rare. Cooking it more would not do it justice. It was without doubt, the best lamb I have every had. My wife agreed. 7) The peanut butter mousse: served on a dense thin chocolate cake with banana ice cream, this was a great end to the meal. Like a gourmet peanut butter, chocolate and banana sandwich, it hits you in the comfort food zone! Overall, we had a blast at No. 9 Park. The food was truly sublime. But, the tasting menu experience was not to be undersold. It was a lot of fun waiting and anticipating the next part of the meal. We were seated by the window and the view of the Boston Common was priceless. Speaking of price, our dinner at No. 9 Park did qualify as an indulgence. Certainly, we will not be regulars. However, we do know where to celebrate our precious moments from now on!
(5)Jimbeau W.
Maybe it was an off night, or maybe this once-legendary Barbara Lynch bastion has just rested on its reputation too long. Evening began very comfortably, we were worried about being late so rather than take our chances with the Commons Garage we valet parked. Our table was still being set up so we waited just a minute or two in the bar and then were shown to exactly the table I had requested (by the windows with a view of the park--at least for one of us because wife had her back to the window). Server arrived quickly and mentioned water, then asked if we'd like a cocktail or wine before dinner, and then ...walked away without taking an order. Odd. However we were willing at that point to believe that this high end establishment with its mega prices follows the traditions of European dining and allows a relaxed leisurely pace. More on that later. Water arrived. And that was our sole potion for awhile until the server showed up again to ask once more if we'd like to have a cocktail and gesturing to what apparently was a beverage menu. Since we know what we want we ordered, and surprisingly instead of leaving he asked if we had questions on the menu. Well no, not at that point since we hadn't even ordered an aperitif, much less enjoyed it. He then stated that as long as he was there he'd take the dinner order. This initiated the dreaded knowledge that we were going to be rushed. There would be no leisurely romantic anniversary dinner just a constant tug of war with a waiter endeavoring to flip the table fast enough to seat another party before the kitchen closed (seems a rather futile hope on his part since it was after 8pm and we needed to get through 3 courses, but he persisted doggedly anyway throughout). But dreams die hard and there was still hope that the server and kitchen were well coordinated and would time the presentations appropriately. From this inauspicious beginning the experience went downhill. Drinks arrived-wife was offered a G & T. WRONG! How does a Hendricks Martini straight up transform into a G & T?!! Another wait, Correct drink apologetically arrives. And..you guessed it! So does the first course, right on its heels before she had a chance to lift the glass for a toast. If this was lunch at Legal one could appreciate the blazing speed but not on Sat night. And not at these prices! Next the server appeared (the actual server, part of No 9 Parks style apparently to improve efficiency is to service the table with a parade of servers (for example the wrong drink was brought by an unknown person). Might work, but the impression is impersonal and results in a confusing array of individuals all unfamiliar with you or what theyre supposed to be doing. So for the meal, which is of course really the point. I began with the pate foie gras torchon which definitely had excellent texture, very buttery and smooth, but...nothing more! Where was the sugar, the salt and the cognac? In fact if it had been a cake of butter it might have had more flavor. At least its salted. As it was you could believe it was a cake of lard. The truffle sounded like a good idea but there was none. Of that I'm certain since that flavor tends to be pretty arresting. I would have liked a glass of sauterne but no one asked. Wife had the prune gnocchi and it lived up to the reputation. Gnocchi super fresh and perfectly al dente, delicate balance of flavors. She was pleased. For the entree I had halibut and though I may have dreamed of Alaskan in this season what I was served was a cheap Atlantic flounder. Just this side of overcooked, tough and dry. Buried in a caponata so loaded with capers that all other flavor was smothered. I did wonder if the fish was a little old and the caponata was intended to disguise its deteriorating state but lets not go there. Frankly though, why would a delicate flavored fish like halibut ever be served with such overbearing accompaniment? It could have been mackerel. Maybe it was.The highlight was the burgundy (Camille Giroud) recommended by the server .Very fresh and bright and paired perfectly with the medley of flavors ( capers, artichoke.Not an easy match but this glass was very successful. Well done). Wife had the duck duet and was very pleased. Perfectly cooked. Her only comment was that the unlit corner table didn't allow her to appreciate the dish in the gloom so she had to blindly stab into the darkness on her plate with no idea of what her next bite would be. As another stranger delivered the desserts (chocolate cake and peach melba). The cake wasn't successful, tasted old, dry and without complexity. Obviously prepared offsite. But I had been hoping for Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte so I would have been hard to please with a substitute anyway. Wife loved her Peach Melba (her luck held). Kind of surprised to see that on the list since it reminds me of the old Locke-Ober or similar from the past. Conclusion: Not what it used to be. Reminded me of Olive's demise
(2)Edwin S.
I was hoping to take my wife out for a wonderful special occasion dinner for our anniversary. We had the three course prix fix. I could attribute some of the blame to my wife's wants, that evening, for our lackluster experience, but mostly I blame the food. Mind you, the food wasn't bad, in fact I feel that the staff executed a well made meal. Our foie gras was quite nice and the toasted brioche was suitably crisp and buttery (though I can't say I've had much bad foie gras and far less poor brioche). She ordered the chicken whose menu name eludes me because it was very forgettable. A short and plump serving of moist chicken breast with crispy skin and good seasoning served with a side of beans and something or another. It was just chicken. There was little innovation, experimentation, boldness or even character to it. Perhaps this was a magnificent breed of fowl with special undertones of acorns and oysters, had I the palate to experience such a delicacy. Alas, I tasted as far as chicken. Were this an $18 an entree establishment, I would have been... satisfied, but I feel that this restaurant has the talent, imagination and veritable duty to go further in all of their menu offerings. I feel the need to re-iterate that the plating, presentation, and preparation of every food item was superb, undoubtedly the work of passionate line cooks doing their very best. It was just so underwhelming, and I feel that this disappointing issue can best be demonstrated with the desserts. Raspberry cheesecake. I admit it's not the most adventurous of choices (I would have loved to see what they did with black forest gateau) but it seemed to be the only one of very few real choices, as I'm not a fan of eating fruit and cream, three scoops of sorbet, or ice cream (even if it's called semifreddo). To begin with, the cake is plated alongside a beautiful quenelle of raspberry sorbet, which was flavorful, tart and almost pleasantly pungent. The cake however, which was advertised as being white chocolate failed to deliver even the most modicum of bitter cacao. There was so much un-pursued possibility in that cake, my mind instantly drew parallels to that modern art masterpiece, textures on white canvas. All in all I'd eat it again but for the price
(2)Sungeeta A.
We came here last weekend for dinner and had an wonderful time. What's not to enjoy? Excellent cocktails, terrific food, and great service. Be sure to ask for the full cocktail list from the bar. The choices are overwhelming and amazing. We tried multiple different cocktails and loved each one. As for the food, we went with the 3 course tasting menu. For my appetizer, I got the prune-stuffed gnocchi, which went very well with the foie gras on top. I tried a bite of the sweetcorn ravioli, which was also delicious. For my entree I enjoyed the Duet of Rohan duck. While the duck was very good, I didn't love the flavor of the lentils that went with it. The dessert choices were interesting, and I decided to try the Strawberry Eton Mess, which I had read about but never seen on a menu. I have to say, the combination of whipped cream, strawberries, cucumber, and meringue was quite delicious (in addition to being unique). I feel as though I've checked something off of my bucket list by getting that dessert. All in all, it was a wonderful dinner. It's not cheap, however, and it will definitely be reserved in the special occasion category. In the mean time, we will definitely be back for the cocktails.
(4)Lawrence H.
As soon as I walked in, I knew I was in for a good night. Dim lighting and low background chatter set the mood for this Boston favorite, and I was already excited for dinner. The staff seated my friend and I at a small but cozy table. We decided to order the three course prix fixe with some additions -- the staff is happy to accommodate any bizarre alterations to your normal meal (having your cheese course first, additions of appetizers or entrees to your prix fixe, etc). To start, we had a few of the Wellfleet oysters and the foie gras appetizer. The oysters were clean and fresh, but I wished they were slightly colder. They were seemingly neglected children of the appetizer family, barely adorned with just a simple mignonette and a single lemon. The foie gras, on the other hand, was much more impressive. A thick slab of Hudson Valley (the best duck foie gras purveyer on the Eastern seaboard) foie gras pressed with duck confit was decorated with Cara Cara orange, mustard infused onion, and puree of orange, and served alongside toasted brioche. When it was brought to the table, I commented that it was a "very healthy portion of foie gras" to which the server chuckled and remarked "that's one way to put it" -- which it was! We could barely finish it lest our hearts clog with happiness and fatty glee. Our "real" first courses were the fluke crudo and the sunchoke veloute with shrimp. The fluke crudo was delicious, the sauce elevating the raw fish to a godlike status. It was adorned with olives, sliced radish, fennel, and blood orange, cute accouterments that were fun to eat. The sunchoke veloute with shrimp, on the other hand, was an unappetizing brown color and tasted muddy. The shrimp "en brik" was once a crisp shrimp roll, but sitting in the soup for an extended period of time made it soggy and unpleasant. Mains are strong. We ordered the Duet of Rohan Duck and Colorado Lamb. The duck breast was perfectly cooked, causing me to question whether it was cooked sous vide or roasted by wizards. The duck leg was even more impressive, the skin subtly melting in your mouth while crackling ever so slightly, with a tinge of bright, ducky sweetness. A side actor of rapini was flavorless though, and my dining companion pushed it to the edge of his plate in disgust. Colorado lamb was tender and the toasted farro it was served atop provided pleasant crunch, though I wish there were slightly more variety in my plate. I quickly grew bored and dreamt of more fantastic sides but the lamb kept my interest and grounded me at appropriate intervals. Desserts are fantastic. I ordered the Caramelized White Chocolate Mousse, a beautifully plated play on textures. White chocolate mousse was so creamy I started to feel high from eating it, and the crunch of pecans and dark chocolate shavings provided a gratifying contrast. Service is affable and comforting, and provided all the answers I needed in navigating the menu and deep wine list. There is a lot of great wine on the menu, but some of it may not appear on the glass list itself. I enjoyed a great glass of Robert Sinskey POV, a steal at $18, and rarely seen on any wine by the glass list. Overall, a great experience with a few forgivable missteps. But the high notes make up for the low ones and it's a steal at $69 for the prix fixe. Highly recommended.
(4)Danae K.
They have fantastic meat here! I was amazed at the quality of food. They even have a cheese table they roll around and let you select what you would like! Italian-French cuisine, with the best combination of both. First thing: bread. Delicious, with very flavorful butter on the side. My friend and I had the Prune-Stuffed Gnocchi (foie gras) which was absolutely delicious. We then split the special of the day which was a rib eye for you. Cooked to perfection, accompanied by greens and mashed potatoes. So good! I highly recommend coming here! Transportation: right next to park street station so every line (Orange, Red, Green, Silver) Cars: they have a valet parking option. Suggestion: sit somewhere closer to the front of the restaurant because by the back there are no windows.
(4)Mike F.
Amazing. Did the 4 course prix fixe, sweet corn ravioli with clam and shrimp. Followed with Colorado lamb and the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for dessert. Paired with a 2011 toscana. Also tried the prune gnocchi that the waiter claimed Julia child once raved over...I believe it. Everything was perfectly done, not a single critique. Service A++
(5)Julie B.
I was lucky enough to be surprised with a birthday dinner at No. 9 Park this year! As No. 9 Park is Barbara Lynch's flagship restaurant, it's funny that it's the last of the Gruppo restaurants on my list to try. Located downtown right next to the Boston Common, the restaurant looks and feels much like I imagine it did when it opened over 15 years ago. The interior feels a bit like an upscale steak house -- white tablecloths cover the tables like Menton, but it's a bit more casual. We were sat quickly at a corner table in the back room, which held only about seven or eight tables and had a staff of seven or eight solely for the small space. I knew immediately we were in for some great service! We decided to go all out and order the tasting menu. We started with a few cocktails, some incredible homemade bread, and some refreshing oysters. After only a few minutes, the courses started rolling out. As expected, No. 9 Park did not disappoint! From start to finish, the food and service were top of the line. The No. 9 Park tasting menu should be reserved for more special occasions (for us regular folk at least), but they do have a more affordable price fixe menu and a regular menu that sounded great. Food wise, I really enjoyed just about all of the dishes we tasted. My favorites were: First course: Roasted cauliflower with peekytoe crab, caviar and avocado Third course: Tagliatelle, burgandy escargot, artichoke, pancetta Fifth course (supplemental and shared): Seared foie gras de canard, baklava, pine nut, rhubarb Seventh course: Sirloin of beef, pommes rubochon, spruce, procini If you have never tried a tasting menu, No. 9 Park could be the right one for you. It was the perfect combination of comfort, variety and creativity.
(5)Nicky E.
Went here for drinks recently and had a fabulous night. The bartender was so on point - she warned me about a drink not being sweet like I might assume it would be. She was right to do so, it prepared me for a trip. I can't recall the name of the drink, but it was like biting into an island (I had just recently come back from a trip to the Caribbean) - it was fresh, clean, and ripe without being sweet or synthetic. Definitely one of the best imbibing sessions I've had in Boston (well, in terms of grown-up cocktails, at least). The ambiance is amazing - cozy yet elegant. Refined and at the same time innovative and interesting. I can't wait to go back for din!
(4)Sarah P.
I enjoyed a memorable birthday dinner at No. 9 Park. The impeccable, yet unpretentious service; the quietly sophisticated interior; the on-point wine and cocktail selections; and the thoughtful, if not groundbreaking, menu were much appreciated. We both opted for the prix-fixe option, which was a steal at $69 for three courses. Our entrees were good, but not knock-your-socks-off. I found the Berkshire pork heavy-handed on the salt. My husband thought the short rib was a tad underseasoned, but liked the accompanying kale, sunchoke, and mushrooms. Standouts from the meal were the salad with three kinds of beets (including one that was deliciously pickled), burrata, and glazed walnuts; the famed prune-stuffed gnocchi with foie gras in all of its decadent glory; and the caramelized white chocolate mousse which was set-off beautifully by tart honeycrisp apple and pecans.
(4)Andrew H.
Meh. It was restaurant week so I assume that the regular calendar meal is better. I assume almost any restaurant's restaurant week review loses one star... Salmon tartar - good but kind of missing any kind of excitement. I liked the texture. Gnudi (like gnocchi but made mostly of cheese) with summer vegetables super salty and low on vegetables - I had an Olive Garden flashback for a second. Also bland. Dessert was panna cotta. Again, good, but nothing to write home about. The service was fine, but not what you expect for the price tag. Decor was nice, but these higher end places should start enforcing some kind of dress code. T shirts, Levi's, and sneakers (even Sketchers) should not be OK. Basically everything you expect at a celebrity chef restaurant when you can safely assume that said chef is not in the kitchen. You can only try to copy an original so many times before the lines start to get blurry. It is scratched off the 'to visit' list and I won't be back unless somebody is treating me.
(3)Chad T.
If Boston had a Michelin Guide, No 9 Park would easily get 1 star. Upon perusing the menu, I was interested in the tasting menu but the strip steak course did not really jump out at me. However, there was no delay upon asking to substitute the lamb saddle for the tasting course, so I applaud the chef and her staff for not being so pretentious as to demand no substitutions. Here's what we had: - Artichoke Amuse Bouche, paired with a sparkling Gruner - Halibut and Eggplant Puree, paired with a rose of sancerre and grenache - Gnocchi with Hen of the Woods, paired with a Barberesca - Trio du Foie - Gnocchi Prune Pasta - Brined and grilled pork loin with braised bacon in a dill sauce, paired with a syran - Lamb Saddle, paired with a Bordeaux - Cheese cart, paired with an Austria trockenbeernauslese - Raspberry Sorbet with pomegranate dessert amuse bouche - Chocolate, white sorbet, and pomegranate - Petit Fours Apologies for the lack of specificity. I lost the paper with the detailed exact pairings. Everything here was solid and well prepared, but I have to say that nothing jumped out at me as truly innovative or fascinating. I am looking forward to trying some of her other restaurants.
(5)Elise P.
I think this is another situation where my expectations were too high. First of all, when I tried to book the reservation 4 weeks out I had the option of either 5pm or 10pm. I went with 10pm. Once we arrived 5 minutes before 10pm half of the restaurant was empty, which really made me question why I had to book a reservation so late. If I had gone somewhere like the Beehive or Craigie's at the same time all of the tables would have been full, and a 10pm reservation would be totally understandable, but here didn't make any sense based on all of the empty seats I saw. I was expecting to be wowed by every aspect of my meal. And I just wasn't. Service was fine--not great. Food was fine by normal standards, but bordering on poor for the standards I would expect to find at a place touted as one of the finest dining establishments in Boston. The signature gnocchi with prunes was just...bland. I didn't understand the purpose of the presentation of the bacon wrapped monkfish. Nothing on the dessert menu enticed me, so I went without. All in all a big disappointment.
(2)Eric F.
As one might expect, I came into No. 9 Park with much excitement and high expectations. Right away, the maitre'd greeted me and my friend warmly and while her associate offered to take our coats and bags. It was looking good, very good. Being walk-ins, we were promptly seated in the bar dining area. Our waitress came by and I quickly picked up on her exceptional manners and knowledge of the food and drink. It's not often you hear such elaborate descriptions of porcelet, duck confit, and angus sirloin amongst other offerings. Cocktails were ordered up and my No. 10 arrived soon after. Though amusingly girly looking with the pink tinge of grapefruit juice, the potency of the Tanqueray Ten and vermouth said otherwise. An Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout rounded out our selection of libations for the evening. Meanwhile, the bread was served straight from a basket with sea salt and butter on the side. Things were coming along nicely and at this point, you might be wondering: "Why the 3 stars?" The food. Now the much applauded Prune Stuffed Gnocchi was very good - tender pasta balanced by the mild tartness of the prunes. At over $3.00 a piece though, it still had more ground to cover in being worth its cost. My Milk-Fed Porcelet was beautifully presented with an assorted offering of different pork portions (shoulder, belly, sausage, and so on) along with escargot and pumpkin seed puree. However, they were all lightly overcooked and the flavors failed to impress. Likewise, my friend's Angus Sirloin was on the dry side and gritty in texture: characteristics more suited to steak from Black Angus. Suffice it to say, the entrees came nowhere close to being worthy of the hefty price and would barely even pass if they were half of the cost. Not surprisingly, we passed on desserts and left somewhat unsatisfied and still hungry. The dining experience was lovely and the staff and service were absolutely stellar - arguably the best I've seen in Boston. But the food is just not at all worth the money and isn't that what fine dining is ultimately all about?
(3)Anne W.
Went for a fancy dinner just because with some friends prepared to be floored. We decided to go with the seven course tasting menu since the waiter insisted this was the best way to experience the restaurant. We ordered two bottles of wine... and the consensus of the food is what drives my rating. The first two dishes were pretty well executed. This was the beef tartare and the diver scallop on top of the truffle puree. Then it went downhill... they gave us a ravioli filled with ricotta cheese which was just sub-par. Then it was onto the optional dishes which contained their signature dishes. The prune gnocchi really was just okay. HOW CAN THIS BE THEIR SIGNATURE DISH? They should make it their beef tartare.. it's just better. The foie gras was okay as well.. I think foie gras just tastes better warm instead of cold. The next dish was the chicken breast and chicken sausage. The chicken breast was tender and the skin was crispy.. the sausage was tender as well. Okay.. but I am never that amazed with chicken. Lamb saddle was next and that was decent but nothing out of this world. Then it was onto the two desserts... the standout was the coconut icecream on top of roasted coconut. The service is standard of what I would expect at these type of restaurants. They never asked us if we were enjoying the dishes or it was good. I would have sent some dishes back. The atmosphere was very old Boston. I think they could work on their decor. It does overlook Boston Commons. I should have gone with their three course fixed menu. Looked so much better..
(3)Gladys D.
Service was impeccable at this place: my glass would never stay empty for more than a minute, our waitress was super attentive and knowledgeable, finally, we were given a very nice complimentary dessert (we went here for my birthday). Food was good. I liked my octopus appetizer, my husband loved his gnocchi (or ravioli?) with foie gras. Entrees were good too: I had very tender fish and my husband had pork belly. Pork belly was a bit fat for him but he says it was not bad. My favorite part is desserts: complimentary olive cake was awesome. My chocolate cake was excellent as well. This is a perfect spot for a classy, quiet and romantic dinner.
(4)K. E.
ZERO stars. What a disappointment. Such pretentious BS. I had such high hopes and was really proud of myself for planning our wedding anniversary to the letter. The waiters were snobs. The food was OK, not spectacular. It certainly didn't justify the price. I understand that the eyes feast before the mouth, but this place banks WAY too much on presentation. The food actually has to be flavorful, and I don't want to leave hungry if I'm going to empty out my wallet. I should have taken Wife to Morton's, L'Andana, or someplace where I won't feel as though the staff is laughing at us in the kitchen and all the way to the bank. We won't be back.
(1)Jenelle J.
Long overdue review. We went here a second time, for some celebratory light fare at the bar - it was absolutely heavenly. I have no idea why I was skeptical of the concept of prune stuffed gnocchi, but one morsel and I was a changed woman. Props to the waitstaff about actually splitting the appetizers for us into our own separate plates, without us even asking. Barbara Lynch gets me, once again!
(5)Josephine L.
There are few better ways to celebrate the advancement of old age than a tasting menu courtesy of Barbara Lynch. No. 9 Park is one of "those" places: you hear about it endlessly, the been-theres rave about it and the want-to-be-theres salivate over it. Awards, accolades, hype--all surround this street address restaurant. Here's the skinny: The tasting menu gets a solid 4 stars for food. It's rich, creamy, American fine dining so you're not going to get exotic ingredients or really bizarre flavor combinations. "Solid" was the word we both agreed on, more or less in a good way. Strips of tuna with yellowtail garnishes in a carrot puree to start. A scallop dish, a pasta dish, several meats and the optional supplemental course of Barbara's famous prune gnocchi with seared foie gras + other foie gras continued the tasting menu. All good, all flavorful, all very solid. This is not a mind-bending culinary adventure like Craigie or O Ya. As long as you know not to expect exoticism or bizarreness, you'll be happy with your meal. Now the atmosphere is a whole other story. The service was actually quite awful for a place of this repute. We came on a Saturday night and virtually every table in our area ordered the tasting menu. Yay, for not being unique at all! Luckily, we were always 1-2 courses ahead so did not get caught up in the bottleneck of everyone around us. However, there was spotty, inconsistent service throughout. Our waitress didn't show up for 15 min after we were seated with no menus and no water. Our dishes were hurriedly explained by whoever dropped them off. No one was particularly friendly or welcoming. Tres disappointing. The company is what kept us entertained. Next to us was a snooty-looking middle-aged couple. The man requested a spot in the "private dining area" immediately upon being seated, was informed there was no room left and looked at us (and the rest of the room) with such disdain, I thought the metal was going to wither off my fork. Behind them was a loud, increasingly raucous, casually-dressed family who got so progressively drunk, I could hear them from the bathroom. But my favorite was the table of over-dressed twenty-something trust fund babies sitting in front of me. You knew they were trust fund babies by what they said, the fact that as college students, they could actually afford the 7-course tasting menu with wine pairing AND cocktails, and the aloof snobbishness with which they regarded all those around them. Their loud recounts of extravagant adventures in rich people's drawls ("Remember our friend from Daaahtmouth?") kept us giggling the whole night. So, No. 9 Park doesn't quite live up to the hype in terms of food for me, but it is an excellent people-watching spot. No matter what, you will get a night to remember. Oh, and if you decide to get the trio of cocktail samplers, make sure you like herb-y-tasting cocktails. The middle one, No. 10 Park, is gorgeous but tastes like really strong herbs. Stick with the pear martini if you want sweet, which is excellent.
(3)Matthew H.
Unquestionably one of the best meals I've ever had. We had the three-course prix fixe menu. For me, prune-stuffed gnocchi with seared foie gras, lamb, and tahitian vanilla bavarian. For her, autumn vegetable potage, duet of duck, and chocolate macaron. Everything was spectacular, the drinks were delicious, the service was flawless.
(5)Lin Z.
Excellent service as you'd expect. Got the 3 course dinner. The foie gras was the best I've ever had and very much deserve the extra money.
(5)Charles L.
It had been two years since we'd been to No. 9 Park and the memory of that previous meal could always make us drool. Based on that experience (as well as several before then), we ranked Barbara Lynch's establishment as one of the top 3 in Boston. Last week we returned with high expectations. That's the teaser. Since Yelp won't allow me to actually post the link to my full review with pictures (they say it is promotional and/or commercial even though it's just my blog), all I can do is tell you to go to the web site in my profile. It has the the good, the bad, and the ugly. The review was posted on July 16, 2012. Here's the summary of my review: The Bottom Line This was a solid meal. The dishes used top-drawer ingredients and were generally well-executed. But there was just too much lacking to justify the $$$$+ price tag. To compete at the highest level, every course, every detail has to be near perfect. But there were too many nits and exceptions to make the cut this time. The wait-staff was casual. I get it. That's the trend. But there's casual, and then there's a smart and casual with a well-dressed uniform. Many of the customers were better-dressed than the wait-staff and that says to me that they were anticipating something a bit more worthy of No. 9 Park's reputation and price tag. Back to the issue of the missed Scallop dish. I'm not sure what happened here. Maybe it was a simple mistake, I don't know. But I just can't see that happening at an establishment like (e.g.) Chez Panisse where they keep a chalk board in the kitchen of who has already served what and to which table. Maybe we were the 1 out of 1000 diners who had a fluke. Still. I went into this meal fired up and predisposed to think that No. 9 Park would serve us an extraordinary, unforgettable meal, just as they had 2 years ago and the times before that. To throw in an obligatory sports metaphor, this game was theirs to lose. Yes, many of the dishes were top-drawer and some even extraordinary. But in the end, L and I came away thinking that we could have gone to Rialto twice for the same price. I asked L to compare the Porchetta at Rialto to the Veal that she liked so much at No. 9 Park and she had to agree that the Porchetta won out. Yes we understand that it's an exponential scale when you're in this lofty price-range, but we also still believe that when one pays $$$$'s for a meal, everything -- no exceptions -- has to be perfect to warrant returning.
(3)James C.
Experienced the chef's tasting menu and wine pairings for my girl's birthday. People say it's pricey, but you're paying for an experience.. We had special dietary requests and they were more than willing to work with what we wanted/could eat. The most memorable dish was the pork jowl and scallop. This was cooked to perfection, I felt like i was chewing flavorful clouds of ecstacy. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and gave us some great insight into the wine pairings and why he chose them. He was definitely outstanding. They also brought out our 7th dish as a little happy birthday dish for her, without coming out singing and making it like a 6 year old's birthday party at chuck e cheese's. Classy, and a delicious dessert to boot. The atmosphere was very casual friendly feeling as well. I didn't feel like a stiff. Will definitely be returning here on many more occasions.
(5)Michael C.
Service was phenomenal. The atmosphere was nice and romantic. The presentation was solid. The food was good, but not that good, especially given how pricey the place is. Come here for the special occasion, not for the food.
(4)Rachel S.
The two of us arrived for a Tuesday night meal without a reservation. We sat at one of the tables in the bar area because they told us the dining room was full. No problemo. It's a little tight with folks sitting at the bar, but we were still quite comfortable. They gave us the complete menu which had a 3 course Prix Fixe menu ($69), a bar menu and a tasting menu (seven courses for $112). Entrees ala carte from the prix fixe menu are $39, appetizers $21, desserts $14. There is no listing of salads in the menu so we asked for mixed greens to start. We each then had the East Coast Halibut (with mussels and baby artichokes). It was all delicious. The portions definitely seem small with the $39 price tag but actually, I would say that the portions sizes are actually really normal for a healthy meal. So, it's not that they give you too little-- it's that they price you too much. For dessert we shared the Passion Fruit Cremeux and the Sorbet Du Jour. Both were small portions for a $14 cost, however again, I would say these were normal healthy portions for a dessert. They were delicious, sweet and striking. The service was friendly and relatively prompt (we did have to wait a bit to receive menus at first). The waiter answered our questions completely and was able to describe what we could expect from each dish. He also asked if we had any allergies, which I thought was rare and awesome. For a Tuesday night, the place was pretty full and from my experience, if you want to sit in the dining room you should definitely make a reservation. Don't forget your wallet-- super duper expensive.
(4)Emily N.
Absolutely fabulous. My family and I came on Saturday evening for a BIG anniversary celebration for my parents. From the moment we walked in we were thrilled. We had all the special treatment and attention that two celebrators of an anniversary could get. My parents were so pleased! Everything from the service to the food, to the wine was excellent. I could not find a single thing to complain about. Thank you No9 for an amazing celebration!!
(4)A C.
My 2nd time at this place. The service is excellent, from the valet to the hostess, to the runners, and waitstaff. They are attentive and courteous -- and will feel taken care of. The food is fantastic -- the portions are not supersized, like many places -- so some people may be taken aback -- but the plates aren't insultingly small, they are appropriate and you will be full. And I love the environment: small, cozy, and not loud. I'm a huge fan.
(5)Clare F.
Some places don't live up to the hype. No. 9 Park is NOT one of those places. Food? Flawless. They met every special pescetarian request of mine. And the cheese tray, MY GOD THE CHEESE TRAY. It is kept in a back hall you pass to get to the restroom. I am going to stage a full scale sting to steal that cheese tray. But at a place like this, you pay for the service. From the woman who escorts you to the bathroom to the wait staff that re-fold your napkin when you're in the bathroom to the person whose sole job it is to pour the after dinner brandies... These people are professionals and it shows.
(5)Jason L.
(4.5 stars) I am a dork. Before this meal, a friend and I were discussing palate cleansing techniques. So before I came, I had a bite of citrus, a saltine cracker, and a chug of water. That's how excited we were to eat at No 9. RW dinner review, 4 of us on a packed Thursday night...eager to try what is known as Boston's top restaurant. All the dishes were solid and above average, with spot-on seasoning. But they were just a tad shy of the 5 star "As good as it gets" territory; where, for example, I can remember all the courses I ate at Jean Georges. However, I know this is RW and I have a feeling their regular menu is a step up and will return to try their signature prune gnocchi, since I really liked their potato gnocchi. I have a feeling a future update will push it to 5 stars. All other aspects (service, plating) are in the 5 star category. Nevertheless, my 2 cents on their food: Fluke crudo w/ cipollini, serrano - the chile gave it a good kick, plated well. Potato gnocchi w/ mushroom ragu + kale - light and airy gnocchi was good. Very homemade taste. Skirt steak w/ braised flanken, potato croquette - I like the combo of beef on brisket (Midwest guy...I know and love my steak). However, the flanken under the steak was better, which seems counter-intuitive when the entree focus should be on the skirt steak. Veggies, croquette were not that exciting. Chocolate napoleon - great presentation. Napoleon itself was average, however the choc feuilletine was absolutely delicious. Lime tart - I liked this dessert better. Light, freshing, tart, with a smooth vanilla meringue Cheese cart! [see pic] Great service on par with top-tier restaurants, with timely water refills and rolls flying onto our plates as soon as we finished. Waitress a tad pushy on us ordering more drinks. Even with 10 people waiting in the lounge, we were never rushed and after sipping coffee casually / chatting after paying the bill / finishing the mini dessert squares, our group realized that....maybe...just maybe...it was time to pass the torch and let the other eager customers experience Barbara Lynch. Could No. 9 survive the culinary claws of NYC and succeed? Absolutely. Could it take on the Michelin big dogs of JG, Bernardin, Daniel etc? Probably not, but this place still shows those snobby new yorkers that Boston has fine dining. Food (8.5/10) Plating (5/5) Service (5/5) Decor (3/5)
(4)sanjay P.
Last night was the 5th time my wife and I have eaten at no9 and every time it gets better. The palmyra cocktail is amazing, the service is impeccable and the food is off the charts. Ted the maitre'd and Ted the bartender are class acts and make the experience that much better. My poussin was truly succulent. We also had a hard to find '07 Montro which was worth every penny. Headed to Menton tonight. Looking for another great experience from Barbara Lynch.
(5)Chris B.
One of the best meals. Service was outstanding. They were running a little behind and they comped our drinks while we waited for our table, and brought us a third desert which pushed me over the edge. I had to sleep on my side because I was so full. The peanut butter crémeux with coconut ice cream and some curried crispy-like things was awesome. And of course he prune stuffed gnocchi was totally worth it.
(5)Joe R.
Remember the old Wendy's Comercial. Giant plates with tiny portions ala tapas style but giant prices. The queen has no clothes.
(1)Rich T.
Went with their Dine Out Boston-inspired prix fixe menu to sample their dishes. What a rollercoaster ride. Started well with a crudo: fresh, zingy, with some earthiness from leeks and olives. Next course disappointed--roasted bluefish with succotash was perhaps meant to be a light summery dish but came across fairly one-note, esp after the delightful first course. If the intention was to highlight the exquisite tomato broth, that should have been made its own course; the fish felt like an intrusion. Third course was their signature prune-stuffed gnocchi and it was good. The richness of the foie gras and beurre blanc was nicely balanced by the sweetness of the prunes. Fourth course was essentially steak and potatoes and was as uninspired as that sounds. Bone marrow added unnecessary weight where something spicier or more herbaceous would have rounded out the flavors better. The grilled bread also felt extraneous since there was nothing for it to mop up. Dessert though was the ultimate letdown: A summer trifle that should not have been deconstructed. The angel cake ended up dry and could not be rehydrated by the limited custard or the amaretto ice-cream. Fruit was lazily scattered on the plate without a much-needed bath in some liqueur or wine first. Also, the crunch of the slightly under-ripe peach slices was not the kind of textural contrast that the dessert needed. Overall, not sure if the two wow dishes made up for three courses of blah. 3 stars for food well executed (dessert excluded) but completely lacking passion.. So disappointed I can't bring myself to add another star for excellent service.
(3)Albert B.
I brought my girlfriend here for our 1 year anniversary. I've heard amazing reviews of No 9 so I secured a reservation 3 weeks in a advance to ensure a wonderful evening. I let them know about the special occasion. I was extremely disappointed for several reasons. 1) My sister ordered us a bottle of champagne as a surprise gift. I'd imagine this was $100+ and the thought was EXTREMELY kind. THEY FORGOT TO GIVE IT TO US. We were given the champagne after dinner was over, after we bought wine and celebratory champagne during the meal. They were very apologetic but this gaff was UN-excuseable. We spent over $100 on drinks this evening and went home with a bottle of champagne we much more would have enjoyed at dinner. 2) My girlfriend was served the wrong entree. After asking for a recommendation from the waitress, and having here clearly say the scollops were the best option on the entire menu, she was brought chicken. My dinner was sent back to the kitchen to sit in the "warmer"..it came back cold. In fairness, the staff was polite and the food was good. I just can't get over the fact that the champagne was forgotten. Our meal was $280. Next time I'm celebrating a special occasion I'll be going elsewhere.
(1)Wonder W.
Service seemed rushed. We were left with drinks menu for at least 10 mins before anyone took our order. It then took another 10 mins to receive a simple cocktail and beer. This seemed pretty poor for such a small place. Meals came out very quick - too quick. We actually had to ask them to slow it down. The prune gnocchi was amazing - ill give them that. Clafoutis dessert was unimpressive - dry and not anything amazing. Service was pleasant but not personal. Would I go back? No. Was nice but Mistral and Bistro du Midi were better.
(3)Jessie C.
I think I want Barbara to be my friend. We need to hang out. Molly F and I made reservations here tonite and had a great time. We started off a little rocking not being able to find parking but when they took our coats we started to relax. The waiter was very attentive as was everyone else in the restaurant. We started off with St. Germain cocktails (LOVE IT! - Perseco and St. Germain, you gotta try it) and then proceeded to order the Gnocchi which everyone raved about. We split the order and they brought it on two plates which is always great. The dish was delightful. Big fans. Next came the entree - this is where things went a bit downhill. I ordered the Rose Fish with Clams and my friend ordered the chicken which we had heard good things about. My fish was great! I've decided i'm not a huge fan of clams, i think it's a texture thing for me but none the less, the fish and clams were great! Now to the chicken - it was a bit raw, not a huge amount but enough that it was pink. we had to send it back twice. Oh well. Sometimes that happens. But the waitstaff and the manager handled it well so that's always good. Ultimately when we got a cooked piece of chicken, it was delicious. They also sent out a second dessert for the mistake which we gladdly accepted. Overall we had a great time! I'd certainly return for a special occasion or when I am in the mood to spend some money and eat some fantastic food. Thanks!
(4)Anthony D.
The best restaurants get the shortest reviews from me. You will spend a lot of money here. Do yourself a favor, order the 7 or 9 course meal with the wine pairing. Everything will work out perfectly. The food is great here, the staff are true professionals. Save room for the cheese board.
(5)Katherine D.
After years of longing, I finally made it to No 9 Park. Even before I walked in I was already impressed by the host staff. The ambience is cool all around, but I was slightly envious of the people in the back behind the bar as that area is definitely the best. Theres not much to say about the food that has not already been said: everything was fantastic from plating to flavor profile. Service was superb. I just hope I can return again for the 7 course tasting!
(5)Just M.
Sorry... the food was great, but the service... well, let me just say, if you are not a Kerry, Kennedy, DAR family regular, trust fund baby or on a romantic evening... if you look like the 99%, the service starts off great and then gets rather cold and spotty. People next to you get chef treats with cordial explanations... you do not. So, while I was checking out the place as I needed to book a party of 8 the next night, we will go elsewhere.
(2)Jeff M.
Excellent food cooked with precise french technique. However nothing was very exciting or innovative. Service was slow and showed a lack of maturity. I loved the decor and laid back atmosphere here; its rare to get fine dining without pretentious service and diners. The best part about No. 9 Park for me was the location. Being in Beacon Hill and looking out onto the Common was a great dining experience. Four stars for the food. The famous prune stuff gnocchi with foie gras lived up to the expectations. I also really enjoyed the lamb saddle.
(4)Darren H.
One of the best restaurants in Boston! It's hard for me to give this restaurant five stars after I just wrote a review for Brushstroke in NYC (which I thought was better and also gave five stars too). But standing on its own merits, No. 9 Park is a Boston classic that should never be underrated. As is the custom for restaurants like these, be prepared to go all-out for the best dining experience. In this case, we both had the full tasting menu with both supplemental dishes, making it a nine-course meal, with wine pairings. The food was amazing. Fish was perfectly prepared, and the pasta was the ideal combination of flavors. At some point, our table was just filled with wine glasses. At some point, I forgot what I was eating. But to me, this is the ideal dining experience: to forget about "me" and to immerse myself in the moment. Food, wine, ambiance, and company. So why would I rank this lower than my dining experience at Brushstroke? Ignoring my predilection for Japanese food - the wine pairing at No. 9 Park was not as good. Even though I got the wine pairing option at No. 9, and not at Brushstroke, I thought the wine choices were not as good. I'd recommend doing a little research and choosing from the wine menu, rather than trusting the pairings. Nonetheless, highly recommended!
(5)David C.
I was very torn as to my feelings about No. 9 Park. Ultimately, I rated it based on the overall experience, and how it stacked up against my expectations. No. 9 Park gets a 3 on both counts. A few initial comments- everyone told me that this is one of the best restaurants in Boston, and that it was completely worth the cost. We're glad we tried it, but we will not be back. I note that we earlier tried Sportello, another Barbara Lynch restaurant. That was wonderful, and we WILL be back. AMBIANCE My wife put it best - the restaurant felt like 5 star service is a 3 star space. No. 9 Park is crowded and loud, and they seem to not try to hide the fact that it's in an old townhouse. Linoleum on some of the floors, cramped, overcrowded and incredibly loud rooms. I do NOT, repeat NOT, recommend this restaurant for a special meal or a romantic date. A great place to get your folks to take you if they're in town visiting, but my wife and I were hoping for a romantic date night. It was a very nice evening, but the atmosphere of the restaurant did not contribute to this in any meaningful way. SERVICE The service was wonderful, and was the clear highlight of the evening. We were running late, and they gave us no issues accommodating. When our first table was too loud, they moved us with lightning speed. The waiter, bar manager/sommelier, and hostess were all wonderful. FOOD For it's reputation, I was expecting so much more. To be clear, the food was good. But with one exception, it was not great. Our apps were the peach salad and the corn veloute. The salad was good, but the sweetness of the peaches imbalanced the entire dish. The corn veloute was the highlight of the evening, I can't say enough good things about it. Our mains were Hake and the duet of duck. The hake was good and nicely cooked, but the dish was lacking in something - it didnt feel entirely composed. As for the duck, the leg was slightly dry and the entire dish needed a little more spice. Also lacking was any sauce (save for 2 dots) on the plate. This would have made a huge difference. Dessert killed it for me. My wife had the cheesecake, which she thoroughly enjoyed. It was chevre cheesecake "balls", which looked great, combined with a cheesecake/marscapone? ice cream. One fault with teh dish was the blueberries, which tasted overly processed (maybe canned?). I had the trio of sorbets, which were grainy, partly frozen, and had muddy flavors.
(3)Vanessa F.
If you read no further, just know that you are making a huge mistake if you don't order the prune stuffed gnocchi. It's AMAZING! So I went to No9 Park on a Thursday night and sat at the bar for dinner. The bartenders were not the most attentive and seemed to have their attention focused on a woman sitting next to me....Needless to say, that woman ended up being non-other than Barbara Lynch herself!! For my meal I ordered the Golden Beet salad, it was good although I prefer it with pistachios personally. The beets were still delicious and the portion was large, so you could split this appetizer with up to 3. Then I had the prune stuffed gnocchi OMG! Seriously I am not the biggest gnocchi fan, but after reading other yelp reviews, I decided to try it. As you can tell, I was not disappointed!!! You do only get 5 large gnocchi, which I found filling enough, but others with bigger appetites may need an additional dish. I finished off my meal with a banana, caramel dessert. It was okay....I guess I was just expecting more bananas and more caramel to satisfy my sweet tooth is all :) Overall I would definitely go back if only for the prune stuffed gnocchi!
(4)Vivian L.
I went there three years ago for restaurant week. I still remember the salted chocolate cake there. I love the place but hopefully they are taking earlier reservation for restaurant week. Because at that time, they only offer the menu after 9PM. It was a long wait for a nice dinner.
(4)Minnie G.
The cocktails, food, and service definitely stood out here. ALL of our courses were magnifique, even with a ton of health and allergy constraints. This place seriously helps the Boston food scene. And far better than other french options around.
(5)Tim M.
Great food, Great Menu, wowed by the great service in this very class setting.
(5)Kelly W.
Awful. Absolutely awful. After eating at Mistral two nights before, this place seemed like we were eating at a test kitchen. The waiters wine recommendations were only for the bottles above $200 and even those were not as good as promised. There were four of us and no one like their meal or appetizer and we all got different things. The best thing on the menu was a chocolate dessert, but even that was not worth the exorbitant price we paid for dinner. My recommendation to you, if you want to go out for a nice dinner is to go instead to L'espalier or Mistral. Both are superior in venue, service, and food.
(1)Heather R.
Location is amazing, service is some of the best I have seen, attention to detail is wonderful....lots of willingness to customize to your dietary needs, or food preferences. It is a bit pricey, but well worth the investment for the experience. If you get a shot at a reservation....GO, GO GO....
(5)Zig G.
pricey, but this is one of rare cases where a ridiculous price is well worth it. especially love plum gnocci. Never fails to delight.
(5)Steph C.
On the early end of a Friday evening in May, I came to No. 9 Park with three female family members for a lovely dinner. We noticed right away that we were not the only Koreans. There were two more tables throwing around Konglish within earshot, and even our waitress was probably Korean. Anyway. Koreans like good food, so this made sense. The place was charming and cozy with an upscale vibe that didn't feel stuffy. Our waitress was friendly and service was flawless. The four of us all ordered the $69 three course prix fixe, which came with a lot of choices for each course. We went family style, though that practically goes without saying. We started with cocktails and attacked the bread, which was plain and good, with butter and salt. I tried the Park Street Cup, a play on a Pimm's Cup, with Pimm's No. 1, Peychaud's bitters, lemon, egg white, and hefeweizen. It was refreshing, if not particularly interesting. My cousin's pear martini was good and sweet, an easy drink of Grey Goose, Belle de Brillet pear liqueur, and pear nectar. My sense is that Boston does not have the same kind of cocktail scene in L.A., but the drinks were passable. The food was better, and the appetizers were the highlight of the meal. My favorite was a wild ramp vichysoisse with smoked salmon rillette, creme fraiche, and deviled quail egg. I can still taste the vibrant astringent flavor of that silky cold soup, with the smooth chunks of salmon that acted almost like dollops of cream. The poached jumbo asparagus was another impressive vegetable-centric dish. This came with huge tender stalks of asparagus crammed with their native flavor. They were served with sea urchin, tofu, petite greens, and a saffron vinaigrette, but not even the sea urchin took the focus away from the perfectly cooked asparagus. The prune stuffed gnocchi were delicious in a different way. These are apparently a signature of No. 9 Park, and for good reason. With foie gras, toasted almonds, and Vin Santo, the dish was delicate yet weighty, with rich flavors that bloomed with every bite. The least memorable appetizer was probably the yellowfin tuna crudo with aji amarillo, charred onion, and cilantro - yet even this one was excellent, with high quality fish and zesty accompaniments. The entrees, unfortunately, were a definite step down. There was one clear winner, but the rest were very forgettable. The winner was the Pekin duck breast, served with confit leg, lavender, and rhubarb. The breast meat was tender and meaty, and the fatty leg just dripped off the bone. Also decent was the pistachio-crusted skate wing with cauliflower, golden raisin, and cured olive. The fish was on the heavy side, with a deep-fried consistency to the crust. The accompaniments, though, were delicate, and the meat of the fish was nice. Plain heavy was the native pollock in bacon, served with Maine lobster, leeks, and a potato crumble. I just didn't like this dish. The lobster was just about nonexistent, the bacon took over the fish, and the fish itself was dry. I felt similarly about the slow-roasted veal loin with morels, truffled bread pudding, and fiddleheads. The sides were fantastic, but the veal was very bland and as a result the whole thing fell flat. But the desserts brought back the sparkle with some remarkably innovative sweets. The best of the bunch was a black olive financier with pistachio, black pepper, and lemon. Does that sound weird? It wasn't. The financier had enough butter and sugar to make it a clear dessert, and the rest was just incredibly interesting. The pistachio came in a little tube of cream, and the lemon in curd and sorbet. The textures and flavors melded together with a lot of pop. I also loved the chamomile cremeux with rhubarb, fennel, and yogurt. It was a fragrant dessert, somewhere between a panna cotta and a mousse in texture, and it was served with a light tart rhubarb sorbet and a little bit of cake. The chocolate gateau was a great chocolate dessert, with a rich dark chocolate cake topped with crispy black sesame and shiso foam, with black sesame ice cream on the side. Black sesame in desserts is almost always delicious, and it definitely did well with the chocolate. For our fourth dessert, we got a medley of housemade ice cream - vanilla, yuzu buttermilk, and date brown butter. The ice cream was great in all of our desserts, and if No. 9 Park opened an ice cream shop, I would be happy to visit. With the check came a dish of cherry pates de fruit and coconut meringues. They were nice bites to end the meal. The entree portion of our dinner was pretty weak, but everything else was so good that I left with a good impression. I'm not sure I'll come back, since I live in California, but dinner was lovely. I won't soon forget that vichysoisse or that olive financier.
(4)Hana C.
Loved Loved Loved it!!! Came here with Boyfriend last Friday for our anniversary. We got a very romantic seating right by the corner inside. Our waitress knew that it was our anniversary and she took excellent care of us. For appetizers, we started off with the prune stuffed gnochii (OMG a MUST MUST MUST HAVE) and the corn agnolotti. The prune stuffed gnocchi was excellent. I could have 2 more plates of it- and the seared foie gras that comes with it is to die for. For entree, I had the peking duck- I got two confits instead of how it shows on the menu (the chef had no problem with it) and boyfriend got the pork trio dish. Both very excellent although I liked my duck way more. For desert, we got the chocolate cake and icecream. I can't wait for next time to come here and get the prune stuffed gnocchi again. I may get the peking duck again too. Had a great night here. Loved the ambiance too- dark, romantic and so perfect. :)
(5)Ulli K.
My god. Food-gasm. SO. GOOD. Honestly, you can't go wrong for a romantic date or special occasion. My boyfriend and I went and we had a marvelous time. The service was in the top 5 of restaurants I have been to, up there with Moo and Meritage. Absolutely fantastic. Food was amazing too. Good portion size, not your average, you know, TGIF portions, but what's appropriate.
(5)White Devil C.
This review is for the bar only. The bartenders are No 9 Park are talented, trained artisans. Classic, well-researched cocktails and innovative variations. Only 12 seats, but one of the best choices you can make in Boston for a real cocktail.
(5)David P.
Let me begin by complimenting the serving staff. The service alone makes this a memorable experience. Perfect for a special occasion. Beginning with an extensive cocktail and wine list you have the beginnings of a wonderful evening. My reservation was for 9pm and I sat at the bar until approx. 9:30 when my table was ready. I was dining alone so the wait was a good time to people watch. After being seated I was promptly provided water and bread, the butter was exceptional with salt on the side if desired. I had already preordered my meal which was the tasting menu with a couple of special requests. The chef and staff did everything to ensure my requests were acknowledged and presented beautifully. Absolutely no errors in the execution of serving my meal. The meal lasted over two and a half hours. This meal was meant to be savored. Now to the food itself. I had ordered the tasting menu which has many courses. Each was prepared and served at an exceptional level. Unfortunately, a couple of courses seemed overcooked. Maybe I was eating slower than anticipated, I don't know. Two courses were definitely a disappointment. The foie gras plating was very overcooked. Now with that said, I prepare foie gras at home and enjoy it on the undercooked side, but even after this consideration it was dry. Secondly the duck confit plating was also overcooked. Now I recognize the difficulty of spacing and preparing a meal which lasted for so long. So I feel both of these misgivings are completely forgivable. I enjoyed the evening immensely and would recommend No 9 to anyone looking for a romantic special occasion.
(4)Jeff D.
I know this is not always on the menu, but I have only one thing to say about Number 9 Park. Milk-fed baby lamb. Mmmmmm.....
(5)Vivian C.
Service here was really great, while the food ranged from "food done well" to "ummm... it is still kind of frozen in the center..." We were a touch early (15 min) for our 7pm Restaurant Week reservation, but they were fortunately able to seat us right away. I didn't think they would since just about every single one of the tables that I could see were occupied, so that was a pleasant surprise. We were provided immediately with menus and told that our waiter would be with us soon. Bread was served one roll at a time from a woven basket, but while the butter was of nice spreading consistency, the rolls arrived room temperature cool. Over the course of our meal, we were offered additional bread twice, so they definitely weren't stingy with the carbs as some places are. My glass of water was also refilled a number of times, so it never got below 1/3 full. And new silverware was provided for each course. I had the Smoked Bluefish Pate Potato Salad, Pickled Wax Beans, Crostini which was perhaps more fun than tasty, but still a good experience. I had more than enough pate to spread on my three large but thin and really crispy crostini. My friend's Local Arugula, Housemade Ricotta, Cauliflower, Boquerones (what are Boquerones???) consisted of pretty fresh tasting greens with a salty fish. Maybe that's the Boquerones? My favorite part of the salad was actually the cauliflower (2 florets were laid out along either side of the arugula). They also offered a Seared Labelle Farms Foie Gras for a supplement of $12 that we didn't try. The portion size of the entrees were not very large, but after consuming all three courses plus my 1.5 rolls, I was more than satiated. My Roasted Stripped Bass, Prince Edward Island mussels (3), saffron, pousse pied (is that the interesting looking greens that came with the dish?) arrived as a small thick moist fish filet covered with a crispy tasty skin sitting in a shallow pool of tasty yellow sauce with a handful of an interesting green. The Glazed Pork Belly, corn pudding (where??? wait, that creamy base?), heirloom tomato jam (jam? a bit too clumpy to be called 'jam'), purslane (is that the leafy green?) was quite rich and tasty. I noticed that other yelpers had mentioned having trouble cutting the skin on their pork bellies, but this little piggy didn't put up too much of a fight. The wait for the 2nd course however was a bit too long, but service was still good: when my friend went to the bathroom, someone stopped by to pick up and refold the cloth napkin, and after we were done with our bread plates, they used this nifty curved utensil to scrape up the crumbs - it did a much better job than the scrapers I have seen in other restaurants. Dessert... now those were tiny! I was so looking forward to the Yogurt Panna Cotta, blueberries, corn, because panna cotta is one of my favorite desserts ever since the one I lingered over at Icarus (RIP), but unfortunately this one was sort of a disappointment. First, it was still kind of frozen inside. I expected a certain tang because of the yogurt, but it also wasn't smooth textured. The blueberries were actually blueberries, but the forementioned corn was actually some dollops of a cornmeal concoction which were kind of interesting. The Berry Napoleon, vanilla, citrus croustillant was several layers of flaky pastry topped with cream and raspberries, with each puff of pastry not much wider than a quarter. A nice touch was the mini sweets that arrived with the bill - some kind of pistachio something that was a little dry and a really intense apricot jelly that I liked but nibbled at between swallows of water. I like cheese, but I'm not exactly the cheese and crackers kind of girl. I'm more the melty, creamy, cheesy type of gal. But still, their cheese cart caught my eye. Gee, it was impressive - all those lovely hunks and rounds of cheese on that thick butcher block type table.
(3)Sandy B.
This restaurant is one that is widely proclaimed as a Boston favorite, so we decided to celebrate our anniversary there. With eager anticipation we arrived ahead of our reservation time, hoping to sit and enjoy a cocktail. (Note that the bar is rather small and seating in the "lounge" is crowded, but we were okay with that.) Right on time we were ushered to our table--in the back of the restaurant, and we were the first, and, as it turned out, only ones to be seated here. As our meal proceeded and the only guest appearance was of those en route to the restrooms, we questioned our server (who never identified herself, did not offer any suggestions, but did know the menu well and was ready to keep us moving through the courses). She assured us that this room was not for those banished from the main dining room, but that we would be joined by other guests in short order. By dessert, we were still the only guests and felt conspicuously separated, hearing lots of laughter and festivity from the front dining room--where all the windows are, and a nice view of the Boston Common. We mentioned again to our server, that we were disappointed with our table and, in fact, it took away from the experience. She suggested that "on our next visit" we should request the front dining area which overlooks Boston Common. (It seems in reading other reviews that this was not a requirement.) In fact, she said she could have moved us at any time, had we requested. (Begs the question, why didn't they put us there to begin with?) Wish we'd known that. I assured her that there would be no next time. What followed were several visits from the maitre d who also offered us a table in the front of the house with a champagne toast. It was frankly too little, too late. She then delivered the tab which she pointed out was minus the cost of wine and cocktails. She sincerely apologized for the failed experience but, unfortunately, our special occasion did not feel very special, even though they wrote "Happy Anniversary" on our dessert plates. Food-wise, the star of the meal was the gnocchi foie gras appetizer, which was actually outstanding. The beet salad appetizer--just okay. My hake was tasty and cooked well, but I couldn't say it was the best I've ever had. My husband's venison was under seasoned and bland. The dessert was the biggest disappointment. I couldn't eat all of my dessert. Honestly, we've had better meals at lower rated restaurants. We enjoyed our time together in spite of this missed step by the restaurant who knew it was a special occasion for us. There are so many great places to eat in Boston, but this is not one for us.
(2)Chris H.
Wow... The food is amazing... The service is top notch... Had the cannelloni app with hen of the woods, lamb entree, and an array of desserts and digestifs to wash them down.. This was a memorable dining experience... Highly recommend no. 9 if you are looking for a nice dinner in boston.
(5)Miriam W.
It's not often that you can belly up to a bar, offer a few elements to your barkeep and come away with a sinfully scrumptious cocktail that ranks among the best you've ever tasted. Unless you, of course, you're at No. 9 Park. I explained that I love fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice and any drink that involves egg whites. Minutes later I was sipping a cocktail that exceeded my expectations and was unlike an other I'd ever sipped. No. 9 Park employs a mixologist that inspires you to try new things, and return to stuff you thought you disliked only to be proved pleasantly wrong. When in Boston, this is where you'll find me.
(5)Tara T.
My girlfriend took me here for my 24th birthday and it was lovely. We were easily the youngest patrons there, most of the other guests in their late 30s+. Yet service was attentive and our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu; the restaurant was also very accommodating. (E.g. I'm not a big fan of foie gras, so they offered to prepare the dish I had my eye on without.) Drinks-wise, great selection of cocktails, beers, and wines. I can't remember the name of the cocktail I got (and can't seem to find it on their website either), but it was delicious. Delicately flavored, refreshing, but not overly-sweet: perfect for a rainy summer day. For apps, I got the famous prune stuffed gnocchi without the foie. Interesting. I can see what it's famous, although the combination of sweet and salty wouldn't rank itself among my favorite flavors. My girlfriend got some sort of seared sardine on a biscuit - don't think it's on the menu anymore, which just goes to show how seasonal their food is! At any rate, her app was delicious, very salty but tasty. For main entrees, I got the native hake while my girlfriend ordered the duet of Rohan duck. Nothing but good things to say here. The hake was served with copious chunks of lobster meat and lots of veggies that softened the taste of the seafoods. The duck itself had a wonderful, smoky flavor (almost tasted a tad like Peking duck?), and it came with a delicious mushroom crepe, which was soft and aromatic. Finally, for dessert, we had the cherry tart. Again, nothing but good things to say here. I'm not typically a huge fan of cherries, but this was delectable. Fresh and light and just a bit tart. The menu said the cherry tart also had some sort of Sichuan pepper in it; so faint as to be practically impossible to taste, but it at least made us really *experience* our food looking for that peppery-ness. Expensive place, so definitely not going to be coming here once every month. However, for a special occasion once in a while, very much worth it!
(5)Mary B.
The vibe here is very cozy and romantic. My husband and I tried the tasting menu... it's great if you are open to trying new things. The waiters are very knowledgeable about each ingredient in your meal. The presentation, service, and atmosphere was very nice too.
(4)Kelsey P.
Tied with L'Espalier in my mind for the best meal in Boston. Great food, great service, great ambiance and location (right next to the state house) I have dined here several times and have never had a bad experience. I have tried the regular menu and the chef's tasting (which changes often). The chef's tasting is a great treat for a special occasion however: 1 - they prefer all diners at a given table to participate in the tasting if any are planning to and 2 - it is a LOT of food so be prepared to dine leisurely and leave very full. As for the regular menu (can be viewed on their website here: no9park.com/#menus ), the prune stuffed gnocchi and the golden beets appetizers are both delicious. The entrees do change often as well and I have tried variations of salmon, roasted chicken, and lamb and loved each one. Their wine and cocktail selections are as promising as their food. And stopping by No. 9 for a quite bar scene is also a great experience. They offer a bar menu as well and the bar tenders are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Overall - expensive but highly worth it for a nice occasion. Should not be missed by any foodie who calls themselves a Bostonian!!
(5)JOHN C.
Used to love this place. Now it feels like a stereotypical "celebrity chef" restaurant (at least as far as Boston goes) . What do I mean? While the food is very good, it's much more about turning tables with a ticket that's consistently $100+ per person.... Case in point: on a saturday night visit we went from first course to dessert in 45 minutes (even when sending the overly aggressive staff away when attempting to prematurely clear). And on the food front, the only options are a $70 prix fix menu and a $110+ chef's tasting menu. Food was good, despite the meat being improperly cooked (beef that was literally raw in the center), although nothing blew us away (maybe we picked the wrong things...). Offering no a la carte and not letting diners go at a more reasonable pace is simply unacceptable. Still good, but there are plenty of better options in the Boston area.
(3)Kieran L.
Ok but not amazing. Prune stuffed gnocchi - a little too doughy for my liking. Bacon wrapped pollack - a little dry. Service was good, wine list was good. I expected more from the food.
(3)Vanessa C.
Not like it really needs another glowing 5 star review, but my experience here was just too good not to chime in. I was treated to birthday dinner here and wow, what a treat! Had the chef's tasting menu, with a substitution for the pork course (no pork belly for me, kthnx). 7 courses of perfection. The prune filled ravioli are as good as everyone claims, but the real stand out for me was the rare venison loin. BEYOND WORDS, perhaps the best thing I have ever put in my mouth (oh yeah, I'm taking it there...) The service was attentive, friendly, and surprisingly warm. Nothing cold or stuffy about this place - even the servers were knowledgeable about the food and preparation. Excellent choice for a special occasion with that special someone, friend or family. You can't get much better than this for a complete fine dining experience.
(5)Billy Su B.
dearest brendan, ted, and tyler, i love you all most ardently, but you're affecting my job performance. towards the end of the work day (okay more like around 10:30 a.m.), my productivity begins to decline sharply as my mind wanders toward such wonders as your most recent act of utter magnificence: THE BARBARA WEST. barbara may sound like a sweetie, but don't be fooled. she's a bitter, briny, mean ol' broad. if you're a scotch drinker, like me, and you've come to realize that even manhattans are too syrupy for you (truly a dark omen), the barbara west may be just the thing for you. she is comprised of lemon juice, sherry, secrets, and talisker. it is brilliant. it is the most perfect cocktail i've ever had. also, i would jump off a building for that truffled potato gnocchi with lobster. i would cheat my own grandmother. trick her. that is the single most decadent thing i think i've ever eaten. i've dined at number 9 before, and i'm always impressed, but the gallant gentlemen running the bar and the lobster gnocchi deserve special attention. if you think you can get a better drink in all of boston, you're a cobb loaf.
(5)Bryan R.
Try to come at least 15 minutes before your reservation. They have a nice (small) area up front to have a glass of wine or try their cocktail menu (outstanding). I had a Copenhagen if I recall, it was very good. Dinner was fantastic. Appetizers were an excellent beet plate and outstanding prune stuffed gnocchi. I'd recommend both. For an entree I had a mixed assortment of lamb presentations. One was a little dry but the overall experience was very good. Paired well with a deep red. Service was likewise good. Helpful but not doting. The atmosphere was good, perhaps a little more plain that I expected, and the acoustics could use a little work from what I remember. Overall a great experience though. Dinner for two with drinks was quite reasonable (around $150) Will definitely return.
(5)Winston G.
I highly recommend this place-- the gnocchi was awesome, and then the duck was also pretty phenomenal. Service was also top notch. I mean, this place has over 100 reviews at 4.5 stars, so I can't say much more except for the fact that you need to come here and try it out. Everyone is very friendly here and provides service that matches the price of the meal.
(5)Irene C.
Ate at the bar (a tad more affordable than the a la carte menu) and the food was fantastic. Service was top notch, bartenders extremely friendly and professional, and an all around good time.
(5)Liz M.
Is this Boston's best? Yeah, I guess if you compare it to their baseball team. This was a major disappointment. Service was not just slow but just strangely awkward. It's one thing to come by to the table and ask how you're doing but I figure that if you're at a so-called swanky joint like this, the waitstaff would get the timing a bit under control... OK on to the food: The prune stuffed gnocchi is nothing but a soggy version of Chinese red bean buns. The bread was so hard I could've knocked my dinner guest's eye out with it. The crispy fish with some sort of hondashi/kale/kelp was OK but I would've liked it with more flavor -- pepper, perhaps? The panna cotta was plain and was smooth oatmeal gruel. What happened to the cream? the sugar? the.... dessert!? The only "goodish" dish was the flourless chocolate cake/dessert. But my girl Betty Crocker can whip that up real good.... Bathroom: OK who decided that it would be cool to toilet paper the floor? Did some teenagers think it was Halloween and decide to bomb the place? So.... Quesadillas, chips and salsa came to the rescue after this debacle. And thank goodness for the company. Save your money and fill your stomach up with Taco Lupita or Anna's Taqueria.
(2)J B.
Easily makes it as one of the top 5 restaurants in Boston. Certainly a special occasion restaurant though you can sit in the bar and take advantage of the bar menu --where you'll get to experience the stellar taste sensations offered by chef Barbara Lynch, at slightly more reasonable prices.
(5)Cameron H.
This is the place where it all started, my undying and unwavering love of food. Growing up as a kid, I always had the want, but never the funds or appreciation needed to book a table at this legendary establishment. First paycheck came, made a reservation that day, and instantly fell in love. I have been returning ever since, any time I can think of some special occasion warranting a celebration. No. 9 Park is in one of the more scenic spots in Boston, just steps from the state house. Parking was by valet only (garage down the street) which is to be expected given the location and stature. The restaurant features a great bar, offering drinks and a limited menu, in addition to the full and more formal dinning area. Atmosphere is perfect for a nice night out or romantic date. You'll see anything from full suit and tie to a nice pair of dressy jeans; it is what you make it I suppose. Service every time I have been here has been second to none. They refill your glass before you even know it's low and they're more then happy to explain a menu item to you (no snobbery at all, a huge plus in my book). I typically order the prune stuffed gnocchi for appetizer, a dish so good my mouth waters just thinking about it (one wonders if they're actually prunes or magically pixie dust inside there). For dinner, I like their veal loin, although truth be told, you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Deserts are tasty by any measure, but not nearly as breathtaking as the main courses. I don't normally order any alcoholic drinks, but what I have seen leave the bar looks great. The only complaint I have would be with the waiting. I normally make a reservation for around 8PM and don't get seated until a good 30 minutes after. Once you get seated, service is prompt and timely, but the initial wait can be a bit daunting. Normally enough to take a star off in my book, but given the level to which everything else is upheld, it retains a 5 star rating. If you go to once place before you die, make it here.
(5)Ki G.
In a place where college kids roam at night, hooting and hollering and causing a general ruckus, it's nice to know that there are places in Boston that still cater to adults. This place was, to state it simply, great. I only came in for drinks, but I realized after sipping my Blueberry Cobbler that if there was a No. 9 Park in my neighborhood, I'd probably become a confirmed lush. A regular, if you will. I especially liked that the bartenders took their jobs seriously and were proud of their mixes. They take the time to ask what you want, not just shove a drink menu at you. As a result, I was able to try one of the best Tom Collins I've had in a while and the bartender was right - refreshing is just the word for it. If you're visiting and need a respite from the general noise that is Boston during the college year, come here.
(5)Alicia S.
I went here on a Friday night for the three course prix fixe dinner. The service was excellent, and the restaurant has a great ambiance. My only complaint was that the timing of the dishes was a little bit off - we received our second course as soon as the first was cleared, and did not even have time to order wine. The portions are huge, and the food is wonderful. I had the lamb loin, the prune stuffed gnocchi, and my boyfriend had the foie gras, which comes in a huge brick, and the tilefish. The food was creative, and well executed. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion.
(4)Sarah G.
Literally the best meal I have had in Boston. Save your money to come here, because I promise it will be worth it. Matt J. and I came here for our anniversary and since we booked it as our anniversary dinner, they saved us a window side table with a view of Boston Common and even congratulated us on our anniversary when we arrived! Bonus stars right there. We did the chef's tasting menu which is pricey, but when you look at the entree prices alone, you really do get more bang for your buck and you get to try way more things this way. We opted out of the additional wine pairing, but we opted in to add in their house specialty dish (which in my opinion is kind of a rip off, that we have to pay an additional $14 or whatever it is to try the one dish that everyone in the world says you have to have when you come here ha ha) That dish was pretty spectacular though--prune stuffed hand made gnocchi. Wow. Just plain wow. Each bite just melted in your mouth it was so incredible. The blue fine tuna sashimi was so so fresh and had this picked garlic pieces strewn about like magical confetti, and this green garlic soup broth made from the shoots of garlic that was the bed for one of the most perfectly cooked and perfectly tasting scallops I've ever had, was divine. I really wanted to slurp the last morsels of that soup but in a place this nice that definitely is a no no. They also had these house made sausages which had a hint of nutmeg in them paired with this lamb that was oh so tender and rich and delicious. And this other handmade pasta dish that had this cream sauce I would almost be willing to die for because it was that tasty. And lastly dessert was chocolate heaven, complete with an added Happy Anniversary written on the side of our plate in honor of our day, which is even more bonus stars for this place! Our waiter was so knowledgeable and friendly, and when I told him I was a yelper he said, I told you my name was Dave right? And I said, nice try Brandon. But when I told him that I would only have amazing things to say he felt fine, since obviously he knows the power yelpers have! This place was just perfect perfect perfect. I want to come back though and try out their mint juleps because I've been told they make them in a shiny silver cup here and are the best in town. And perhaps at the bar I won't spend quite as much as I did on dinner here. But being broke temporarily for this food is well worth it.
(5)Laura H.
I love No. 9 Park! I have eaten here a few times and the food is always perfect! The atmosphere is romantic and the waitstaff are very attentive! This restaurant is very pricey but you get what you pay for! The night my husband proposed (he proposed at home) we went here for dinner. It made for a very special night! I would recommend this place to anyone having a special event (engagement, birthday, anniversary). I wish I could afford to go more often!
(5)Christine J.
as good as it gets.. from the bread to the desserts, everything was so delicious. orgasmic.. and great location overlooking the public garden/beacon hill.
(5)Michael C.
Unbelievable drinks. Gorgeous food. Beautiful feel to this place. Some of what I ordered I did not understand but it tasted amazing.
(5)Liz B.
I think this is a very lovely restaurant. I do think it is expensive for the teeny tiny portions you get. Now, I am the first to dislike huge portions of mediocre food (ie Cheesecake Factory) but this just seemed like a bunch of mini dishes. My husband and I both did the three course prix fixe and both had the prune stuffed gnocchi and it was excellent, but small. I had the steak dish, my husband had the duck. The duck was very good. The steak itself was very good albeit small, but it was served with a bone with marrow which just ruined my appetite. It's my own fault - when the waiter described the dish, he mentioned this - by the time I ordered it, I had forgot. If you like marrow, this won't be a problem, but it just didn't work for me. For dessert my husband had cheesecake and I had the raspberry brown butter tart - the cheesecake was tiny and odd - more like cake than cheesecake and served with basil ice cream which was also very odd. The tart was very good, but too small - the pistachio ice cream was amazing. The dinner ended with mini marshmallows and madelines which was lovely. I thought the staff were all terrific. The quality is excellent. The room is very beautiful, especially if you can sit by the window overlooking the Boston Common. My only real complaint is the size of the portions. I'd either give the diner more food per serving, or make it a four course meal for the same price. I just don't like paying $$$ and feeling hungry when I leave.
(4)Florina K.
Well this started out well... We were a bit late and the hostesses were very sweet about it, and gave us no trouble. Then the busser came into the picture and only poured water for one of us... We shared 1 glass of water for about 15 minutes.... Had to ask our waitress 3 times for the bread..... The swordfish was fishy and not fresh, the foie gras was parts dry.... The lamb was good except one piece was so dried out it was a rock... The dessert was pretty, but was nothing special, and the salt on the chocolate cake was just strange.... The waitress asked me if I wanted a cocktail 8 times... After I told her that I was not in the mood to drink alcohol that night, as I was taking medicine. They did give me a nice birthday dessert and I did appreciate that.... For the price this restaurant is asking I had much higher hopes... I will not be recommending this place to my friends... For the food nor for the service...
(2)Leighann F.
A decision in the wee hours to garner ourselves a respectable nightcap after wishing some friends farewell at the 21st Amendment served to renew and reignite my love affair with no. 9 Park. We rounded the corner and sauntered in, the familiar smells of the dining room wafting over us, the ever-welcoming maître d' and the small but well-appointed bar...right where they'd always been. My months-long absence seemed foolish. As we settled into our seats and were served by the engaging Brendan and Danny, we suddenly and swiftly found ourselves in the midst of a Chartreuse Tasting, several bottles lined up in front of us, comparing flavors and smells, the excitement of being afforded the opportunity to try something new. After a cocktail from the menu, a off-the-cuff concoction whipped up by Brendan, several tastings of Chartreuse and an evening-ending shot of Fernet, we left No.9 enamored and enchanted, much like the first time.
(5)Danielle T.
My husband took me to No. 9 Park for my birthday when they were having a special farm-to-table 3 course dinner. It really was fantastic. The dishes aren't large, but it was the perfect amount of food for me and more about the attention to details and flavor. The two most notable dishes: The bluefish. Seared perfectly...melting in your mouth on the inside with a serious crispy outside. I don't usually love bluefish, but this was the best bluefish I've ever had. It was sitting on top of creamed sorrel (never would have thought to cream sorrel) with a beet puree on top. A-mazing. The desserts were exquisite. I had a chocolate torte with homemade caramel sauce and crispy coated dulce bananas. My husband had a pomegranate torte and the sligtly cooked and crispy pieces of pomegranate and anise hyssop ice cream were like nothing I'd ever tasted before. Aside from the food, one thing that particularly stuck out was how friendly and nice the staff was. From beginning to end, everyone who helped us was down-to-earth friendly and not a bit pretentious. This definitely made the experience even better. We had to wait a bit for our cocktails (another must have at No. 9) and the first course came out before they arrived and our waiter was right there giving us a complimentary taste of the wine they had paired with each dish.
(5)Shuan L.
No. 9 Park is the type of place you go to 1) on the company credit card; 2) on your signficant other's credit card, or 3) on Mom and Dad's credit card. My parents and I came here a week ago to celebrate my law school graduation. We were not the only ones with that bright idea, as a quick glance around the dining room told me that it had been turned into Graduation Central, with beaming grads and parents having a hard time stifling their pride. It was like a Hallmark card come to life. We opted for the 7-course chef's tasting menu, which at $90 per person, is actually pretty reasonable. The menu that night consisted of: 1) Seared yellowfin tuna w/ avocado, pickled ramps, basil 2) Roasted skate wing w/ asparagus, Yukon potato, dill 3) Carnaroli risotto w/ walnut & arugla pesto, tomato confit, Parmigiano-Reggiano 4) Crispy pork belly w/ fresh peas, bacon, Vermont farm egg 5) Prime hanger steak w/ morels, poached Island Creek oyster 6) Lemon sorbet 7) Sweet cherry tart w/ vanilla parfait, pistachio glace *We also ordered a foie gras appetizer that was not on the tasting menu. At the end of the meal, the waitress gave each of us a printed copy of that night's tasting menu, which is why I was able to recount each dish in such detail. Otherwise, this review would have been short and sweet: "The food was good." I'm not quite sure what to do with my copy of the menu. Maybe I'll frame it instead of my diploma. They were nice enough to write "Congratulations" and stick a candle in my dessert, but I was really hoping for free alcohol because I'm cheap like that. Oh well, you can't have everything. I suppose receiving a plastic toy gavel was enough excitement for that day.
(4)Mike O.
GNOCCHI!!!!!!!!! Probably my best meal in 2010. Although I tried several good dishes, I still dream about the Gnocchi. Normally I never eat or prepare Gnocchi outside Italy because it just tastes bad. It either doesn't have taste at all or it feels like a small chunk of wet bread. We had dinner at the bar - good spot to have your glass refilled and to talk to other foodies. If you are in Boston and like good food, head to No 9. Will be back!
(5)Velina L.
After reading all the reviews, I was expecting to find a winner. I was disappointed. The food wasn't bad, but it did not impress me. I had the chef's tasting menu ($96), which consisted of 7 small courses, and a couple optional ones: - Tuna tartare with raw quail egg, anchovy vinaigrette and caviar: The texture of the tuna was kind of off, with membranes holding together the little pieces. Flavor-wise it was a little heavy for the tartare. - Halibut with breadcrumbs, capers, spinach, and bearnaise: The fish was well-cooked, with a crispy texture on the outside, topped with crunchy breadcrumbs and capers- Great crunchy texture, good flavor. The spinach was cooked with a hint of nutmeg, salt and white pepper and went well with the fish. - Risotto with duck and parmesan: This dish completely confused me, and execution was a failure. The rice was undercooked and sometimes kind of hard and crunchy, not at all smooth or creamy. The flavors never came together, and the duck, risotto and cheese weren't united. There was also something odd about the flavor. This was my least favorite dish. - Prune-stuffed gnocchi with foie gras (optional; choice between this and artisinal foie gras): I'm not sure if I would call this a gnocchi (it's probably more of a potato dumpling stuffed with prune) but I loved the sauce that it was served with. Perfectly savory with kind of a mushroomy flavor, it perfectly complemented the foie gras. I would have liked more foie gras in the dish, not just because I love the stuff but mostly because I needed it to balance out the sweetness of the prunes. If there was less prune and more foie gras, this dish would have been an absolute winner but unfortunately, the prune pretty much took over the whole thing. - Chicken with potatoes, foie gras, and black truffles: Extremely salty! The only thing I was thinking was that I was glad it came with the potato, to help neutralize some of the salt. Saltiness aside, the flavor wasn't bad but wasn't particularly memorable either. - Wild boar with trumpet mushrooms and caramelized red onions: Not bad, although the boar was a little on the tough side. The mushrooms had a great flavor, and I thought the sweetness of the onions complemented the flavor of the rest of the dish's components. - Satsuma granita (palate cleanser): citrusy and refreshing, topped with a small piece of fried candied sage. - Cheese course (optional): I was too full to have this course but they do have a cart of cheeses that I hear is pretty good. - Dessert: Apple and pear balls with chervil glace and apple chips: Nothing special and definitely not a satisfying end to the meal. The small rounds of apple and pear were a little harder than I would have liked, and didn't have that much flavor. - Petit fours: cranberry pate de fruit, a salty chocolate cookie thing with cinnamon, and an almond (?) cookie. Not bad. The salty chocolate cookie kind of intrigued me but none of the three actually impressed me. Overall it wasn't a bad meal but it's definitely not worth a return trip.
(3)Jess Z.
Sophisticated ambiance, friendly staff, great service. Came here on a Wednesday night with the girls. From the Prix Fixe, I had the Mixed Greens, Atlantic Hake, and Cocoa Pain de Genes. The Atlantic Hake was incredible. The Cocoa Pain de Genes was also delicious. The smoked vanilla ice cream is interesting -- it gets some getting used to, but I enjoyed it. One of my girl friends who tried it didn't like it that much (reminded her of roasted marshmallows), but it's definitely worth a try.
(5)Jen H.
I truly wish I could give this place 5 stars... the service at our table was great, and the food was above and beyond delicious, but we had 7:30pm reservations, and weren't sat at our table until after 9pm. For a fine dining establishment, this is a bit ridiculous. Now, it's understood that sometimes things happen and you're not going to be sat at your reservation time... I understand this, but more than 1.5 hours is overly excessive... and on top of that, they didn't do anything to compensate for the additional wait. If it wasn't for the fact that once we WERE sat that the service was exceptional and the food was out of this world delish, I would honestly give this 3 stars... but lucky for No. 9 Park they know what they're doing an executed that portion of the evening flawlessly. My dining partner in crime and I sat and sipped our cocktails waiting for our table to be available, and once it was we were taken back, sat, and immediately greeted by our server. Unfortunately, I'm unable to eat seafood so we could not partake in the tasting menu. Both of us had the prune stuffed gnocchi that everyone had raved about, and it honestly lived up to the hype. Oh my gosh, if you go and do not get this, you're missing out. For my entree I had the slow roasted veal loin and my partner in crime had the swordfish. For a treat, they brought out some kind of scallop, and once the server realized that I couldn't partake in enjoying that, she went back to the kitchen and they whipped up a special little risotto dish for me - this was much appreciated... and quite mouth-wateringly good. To wrap things up, the kitchen made me a sample size of the tasting menu's special cheesecake dessert upon request, and my companion had the 3 ice cream servings. All in all, once we were sat at our table this was a well oiled, fine dining, awe inspiring running machine... it was just getting to that point where the hangup took place. So, all in all, I can't give below 4 stars.
(4)Natalie B.
No 9 Park was the location of our first dinner in Boston. I'm not sure what I could say that would be different from the other 5 star reviews. No 9 Park exceeded our expectations. The ambiance was classy and romantic. We arrived early for our reservation, so we enjoyed a cocktail in the intimate lounge area. We didn't wait long and we escorted to the dining room. We lucked out with a table by the window, perfect for gazing into the Boston Common. The food was incredibly refined, thoughtful, decadent and delicious! We had a choice of doing a 3 course prix fixe or tasting menu. Considering this was our 1st night out, we practiced some restraint and declined the tasting menu. For our first course, we feasted on the prune stuffed gnocchi and foie gras. For the 2nd course, I selected the Cavendish Quail en Farce w/duck confit, chestnuts, and foie raviolo. My husband enjoyed the milk-fed porcelet, w/escargot, red cabbage and pumpkin seed. For dessert, I basically fell in love with my Toasted Oat panna cotta, with ginger and dates. My husband had the Maple Cremeaux, delicious as well! Service was delightful. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about the menu offerings. She possessed a great knowledge of wine and was able to make suggestions effortlessly. No 9 Park is a special place. If you have the chance to check it out (and the bucks--it's not cheap!), then what are you waiting for? Note: They take reservations up to 28 days in advance.
(5)Peter P.
Wow......I go out to eat a fair amount, and it's rare that I find a gem like No. 9 Park. The wait staff is VERY knowledgeable, the wine list is phenomenal, the food was very very good. Overall a very nice experience. I went here with my family, and lets just say, I thought my father was going to have a heart attack when the bill came. This is not a cheap place, but no one ever said it was. Admittedly, I wouldn't go here with my family again, but I'm looking forward for the opportunity to bring a date here. Saying eat here, go home happy, just doesn't seem to do it any justice. Getting back to the staff, they couldn't have been more friendly. They take your jacket for you when you enter the door. Serve you wine in the correct glasses, and just overall help you have the best time possible. The best part, there was NOTHING stuffy or pretentious about it. Our waiter didn't try and brown-nose, or look down at the fact that we obviously weren't the richest people in the room. He treated us like a friend, not like his rent check. It was very refreshing to have a good, and very expensive meal, with a waiter that was still comfortable enough to be a little sarcastic, and crack jokes at your table. Truly a place for real people to get good food! Well worth the visit!
(5)Shirley Y.
outstanding view of the park from the dining room area, but even if you are not able to get a reservation, which is almost a requirement, the cafe/bar area is not a disappointment. the atmosphere is more casual in this traditional yet crisp and classy restaurant, and more conducive to people-watching. you can order from both the cafe/bar menu and the main dining menu from the bar but if you are seated at one of the tables, the cafe/bar menu presides, with its lighter fare. nonetheless, the food is outstanding, the service impeccable and the wine list impressive.
(5)Scott B.
this is the kind of place that you either love or hate and i loved it both times i ate there. great menu selection and the service was superb. its a little stuffy but you can basically get away with anything you want there as far as dress code at a fancy place that is if you are cool - if you act like an asshole i would hope they throw you to the curb - i will keep going back
(5)Jeremy S.
Food quality and presentation was probably the best I've seen in Boston. The downside? This place is stuffy. Though Eli didn't notice any sniffing at the young guys in jeans and t-shirts, I did (by the hostess). Maybe it's because no one reacts what-so-ever to young guys in t-shirts in SF, so I could better feel the subtle difference. Service was really slow, but I'm pretty sure it was caused by the very large group that was just ahead of us. It would have been nice if they had comped us a dessert or made more than a cursory apology. Even with all the negatives, I can't bring myself to give a Boston restaurant with superior food anything less than 4 stars. Steak for lunch? Just do it.
(4)frank s.
Awesome food, get the gnocchi. This place is a must, especially for people traveling in from cities. Dinner is great, but the bar area is amazing and the bartenders take true pride in making drinks. Try the Pamelo (don't think I spelled it correctly) and the slo gin fizz.
(5)Keyvan R.
A friend of mine who lives in Boston had been raving about this place ever since he came to visit me in SF a few months back. When I got a chance to come out for a business trip I was sure to take advantage. What a bar! Not only were the drinks nice and stiff, but they were expertly prepared by some of the coolest bartenders I've ever had a chance to interact with. All of them introduced themselves as if we'd been friends for years, and would spend time to prepare their drinks with love. I started off with something from their menu called a Capetown Collins which was a bit sweet after dinner drink that was perfectly refreshing for a warm humid night. From there I had a more classic gin martini laced with lemon and orange and later had a Hearst, another classic martini-inspired concoction. It was just fun sitting at the bar chatting it up with the guys. I also ordered the Prune Stuffed Gnocchi at the request of my friend and it was outstanding. If I hadn't stuffed myself earlier in the night I would have definitely been up for the $45 prix fixe which seemed like an absolute deal. Will definitely come back every time I'm in Boston.
(5)Diana L.
Ever had an amazing date with someone terrific, but the chemistry wasn't quite right? No. 9 is that date. Everything is really great, but there's something that's... missing. Drinks were fantastic. The sweet and tart Palmyra was a refreshing vodka-lime cocktail and a great pre-dinner drink. For appetizers, we ordered the prune-filled gnocchi and the pheasant consomme. The gnocchi was too big for the amount of seared foie gras they give you-- the balance was off. The pheasant consomme had good flavor, and the vegetables were fresh, but the tiny meatballs were a little dry. For the main course, we ordered the sirloin steak and the poussin (cornish game hen). Half of my sirloin steak was medium rare (what I requested), the other half was rare. A $40 steak has to be exactly medium rare. We pay for the execution, right? The accompanying short rib wrapped in swiss chard, on the other hand, was done well and had a nice smokey flavor to it. The poussin had the same problem as the steak-- the breast meat and most of the thigh meat was perfectly cooked, but the rest of it was overcooked, dry and oversalted. Nice flavor and fresh vegetables did redeem it a bit, though. Our desserts were a hit and a miss. We got the chocolate cardamom mousse and the passionfruit souffle. The mousse had great flavor-- a balance of deep chocolate flavors and fragrant cardamom. The accompanying salted butter glace and pear sabayon was delicate and had a great texture. The passionfruit souffle was almost really good. The souffle itself was perfectly baked, but the passionfruit sauce was way too tart. My guess is they forgot to add sugar to the passionfruit... or perhaps some other mistake happened along the way, because I have a hard time believing they meant for the sauce to taste as sour as lemon juice. The coconut sorbet that came with it, however, was phenomenal. What we're looking at is three stars for the food and an extra star for the excellent service. Our server knew a lot about the menu, had some good recommendations, and made sure to check on us throughout the meal. The ambiance is good and the location is fantastic. But I'm still searching for a favorite restaurant.
(4)Chip G.
I went to No. 9 the weekend after Valentine's day and had the chef's tasting menu plus one of the two optional courses (for 8 total). Everything was absolutely perfect, from the food to the staff to the drinks. There's really no need to write a long review. This place is unabashedly 5-star dining.
(5)Julie N.
We went to No. 9 Park for Valentine's Day 2006 and LOVED the food. It was a really upscale scene and it was everything we hoped it would be given its reputation. Again, Barbara Lynch is a genius. I got a little tipsy in my little red dress and I think they were ready for us to leave by the time the check came... but they were good about it. Make sure you try all of Barbara's restaurants! They're all phenomenal.
(5)Heather B.
Came in for holiday lunch in December. The 3 course prefix menu was a good deal. The turnip soup was really delicious, but the escargot in the bowl were a little sandy. The pork spatzele was cooked perfectly and I would love to order this again. My coworkers ordered the scallops and the cod cakes and said they were delicate and delicious. The only weird thing is when the server presented my entree, he stretched across the table and said, "I apologize for the reach across, I assure you it is the only way." Reach across? The only way? Was that supposed to have a sexual connotation? Perhaps he could have simplified his comment by saying, "Pardon me."
(3)Meg M.
Ho-Lee Crap. I went here last night and had the 7 course Chef's tasting menu with the wine pairings and the prune filled gnocchi addition while my friend had the foie gras addition. It was decadent. From start to finish it was one of the most unforgettable dining experiences of my life to date. Everyone should come to No. 9 Park at least once in their lives to experience this tasting menu, which by the way changes every Wednesday. I wish I could write all of the things I had but there was just to much to mention. A few standouts? The cheese course was simply divine. They roll out a cart topped with about 12 different cheeses from all over the world that will absolutely knock your socks off. The farmhouse cheddar was completely ridiculous. I could eat it by the wheel. The creamy goats milk cheese was also WOW. They serve it with italian honey, apple compote and roasted hazelnuts with some thinly sliced pear. I want to go back just to get the cheese cart wheeled over to me again. The ravioli course was also unbelievable. Ricotta filled raviolis set atop a delicious beet with swiss chard and a wonderful reggiano that really brought the flavors together. Amazing. The first course was a hamhock with sauteed escargot and some sort of crazy foam emulsion. I dont even like pork and I could have eaten about 3 more of these. The pork absolutely melted in your mouth. So impressive. The wine pairings were wonderful (aside from the madeira.. but I just hate madeira) and our server was both pleasant and informative. Never did we want for anything or need to hunt her down. I understand that at prices like No 9 Park, the service should be spot on.. but I must do credit where credit is due. Some of the backwaiters were a bit clumsy.. but I forgive them with a meal like that. All in all... go there... try this menu... and leave as completely blown away as I was. Thanks No. 9 Park. I love you.
(5)Shaily K.
tremendously disappointing. sad to say especially because I took my husband here for his birthday celebration. We did the chef's tasting menu, and did the optional add-ons as well, and after EVERY single dish that came out, we were disappointed. then we would eagerly await the next round..and be disappointed again. perhaps i'm a food snob because i lived in NYC, but i'm shocked that anyone would consider the combinations to be working. the menu sounds delightful--but disappoints every round. the only saving grace was that both desserts on the tasting menu were phenomenal. basil mint ice cream. mmmmm divine. and some berry tart that was perfection. clearly the pastry chef knows what he or she is doing. (NOTE: i actually remember these because they were memorable. the rest of the menu i would like to forget given my bill). the service was fantastic...but who pays $300 for "good service?"
(2)Alex A.
Perhaps its because the last time I dined here was before I moved to New York, but No. 9 Park was a sore dissappointment. While we were given a wondeful table with a view of the Common (being lit up for Christmas!) and the service was fine, the food surely did not live up to a 4.5 star rating. The menu was limited and portion sizes varied (and left two member of my dinner party extremely hungry!). Nothing wowed us, and for the prices they charge, the food really should!
(3)Lauren B.
My ex-boyfriend took me to No. 9 Park to celebrate our anniversary this past year, and I found it to be an absolutely enchanting experience: No. 9 Park is the epitome of high-class restaurants, with waiters that are courteous and attentive, an atmosphere that is romantic without sacrificing comfort, and a menu that is absolutely to-die-for, no matter what you order. We arrived right on time for our reservation, and the hostess seated us right away, taking our jackets and leading us to our table, where we were greeted by a waitress that offered us various wine and water choices to start off our evening. Moving on from there, we were presented with our menus, and the content of each menu option was explained to us before we were left alone to make our decisions. I settled on the Grilled Hudson Valley Foie Gras as an appetizer, with the Vermont Pheasant to follow, and the Sorbet du Jour to finish the meal; my ex-boyfriend chose the Prune Stuffed Gnocchi (his absolute favorite thing to eat in the world is this gnocchi, exclusively at this restaurant) as his appetizer, the Colorado Lamb Saddle as his entree, and the Caramel Apple Frangipane as his dessert - I am not exaggerating when I say that the two of us barely talked during our meal, because we were so engrossed in the exquisite flavors each course had to offer to us. Everything I ate at this restaurant was something I would eat again, and everything I ate was something I was absolutely, no-holds-barred impressed with - from the artisan bread offered before the meal down to the pomegranate fruit candy gratis with the check, I was in culinary heaven. I highly recommend this restaurant to anybody - whether you're a foodie like me and my ex-boyfriend or someone just looking to sample a taste of the finer fare in the world of cuisine, you will not be disappointed. No. 9 Park's atmosphere, waitstaff, and chef's culinary prowess are nearly legendary - and everyone will be able to see why once they try this place out for themselves.
(5)A S.
By far the best overall dining experience I've had. We did the chef's tasting with the wine paring. The first course (lobster) totally embodied the taste of summer, and everything that followed was outstanding. Exceptional service, delicious food, highly recommended for any special occasion.
(5)B C.
Terrific location, smart decor and impeccable service. So why the three stars, the food was pretty pedestrian. Here is my theory about Boston's indigenously grown crop of top chefs including Barbara Lynch of No. 9, Jody Adams of Rialto, Lydia Shire and Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley's. Their food all pretty much taste about the same because they honed their culinary skills only around Boston. This compares to some of my favorites including Ken Oringer of Clio, Tony Maws of Craigie Street Bistrot, Pino Maffeo of Restaurant L and of course Tim Cushman of O Ya. All these guys got their training and experience around the world and than came to Boston to become the top dog of their own place(s). Thus we were the beneficiary of their worldly experience. If you dropped No. 9 in NYC (without question one of the, if not the, epicenter of the culinary world), it would be just another good, but middle of the road fine dining spot. While on the other hand, neither Jean George nor the French Laundry have anything over Ken Oringer's Clio.
(3)Sarah B.
So after hearing all the hype about No. 9 and experiencing firsthand the fantastic B&G Oyster festival (with the kitchen throwdown at the Butcher Shop) and taking in Stir for myself and loving it all, I was pretty excited to bring my husband to No. 9 for our 2nd anniversary. My brother-in-law who knows upscale places in Boston told us we would have our socks knocked off at this place. I have to say that I have had better. My first impression of the place was "this is it?" After going to L'Espallier for my husband's birthday and taking in the grand decor, I was very unimpressed. Luckily we had a table by the window on a beautiful Saturday evening, but the tables in back were quite dark even for 6pm (when it is still plenty sunny outside). The reviews on the gnocchi were more dazzling than the food itself. It was good, but not as amazing as the reviews built it up to be. Scallops are my favorite and I have never had bad scallops at a restaurant so I ordered them with very high expectations. When they came with these fried cubes of what I think were pork fat, I was quite turned off. The tiny corn cake balls that came with it were incredibly bland as well. Dessert was ok, nothing at all to write home about. They did throw in a special extra dessert as it was our anniversary, but it tasted like tofu on top of cardboard. Although we were 1 hour late for our reservation (make sure your GPS doesn't take you to Park Street in Dorchester), they still held our table (by the window) and were very accommodating. The valet even ran to our car to grab our Cirque du Soliel tickets when I realized I had forgotten them as we were about to depart by cab. Having gone to both Mistral (for our 1st anniversary) and L'Espallier I would DEFINITELY return to either of these again before No. 9. Pros-fantastic service, friendly waitstaff and hostesses, homemade treats with the check and a little sweet goodie bag for later Cons-ok food for too much $$ and hype
(3)Sara S.
All I can say is GO HERE. Everything surpassed my expectations by a long shot. Amazing cocktails, best service in Boston, and the prune stuffed gnocchi and halibut live up to the praise. From start to finish, my meal at No. 9 Park was the best meal I've had in Boston.
(5)Chet T.
I went this restaurant because of the great reviews it received on Yelp. I thought the restaurant was good but not great. The service, ambiance, and view was great but the food was lacking. It is a great date place but again the food did not meet expectations. I started the meal with the gnocchi, which was really good. Then I followed it up with the quail which rubbed me the wrong way.
(3)Grant S.
Awesome. Expensive, but worth it every once in a blue moon...
(5)Shawn M.
I'm not a rich man so this was a restaurant week special for me. Some how I managed a reservation and wow. Five star experience all around. Service was impecable. The food was exceeed even my best expectations(Which was a lot). No. 9 is the best in Boston for a reason
(5)E.B. R.
This is an attractive, well located, expensive restaurant with excellent service and over rated food. The service was truly attentive, possibly too attentive. But, I've enjoyed really fine French cuisine and this isn't it. Too expensive considering food quality. We tried several appetizers, entrees, and desserts. None were memorable.
(3)Julia H.
I was so happy to hear that No. 9 Park was one of the area restaurants collaborating with LUPEC Boston to donate the proceeds of a "woman-themed" cocktail to Jane Doe, Inc, the MA Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence during the month of September. So a few of my girlfriends and I got together to drink for a cause. The atmosphere was lovely, and we got a swanky booth near the bar, and took a look at the menu. The benefit cocktail was the "Hanky Panky," so we ordered a round for the table. It was delicious! And sexy! And we spent a good hour chatting and drinking and tooting our horns. But in some twisted effort to connect with customers the Maitre D' (or maybe the manager?) came up to us, asked us how we liked the hanky panky (and giggled), and then asked how we'd heard about the benefit. When we explained that we came from a woman-owned and operated literary magazine, he quipped "I hope you're not battered women!" and laughed maniacally. My jaw dropped. I mean, what? I think (hope) this was an isolated case, since No. 9 Park is woman-owned and operated and known for civic engagement. But I left feeling a little angry, and wished that someone had schooled that guy in basic courtesy.
(4)Kim L.
While my girlfriend and I are still starving young professionals, we found a way to make this work: eat at the bar. And folks, all I can say is this: Goodness. Goodness gracious. We came in specifically to try the cocktail flights--I absolutely enjoyed the house specialty flight, and would most definitely agree with the bartender: drink the palmyra first, pear martini second, and the no. 10 last. My favorite was definitely the palmyra: rain vodka, mint, and lime juice. Simple, sweet. As for the cafe menu, we shared the truffled gnocchi and the crispy skin salmon. Vegetarians, you will love the gnocchi. No. 9 Park's menu is primarily for the meat-eaters, but you can do no wrong with the gnocchi. The crispy skin salmon is also quite wonderful, though veggies be warned: it's got chicory, so ask for it without. John, the infamous bartender, knew everything there was to know. Not to mention, he comped one of our flights for not warning us about the chicory. Bottom line: I can't wait to go back.
(5)Meredith K.
So I took my mom here because I had heard so many great things about No. 9 Park. Maybe we went on an off day? But I wasn't very impressed. Decor seemed kind of bare - I mean it was ok, but I didn't love it. Plus the floor looked like the same one my elementary school had. Service was very professional, and the quality of food was very good, but the prices were high and the portions were so small we left hungry (we each had 3 courses). I don't mind shelling out lots of money for a fabulous meal (I love Excelsior and L'Espalier) but I also want to leave FULL - after 3 courses I shouldn't be hungry! But it seems from the amount of rave reviews I must have gone on an off day, so I will have to update when I go again and hope I don't leave hungry.
(3)Marisa B.
No. 9 Park was the perfect start to a getaway weekend for my husband and me. The service was impeccable -- friendly in a pretentious sort of way, like they've been expecting you and now that you've arrived, everything will go smoothly. The decor and color palette provide an ideal setting for the mingling of old and new money: low-slung leather couches and mirrors tucked into corners; indirect lighting from heavy glass and wood "man"deliers; guests decked out in Tod bags and Givenchy furs. Very fun for the people-watchers. Now, I'm not really a foodie. Case in point: I had to ask the server to translate "boudin noir". To her credit, she was supremely poised and didn't even blink at me in shock at such a question. My favorable first impression was further solidified when, after she told me what it was (blood sausage), she proceeded to elaborate on its taste (somewhat chalky, with a creamy texture), and what made it special (one of the chef's specialties). Now I felt like a foodie! But I still didn't get the boudin noir. Mark and I both opted for the prix fixe menu. At $45 per person, it's a good intro-to-foodie adventure for a fun night out. And my appetizer alone was worth that amount. I started with the steak tartare. I have never in my life had such amazing steak tartare! The simple seasoning of cracked pepper and salt brought out the steak's tremendously hearty, savory texture. Paired with toasted, buttery brioche, my mouth was in heaven. The flavor of the brioche would have easily overpowered a lesser meat, but with the tartare, every bite claimed my immediate attention. There was also an aioli sauce on the plate, but in my opinion, the steak only needed the brioche. My husband's porcelet wasn't as extraordinary. The flavors were consistent and lovely -- just very mild. The pork itself tasted smooth and fatty, with the accompanying reduced cranberry compote adding much needed brightness. The plating also included some thinly sliced toast points. Overall the dish was solid, but the subtlety of flavor was unfortunately lost on me. Lactose intolerant? Stay far, far away from the outstanding handmade pappardelle entree. Mark's pasta was cooked down to risotto-like consistency, then bathed in a divine bolognese that would make Atkins lovers proud: heavy cream, decadent parmigiano-reggiano, beautifully browned nuggets of ground red meat. Amazing. By comparison, my rainbow trout balanced several flavors for an ultimate sum greater than its individual portions. The trout was served butterflied, laid on a bed of haricot vert, fingerling potatoes, hazelnuts and a splash of lemon. The lemon was a stroke of genius. Its acidic tang allowed the tenderness of the trout to take center stage and created a standout dish. By the time dessert rolled around, we were both thinking "light." Mark opted for the lemon tart, probably to stave off the dairy overload from his pappardelle. The tart was aptly named -- one bite had me puckering like a pouty 2-year-old. However, the accompanying sorbet delivered the dominant lemon flavor with a much gentler, and more appreciated, touch. My medley of glace included chocolate-, lemon- and yogurt-flavored dollops. For me, the plating surpassed the flavor. The chocolate glace reminded me more of cocoa powder than creamy milk chocolate -- but then, maybe that was the intent. Although Mark enjoyed my yogurt-flavored glace, I found it too salty for a dessert. I do remember the lemon glace fondly, though I can't recall any specific impressions. No. 9 Park delivered on so many things, I can't in good conscience knock off an entire star just for some taste preferences. I truly enjoyed my meal, so I'm rounding up to 5 stars. I'm already craving that steak tartare, and look forward to another foodie adventure, courtesy of Barbara Lynch!
(5)Priscilla G.
I have eaten at No. 9 Park several times since it has opened, but this last visit was a stunning disappointment. The quality of the meal had declined considerably, though the service remains excellent. We began with an appetizer of shared pastas. This used to be on the menu with a taste of 3, but we special ordered it and it comes with 5. All of them were "white" pastas and arrived to the table a bit cold. Uninspiring except for the foie gras ravioli which was on the regular menu. At this our hearts sank. We then had a Chicken farce which was dry and bland, with a mealy texture in some of the treatments. We also had the lobster, which was the only dish we had that was up to the former standards and was perfectly delicious. We did not order dessert, but the waitress brought us a small dessert anyway: pomegranate sorbet which was fresh and tasty. Maybe it was because it was a Friday night, but the experience was discouraging enough to hesitate risking another try on a weeknight. Very expensive, also. So sad.
(2)Michele B.
My husband's dessert was chocolate cake with smoked cream. It tasted like bacon. That was bad. The service was excellent. Everything else was very good, but not amazing. For the price, you expect amazing.
(3)Anne H.
This is my favorite restaurant in Boston, hands-down. The ingredients are perfectly fresh/seasonally appropriate, the presentation is creative without being pretentious (no vertical food here), and the service is super-attentive. It's foodie heaven. My latest meal at No. 9 Park was a 7-course tasting menu (with wine pairings) prepared gluten-free. The staff took great care of us, and I felt perfectly safe. The chef did not only worked within the limitations of my diet, but created some amazing substitutions. I didn't feel like I was missing out at all. Fantastic. A note to people who think it's "entitled," "pretentious," whatever --- it's really not. The service and food would be pretentious if it were something other than what it is: perfectly prepared food presented according to a particular standard, in a formal environment, where the staff take the food very seriously. It's old-school, and that's fine with me. If you're up for a more casual dinner out, try B&G Oysters or The Butcher Shop.
(5)Katie B.
Fantastic restaurant! Food is out of this world, and the service made me feel like royalty. Not a drinker? Not a problem here. They treat you just as well regardless of whether or not you're racking up an alcohol bill. No. 9 is simply the best!
(5)Meghana A.
We came here for my 25th birthday. It was the most traditionally gourmet and elegant meal ever, complete with several courses of tiny, beautiful dishes. We had the prune-stuffed gnocchi as an appetizer, which is topped with foie gras - it just melts in your mouth! I happen to have foie gras topping my entree as well, which was a wonderfully prepared chicken dish that didn't look like chicken at all. It came presented in glazed square-shaped medallians, almost like a choo-choo train bisecting the plate and intricately intertwined with dried fruit mushrooms and filo pastry. The dessert was exceptional and came topped with a single candle for me to blow out. It was a magical birthday experience.
(5)Josh P.
Chef made an amazing gnocchi dish with truffle oil as a vegetarian option.. Exceptional.
(5)Art A.
They were kind enough to allow the two of us to split the tasting menu, and as we added a cheese tasting and foie gras course, it was more than enough food. We both have discriminating tastes, or at least we think we do. This meal was magnificent; perhaps one of the best that I can recall. The foie gras with huckleberry and crisp was one of the most pleasantly surprising single food bites that I've had. In fact, it was so good that we actually giggled. Several of the dishes simply surprised us with unexpected bursts of flavor. The worst of the selections were "merely" very good. Although we sat in the bar, and were weekday evening walk ins, it did not detract from the experience. Our server was actually the barkeep, and he did a magnificent job of taking care of us with a studied yet relaxed and casual manner. He simply made us feel at home. We did not do the wine paring, but we did allow him to take care of our cocktail needs, and by listening to what we liked, his recommendations were spot on. Each server was attentive and knowledgable and yet managed to maintain the relaxed yet attentive balance. This was a meal and experience that we will not forget. I was shocked to see some of these negative reviews. Perhaps we were exceptionally lucky, but the quality and attentiveness certainly appeared to be more than luck. It ain't cheap, so don't be surprised. However, as far as I'm concerned, it was worth every penny. Not to be missed.
(5)Steve L.
This place is divine. I'm not exactly wallowing in money, but the 6-course tasting menu was unforgettable. Actually, it was one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. It's hard to add to the praise, so I'll go ahead and say that I agree with all the 5-star reviews. During that 3 hour lunch with 2 other friends, the simple decor, the incredible service, and the unbelievable food created an oasis in the middle of my crazy day. I didn't want to get up and leave. Walking out the door, I felt that it had all been a bit too surreal. It's not often that you can call eating out a "dining experience", and this was certainly one of those rare moments!
(5)Lesley K.
Sometimes it's all about atmosphere - luckily No 9 Park has amazing food, wine and atmosphere. Trifecta. The food was *very good*, the service was OUTSTANDING - probably best in all of Boston - the staff paid attention to what we liked to eat and drink making suggestions and substitutions, anticipating what we might like - they had such enthusiasm about their wines and dishes. And I just love to be around people who love food and wine the way we do - just incredible experience, and surprisingly not too expensive. We sat at the bar and had four oysters, an amuse bouche, charcuterie, fries (with this aioli that reminded me of lemon curd), short ribs, and the truffled gnocchi, a five cheese cheese plate and a few glasses of wine and prosecco - for less than $200.00. (Obviously we weren't drinking any Grand Crus!) If I could afford to I might spend every single night here.
(5)Sam J.
We had the tasting menu and it was amazing. Pan seared foie gras was just out of this world. The service was outstanding. It cost a good chuck of change but it was a great experience.
(5)Rhubarb M.
This place was one of the best meals I can remember. Super yummy. Lobster goodness. Nicest waiter in town. Absolutely made my time in Boston much better. One of the spendier places I've been, so be prepared to just get over it or have your meal ruined by money sadness..
(5)Micah s.
Wine pairing with Artichoke? I thought we would see peace in the Middle East before some one could actual find a wine and artichoke dish that was a good combo Yes they did it. We have had places attempt this feat before but this actually worked. All of the food and wine worked in harmony. Our server was amazing. She had a genuine passion for the food and wine. We did the tasting menu with wine pairings. Each course was well constructed added to the experience. The combination of local and seasonal ingredients and adding unexpected twist to the dishes added to the taste and texture of each dish. Our experience at No 9 Park was better than Per Se and French Laundry at about half the price. As with most tasting menus dessert falls short after really great savory courses. Our server added a dessert to our meal and that help close that gap.
(5)Qiang W.
I tried this place in last year's restaurant festival. I know, that for a prestige place like no 9, the taste of food is never of first place importance, but me, as one who cares that factor most, have to rate it at 3 stars. For a price of around 150$ for two, I was not supprised by the taste, at all... I would rather pay 20$ for good food, take out. I do not know whether Chinese has different understanding of restaurants or not, but the reason I get into one, is all about satisfying my mouth, which is not accomplished here.
(3)Arian A.
We went here for our anniversary and we were placed perfectly at a table that overlooked Boston Common. I enjoyed the view but not as much as I enjoyed the food. If we still lived in Boston I would definitely go again for another special occasion.
(5)R. C.
I ate here a while ago when my husband & I were at a conference in Boston. We had the chef's tasting menu with wine pairings. When I first saw the menu I wasn't sure if I would like everything because there were a few dishes that didn't really appeal to me, but my husband wanted to do the chef's tasting so I figured I could "suffer" through it. :) I was pleasantly surprised, since every course was delectable, even the courses I thought I wouldn't care for. The chef created everything in such a way that it was impossible not to like it and that's the beauty of the chef's menu. The chef picks what he feels will be perfect for each course and I really think it showed. I would absolutely go back. The only tip I can give to you is to make sure you 1) make a reservation well in advance 2) request the old section of the restaurant since it has more charm, a better view, and is just quintessential Boston. Those tables fill up fast. The restaurant is odd because half of the restaurant is boring modern and half of the restaurant is old Boston beacon hill townhouse.
(5)Emily H.
Went here last week. A tall blond gent was out server and we ate in , loved it. We ate in the bar area and loved it. Really great food and the service was probably the best I ahve had in LA, NYC or Chicago. Fantastic food and attentive service along with killer drinks and we walked the rest of the evening in the Commons. It was a total delight!
(5)Lindsay S.
Let me start by saying I have no complaints about my meal or experience. The service was suberb and the meal was tasty. However I do not believe the meal warranted the price charged because while it was good, it wasn't amazing- as I feel this meal should have been. We had a 5:30 PM dinner reservation on a Sat. night which is the first seating for dinner. We arrived to the restaurant at 5 PM and sat at the bar and enjoyed a drink until we were seated. The bartender was very friendly and helpful as was the front end staff when we first arrived. We were then seated promptly at 5:30. As this was our first time to this restaurant, our server was very helpful in explaining the menu- 2 dining options. Either a 7 course tasting menu @112 pp plus an additional $74 pp if you wanted the wine pairings. The second option is a 3 course prix fixe menu at $69 pp. We opted for the latter. For the app, I had the prune gnocchi, my husband the ricotta knudi and we got one more to share- kingfish escabeche. I think these and the desserts were the favorite part of our meal. For the entree, I had quail (my first time ever so nothing to compare it to), and my husband had the assiette of beef which included tongue, shoulder and marrow. Neither my husband or I loved our entrees but there was nothing obviously wrong with them. I think we both wished that there was more of a side or accompaniment with our protein and while I was OK with the portion (after having had 2 apps), my husband wished that his was larger. For dessert I had the baba au rhum and my husband had the tonka bean parfait. We were both quite pleased with dessert. As I mentioned the service was suberb- very friendly, accommodating, helpful etc and the timing for all of our meals was spot on. We were not rushed but not left waiting for anything either. We've been to many nice restaurants in the Boston area but this was our most expensive one, yet unfortunately not our favorite. After each of us had 2 drinks and then the 3 course meal with tip it was $230. I wish the food had been more impressive. It lacked the wow factor yet had wow factor prices. For the amount of money spent, I (sadly) won't be rushing to come back. But kudos to the front end and wait staff for a job well done.
(4)Sophia L.
no. 9 park stood up to the expectations we had. That's a lot to say in my family becuase we have HIGH expectations. The service was excellent, The food was fabulous and the ambiance was amazing. Very 1920/1930s jazz feeling with as far as I can tell a great cocktail/beer/wine list. I definitelly recommend for a special evening out.
(5)Kare C.
Expected more for the price (no pun intended =p), but the food was very tasty and actually VERY filling. The food was condensed so don't let the portion size fool you. Good to pair with wine. You can tell each dish was put together with care. The foie gras was heaven! You have to have to try!!
(3)Jan Mark H.
Every time I go to No. 9 I am not disappointed. Great food and always consistent. The tasting menu was outstanding and the service was impeccable
(5)S S.
Incredible service, fantastic food, and great drinks. Highly recommend the prune stuffed gnocchi! The oysters were also really fresh and delicious. The waitress even brought over complimentary drinks, which was so sweet of her. I am a huge fan of Barbara Lynch, and it really was a fantastic experience. I prefer Menton to No. 9 Park, but No. 9 is definitely a must for any Barbara Lynch fan.
(4)Colin K.
My review is purely for the bar/cafe and mostly the bar. The bartenders here, particularly John and Ryan, are chefs with cocktail shakers, and were the first in the city I could not successfully stump with obscure 19th-century booze trivia. While they are no longer the only game in town, they are still, IMHO, among the very best, and I've never been disappointed by even the most unusual things they or the other folks here came up with. I've generally only snacked here and those have been quite good. I tend to avoid the more nouvelle-cuisine style of places (though that term is rather dated, it feels appropriate here) and No. 9 is nothing if not fussy and even a bit prissy at times--something I've found true of all of Barbara Lynch's places. To be fair, the quality and consistency have also generally been high, so it's more of a stylistic objection on my part than anything else.
(5)Jeanne B.
Dining at No. 9 Park is a delightful experience, reminescent of when customer service was king and restaurants really believed in making the diner 100% happy. The waitstaff is impeccable. They are knowledgeable about the menu and are able to recommend the perfect wine pairing for any dish on the menu. They are attentive without being overbearing and friendly without being hokey. The menu changes quite frequently so I cannot recommend a specific dish, but suffice it to say everything is well thought out from conception to preparation to presentation. I would recommend the three course prix-fixe meal as the best bang for your buck. They also have a 3 course meal with wine pairing. Since I was here for a work luncheon I could not take advantage of the wine pairing, but based on the waiter's recommendation of wine for my meal, I don't think you can go wrong. No. 9 Park prides itself on the dining experience so do not expect to eat and run. This is a place to relax and enjoy the deliciously prepared food while being pampered by the excellent waitstaff. A perfect spot for a romantic dinner or to celebrate a special occasion.
(5)Katharine O.
I'm not sure you could call this a meal when you only take 12 bites the entire night of 3 courses.... BUT aside from that.... Foie gras: absolutely delectable. Gnocchi (not the prune filled it ...wasn't on the Restaurant Week menu), was pretty good, though I've had better in Italy....and my Mom's kitchen. Chocolate Napoleon: Did not overly impress me, do not recommend it. Drinks were ok, wine list was incredible, as was the waitresses 2 minute shpeel about each bottle of wine. Service was ok, our particular waitress let her expression show a LITTLE too much on her face, so for instance, when you're disgusted, you should attempt to hide it. Menu was falling apart, when I'm paying a thousand dollars for dinner, I want my menu to stay together and I also do not want to be bumped into, kicked or elbowed every time a waiter or waitress walks by when I'm sitting on the aisle. I definitely do not weigh that much that I was THAT much in the way. Definitely will not ever go back here as it is entirely over priced for what it is, but I suppose the experience was alright.
(3)Hugh K.
I've been going to No. 9 almost since the month it opened because my once-monthly book group at the Athenaeum is right around the corner. I'd say 95% of my visits are for appetizers in the bar, and that's what I continue to recommend. For the first decade I think the staff was almost unchanging, which says a lot of good things about the restaurant. The food has never been less than delicious, and the drinks, though a little less spectacular now that John Gertsen has gone to Drink, are very fine indeed. The staff seems to turn over more regularly now, and the policy on reserving seats in the bar area seems to change more than the local weather, but the food, wine and desserts, as expensive as they are, never fail to impress me.
(4)Yb W.
No. 9 Park has to be one of the most innovative and cutting edge restaurants in Boston! The trend in haute cuisine seems to be to borrow from international influences, but to keep the presentation and cooking techniques decidedly European (keeping it upscale). No. 9 Park more than succeeds in this undertaking. Our dinner started with a trio of cocktails: a refreshing Palmyra, pear martini, and the No. 10 (tasted like spiked cough syrup). Noticeably absent was an amuse bouche. Instead, we launched right into the first course: the foie gras and prune gnocchi. The foie gras was seared crisp, but the inside remained luxurious. The gnocchi's were little puffs of heaven with sweet prune filling and accented with shaves of foie gras. The portions were small, but still filling because of the rich ingredients. I was especially hungry that day. I had hoped for gluttonous portions and was sorely disappointed when I was served more tastefully sized main courses. Our venison loin was petite, as was the side of polenta. The venison had been dusted with cumin and cooked medium rare. The result was melt in my mouth tenderness. There were also two little spoon shaped mounds of swiss chard which were oversalted. The highlight of my evening was the pork belly! Oh my, the pork belly! I could gush about it all day. It was amazing. The skin was crispy and the fat melted in my mouth. And if my arteries were not clogged enough, there was double fried pork rind on top. All this decadence bathed in a homemade kimchi and brussel sprout consumme. Kimchi? As in stinky fermented cabbage? Doesn't sound appetizing? Well, it was divine-I would gladly die choking on pork belly and kimchi! Discussing dessert at this point would be anticlimactic. But to be fair, dessert was delicious. I had a luscious fig cake with ginger ice cream, graham cracker crumbs, and caramel brittle--all as separate elements on the plate. We also shared a chocolate pudding/jello thing which was almost as good. The restaurant's décor is muted and elegant. The service was more casual than at many other restaurants of this caliber. Nevertheless, service was always courteous and my water glass was never half empty for too long. In sum, No. 9 Park is a treasure. It must be exhausting for Chef Lynch to continually update the menu while keeping it up to snuff. Kudos to her!
(5)Jungmin L.
The foie gras/prune stuffed gnocchi is WAY WAY overrated. I find the flavors unbalanced; too tart, not enough grease to tone down the sharpness. Dough was not seasoned enough. Even in the top stars of Paris they served me more foie gras than these miniscule dumplings. Overall, considering the food, atmosphere, price: way overrated. I'm still a fair person though- Despite their stuck-up service and overpricing, their food is quite level to L'espalier and warrants the same number of stars as a top kitchen in Boston.
(4)Carla B.
Another expensive, disappointing meal. Granted, the room is beautiful, the service impecable, and the menu seemingly interesting. Best part of the meal were the warm buns we were initially served. First off, no amuse bouche. I have eaten at many fine dining establishments and this was the first time that there was no complimentary treat from the chef. Pretty tacky considering how pricey it is. The food lacked flavor. The portions were miniscule. We shared a number of dishes, making our own tasting menu (they only serve a 7 course). Both the fish (black cod) and the meat (lamb) were ordinary, and they both had the same exact chopped green vegetable as their underpinning. Was there a special that day at the market? For that kind of money, I expect inspired cooking. It was quite obviously lacking.
(2)Rob D.
I was just at #9 again last night, after a long absence...I can't let that happen again. This place works two ways: as an excellent bar to meet friends/dates/business colleagues/whatever (but, not your mom, probably), and as an excellent place to bring someone for a nice evening. Everyone there knows their stuff - the wines are excellent, the food is superb, and it has one of the best cheese servings in the area. (Seriously - even if you know cheeses, pretend you don't and feel your eyes get huge when they wheel that big cart out.) Also - Steak tartare. Second to none. Honestly, its that good. (Screw the mad-cow thing.) It is pricey though, so expect two reasonably hungry adults and a bottle of Valpolicella Classico Superiore Palazzo della Torre ('94) to set you back a few hundred... well, hell, what else were you gonna do with that money? Pay mortgage to The Man? Hah.
(5)Nathan W.
The food was pretty good, but maybe I'm a fatso because I wasn't full after. Food was expensive but was definitely worth it.
(4)Cathy M.
My favorite restaurant on the planet. I have never had anything here that wasn't wonderful. We do the tasting menu with our best friends every holiday season, and despite the staggering bill, we consider it a perfect evening. The cocktails are absolutely perfect. I am partial to their Cosmopolitan, the best I have ever had anywhere, and the Palmyra (I've been trying unsuccessfully to duplicate that one at home for about a year now). The wine list is great. And the food....well, the food is pretty much in a class by itself. I do not like fish, yet here I have eaten it many, many times - once I even had skate wing. The short ribs I had about 4 years ago are still discussed on a regular basis. The service is always excellent, but not overbearing or pretentious. We have gone to dinner here in dressy clothes and also in khakis, and have always been treated exactly the same. A couple of years ago, Tom Brady and Bridget Moynihan sat at the table next to ours. Even though EVERYONE knew who it was (people walking by on their way to the restrooms were getting whiplash), not one person bothered them. And they got the same exact service and treatment as the rest of us - flawless.
(5)Emily G.
I know it's boring when everybody's right, but everybody's right. If you've got mad flow and are prepared to never again have as amazing a dining experience in Boston as you will when you're done, there's just no other place to go. My only grievance is that it will be so long before I can afford to return.
(5)Billy B.
I have been going to No.9 Park for over four years. What amazes me about this place is, aside from a brief mis-step, is how consistently good it is. Not just good, but above and beyond. The entire service experience, from the pre-meal cocktail to the dessert is just amazing. They take care of you as though you were the paying customer, as it were. The cocktails. Ted has done an incredible job taking over John Gertsen's spot behind the bar, keeping John's respect for traditional classic cocktails while adding his own creativity to the mix. Like John, Ted and his minions will be able to adeptly match a cocktail to whatever is on your plate. I've never had a glass of wine at No.9 because the cocktails are simply too good. Then the food. Always changing and always good. There's a little inconsistency in how to get that food over the years (bar menu, a la carte option, required chef's menu, etc.), so research before going so you can plan your budget appropriately. When dining at the bar I average $60-80 for a couple of drinks and a light bite or two. When there for a full dinner experience with a group of friends, we have averaged $150-$250/person. The $250 was for the 7 course tasting menu with foie gras option and a cocktial matched with every course. One of the most expensive meals that I ever had, but also one of the most memorable (in spite of all the cocktails!). Anyway, as much as we love this place, and I do think the food is worth the price, we only go here once or twice a year. That time is usually determined by being awaken from a less than restful sleep only to find feathers in my mouth. Yes, I was eating my pillow because I was dreaming about that pruned stuffed gnocchi again. This is the perennial favorite at No. 9. There was a year where every time I went there that dish was "off", but this last year every time I've been there for a drink or dinner, it has been spot on again (i.e. enough sauce and not being stingy with the foie). I'd like to talk about other appetizers, but that's the only one I ever get. I taste my friends', and they always make me regret not straying from the gnocchi path. The entrées are always unique and exquisite. Light and fluffy fish or perfectly cooked meat. And the desserts sublime. The other thing I like about No. 9 is that, for such an incredible menu and professional staff, there is no pretentiousness about the place. It's a white table cloth restaurant, but a jacket and tie are not required. A very laid back and casual experience. When there with friends, we usually dine early, and they let us know that the table "ours" so we don't have to feel pressure to rush out for the next guests. Time to check my "fine restaurant savings account" (yes I have a dedicated account for dealing with my foodie ways). Writing this review has made me totally hungry for No.9 again!
(5)Korri Leigh C.
Fantastic. A true culinary experience from start to finish. Our waiter took very good care of us, made excellent recommendations, and even sent us out a complimentary dessert. My pastry chef dining companion got us a tour of the back so we got to see the chefs in action, a special treat for sure. Check out the door into the kitchen if you can, trust me, its crazy! Definitely a special occasion destination. Try the duck - amazing!
(5)danny v.
This is the place that my wife and I always fall back on when we want to ensure ourselves a wonderful night out. I can honestly say that we've never had a bad experience here and we've been at least a dozen times. We've eaten in the dining room a handful of times for special occasions, but I actually prefer sitting at the bar. The prices on the cafe menu are reasonable enough for a Tuesday night out and the food is amazing. (You can also order form the regular menu if you'd like.) The real perk of bellying up to the bar, however, is watching the bartenders in action. John and Ryan make spot-on cocktails and wine recommendations and then educate you on the production methods and history of that rare Italian spirit you've never heard of. They remember what I've liked in the past and inspired me to stray from my regular Negroni and try similar drinks like their house concoction, the Contessa. Sit at the bar, ask for recommendations and enjoy a great evening-- you'll be treated right.
(5)Paul D.
when it comes to restaurants, i am very rarely speechless. but wow... classy and sophisticated top to bottom, but never intimidating.. If you are picky or timid or are the kindve person who orders the same thing all the time when you go out, then turn around and go grab a whopper at BK. but if you like food and the finer things in life, let go and get the chef's tasting menu, trust the servers and prepare to be shot out of a cannon.... Amazing!
(5)Moondog J.
The Wife and I went here on our last night in Boston. Could not have ended our trip on a better note. First off we sat for some cocktails while waiting for our table. The drinks were excellent and the staff very friendly. Now onto the really impressive part. We had the chef's tasting with wine pairing. Can honestly say I've never had a more impressive meal. Every dish was wonderful with flavors that built so well on one another. The wine pairings with each course were excellent. Our waiter and the staff in general could not have been better. Now I've also never spent more on a meal, but the experience was worth every penny. If you have a special occasion to celebrate this is the perfect place. My fondest memory of Boston, will also be our number one reason for wanting to go back sooner than later.
(5)Emily S.
Ummm more island creek oysters. And more great wine. Love this place when I'm not on a business dinner.
(4)Lu W.
I had a great dinner here for Restaurant Week. I started with the bluefish pate, which was impossibly smooth and served with delicious pickled beans (yes for pickling!). I had the crazy-rich pork belly for my main course- no skimping here, it was a huge portion of fatty goodness. My favorite part, however, was the corn "pudding" it was served with. It was more like a thick sauce, but it was sweet, rich, and oh-so-good; I dream about it at night. For dessert, I had the cheese plate. The waiter wheeled out a giant cart of cheese and promptly began to wax poetic about the qualities of each tempting chunk. I lost track after a while, but ended up getting an Irish bleu and an unripened Belgian goat cheese. They were were served with honey, grapes, and nuts, and left me blissfully (read: painfully) stuffed. I also had two cocktails- one was a special for RW composed of gin, lemon, and apricot, and the second was a Martinez. The first was so-so, but the Martinez, supposedly the original Martini, was great. I would loooove to come back here when I have cash to blow, it was one of the best meals I've had.
(5)Alec Y.
i had an excellent dining here. the hosts were just absolutely phenomenal and the server was great. a friend and i wanted to have a memorable fine dining experience before she went off to college. we tried getting a reservation here, and we couldn't. so we were put on a waiting list. and the morning of the dinner, i got a phone call saying that a spot had opened up. you can imagine my excitement. it was just great. however, we did not plan very well. we ended being a half an hour late to our reservation. and the woman said there was a reservation after, but she didn't want to rush us. so it would be up to us. and i obviously jumped at the chance. we were seated and from there on out, it was amazing. we were never rushed. she said by dessert, we may have to move to the bar. but we never did. even though the reservation came, i guess they just didn't feel that we needed to move? i don't even know. but they were great. the service was great. our server joked with us and he was very kind. they knew we were in a rush, so they brought out our food at lightning speed. it was very impressive. i started with the bluefish pate, which i had never had. it was great. it was too fishy, and it was nice and thick and spreadable. it came with a small potato salad, which was great. very light. then i got the striped bass with mussels. the bass was cooked to perfection and the mussels soaked up all the flavor. my friend got the glazed pork belly, which was the most amazing thing ever. i wish i had gotten that. the skin had been fried to a crispy texture, and the flavor of it was phenomenal. it really was. finally, i got the duet of cheese, which was great. we got a soft, creamy cheese made with cows milk. and another hard cheese. i don't remember where they were from. but both were very good. my friend got the yogurt panna cotta which was also very good. i really enjoyed no. 9 park, and it seems like the bar scene was pretty hoppin' as well.
(5)Robert M.
Walking into No. 9 Park I feel an almost unique historical passage. Centered in Boston's most historic of neighborhoods, Beacon Hill, and under the watchful shadow of the Massachusetts dome, the lower level exterior of No. 9 Park speaks to the post colonialism of the early 1800s. But walking through its doors and quickly into the deep mahogany and marbled accents nestled in muted taupe decor, one steps back through the history that predated this place to a more refined and discernible Europe. The bar is one of the most inviting rooms of the restaurant. The lines are smooth, the light incandescent and low, and large cornered counter make this an ideal spot for a great cocktail and small bite. The dining area is equally intimate with soft colors, fabrics, and fixtures. I especially like the cornered couch seating where couples are seated kitty corner and not across from one another, making the meal all the more shared. So at first experience, Chef Barbara Lynch has created yet another sensory delight to (hopefully) pair with her acclaimed menus. The staff is attentive, and well versed in the concept of the food. (Ours also knew his wines well, important in a restaurant that touts a diverse wine list primarily from Europe with many nice smaller allocation offerings throughout.) One would expect as much in a venue of this caliber but too often this is not the case. As our server proceeded to explain the first offerings, he made sure to expound upon the Yellow fin Tuna Nicoise and the prune stuffed gnocchi with seared foie gras (its the best appetizer in Boston he assured us...we'll see). We ordered the gnocchi (who could resist that introduction) and a Salad of Baby Beets (house-made cows milk cheese, pistachios, ras el hanout). The beet salad was a mixture of predominantly red beets with a smattering of golden beets throughout. It also had what appeared to be a red beet cream. Good, but too much red beet. The dish lacked balance and was overpowered by the red beet flavor, which tasted slightly tinny (I'm not even going to think it). The golden beets were roasted to perfection and when added, did provide the balance I think the dish was attempting. Just not enough of it. The gnocchi was, well, kick a**. That's a culinary term. The best app in Boston? Well, I think some would challenge that, but it certainly holds its own. The gnocchi were perfectly done (not as easy as one would think) and the prune lent a nice acidity and bite to the taste. But what really makes this dish is the foie gras and glaze. The foie is seared and then gently placed atop the gnocchi. The pan is then de glazed with Vin Santo and then incorporated with clarified butter. The silky yet slightly sweet result combined with the texture of the gnocchi and prune is beautiful. For the main course, my companion ordered the wild sea bass with broccoli potage. The fish was cooked perfectly and nicely seasoned. It came in a bowl with the potage (broccoli and potato soup), which was delicate, but a bit underwhelming. The consistency of the potage was exemplary, however the flavor was a little too leafy. Mixed with basil, the fresh garden flavor was clearly present, however, the fish being gently seasoned itself, fell a little short against this backdrop. Now I'm not a proponent of season or die, but in this case...find the salt and pepper or maybe a little more mustard seed. (a note here...the wine may have played a role...see below) On to my dish, the lamb saddle with kohlrabi, fennel and roasted vidalia. We had ordered a french burgundy and he suggested that the veal, while rich and full of complimentary flavors, might not be as suited as the lamb which was presented as a plate of individual flavors with slightly more spice to augment the wine. The result was fantastic. The lamb was like cutting into fillet sized carpaccio slices with only the wonderful flavors of rich meat to accompany the other plated tastes. The fennel, kohlrabi and onion balanced the tongue to present a perfectly rounded and seasoned bite in exacting proportion. The dinner finished with a wonderful Creme Fraiche Croustillant. Now if I have one complaint it is here. My companion this evening was my beautiful wife and she had let it slip that this was our anniversary weekend. I'm sure No. 9 gets its fair share of birthdays and anniversaries, however in a restaurant of this espousement one expects nothing more than a congratulations by the server. We got a little more. When the desert was brought out, the words Happy Anniversary were written on the plate in chocolate syrup...this of course drew the attention of the couple next to us who appropriately asked "is it your birthday?" Then, the server brought by two glasses of Dolceto Di Aqi, a much too sweet finish to a fine dinner. It was as strange end to an otherwise well coordinated dinner. I hope you go and enjoy (but not on your birthday!)
(4)Yoav S.
Perfect meal: amazing service, small menu executed to perfection, never rushed. While #9 Park doesn't always have some of the trendiest ingredients or presentations like other cutting-edge restaurants, whatever the kitchen does turn out is executed to perfection. The bananas and chocolate dessert is to die for, out of this world.
(5)Anthony A.
A truly wonderful meal. Wife and I went on our anniversary and when we arrived, they seated us at the table overlooking the Boston Commons, a beautiful view, and spectacular food.
(5)Anna M.
After all the talk about No.9 Park I have to say my meal here was pretty disappointing. The food is decent but too much of a hype. The drinks at No.9 Park are pretty good- try the trio of house drinks. Yum. If you are looking to go out for a legit nice meal in Boston L'Espalier is definitely the way to go.
(3)Paul G.
No 9 Park is great for special occasions - at least they think so. When several of us sat down for a business dinner here recently the waiter was a bit surprised that we were not celebrating something. Nope, just a plain old business dinner, I said. Anyway, the service is OK, but do not go hungry. The portions are very small. I had the sashimi starter with the halibut for my main. Others has interesting dishes including the gnocchi and the monk fish. Overall the food quality and preparation was excellent and the high marks for food are deserved. You will do better here for a romantic dinner with your date rather than a business dinner. The room can be a bit loud if full. Anyway, No 9 is expecting you for that "special occasion" (like you won a lawsuit or something).
(4)Biddy D.
Atmosphere * great, tucked-away location, decor was a little retro; I and my date felt that it was decorated like an old sears-roebuck, particularly the beaded lampshades with mirrored walls. Just a matter of your taste. No stars lost. Service * Slightly nervous but wonderful young man who really catered to us. Food: ** Appetizer: Prune Stuffed Gnocchi - wildly overrated, excellent flavor combination, but not as amazing or interesting as many reviewers have noted. Also, this is an older combination of flavors that I've had a few years ago in Philadelphia. Well-executed, immaculately prepared, but not that impressive. Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras - outstanding in flavor and combination, but you can't go wrong with foie gras. ** Main Organic Poussin - again, immaculately prepared, great flavor but nothing that jumps out at you. Granted, I thought that this was the safe bet that my date ordered. Petite Sirloin - excellent, albeit a touch rare, bone marrow bread pudding was inspired and had a wonderful flavor. ** Dessert Banana Custard - Impressive, very balanced sweetness Milk Chocolate Cremeux - Incredibly rich chocolate dessert, peanuts and popcorn glace were a wonderfully whimsical and tasty combination Finishing comments: I thought everything was good...but not a five-star place. I don't feel they did much more than present what you expected vs. going far beyond what you expect (five stars). I would sum up a lack of five stars by saying that when we were walking to the car, my dining companion looks at me and says, "I don't really think I would go back. It was really good and very nice, but to pay that much...I don't know.."
(4)Stephen L.
Took my wife here for her 30th birthday and did the chef's tasting with wine pairings. All dishes except 1 were extremely delicious and the desert paired with a white port was heavenly. Only downside is that our server wasn't particularly good. Nothing I could put my finger on, just didn't WOW me for this type of restaurant/meal.
(4)Myechia J.
We went there and had two drinks, two glasses of wine, apps and entrees and we left with a bill for $250. The ambience was great, the service was good, the food was average- very small plates, not memorable. Would not go back. Would rather spend that type of money elsewhere, e.g. Oleanna.
(3)jordan n.
Very Sad to say but will never go back. We first went to Park many years ago and really liked it. Last night My wife and I where excited about going. We sat in the bar area. It started off very well great waitress and staff, Drinks were good - got a manhattan. Antipasti came it was ok. Then the entrees I got the Tuna & my wife the Duck. The Tuna was a very small portion for $40 which would have been fine but it really did not taste great no other way to put very boring. My wifes Duck on the other hand was very chewy, not cooked well and the spinach had sand or dirt in it - meaning it was not washed. At the end of the meal the bill came to over $150. For what we got just don't feel it was worth it. There are tons of the BL resturaunts in town that are better not sure what up with Park but its off our list.
(1)Richard S.
Holy cow! This is not only the best meal we had in Boston, but it was one of the best meals of all time! Not only is the service impeccable, but the complexity of flavors and the quality of the food is unbelievable. One of the most memorable parts of our trip to Boston. I'll remember this meal for a long time!
(5)Roxana F.
No. 9 Park is hidden behind an unassuming black door on the corner of the Boston Commons. At first glance, one might think it had actually been closed down for quite some time, which I quite like because it means it keeps out the er, tourists (not that I have a thing against them...). The drinks here certainly did not disappoint. They have a creative cocktail list and my drink definitely packed a punch. Their drinks are on the more expensive side (as is the rest of the menu) but appropriately priced for the location, quality, and service. The atmosphere is nice: small and cozy, intimate, classy and unfortunately a little stuffy, and quiet. In terms of food, I'm not going to lie I was expecting a bit...more. One time I came here, my date and I ordered off the prix fixe menu (maybe that was our mistake?) and, while our food was good, it was nothing AMAZING. I was definitely expecting more because...hell, it's No. 9 Park! Another time I sat at the bar with a friend and ordered off the bar menu. I had the truffled mushroom gnocchi which was delicious for the first few bites, and then I noticed as I moved toward the center of the dish it was unbearably salty. #disappointed Might have just been that batch they made me but here we are. Will definitely give their food another try because...let's be real, you're going for the drinks anyway.
(4)Nichole V.
Husband and I went here the staff was amazing, atmosphere really upscale, but my husband wasn't nuts about the filet & crowd. We've been too a few of the B. Lynch restaurants as well and enjoyed those more . A little more casual dinning and younger crowd like 30's +, the night we were there it was a 60+ crowd we were the youngest couple in our early 30's by far. The wait staff I give 100 stars for sense of humor my husband has this habit of always asking for Starburst as a desert as a joke. So, my husband did his stupid joke, which he thinks is funny. No lie, 1 minute later waiter came with starburst on a silver platter for my husband, he was so excited 1st time in like 6 years it worked!
(3)Yuan W.
I feel bad about giving this place only 3 stars since I know it's a highly acclaimed restaurant. I'm rating it 3 stars within the context of fine dining places, not necessarily among all types of restaurants. Overall I thought the food was good, but I probably will not go there again if I want a fine dining experience in Boston. I just think there are other places that are more worth the money. My overall impressions were: -Food is good but not particularly memorable versus other continental cuisine inspired places -Expensive, especially since I didn't find the experience too memorable -Portions seemed a bit small. I ordered the quail and it was literally two legs and a breast - very little meat. It came with a small amount of greens and some dots of color on the plate. The positive highlights are the cheese plate was excellent, extensive wine list and good ambiance, but that's par for the course for fine dining establishments!
(3)David P.
An excellent place for a post-flight meal. Seems every time I come to Boston, I have a meal at No. 9 Park the day I land and every time, I'm glad I did. In the summer, I came here with my kids... they totally loved the lamb/blue cheese fondue. Me... I love the Steak Frittes. The service is great. The atmosphere is great with the kids and when I'm alone. The food is spectacular. The wine is very good. Awesome... just awesome.
(5)Sarah F.
Get the chef tasting menu. You are paying to eat here....you might as well go all the way. Try to eat with someone else so one of you can get the gnocchi add-on and the other can get the foie gras add-on. Yes foie gras. Do it. It is fabulousness in your mouth. It may never happen to you again. Ask for Joe. Great, super knowledgeable without being snooty and pretentious. You will leave in a food coma. You will not regret it.
(5)Joanna C.
Came here for lunch last Friday. When we called, we wanted to get a group reservation for 12, but they said there were no openings so we went for 12:30. What was strange though was that when we got to the restaurant crazily early at 11:45, it was still empty. But at least you can order drinks and relax by the window while you wait. We all did the three-course holiday lunch for $45 a person. Considering how big the portions were, this was a bargain. They first offer you two types of bread: go with the focaccia. Soft and cheese crusted, it was a table pleaser. For the appetizer, I had the Poached Farm Egg, which was a pretty sizable portion. Loved the plentiful creamed kale in this dish and the egg was perfect as well. Personally not a huge fan of fried food, but I enjoyed the chicken liver and chose to skip the bacon. I then got the Rohan Duck Leg Confit. Could have used a little more flavor for the shrimp, but the duck itself was well flavored. It was way too much meat though so I ended up only eating half of the dish, but enjoyed it. The skin was perfectly crispy and the meat tender, though it probably could've been slightly juicier. Then came dessert! I ordered the Sorbet du Jour. I liked the fairly standard mango and passion fruit flavors. The third was a mulled wine flavor which was interesting. It tasted strongly of chai and wouldn't have been my first pick for a sorbet, but it grew on me. We also ordered the Madelines which were just the right amount of soft, lightly powdered, and fresh out of the oven, yay! Service was great the whole way through. Although the food didn't blow my mind, it was good and the portions were crazily large. I'd recommend getting a reservation as well: around 1, it was pretty crowded. Great little spot next to Boston Commons and the State Capitol that makes for an indulgent, relaxing lunch.
(3)Melanie D.
The chef's tasting menu was perfect and the location, service and interior are both exactly what you hope for. Fois gras, scallops.... Excellent. No one in our party could find fault in a single thing on the menu. A perfect spot for any special occasion.
(5)Anna G.
I went to No 9 Park last night for the first time. It was the only Barbara Lynch restaurant I had yet to experience, and it totally did not let me down! My boyfriend would have given 4 stars, but the service was just so spectacular, I had to give 5! Our waitress was awesome! The foie gras prune gnocci was amazing! A must have and definitely will come back for that. We sat in the front room with the window facing the park - I would suggest that versus the back room. The only downside was this super annoying drunk guy at the table next to us who literally yelled the whole night about Wellington - taking money from JP Morgan - and how successful he was. Ew. But I digress... No 9 Park is wonderful.
(5)Rachel G.
Perhaps the best dining experience I have had to date. Especially recommended to mark a special occasion. If you are going for such a reason, consider calling ahead and reserving one of the two tables which overlook the Common and Beacon Hill. The prune dish lives up to its stellar reputation. We elected to have the chef's tasting menu, which you ought to do, paired. Each course was a masterpiece, and was preceded by a different server or somalier, telling us about each item and drink in vivid, sometimes arresting, detail. Did you know, for example, that the lead chef was in a disagreement with Julia Child about whether champagne could be paired with a certain dish - and Child was forced to concede the point in the end? In a word, superb.
(5)Peter E.
This place is one of the 'signature' restaurants in Boston. Pretty fancy and upscale, but the experience more than matches. The service is amazing from the moment you walk in the door (host gets you a drink while you wait for your table) and the food is absolutely divine. We didn't go for the tasting course - just too much - but the prix fixe was amazing. My wife and I have been to some pretty high-end restaurants in other places - e.g., Canlis in Seattle - and this is up there with one of the best meals we've ever had...period. There were a few slip-ups with regards to our truffles order and my wife's tea coming out on time, but they MORE than made up for it (an extra plate of truffles, free desert, and free glass of wine? yes please.). We look forward to trying a few more of Barbara Lynch's restaurants.
(5)Alexander D.
No 9 Park is on the list of very good Boston restaurants aspiring for greatness. We love good food and good cocktails, so we had to come here. Our main courses were terrific - we ordered duck (see my tip) and beef two ways. The beef dish had a subtle theme - it had been poached in whey and came with house-made ricotta. Love those little touches! The appetizers and desserts, however, didn't hit the same mark. The much-touted stuffed gnocchi was unseasoned and virtually tasteless. The olive oil cake had lots of interesting things going on around it (strawberry paper and pickled fennel!), but the cake itself was--again--tasteless. Why the 5-star rating? Because of Kimberly, our server. She bantered about food with us, explained every cooking technique, and recommended a great bourbon. After the service, she emailed us an ice cream recipe that we talked about. GREAT service that made us feel special!
(5)Greg B.
Had dinner here with my family with good friends a few days back! What a dinner! We did a lot of tasting of the various dishes from the starters to the desserts all with an awesome wine pairing! The atmosphere and ambiance in the restaurant is great and the view of the park is also very romantic and enjoyable.
(5)Marilyn C.
Amazing! Came here for restaurant week and sat at the bar with 3 friends. The service is the best I have ever experienced, from the moment we walked in to 3 hours later when we walked out the door. I was blown away by how friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable the bartenders and the rest of the staff were. No. 9 Park, I'm smittened. The food was excellently timed and well crafted. There was a depth to the flavors in every dish. To start I had the salmon tartar which was light and not at all fishy. As an entree I had the pork which was delicious and good sized. I was sufficiently stuffed at the end of the meal and found the portion sizes were more than adequate. For dessert I had the cocoa financier. I love chocolate and this was good, but I did have a bit of dessert envy when I saw the panna cotta and the lemon tart. Really cannot say enough good things about my experience. No. 9 Park has set a high bar. I now plan to hold other restaurants to a higher standard. Time to re-evaluate the 5 stars.
(5)Juniper K.
Beautiful modern decor, wonderful wait staff, delicious food. The prune stuffed gnocchi was amazing.
(5)Nicholas D.
Oh my God - worth every penny! Have a drink or two at the bar first. Don't hesitate to have the tasting menu. A wonderful experience. Can't go wrong........
(5)Michael G.
What does it take to be a reviewer? Well, nowadays, it takes a camera-phone and a Yelp account. But does that make someone a GOOD reviewer? No. Trustworthy? Not necessarily. Granted, a sense of humor is appreciated, but I often find people trying too hard to be funny and the review loses some of its punch. I like to think of myself as a good reviewer. I'm an excellent cook. My step-son is a chef in France. I've eaten at all kinds of places, from the diner around the block (Village Cafe - delicious) to the local sushi take-out place (Super Fusion II - also delicious) to per se in NYC (beyond delicious). Why am I starting my review of No. 9 Park this way? Well, I've eaten there over 20 times, probably, and I've never written a review. I have a soft spot for Gruppo (The Barbara Lynch Gruppo) restaurants. Aaron did his externship at No. 9, and he worked at Menton for 2 years before moving to France, and I generally love my dining experiences at Gruppo restaurants (Sportello in particular). My 4-star rating may seem contradictory to what I'm about to say here, but I am basing that rating off multiple visits, so bear with me. The main reason I'm writing this review is in the hopes that someone in the Gruppo will notice it and make a correction because my last view visits to No. 9 have been... Disappointing. I've come to expect a certain level of service (Tyler Wang at the bar is a fabulous addition) and quality in my years eating at No. 9, but lately, I have been met with inconsistency after inconsistency. Sometimes the gnocci (the famous prune-stuffed gnocci) is a home run, but sometimes there isn't enough sauce. Or there's too much filling. Or the foie has a vein in it. Or the presentation is messy. And that's just on one dish. And the one place they are consistent is in the worst possible way to be consistent: terrible desserts. Before my most recent visit to No. 9, the worst dessert I had ever eaten was at Craigie on Main. I am not exaggerating; it was the absolute worst. Suffice to say, it tasted like fish oil. Unfortunately, No. 9 has joined their ranks. The dessert we got on our last visit... Oh, man. One ice cream was grainy. One was icy. One was simply so disgusting we couldn't eat it. I can't even tell you what flavor they were going for, but it was an abysmal failure. The chocolate tart-thing was sub-par at best. The cakey thing I tried had a terrible crumb and texture and the flavors weren't balanced. The pastry chef is being all experimental and stuff, but here's my coaching: you first have to learn how to make a good, basic dessert before you can go and "break the rules." You are serving the last bite of the evening, and lately, that last bite has flat-out sucked. We brought a good friend on our last trip. She hadn't been to Boston in a long time. She has a decent palate. She thoroughly enjoyed the meal but was so turned off by the desserts she said she never wanted to go back. I'm pretty sure this is not what you're going for. I know Boston has a reputation for terrible desserts, and the Gruppo is not immune (I'm talking to you, too, B&G Oysters). But the desserts at Sportello are consistently good. Great, even. Maybe someone should talk to them and find out what they are doing because it's hard to grasp why theirs are so right and everyone else's are so wrong. Sorry to be such a snarky bastard.
(4)Daniel S.
Had dinner at No. 9 Park right after Christmas. Appetizers that were sampled included Hudson Valley foie gras, the Farro Farfalle (rabbit), prune stuffed gnocchi, mixed green salad. Across the board the appetizers were well received and nobody was disappointed. Entrees included venison, duet of beef, roulade of chicken, and scottish salmon. Again - everyone was very happy with the entrees. Finally came the desserts. Unfortunately I don't think anyone was thrilled with the desserts. Perhaps desserts are not a speciality, but each dessert seemed an odd combination of flavors. I'll be the first to admit that it may be even the case that the taste of the desserts was a bit over my head so to speak - but compared to the appetizer and entrees just a bit disappointed. Overall a very nice meal, nice ambience, very friendly staff, and great service. Would definitely recommend as a choice for a special occasion.
(4)Jeannie H.
I have an interesting relationship with No 9 Park. This was, I believe, my 6th visit overall but only my 2nd visit for Restaurant Week. I enjoy No 9 Park for their incredible consistency, both in quality of food and service. I know I will never have an upsetting experience; however, I also know I will not have a particularly memorable dinner either. To me, every great meal must have that one course that is ingrained in my mind forever, and every so often, I must relive the pure joy of that moment. For Paul Bocuse, it was the truffle soup. For Daniel, it was the warm basket of madeleines. For Le Bernardin, it was the langoustine ravioli. For No 9 Park, I've never experienced such a revelation. ATMOSPHERE - I actually find their dining room a little sterile. Most of the times I've been there, they have had some serious ventilation issues but I'm glad that seems to have been sorted out. SERVICE - Very attentive without being stuffy. The waiters/waitresses know the menu, wine list, and cheeses well, which I greatly appreciate. The courses have always been well paced. There are never serious blunders like Craigie on Main. However, I have found some of the servers to be overly chatty. FOOD - I've never been a fan of the bread. I'm an admitted bread snob so I get a little stuck on the quality of bread. Smoked Boston Mackerel (pickled beats, potato, chickery) - Beautiful presentation but slightly bland in flavour. Seared foie gras (curry, wax beans, red bliss potato) - The foie was perfectly seared; however, I found the cubes of potato to be incredibly dry and the wax beans bland. Although it's cliche, I do believe that the best accompaniment to seared foie is something sweet and tangy such as quince or cherries. Wild striped bass (braised calamari, tomato escabeche, padron peppers) - The bass was perfectly cooked but I'm not sure the rest of the ingredients added much to the dish. Grilled beef shortrib (bigoli freddo, pickled vegetables, and black garlic) - This was, in essence, Korean BBQ. I mean it was well cooked but it was still Korean BBQ. It was also on the salty side. Cheese plate - For a restaurant, they have one of the best cheese selections in Boston. Once again...decent food, good service, and well, not particularly memorable. I have yet to try Menton but out of all the Barbara Lynch restaurants, this is definitely one of the better ones. I've found B&G and The Butcher Shop to be over-priced for the degree of mediocrity.
(4)Tingting H.
It's been 2 days, 3 hours, 26 minutes, and 49 seconds since I last had Gorgonzola Fondue. Unforgettable...
(5)Khai L.
Five stars, hands down. Three times I have been to No. 9 Park, three times I have not been disappointed. Food is well presented and absolutely delicious with the right amount of complexity in flavors, service is excellent, and their dessert is quite yummy. Thank you, Barbara Lynch.
(5)Heather G.
Not a bad restaurant by any means. i love the decor and the location, but that's as far as it goes. Your food is good, No. 9 Park. It is. Is it great? No. Is it worth the price tag? Absolutely not. the combination of flavors and presentation on the plate are both very dated. This is not the fine dining of olde, my friends at No. 9 Park. This is a new era, one that shakes things up with inventive colors, textures, flavors, ingredients, and presentation. I can't help but gaze down at my plate and feel as though i've been transported back in time to when fine dining was for the stuffy and wealthy, and was completely lackluster and inaccessible to the rest of us, perhaps not on price alone but on the aura that these places exuded that seemed to be one of exclusivity. Make fine dining more accessible and interesting, please. It doesn't have to be stuffy, it doesn't have to be little veg on a plate, a lump of fois gras here, and smidgen of truffle there. Wouldn't go back until i saw some indication that they've shaken things up a bit.
(2)Johnny L.
Amazing place. I went their during the restaurant week, but I ordered the "chef testing menu" . It's a five courses dinner. Everything were amazing. Moreover their service was perfect. We got there around 1030pm and left around 1230 am. It's kinda late but no one rush us. I'll def come here again
(5)John C.
We had been meaning to come in for a while, and finally made it to dinner at No. 9 Park. We were seated in the front dining room with a view of the State House (and excellent people-watching). We opted for the 3-course prix fixe menu and added a cheese course. The food was flawless, the flavors were absolutely solid. It was a delicious meal, start to finish. It just wasn't incredibly...exciting. All of the options were "safe," so to speak; properly prepared and presented, but nothing we hadn't seen at similar restaurants. Perhaps the chef's creative energies are focused on Menton at the moment, but this menu could use an update. The cheese tray had a great selection, and was skillfully described (cheese by cheese) by the house fromager (Abby?). She was an excellent server all around. The decor was vintage-y, but the bathrooms were tired. In need of redecorating. Prepare to spend a decent amount for a thoroughly enjoyable meal. If you're looking for risk-taking, I'm not sure you'll find a lot of that here.
(4)Parul L.
No. 9 Park is great spot for a night out in Boston. I loved the 3 course meal I sampled (we were there on a weeknight). The meal started with a lobster salad appetizer, then a duo of duck, and finally a berry tart for dessert. I didn't expect the portions to be as large as they were, and I could not finish each course - in anticipation of the next. The service was great and the overall experience was divine. The meal was a pricey one, so its not great for everyone and every casual night out, but it is a great spot for a special night on the town.
(5)Erin C.
Pure perfection in every aspect of what makes dining out memorable. From the food, the service, ambiance, decor, wine... even my Johnnie Walker Black Label tasted better than it does when I'm just sitting at home alone sipping on it. I probably don't have to add anything new here that people haven't already said, but I will reiterate that this is a great place for a special occasion. The 'rents came into town and since it was my stepmom's birthday I wanted to go somewhere special. They went all out for everything. When we chose dessert as part of our 3 course meal, she ordered a sorbet.... *snore* How are they gonna put a candle in a sorbet?? Well the waitress thought the same thing and when they brought out desserts they gave us another dessert from the list that we didn't order for free. Perfection. Even my 18 year old brother who's tastes center around hamburgers and fries ate everything and loved it.
(5)Rosie Z.
Everything on the tasting menu was extremely well executed. There were both robust and subtle flavors in each course. My partner complained that the pork dish was too salty, but growing up with Chinese food, it was just perfect for me. They had a special birthday cake for me which was a nice touch, the chocolate and coffee layers were heavenly yet not too sugary. Our waiter was funny and knowledgeable. Despite having amazing food, I can understand why it is not Michelin rated. Its service, though friendly and tentative, is definitely not the classic french you would expect at Jean Georges or Thomas Keller. However, minus one star for not even offering to put our (large amount of) left over birthday cake (which costs extra)
(4)J R.
First things first. The food at No 9 is creative and some of the best in Boston. The service is professional and the space lovely. However, this is a VERY EXPENSIVE restaurant. When you pay over $100 a person you expect exceptional food and absolutely spot on service. When reviewing a restaurant that thinks it is worth these prices, you must hold them to a higher standard. Did we get $100 a person food and service, not entirely. You need to understand that No 9 wants you to order either a 6-course tasting menu for $112 or a 3-course dinner for $69 (some choices will increase this somewhat). If you don't want all three courses you are free to order just one or two, but you pay a flat fee of $21 for appetizer, $39 for main courses and $14 for dessert. This results in some dramatically overpriced items. Want to start with raw oysters? They will cost you about double what you would pay in many other town level Boston restaurants. And lets face it, the kitchen does nothing to t a fresh sucked other than open it, serve it on ice with a dab of sauce. Some of the choices are complex and deserve the high prices. Entrees appear to be especially high priced. One fish dish offered about a 6-oz portion of hake, one of the least expensive white fish sold in Boston markets. But then, no one comes to No 9 for bargain food. How was the food? Some were divine and well worth the price; other choices were less successful. The scallops and octopus consists of two medium sized scallops and a baby lobsters. The octopus was poached in wine and then grilled, but in our case it was charred and overdone. It was served with fired kale, a dab of granola and pureed grilled scallion that was lathered on the side of the plate. Frankly, the smeared green puree, the green kale and the burned octopus, while good (not great) was one of the most unattractive plates I have seen in a long time. The Roulade of Chicken was exceptional and the beef also very good but with a very stingy accompaniment. We passed on the $14 sorbet. Deserts were good, but we have had better. To put all this in perspective, we could have overlooked the flaws if we felt the price was more in line with the quantity and quality of food. Service was generally excellent, although the waitress delivered the desert menus and then disappeared for far to long. A lapse we would have overlooked it the bill was not as high as it was. When we first got to the restaurant we had drinks at the bar. To our surprise, the wines by the glass were excellent and actually very reasonably priced. We looked forward to having a bottle of the white with dinner. However, we were told that the bar wines are only available by the glass. Their dinner bottle wines are very expensive. Bottom line, we were glad we went, should have stayed with wine by the glass, and we has some (and I use that term specifically) great food. However, at these prices every dish should have been memorable and we should not have experienced the gap in service. We will probably not be back.
(3)Renee B.
We had the tasting menu with the wine pairings and it was out of this world. We like to sit at the bar and I am very glad we did. The bartenders were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The described every wine, answered all our questions and the whole group at the bar was in a great mood. The food and wine pairings were very well done. Much better than what we had at TW Food. We were stuffed at the end and forced down the desert only because the pecan pie was amazing. It is expensive but we enjoyed every morsel. The staff was great. The chef definitely knows what they are doing.
(5)Nelly N.
Went a few days ago and got the 3 course prefix. Appitizers was just ok. The flavors was very one dimensional. Main course was not so good. Scales and bones in my fish made my entire very hard to eat. The desert course was the only thing that made this place a 2 star for me.
(2)Edward O.
Intelligent, warm and busy restaurant in Beacon Hill. Waitstaff are timely and very professional. The prune-filled gnocchi were delicate and perfect. After ordering a particular Alsatian wine they surprised us with a complimentary special seared tuna between courses. For entree I had the porcelet: a miniature choucroute garnie with braised endive and apple. Susan had the raw oysters for her first (I helped, thank you) and Salmon. A superb and memorable experience.
(5)Teresa W.
No 9 Park is our go-to restaurant for special occasions. The view is romantic if you get a seat overlooking the park or have the State House in your periphery vision. The service is always impeccable; the selection of cheeses is divine; there is always a sommelier on hand to recommend a champagne that suits your budget (they carry selections from lesser known wineries); the cocktails are inventive and fun; and I can only agree with one professional reviewer who mentioned that the plum gnocchi would be his/her choice if you only had one meal left to eat!
(5)Bryan V.
I came in here on a whim as I was staying at the Omni Parker; I sat at the bar and enjoyed their large selection of whiskeys - the rocks were hand cracked by the bartender. He was incredibly personable and very knowledgeable regarding the menu. I had the Truffle Gnocchi, which was mouth wateringly incredible. The chef's compliments included immaculate fried sweet breads and a slice of beef carpaccio; these were excellent along with the fresh whipped butter and sea salt for the dinner rolls. The food was excellent and the attention to detail is great at this restaurant. It is a little expensive, but the food is well worth the price.
(5)Collette D.
This is my first yelp review. I felt compelled to write something since dining at No. 9 park this last time. We have been there maybe four times, and each time the service has been better and better. The bartenders are Outstanding, and have always been helpful,in recommending drinks. The palmero is my favorite, and in february when were there, they gave us the recipe (by mixing the drink sans alcohol in a little glass bottle with proportions written on the label). The food is always excellent, we have never been disappointed. This weekend when we ate there, the experience was perfect...we are moving from Boston soon, and could not,have asked for a better final meal there. No. 9 park has definitely been our favorite place to go for a date or celebrate in Boston. Reliably excellent service and food, amazing drinks.
(5)Erin M.
What else is there to say about this place that hasn't already been said? Food was amazing and the service was top shelf. Paying the bill wasn't too fun, but that's understood. My roommate has been dying to go to No. 9 Park for years, but never wanted to foot the bill. As a birthday surprise, we blindfold her and walked her to our table of 10 (made reservations about a month in advance, which is recommended). The staff were very accommodating to our large party and the surprise, which made it all the better. They even brought out a candle and cookies for her at the end, which we didn't even ask for! The service was probably better than the food in my opinion. Waiters and waitresses were informative, prompt, respectful, and happy. We all got wine, and when we asked our waitress for a suggestion, she gave the most detailed descriptions for wines that I've ever heard. A few of us split the gnocchi appetizer (kitchen split it before serving it, which was also nice) which was by far the best I've had, with a dense sweet prune center and perfectly done foie gras to compliment it. I ordered the salmon entree which was cooked exactly right, although it was pretty simple for a salmon dish, but that's how it is. Rolls and butter are served quickly throughout the meal, too, which is exciting but filling. No. 9 Park definitely lives up to the hype, although next time I think I'll be cheap and just do the bar menu.
(4)Shia G.
Visited for some light fare and cocktails. We sat in the dining room which is very romantic and great for special occasions or saying farewell to an employee. The cocktails were great and a notable wine list. All great suggestions by the waiter who actually had the bartender make me an off menu drink after I explained my mood. I then had a soup (I can't remember) and the prune gnocchi, but had to pass dessert. Everything was incredible and well presented.
(5)Matthew V.
So I have to start off by saying I am review the fixed menu during restaurant week for 2011. This was blissfully mundane food. This was the first time I have eaten here and unfortunately I was not so impressed to go back and pay twice as much for half the amount of food I got at the Restaurant week deal. So I get everyone loves this place, I understand that I am going in during restaurant week and there is probably a lot of behind the scenes stress already happening. But I am truely sorry, if you are representing yourself during Restaurant week as a fine dining experience like no other in town than you failed. Its like giving out free food, you dont want to give out crap because you wont get people to buy it. You give them a taste of something great and let them know there is more where that came from. This was not that type of experience. This food was good. Let me repeat, good. It was gone in about 2 seconds no matter how hard I tried to make it last. The Mussel dish looked like about 4 mussels and 3 flatten calamari. The sauce was bland and had no flavor and seemed as though it had been prepped the night before or perhaps the week before. The main course was salmon with 3.5 fingerling potatoes about the size of a pinkie. Again the taste was good but a little bland. I was expecting to stop and really be shocked and taken back. I was sitting there trying to convince myself that it was good instead of being blown away by what was in front of me. The dessert was a banana nut item that was a bit dry and again dull in flavor. I dont know if there was just too much shelf time or if all of those dishes are just bland to begin with. The best item on the menu was a beet salad that was packed with cheese, beets, and lettuce. It was crunchy and was bursting with flavor. But seriously if I am raving about a beet salad and remembering that over my main course there is obviously some thing wrong. I am sure this is a great place and I have heard great things about it...but just be cautious of RestWeek at super high end places. Lessoned learned. But by all means go here, bring some cash and eat...you will most likely have a great meal.
(2)Josh K.
I was floored by the service here the minute we walked through the door. All the staff were courteous and friendly, without having an air of snobbery that sometimes annoys me at similar high-class restaurants. When my wife and I were unsure of what wine to order, our waiter came out with two bottles for each of us, and let us try them both. They really push the stuffed gnocchi on all the guests, but I suppose with good reason -- it was as good as they said. We both ordered the 3-course tasting menu; I had oysters which tasted fresh and clean, and a quail dish for my main course. One cool thing we noticed was that the menu was printed with the day's date, so presumably they put out a new menu every day.
(5)Matt O.
Had two delicious Christmas meals here with co-workers. Both times we did the three-course prie fixe lunch. Plating is fantastic, service is attentive, the cocktail list is short but full of interesting drinks, plus they have a full bar so order anything, and of course the food is great. I had a Scottish Salmon entree the first time, beautiful cut of fish, cooked to perfection in a light glaze with crumbled bacon on top, wow. Only strike is once the Foie Gras appetizer was served quite cold, to the point of being unappetizing. Perhaps this was PETA's way of telling me to eat more humanely. Would go there again, but admittedly I've been there twice for free.
(5)T T.
This has to be one of the most overrated restaurants I've ever been to. I had been looking forward to going for months and was thoroughly disappointed; I was taken for a graduation dinner present, but in the end, it wasn't worth the wait. I ordered the chef's tasting menu, which started with a hamachi dish, which was okay, but the portions were ridiculously small (which followed throughout the entire meal). I love crab, but I was insulted with the peekytoe crab dish presented; it was lazily fried, and as my dining partner said, "I've had better at a Chinese restaurant." The prune stuffed gnocchi with foie gras was not as heavenly as others have described it; in fact, the gnocchi was quite dense and heavy. The presentation of most dishes was not very inspired, and there was a lot of green in the menu, which can be summery, but ended up being very repetitive after 3 courses. In our dessert course, the server told us that the cake required 3 days of preparation, but none of this paid off in actual taste; actually, it didn't taste much different than store-bought cake. There was no standout dish of the night, although the beef was cooked well and the drinks that I had were good; my friend and I had the freshly squeezed pomegranate juice with orange blossom and lime with seltzer. However, two good drinks does not justify a horribly overpriced meal; I would definitely not recommend it.
(1)Ben K.
Impeccable, impeccable, impeccable is all I have to say about No. 9 Park, Barbara Lynch's flagship restaurant in the quaint Beacon Hill. We had the three-course prix fixe, beginning with the prune-stuffed gnocchi with seared foie gras (their signature dish), which was ethereal... unreal... laughably good. Then had the poussin with the foie gras (couldn't help but to double up on the foie mmmmmmm) in puff pastry, with these little turnips that were earthy and peppery and delish. Finished with the fig cake, which was like a sticky-toffee pudding and gingerbread on crack combined. Totally moist, warm, fab. They also had Saracco's Moscato d'Asti, which I really enjoy. Our server, Melodie, was perfect-- laid-back, helpful, and extraordinarily knowledgeable about the wines and vineyards. She even brought us tastes of a wine that we were asking about. Not once did we feel rushed, and everything was paced to the T. I can't wait to go back to revisit this gem of a place-- certainly one of Boston's best.
(5)Jen F.
My boyfriend and I both chose the prix-fixe three-course menu and were delighted. The portions may seem small for the price, but they pack a flavorful punch! I certainly wasn't wanting when I left. Ditto to everyone here who has raved about the cocktails! The BF was on medications and not drinking, so the waiter suggested we let the bartender work his magic. One elderflower and orange blossom tonic later, and I was hooked on No 9 Park. We had a bit of an incident with our original table, and the response of the management could not have been more exceptional.
(5)Michelle F.
High-five to No. 9 Park and the staff working 2/5/11. I have to say this restaurant is wonderful! The food is excellent and the staff is awesome. Every employee from the bar staff to servers is extremely knowledgeable and quick to offer additional information on everything from the special butter on the table to the bottle of wine I selected. I chose the chiefs table menu and every dish was explained as it was placed in front of me. I was very pleased with the food and found the portions are standard tasting sizes. When dinner was over I felt satisfied, not stuffed. I highly recommend this restaurant for food and service. I don't think you will find such exceptional service anywhere else.
(5)Amanda B.
siiiiiiigh. Can I go back yet? Holy wow. Went for restaurant week last night. Was very very impressed with the service. Although we were restaurant week folks (aka they knew we can't usually afford the place) we were treated like royalty and No. 9 Park assured itself of 2 new customers who will return when we're rich (or celebrating). The service started while I was waiting for my date to arrive and the hostess came over and in a furtive whisper asked if we would be willing to wait a few moments while one of the "best" tables was cleared. Sure! We were seated and served by an amazing staff. It was a great balance between snooty french waiters who you don't even notice filling your water glass and friendly waiters who call you by name and treat you like a friend. The food was good. The highlight for me: the little honeycomb topper on the raspberry tart. For you brits: imagine a crunchie bar sans chocolate. Bliss! But to be honest, the food was just an addition to the great night instead of the main attraction. Had a wonderful time. One downside: given restaurant week, there was a large table of "foodies" who were consistently talking about the "hints", "essence" and "nuance" of the flavors. funny.
(4)Peter H.
I visited No.9 Park with some friends for a final going-away dinner for a friend entering the realm of student post-grad frugality. I can only describe the No.9 Park evening as an experience, not just a meal from start to finish. The little touches throughout made it unquestionably one of the best foodie nights I have enjoyed in Boston! The service was discrete and professional with our main server proving to be massively knowledgeable about everything on the wine and food menu. He was open, friendly but quietly reserved and attentive. Service was brisk and efficient at all times. The little touches like folding a persons menu whilst they go to the restroom was one of the nice simple touches. The food was excellent and everything was seasonal and fresh with some creative touches - the stuffed gnocchi is amazing and the entire meal service was memorable and delicious. The cheese selection was huge, all served from a large wooden kitchen blocked wheeled to your table. The dining room style is cosy - its a small restaurant but its quite atmospheric, dark and intimate and very suitable for dates. All in all, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend No.9 Park for that special occasion. The service, food, experience and indeed price range are all befitting of 5 stars.
(5)Jeremy O.
The tasting menu is a little pricey, but the food is pretty good, except for the fish appetizer. The service was prompt and attentive unlike most other French or fine dining restaurants. Parking is impossible to find, so just let the young valet kid do it for $16, and enjoy your meal. If you are near the window during the day, you get to people-watch from across Boston Common, and on the weekdays when the State Legislature is in session, you get to meet a few politicians at the bar. This must be the only place in the world where men have to queue for the bathroom, while women don't have to!
(3)Nicole R.
Testament to how excited I was about this: my friend and I were reviewing best ways to cleanse our palates beforehand. I think he had some citrus and a cracker, I rocked lemon sparkling water. Also we reserved QUITE far in advance. We basically had countdowns set up. So there's your prologue. This is a 4 star review because really, after some thought---No 9 is really overrated. And with her new Menton endeavour, Barb is really just obviously reaching for the stars here. Chill out, there's a time and a place for $150 prix fixe. Is there really a demand for such a place in a city riddled with students and academics? She sold me on Sportello, but now she's just taking it all and running. Everything I had was great, but it wasn't surprisingly good. It wasn't knock me out, hallucinatory delirium good. And that's what 5 stars mean: hallucinatory delirium. BUT, I did come for resto week, and honestly I can't blame them for not knocking me out when they're losing money on this. The space is great, small, but very nice and cozy. Also the service was really impeccable, from the time we walked in to the time we left I suspected our waitress might not have any other tables. She was friendly and welcoming, though perhaps kind of overly into getting us drinks. I helped her out by getting a LaCroix cabernet/syrah and a cappuccino with dessert. She also opened a brand new bottle for me, and spent about 5 minutes describing the wine itself as long as a bit about the history of the vineyard. Very impressive. Water and bread flowed like...water. App: roasted beets with radishes and chevre (?). This was fantastic. Beautifully plated in tiny circle and square cuts, with faint drizzles of olive oil and liquified goat cheese here and there. Also allow me to digress about this cheese. I thought at first that perhaps it was tofu. It looked like tofu, felt like tofu, moved like tofu. Hm. Tofu at No. 9? Strange. Well. It was certainly goat cheese. Lost its gelatinous character instantly upon eating, and turned smooth, creamy, and melty. YUM. I want to know how they did this, because it was wonderful. Besides the cheese though, this was a very simple dish. I would have been interested in more seasoning/more surprises here. Solid and delicious, but unimpressive (excluding the cheese, which perhaps was supposed to shine on it's own). Main: Potato Gnocchi with mushroom ragu and smoked kale. Ahh pillows of heavennnnn. This was really superb, star of the night for me. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly prepared, perfect perfect perfect. The kale was to die for. I love kale, but this was really amazing. Many different sorts of mushrooms, and unlike most places they actually gave me several of them. This was a joyyy Dessert: CHEESE Oh boy. The girl who presented was quite knowledgeable. I ended up choosing a Cabot 10 month aged sharp cheddar (aged enough to have the texture of parmeggiano), and an exceptionally creamy (borderline melty/runny) aged goat cheese. Both were fabulous. The cheddar, which usually I am not a big fan of, was sharp and complex. This was a great match for my rich, smooth, and creamy goat cheese. I am very happy I chose this option. Cheeses were served with a plate of grapes, hazelnuts, crackers, and tangy marmelade. Lovely. Bill was received with a plate of salted....something (caramel gelee?) over a chocolate crispy thing. I am sorry I forget what this was, because it was delish. Overall certainly impressive, but probably not 100% deserving of all its praise.
(4)Kim R.
Ok...so, I feel a bit of a fraud writing this review since I didn't actually eat here. However, the bar was great! The staff was incredibly inviting and friendly. I had the misfortune (or should I say fortune) of having the mixologist mess up my drink order which resulted in a handful of free drinks - thank you! I will certainly be returning and hopefully for some food. FYI - this is a great date spot - dim lighting, pretty quiet, and comfortable.
(5)Stephen Y.
Damn good !!!! Best meal in Boston in the past 3 years ! Tasting menu w wine pairing.... gnocchi w stuffed prune and seared foie gras.... paired w an excellent madeira... gave me dirty shivers ! Everything else (especially the hake... )... sorry- lost my thought for a moment.... Service was great and cocktails delightful.... We had the best table in the house w view of the common.... wow ! I am going to miss all this ! Bloody amazing !
(5)Cat C.
4 Stars for Food 4.5 Stars for Service Definitely not a 5 Star place though. All the food that came out was very good, well executed, but I feel like I've had similar dishes that were done soo much better. Favorite dish of the evening: the Sweet Potato Anglotti and the Prune Stuffed Gnocchi.
(4)Susan N.
I haven't tried the food but if it's anything like the drinks... Browsing through the drinks menu, I spotted a Pisco Sour, the national Peruvian drink. I knew it was a risk ordering it but did it anyway. And just WOW. It was made so well and the bartenders really know their stuff.
(5)Karin V.
The service here was outstanding. Our was very knowledgeable about the food and wine, yet came across as very unassuming and hospitable. He was extremely helpful in selecting our wines and gave superb recommendations on the food. Prune Stuffed Gnocchi with Seared Foie Gras: Much larger and less dense than traditional gnocchi, these soft pillows were laid on a small pool of Vin Santo sauce. I couldn't really taste the Vin Santo; it was lost amidst the stronger flavors of the other components. I usually find prunes to be quite unappealing, but thoroughly enjoyed how their sweet tartness cut the richness of the foie gras. Roasted Ribeye with Braised Oxtail and Potato & Truffle Mille-Feuille: While I wish the beef had been more tender, I still enjoyed the components of this dish. The braised oxtail was rich and comforting, chanterelle mushrooms were earthy and succulent, and the potato truffle mille-feuille was moist and buttery with a perfect crispy crust. Concord Grape Clafoutis: OUT OF THIS WORLD!! The clafoutis was cut into small cake wheels which were dense yet creamy and had a rich nutty flavor. The dessert also contained stewed concord grapes, grape gelée, caramelized peanuts, and peanut ice cream - mixed together it was an explosion of flavors and textures. What a sophisticated and decadent play on the peanut butter and jelly sandwich! I will definitely come back here for the 7 course chef's tasting menu!
(4)Lily L.
Hands down, this is the best restaurant I've tried in Boston (yes, better than L'Espalier, T.W. Foods, Pigalle, Meritage, etc). I came to No. 9 Park during the Spring 2009 restaurant week. The entree of hake just blew me away. Wow! It was cooked to perfection. I love seafood but don't like fish. However, growing up in Florida, I've had my share of fish. I've never had a fish as tasty as the hake that I was served at No. 9 Park. I'm usually not that impressed by food. The other entree that I ate here was the pork belly. It was pretty good but I couldn't cut the skin for the life of me. The appetizer of salmon was delicious though small. My friend's appetizer of salad was HUGE. The desserts were good, I'd have gone for the cheese plate over my tart and my friend's chocolate. The service was great and they're pretty attentive to my water. Always makes me happy. =)
(5)K S.
Came here during restaurant week, the staff was very welcoming and friendly, even to our table of 8 youngsters that seldom fine dine. If you leave for the washroom, the waiters immediately refold your napkin. The appetizers were delicious, the drinks were very strong, I have to admit, I was slightly buzzed off of one martini. The main courses were very good. Minus one star because my fiance ordered fish but received pork, we didn't want to be troublesome to change it.
(4)Angel D.
So I won't make this a long one since the pp below did a great job describing their experiences and the food. I took my boyfriend here for his 30th in November, we decided on the three course meal. Everything was really good, the only small complaint was about the service, our waitress didn't take our wine order until AFTER our first course came out.
(5)Danielle S.
My boyfriend took me to No. 9 Park to celebrate my birthday and I could not have been less impressed. The atmosphere is pretentious. The food is good, but nothing extraordinary. Everything is overpriced. And to top it all off, the waiter was incredibly snooty, which appeared to be the standard. I very much enjoy eating at nice restaurants and have a particular love for French food. However, I would not recommend even trying No. 9 Park. There are a plethora of French restaurants in the Back Bay and Beacon Hill area and this one is at the bottom of my list.
(1)Steve F.
What a great meal! The bartender this night - and two other nights I have gone here just for drinks - was friendly and knowledgeable and made me some fine cocktails. The server this night - for my birthday a month ago - was extremely gracious and attentive, but not overly so. My date ordered the wine, and it was awesome. I don't remember the entrees, but I do remember the foie gras. It was amazing. You have to get this. The server recommended it, and she was right. To top it all off, the view of the Common with the Christmas lights in the trees was amazing.
(5)Dario B.
Absolutely fabulous dinner. Everything was off the hook, the wines, the food, the ambiance, the night, our mood, the non-intimidating service but the prune-stuffed gnocchi.....it's another world. It's their signature dish for one reason, it's deliciously addictive. The texture of the gnocchi, the foie, the wine reduction, the stuffing....heaven. It refreshed an entire section in my brain, leaving space for more stuff to learn in the culinary world. So enlightening. According to Yumi, this is the best dinner she has ever had in Boston, better than l'Espalier. I believe her, I have no doubts, beating this attentive quality is an hard job. Overall it's a roller coaster of delicate and bold flavors brought together by attentive technique. All the dishes had a remarkable depth without compromising lightness. I have no memories of the desserts...nuff said.
(5)Nicholas S.
I can't say much more about No. 9 than what has already been said below, but I did feel obligated to give it the 5 stars it deserves. Get the tasting menu with wine pairings. Go here for special occasions, or if you would like to create one.
(5)Melaine P.
Visiting Boston with my best/foodie friend, No. 9 Park was a must-eat meal. This place gets it right! Great ambiance, if not a touch understated. The staff was warm, inviting, unobtrusive, and extremely knowledgeable. The entire staff was involved in orchestrating our meal, and they all seemed to genuinely enjoy what they were doing. The 7 course tasting menu was excellent, but made spectacular with the wine pairing option. The wine pairings were nothing short of genius. The signature dish, a prune stuffed gnocchi with foie, paired with a Veuve Clicquot demi-sec, was a game changing dish. As your server to recount the story of Julia Child and the President of Veuve bringing the restaurant to a halt after tasting this dish. There were some other courses that were similarly successful, all memorable in their own right. Overall, stunning. GO!
(5)Cecilia Z.
Just because you get to eat at a restaurant during restaurant week and pay $$ for the $$$$ place, it doesn't mean that it automatically gets a 5 star. Or, just because you want to show that you can go to a $$$$ place here and there, you don't have to give it a 5 star. No. 9 Park is not one of my five star item. I, too, went for restaurant week. My expectations were high: Drink is my go-to place for nice cocktails and Sportello warmed my heart on a chilly winter night. The whole "I grew up in Southie and made a female and ever-more-successful version of Gatsby" thing about Barbara Lynch is very appealing and attractive. So I thought No. 9 Park must be the crown of the jewel. She started here, didn't she? Well. I wasn't impressed with the dishes. Bluefish was okay, yea, just okay. Gnocchi is a standard dish. And No. 9 Park didn't really make it all special either. Pork belly was dry. Fried pork lard is the best when crispy and crunchy but still melting as you bite down. Well the plate we had was definitely over fried. I had panna cotta for dessert and, to be honest, I remember the wine pairing better than the dessert. There are a couple of things that could have contributed to my disappointment and what some people may call harshness: 1. I had very high expectations; 2. the AC was broken on one of the hottest and most humid nights in the summer. However, I really think that I appreciate food enough and my dress was thing enough for me to concentrate on my food. Unfortunately, I really can't say that there was anything rememerable about the meal, except for the wine pairings. Now, I think the service is EXCELLENT. Not because they apologized for the broken AC and sent a complimentary drink and a complimentary sorbe over, but because they offered to store my lovely bouquet in the fridge for me and really know the wine stuff well. I will give No. 9 another chance just for them and maybe my perception will change drastically. Until then, I really can't say that I'm a fan.
(3)Sara M.
The quick version: if you are rolling in money, of course you should come here. If not, the food alone isn't worth the cost. I went here for my husband's birthday. We both had the three course prix fixe menu and overall we agreed it was one of the most wonderful dinners out that we'd had in ages. From the moment we walked in it was abundantly clear that the restaurant caters to a very high-end crowd. The greeter was extremely attentive and the woman who took my coat appeared immediately. We were smoothly ushered over to the lounge to have a drink while we waited for our table (we arrived a little early). I was really impressed that the employees were so friendly and welcoming. For some reason I always expect very high-end restaurants to act as if I don't quite belong in that world (yet!), but No. 9 Park did not have even a hint of that elitism. The great service continued throughout the meal, and they were even super nice when I asked whether I could include a tip on the giftcard we were using to pay for the meal that evening (yes, I could, no problem). The food was great. Not the best I've ever had, but overall very well-presented and tasty. Appetizers were yummy: oysters for me and stuffed gnocchi for him. I loved my entree: pollock wrapped in bacon over lobster meat. My husband liked his ok (the duck) but wasn't blown away and missed having a side of starch like potatoes or rice (yes, it's that kind of restaurant - meat is served by itself on the plate). I wasn't bothered by the lack of sides since by the end of the meal we were totally full and satisfied. The desserts were definitely not their strong point. Mine was fine (pot of chocolate mousse) except I think they try too hard to push taste boundaries. My dessert came with a scoop of saffron ice cream and that flavor just killed the plate for me. I know it's interesting and artsy to pair chocolate with things like saffron, and for the first bite I did think it was interesting, but then I just couldn't stand the flavor in my dessert anymore. (For the record, I do like saffron. And let me go off on a brief tangent about "pushing the boundaries" by including unusual flavors and items in dishes because this restaurant does that in spades. "Stinging nettle pottage" is an example. Really? I'm all for trying new things. But I can't help but shake my head in bemusement when pretty much every item on the menu has something like stinging nettle pottage in it. It just strikes me as funny.) My husband's dessert was just not good. Some cake soaked in rum, with gelatinous sticks of passion fruit something. He was not impressed and I didn't care to eat his leftovers. The final tally for food + wine + tip was $280 for two people. I feel bad nitpicking the food though, because clearly half (if not more) of the reason you come here is for the elegance of the location and the skill of the service. I can see this restaurant being equally good for a romantic night out or an important business meeting. That is why I say, all in all, we had a really wonderful night. Next time we'll try sitting/eating at the bar where the prices are more mainstream.
(4)Katherine N.
Whenever I come back to Boston, I come here every other time. All I have to say is CHEESE CART and gumbo. small portions, but their deserts are ammmmmazing. and good wine list! I first came here when my sister worked here when she was going to school at Tufts, and her boyfriend was the main chef back then. Which made me able to afford the food there since I would get discounts. but the waiters/waitresses are sweethearts with a good knowledge in food and pairing the wines
(5)Katerina B.
I was looking forward to visit No.9 from the excellent reviews I read here in yelp. However, I didn't not have the same experience. -We waited for our table for 40min, not happy about this. -the decor feels outdated. -the food was good but not worth the money. I went for the prix-fixe menu. - The appetizer was ok. i had Parsnip Agnolotti a bit sweet for my taste. - The main dish I had Colorado Lamb. I did not like this dish, the side it came with was very salty and the meat was hard. - desert I had the white chocolate mousse, and it was the best part of the meal. The staff overall was polite and friendly. I would not go back to this restaurant.
(2)Vivian F.
Let me start off by saying that as an upscale restaurant, No. 9 Park is impeccably run. Great location, great exterior and interior design, and great service (with an exception which I'll get to later). An offhanded remark about my birthday (between me and my friend - we weren't even talking to the host) before seating had the staff secretly bring out a birthday cake at the end of the meal. I was really surprised. We had the chef's tasting menu and I won't go over every single dish individually, but most of them were delicious. There wasn't one that really blew me away, but none of the food there can be described as "average". One disappointing aspect of the meal were the fish and meat dishes. These courses usually came cooked in two ways, and there was always one I liked and another that was overly salty/fatty. Now, I'm a big fan of having items cooked two, three, or even four ways, but only if it enhances the overall experience and done well. When the dishes consistently have one that was tasty and the other not so much, it starts feeling like the chefs are trying to appease customers with taste buds on opposite ends of the spectrum. The "well the customer should like at least one of the styles" mentality doesn't sit well with me. It's not "playing it safe" when it's so obviously done. It would be more impressive if the chefs strove to make the pairing complementary to each other instead of having clashing flavours. Also, like I had mentioned above, almost all of the staff were incredibly professional (we even loved the cheese cart guy), except one. Unfortunately, this waiter was our main waiter. My male counterpart and I were going to split the bill, but I guess this waiter assumed he (being male and all) was the (only) paying customer so the waiter made sure to pay him extra attention. I wish I can say that this "extra attention" was subtle, but he literally always introduced the dishes facing and speaking only to him and not to me. I get the occasional glance, but his entire body was always, without fail, angled away from me so he could face my partner properly. Rude, I know. Even if the guy WAS paying, this sort of behaviour is inexcusable. I'm sure the waiter is an anomaly in what otherwise seems like a solid waitstaff. I can see myself returning to No. 9 Park for a good meal, but perhaps not for a special occasion, and I'll probably skip the tasting menu next time.
(3)Karen D.
This was my second time eating at No. 9 Park, and my first time trying out the tasting menu with paired wines. I went with my sister. My gosh, it was phenomenal! The food! The wine! Eating here is a really special event, and yet it doesn't feel stuffy at all. Our server was Matt, and he was perfect...en pointe, helpful, funny, and just the right amount of casual to make us feel right at home yet pampered...which is a feat in a fine-dining establishment. My favorite part of the tasting menu experience was the way each wine was presented and we were told a story a story about its origins...This one "is made from grapes which grow so high in the mountains of Switzerland that they must be picked by helicopter". Another one "Thomas Jefferson ordered by the case". The favorite of both my sister and myself was a pinot noir which is made exclusively to go with Barbara Lynch's cooking...it was one of the best pinot noirs I have ever had! My favorite dish in the tasting was a hake dish with braised radishes and an unbelievably delicious broth that had a just a slight essence of hazelnuts...I could have eaten a huge bowl of that! My sister's fave was the famed prune gnocchi. No. 9 Park is a delightful special-occasion experience, and I hope that I get to return there on a future visit to Boston!
(5)Jennifer S.
A true culinary treat! Beautiful space overlooking the Common, professional and attentive service, unique and reasonable wine selection that truly pairs well with the food, and amazing food - fresh, flavorful and just the right portion! I tried the following menu based on our server's recommendation: tortellini, chicken and milk chocolate parfait...so ridiculously good!
(5)AB H.
I'm shocked that I haven't written a review of No. 9 Park. I've been many times, and I always have an amazing meal. Last night was no exception. The service is impeccable, and these people know their food and wine. They recommended a lovely bubbly rose which was perfect! I started with the asparagus which was small and light, a lovely way to start. The mushroom ravioli were perfectly cooked and delicate. The foie gras was amazing; their brioche toast is excellent. I tasted the beef served with fava beans and some mint; it was perfectly cooked. Our desserts were not the best; I was disappointed with the flourless chocolate cake and did not like the homemade mint ice cream served on top. The cheesecake needed to be richer, and the cucumber sorbet was interesting but should have been of a palate cleanser than a dessert accompaniment. The cheese board is absolutely amazing, each one better than the next. They told us the goat cheese would be the best given the season, and they were right; they were amazing. They bring little cookies with the bill, and these were also just OK : a chocolate peanut butter cookie, a jelly square, and a fruit filled butter cookie. The butter cookie was the best. I will be back, this place is a lovely institution for me. It's such a treat, though I may skip dessert next time! We sat by the window and the view over the park at sunset was beautiful.
(4)Eric W.
This place rocks. Went there on a recommendation and was not disappointed. Almost started with one of the custom cocktails but switched instead to a glass of sherry of their incredible list. Matched that with the Duck liver moose, which was perfect but then had to pause before going into the 3 course tasting menu. My god; the choices are amazing and the only problem is deciding which to choose. First class problem, because you really can't go wrong. Not sure how people would survive the larger tasting menu. Service was truly excellent including the guys at the bar, who know the menu and wine list as well as anyone. Place has great ambiance to boot. Highly recommend this place either for a romantic dinner or a group food extravaganza.
(5)MaryBeth R.
Went here at the suggestion of a friend, who calls this restaurant "one of her standards" in the Beacon Hill area. I have to say that if I lived nearby it might quickly become one of MY regular hangouts! Atmosphere: We sat in the main dining room. While the bar area was filled with Restaurant Week diners and was REALLY loud, the main dining area was surprisingly quiet and really allowed for good conversation. I'm not sure how they pulled that off, but I sure did appreciate it! Service: Impeccable. The staff really let us dictate the timing of our meal - my friend and I hadn't seen each other in years and had a lot of catching up to do. I think we took about 40 minutes to get through our appetizer course, but the staff never rushed us, and clearly communicated our timing to the kitchen. The main courses arrived at a comfortable interval after we had finished our appetizers and were perfectly cooked. All in all, an excellent dining experience! Food: At the suggestion of numerous yelpers, I tried the fig-stuffed Gnocchi. Yes, you read that correctly. Figs. In Gnocchi! Suffice to say I have never had a dish quite like this one. Perfectly prepared with a lovely (brown?) butter sauce to balance the slight acidity of the fig filling. Had I known, I might have simply ordered this at an entree-sized portion and relished even more of the perfect flavors and textures. Heaven! Unfortunately, this dish was SO good that it was really hard for the salmon entree to compare. In fact, I can't really come up with anything about the entree that really stood out for me. For that fact, I'd probably give a 4.5 star rating if I could, but because my overall dining experience was otherwise perfect, 5 it is!
(5)jamie l.
I'm really giving this review 2-stars...but when you pair a 2-star rating with a $500 bill - it drops to 1-star. Let me preface this with a decision that my wife and I made recently not to try new restaurants for a while. We're tired of spending a lot of money on an only so-so meal and wishing that we had just gone with an old-favorite - a sure thing. That being said we had visitors (fellow foodies) in from Manhattan and we got lucky that there was an opening at 7p on a Saturday night at No9. My wife and I have eaten at No9 several times...as well as dined at Menton, B&G, Sportello, and The Butcher Shop (we tend to prefer B&G, although that lately has been only good - not amazing). With our guests desiring high-quality food we (per our recent decision) opted to take advantage of the opening at No9 - the sure thing - over a new restaurant that recently opened in the Back Bay. The meal was a disappointment. From the Prix-Fixe Menu we had the smoked mackerel starter, some oysters (probably the only good starter), and the sunchoke veloute. For entrée's we had the pork loin, the scallop and octopus...and the duet of beef. For desert we had the Bete Noire (it was good). We were a bit embarrassed because we talked up Barbara Lynch and No9 to our visiting family - as an amazing dining experience - and our guests were clearly disappointed (as we were) in our meal. Not sure what the issue was - but just so-so food and a bottle of wine for $500 is a really disappointing night out. That's the last time we go to No9.
(1)Ani S.
This restaurant introduced me to the world of PISCO SOURS when it first opened. Dining here is an experience. The food is delicious, the setting romantic and service exquisite. This converted townhouse in Boston's gorgeous Beacon Hill district is well known for their French/Italian dishes from simple and fresh ingredients. They take pride in their wine list and rightfully so, as their list includes some vintages not served anywhere else. Their Chef's Tasting Menu changes weekly- I highly recommend indulging in this sometimes as the creations are each delicious and highlight some hidden flavor within the ingredients. From their "regular" menu, I recommend: - the monkfish (made with oolong tea) - Tortellini with walnut pesto - Chestnut Beef - Lamb - Milanese Chicken - Chicken Roulade For desserts, I always favor their housemade sorbets... refreshing and delicious!
(4)A C.
Out of this world experience. The service was incredible, from the moment we called for a reservation with Sarah to our waitress, Ashley, and our lovely conversation with the maitre d'. The food was just as spectacular. Everything we tried was beyond expectations, but the venison and the mint chocolate chip glace are a must.
(5)Jenn Z.
I have been here for Restaurant Week, regular dinner, and a group event. I think the food here is tasty and well prepared. Although I do think the portion size is comparably smaller than those of other restaurants in same price range. Their service at the group event was very good. The servers came frequently to offer a variety of drinks and finger food. The dinner itself was also good with attentive wait staff.
(4)Brenda M.
Fun 80's night to end a night out in the city. There was a nice mix of people some young crowd as well as some other guests in their late 30's - 40's. The DJ was great and drinks were very good. We danced a lot and sang all the old 80's tunes. It was a lot of fun.
(3)Nicole M.
No. 9 Park has been on my radar for about five years. Finally, the hubby and I went with another couple. Love the location and love the space, but I wasn't crazy about the ambiance. It felt too stuffy/old money. Obviously, I am neither, so I kind of felt out of place. I still enjoyed the evening. Service - STELLAR Drinks included a blueberry cobbler and then 2 bottles of some delicious red wine. Yum. The food was ok. I started with a salad, then we ordered the $80 truffled risotto mid-course (seriously - $80??), and I got the halibut for my entree. The salad was nothing to write home about, the risotto was damn tasty, and the halibut was pretty bland. I think I'd like to return to sit at the bar and have a few drinks. But I don't think I'd return for dinner. Especially because I'd be living off ramen noodles for the next week to justify the cost of the night.
(4)Ligaya T.
Phenomenal. Care for a quick example? Even a list? Allow me... The following ingredients made their sly way into our THREE liquid concoctions in the smoothest of combinations: ginger beer chamomile basil gelatin maraschino cherry liqueur egg whites lemon lime gin rye whiskey special chilean bitters (not angostura) Are you still breathing? Barkeep Ryan was engaged, knowledgable, affable and incredibly talented. Show me more creative and better executed cocktails this side of the river and the round's mine.
(5)Clark C.
A chef friend of mine recommended this place and his recommendation was a great one. I enjoyed the meal from start to finish.
(4)Laura t.
This place rocks :)
(5)Sonia S.
Went there on Valentine's day for a 6+1 course for $165 + $12 per person. As other yelpers have mentioned, food is hit and miss. The foie gras dishes (an additional $12) were hits, the rest was mostly miss. At the end of the day, you can get more bang for your bucks at many other places in Boston. Service was really good though.
(3)Melissa C.
It's been too long since I was at a restaurant where the service was beyond perfectly acceptable. I've come to accept service that is very good, but secretly I judge them by the standards set in the south. Where even diner staff at the end of a double-shift greet you with a warm smile and a drawn out term of endearment. Where servers in higher end restaurants may first spend six months to a year in training. Either way, the current running underneath service that I consider excellent is a level of care. At No. 9 Park, a fleet of servers worked seamlessly to create an excellent dining experience. Everything was done with the fluid skill of those well-practiced in traditional courtesy. Upon asking if the tasting menu could be prepared to meet any dietary restrictions, the server answered confidently in the affirmative and the tasting menu was prepared to be pescitarian friendly. Whole plates from the menu were replaced, and she offered to have the prune stuffed gnocchi prepared with a brown butter sauce rather than foie gras. The plates were balanced. The presentation was simple and clean without being stark. The flavors were brilliant. Two of my new favorite things are pistachio oil and sesame seed puree. I left perfectly sated, although I did take care not to finish every delicious bite to ensure that I could make it through every course. The cocktails are served strong, a variety of combinations, nothing too sweet. If want to go some place where you can feel sure that everything will be perfect, I suggest making a reservation at No. 9 Park as early as possible.
(5)Alpha M.
Been here twice. Once for the prix fixe with friends and we all had fun. We were a huge group but service as excellent. They adjusted the dishes based on each person's dietary needs or preference. Went back for chef's tasting and that was even better than prix fixe. We were able to pick our seat, so we were cozy. Looking forward to going back.
(4)Mike R.
One of the best upscale yet casual date restaurants in Boston. The prune stuffed gnocchi with foie gras are excellent, the poussin impressively flavorful, and the duck very good. Dessert, unlike most restaurants, was not a disappointment, either. Their cheesecake is comparatively light and fresh (and delicious), and a brown butter tart is complex and rich. Service throughout the meal was excellent and friendly. Possible alternative fun date restaurants with great food you can wear jeans to: Hungry Mother.
(4)R Y.
Good food but way overpriced if you order a la carte. The price fixe menu is more reasonable. Love the gnocchi. I actually enjoy their appetizers more than their main menu offerings.
(4)Mike G.
3.5 stars good food highlighting american flavors. opt for the 3 course prix fixe. the chef's tasting menu just doesn't compare with better tables. and at $130/person (with an optional dish) i expected but didn't get: good bread, an amuse bouche or intermezzo. at a recent 8 course dinner, each (save for dessert) was served cold - a pet peeve. inexcusable for an experienced kitchen like No. 9.
(3)Jeremy S.
Food quality and presentation was probably the best I've seen in Boston. The downside? This place is stuffy. Though Eli didn't notice any sniffing at the young guys in jeans and t-shirts, I did (by the hostess). Maybe it's because no one reacts what-so-ever to young guys in t-shirts in SF, so I could better feel the subtle difference. Service was really slow, but I'm pretty sure it was caused by the very large group that was just ahead of us. It would have been nice if they had comped us a dessert or made more than a cursory apology. Even with all the negatives, I can't bring myself to give a Boston restaurant with superior food anything less than 4 stars. Steak for lunch? Just do it.
(4)frank s.
Awesome food, get the gnocchi. This place is a must, especially for people traveling in from cities. Dinner is great, but the bar area is amazing and the bartenders take true pride in making drinks. Try the Pamelo (don't think I spelled it correctly) and the slo gin fizz.
(5)Meghan K.
Amazing! My husband and I came here and both got the prix fixe option. The service was excellent - the waiter gave us perfect menu recommendations. To start I had the prune stuffed gnocchi which was amazing! As an entree I had the pork which was delicious and good sized. I was very satisfied at the end of the meal and found the portion sizes were perfect. Great experience, excellent date location - will be coming back!
(5)Marilyn T.
The space is so elegant yet modern and clean. It's classy but not stuck up, and it's nice to have the option of the bar, the cafe, and the dining room. Though we sat in the cafe area and weren't supposed to order off the regular menu, I had a special request for prune stuffed gnocchi with foie gras, and the chef promised to make it a "part of my meal," asking me to otherwise order off the cafe menu. When the food came, it turned out I had a full sized portion of the heavenly light yet indulgent dish, compliments of the chef. The meats were seasoned and cooked perfectly, and all other dishes were executed precisely. The presentation of dishes was simple but really highlighted the food, rather than the adornments. The setting in front of the commons is very classic and romantic. It was the perfect place for a date, and service was impeccable, despite that we were the youngest couple in the restaurant that night. I now know why the Barbara Lynch empire is such a success.
(5)Julie B.
I was lucky enough to be surprised with a birthday dinner at No. 9 Park this year! As No. 9 Park is Barbara Lynch's flagship restaurant, it's funny that it's the last of the Gruppo restaurants on my list to try. Located downtown right next to the Boston Common, the restaurant looks and feels much like I imagine it did when it opened over 15 years ago. The interior feels a bit like an upscale steak house -- white tablecloths cover the tables like Menton, but it's a bit more casual. We were sat quickly at a corner table in the back room, which held only about seven or eight tables and had a staff of seven or eight solely for the small space. I knew immediately we were in for some great service! We decided to go all out and order the tasting menu. We started with a few cocktails, some incredible homemade bread, and some refreshing oysters. After only a few minutes, the courses started rolling out. As expected, No. 9 Park did not disappoint! From start to finish, the food and service were top of the line. The No. 9 Park tasting menu should be reserved for more special occasions (for us regular folk at least), but they do have a more affordable price fixe menu and a regular menu that sounded great. Food wise, I really enjoyed just about all of the dishes we tasted. My favorites were: First course: Roasted cauliflower with peekytoe crab, caviar and avocado Third course: Tagliatelle, burgandy escargot, artichoke, pancetta Fifth course (supplemental and shared): Seared foie gras de canard, baklava, pine nut, rhubarb Seventh course: Sirloin of beef, pommes rubochon, spruce, procini If you have never tried a tasting menu, No. 9 Park could be the right one for you. It was the perfect combination of comfort, variety and creativity.
(5)Nicky E.
Went here for drinks recently and had a fabulous night. The bartender was so on point - she warned me about a drink not being sweet like I might assume it would be. She was right to do so, it prepared me for a trip. I can't recall the name of the drink, but it was like biting into an island (I had just recently come back from a trip to the Caribbean) - it was fresh, clean, and ripe without being sweet or synthetic. Definitely one of the best imbibing sessions I've had in Boston (well, in terms of grown-up cocktails, at least). The ambiance is amazing - cozy yet elegant. Refined and at the same time innovative and interesting. I can't wait to go back for din!
(4)Sarah P.
I enjoyed a memorable birthday dinner at No. 9 Park. The impeccable, yet unpretentious service; the quietly sophisticated interior; the on-point wine and cocktail selections; and the thoughtful, if not groundbreaking, menu were much appreciated. We both opted for the prix-fixe option, which was a steal at $69 for three courses. Our entrees were good, but not knock-your-socks-off. I found the Berkshire pork heavy-handed on the salt. My husband thought the short rib was a tad underseasoned, but liked the accompanying kale, sunchoke, and mushrooms. Standouts from the meal were the salad with three kinds of beets (including one that was deliciously pickled), burrata, and glazed walnuts; the famed prune-stuffed gnocchi with foie gras in all of its decadent glory; and the caramelized white chocolate mousse which was set-off beautifully by tart honeycrisp apple and pecans.
(4)Andrew H.
Meh. It was restaurant week so I assume that the regular calendar meal is better. I assume almost any restaurant's restaurant week review loses one star... Salmon tartar - good but kind of missing any kind of excitement. I liked the texture. Gnudi (like gnocchi but made mostly of cheese) with summer vegetables super salty and low on vegetables - I had an Olive Garden flashback for a second. Also bland. Dessert was panna cotta. Again, good, but nothing to write home about. The service was fine, but not what you expect for the price tag. Decor was nice, but these higher end places should start enforcing some kind of dress code. T shirts, Levi's, and sneakers (even Sketchers) should not be OK. Basically everything you expect at a celebrity chef restaurant when you can safely assume that said chef is not in the kitchen. You can only try to copy an original so many times before the lines start to get blurry. It is scratched off the 'to visit' list and I won't be back unless somebody is treating me.
(3)Chad T.
If Boston had a Michelin Guide, No 9 Park would easily get 1 star. Upon perusing the menu, I was interested in the tasting menu but the strip steak course did not really jump out at me. However, there was no delay upon asking to substitute the lamb saddle for the tasting course, so I applaud the chef and her staff for not being so pretentious as to demand no substitutions. Here's what we had: - Artichoke Amuse Bouche, paired with a sparkling Gruner - Halibut and Eggplant Puree, paired with a rose of sancerre and grenache - Gnocchi with Hen of the Woods, paired with a Barberesca - Trio du Foie - Gnocchi Prune Pasta - Brined and grilled pork loin with braised bacon in a dill sauce, paired with a syran - Lamb Saddle, paired with a Bordeaux - Cheese cart, paired with an Austria trockenbeernauslese - Raspberry Sorbet with pomegranate dessert amuse bouche - Chocolate, white sorbet, and pomegranate - Petit Fours Apologies for the lack of specificity. I lost the paper with the detailed exact pairings. Everything here was solid and well prepared, but I have to say that nothing jumped out at me as truly innovative or fascinating. I am looking forward to trying some of her other restaurants.
(5)Elise P.
I think this is another situation where my expectations were too high. First of all, when I tried to book the reservation 4 weeks out I had the option of either 5pm or 10pm. I went with 10pm. Once we arrived 5 minutes before 10pm half of the restaurant was empty, which really made me question why I had to book a reservation so late. If I had gone somewhere like the Beehive or Craigie's at the same time all of the tables would have been full, and a 10pm reservation would be totally understandable, but here didn't make any sense based on all of the empty seats I saw. I was expecting to be wowed by every aspect of my meal. And I just wasn't. Service was fine--not great. Food was fine by normal standards, but bordering on poor for the standards I would expect to find at a place touted as one of the finest dining establishments in Boston. The signature gnocchi with prunes was just...bland. I didn't understand the purpose of the presentation of the bacon wrapped monkfish. Nothing on the dessert menu enticed me, so I went without. All in all a big disappointment.
(2)Eric F.
As one might expect, I came into No. 9 Park with much excitement and high expectations. Right away, the maitre'd greeted me and my friend warmly and while her associate offered to take our coats and bags. It was looking good, very good. Being walk-ins, we were promptly seated in the bar dining area. Our waitress came by and I quickly picked up on her exceptional manners and knowledge of the food and drink. It's not often you hear such elaborate descriptions of porcelet, duck confit, and angus sirloin amongst other offerings. Cocktails were ordered up and my No. 10 arrived soon after. Though amusingly girly looking with the pink tinge of grapefruit juice, the potency of the Tanqueray Ten and vermouth said otherwise. An Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout rounded out our selection of libations for the evening. Meanwhile, the bread was served straight from a basket with sea salt and butter on the side. Things were coming along nicely and at this point, you might be wondering: "Why the 3 stars?" The food. Now the much applauded Prune Stuffed Gnocchi was very good - tender pasta balanced by the mild tartness of the prunes. At over $3.00 a piece though, it still had more ground to cover in being worth its cost. My Milk-Fed Porcelet was beautifully presented with an assorted offering of different pork portions (shoulder, belly, sausage, and so on) along with escargot and pumpkin seed puree. However, they were all lightly overcooked and the flavors failed to impress. Likewise, my friend's Angus Sirloin was on the dry side and gritty in texture: characteristics more suited to steak from Black Angus. Suffice it to say, the entrees came nowhere close to being worthy of the hefty price and would barely even pass if they were half of the cost. Not surprisingly, we passed on desserts and left somewhat unsatisfied and still hungry. The dining experience was lovely and the staff and service were absolutely stellar - arguably the best I've seen in Boston. But the food is just not at all worth the money and isn't that what fine dining is ultimately all about?
(3)Anne W.
Went for a fancy dinner just because with some friends prepared to be floored. We decided to go with the seven course tasting menu since the waiter insisted this was the best way to experience the restaurant. We ordered two bottles of wine... and the consensus of the food is what drives my rating. The first two dishes were pretty well executed. This was the beef tartare and the diver scallop on top of the truffle puree. Then it went downhill... they gave us a ravioli filled with ricotta cheese which was just sub-par. Then it was onto the optional dishes which contained their signature dishes. The prune gnocchi really was just okay. HOW CAN THIS BE THEIR SIGNATURE DISH? They should make it their beef tartare.. it's just better. The foie gras was okay as well.. I think foie gras just tastes better warm instead of cold. The next dish was the chicken breast and chicken sausage. The chicken breast was tender and the skin was crispy.. the sausage was tender as well. Okay.. but I am never that amazed with chicken. Lamb saddle was next and that was decent but nothing out of this world. Then it was onto the two desserts... the standout was the coconut icecream on top of roasted coconut. The service is standard of what I would expect at these type of restaurants. They never asked us if we were enjoying the dishes or it was good. I would have sent some dishes back. The atmosphere was very old Boston. I think they could work on their decor. It does overlook Boston Commons. I should have gone with their three course fixed menu. Looked so much better..
(3)Gladys D.
Service was impeccable at this place: my glass would never stay empty for more than a minute, our waitress was super attentive and knowledgeable, finally, we were given a very nice complimentary dessert (we went here for my birthday). Food was good. I liked my octopus appetizer, my husband loved his gnocchi (or ravioli?) with foie gras. Entrees were good too: I had very tender fish and my husband had pork belly. Pork belly was a bit fat for him but he says it was not bad. My favorite part is desserts: complimentary olive cake was awesome. My chocolate cake was excellent as well. This is a perfect spot for a classy, quiet and romantic dinner.
(4)Josephine L.
There are few better ways to celebrate the advancement of old age than a tasting menu courtesy of Barbara Lynch. No. 9 Park is one of "those" places: you hear about it endlessly, the been-theres rave about it and the want-to-be-theres salivate over it. Awards, accolades, hype--all surround this street address restaurant. Here's the skinny: The tasting menu gets a solid 4 stars for food. It's rich, creamy, American fine dining so you're not going to get exotic ingredients or really bizarre flavor combinations. "Solid" was the word we both agreed on, more or less in a good way. Strips of tuna with yellowtail garnishes in a carrot puree to start. A scallop dish, a pasta dish, several meats and the optional supplemental course of Barbara's famous prune gnocchi with seared foie gras + other foie gras continued the tasting menu. All good, all flavorful, all very solid. This is not a mind-bending culinary adventure like Craigie or O Ya. As long as you know not to expect exoticism or bizarreness, you'll be happy with your meal. Now the atmosphere is a whole other story. The service was actually quite awful for a place of this repute. We came on a Saturday night and virtually every table in our area ordered the tasting menu. Yay, for not being unique at all! Luckily, we were always 1-2 courses ahead so did not get caught up in the bottleneck of everyone around us. However, there was spotty, inconsistent service throughout. Our waitress didn't show up for 15 min after we were seated with no menus and no water. Our dishes were hurriedly explained by whoever dropped them off. No one was particularly friendly or welcoming. Tres disappointing. The company is what kept us entertained. Next to us was a snooty-looking middle-aged couple. The man requested a spot in the "private dining area" immediately upon being seated, was informed there was no room left and looked at us (and the rest of the room) with such disdain, I thought the metal was going to wither off my fork. Behind them was a loud, increasingly raucous, casually-dressed family who got so progressively drunk, I could hear them from the bathroom. But my favorite was the table of over-dressed twenty-something trust fund babies sitting in front of me. You knew they were trust fund babies by what they said, the fact that as college students, they could actually afford the 7-course tasting menu with wine pairing AND cocktails, and the aloof snobbishness with which they regarded all those around them. Their loud recounts of extravagant adventures in rich people's drawls ("Remember our friend from Daaahtmouth?") kept us giggling the whole night. So, No. 9 Park doesn't quite live up to the hype in terms of food for me, but it is an excellent people-watching spot. No matter what, you will get a night to remember. Oh, and if you decide to get the trio of cocktail samplers, make sure you like herb-y-tasting cocktails. The middle one, No. 10 Park, is gorgeous but tastes like really strong herbs. Stick with the pear martini if you want sweet, which is excellent.
(3)Matthew H.
Unquestionably one of the best meals I've ever had. We had the three-course prix fixe menu. For me, prune-stuffed gnocchi with seared foie gras, lamb, and tahitian vanilla bavarian. For her, autumn vegetable potage, duet of duck, and chocolate macaron. Everything was spectacular, the drinks were delicious, the service was flawless.
(5)Lin Z.
Excellent service as you'd expect. Got the 3 course dinner. The foie gras was the best I've ever had and very much deserve the extra money.
(5)Charles L.
It had been two years since we'd been to No. 9 Park and the memory of that previous meal could always make us drool. Based on that experience (as well as several before then), we ranked Barbara Lynch's establishment as one of the top 3 in Boston. Last week we returned with high expectations. That's the teaser. Since Yelp won't allow me to actually post the link to my full review with pictures (they say it is promotional and/or commercial even though it's just my blog), all I can do is tell you to go to the web site in my profile. It has the the good, the bad, and the ugly. The review was posted on July 16, 2012. Here's the summary of my review: The Bottom Line This was a solid meal. The dishes used top-drawer ingredients and were generally well-executed. But there was just too much lacking to justify the $$$$+ price tag. To compete at the highest level, every course, every detail has to be near perfect. But there were too many nits and exceptions to make the cut this time. The wait-staff was casual. I get it. That's the trend. But there's casual, and then there's a smart and casual with a well-dressed uniform. Many of the customers were better-dressed than the wait-staff and that says to me that they were anticipating something a bit more worthy of No. 9 Park's reputation and price tag. Back to the issue of the missed Scallop dish. I'm not sure what happened here. Maybe it was a simple mistake, I don't know. But I just can't see that happening at an establishment like (e.g.) Chez Panisse where they keep a chalk board in the kitchen of who has already served what and to which table. Maybe we were the 1 out of 1000 diners who had a fluke. Still. I went into this meal fired up and predisposed to think that No. 9 Park would serve us an extraordinary, unforgettable meal, just as they had 2 years ago and the times before that. To throw in an obligatory sports metaphor, this game was theirs to lose. Yes, many of the dishes were top-drawer and some even extraordinary. But in the end, L and I came away thinking that we could have gone to Rialto twice for the same price. I asked L to compare the Porchetta at Rialto to the Veal that she liked so much at No. 9 Park and she had to agree that the Porchetta won out. Yes we understand that it's an exponential scale when you're in this lofty price-range, but we also still believe that when one pays $$$$'s for a meal, everything -- no exceptions -- has to be perfect to warrant returning.
(3)James C.
Experienced the chef's tasting menu and wine pairings for my girl's birthday. People say it's pricey, but you're paying for an experience.. We had special dietary requests and they were more than willing to work with what we wanted/could eat. The most memorable dish was the pork jowl and scallop. This was cooked to perfection, I felt like i was chewing flavorful clouds of ecstacy. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and gave us some great insight into the wine pairings and why he chose them. He was definitely outstanding. They also brought out our 7th dish as a little happy birthday dish for her, without coming out singing and making it like a 6 year old's birthday party at chuck e cheese's. Classy, and a delicious dessert to boot. The atmosphere was very casual friendly feeling as well. I didn't feel like a stiff. Will definitely be returning here on many more occasions.
(5)Michael C.
Service was phenomenal. The atmosphere was nice and romantic. The presentation was solid. The food was good, but not that good, especially given how pricey the place is. Come here for the special occasion, not for the food.
(4)K. E.
ZERO stars. What a disappointment. Such pretentious BS. I had such high hopes and was really proud of myself for planning our wedding anniversary to the letter. The waiters were snobs. The food was OK, not spectacular. It certainly didn't justify the price. I understand that the eyes feast before the mouth, but this place banks WAY too much on presentation. The food actually has to be flavorful, and I don't want to leave hungry if I'm going to empty out my wallet. I should have taken Wife to Morton's, L'Andana, or someplace where I won't feel as though the staff is laughing at us in the kitchen and all the way to the bank. We won't be back.
(1)Rachel S.
The two of us arrived for a Tuesday night meal without a reservation. We sat at one of the tables in the bar area because they told us the dining room was full. No problemo. It's a little tight with folks sitting at the bar, but we were still quite comfortable. They gave us the complete menu which had a 3 course Prix Fixe menu ($69), a bar menu and a tasting menu (seven courses for $112). Entrees ala carte from the prix fixe menu are $39, appetizers $21, desserts $14. There is no listing of salads in the menu so we asked for mixed greens to start. We each then had the East Coast Halibut (with mussels and baby artichokes). It was all delicious. The portions definitely seem small with the $39 price tag but actually, I would say that the portions sizes are actually really normal for a healthy meal. So, it's not that they give you too little-- it's that they price you too much. For dessert we shared the Passion Fruit Cremeux and the Sorbet Du Jour. Both were small portions for a $14 cost, however again, I would say these were normal healthy portions for a dessert. They were delicious, sweet and striking. The service was friendly and relatively prompt (we did have to wait a bit to receive menus at first). The waiter answered our questions completely and was able to describe what we could expect from each dish. He also asked if we had any allergies, which I thought was rare and awesome. For a Tuesday night, the place was pretty full and from my experience, if you want to sit in the dining room you should definitely make a reservation. Don't forget your wallet-- super duper expensive.
(4)Jason L.
(4.5 stars) I am a dork. Before this meal, a friend and I were discussing palate cleansing techniques. So before I came, I had a bite of citrus, a saltine cracker, and a chug of water. That's how excited we were to eat at No 9. RW dinner review, 4 of us on a packed Thursday night...eager to try what is known as Boston's top restaurant. All the dishes were solid and above average, with spot-on seasoning. But they were just a tad shy of the 5 star "As good as it gets" territory; where, for example, I can remember all the courses I ate at Jean Georges. However, I know this is RW and I have a feeling their regular menu is a step up and will return to try their signature prune gnocchi, since I really liked their potato gnocchi. I have a feeling a future update will push it to 5 stars. All other aspects (service, plating) are in the 5 star category. Nevertheless, my 2 cents on their food: Fluke crudo w/ cipollini, serrano - the chile gave it a good kick, plated well. Potato gnocchi w/ mushroom ragu + kale - light and airy gnocchi was good. Very homemade taste. Skirt steak w/ braised flanken, potato croquette - I like the combo of beef on brisket (Midwest guy...I know and love my steak). However, the flanken under the steak was better, which seems counter-intuitive when the entree focus should be on the skirt steak. Veggies, croquette were not that exciting. Chocolate napoleon - great presentation. Napoleon itself was average, however the choc feuilletine was absolutely delicious. Lime tart - I liked this dessert better. Light, freshing, tart, with a smooth vanilla meringue Cheese cart! [see pic] Great service on par with top-tier restaurants, with timely water refills and rolls flying onto our plates as soon as we finished. Waitress a tad pushy on us ordering more drinks. Even with 10 people waiting in the lounge, we were never rushed and after sipping coffee casually / chatting after paying the bill / finishing the mini dessert squares, our group realized that....maybe...just maybe...it was time to pass the torch and let the other eager customers experience Barbara Lynch. Could No. 9 survive the culinary claws of NYC and succeed? Absolutely. Could it take on the Michelin big dogs of JG, Bernardin, Daniel etc? Probably not, but this place still shows those snobby new yorkers that Boston has fine dining. Food (8.5/10) Plating (5/5) Service (5/5) Decor (3/5)
(4)sanjay P.
Last night was the 5th time my wife and I have eaten at no9 and every time it gets better. The palmyra cocktail is amazing, the service is impeccable and the food is off the charts. Ted the maitre'd and Ted the bartender are class acts and make the experience that much better. My poussin was truly succulent. We also had a hard to find '07 Montro which was worth every penny. Headed to Menton tonight. Looking for another great experience from Barbara Lynch.
(5)Chris B.
One of the best meals. Service was outstanding. They were running a little behind and they comped our drinks while we waited for our table, and brought us a third desert which pushed me over the edge. I had to sleep on my side because I was so full. The peanut butter crémeux with coconut ice cream and some curried crispy-like things was awesome. And of course he prune stuffed gnocchi was totally worth it.
(5)Joe R.
Remember the old Wendy's Comercial. Giant plates with tiny portions ala tapas style but giant prices. The queen has no clothes.
(1)Emily N.
Absolutely fabulous. My family and I came on Saturday evening for a BIG anniversary celebration for my parents. From the moment we walked in we were thrilled. We had all the special treatment and attention that two celebrators of an anniversary could get. My parents were so pleased! Everything from the service to the food, to the wine was excellent. I could not find a single thing to complain about. Thank you No9 for an amazing celebration!!
(4)A C.
My 2nd time at this place. The service is excellent, from the valet to the hostess, to the runners, and waitstaff. They are attentive and courteous -- and will feel taken care of. The food is fantastic -- the portions are not supersized, like many places -- so some people may be taken aback -- but the plates aren't insultingly small, they are appropriate and you will be full. And I love the environment: small, cozy, and not loud. I'm a huge fan.
(5)Clare F.
Some places don't live up to the hype. No. 9 Park is NOT one of those places. Food? Flawless. They met every special pescetarian request of mine. And the cheese tray, MY GOD THE CHEESE TRAY. It is kept in a back hall you pass to get to the restroom. I am going to stage a full scale sting to steal that cheese tray. But at a place like this, you pay for the service. From the woman who escorts you to the bathroom to the wait staff that re-fold your napkin when you're in the bathroom to the person whose sole job it is to pour the after dinner brandies... These people are professionals and it shows.
(5)Rich T.
Went with their Dine Out Boston-inspired prix fixe menu to sample their dishes. What a rollercoaster ride. Started well with a crudo: fresh, zingy, with some earthiness from leeks and olives. Next course disappointed--roasted bluefish with succotash was perhaps meant to be a light summery dish but came across fairly one-note, esp after the delightful first course. If the intention was to highlight the exquisite tomato broth, that should have been made its own course; the fish felt like an intrusion. Third course was their signature prune-stuffed gnocchi and it was good. The richness of the foie gras and beurre blanc was nicely balanced by the sweetness of the prunes. Fourth course was essentially steak and potatoes and was as uninspired as that sounds. Bone marrow added unnecessary weight where something spicier or more herbaceous would have rounded out the flavors better. The grilled bread also felt extraneous since there was nothing for it to mop up. Dessert though was the ultimate letdown: A summer trifle that should not have been deconstructed. The angel cake ended up dry and could not be rehydrated by the limited custard or the amaretto ice-cream. Fruit was lazily scattered on the plate without a much-needed bath in some liqueur or wine first. Also, the crunch of the slightly under-ripe peach slices was not the kind of textural contrast that the dessert needed. Overall, not sure if the two wow dishes made up for three courses of blah. 3 stars for food well executed (dessert excluded) but completely lacking passion.. So disappointed I can't bring myself to add another star for excellent service.
(3)Albert B.
I brought my girlfriend here for our 1 year anniversary. I've heard amazing reviews of No 9 so I secured a reservation 3 weeks in a advance to ensure a wonderful evening. I let them know about the special occasion. I was extremely disappointed for several reasons. 1) My sister ordered us a bottle of champagne as a surprise gift. I'd imagine this was $100+ and the thought was EXTREMELY kind. THEY FORGOT TO GIVE IT TO US. We were given the champagne after dinner was over, after we bought wine and celebratory champagne during the meal. They were very apologetic but this gaff was UN-excuseable. We spent over $100 on drinks this evening and went home with a bottle of champagne we much more would have enjoyed at dinner. 2) My girlfriend was served the wrong entree. After asking for a recommendation from the waitress, and having here clearly say the scollops were the best option on the entire menu, she was brought chicken. My dinner was sent back to the kitchen to sit in the "warmer"..it came back cold. In fairness, the staff was polite and the food was good. I just can't get over the fact that the champagne was forgotten. Our meal was $280. Next time I'm celebrating a special occasion I'll be going elsewhere.
(1)Jessie C.
I think I want Barbara to be my friend. We need to hang out. Molly F and I made reservations here tonite and had a great time. We started off a little rocking not being able to find parking but when they took our coats we started to relax. The waiter was very attentive as was everyone else in the restaurant. We started off with St. Germain cocktails (LOVE IT! - Perseco and St. Germain, you gotta try it) and then proceeded to order the Gnocchi which everyone raved about. We split the order and they brought it on two plates which is always great. The dish was delightful. Big fans. Next came the entree - this is where things went a bit downhill. I ordered the Rose Fish with Clams and my friend ordered the chicken which we had heard good things about. My fish was great! I've decided i'm not a huge fan of clams, i think it's a texture thing for me but none the less, the fish and clams were great! Now to the chicken - it was a bit raw, not a huge amount but enough that it was pink. we had to send it back twice. Oh well. Sometimes that happens. But the waitstaff and the manager handled it well so that's always good. Ultimately when we got a cooked piece of chicken, it was delicious. They also sent out a second dessert for the mistake which we gladdly accepted. Overall we had a great time! I'd certainly return for a special occasion or when I am in the mood to spend some money and eat some fantastic food. Thanks!
(4)Anthony D.
The best restaurants get the shortest reviews from me. You will spend a lot of money here. Do yourself a favor, order the 7 or 9 course meal with the wine pairing. Everything will work out perfectly. The food is great here, the staff are true professionals. Save room for the cheese board.
(5)Katherine D.
After years of longing, I finally made it to No 9 Park. Even before I walked in I was already impressed by the host staff. The ambience is cool all around, but I was slightly envious of the people in the back behind the bar as that area is definitely the best. Theres not much to say about the food that has not already been said: everything was fantastic from plating to flavor profile. Service was superb. I just hope I can return again for the 7 course tasting!
(5)Just M.
Sorry... the food was great, but the service... well, let me just say, if you are not a Kerry, Kennedy, DAR family regular, trust fund baby or on a romantic evening... if you look like the 99%, the service starts off great and then gets rather cold and spotty. People next to you get chef treats with cordial explanations... you do not. So, while I was checking out the place as I needed to book a party of 8 the next night, we will go elsewhere.
(2)Jeff M.
Excellent food cooked with precise french technique. However nothing was very exciting or innovative. Service was slow and showed a lack of maturity. I loved the decor and laid back atmosphere here; its rare to get fine dining without pretentious service and diners. The best part about No. 9 Park for me was the location. Being in Beacon Hill and looking out onto the Common was a great dining experience. Four stars for the food. The famous prune stuff gnocchi with foie gras lived up to the expectations. I also really enjoyed the lamb saddle.
(4)Wonder W.
Service seemed rushed. We were left with drinks menu for at least 10 mins before anyone took our order. It then took another 10 mins to receive a simple cocktail and beer. This seemed pretty poor for such a small place. Meals came out very quick - too quick. We actually had to ask them to slow it down. The prune gnocchi was amazing - ill give them that. Clafoutis dessert was unimpressive - dry and not anything amazing. Service was pleasant but not personal. Would I go back? No. Was nice but Mistral and Bistro du Midi were better.
(3)Darren H.
One of the best restaurants in Boston! It's hard for me to give this restaurant five stars after I just wrote a review for Brushstroke in NYC (which I thought was better and also gave five stars too). But standing on its own merits, No. 9 Park is a Boston classic that should never be underrated. As is the custom for restaurants like these, be prepared to go all-out for the best dining experience. In this case, we both had the full tasting menu with both supplemental dishes, making it a nine-course meal, with wine pairings. The food was amazing. Fish was perfectly prepared, and the pasta was the ideal combination of flavors. At some point, our table was just filled with wine glasses. At some point, I forgot what I was eating. But to me, this is the ideal dining experience: to forget about "me" and to immerse myself in the moment. Food, wine, ambiance, and company. So why would I rank this lower than my dining experience at Brushstroke? Ignoring my predilection for Japanese food - the wine pairing at No. 9 Park was not as good. Even though I got the wine pairing option at No. 9, and not at Brushstroke, I thought the wine choices were not as good. I'd recommend doing a little research and choosing from the wine menu, rather than trusting the pairings. Nonetheless, highly recommended!
(5)David C.
I was very torn as to my feelings about No. 9 Park. Ultimately, I rated it based on the overall experience, and how it stacked up against my expectations. No. 9 Park gets a 3 on both counts. A few initial comments- everyone told me that this is one of the best restaurants in Boston, and that it was completely worth the cost. We're glad we tried it, but we will not be back. I note that we earlier tried Sportello, another Barbara Lynch restaurant. That was wonderful, and we WILL be back. AMBIANCE My wife put it best - the restaurant felt like 5 star service is a 3 star space. No. 9 Park is crowded and loud, and they seem to not try to hide the fact that it's in an old townhouse. Linoleum on some of the floors, cramped, overcrowded and incredibly loud rooms. I do NOT, repeat NOT, recommend this restaurant for a special meal or a romantic date. A great place to get your folks to take you if they're in town visiting, but my wife and I were hoping for a romantic date night. It was a very nice evening, but the atmosphere of the restaurant did not contribute to this in any meaningful way. SERVICE The service was wonderful, and was the clear highlight of the evening. We were running late, and they gave us no issues accommodating. When our first table was too loud, they moved us with lightning speed. The waiter, bar manager/sommelier, and hostess were all wonderful. FOOD For it's reputation, I was expecting so much more. To be clear, the food was good. But with one exception, it was not great. Our apps were the peach salad and the corn veloute. The salad was good, but the sweetness of the peaches imbalanced the entire dish. The corn veloute was the highlight of the evening, I can't say enough good things about it. Our mains were Hake and the duet of duck. The hake was good and nicely cooked, but the dish was lacking in something - it didnt feel entirely composed. As for the duck, the leg was slightly dry and the entire dish needed a little more spice. Also lacking was any sauce (save for 2 dots) on the plate. This would have made a huge difference. Dessert killed it for me. My wife had the cheesecake, which she thoroughly enjoyed. It was chevre cheesecake "balls", which looked great, combined with a cheesecake/marscapone? ice cream. One fault with teh dish was the blueberries, which tasted overly processed (maybe canned?). I had the trio of sorbets, which were grainy, partly frozen, and had muddy flavors.
(3)Jenelle J.
Long overdue review. We went here a second time, for some celebratory light fare at the bar - it was absolutely heavenly. I have no idea why I was skeptical of the concept of prune stuffed gnocchi, but one morsel and I was a changed woman. Props to the waitstaff about actually splitting the appetizers for us into our own separate plates, without us even asking. Barbara Lynch gets me, once again!
(5)Vanessa F.
If you read no further, just know that you are making a huge mistake if you don't order the prune stuffed gnocchi. It's AMAZING! So I went to No9 Park on a Thursday night and sat at the bar for dinner. The bartenders were not the most attentive and seemed to have their attention focused on a woman sitting next to me....Needless to say, that woman ended up being non-other than Barbara Lynch herself!! For my meal I ordered the Golden Beet salad, it was good although I prefer it with pistachios personally. The beets were still delicious and the portion was large, so you could split this appetizer with up to 3. Then I had the prune stuffed gnocchi OMG! Seriously I am not the biggest gnocchi fan, but after reading other yelp reviews, I decided to try it. As you can tell, I was not disappointed!!! You do only get 5 large gnocchi, which I found filling enough, but others with bigger appetites may need an additional dish. I finished off my meal with a banana, caramel dessert. It was okay....I guess I was just expecting more bananas and more caramel to satisfy my sweet tooth is all :) Overall I would definitely go back if only for the prune stuffed gnocchi!
(4)Vivian L.
I went there three years ago for restaurant week. I still remember the salted chocolate cake there. I love the place but hopefully they are taking earlier reservation for restaurant week. Because at that time, they only offer the menu after 9PM. It was a long wait for a nice dinner.
(4)Minnie G.
The cocktails, food, and service definitely stood out here. ALL of our courses were magnifique, even with a ton of health and allergy constraints. This place seriously helps the Boston food scene. And far better than other french options around.
(5)Tim M.
Great food, Great Menu, wowed by the great service in this very class setting.
(5)Kelly W.
Awful. Absolutely awful. After eating at Mistral two nights before, this place seemed like we were eating at a test kitchen. The waiters wine recommendations were only for the bottles above $200 and even those were not as good as promised. There were four of us and no one like their meal or appetizer and we all got different things. The best thing on the menu was a chocolate dessert, but even that was not worth the exorbitant price we paid for dinner. My recommendation to you, if you want to go out for a nice dinner is to go instead to L'espalier or Mistral. Both are superior in venue, service, and food.
(1)Heather R.
Location is amazing, service is some of the best I have seen, attention to detail is wonderful....lots of willingness to customize to your dietary needs, or food preferences. It is a bit pricey, but well worth the investment for the experience. If you get a shot at a reservation....GO, GO GO....
(5)Zig G.
pricey, but this is one of rare cases where a ridiculous price is well worth it. especially love plum gnocci. Never fails to delight.
(5)Steph C.
On the early end of a Friday evening in May, I came to No. 9 Park with three female family members for a lovely dinner. We noticed right away that we were not the only Koreans. There were two more tables throwing around Konglish within earshot, and even our waitress was probably Korean. Anyway. Koreans like good food, so this made sense. The place was charming and cozy with an upscale vibe that didn't feel stuffy. Our waitress was friendly and service was flawless. The four of us all ordered the $69 three course prix fixe, which came with a lot of choices for each course. We went family style, though that practically goes without saying. We started with cocktails and attacked the bread, which was plain and good, with butter and salt. I tried the Park Street Cup, a play on a Pimm's Cup, with Pimm's No. 1, Peychaud's bitters, lemon, egg white, and hefeweizen. It was refreshing, if not particularly interesting. My cousin's pear martini was good and sweet, an easy drink of Grey Goose, Belle de Brillet pear liqueur, and pear nectar. My sense is that Boston does not have the same kind of cocktail scene in L.A., but the drinks were passable. The food was better, and the appetizers were the highlight of the meal. My favorite was a wild ramp vichysoisse with smoked salmon rillette, creme fraiche, and deviled quail egg. I can still taste the vibrant astringent flavor of that silky cold soup, with the smooth chunks of salmon that acted almost like dollops of cream. The poached jumbo asparagus was another impressive vegetable-centric dish. This came with huge tender stalks of asparagus crammed with their native flavor. They were served with sea urchin, tofu, petite greens, and a saffron vinaigrette, but not even the sea urchin took the focus away from the perfectly cooked asparagus. The prune stuffed gnocchi were delicious in a different way. These are apparently a signature of No. 9 Park, and for good reason. With foie gras, toasted almonds, and Vin Santo, the dish was delicate yet weighty, with rich flavors that bloomed with every bite. The least memorable appetizer was probably the yellowfin tuna crudo with aji amarillo, charred onion, and cilantro - yet even this one was excellent, with high quality fish and zesty accompaniments. The entrees, unfortunately, were a definite step down. There was one clear winner, but the rest were very forgettable. The winner was the Pekin duck breast, served with confit leg, lavender, and rhubarb. The breast meat was tender and meaty, and the fatty leg just dripped off the bone. Also decent was the pistachio-crusted skate wing with cauliflower, golden raisin, and cured olive. The fish was on the heavy side, with a deep-fried consistency to the crust. The accompaniments, though, were delicate, and the meat of the fish was nice. Plain heavy was the native pollock in bacon, served with Maine lobster, leeks, and a potato crumble. I just didn't like this dish. The lobster was just about nonexistent, the bacon took over the fish, and the fish itself was dry. I felt similarly about the slow-roasted veal loin with morels, truffled bread pudding, and fiddleheads. The sides were fantastic, but the veal was very bland and as a result the whole thing fell flat. But the desserts brought back the sparkle with some remarkably innovative sweets. The best of the bunch was a black olive financier with pistachio, black pepper, and lemon. Does that sound weird? It wasn't. The financier had enough butter and sugar to make it a clear dessert, and the rest was just incredibly interesting. The pistachio came in a little tube of cream, and the lemon in curd and sorbet. The textures and flavors melded together with a lot of pop. I also loved the chamomile cremeux with rhubarb, fennel, and yogurt. It was a fragrant dessert, somewhere between a panna cotta and a mousse in texture, and it was served with a light tart rhubarb sorbet and a little bit of cake. The chocolate gateau was a great chocolate dessert, with a rich dark chocolate cake topped with crispy black sesame and shiso foam, with black sesame ice cream on the side. Black sesame in desserts is almost always delicious, and it definitely did well with the chocolate. For our fourth dessert, we got a medley of housemade ice cream - vanilla, yuzu buttermilk, and date brown butter. The ice cream was great in all of our desserts, and if No. 9 Park opened an ice cream shop, I would be happy to visit. With the check came a dish of cherry pates de fruit and coconut meringues. They were nice bites to end the meal. The entree portion of our dinner was pretty weak, but everything else was so good that I left with a good impression. I'm not sure I'll come back, since I live in California, but dinner was lovely. I won't soon forget that vichysoisse or that olive financier.
(4)Stephen L.
Took my wife here for her 30th birthday and did the chef's tasting with wine pairings. All dishes except 1 were extremely delicious and the desert paired with a white port was heavenly. Only downside is that our server wasn't particularly good. Nothing I could put my finger on, just didn't WOW me for this type of restaurant/meal.
(4)Hana C.
Loved Loved Loved it!!! Came here with Boyfriend last Friday for our anniversary. We got a very romantic seating right by the corner inside. Our waitress knew that it was our anniversary and she took excellent care of us. For appetizers, we started off with the prune stuffed gnochii (OMG a MUST MUST MUST HAVE) and the corn agnolotti. The prune stuffed gnocchi was excellent. I could have 2 more plates of it- and the seared foie gras that comes with it is to die for. For entree, I had the peking duck- I got two confits instead of how it shows on the menu (the chef had no problem with it) and boyfriend got the pork trio dish. Both very excellent although I liked my duck way more. For desert, we got the chocolate cake and icecream. I can't wait for next time to come here and get the prune stuffed gnocchi again. I may get the peking duck again too. Had a great night here. Loved the ambiance too- dark, romantic and so perfect. :)
(5)Ulli K.
My god. Food-gasm. SO. GOOD. Honestly, you can't go wrong for a romantic date or special occasion. My boyfriend and I went and we had a marvelous time. The service was in the top 5 of restaurants I have been to, up there with Moo and Meritage. Absolutely fantastic. Food was amazing too. Good portion size, not your average, you know, TGIF portions, but what's appropriate.
(5)White Devil C.
This review is for the bar only. The bartenders are No 9 Park are talented, trained artisans. Classic, well-researched cocktails and innovative variations. Only 12 seats, but one of the best choices you can make in Boston for a real cocktail.
(5)Vivian C.
Service here was really great, while the food ranged from "food done well" to "ummm... it is still kind of frozen in the center..." We were a touch early (15 min) for our 7pm Restaurant Week reservation, but they were fortunately able to seat us right away. I didn't think they would since just about every single one of the tables that I could see were occupied, so that was a pleasant surprise. We were provided immediately with menus and told that our waiter would be with us soon. Bread was served one roll at a time from a woven basket, but while the butter was of nice spreading consistency, the rolls arrived room temperature cool. Over the course of our meal, we were offered additional bread twice, so they definitely weren't stingy with the carbs as some places are. My glass of water was also refilled a number of times, so it never got below 1/3 full. And new silverware was provided for each course. I had the Smoked Bluefish Pate Potato Salad, Pickled Wax Beans, Crostini which was perhaps more fun than tasty, but still a good experience. I had more than enough pate to spread on my three large but thin and really crispy crostini. My friend's Local Arugula, Housemade Ricotta, Cauliflower, Boquerones (what are Boquerones???) consisted of pretty fresh tasting greens with a salty fish. Maybe that's the Boquerones? My favorite part of the salad was actually the cauliflower (2 florets were laid out along either side of the arugula). They also offered a Seared Labelle Farms Foie Gras for a supplement of $12 that we didn't try. The portion size of the entrees were not very large, but after consuming all three courses plus my 1.5 rolls, I was more than satiated. My Roasted Stripped Bass, Prince Edward Island mussels (3), saffron, pousse pied (is that the interesting looking greens that came with the dish?) arrived as a small thick moist fish filet covered with a crispy tasty skin sitting in a shallow pool of tasty yellow sauce with a handful of an interesting green. The Glazed Pork Belly, corn pudding (where??? wait, that creamy base?), heirloom tomato jam (jam? a bit too clumpy to be called 'jam'), purslane (is that the leafy green?) was quite rich and tasty. I noticed that other yelpers had mentioned having trouble cutting the skin on their pork bellies, but this little piggy didn't put up too much of a fight. The wait for the 2nd course however was a bit too long, but service was still good: when my friend went to the bathroom, someone stopped by to pick up and refold the cloth napkin, and after we were done with our bread plates, they used this nifty curved utensil to scrape up the crumbs - it did a much better job than the scrapers I have seen in other restaurants. Dessert... now those were tiny! I was so looking forward to the Yogurt Panna Cotta, blueberries, corn, because panna cotta is one of my favorite desserts ever since the one I lingered over at Icarus (RIP), but unfortunately this one was sort of a disappointment. First, it was still kind of frozen inside. I expected a certain tang because of the yogurt, but it also wasn't smooth textured. The blueberries were actually blueberries, but the forementioned corn was actually some dollops of a cornmeal concoction which were kind of interesting. The Berry Napoleon, vanilla, citrus croustillant was several layers of flaky pastry topped with cream and raspberries, with each puff of pastry not much wider than a quarter. A nice touch was the mini sweets that arrived with the bill - some kind of pistachio something that was a little dry and a really intense apricot jelly that I liked but nibbled at between swallows of water. I like cheese, but I'm not exactly the cheese and crackers kind of girl. I'm more the melty, creamy, cheesy type of gal. But still, their cheese cart caught my eye. Gee, it was impressive - all those lovely hunks and rounds of cheese on that thick butcher block type table.
(3)David P.
Let me begin by complimenting the serving staff. The service alone makes this a memorable experience. Perfect for a special occasion. Beginning with an extensive cocktail and wine list you have the beginnings of a wonderful evening. My reservation was for 9pm and I sat at the bar until approx. 9:30 when my table was ready. I was dining alone so the wait was a good time to people watch. After being seated I was promptly provided water and bread, the butter was exceptional with salt on the side if desired. I had already preordered my meal which was the tasting menu with a couple of special requests. The chef and staff did everything to ensure my requests were acknowledged and presented beautifully. Absolutely no errors in the execution of serving my meal. The meal lasted over two and a half hours. This meal was meant to be savored. Now to the food itself. I had ordered the tasting menu which has many courses. Each was prepared and served at an exceptional level. Unfortunately, a couple of courses seemed overcooked. Maybe I was eating slower than anticipated, I don't know. Two courses were definitely a disappointment. The foie gras plating was very overcooked. Now with that said, I prepare foie gras at home and enjoy it on the undercooked side, but even after this consideration it was dry. Secondly the duck confit plating was also overcooked. Now I recognize the difficulty of spacing and preparing a meal which lasted for so long. So I feel both of these misgivings are completely forgivable. I enjoyed the evening immensely and would recommend No 9 to anyone looking for a romantic special occasion.
(4)Jeff D.
I know this is not always on the menu, but I have only one thing to say about Number 9 Park. Milk-fed baby lamb. Mmmmmm.....
(5)Myechia J.
We went there and had two drinks, two glasses of wine, apps and entrees and we left with a bill for $250. The ambience was great, the service was good, the food was average- very small plates, not memorable. Would not go back. Would rather spend that type of money elsewhere, e.g. Oleanna.
(3)Sandy B.
This restaurant is one that is widely proclaimed as a Boston favorite, so we decided to celebrate our anniversary there. With eager anticipation we arrived ahead of our reservation time, hoping to sit and enjoy a cocktail. (Note that the bar is rather small and seating in the "lounge" is crowded, but we were okay with that.) Right on time we were ushered to our table--in the back of the restaurant, and we were the first, and, as it turned out, only ones to be seated here. As our meal proceeded and the only guest appearance was of those en route to the restrooms, we questioned our server (who never identified herself, did not offer any suggestions, but did know the menu well and was ready to keep us moving through the courses). She assured us that this room was not for those banished from the main dining room, but that we would be joined by other guests in short order. By dessert, we were still the only guests and felt conspicuously separated, hearing lots of laughter and festivity from the front dining room--where all the windows are, and a nice view of the Boston Common. We mentioned again to our server, that we were disappointed with our table and, in fact, it took away from the experience. She suggested that "on our next visit" we should request the front dining area which overlooks Boston Common. (It seems in reading other reviews that this was not a requirement.) In fact, she said she could have moved us at any time, had we requested. (Begs the question, why didn't they put us there to begin with?) Wish we'd known that. I assured her that there would be no next time. What followed were several visits from the maitre d who also offered us a table in the front of the house with a champagne toast. It was frankly too little, too late. She then delivered the tab which she pointed out was minus the cost of wine and cocktails. She sincerely apologized for the failed experience but, unfortunately, our special occasion did not feel very special, even though they wrote "Happy Anniversary" on our dessert plates. Food-wise, the star of the meal was the gnocchi foie gras appetizer, which was actually outstanding. The beet salad appetizer--just okay. My hake was tasty and cooked well, but I couldn't say it was the best I've ever had. My husband's venison was under seasoned and bland. The dessert was the biggest disappointment. I couldn't eat all of my dessert. Honestly, we've had better meals at lower rated restaurants. We enjoyed our time together in spite of this missed step by the restaurant who knew it was a special occasion for us. There are so many great places to eat in Boston, but this is not one for us.
(2)Chris H.
Wow... The food is amazing... The service is top notch... Had the cannelloni app with hen of the woods, lamb entree, and an array of desserts and digestifs to wash them down.. This was a memorable dining experience... Highly recommend no. 9 if you are looking for a nice dinner in boston.
(5)Tara T.
My girlfriend took me here for my 24th birthday and it was lovely. We were easily the youngest patrons there, most of the other guests in their late 30s+. Yet service was attentive and our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu; the restaurant was also very accommodating. (E.g. I'm not a big fan of foie gras, so they offered to prepare the dish I had my eye on without.) Drinks-wise, great selection of cocktails, beers, and wines. I can't remember the name of the cocktail I got (and can't seem to find it on their website either), but it was delicious. Delicately flavored, refreshing, but not overly-sweet: perfect for a rainy summer day. For apps, I got the famous prune stuffed gnocchi without the foie. Interesting. I can see what it's famous, although the combination of sweet and salty wouldn't rank itself among my favorite flavors. My girlfriend got some sort of seared sardine on a biscuit - don't think it's on the menu anymore, which just goes to show how seasonal their food is! At any rate, her app was delicious, very salty but tasty. For main entrees, I got the native hake while my girlfriend ordered the duet of Rohan duck. Nothing but good things to say here. The hake was served with copious chunks of lobster meat and lots of veggies that softened the taste of the seafoods. The duck itself had a wonderful, smoky flavor (almost tasted a tad like Peking duck?), and it came with a delicious mushroom crepe, which was soft and aromatic. Finally, for dessert, we had the cherry tart. Again, nothing but good things to say here. I'm not typically a huge fan of cherries, but this was delectable. Fresh and light and just a bit tart. The menu said the cherry tart also had some sort of Sichuan pepper in it; so faint as to be practically impossible to taste, but it at least made us really *experience* our food looking for that peppery-ness. Expensive place, so definitely not going to be coming here once every month. However, for a special occasion once in a while, very much worth it!
(5)Mary B.
The vibe here is very cozy and romantic. My husband and I tried the tasting menu... it's great if you are open to trying new things. The waiters are very knowledgeable about each ingredient in your meal. The presentation, service, and atmosphere was very nice too.
(4)Kelsey P.
Tied with L'Espalier in my mind for the best meal in Boston. Great food, great service, great ambiance and location (right next to the state house) I have dined here several times and have never had a bad experience. I have tried the regular menu and the chef's tasting (which changes often). The chef's tasting is a great treat for a special occasion however: 1 - they prefer all diners at a given table to participate in the tasting if any are planning to and 2 - it is a LOT of food so be prepared to dine leisurely and leave very full. As for the regular menu (can be viewed on their website here: no9park.com/#menus ), the prune stuffed gnocchi and the golden beets appetizers are both delicious. The entrees do change often as well and I have tried variations of salmon, roasted chicken, and lamb and loved each one. Their wine and cocktail selections are as promising as their food. And stopping by No. 9 for a quite bar scene is also a great experience. They offer a bar menu as well and the bar tenders are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Overall - expensive but highly worth it for a nice occasion. Should not be missed by any foodie who calls themselves a Bostonian!!
(5)Miriam W.
It's not often that you can belly up to a bar, offer a few elements to your barkeep and come away with a sinfully scrumptious cocktail that ranks among the best you've ever tasted. Unless you, of course, you're at No. 9 Park. I explained that I love fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice and any drink that involves egg whites. Minutes later I was sipping a cocktail that exceeded my expectations and was unlike an other I'd ever sipped. No. 9 Park employs a mixologist that inspires you to try new things, and return to stuff you thought you disliked only to be proved pleasantly wrong. When in Boston, this is where you'll find me.
(5)Laurinda U.
I was here for Restaurant Week last week and thought it was good but not spectacular. I ordered the calamari, crispy pork loin, and duet of cheeses. The calamari was three mouthfuls and while the pork loin was very filling (read heavy), it's very reminiscent of what you can get in Chinatown. The service was very good. This is a place you go to say you've been and not really for the food.
(3)JOHN C.
Used to love this place. Now it feels like a stereotypical "celebrity chef" restaurant (at least as far as Boston goes) . What do I mean? While the food is very good, it's much more about turning tables with a ticket that's consistently $100+ per person.... Case in point: on a saturday night visit we went from first course to dessert in 45 minutes (even when sending the overly aggressive staff away when attempting to prematurely clear). And on the food front, the only options are a $70 prix fix menu and a $110+ chef's tasting menu. Food was good, despite the meat being improperly cooked (beef that was literally raw in the center), although nothing blew us away (maybe we picked the wrong things...). Offering no a la carte and not letting diners go at a more reasonable pace is simply unacceptable. Still good, but there are plenty of better options in the Boston area.
(3)Kieran L.
Ok but not amazing. Prune stuffed gnocchi - a little too doughy for my liking. Bacon wrapped pollack - a little dry. Service was good, wine list was good. I expected more from the food.
(3)Vanessa C.
Not like it really needs another glowing 5 star review, but my experience here was just too good not to chime in. I was treated to birthday dinner here and wow, what a treat! Had the chef's tasting menu, with a substitution for the pork course (no pork belly for me, kthnx). 7 courses of perfection. The prune filled ravioli are as good as everyone claims, but the real stand out for me was the rare venison loin. BEYOND WORDS, perhaps the best thing I have ever put in my mouth (oh yeah, I'm taking it there...) The service was attentive, friendly, and surprisingly warm. Nothing cold or stuffy about this place - even the servers were knowledgeable about the food and preparation. Excellent choice for a special occasion with that special someone, friend or family. You can't get much better than this for a complete fine dining experience.
(5)Billy Su B.
dearest brendan, ted, and tyler, i love you all most ardently, but you're affecting my job performance. towards the end of the work day (okay more like around 10:30 a.m.), my productivity begins to decline sharply as my mind wanders toward such wonders as your most recent act of utter magnificence: THE BARBARA WEST. barbara may sound like a sweetie, but don't be fooled. she's a bitter, briny, mean ol' broad. if you're a scotch drinker, like me, and you've come to realize that even manhattans are too syrupy for you (truly a dark omen), the barbara west may be just the thing for you. she is comprised of lemon juice, sherry, secrets, and talisker. it is brilliant. it is the most perfect cocktail i've ever had. also, i would jump off a building for that truffled potato gnocchi with lobster. i would cheat my own grandmother. trick her. that is the single most decadent thing i think i've ever eaten. i've dined at number 9 before, and i'm always impressed, but the gallant gentlemen running the bar and the lobster gnocchi deserve special attention. if you think you can get a better drink in all of boston, you're a cobb loaf.
(5)Bryan R.
Try to come at least 15 minutes before your reservation. They have a nice (small) area up front to have a glass of wine or try their cocktail menu (outstanding). I had a Copenhagen if I recall, it was very good. Dinner was fantastic. Appetizers were an excellent beet plate and outstanding prune stuffed gnocchi. I'd recommend both. For an entree I had a mixed assortment of lamb presentations. One was a little dry but the overall experience was very good. Paired well with a deep red. Service was likewise good. Helpful but not doting. The atmosphere was good, perhaps a little more plain that I expected, and the acoustics could use a little work from what I remember. Overall a great experience though. Dinner for two with drinks was quite reasonable (around $150) Will definitely return.
(5)Winston G.
I highly recommend this place-- the gnocchi was awesome, and then the duck was also pretty phenomenal. Service was also top notch. I mean, this place has over 100 reviews at 4.5 stars, so I can't say much more except for the fact that you need to come here and try it out. Everyone is very friendly here and provides service that matches the price of the meal.
(5)Irene C.
Ate at the bar (a tad more affordable than the a la carte menu) and the food was fantastic. Service was top notch, bartenders extremely friendly and professional, and an all around good time.
(5)Liz M.
Is this Boston's best? Yeah, I guess if you compare it to their baseball team. This was a major disappointment. Service was not just slow but just strangely awkward. It's one thing to come by to the table and ask how you're doing but I figure that if you're at a so-called swanky joint like this, the waitstaff would get the timing a bit under control... OK on to the food: The prune stuffed gnocchi is nothing but a soggy version of Chinese red bean buns. The bread was so hard I could've knocked my dinner guest's eye out with it. The crispy fish with some sort of hondashi/kale/kelp was OK but I would've liked it with more flavor -- pepper, perhaps? The panna cotta was plain and was smooth oatmeal gruel. What happened to the cream? the sugar? the.... dessert!? The only "goodish" dish was the flourless chocolate cake/dessert. But my girl Betty Crocker can whip that up real good.... Bathroom: OK who decided that it would be cool to toilet paper the floor? Did some teenagers think it was Halloween and decide to bomb the place? So.... Quesadillas, chips and salsa came to the rescue after this debacle. And thank goodness for the company. Save your money and fill your stomach up with Taco Lupita or Anna's Taqueria.
(2)Cameron H.
This is the place where it all started, my undying and unwavering love of food. Growing up as a kid, I always had the want, but never the funds or appreciation needed to book a table at this legendary establishment. First paycheck came, made a reservation that day, and instantly fell in love. I have been returning ever since, any time I can think of some special occasion warranting a celebration. No. 9 Park is in one of the more scenic spots in Boston, just steps from the state house. Parking was by valet only (garage down the street) which is to be expected given the location and stature. The restaurant features a great bar, offering drinks and a limited menu, in addition to the full and more formal dinning area. Atmosphere is perfect for a nice night out or romantic date. You'll see anything from full suit and tie to a nice pair of dressy jeans; it is what you make it I suppose. Service every time I have been here has been second to none. They refill your glass before you even know it's low and they're more then happy to explain a menu item to you (no snobbery at all, a huge plus in my book). I typically order the prune stuffed gnocchi for appetizer, a dish so good my mouth waters just thinking about it (one wonders if they're actually prunes or magically pixie dust inside there). For dinner, I like their veal loin, although truth be told, you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Deserts are tasty by any measure, but not nearly as breathtaking as the main courses. I don't normally order any alcoholic drinks, but what I have seen leave the bar looks great. The only complaint I have would be with the waiting. I normally make a reservation for around 8PM and don't get seated until a good 30 minutes after. Once you get seated, service is prompt and timely, but the initial wait can be a bit daunting. Normally enough to take a star off in my book, but given the level to which everything else is upheld, it retains a 5 star rating. If you go to once place before you die, make it here.
(5)Ki G.
In a place where college kids roam at night, hooting and hollering and causing a general ruckus, it's nice to know that there are places in Boston that still cater to adults. This place was, to state it simply, great. I only came in for drinks, but I realized after sipping my Blueberry Cobbler that if there was a No. 9 Park in my neighborhood, I'd probably become a confirmed lush. A regular, if you will. I especially liked that the bartenders took their jobs seriously and were proud of their mixes. They take the time to ask what you want, not just shove a drink menu at you. As a result, I was able to try one of the best Tom Collins I've had in a while and the bartender was right - refreshing is just the word for it. If you're visiting and need a respite from the general noise that is Boston during the college year, come here.
(5)Alicia S.
I went here on a Friday night for the three course prix fixe dinner. The service was excellent, and the restaurant has a great ambiance. My only complaint was that the timing of the dishes was a little bit off - we received our second course as soon as the first was cleared, and did not even have time to order wine. The portions are huge, and the food is wonderful. I had the lamb loin, the prune stuffed gnocchi, and my boyfriend had the foie gras, which comes in a huge brick, and the tilefish. The food was creative, and well executed. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion.
(4)Sarah G.
Literally the best meal I have had in Boston. Save your money to come here, because I promise it will be worth it. Matt J. and I came here for our anniversary and since we booked it as our anniversary dinner, they saved us a window side table with a view of Boston Common and even congratulated us on our anniversary when we arrived! Bonus stars right there. We did the chef's tasting menu which is pricey, but when you look at the entree prices alone, you really do get more bang for your buck and you get to try way more things this way. We opted out of the additional wine pairing, but we opted in to add in their house specialty dish (which in my opinion is kind of a rip off, that we have to pay an additional $14 or whatever it is to try the one dish that everyone in the world says you have to have when you come here ha ha) That dish was pretty spectacular though--prune stuffed hand made gnocchi. Wow. Just plain wow. Each bite just melted in your mouth it was so incredible. The blue fine tuna sashimi was so so fresh and had this picked garlic pieces strewn about like magical confetti, and this green garlic soup broth made from the shoots of garlic that was the bed for one of the most perfectly cooked and perfectly tasting scallops I've ever had, was divine. I really wanted to slurp the last morsels of that soup but in a place this nice that definitely is a no no. They also had these house made sausages which had a hint of nutmeg in them paired with this lamb that was oh so tender and rich and delicious. And this other handmade pasta dish that had this cream sauce I would almost be willing to die for because it was that tasty. And lastly dessert was chocolate heaven, complete with an added Happy Anniversary written on the side of our plate in honor of our day, which is even more bonus stars for this place! Our waiter was so knowledgeable and friendly, and when I told him I was a yelper he said, I told you my name was Dave right? And I said, nice try Brandon. But when I told him that I would only have amazing things to say he felt fine, since obviously he knows the power yelpers have! This place was just perfect perfect perfect. I want to come back though and try out their mint juleps because I've been told they make them in a shiny silver cup here and are the best in town. And perhaps at the bar I won't spend quite as much as I did on dinner here. But being broke temporarily for this food is well worth it.
(5)Liz B.
I think this is a very lovely restaurant. I do think it is expensive for the teeny tiny portions you get. Now, I am the first to dislike huge portions of mediocre food (ie Cheesecake Factory) but this just seemed like a bunch of mini dishes. My husband and I both did the three course prix fixe and both had the prune stuffed gnocchi and it was excellent, but small. I had the steak dish, my husband had the duck. The duck was very good. The steak itself was very good albeit small, but it was served with a bone with marrow which just ruined my appetite. It's my own fault - when the waiter described the dish, he mentioned this - by the time I ordered it, I had forgot. If you like marrow, this won't be a problem, but it just didn't work for me. For dessert my husband had cheesecake and I had the raspberry brown butter tart - the cheesecake was tiny and odd - more like cake than cheesecake and served with basil ice cream which was also very odd. The tart was very good, but too small - the pistachio ice cream was amazing. The dinner ended with mini marshmallows and madelines which was lovely. I thought the staff were all terrific. The quality is excellent. The room is very beautiful, especially if you can sit by the window overlooking the Boston Common. My only real complaint is the size of the portions. I'd either give the diner more food per serving, or make it a four course meal for the same price. I just don't like paying $$$ and feeling hungry when I leave.
(4)Florina K.
Well this started out well... We were a bit late and the hostesses were very sweet about it, and gave us no trouble. Then the busser came into the picture and only poured water for one of us... We shared 1 glass of water for about 15 minutes.... Had to ask our waitress 3 times for the bread..... The swordfish was fishy and not fresh, the foie gras was parts dry.... The lamb was good except one piece was so dried out it was a rock... The dessert was pretty, but was nothing special, and the salt on the chocolate cake was just strange.... The waitress asked me if I wanted a cocktail 8 times... After I told her that I was not in the mood to drink alcohol that night, as I was taking medicine. They did give me a nice birthday dessert and I did appreciate that.... For the price this restaurant is asking I had much higher hopes... I will not be recommending this place to my friends... For the food nor for the service...
(2)Leighann F.
A decision in the wee hours to garner ourselves a respectable nightcap after wishing some friends farewell at the 21st Amendment served to renew and reignite my love affair with no. 9 Park. We rounded the corner and sauntered in, the familiar smells of the dining room wafting over us, the ever-welcoming maître d' and the small but well-appointed bar...right where they'd always been. My months-long absence seemed foolish. As we settled into our seats and were served by the engaging Brendan and Danny, we suddenly and swiftly found ourselves in the midst of a Chartreuse Tasting, several bottles lined up in front of us, comparing flavors and smells, the excitement of being afforded the opportunity to try something new. After a cocktail from the menu, a off-the-cuff concoction whipped up by Brendan, several tastings of Chartreuse and an evening-ending shot of Fernet, we left No.9 enamored and enchanted, much like the first time.
(5)Laura H.
I love No. 9 Park! I have eaten here a few times and the food is always perfect! The atmosphere is romantic and the waitstaff are very attentive! This restaurant is very pricey but you get what you pay for! The night my husband proposed (he proposed at home) we went here for dinner. It made for a very special night! I would recommend this place to anyone having a special event (engagement, birthday, anniversary). I wish I could afford to go more often!
(5)Christine J.
as good as it gets.. from the bread to the desserts, everything was so delicious. orgasmic.. and great location overlooking the public garden/beacon hill.
(5)Michael C.
Unbelievable drinks. Gorgeous food. Beautiful feel to this place. Some of what I ordered I did not understand but it tasted amazing.
(5)Danielle T.
My husband took me to No. 9 Park for my birthday when they were having a special farm-to-table 3 course dinner. It really was fantastic. The dishes aren't large, but it was the perfect amount of food for me and more about the attention to details and flavor. The two most notable dishes: The bluefish. Seared perfectly...melting in your mouth on the inside with a serious crispy outside. I don't usually love bluefish, but this was the best bluefish I've ever had. It was sitting on top of creamed sorrel (never would have thought to cream sorrel) with a beet puree on top. A-mazing. The desserts were exquisite. I had a chocolate torte with homemade caramel sauce and crispy coated dulce bananas. My husband had a pomegranate torte and the sligtly cooked and crispy pieces of pomegranate and anise hyssop ice cream were like nothing I'd ever tasted before. Aside from the food, one thing that particularly stuck out was how friendly and nice the staff was. From beginning to end, everyone who helped us was down-to-earth friendly and not a bit pretentious. This definitely made the experience even better. We had to wait a bit for our cocktails (another must have at No. 9) and the first course came out before they arrived and our waiter was right there giving us a complimentary taste of the wine they had paired with each dish.
(5)Velina L.
After reading all the reviews, I was expecting to find a winner. I was disappointed. The food wasn't bad, but it did not impress me. I had the chef's tasting menu ($96), which consisted of 7 small courses, and a couple optional ones: - Tuna tartare with raw quail egg, anchovy vinaigrette and caviar: The texture of the tuna was kind of off, with membranes holding together the little pieces. Flavor-wise it was a little heavy for the tartare. - Halibut with breadcrumbs, capers, spinach, and bearnaise: The fish was well-cooked, with a crispy texture on the outside, topped with crunchy breadcrumbs and capers- Great crunchy texture, good flavor. The spinach was cooked with a hint of nutmeg, salt and white pepper and went well with the fish. - Risotto with duck and parmesan: This dish completely confused me, and execution was a failure. The rice was undercooked and sometimes kind of hard and crunchy, not at all smooth or creamy. The flavors never came together, and the duck, risotto and cheese weren't united. There was also something odd about the flavor. This was my least favorite dish. - Prune-stuffed gnocchi with foie gras (optional; choice between this and artisinal foie gras): I'm not sure if I would call this a gnocchi (it's probably more of a potato dumpling stuffed with prune) but I loved the sauce that it was served with. Perfectly savory with kind of a mushroomy flavor, it perfectly complemented the foie gras. I would have liked more foie gras in the dish, not just because I love the stuff but mostly because I needed it to balance out the sweetness of the prunes. If there was less prune and more foie gras, this dish would have been an absolute winner but unfortunately, the prune pretty much took over the whole thing. - Chicken with potatoes, foie gras, and black truffles: Extremely salty! The only thing I was thinking was that I was glad it came with the potato, to help neutralize some of the salt. Saltiness aside, the flavor wasn't bad but wasn't particularly memorable either. - Wild boar with trumpet mushrooms and caramelized red onions: Not bad, although the boar was a little on the tough side. The mushrooms had a great flavor, and I thought the sweetness of the onions complemented the flavor of the rest of the dish's components. - Satsuma granita (palate cleanser): citrusy and refreshing, topped with a small piece of fried candied sage. - Cheese course (optional): I was too full to have this course but they do have a cart of cheeses that I hear is pretty good. - Dessert: Apple and pear balls with chervil glace and apple chips: Nothing special and definitely not a satisfying end to the meal. The small rounds of apple and pear were a little harder than I would have liked, and didn't have that much flavor. - Petit fours: cranberry pate de fruit, a salty chocolate cookie thing with cinnamon, and an almond (?) cookie. Not bad. The salty chocolate cookie kind of intrigued me but none of the three actually impressed me. Overall it wasn't a bad meal but it's definitely not worth a return trip.
(3)Jess Z.
Sophisticated ambiance, friendly staff, great service. Came here on a Wednesday night with the girls. From the Prix Fixe, I had the Mixed Greens, Atlantic Hake, and Cocoa Pain de Genes. The Atlantic Hake was incredible. The Cocoa Pain de Genes was also delicious. The smoked vanilla ice cream is interesting -- it gets some getting used to, but I enjoyed it. One of my girl friends who tried it didn't like it that much (reminded her of roasted marshmallows), but it's definitely worth a try.
(5)Jen H.
I truly wish I could give this place 5 stars... the service at our table was great, and the food was above and beyond delicious, but we had 7:30pm reservations, and weren't sat at our table until after 9pm. For a fine dining establishment, this is a bit ridiculous. Now, it's understood that sometimes things happen and you're not going to be sat at your reservation time... I understand this, but more than 1.5 hours is overly excessive... and on top of that, they didn't do anything to compensate for the additional wait. If it wasn't for the fact that once we WERE sat that the service was exceptional and the food was out of this world delish, I would honestly give this 3 stars... but lucky for No. 9 Park they know what they're doing an executed that portion of the evening flawlessly. My dining partner in crime and I sat and sipped our cocktails waiting for our table to be available, and once it was we were taken back, sat, and immediately greeted by our server. Unfortunately, I'm unable to eat seafood so we could not partake in the tasting menu. Both of us had the prune stuffed gnocchi that everyone had raved about, and it honestly lived up to the hype. Oh my gosh, if you go and do not get this, you're missing out. For my entree I had the slow roasted veal loin and my partner in crime had the swordfish. For a treat, they brought out some kind of scallop, and once the server realized that I couldn't partake in enjoying that, she went back to the kitchen and they whipped up a special little risotto dish for me - this was much appreciated... and quite mouth-wateringly good. To wrap things up, the kitchen made me a sample size of the tasting menu's special cheesecake dessert upon request, and my companion had the 3 ice cream servings. All in all, once we were sat at our table this was a well oiled, fine dining, awe inspiring running machine... it was just getting to that point where the hangup took place. So, all in all, I can't give below 4 stars.
(4)Natalie B.
No 9 Park was the location of our first dinner in Boston. I'm not sure what I could say that would be different from the other 5 star reviews. No 9 Park exceeded our expectations. The ambiance was classy and romantic. We arrived early for our reservation, so we enjoyed a cocktail in the intimate lounge area. We didn't wait long and we escorted to the dining room. We lucked out with a table by the window, perfect for gazing into the Boston Common. The food was incredibly refined, thoughtful, decadent and delicious! We had a choice of doing a 3 course prix fixe or tasting menu. Considering this was our 1st night out, we practiced some restraint and declined the tasting menu. For our first course, we feasted on the prune stuffed gnocchi and foie gras. For the 2nd course, I selected the Cavendish Quail en Farce w/duck confit, chestnuts, and foie raviolo. My husband enjoyed the milk-fed porcelet, w/escargot, red cabbage and pumpkin seed. For dessert, I basically fell in love with my Toasted Oat panna cotta, with ginger and dates. My husband had the Maple Cremeaux, delicious as well! Service was delightful. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about the menu offerings. She possessed a great knowledge of wine and was able to make suggestions effortlessly. No 9 Park is a special place. If you have the chance to check it out (and the bucks--it's not cheap!), then what are you waiting for? Note: They take reservations up to 28 days in advance.
(5)Shuan L.
No. 9 Park is the type of place you go to 1) on the company credit card; 2) on your signficant other's credit card, or 3) on Mom and Dad's credit card. My parents and I came here a week ago to celebrate my law school graduation. We were not the only ones with that bright idea, as a quick glance around the dining room told me that it had been turned into Graduation Central, with beaming grads and parents having a hard time stifling their pride. It was like a Hallmark card come to life. We opted for the 7-course chef's tasting menu, which at $90 per person, is actually pretty reasonable. The menu that night consisted of: 1) Seared yellowfin tuna w/ avocado, pickled ramps, basil 2) Roasted skate wing w/ asparagus, Yukon potato, dill 3) Carnaroli risotto w/ walnut & arugla pesto, tomato confit, Parmigiano-Reggiano 4) Crispy pork belly w/ fresh peas, bacon, Vermont farm egg 5) Prime hanger steak w/ morels, poached Island Creek oyster 6) Lemon sorbet 7) Sweet cherry tart w/ vanilla parfait, pistachio glace *We also ordered a foie gras appetizer that was not on the tasting menu. At the end of the meal, the waitress gave each of us a printed copy of that night's tasting menu, which is why I was able to recount each dish in such detail. Otherwise, this review would have been short and sweet: "The food was good." I'm not quite sure what to do with my copy of the menu. Maybe I'll frame it instead of my diploma. They were nice enough to write "Congratulations" and stick a candle in my dessert, but I was really hoping for free alcohol because I'm cheap like that. Oh well, you can't have everything. I suppose receiving a plastic toy gavel was enough excitement for that day.
(4)Mike O.
GNOCCHI!!!!!!!!! Probably my best meal in 2010. Although I tried several good dishes, I still dream about the Gnocchi. Normally I never eat or prepare Gnocchi outside Italy because it just tastes bad. It either doesn't have taste at all or it feels like a small chunk of wet bread. We had dinner at the bar - good spot to have your glass refilled and to talk to other foodies. If you are in Boston and like good food, head to No 9. Will be back!
(5)J B.
Easily makes it as one of the top 5 restaurants in Boston. Certainly a special occasion restaurant though you can sit in the bar and take advantage of the bar menu --where you'll get to experience the stellar taste sensations offered by chef Barbara Lynch, at slightly more reasonable prices.
(5)Peter P.
Wow......I go out to eat a fair amount, and it's rare that I find a gem like No. 9 Park. The wait staff is VERY knowledgeable, the wine list is phenomenal, the food was very very good. Overall a very nice experience. I went here with my family, and lets just say, I thought my father was going to have a heart attack when the bill came. This is not a cheap place, but no one ever said it was. Admittedly, I wouldn't go here with my family again, but I'm looking forward for the opportunity to bring a date here. Saying eat here, go home happy, just doesn't seem to do it any justice. Getting back to the staff, they couldn't have been more friendly. They take your jacket for you when you enter the door. Serve you wine in the correct glasses, and just overall help you have the best time possible. The best part, there was NOTHING stuffy or pretentious about it. Our waiter didn't try and brown-nose, or look down at the fact that we obviously weren't the richest people in the room. He treated us like a friend, not like his rent check. It was very refreshing to have a good, and very expensive meal, with a waiter that was still comfortable enough to be a little sarcastic, and crack jokes at your table. Truly a place for real people to get good food! Well worth the visit!
(5)Shirley Y.
outstanding view of the park from the dining room area, but even if you are not able to get a reservation, which is almost a requirement, the cafe/bar area is not a disappointment. the atmosphere is more casual in this traditional yet crisp and classy restaurant, and more conducive to people-watching. you can order from both the cafe/bar menu and the main dining menu from the bar but if you are seated at one of the tables, the cafe/bar menu presides, with its lighter fare. nonetheless, the food is outstanding, the service impeccable and the wine list impressive.
(5)Scott B.
this is the kind of place that you either love or hate and i loved it both times i ate there. great menu selection and the service was superb. its a little stuffy but you can basically get away with anything you want there as far as dress code at a fancy place that is if you are cool - if you act like an asshole i would hope they throw you to the curb - i will keep going back
(5)Rachel P.
I can't say enough great things about No. 9 Park. From the minute you walk into this cozy restaurant over looking the park, you know you're in for a treat. It's not a small restaurant, but the layout of different rooms makes it feel so intimate and exclusive. I dined here last Friday evening with my fiancé and my parents and we all raved about it every step of the way. I started with the seared foie gras. Every bite was amazing. My fiancé started with the fluke crudo and said that it was so good he didn't want to eat it because he wanted to keep enjoying it! My dad had a beet salad that was a work of art. I have never seen beets presented like that. For my entree I had a pasta dish that was off the chef's tasting menu but they allowed me to have it a la carte. It was a spaghetti like pasta with bacon and fav beans- delicious. Between courses we were brought out little treats- a salmon tartar side by side with a smoked salmon. My mom doesn't eat seafood so I gladly had two of these. We also had a parmesan risotto which they shaved black truffles into as we watched. This dish was unbelievable. We enjoyed delicious wine throughout the night, and I also had a cocktail that had reposado tequila and mescal in it. It was the perfect balance of bitter, smokey, and sweet without being to sugary. I loved this drink! Every single person that works here is extremely passionate about what they do. Even though they have Prix-Fixe and Chef's Tasting menus, they are very flexible. Some places designed this way don't allow you to opt of dessert or make any menu alterations. No. 9 simply cares about what you want. It was an incredible evening!
(5)Joe B.
The bar service and staff are excellent. John at the bar is the best bartender of any place I have visited. I love the apps at the bar. Casual and friendly.
(5)Ngan T.
I don't think I can put into words how excited I was for No.9--we've repeatedly ran into some type of conflict or other trying to do dinner here. New Year's Eve was finally our chance when we found out about the NYE Bubble Bash. I'd called beforehand to hold our tickets for the night. Thank goodness because it began to fill up fast by 10pm. From beginning to end, the experience was a mess, and a waste of time and money. We checked in and were told we were all set. But for what? People were still eating dinner everywhere, there were some at the bar just grabbing drinks. We were not told how the "bubble bash" would work. I grabbed a seat by the bar and we were grilled by two bartenders consecutively about sitting there without checking in. Both did their due diligence by walking over to the host stand, pointing to us, and came back to ask what we wanted. How embarrassing! Another bartender came by and took the time to explain to us what was going on. We could order as much champagne as we wanted and there would be hor d'oeuvres. That'd be great if there was anyone to order from. We couldn't grab the attention of the bartenders beyond our first glass of champagne. As for the hor d'oeuvres, someone call me whenever those come out. We brushed it off and ordered two entrees instead. The couple right next to us seemed to be having a stellar time getting their champagne and sharing a dessert plate. After our food came (admittedly fantastic but I expected no less), I couldn't stay any longer. More people were coming in and kept jostling us to get drinks. We waited another ten minutes for three people to figure out where our coats were. I was livid by the end of it all, and it wasn't even midnight!
(1)Connie W.
I had incredibly high expectations, and while the service was wonderful, the company impeccable, and the food pretty darn good, I guess I was expecting more culinary creativity and perfection especially for the price. I tried the fabled prune stuffed gnocchi with slivers of foie gras (which were melt in your mouth tender, fully flavored, punctuated with sea salt, and absolutely divine) but really it should've been foie stuffed gnocchi with shavings of prune...ratios were off for me. My tasting of pork was fine - the pork belly was good, but not spectacular or incredibly inventive. The pan roasted (slightly caramelized/charred) artichokes were probably my favorite part of the dish. The duo of duck had highlights and lowlights. I loved the pan seared duck breast served with the impossibly smooth pasrnip puree, barley, and pickled rhubarb. The confit, however, bordered on dry and stringy - strange because the waiter told us that this was a quality breed of duck of some sort and that we hadn't tasted "real duck" until we tried this one...maybe I don't like real duck? haha... For dessert, we had the orange blossom pastry cream filled beignets with pistachio ice cream, and the rhubarb tart with ginger ice cream. The ginger ice cream was my favorite thing. The beignets honestly could've been much lighter - they were surprisingly dense. I don't know if I'll be back...maybe I didn't order the right things. Perhaps I'll have to give it a second chance!
(3)Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Fit for foodies. Good ambiance and music. Did you know that No. 9 Park received the 2012 James Beard Foundation Award Winner for Outstanding Wine Program? Yes indeed! The wine list is superb! We ordered two half bottles of wine. This is what we ate: We ordered from the Three-Course Prix Fixe menu and an order of pommes purée. The pommes purée was almost as amazing as Robuchon's. If you have to ask who is Robuchon, please. 1. Parsnip Agnolotti: escarole, rabbit, honeycrisp apple. Savory goodness inside wrapped in a delicate pasta. 2. Prune-Stuffed Gnocchi: foie gras, almond, vin santo Light and cloud like yummy delicious with a sweetness then the foie gras adds a little salty decadence. Very delicious! 3. Yellowfin Tuna: spanish octopus, salsa verde, blood orange. Served perfectly medium rare with a light delicious broth. The octopus was done perfectly. A nice char on the outside, and tender on the inside. 4. Cervena Venison: macomber turnip, lentils du puy, chestnut. Beautiful cuts of venison well prepared. 5. Dark Chocolate Tart: pear, caramel, port. Amazing dessert! The dark chocolate was so rich and yummy. Very decadent. Topped off with vanilla ice cream and caramel. 6. Assortment of Cheeses: Excellent cheeses and great portions served with toasted baguettes, honey and candied walnuts.
(4)Rae Lynne K.
Whoa. Foodie goodness. I wish I had done my research on this place before I came here, but it was a surprise to my bestie that I was in town, I came up with a friend and had no idea where we were going to dinner until it was about a half an hour until our reservations. Since we were waiting for my bestie to arrive, they wouldn't seat us until everyone was present, and of course, since I was the surprise, they were very accommodating to us with an additional +1. Kudos. I was after all able to indulge. We had some drinks in the waiting area, the bar was packed when we arrived, but a guy came and took our drink order. As we went to be seated, the same guy came and took our drinks on a silver platter to our table. That was very nice of him. Once the menu came out, the surprise of a totally prix fixe menu was slightly overwhelming. There are two options, the three course prix fixe menu or the chef's tasting 6 course prix fixe menu. Both are fairly decent in pricing, but when one has on the mind what they want to eat, and its not on the menu.... I sucked it up and went with the three course prix fixe menu. It was suggested by our wonderful waitress that if everyone at the table did the same thing the experience would be better and she was right. There is a decent selection of appetizers, but that night there was also half shell oysters that could be substituted. I tried the foie gras which was delicious, the brioche was excellent as well. Everyone at the table had something different, and I was able to sample multiple different appetizers. For dinner I had the striped bass which was more on the dry side and not as flavorful as I would have expected, but I was too drawn to my friend's short rib which came highly recommended and I wanted more. Definitely try the short rib. For dessert I had the crème brulee which was nothing very special and a little bit on the underwhelming side. The table split a bottle of wine, a very delicious bottle of Rioja, which was probably the second greatest highlight of the evening. Well, maybe the third, since surprising my best friend was the best, followed by the short rib. But I do not want to make light of the wine list. It is a must check out and if you have any questions, ask your server. The list is superb, I could have had multiple bottles of wine if the budget had permitted!
(4)Zig W.
+tasty gnocchi +ambiance +85% as pretentious as you hope it will be +pretty good food (for you) +close to apt -duck too dry -little bit too dark for tiffany -$175 for two people, sans drinks, a bit steep
(4)Katherine L.
I brought my boyfriend her for his birthday and everything we ordered was so delicious! We both ordered off the Prix-Fixe Menu and got different things so we could try as much as possible. To start, I got the mushroom tortellini and he ordered the prune stuffed Gnocchi. Both were delicious! I, personally, liked the tortellini better. You can tell everything is fresh! Next we ordered the Atlantic Hake and Duet of Rohan Duck. Both were wonderful! The Hake was the perfect portion and I was so full eating the duck. When I cut into the duck it fell apart like a pulled pork. It was perfect! (it tastes a lot like turkey for those who have not tried duck). For dessert I got the Creme Caramel which was so amazing. If you go here you HAVE to try this dessert. Its simply amazing. At the end of the meal my boyfriend and I were both SO full. I would say the meal was definitely worth $69.00 per person. Additionally, the staff was so inviting and nice. John and Greg would answer any questions we had about the menu and make great suggestions on drinks (which are all amazing from the bar) and food depending on our preference. On top of that they were super nice and wonderful people to talk to. Thanks for a great experience!
(5)KT G.
We have had a gift card here for about a year and half so it was time to use it. We arrived with no reservation but had called about coming and learned there were tables in the bar open and it was first come first serve. Good for us. Our waiter promptly took our drink orders and he was very knowledgeable; however, he got pretty busy and wasn't hover around. Other random staff ended up helping us, which worked for us. We were just in the bar anyway. We split the salmon tartar. Our waiter said it was a big serving, it didn't seem like it at the time but after our other orders, it seems fine. I liked it but nothing crazy. I ordered the lamb fondue from the appy menu and it wasn't what I expected. Again, I liked it because I like gorgonzola. The lamb was fine and the bread was actually really good for dipping. My husband ordered the tortellini from the appy menu. He liked it, I didn't find it that tasty. We like to sample many things and found the servings to be large enough to satisfy, but we don't usually eat large meals. We ordered dessert to go - the banana tart. It was good. I would go back.
(4)Nicole L.
Three course prix fixe $69.00 - First course we chose the touchon of foie gras with peach, granola, and summer truffle ($9 supplement) which was amazing. The portion was generous, and came with perfectly toasted bread (fresh baked gluten free option available) to eat it with; we ate it slowly savoring all the goodness. - House bread - several options, awesome rustic and sweet butter - Australian black truffle over risotto or pasta ($35 supplement) - not great, overly salty, and it didn't have the pungent truffle smell or taste I was expecting - Colorado Lamb withcouscous, harissa, eggplant - very tender and melted against the knife when cut. Honestly though I was already so full at this point. - Ricotta Cheesecakeplum, ginger, sesame - amazing! Light and airy cheesecake paired with seasonal flavors, so good Service was outstanding, we arrived on time for our reservation and waited 10 minutes to be seated (with drinks in hand so it wasn't bad at all) and the hostess felt bad so the drinks were on the house. And then we had an awesome waitress, Enez, who was so accommodating to my friends gluten allergy and just our overall satisfaction of the meal that she even ordered us some of her favorite dessert wine that she insisted made our desserts that much better. Indeed our experience at No 9 park ended up being one of the most memorable meals of our trip, I would highly recommend it, one of my top restaurant experiences.
(5)Ted K.
Worthy of a birthday and they brought out what I expect is standard service which still I the finest class. We arrived early and sat at the bar where there are crafty cocktails as well as the normal wines by the glass you'd expect and really nice local and Belgian beers. Food was exquisite. Fois appetizer is if course rich and delicious with some fun twists and turns. We were gifted a plate of crab and salmon since mom wanted to try that but she went with the house plumb gnocchi. Also divine. Really tasty bread options but the butter was too cold and didn't spread well (that's me splitting hairs.) Entrees were exquisite. We had duck two ways for two of our guests and I dined on the lamb saddle which I really enjoyed. When's the next time you're going to have lamb saddle? That's what I thought. Super service, lovely spot, divine food. They make rating this restaurant easy.
(5)Scribal L.
Overall: pretty bad for the price. Service is attentive and nice. Ambience is urban and pleasant but crowd is fairly pretentious. The menu is a little confused. The bar menu is pub fare (steak and frites and other heavy stuff). From what I could tell on nearby table it looks like very high quality ingredients and good preparation. But smelling french fries wasn't what I was expecting. We ordered from the three course mix and match menu. It leads you to choose an appetizer, an entree and a dessert but you could order less and I wish we had. The third option is a full chef's tasting menu. The two appetizers we ordered, foie gras and a mushroom tagliatelle were both quite good. The foie was generously-sized and buttery rich. These two items and one of our desserts almost bumped the stars from 2 to 3. Our entree selections were very disappointing. The Wild Striped Bass (recommended by waitperson) was overcooked and dry and tasteless. It came with crab, mustard greens and a slightly spicy pepper sauce. I wanted piquante mustard greens and a flavorful sauce. Instead it kind of tasted like potatoes and did nothing for the tasteless fish. My partner's quail was mediocre at best. This place is not about the food (except maybe the foie) but about the pretense.
(2)Ninad S.
My favorite restaurant from when I lived in Boston. Understated elegance. Great menu, amazing cheeses and pretty decent wine list. The cocktails are excellent too.
(4)Liz B.
Lovely, with the most gracious service I've experienced at a restaurant in ages. After a reservation about a week in advance, and I came with my parents for dinner during their brief visit, and we were seated at a table by the window which offered a gorgeous view of the snow-covered Common. With our server's guidance, we ordered a dry white wine which was incredible and paired nicely with our (mostly seafood) dishes. For bread, we all received both a roll and a rustic slice, with the latter as the standout. We all ordered from the prix fixe menu, which was actually pretty reasonably priced for a high end restaurant such as this one. APPETIZERS: -Sunchoke Velouté with fried oyster, hearts of palm, black truffle (Mom): She didn't realize that this was a soup, but it was hearty and flavorful. Perfect for a cold day. The fried oyster was delicious. -Oysters on the half (Dad): 6 oysters in their shells on ice, stunningly delicious and fresh. The highlight of the apps for me. -Prune-Stuffed Gnocchi with foie gras, almonds, vin santo (Myself): well, as a yelper, I had to go with the yelp favorite. The gnocchi were delightfully chewy and perfectly cooked, and the foie gras was buttery and decadent, but the prunes were just a tad too sweet for my palate preference. Still very good, though. ENTREES: -Atlantic Hake with endive, sprouted wheat berries, quail egg (Mom): the fish was perfectly cooked and flaky, and the quail egg was adorable. My favorite of the entrees. -Roulade of Chicken sunchoke, feta pasty, à la grecque (Dad): a complicated dish of chicken prepared with several steps. Pretty good but my least favorite of the three...the chicken wasn't particularly juicy, although the filling was flavorful. -Duet of Beef with lentils du puy, sanguinaccio, chestnuts (Myself): the hanger steak (cooked medium rare) was tender and delicious. The other beef part was fattier and tougher, and not my favorite. The lentils and other accompanying sides were hearty, wintry, and wonderful. DESSERTS: -Panna Cotta Al Pistacchio with chocolate, orange, honey (Mom): Mom picked the winner again. The panna cotta was smooth, creamy, and pistachio-y, and the chocolate sorbet was to die for. -Deconstructed Fig pudding (Dad): this was the only dish I didn't try...Dad liked it but wasn't blown away. -Caramelized Angel Food with lemon curd, apple and fennel, white chocolate (Myself): this dessert was surprisingly enormous, and a bit of a challenge to complete at the end of a big meal. The dessert chef was sweet to include a chocolate message on the plate (as you can see in the photo), since the dinner was a last chance to celebrate with my parents before I head overseas for a couple months. The angel food with a caramel crust reminded me of caramel popcorn, really enhanced by the incredibly tart and vibrant lemon curd. The white chocolate ice cream was delicious. The tart green apple slices were superfluous to me, but nice. Overall I was very impressed with the food and ambiance here, particularly with the gracious, attentive service which went above and beyond to accommodate us. I'd be happy to return, especially to impress visitors to Boston who want to get a taste of fine dining in this city.
(4)Scott M.
I have been eating at No. 9 for 15 years. Given the fact that I live in another state far away my anticipation for eating at this neighborhood spot is heightened. 5 or 6 times a years I end up eating at this special place. The location, the staff, the food are all special. Tonight, I started with a Manhattan on the rocks and it just just got better from there. 1/2 Dozen Maine oysters with a glass of Louis Roederer Bubbles...hard to go wrong. Followed by fresh "in season" Nantucket Bay Scollops - hard to go wrong when paired with a crisp bottle of JM Poillet. The final course was the Wild Striped Bass which requires no description other than "Fantastic"! Thank you No. 9 for being here for so long and keeping the quality and service so stellar!
(5)Andrew H.
Food = 3 stars: My friend and I had the tasting menu and two supplements, gnocchi and foie gras, with wine pairings. It was a slog and something I wouldn't do again (anywhere). The food was OK, but not mind-blowing as some of the reviews on here would lead you to believe. Staff = 5 stars: The staff was wonderful - attentive without being intrusive and friendly without being informal. I would return for three courses or a la carte, but I definitely won't be rushing back.
(3)Taylor B.
I have never had a better dining experience than at No.9. From the moment I walked in, the staff was kind, professional, and attentive. Their Valentines Day menu was superb and the wine pairings was on point. My boyfriend and I ordered the 5 course menu of Striped Marlin, Maine Lobster, Ricotta Pansotti, Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras, New York Strip Steak, and Chocolate Souffle. (As well as a cheese course, which was beyond words. The best cheese selection I've ever had). The Foie Gras was soft and melted on the tongue- most excellent. The staff was well versed in the details of the menu and wines. Questions were answered happily and they catered to our every need. We were very happy to have met the manager who had a presence in the dining room. The experience was amazing and I would recommend No.9, it was more than just a place to have dinner but a place to have a culinary experience.
(5)Jasmine C.
I wouldn't say the three course menu was worth the price. We ordered three different dishes for all three courses to share, and firstly the white truffle ravioli was surprisingly low on the truffle, and there was no dish which stood out to me as INCREDIBLE. For a 70 dollar meal I expected much more.
(3)Kim K.
I walked by No. 9 Park every day during my undergrad years at Suffolk. Back then I never paid any mind to it. Lately, now 30+ and an appreciater of fine dining, I was really itching to go. Foodies friends of ours invited my husband and I to go - I was thrilled. We all partook in the prix fixe menu, also ordering two additional mains to share mid-course. The staff was happy to accommodate and provide recommendations. In fact, for my prix fixe main course I asked our server to have the chef surprise me with whatever vegetarian offering struck his fancy that evening. I was completely impressed when the dish arrived at the table - it was a tasting of 5 mini vegetarian dishes that were all unbelievably delicious. In fact, I think everyone at the table was jealous because there was a lot of ooohhing, ahhhing, and staring. I definitely got the best dish of the night! The meal was meandering but perfectly so. The service was seamless and incredible. Prices were high but such a good value for the food, service, and ambiance. No. 9 Park is the real deal. I wouldn't come here every weekend or anything but this will definitely become our go-to place for a fancy night out or special occasion.
(5)John S.
You can't eat rich food quickly. The people behind No. 9 Park understand this, so they prepare themselves, and you, for a four hour dining experience. Over the four hours I spent there, I walked through some of the restaurant's signature dishes - the prune-stuffed gnocchi, the lamb, the duck. I tried some of my wife's "tell the chef to do whatever she wants" veg-friendly main course. Everything was expertly prepared (my good lord is it hard to do duck right) and beautifully plated. The service was, expectedly, attentive and well-informed. Water glasses were always full, wine recommendations were spot on, and no request we made of them ever seemed outlandish. Do you eat at No. 9 Park every week? No. Who has the time? But go once a year, if you've got the money. Let them entertain you for an evening.
(5)Emily L.
Have always wanted to try out the food here. Finally went and the service is impeccable. Our table was not ready yet so we grabbed drinks. We were told those were on the house since we had to wait 5 minutes. They have to walk you to the bathroom as that is part of the service. I wasn't exactly impressed with the food. I found it to be too salty. I haven't been back to see if they were just heavy handed that day.
(3)Meribeth D.
Six of us dined and we all had the three course, prix fixe menu. While the food was delicious and beautifully presented, service was lacking. The waiter picked up my husband's drink before he was finished. Mid meal, a server actually reached across my plate from my right to grab the butter dish on my left. We were seated at a round, six top near the wait station. Throughout our meal our chairs were bumped as servers passed and patrons squeezed by to get to the bathrooms. How disappointing! At these prices, there shouldn't be a bad seat in the house.
(3)Elena E.
My husband and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary here. We both ordered off the Prix-Fixe 3 course menu. For the first course I had the prune stuffed gnocchi and he had the Summer Pumpkin Veloutee. I enjoyed the gnocchi, though it was rich and heavy. The veloutee was nice as well but again richer than I would have preferred. For entrees, I had the striped bass and he had the lamb. We both enjoyed our dishes very much. The bass was served with semolina dumplings, tons of mussels and a few small shrimp. The desserts were the highlight of the meal. I had the creme caramel and he had the apple frittelle. Service, as expected was excellent and the wine list was great, though extremely pricey. The tables were a bit close together and we were able to follow the entree conversation going on next to us. Overall, I'm glad I went to No. 9 Park. I can say that I've been but I don't feel the need to go again. I definitely prefer Troquet if your looking for this style of dinning and food in Boston. No 9. Park may have won out on the desserts but Troquet wins for appetizers, entrees and for their wine flights.
(4)Mander H.
This restaurant is fabulous! One of the best meals of my life, and the atmosphere is wonderful--the staff is competent and educated but also has a sense of humor and puts you at ease. The only downside is the price.
(4)Maggie K.
No. 9 park is hands down my favorite restaurant in Boston. Every single dish on the menu is extremely well thought out and perfectly executed. Also they update their menu every season to take advantage of seasonal ingredients. The service is impeccable. The waiters are very attentive and knowledgable. Finally, if you're not sure what the ingredients listed are, definitely ask! The waiters will be more than happy to help you out!
(5)Aaron G.
The tasting menu is incredible for Mother's Day, but you should eat here like a local. Show up just after dark, sit at the bar, and shoot the breeze with the bartenders. Get the prune gnocchi, some steak tartare. Pick a cheap red by the glass and stick with it all night. Ditch out before midnight and go for a nice slow walk in the park.
(5)Fedor G.
My favorite fine dining spot around the Common. Excellent service and food of the highest standard in the city. 8/10 restaurant on the standard of NYC
(5)Denise P.
We had a great experience today. Great service from the minute you meet the host, the bartender, the waitress. Ask for a seat at the window and look at the park it is wonderful. As everyone recommends we opted for the tasting menu. They are accommodating and flexible if you want something different. It started with an asparagus salad, local fluke over a wonderful shrimp broth and fresh peas, pasta over broccoli rabe chili pesto, wonderful heat wish the pasta was done a little more, their signature dish fig angolitti with foie grad and it was outstanding but the served 3 fluffy pasta and only2 pieces of foie and think they could have afforded one more. The next two meat dishes, chicken and beef were good, but not served warm and I think could have had a better seat on it, the desert ended with a nice sampling.
(3)Minh C.
I've been to No. 9 Park three times in the past month or so - twice for dinner and once for brunch. I would not go back for brunch as the food was OK, while service was incredibly slow. Dinner, however, is much better. Service has always been quite good, with attentive staff and food that always arrived just on time. Quality wise, I think No. 9 Park cooks the traditional French and Italian flavors really well, and keeps the flavors simple and to the point. That said, if you're looking for something that has a flavor kick / wow factor to it, this isn't the right place.
(4)Eric M.
No 9. Park is by far my favorite restaurant in the city. I frequently try to go here as often as i can for tasting menu dinners, drinks or just food at the bar. Regardless of what you are looking for No. 9 Park has something fantastic to offer. First of all their wine list is expansive, boasting a James Beard award for Wine Program. They also have great cocktails; being part of the same restaurant group as Drink in the Seaport. Many drinks are not listed on the menu, but ask your server or bartender if they'll make something different and they typically will. Bar food is next - since No 9. Park is one of the most expensive restaurants in Boston, you most likely cannot eat here every weekend....or so you thought. Bar menu items are under $25 a plate and are the same quality as you would get in a Prix-Fixe or Tasting menu. The Steak Tartare is amazing, you must try it. The Crispy Berkshire Pork Belly is my personal favorite on the bar menu. Lastly, and most importantly the ever-rotating tasting menu. Everything that comes out is always fantastic and presented perfectly on the plate. The wait staff is knowledgeable and well trained and will pace the meal appropriately. Their bread is delicious so while you're waiting for your first course, make sure you get a second piece. If you have any allergies or aversions they will do an excellent job of substituting the listed dish for one that meets your needs. I've been to No. 9 Park several times and I have had nothing short of an amazing experience every time.
(5)Alexandra P.
Incredible, light fare, just the right portion size. The wine list is amazing. Recommend the tuna tartare. Best in boston.
(5)Tony P.
My goodness, very high end/with very high end flavors.. Went with the pre Fixe menu ..excellent. Asked the wait staff to pair wine with all of the foods & nailed it .. even brought out two selections of wine with each dish upon my request & was delicious.. Price not for the faint of heart...but then when you want to live it up this would be a good option.
(5)Daniel K.
Having been in Boston for 7 years, I had heard about No 9. Park and it's reputation as one of Boston's top 3. I think my intel may have been a little dated. I came here for a special occasion and the setting did not disappoint. Located on the corner of Boston Commons, we had a nice stroll through the park from the handy metered parking spot we were fortunate to find. Our table wasn't quite ready so when we arrived, (5:45 being the earliest time I could reserve 1 week in advance) we grabbed a drink at the bar, which is fairly small and seems to get pretty crowded after 5 on weekdays. When we finally sat, we decided to go with the chef's tasting menu. A little over $100 a head, I figured this was going to be one of the most memorable meals of my life. It was not. There were some high notes, including the soft shell crab with watercress, but the majority of the meal did not really impress me. This was my first time tasting sweet bread, which I also am not apparently a fan of. The Foie gras was excellent. The gnocchi was too starchy and didn't really give me much flavor. Our entrees were chicken breast, and a pork tasting, which were not incredibly memorable. I will say the deserts were quite good, and having told the management that it was a special occasion, they brought us a special cake/merangue that was very tasty. Overall the service is great, but I would not consider this to be in my top 3. My takeaways from this meal: 1. the tasting menu is massive and if you finish everything, you will not be comfortable 2. the dishes ranged from average to very good with maybe 1 spectacular dish 3. the menu seems to rotate, so maybe we came on a 'down' menu. I however probably will not be returning to see what else No. 9 Park has to offer.
(3)Riley S.
Unfortunately we weren't able to indulge in the full tasting menu but we all found an entree and app that caught our eye. The service is fantastic and the dining areas are intimate. The gnocchi and salmon were highlights, and hopefully I'll make it back for the full experience.
(5)Kim C.
No. 9 Park was an exceptional dining experience. Went on a celebratory occasion, and left very impressed with the food, service, and ambiance. Prices: surprisingly reasonable for a Boston institution. $69 for a 3 course prix fixe that will fill you up. No need to stop by for a pizza after this meal. Stuffy? Not at all. Compared to some of the other stuffy (and WASP-y) restaurants, felt very comfortable and relaxed. Food: Yum. Seared foie gras, the prune stuffed gnocchi, the duet of duck... YUM Wine list: Not super deep, but we ended up getting a half bottle of a difficult to find Italian wine. I would DEFINITELY recommend, and plan to go back for sure (when the occasion calls for it, of course).
(5)Susan N.
I took my boyfriend here for his 30th birthday. We got a reservation at 10pm and I was a bit worried that we might be rushed through our meal. I could not have been more wrong! The birthday boy went with the Chef's tasting menu with the wine pairing. I HIGHLY recommend that you live it up and go with this option. Each course was expertly prepared. The portions were excellent amd each wine paired perfectly with each course. Our waiter knew everything there was to know about each wine and answered any questions we had. I opted for the three courses and chose the prune stuffed gnocchi, the duet of duck and the trio of sorbet. The duck was out of his world and the gnocchi was perfect. They started me off with a complimentary fish appetizer which was slightly pickled and really set the tone for the rest of my meal. We also enjoyed the complimentary zucchini bread witb lemon ice cream. The zucchini bread was so delicious I wish we bad an entire loaf! Dessert was amazing! I cannot say enough great things about this restaurant. ....another amazing Barbara Lynch experience.
(5)Susan L.
I came here on a Tuesday after work with my boyfriend for our anniversary and it wasn't too busy. The bar however was quite busy and with that you don't have to make a reservations, as told by our waitress. You can just give them a call and see if it's full or not, but typically people will just walk in. Service was decent, it wasn't bad nor was it great. This place seems a little more casual than it was fine dining because most people came in with jeans and a tee on and I'm not talking about the bar area, it's the dining area, maybe 7pm was too early to dress up? The dining area was hot, the AC wasn't on, but when you enter through the bar, it's nice and cool. Food was good, desserts didn't seem like it was their specialty. Wine menu? Wasn't too impress either. The boyfriend and I did the prix fixe menu at $69pp (drinks not included): My order - Painkiller (cocktail) - It was good and strong, but they used crushed ice so it melted really quickly and tasted watered down. Prune stuffed gnocchi - Delish! LOVE the foie gras! The gnocchi itself could have been stuffed a little more. Atlantic hake - I really enjoyed this one, it was crispy on the outside and perfectly seasoned on the inside. Boyfriend's Order - Corn agnolotti - Good, it was like the corn version of my prune stuffed gnocchi. They were both good in their own way, but mine was better cause of that foie gras (he agrees). Still good though! Duet of rohan duck - My boyfriend liked his dish, he preferred one of the duck over the other, he liked the one that's partially under cooked (it's cooked that way because it's a type of wild duck). Desserts - We ordered the coffee eclair and raspberry tart. They were nothing special, we had better desserts elsewhere. We also got the saracco moscato off the dessert wine list and it was yummy! Anything moscato is good though right?!
(4)Michael A.
Thank you No. 9 Park for making our anniversary night one of the most memorable experiences we ever had! The moment you walk into No. 9 Park, you're greeted with superb hospitality and service. Since I called ahead a few days in advance I requested a window seat for our special occasion and WOW what a knockout view of Boston Common! Guys if you listening, take note... it's probably one of the most romantic views to dine in front of in all of Boston! Onto my meal. I opted for their 3 course pre-fixe menu and had the following: Foie Gras and Veal Sweetbreads ... This brought me back to when I had foie gras in Paris, it was very authentic. It was buttery in texture and sweet. If you never tried foie gras before and think it sounds "gross" just give it a shot, it's an experience. Duet of Beef ... Simply amazing! Think about it, not one but two different amazing cuts of beef that throws your pallet into an epileptic shock! Pear and Almond Tart ... I don't know how to explain this delightful tart dream!
(5)Stephanie W.
Top notch start to finish! On a whim, I pulled the car over to ask the Valet attendants if I might be able to grab a seat at the bar with my daughter (8) before the Red Sox game; the Valet ran inside, ordered us a table and offered to park the car around the corner for us so we could pick it up after the game (we just hopped on the T from Park Street so I didn't have to park the car twice). Service inside was just as amazing; we were very underdressed in jeans and baseball shirts but we received a warm welcome and excellent service from the host and our waiter, Bob. My daughter had the fresh squeezed lemonade with marinated lamb and fondue, and I had the steak frites, both meals cooked to medium rare perfection. While we chatted and waited for dinner, the Manager came by with a plate of complimentary gougeres for us to enjoy. And since we had to run for the game without ordering dessert, Bob gave us a take away bag of small sweets to enjoy later. We could not have had a better dining experience - every need anticipated and attended to. No. 9 Park is my new go to restaurant when I'm in the city and I will happily spread the word to friends and family. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
(5)Lawrence P.
We were seated some 25-30 minutes after our reservation time. Place was pretty busy upon arrival. We had the 5 course tasting menu with some upgrades (cheese course). It was a lot of food to say the least as we could barely finish. We ordered a Brunello for wine and enjoyed a very nice meal. My wife even had ox tail!!! My favorite was the gnocchi which was an add-on. Why the four stars you ask? Simply stated, not dying to go back. A very good meal but not a very memorable one plus the desserts were really plain.
(4)Shannon A.
The cheese cart they wheel out at the end of the meal is worth the trip. It is like they've rolled out all of Formaggio for your choosing. The meal was divine, the atmosphere initimate. Four stars (and not five) because of the price. It is really pricey, but DEFINITELY a dining experience for which you should save your dough.
(4)Ryan V.
5 stars is pretty much hard to attain but this restaurant deserves it. The waiters and waitresses are very attentive to your every wants. They are also very knowledgeable on what is in the dish itself. The alcoholic cocktails are somewhat average. It's probably better to get the imported wine or beer. The food was exquisite!! I order the bay scallops and it was cooked to perfection. The scallops pretty much melted in my mouth. The duck confit was also cooked just right. The atmosphere is very cozy and very intimate. This is the place where I got engaged. The perfect place for special occassions, business meetings or a high end dinner setting. You may need to bring a fatter wallet to dine here and parking can be a problem. I would recommend taking the 'T' in for this restaurant. I would definately dine here again!!
(5)A Y.
I had dinner here a few weeks after moving to Boston, and being easily confused by any city that is not on a grid system, I had trouble finding the place (a very nondescript place that is easily missed). Being a recent NYC transplant, I was convinced Boston could never compare to NYC in terms of dining. I was proven wrong in this case as the food at No 9 Park was actually good, very comparable to the finer restaurants in NYC There was a old world/classic elegance about the place and the service was very attentive. The appetizer I got, the Prune Stuffed Gnocchi was very flavorful and beautifully presented. No 9 Park is probably one of the nicer (aka pricier) venues in Boston, so I would suggest this for a special occasion or if you are looking to impress an out of town guest.
(4)Liz E.
My meal at No. 9 Park was one of tne of the best meals of my life. You know when everything just clicks? I had great company, great service, great food, and a darn great time! We were here for a special occasion and decided to do the tasting menu. It was well worth every penny. If the other people at your table are game, DO IT! It's amazing. Every part of the evening went so smoothly, from the host to the bartender to the busboy. It feels like this place truly works as a team to give you a beautiful evening. Our waiter was excellent- there at the right time, not there at the right time, willing to answer any questions, helpful with the wine pairings, and friendly as all get out. I will certainly be back, as this is my new favorite restaurant, hands down!
(5)Sayaka T.
Very good for Boston! Entrees were kind of rich...especially the gnocchi. Would recommend the asparagus with uni appetizer though...definitely try it.
(4)Kate I.
Wow fancy, money, spend it! woo hoo, shhh it's delicious... France! Wine! shhhhh... Yeah it's great, but blah, who cares. I just want to say CHEESE PLATE. Not even a cheese plate, but cheese cart. They wheel it over to you, and then you get to pick what you like best. And eat it. You can't go wrong when cheese is wheeled to you in its own vehicle.
(3)Kate K.
This place is delish! Went here for restaurant week and my food was fantastic! I got a salad to start, gnocchi for my entree and a amazing chocolate desert with caramel, yum! My boyfriends meal wasnt as good, his entree was overcooked but he loved everything he tried from my plate...I would most def come back here again for a special occasion or restaurant week next March! Service was very good too!
(4)Brian D.
A perfectly acceptable list of reasons to go to No.9 Park follows: -you have a gift card that you are pretty sure has enough value on it to buy two people a pile of booze and food -people watching on the weekend before the Boston Marathon is comedy gold -you have never been, feel like gitn' all gussied up and really want to be impressed with a restaurant for once Yup, that all works out just dandy. No. 9 is by any standard that I can think of, a genuine 2 thumbs up or WOW experience. I sat and ate at the bar on a busy Saturday night and had a very intoxicating and entertaining time. Ben the bartender is a master of the art of getting you half in the bag within 2 or 3 drinks, the house drink list is stand up and offers quite the variety of hard to pronounce ingredients that well read food and drink snobs probably drool over - so try some of that stuff. OR challenge him with 'I really like X but am in the mood for Y' he will rise to the occasion. And the food, good heaven up above thank you for raining down this grub. Amen. I think because we had been having a great time with the bartender and playing 'have you had this' and 'do you know so and so' that they thought we were critics or something, because out of nowhere the tasters from the kitchen (on the house) started flowing and piling up in front of us. Yeah, no complaints on the squid cerviche plates. Do you like butter? Good, because the little sourdough rolls with local butter aren't there for decoration - that butter is so fresh you can still hear the mooooooos - ask about the cow. And dinner. Well, we got full on butter and squid bits but did order 2 (yes it is pricey) scallop appetizers and the fig gnocchi. VOMIT, just kidding yeah, more mouthgasms follow. Need more reasons to go to No.9? I hope not. Please bring enough money to pay for dinner, it is pricey. And, sadly, if you are more of a burgers n fries kind of guy, you might want to skip the whole trip. Just say'n...
(5)Anissa K.
Great place for pre-dinner drinks, we sat at the bar for drinks and apps and overall it was a nice place. Seemed to be a great couples date place.
(3)Keyvan R.
A friend of mine who lives in Boston had been raving about this place ever since he came to visit me in SF a few months back. When I got a chance to come out for a business trip I was sure to take advantage. What a bar! Not only were the drinks nice and stiff, but they were expertly prepared by some of the coolest bartenders I've ever had a chance to interact with. All of them introduced themselves as if we'd been friends for years, and would spend time to prepare their drinks with love. I started off with something from their menu called a Capetown Collins which was a bit sweet after dinner drink that was perfectly refreshing for a warm humid night. From there I had a more classic gin martini laced with lemon and orange and later had a Hearst, another classic martini-inspired concoction. It was just fun sitting at the bar chatting it up with the guys. I also ordered the Prune Stuffed Gnocchi at the request of my friend and it was outstanding. If I hadn't stuffed myself earlier in the night I would have definitely been up for the $45 prix fixe which seemed like an absolute deal. Will definitely come back every time I'm in Boston.
(5)Diana L.
Ever had an amazing date with someone terrific, but the chemistry wasn't quite right? No. 9 is that date. Everything is really great, but there's something that's... missing. Drinks were fantastic. The sweet and tart Palmyra was a refreshing vodka-lime cocktail and a great pre-dinner drink. For appetizers, we ordered the prune-filled gnocchi and the pheasant consomme. The gnocchi was too big for the amount of seared foie gras they give you-- the balance was off. The pheasant consomme had good flavor, and the vegetables were fresh, but the tiny meatballs were a little dry. For the main course, we ordered the sirloin steak and the poussin (cornish game hen). Half of my sirloin steak was medium rare (what I requested), the other half was rare. A $40 steak has to be exactly medium rare. We pay for the execution, right? The accompanying short rib wrapped in swiss chard, on the other hand, was done well and had a nice smokey flavor to it. The poussin had the same problem as the steak-- the breast meat and most of the thigh meat was perfectly cooked, but the rest of it was overcooked, dry and oversalted. Nice flavor and fresh vegetables did redeem it a bit, though. Our desserts were a hit and a miss. We got the chocolate cardamom mousse and the passionfruit souffle. The mousse had great flavor-- a balance of deep chocolate flavors and fragrant cardamom. The accompanying salted butter glace and pear sabayon was delicate and had a great texture. The passionfruit souffle was almost really good. The souffle itself was perfectly baked, but the passionfruit sauce was way too tart. My guess is they forgot to add sugar to the passionfruit... or perhaps some other mistake happened along the way, because I have a hard time believing they meant for the sauce to taste as sour as lemon juice. The coconut sorbet that came with it, however, was phenomenal. What we're looking at is three stars for the food and an extra star for the excellent service. Our server knew a lot about the menu, had some good recommendations, and made sure to check on us throughout the meal. The ambiance is good and the location is fantastic. But I'm still searching for a favorite restaurant.
(4)Meg M.
Ho-Lee Crap. I went here last night and had the 7 course Chef's tasting menu with the wine pairings and the prune filled gnocchi addition while my friend had the foie gras addition. It was decadent. From start to finish it was one of the most unforgettable dining experiences of my life to date. Everyone should come to No. 9 Park at least once in their lives to experience this tasting menu, which by the way changes every Wednesday. I wish I could write all of the things I had but there was just to much to mention. A few standouts? The cheese course was simply divine. They roll out a cart topped with about 12 different cheeses from all over the world that will absolutely knock your socks off. The farmhouse cheddar was completely ridiculous. I could eat it by the wheel. The creamy goats milk cheese was also WOW. They serve it with italian honey, apple compote and roasted hazelnuts with some thinly sliced pear. I want to go back just to get the cheese cart wheeled over to me again. The ravioli course was also unbelievable. Ricotta filled raviolis set atop a delicious beet with swiss chard and a wonderful reggiano that really brought the flavors together. Amazing. The first course was a hamhock with sauteed escargot and some sort of crazy foam emulsion. I dont even like pork and I could have eaten about 3 more of these. The pork absolutely melted in your mouth. So impressive. The wine pairings were wonderful (aside from the madeira.. but I just hate madeira) and our server was both pleasant and informative. Never did we want for anything or need to hunt her down. I understand that at prices like No 9 Park, the service should be spot on.. but I must do credit where credit is due. Some of the backwaiters were a bit clumsy.. but I forgive them with a meal like that. All in all... go there... try this menu... and leave as completely blown away as I was. Thanks No. 9 Park. I love you.
(5)Lauren B.
My ex-boyfriend took me to No. 9 Park to celebrate our anniversary this past year, and I found it to be an absolutely enchanting experience: No. 9 Park is the epitome of high-class restaurants, with waiters that are courteous and attentive, an atmosphere that is romantic without sacrificing comfort, and a menu that is absolutely to-die-for, no matter what you order. We arrived right on time for our reservation, and the hostess seated us right away, taking our jackets and leading us to our table, where we were greeted by a waitress that offered us various wine and water choices to start off our evening. Moving on from there, we were presented with our menus, and the content of each menu option was explained to us before we were left alone to make our decisions. I settled on the Grilled Hudson Valley Foie Gras as an appetizer, with the Vermont Pheasant to follow, and the Sorbet du Jour to finish the meal; my ex-boyfriend chose the Prune Stuffed Gnocchi (his absolute favorite thing to eat in the world is this gnocchi, exclusively at this restaurant) as his appetizer, the Colorado Lamb Saddle as his entree, and the Caramel Apple Frangipane as his dessert - I am not exaggerating when I say that the two of us barely talked during our meal, because we were so engrossed in the exquisite flavors each course had to offer to us. Everything I ate at this restaurant was something I would eat again, and everything I ate was something I was absolutely, no-holds-barred impressed with - from the artisan bread offered before the meal down to the pomegranate fruit candy gratis with the check, I was in culinary heaven. I highly recommend this restaurant to anybody - whether you're a foodie like me and my ex-boyfriend or someone just looking to sample a taste of the finer fare in the world of cuisine, you will not be disappointed. No. 9 Park's atmosphere, waitstaff, and chef's culinary prowess are nearly legendary - and everyone will be able to see why once they try this place out for themselves.
(5)A S.
By far the best overall dining experience I've had. We did the chef's tasting with the wine paring. The first course (lobster) totally embodied the taste of summer, and everything that followed was outstanding. Exceptional service, delicious food, highly recommended for any special occasion.
(5)B C.
Terrific location, smart decor and impeccable service. So why the three stars, the food was pretty pedestrian. Here is my theory about Boston's indigenously grown crop of top chefs including Barbara Lynch of No. 9, Jody Adams of Rialto, Lydia Shire and Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley's. Their food all pretty much taste about the same because they honed their culinary skills only around Boston. This compares to some of my favorites including Ken Oringer of Clio, Tony Maws of Craigie Street Bistrot, Pino Maffeo of Restaurant L and of course Tim Cushman of O Ya. All these guys got their training and experience around the world and than came to Boston to become the top dog of their own place(s). Thus we were the beneficiary of their worldly experience. If you dropped No. 9 in NYC (without question one of the, if not the, epicenter of the culinary world), it would be just another good, but middle of the road fine dining spot. While on the other hand, neither Jean George nor the French Laundry have anything over Ken Oringer's Clio.
(3)Shaily K.
tremendously disappointing. sad to say especially because I took my husband here for his birthday celebration. We did the chef's tasting menu, and did the optional add-ons as well, and after EVERY single dish that came out, we were disappointed. then we would eagerly await the next round..and be disappointed again. perhaps i'm a food snob because i lived in NYC, but i'm shocked that anyone would consider the combinations to be working. the menu sounds delightful--but disappoints every round. the only saving grace was that both desserts on the tasting menu were phenomenal. basil mint ice cream. mmmmm divine. and some berry tart that was perfection. clearly the pastry chef knows what he or she is doing. (NOTE: i actually remember these because they were memorable. the rest of the menu i would like to forget given my bill). the service was fantastic...but who pays $300 for "good service?"
(2)Sarah B.
So after hearing all the hype about No. 9 and experiencing firsthand the fantastic B&G Oyster festival (with the kitchen throwdown at the Butcher Shop) and taking in Stir for myself and loving it all, I was pretty excited to bring my husband to No. 9 for our 2nd anniversary. My brother-in-law who knows upscale places in Boston told us we would have our socks knocked off at this place. I have to say that I have had better. My first impression of the place was "this is it?" After going to L'Espallier for my husband's birthday and taking in the grand decor, I was very unimpressed. Luckily we had a table by the window on a beautiful Saturday evening, but the tables in back were quite dark even for 6pm (when it is still plenty sunny outside). The reviews on the gnocchi were more dazzling than the food itself. It was good, but not as amazing as the reviews built it up to be. Scallops are my favorite and I have never had bad scallops at a restaurant so I ordered them with very high expectations. When they came with these fried cubes of what I think were pork fat, I was quite turned off. The tiny corn cake balls that came with it were incredibly bland as well. Dessert was ok, nothing at all to write home about. They did throw in a special extra dessert as it was our anniversary, but it tasted like tofu on top of cardboard. Although we were 1 hour late for our reservation (make sure your GPS doesn't take you to Park Street in Dorchester), they still held our table (by the window) and were very accommodating. The valet even ran to our car to grab our Cirque du Soliel tickets when I realized I had forgotten them as we were about to depart by cab. Having gone to both Mistral (for our 1st anniversary) and L'Espallier I would DEFINITELY return to either of these again before No. 9. Pros-fantastic service, friendly waitstaff and hostesses, homemade treats with the check and a little sweet goodie bag for later Cons-ok food for too much $$ and hype
(3)Sara S.
All I can say is GO HERE. Everything surpassed my expectations by a long shot. Amazing cocktails, best service in Boston, and the prune stuffed gnocchi and halibut live up to the praise. From start to finish, my meal at No. 9 Park was the best meal I've had in Boston.
(5)Chet T.
I went this restaurant because of the great reviews it received on Yelp. I thought the restaurant was good but not great. The service, ambiance, and view was great but the food was lacking. It is a great date place but again the food did not meet expectations. I started the meal with the gnocchi, which was really good. Then I followed it up with the quail which rubbed me the wrong way.
(3)Grant S.
Awesome. Expensive, but worth it every once in a blue moon...
(5)Shawn M.
I'm not a rich man so this was a restaurant week special for me. Some how I managed a reservation and wow. Five star experience all around. Service was impecable. The food was exceeed even my best expectations(Which was a lot). No. 9 is the best in Boston for a reason
(5)E.B. R.
This is an attractive, well located, expensive restaurant with excellent service and over rated food. The service was truly attentive, possibly too attentive. But, I've enjoyed really fine French cuisine and this isn't it. Too expensive considering food quality. We tried several appetizers, entrees, and desserts. None were memorable.
(3)Julia H.
I was so happy to hear that No. 9 Park was one of the area restaurants collaborating with LUPEC Boston to donate the proceeds of a "woman-themed" cocktail to Jane Doe, Inc, the MA Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence during the month of September. So a few of my girlfriends and I got together to drink for a cause. The atmosphere was lovely, and we got a swanky booth near the bar, and took a look at the menu. The benefit cocktail was the "Hanky Panky," so we ordered a round for the table. It was delicious! And sexy! And we spent a good hour chatting and drinking and tooting our horns. But in some twisted effort to connect with customers the Maitre D' (or maybe the manager?) came up to us, asked us how we liked the hanky panky (and giggled), and then asked how we'd heard about the benefit. When we explained that we came from a woman-owned and operated literary magazine, he quipped "I hope you're not battered women!" and laughed maniacally. My jaw dropped. I mean, what? I think (hope) this was an isolated case, since No. 9 Park is woman-owned and operated and known for civic engagement. But I left feeling a little angry, and wished that someone had schooled that guy in basic courtesy.
(4)Kim L.
While my girlfriend and I are still starving young professionals, we found a way to make this work: eat at the bar. And folks, all I can say is this: Goodness. Goodness gracious. We came in specifically to try the cocktail flights--I absolutely enjoyed the house specialty flight, and would most definitely agree with the bartender: drink the palmyra first, pear martini second, and the no. 10 last. My favorite was definitely the palmyra: rain vodka, mint, and lime juice. Simple, sweet. As for the cafe menu, we shared the truffled gnocchi and the crispy skin salmon. Vegetarians, you will love the gnocchi. No. 9 Park's menu is primarily for the meat-eaters, but you can do no wrong with the gnocchi. The crispy skin salmon is also quite wonderful, though veggies be warned: it's got chicory, so ask for it without. John, the infamous bartender, knew everything there was to know. Not to mention, he comped one of our flights for not warning us about the chicory. Bottom line: I can't wait to go back.
(5)Meredith K.
So I took my mom here because I had heard so many great things about No. 9 Park. Maybe we went on an off day? But I wasn't very impressed. Decor seemed kind of bare - I mean it was ok, but I didn't love it. Plus the floor looked like the same one my elementary school had. Service was very professional, and the quality of food was very good, but the prices were high and the portions were so small we left hungry (we each had 3 courses). I don't mind shelling out lots of money for a fabulous meal (I love Excelsior and L'Espalier) but I also want to leave FULL - after 3 courses I shouldn't be hungry! But it seems from the amount of rave reviews I must have gone on an off day, so I will have to update when I go again and hope I don't leave hungry.
(3)Marisa B.
No. 9 Park was the perfect start to a getaway weekend for my husband and me. The service was impeccable -- friendly in a pretentious sort of way, like they've been expecting you and now that you've arrived, everything will go smoothly. The decor and color palette provide an ideal setting for the mingling of old and new money: low-slung leather couches and mirrors tucked into corners; indirect lighting from heavy glass and wood "man"deliers; guests decked out in Tod bags and Givenchy furs. Very fun for the people-watchers. Now, I'm not really a foodie. Case in point: I had to ask the server to translate "boudin noir". To her credit, she was supremely poised and didn't even blink at me in shock at such a question. My favorable first impression was further solidified when, after she told me what it was (blood sausage), she proceeded to elaborate on its taste (somewhat chalky, with a creamy texture), and what made it special (one of the chef's specialties). Now I felt like a foodie! But I still didn't get the boudin noir. Mark and I both opted for the prix fixe menu. At $45 per person, it's a good intro-to-foodie adventure for a fun night out. And my appetizer alone was worth that amount. I started with the steak tartare. I have never in my life had such amazing steak tartare! The simple seasoning of cracked pepper and salt brought out the steak's tremendously hearty, savory texture. Paired with toasted, buttery brioche, my mouth was in heaven. The flavor of the brioche would have easily overpowered a lesser meat, but with the tartare, every bite claimed my immediate attention. There was also an aioli sauce on the plate, but in my opinion, the steak only needed the brioche. My husband's porcelet wasn't as extraordinary. The flavors were consistent and lovely -- just very mild. The pork itself tasted smooth and fatty, with the accompanying reduced cranberry compote adding much needed brightness. The plating also included some thinly sliced toast points. Overall the dish was solid, but the subtlety of flavor was unfortunately lost on me. Lactose intolerant? Stay far, far away from the outstanding handmade pappardelle entree. Mark's pasta was cooked down to risotto-like consistency, then bathed in a divine bolognese that would make Atkins lovers proud: heavy cream, decadent parmigiano-reggiano, beautifully browned nuggets of ground red meat. Amazing. By comparison, my rainbow trout balanced several flavors for an ultimate sum greater than its individual portions. The trout was served butterflied, laid on a bed of haricot vert, fingerling potatoes, hazelnuts and a splash of lemon. The lemon was a stroke of genius. Its acidic tang allowed the tenderness of the trout to take center stage and created a standout dish. By the time dessert rolled around, we were both thinking "light." Mark opted for the lemon tart, probably to stave off the dairy overload from his pappardelle. The tart was aptly named -- one bite had me puckering like a pouty 2-year-old. However, the accompanying sorbet delivered the dominant lemon flavor with a much gentler, and more appreciated, touch. My medley of glace included chocolate-, lemon- and yogurt-flavored dollops. For me, the plating surpassed the flavor. The chocolate glace reminded me more of cocoa powder than creamy milk chocolate -- but then, maybe that was the intent. Although Mark enjoyed my yogurt-flavored glace, I found it too salty for a dessert. I do remember the lemon glace fondly, though I can't recall any specific impressions. No. 9 Park delivered on so many things, I can't in good conscience knock off an entire star just for some taste preferences. I truly enjoyed my meal, so I'm rounding up to 5 stars. I'm already craving that steak tartare, and look forward to another foodie adventure, courtesy of Barbara Lynch!
(5)Priscilla G.
I have eaten at No. 9 Park several times since it has opened, but this last visit was a stunning disappointment. The quality of the meal had declined considerably, though the service remains excellent. We began with an appetizer of shared pastas. This used to be on the menu with a taste of 3, but we special ordered it and it comes with 5. All of them were "white" pastas and arrived to the table a bit cold. Uninspiring except for the foie gras ravioli which was on the regular menu. At this our hearts sank. We then had a Chicken farce which was dry and bland, with a mealy texture in some of the treatments. We also had the lobster, which was the only dish we had that was up to the former standards and was perfectly delicious. We did not order dessert, but the waitress brought us a small dessert anyway: pomegranate sorbet which was fresh and tasty. Maybe it was because it was a Friday night, but the experience was discouraging enough to hesitate risking another try on a weeknight. Very expensive, also. So sad.
(2)Michele B.
My husband's dessert was chocolate cake with smoked cream. It tasted like bacon. That was bad. The service was excellent. Everything else was very good, but not amazing. For the price, you expect amazing.
(3)Anne H.
This is my favorite restaurant in Boston, hands-down. The ingredients are perfectly fresh/seasonally appropriate, the presentation is creative without being pretentious (no vertical food here), and the service is super-attentive. It's foodie heaven. My latest meal at No. 9 Park was a 7-course tasting menu (with wine pairings) prepared gluten-free. The staff took great care of us, and I felt perfectly safe. The chef did not only worked within the limitations of my diet, but created some amazing substitutions. I didn't feel like I was missing out at all. Fantastic. A note to people who think it's "entitled," "pretentious," whatever --- it's really not. The service and food would be pretentious if it were something other than what it is: perfectly prepared food presented according to a particular standard, in a formal environment, where the staff take the food very seriously. It's old-school, and that's fine with me. If you're up for a more casual dinner out, try B&G Oysters or The Butcher Shop.
(5)Art A.
They were kind enough to allow the two of us to split the tasting menu, and as we added a cheese tasting and foie gras course, it was more than enough food. We both have discriminating tastes, or at least we think we do. This meal was magnificent; perhaps one of the best that I can recall. The foie gras with huckleberry and crisp was one of the most pleasantly surprising single food bites that I've had. In fact, it was so good that we actually giggled. Several of the dishes simply surprised us with unexpected bursts of flavor. The worst of the selections were "merely" very good. Although we sat in the bar, and were weekday evening walk ins, it did not detract from the experience. Our server was actually the barkeep, and he did a magnificent job of taking care of us with a studied yet relaxed and casual manner. He simply made us feel at home. We did not do the wine paring, but we did allow him to take care of our cocktail needs, and by listening to what we liked, his recommendations were spot on. Each server was attentive and knowledgable and yet managed to maintain the relaxed yet attentive balance. This was a meal and experience that we will not forget. I was shocked to see some of these negative reviews. Perhaps we were exceptionally lucky, but the quality and attentiveness certainly appeared to be more than luck. It ain't cheap, so don't be surprised. However, as far as I'm concerned, it was worth every penny. Not to be missed.
(5)Steve L.
This place is divine. I'm not exactly wallowing in money, but the 6-course tasting menu was unforgettable. Actually, it was one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. It's hard to add to the praise, so I'll go ahead and say that I agree with all the 5-star reviews. During that 3 hour lunch with 2 other friends, the simple decor, the incredible service, and the unbelievable food created an oasis in the middle of my crazy day. I didn't want to get up and leave. Walking out the door, I felt that it had all been a bit too surreal. It's not often that you can call eating out a "dining experience", and this was certainly one of those rare moments!
(5)Lesley K.
Sometimes it's all about atmosphere - luckily No 9 Park has amazing food, wine and atmosphere. Trifecta. The food was *very good*, the service was OUTSTANDING - probably best in all of Boston - the staff paid attention to what we liked to eat and drink making suggestions and substitutions, anticipating what we might like - they had such enthusiasm about their wines and dishes. And I just love to be around people who love food and wine the way we do - just incredible experience, and surprisingly not too expensive. We sat at the bar and had four oysters, an amuse bouche, charcuterie, fries (with this aioli that reminded me of lemon curd), short ribs, and the truffled gnocchi, a five cheese cheese plate and a few glasses of wine and prosecco - for less than $200.00. (Obviously we weren't drinking any Grand Crus!) If I could afford to I might spend every single night here.
(5)Sam J.
We had the tasting menu and it was amazing. Pan seared foie gras was just out of this world. The service was outstanding. It cost a good chuck of change but it was a great experience.
(5)Rhubarb M.
This place was one of the best meals I can remember. Super yummy. Lobster goodness. Nicest waiter in town. Absolutely made my time in Boston much better. One of the spendier places I've been, so be prepared to just get over it or have your meal ruined by money sadness..
(5)Micah s.
Wine pairing with Artichoke? I thought we would see peace in the Middle East before some one could actual find a wine and artichoke dish that was a good combo Yes they did it. We have had places attempt this feat before but this actually worked. All of the food and wine worked in harmony. Our server was amazing. She had a genuine passion for the food and wine. We did the tasting menu with wine pairings. Each course was well constructed added to the experience. The combination of local and seasonal ingredients and adding unexpected twist to the dishes added to the taste and texture of each dish. Our experience at No 9 Park was better than Per Se and French Laundry at about half the price. As with most tasting menus dessert falls short after really great savory courses. Our server added a dessert to our meal and that help close that gap.
(5)Qiang W.
I tried this place in last year's restaurant festival. I know, that for a prestige place like no 9, the taste of food is never of first place importance, but me, as one who cares that factor most, have to rate it at 3 stars. For a price of around 150$ for two, I was not supprised by the taste, at all... I would rather pay 20$ for good food, take out. I do not know whether Chinese has different understanding of restaurants or not, but the reason I get into one, is all about satisfying my mouth, which is not accomplished here.
(3)Arian A.
We went here for our anniversary and we were placed perfectly at a table that overlooked Boston Common. I enjoyed the view but not as much as I enjoyed the food. If we still lived in Boston I would definitely go again for another special occasion.
(5)Lindsay S.
Let me start by saying I have no complaints about my meal or experience. The service was suberb and the meal was tasty. However I do not believe the meal warranted the price charged because while it was good, it wasn't amazing- as I feel this meal should have been. We had a 5:30 PM dinner reservation on a Sat. night which is the first seating for dinner. We arrived to the restaurant at 5 PM and sat at the bar and enjoyed a drink until we were seated. The bartender was very friendly and helpful as was the front end staff when we first arrived. We were then seated promptly at 5:30. As this was our first time to this restaurant, our server was very helpful in explaining the menu- 2 dining options. Either a 7 course tasting menu @112 pp plus an additional $74 pp if you wanted the wine pairings. The second option is a 3 course prix fixe menu at $69 pp. We opted for the latter. For the app, I had the prune gnocchi, my husband the ricotta knudi and we got one more to share- kingfish escabeche. I think these and the desserts were the favorite part of our meal. For the entree, I had quail (my first time ever so nothing to compare it to), and my husband had the assiette of beef which included tongue, shoulder and marrow. Neither my husband or I loved our entrees but there was nothing obviously wrong with them. I think we both wished that there was more of a side or accompaniment with our protein and while I was OK with the portion (after having had 2 apps), my husband wished that his was larger. For dessert I had the baba au rhum and my husband had the tonka bean parfait. We were both quite pleased with dessert. As I mentioned the service was suberb- very friendly, accommodating, helpful etc and the timing for all of our meals was spot on. We were not rushed but not left waiting for anything either. We've been to many nice restaurants in the Boston area but this was our most expensive one, yet unfortunately not our favorite. After each of us had 2 drinks and then the 3 course meal with tip it was $230. I wish the food had been more impressive. It lacked the wow factor yet had wow factor prices. For the amount of money spent, I (sadly) won't be rushing to come back. But kudos to the front end and wait staff for a job well done.
(4)Sophia L.
no. 9 park stood up to the expectations we had. That's a lot to say in my family becuase we have HIGH expectations. The service was excellent, The food was fabulous and the ambiance was amazing. Very 1920/1930s jazz feeling with as far as I can tell a great cocktail/beer/wine list. I definitelly recommend for a special evening out.
(5)Kare C.
Expected more for the price (no pun intended =p), but the food was very tasty and actually VERY filling. The food was condensed so don't let the portion size fool you. Good to pair with wine. You can tell each dish was put together with care. The foie gras was heaven! You have to have to try!!
(3)Jan Mark H.
Every time I go to No. 9 I am not disappointed. Great food and always consistent. The tasting menu was outstanding and the service was impeccable
(5)S S.
Incredible service, fantastic food, and great drinks. Highly recommend the prune stuffed gnocchi! The oysters were also really fresh and delicious. The waitress even brought over complimentary drinks, which was so sweet of her. I am a huge fan of Barbara Lynch, and it really was a fantastic experience. I prefer Menton to No. 9 Park, but No. 9 is definitely a must for any Barbara Lynch fan.
(4)Katie B.
Fantastic restaurant! Food is out of this world, and the service made me feel like royalty. Not a drinker? Not a problem here. They treat you just as well regardless of whether or not you're racking up an alcohol bill. No. 9 is simply the best!
(5)Meghana A.
We came here for my 25th birthday. It was the most traditionally gourmet and elegant meal ever, complete with several courses of tiny, beautiful dishes. We had the prune-stuffed gnocchi as an appetizer, which is topped with foie gras - it just melts in your mouth! I happen to have foie gras topping my entree as well, which was a wonderfully prepared chicken dish that didn't look like chicken at all. It came presented in glazed square-shaped medallians, almost like a choo-choo train bisecting the plate and intricately intertwined with dried fruit mushrooms and filo pastry. The dessert was exceptional and came topped with a single candle for me to blow out. It was a magical birthday experience.
(5)R. C.
I ate here a while ago when my husband & I were at a conference in Boston. We had the chef's tasting menu with wine pairings. When I first saw the menu I wasn't sure if I would like everything because there were a few dishes that didn't really appeal to me, but my husband wanted to do the chef's tasting so I figured I could "suffer" through it. :) I was pleasantly surprised, since every course was delectable, even the courses I thought I wouldn't care for. The chef created everything in such a way that it was impossible not to like it and that's the beauty of the chef's menu. The chef picks what he feels will be perfect for each course and I really think it showed. I would absolutely go back. The only tip I can give to you is to make sure you 1) make a reservation well in advance 2) request the old section of the restaurant since it has more charm, a better view, and is just quintessential Boston. Those tables fill up fast. The restaurant is odd because half of the restaurant is boring modern and half of the restaurant is old Boston beacon hill townhouse.
(5)Emily H.
Went here last week. A tall blond gent was out server and we ate in , loved it. We ate in the bar area and loved it. Really great food and the service was probably the best I ahve had in LA, NYC or Chicago. Fantastic food and attentive service along with killer drinks and we walked the rest of the evening in the Commons. It was a total delight!
(5)Sean M.
No. 9 Park is a world class restaurant. Because it is pricey I usually go for a special occasions. This is the jewel in the No. 9 Group crown. On the Barbara Lynch scale this is my 2nd favorite, B & G Oysters is my favorite No. 9 Group place. But I love oysters and the South End. Don't know who Barbara Lynch is? Suffice to say this is "required eating" for any Boston Foodie. * Elegant food served deftly. * Wine list is "crafted" and the by the glass list has a glass for everything. * Prixe Fixe lunch is a great way to try this place on a budget. * An innovative martini list. But this is NOT a "for drinks only place", if you go here eat something.
(5)Dottie P.
The food, while good, was not outstanding as would be expected from BL. They made us wait in the "lounge" for 40 minutes when there were many empty tables (all night). I believe this is to sell cocktails, which we bought. I liked the Peckin Duck with lavender but I wish that there would have been something green served with my entree. They were out of the red we ordered. The desert was forgettable (as in I can't remember what I had, but do remember it was dry when it should have been moist). I love the decor and ambiance. It is nice not to be in a cold, echo chamber like most "hip" restaurants are nowadays (including Drink). The atmosphere at No. 9 is somewhat reminiscent of 21 in New York. Will go again, but will skip dessert.
(4)Colin K.
My review is purely for the bar/cafe and mostly the bar. The bartenders here, particularly John and Ryan, are chefs with cocktail shakers, and were the first in the city I could not successfully stump with obscure 19th-century booze trivia. While they are no longer the only game in town, they are still, IMHO, among the very best, and I've never been disappointed by even the most unusual things they or the other folks here came up with. I've generally only snacked here and those have been quite good. I tend to avoid the more nouvelle-cuisine style of places (though that term is rather dated, it feels appropriate here) and No. 9 is nothing if not fussy and even a bit prissy at times--something I've found true of all of Barbara Lynch's places. To be fair, the quality and consistency have also generally been high, so it's more of a stylistic objection on my part than anything else.
(5)Jeanne B.
Dining at No. 9 Park is a delightful experience, reminescent of when customer service was king and restaurants really believed in making the diner 100% happy. The waitstaff is impeccable. They are knowledgeable about the menu and are able to recommend the perfect wine pairing for any dish on the menu. They are attentive without being overbearing and friendly without being hokey. The menu changes quite frequently so I cannot recommend a specific dish, but suffice it to say everything is well thought out from conception to preparation to presentation. I would recommend the three course prix-fixe meal as the best bang for your buck. They also have a 3 course meal with wine pairing. Since I was here for a work luncheon I could not take advantage of the wine pairing, but based on the waiter's recommendation of wine for my meal, I don't think you can go wrong. No. 9 Park prides itself on the dining experience so do not expect to eat and run. This is a place to relax and enjoy the deliciously prepared food while being pampered by the excellent waitstaff. A perfect spot for a romantic dinner or to celebrate a special occasion.
(5)Pam D.
My husband, when he was my boyfriend, had a roommate who worked in the kitchen at No. 9. We went there a lot. We sampled pretty much everything on the menu, whether we sat in the cafe for an after work nosh or when it was a birthday, an anniversary or people were coming to town. On the day the boyfriend became the husband, we ate at No 9 for our first meal as husband and wife and were treated to some amazing food. Maybe once out of twenty (give or take) times was our meal not spectacular and I chalk it up to a new sous chef or an off night. Great food, creative touches abound. A bright spot on the boston culinary map. Don't know if it's on the menu any longer, but the prune (yes, PRUNE) gnocchi rocks and the gorgonzola fondue is not to be missed.
(5)suzie q.
my favorite place in the whole state. this is our go to celebratory place and it never disappoints. service is always kind, professional, and warm. They make you feel special with their way about service whether it is at the bar or in the dining room. we recently dined there after not having been in a bit and it was five starts all around. we miss the cafe menu though....
(5)w w.
Great job across the board!!
(5)Sara T.
Went here with high expectations given the hype this place gets as it is supposedly one of the best restos in Boston. Went here for anniversary so we spared no expense and got the 7 course tasting menu. Fish was overcooked and not properly seasoned and portions were very small so don't go with someone who might want to try your dish!!! I guess bottom line is the food is just mediocre so you are really just paying for the experience. Its overpriced for what it is and the ambiance is very industrial restaurant - doesn't have much character like the old L'Espalier or Upstairs on the Sq in Cambridge. I don't mind paying for good food but don't want to pay for mediocrity. I was expecting some level of creativity but there wasn't much interesting about the menu. If you are looking for someplace special, Sorrelina or Mistral is better (still lack character in terms of ambiance but better food, drinks and overall experience).
(2)Doug M.
best restaurant in Boston at the moment - definitely do the prix fixe - great wine list - only downsides are the $$$ and the fact that it's tough to get a reservation...
(5)Caitlyn H.
This bar is amazing. It hands down has the BEST drink in the city, in my opinion of course. It is called the Capetown Collins, and it's a mix of bombay vodka, simple syrup, some kind of exotic iced tea, and a sprig of rosemary. It's impeccable!
(5)Heather B.
Stellar. Treat yourself to the chef's tasting menu for the meal of a lifetime.
(5)Ashley M.
Whenever I have visitors I take them here - it is the nice restaurant not to miss while you are in Boston.
(5)D H.
if i had to judge the experience on just my meal, this place would get 5 stars. but my bf and i switched plates half way through (we always do this) and i really disliked his lamb confit. it was shockingly dry~ but my choices were spot on. i started with a pisco sour.... i always try a pisco sour if its on the menu just to see if it's authentic. it was pretty good but not enough pisco. nice consistenty and fluffy egg white though. i started with the foie gras then had the duck. finished it off with a lovely dessert wine. it was very similar to an ice wine/sauterne. it was german,... could not remember the name of it for the life of me. but it was delish. i had a bite of the other desserts that were ordered... nothing that made me want to lick the plate. the foie gras was awesome. but that's a bit unfair in that i've never really been disappointed with a foie gras. but they made up for it with the duck. o the duck. and i never order duck! but it was soooo divine. salty with a crips skin and soooo juicy. and it had the gorgeous XO sauce. this dish was very memorable~ i look forward to going to boston again to try the other dishes : )
(4)Matt W.
Wow. We heard about this restaurant's status as one of Boston's elite. We live around the corner from it, and drool with envy every time we walk by. We had dinner there for our first year wedding anniversary in June, 2006. It was a Friday night, and we were sat at 5:30 in the main dining room. First, the service is second to none. They have a small army waiting on you. We decided to try the 7 course tasting menu. We asked our waiter for a suggestion for a red wine that would pair well throughout the meal. He made a few suggestions, and we chose the wine. Since this was a special occasion, I did not care about price, and he did not mention how expensive the bottle was. He could have easily sold us a $1000 bottle, but when the bill came it was only $45. Good man. The tasting menu was fun, and excellent! I hate seafood, so they accommodated me with non seafood alternatives. The only downside about this restaurant is the overwhelming sense of entitlement some of these guests have. I thought I was on some southern plantation in the 1850's by the way the table next to us was treating the server. However, he played it off well, and never lost his cool. Another couple brought their 10 year old kid in for dinner, and acted like they came here every night. Kind of a shame that a great dining experience like No. 9 Park will be lost on that poor 10 year old who probably would have been happy with a burger. Nonetheless, it made for some good people watching! My favorite by far was the smoked dark chocolate "soup." It sounded disgusting when I first thought of smoking a brick of chocolate, but the end result was amazing. We booked our reservation on Open Table, and I indicated it was our 1 year anniversary. When the dessert course came out, the chef had drizzled chocolate on the plate that read "Happy 1st Anniversary." Excellent! One side note: No. 9 Park is currently the only place in Boston to procure Pisco, a south american liquor that is absolutely fabulous. When you go there, order a Pisco Sour, and you will not be disappointed. When we got ours, the bartender poured the bitters over the frothy egg white in the shape of a 1. Don't go here every week. Save it for a special occasion, and you will appreciate it more!
(5)Raphael F.
I came here for Restaurant Week and for the price it was definitely worth it. The best part of the meal was definitely the entrees. The hake was incredible, some of the best fish I've ever had, and the pork belly was also very good but as another reviewer mentioned the skin on the pork belly was impossible to cut. I was pretty amazed by that given that pork belly seems to be on the regular menu. We also had the salmon and foie gras appetizer. I wasnt particularly impressed by either to be honest, and I think I've come to the realization that I don't like foie gras. Although I don't remember any specifics about the dessert, they were good but not incredible, but I remember thinking that the size of both was perfect. Not overwhelming and a nice sweet end to the meal. Overall it was a nice meal, but I would not have felt as satisfied had we paid the usual fare. Lastly, contrary to most restaurant week spots, the service was excellent. Two thumbs up for restaurant week.
(4)Greg P.
In a word... sublime No. 9 Park is part of the Barbara Lynch Gruppo and has been one of the standards for celebrating special occasions among Bostonians. Located right on the Boston Common, No. 9 Park carries the elegance, prestige, and warmth of its Beacon Hill neighborhood. Steps away from the State House, No. 9 Park is a frequent haunt of business moguls, political masterminds, and those seeking to challenge their already elite palates. But more importantly, it is a place where couples, families, and friends come to mark an important occasion. In the case of my wife and me, we were celebrating her birthday. Arriving at No. 9 Park is fairly painless. Because it is near the Common, one can take public transportation (the T a great option) or drive. The Common has ample parking but the restaurant also has valet (for $21). Upon arriving, we found the staff to be very warm and friendly. I had dined at No. 9 once before and remembered how pleasant the staff are. The interior is dark but warm; elegant but not pretentious. No. 9 Park synthesizes elements from traditional Italian and French cuisine but arrives at something very unique. The menu offers ala carte options, a 3-course prix fixe menu (~$70/person), and the Chef's 6-course tasting menu (~$120/person). Given our need to celebrate, we went for the 6-course tasting menu (and added one additional course). If the desire is to enjoy a great meal but not break-the-bank, the 3-course prix fixe is a terrific option. We knew going into this that we were going all-in. The highlights of our meal included: 1) The hamachi crudo: fresh sushi grade yellowtail tuna with a buttermilk vinaigrette, sweet corn, and thinly sliced red pepper. It was a perfect, refreshing way to start the meal 2) The arctic char over a basil pea puree: the fish was fresh and perfectly seared with a incredibly savory crunchy skin. Light but with great flavor. 3) The homemade linguine with escarole, pistachios, and a butter sauce: perfectly cooked pasta with just enough resistance to the teeth. Although rich, the sauce was delicate and the flavors understated. 4) The prune stuffed gnocchi (supplemental addition) : large stuffed gnocchi with sweet prune and a foie gras sauce. The salt from the foie gras perfectly balanced the sweet gnocchi. My wife had the sauteed foie gras supplemental course and loved it. 5) The speck-wrapped squab was to this point the peak of the meal. Smoky and salty, it was served on the rare side and was juicy and tender. 6) The roasted lamb exceeded all expectations. Like the squab, it was served rare. Cooking it more would not do it justice. It was without doubt, the best lamb I have every had. My wife agreed. 7) The peanut butter mousse: served on a dense thin chocolate cake with banana ice cream, this was a great end to the meal. Like a gourmet peanut butter, chocolate and banana sandwich, it hits you in the comfort food zone! Overall, we had a blast at No. 9 Park. The food was truly sublime. But, the tasting menu experience was not to be undersold. It was a lot of fun waiting and anticipating the next part of the meal. We were seated by the window and the view of the Boston Common was priceless. Speaking of price, our dinner at No. 9 Park did qualify as an indulgence. Certainly, we will not be regulars. However, we do know where to celebrate our precious moments from now on!
(5)Jimbeau W.
Maybe it was an off night, or maybe this once-legendary Barbara Lynch bastion has just rested on its reputation too long. Evening began very comfortably, we were worried about being late so rather than take our chances with the Commons Garage we valet parked. Our table was still being set up so we waited just a minute or two in the bar and then were shown to exactly the table I had requested (by the windows with a view of the park--at least for one of us because wife had her back to the window). Server arrived quickly and mentioned water, then asked if we'd like a cocktail or wine before dinner, and then ...walked away without taking an order. Odd. However we were willing at that point to believe that this high end establishment with its mega prices follows the traditions of European dining and allows a relaxed leisurely pace. More on that later. Water arrived. And that was our sole potion for awhile until the server showed up again to ask once more if we'd like to have a cocktail and gesturing to what apparently was a beverage menu. Since we know what we want we ordered, and surprisingly instead of leaving he asked if we had questions on the menu. Well no, not at that point since we hadn't even ordered an aperitif, much less enjoyed it. He then stated that as long as he was there he'd take the dinner order. This initiated the dreaded knowledge that we were going to be rushed. There would be no leisurely romantic anniversary dinner just a constant tug of war with a waiter endeavoring to flip the table fast enough to seat another party before the kitchen closed (seems a rather futile hope on his part since it was after 8pm and we needed to get through 3 courses, but he persisted doggedly anyway throughout). But dreams die hard and there was still hope that the server and kitchen were well coordinated and would time the presentations appropriately. From this inauspicious beginning the experience went downhill. Drinks arrived-wife was offered a G & T. WRONG! How does a Hendricks Martini straight up transform into a G & T?!! Another wait, Correct drink apologetically arrives. And..you guessed it! So does the first course, right on its heels before she had a chance to lift the glass for a toast. If this was lunch at Legal one could appreciate the blazing speed but not on Sat night. And not at these prices! Next the server appeared (the actual server, part of No 9 Parks style apparently to improve efficiency is to service the table with a parade of servers (for example the wrong drink was brought by an unknown person). Might work, but the impression is impersonal and results in a confusing array of individuals all unfamiliar with you or what theyre supposed to be doing. So for the meal, which is of course really the point. I began with the pate foie gras torchon which definitely had excellent texture, very buttery and smooth, but...nothing more! Where was the sugar, the salt and the cognac? In fact if it had been a cake of butter it might have had more flavor. At least its salted. As it was you could believe it was a cake of lard. The truffle sounded like a good idea but there was none. Of that I'm certain since that flavor tends to be pretty arresting. I would have liked a glass of sauterne but no one asked. Wife had the prune gnocchi and it lived up to the reputation. Gnocchi super fresh and perfectly al dente, delicate balance of flavors. She was pleased. For the entree I had halibut and though I may have dreamed of Alaskan in this season what I was served was a cheap Atlantic flounder. Just this side of overcooked, tough and dry. Buried in a caponata so loaded with capers that all other flavor was smothered. I did wonder if the fish was a little old and the caponata was intended to disguise its deteriorating state but lets not go there. Frankly though, why would a delicate flavored fish like halibut ever be served with such overbearing accompaniment? It could have been mackerel. Maybe it was.The highlight was the burgundy (Camille Giroud) recommended by the server .Very fresh and bright and paired perfectly with the medley of flavors ( capers, artichoke.Not an easy match but this glass was very successful. Well done). Wife had the duck duet and was very pleased. Perfectly cooked. Her only comment was that the unlit corner table didn't allow her to appreciate the dish in the gloom so she had to blindly stab into the darkness on her plate with no idea of what her next bite would be. As another stranger delivered the desserts (chocolate cake and peach melba). The cake wasn't successful, tasted old, dry and without complexity. Obviously prepared offsite. But I had been hoping for Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte so I would have been hard to please with a substitute anyway. Wife loved her Peach Melba (her luck held). Kind of surprised to see that on the list since it reminds me of the old Locke-Ober or similar from the past. Conclusion: Not what it used to be. Reminded me of Olive's demise
(2)Edwin S.
I was hoping to take my wife out for a wonderful special occasion dinner for our anniversary. We had the three course prix fix. I could attribute some of the blame to my wife's wants, that evening, for our lackluster experience, but mostly I blame the food. Mind you, the food wasn't bad, in fact I feel that the staff executed a well made meal. Our foie gras was quite nice and the toasted brioche was suitably crisp and buttery (though I can't say I've had much bad foie gras and far less poor brioche). She ordered the chicken whose menu name eludes me because it was very forgettable. A short and plump serving of moist chicken breast with crispy skin and good seasoning served with a side of beans and something or another. It was just chicken. There was little innovation, experimentation, boldness or even character to it. Perhaps this was a magnificent breed of fowl with special undertones of acorns and oysters, had I the palate to experience such a delicacy. Alas, I tasted as far as chicken. Were this an $18 an entree establishment, I would have been... satisfied, but I feel that this restaurant has the talent, imagination and veritable duty to go further in all of their menu offerings. I feel the need to re-iterate that the plating, presentation, and preparation of every food item was superb, undoubtedly the work of passionate line cooks doing their very best. It was just so underwhelming, and I feel that this disappointing issue can best be demonstrated with the desserts. Raspberry cheesecake. I admit it's not the most adventurous of choices (I would have loved to see what they did with black forest gateau) but it seemed to be the only one of very few real choices, as I'm not a fan of eating fruit and cream, three scoops of sorbet, or ice cream (even if it's called semifreddo). To begin with, the cake is plated alongside a beautiful quenelle of raspberry sorbet, which was flavorful, tart and almost pleasantly pungent. The cake however, which was advertised as being white chocolate failed to deliver even the most modicum of bitter cacao. There was so much un-pursued possibility in that cake, my mind instantly drew parallels to that modern art masterpiece, textures on white canvas. All in all I'd eat it again but for the price
(2)Sungeeta A.
We came here last weekend for dinner and had an wonderful time. What's not to enjoy? Excellent cocktails, terrific food, and great service. Be sure to ask for the full cocktail list from the bar. The choices are overwhelming and amazing. We tried multiple different cocktails and loved each one. As for the food, we went with the 3 course tasting menu. For my appetizer, I got the prune-stuffed gnocchi, which went very well with the foie gras on top. I tried a bite of the sweetcorn ravioli, which was also delicious. For my entree I enjoyed the Duet of Rohan duck. While the duck was very good, I didn't love the flavor of the lentils that went with it. The dessert choices were interesting, and I decided to try the Strawberry Eton Mess, which I had read about but never seen on a menu. I have to say, the combination of whipped cream, strawberries, cucumber, and meringue was quite delicious (in addition to being unique). I feel as though I've checked something off of my bucket list by getting that dessert. All in all, it was a wonderful dinner. It's not cheap, however, and it will definitely be reserved in the special occasion category. In the mean time, we will definitely be back for the cocktails.
(4)Lawrence H.
As soon as I walked in, I knew I was in for a good night. Dim lighting and low background chatter set the mood for this Boston favorite, and I was already excited for dinner. The staff seated my friend and I at a small but cozy table. We decided to order the three course prix fixe with some additions -- the staff is happy to accommodate any bizarre alterations to your normal meal (having your cheese course first, additions of appetizers or entrees to your prix fixe, etc). To start, we had a few of the Wellfleet oysters and the foie gras appetizer. The oysters were clean and fresh, but I wished they were slightly colder. They were seemingly neglected children of the appetizer family, barely adorned with just a simple mignonette and a single lemon. The foie gras, on the other hand, was much more impressive. A thick slab of Hudson Valley (the best duck foie gras purveyer on the Eastern seaboard) foie gras pressed with duck confit was decorated with Cara Cara orange, mustard infused onion, and puree of orange, and served alongside toasted brioche. When it was brought to the table, I commented that it was a "very healthy portion of foie gras" to which the server chuckled and remarked "that's one way to put it" -- which it was! We could barely finish it lest our hearts clog with happiness and fatty glee. Our "real" first courses were the fluke crudo and the sunchoke veloute with shrimp. The fluke crudo was delicious, the sauce elevating the raw fish to a godlike status. It was adorned with olives, sliced radish, fennel, and blood orange, cute accouterments that were fun to eat. The sunchoke veloute with shrimp, on the other hand, was an unappetizing brown color and tasted muddy. The shrimp "en brik" was once a crisp shrimp roll, but sitting in the soup for an extended period of time made it soggy and unpleasant. Mains are strong. We ordered the Duet of Rohan Duck and Colorado Lamb. The duck breast was perfectly cooked, causing me to question whether it was cooked sous vide or roasted by wizards. The duck leg was even more impressive, the skin subtly melting in your mouth while crackling ever so slightly, with a tinge of bright, ducky sweetness. A side actor of rapini was flavorless though, and my dining companion pushed it to the edge of his plate in disgust. Colorado lamb was tender and the toasted farro it was served atop provided pleasant crunch, though I wish there were slightly more variety in my plate. I quickly grew bored and dreamt of more fantastic sides but the lamb kept my interest and grounded me at appropriate intervals. Desserts are fantastic. I ordered the Caramelized White Chocolate Mousse, a beautifully plated play on textures. White chocolate mousse was so creamy I started to feel high from eating it, and the crunch of pecans and dark chocolate shavings provided a gratifying contrast. Service is affable and comforting, and provided all the answers I needed in navigating the menu and deep wine list. There is a lot of great wine on the menu, but some of it may not appear on the glass list itself. I enjoyed a great glass of Robert Sinskey POV, a steal at $18, and rarely seen on any wine by the glass list. Overall, a great experience with a few forgivable missteps. But the high notes make up for the low ones and it's a steal at $69 for the prix fixe. Highly recommended.
(4)Melissa F.
Had an absolutely amazing dinner here last night. Came here on a whim and we ended up sitting at the bar. The bartender was great, he was talkative with us but also didn't hover (and more people were sitting at the bar later on.) I had the best steak frites of my life omg. The fries were deliciously seasoned and the meat was perfectly cooked to my liking. It also didn't have excess fat which I appreciated. I inhaled the damn thing and every last fry :) had the semifredo for dessert and all I can say is that it was like a much better version of a snickers ice cream bar, and I LOVE those. Atmosphere is upscale, yet inviting. I feel it's a misconception that you have to be dressed up and fancy to come here, and while you wouldn't be out of place if you did dress up, you can also come here dressed more casually.
(5)Mai T.
Such a delightful visit we had. A cozy sexy restaurant across the way from Boston Commons. There are only two menus: a 3 course or the 7 course tasting menu. We opted for the 3 course and it was plenty. Started with the most fresh scallop crudo I've ever had in my life. Hubby started with the carpaccio, nicely beatened. We were sent to gastronomical heaven with the Halibut and the duck. I honestly was too full to enjoy dessert but I couldn't turn it down. We ended our trip to heaven with the white chocolate cheesecake and the chocolate/hazelnut bar. I forgot the name but our server, whom was super awesome, suggested it to us. Thank you again for such a wonderful anniversary dinner.
(5)Tracy M.
Everything here was perfect. From the moment you walk in the door, a great subdued, mature ambiance. We were seated a few minutes after our reservation but we got some drinks at the bar to start. We were soon seated and decided to order from the pre-fixe menu. But before that, we enjoyed some Orleans oysters. Yum! For my meal, I enjoyed the below: - Gnocchi with foie gras: rich and delectable. Really was more of an asian dumpling IMO however it was delicious. - Duet of veal: tender and tasty. Loved the different textures between the duet. - Buttermilk beignets with apricot: buttermilk and beignets, what's there not to like?!? I could've done with the apricot on the side rather than on the inside but a perfect ending to my meal! Service was impeccable. I will be back!
(5)Danae K.
They have fantastic meat here! I was amazed at the quality of food. They even have a cheese table they roll around and let you select what you would like! Italian-French cuisine, with the best combination of both. First thing: bread. Delicious, with very flavorful butter on the side. My friend and I had the Prune-Stuffed Gnocchi (foie gras) which was absolutely delicious. We then split the special of the day which was a rib eye for you. Cooked to perfection, accompanied by greens and mashed potatoes. So good! I highly recommend coming here! Transportation: right next to park street station so every line (Orange, Red, Green, Silver) Cars: they have a valet parking option. Suggestion: sit somewhere closer to the front of the restaurant because by the back there are no windows.
(4)Mike F.
Amazing. Did the 4 course prix fixe, sweet corn ravioli with clam and shrimp. Followed with Colorado lamb and the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for dessert. Paired with a 2011 toscana. Also tried the prune gnocchi that the waiter claimed Julia child once raved over...I believe it. Everything was perfectly done, not a single critique. Service A++
(5)Will S.
We did the Chef's Tasting Menu, which is the best way to learn what a chef is all about. This one didn't disappoint us. They highlighted the vegetables of the season (pesto with ramps was the highlight) and each dish was complex, composed and presented beautifully. The food was excellent -- maybe the best fine dining I've had in Boston. We were also pleased with the waiter's knowledge of the wine list. I'm no expert, but I know my stuff and their claim that they train their servers really well on wine was backed up. When prices are that high, though, I hold a higher standard and they didn't do a great job knowing who was getting what -- and there were only two of us at the table. My wife and I both did the tasting menu, but each chose a couple of different courses and on three of the seven courses, the plates were dropped in front of the wrong person -- including me being served the same dish twice. Because there are so many plates being dropped and cleared, they serve with a team approach. That can be fine, but it should remain seamless for the diner. The biggest flaw was the pacing. We mentioned at the beginning that we had show tickets and needed to be finished by 7:50 (we sat at 5:45). The waiter assured us that they would pace the tasting menu appropriately for our schedule. But we ended up having to rush through our final two courses, which diminished the enjoyment of them. Especially the fantastic dessert, which was a brown sugar and cornmeal cake. If he had told us we needed more time for the tasting menu, we would have just ordered off the prixe fixe menu. Again, I'm being picky because we dropped more than $500 on dinner and drinks for two. Overall, the food was awesome and the servers were friendly and knowledgable. The experiential elements were just lacking a bit. But if creative fine dining is your thing, you have to go.
(4)Kang L.
The elegant and sophisticated No. 9 Park represents the pinnacle of fine dining in Boston. Created by celebrity chef Barbara Lynch, No. 9 Park is the flagship shop of her dining empire in Boston; I believe it is one of the only few Michelin star worthy restaurants in the city. Overlooking the iconic Boston Commons, the restaurant attracts a very smart and classy crowd in its exquisite dining room and bar. Pictures at the-aftertaste.blogspot.… In addition to the restaurant week menu, we ordered additional wine pairings with our set. Each dish was accompanied by a specially-selected and unique wine... The seared duck foie gras was truly made to perfection. The creamy foie gras and spongy texture of the hedgehog mushrooms went extremely well together. And the delicious smell of duck fat would linger in my mouth until I had another bite of this delicate dish. Read the full review and pictures at the-aftertaste.blogspot.…
(5)Rob B.
Without a doubt, the best restaurant in Boston. You leave every time fulfilled but not full, intrigued by all of the fun new things you've eaten, and impressed at the culinary range. Go for the tasting menu!
(5)Caroline T.
I got the prune stuffed gnocci based on the Yelp reviews and was blown away. One of the best dishes I have ever eaten in my life. Just a perfect dish - salty & sweet, and the gnocci is excellently cooked. The foie gras on top of it is ridiculously bomb. The rest of our meals were fantastic as well - service wasn't perfect but close to it. The atmosphere here is a little stuffy - my fiance and I are in our late twenties and we were definitely the youngest people there. Go for the food - but if you're looking for a more lively night I would suggest go somewhere else.
(4)Nick M.
My favorite restaurant in Boston, really an experience. I have had the bar menu and the regular menu and would recommend both! The ambiance is quite sophisticated and the staff accommodate everyone properly. It is certainly one of the best restaurants in Boston by far.
(5)Cooper D.
I took my girlfriend here for her birthday dinner last evening and it turned out to be a major disappointment. We had an 8:30 reservation and were there 5 minutes or so before then. We didn't get seated until 8:45 after ordering drinks in the waiting lounge. Our waiter brought our drinks to our table and mine was not the one I ordered. The waiter also took away our wine glasses before dinner without asking if we wanted wine or not which was a major turn off. The waiter also never checked in on us during the meal, except "here's your 1st coarse, here's your 2nd coarse". My food was okay and my girlfriends was relatively plain (she got the duck, I had the hake). The server charged me for the drink that wasn't mine. The server was texting around the corner all night just expecting 20%. This place needs some staff changes and more attention to detail to gain back my respect.
(1)Alice Z.
After living in boston downtown for 9 years, this place is, by far, my most favorite place in town to grab a drink and a bite with a friend on a chill night, or to go on a date. The food is fantastic if you are a fan of french food. There is italian influence in Barbara lynch's cooking (gnocchi!) and there is a lot of fantastic preparations of red meat, dark meat, and seafood. but the best part is sitting at the bar with a friend or on a date. The bartenders are fantastic (a lot of them train/rotate in at Drink), they offer you gougeres (delicious french cheese puffs), and the bar menu is pretty expansive. Obviously you have to order the prune stuffed gnocchi with seared foie gras and it comes perfect every.single.time. The atmosphere is a classy casual. I've been there both in dresses and sweatpants before. It's a delicious and delightful way to spend any evening just chatting with a good friend or meet new people at the bar. I even once met Barbara Lynch and her husband at the bar!
(5)Lucy E.
I'm not giving away the secrets of this place on yelp (nice try though). But go here and I promise you a five star experience (especially if you sit at the bar, wink wink).
(5)J E.
We came here for a date night on a Friday and thought we would chance getting a table without a reservation ~ and we did. The best thing I can say about the experience was the very attentive and knowledgeable wait staff. The problem was the food -- it was bland and small portioned. The chicken I got was something I could have thrown together at home. When the bill came it hurt. We have been to Menton and the Butcher shop which were totally worth what we paid in terms of the food and the experience so this was a total let down in comparison. I don't know if the kitchen was just having a bad night or what but at this price point I wouldn't chance trying no.9 again. :(
(1)Sara C.
While I've only yet visited the bar, this is an absolute beacon hill favorite - whenever I have an insatiable craving for a fabulous martini, decadent steak tartare, and classy yet amicable staff, this is my go-to. In other words, you can find me here on a monthly basis!
(5)Melanie D.
No. 9 Park is one of those places you put on your bucket list. And it was surely on mine. So when I got married two years ago, hubby and I decided (well, I decided and told him) that instead of getting each other gifts, each year we'd cross off one of those more-expensive-than-the-mortgage restaurants on our (my) bucket list. So this year, it was No. 9 Park. In order to get the full experience, we opted for the full 7 course tasting menu, with wine pairings and the additional course of the prune-stuffed gnocchi, which I've been told is something you just can't miss. As you would expect, the service here is incredible. From the moment you walk in and are greeted by the friendly hostesses, to the end of the meal when your bill is delivered with the final mini course, you feel like someone is always there to meet your every need. Especially when it comes to bread, which I felt like they were delivering far too much of, because they were at our side the second one roll was gone ready to give us another one (which we did not need with 7 courses to go!). Typically, I'd mention that speedy service is a plus, but I think that's actually one of the things I had issues with during my experience at No. 9 Park. I felt that the courses were not spaced out enough for someone to adequately enjoy a tasting menu. I got so full within the first few courses because they were delivered in rapid succession that I could not enjoy the 2 main courses as much as I would have liked. The food was all delicious. I just wish I could have eaten more of it. Especially the gnocchi - as a result of the fact that it was so rich and heavy, I could only handle 2 bites and then had to give the rest to my husband (lucky big stomached guy!). I really enjoyed the culinary creativity of the courses - never expected to be eating a cooked sunflower, foie gras, rabbit, or homemade vanilla marshmallows ever, never mind in one evening! The ambiance is also really nice - small and intimate - nice for a romantic date night such as I had planned. I've also heard great things about the bar area, and can confirm that while I didn't get to experience it, it was pretty packed the whole time we were there! Overall, I would recommend No. 9 Park for a really, REALLY special evening, and I would recommend to anyone thinking of trying the 7-course tasting menu not to eat for a few days in preparation. That'll save you the space in your stomach, AND a few bucks to pay the ridiculously high bill. :)
(4)Brian D.
I've come here for desserts and drinks on a number of occassions so we stayed in the bar area, and usually you don't need a reservation to sit there on a late night. As for the restaurant itself, it is in the top 5 for best dinners I've ever had (you'll need a reservation here). We had the chef tasting menu, with each course more impressive than the last. What was unique about it was that since my companion and I weren't real drinkers, the bartenders fixed us non-alcoholic pairings with the courses. Definitely a first for me - the variety and complimentary nature of the drinks alongside the food was incredible. Worth the splurge. Also everything people are saying about the gnocchi is spot on.
(5)Mel C.
Normally when friends want to go to a nice French restaurant, I just think "ugh. generic overpriced French restaurant that gives customers the allusion of being fancy. I wonder how this one prepares their duck confit.." I went into No. 9 Park having very low expectations (my confidence in "worth it" French restaurants in Boston was shattered by my experience at L'Espalier), but the food completely blew me away. The soft shelled crab risotto was top notch (yay! they can cook risotto properly!). The prune gnocchi was decadent. The cheese CART was beyond impressive. Thanks No. 9 Park staff for a great dinner. I'll be back soon.
(5)Anthony A.
Absolutely loved it here. The food was delicious. Everything was perfectly cooked. Had the steak special which was amazing.
(5)Ted F.
I really like the location and atmosphere.... drinks are very good. I still am torn between this Barbra Lynch restaurant and Menton.... while Menton is great this is different as Menton I feel is going for the closest to Michelin Star as you can get.... here is a bit more laid back yet still very upscale. The foi gras is on point here, and other menu items are A+ Very recommended
(5)Oguz B.
Been there for the Restaurant Week on a Wednesday night. Starting all the way from reservation, No.9 Park staff were quite kind and charming. That actually went on throughout the whole dining experience. We headed to the restaurant as a party of two, and welcomed by two ladies asking us about our reservation and for the coat check. We were taken to the tiny lounge are for few minutes to have our table ready. In the meantime, we were given the cocktails menu but didn't go that way to keep our appetite for the dishes. Not after so long, we were seated and our two-kind breads were served with butter. One of the breads were artisanal regular bread and the other one was more a cornbread-like fluffy one which we liked both. Our server kindly asked us for our drink choices as well as our food selections. I was also able to discuss with him about the food-wine pairing with the wine I picked from the ever-lengthening wine list. That is actually one of the most important things in a fine-dining restaurant I pay attention and it was checked for No.9 Park. Our wine was brought timely and served as expected. We were asked to whether have our wine decanted and we went that way. For both of our party, our selection was the Organic Green Salad. It was served in a large round plate with almost any fancy decoration, which for me is a way to express the confidence on the flavor. It turned out just like that. The dressing was almost invisible but we were able to feel it somehow. Goat Cheese as a creamy component confirmed that different bite profiles in a dish really elevate the quality. And last but not least the caramelized walnuts!! They were well beyond the limits and cooked to perfection both in terms of crispiness and sweetness. Going on, as we were done with our firsts, our plates were collected and our table was prepared for the seconds. We had both picked Skate Wing started waiting for that impatiently. Again it was served in the middle of a large round warmed plate and again it was not flashy. Well, I was really curious how it would come out, but with the first bite, it fascinated me. It was first time me having a Skate Wing, but I definitely figured that it cooked to perfection. It was neither dried out-even though it was fried-nor was lacking a delicious crust. It was served with sauteed swiss chard, roasted sun chokes and caper puree. The sauteed swiss chard was not special, but the rest of the garnishes were well out of the ordinary. My taste buds had really amazing time during this course and the portion was well adjusted so that it was just sufficient to please and satisfy. After the entree, I asked for chef Scott Jones to congratulate him on promoting to the Chef de Cuisine position in the restaurant. He came to our table with his wonderful joy and smile as well as with great modesty. We had a candid talk about his journey all the way from his medical education background to the outstanding table in front of us couple of minutes ago. With his kindness, he thanked us and got back to his beloved kitchen to keep astonishing other guests. Finally we had the desserts served, and it was the only course that we tried different things. I got the cocoa panna cotta and enjoyed it a lot. It was such a moment that I would never want to end but it had a finale as all good thing have. With the check, the pastry chef sent two kind of sweet bites one being a high-end piece of chocolate and the other one a turkish-delight-like-sweet that completed our brilliant experience. Altogether, it was way more than an awesome experience, and definitely worth to visit there rather than a restaurant week. Highly recommended to all good-food-explorers and to ones wanting to make a favor for their palates.
(5)Ron J.
I had been waiting years for the right occasion to visit the renowned No. 9 Park. What a disappointment! I was prepared for the obscene prices and tiny, nouvelle-style portions -- but in return I was expecting heavenly food from start to finish. Instead, the only enjoyment came from a couple of appetizers (not the burned octopus, by the way) and each of our 4 entrees was seriously flawed and even more miniscule than expected. The only thing good I can say about No. 9 is that the front-of-the-house staff is highly professional. As for the rest of the experience -- the word "scam" comes to mind. Save your money.
(1)Tyler A.
Good, but did not live up to expectations. I am sad to say I feel this restaurant tried to rake in some money for restaurant week, or, that it did not treat us patrons the same as other perhaps. Mostly everything was very good, as well as service, However, with a price tag for the 5 course, plus a few drinks (180 with tip) Im a little disappointed to find small problems. 1st course was overly salty and garlicky, 2nd course (skate) was great, but the braised spinach was sandy.... and the dessert and parting treat were un memorable or not that good. Overall good, but with with the price, a little disappointed. Think they must have cut some corners for restaurant week.
(2)Maggie G.
I had a wonderful experience at No. 9 Park. Walking in, the atmosphere is sophisticated and romantic. The bartenders, or honestly they should be called mixologists, are experts and can help someone pick out the perfect drink by just asking a few quick questions. The wait staff was friendly and attentive--from the bread guy (go with the buttermilk rolls) to the Service Manger,Ted (who was extremely knowledgeable about the food and the restaurant itself)--I felt like they were happy to have us there. The food was delicious! The Foie Gras and the Mahi Mahi just melt in your mouth. The portion sizes are perfect and allow you to actually savor your meal instead of gorging yourself. I highly recommend checking out No. 9 when you're looking for a special meal, great service, and a beautiful view of the Commons.
(4)Michael U.
See Blog for complete thoughts and pics, high Points below: Course 2: Titled "Dayboat Sea Scallop with potato mille feuille, chanterelles, baby leeks, and mushroom puree this clever dish featured a beautiful caramelized scallop to the right and to the left an equally attractive round of creamy potatoes that looked nearly identical. Pairing each with savory leeks and woodsy mushrooms I really enjoyed this dish and in all my times fine dining I have never seen this playful trick before. Course 3: Stinging Nettle Gnudi with ricotta, smoked veal belly, and sage was based largely on Lynch's roots in Italian cooking and thankfully while the veal was a mere undertone the five creamy orbs of Gnudi were immensely flavorful with notes of sage, smoke, and salinity all in perfect balance. Course 4: "Prune stuffed Gnocchi with foie gras, almond, and vin santo" was the perfect marriage of two of my very favorite foods and the sort of dish where although the portion size was ample I could have easily eaten it all night. On one hand intensely sweet from the potato dumplings wrapped around prune preserves and on the other smooth and savory with a gossamer finish from the liver the true brilliance of this dish was actually the vin santo sauce bringing both together while bits of crunchy almond added texture. Course 5: Featured an easily 3-4oz slice of pan seared Hudson Valley Foie gras perched atop "baked fig en croute" and alongside dollops of pistachio puree and drizzles of reduced port. Clearly intended to be served as a one-two punch with the gnocchi this dish was every bit as delicious but nearly the exact opposite in texture with the liver more firmly cooked and the figs still fibrous in their skins beneath the flaky pastry shell. Less reliant on the sauces for balance than were the gnocchi I will note that while I enjoy foie gras paired sweetly the port was almost too much in this preparation while the pistachio puree was creamy, subtle, and restrained. Course 6: "Native farm egg with house made sausage, spinach, and truffle brodo" was essentially a soup or broth that I'd have normally expected earlier in the menu but given the heft of its ingredients it also served as an appropriate sixth course. Arriving as three overlapping rounds topped with shaved summer truffles tableside this hearty amalgam first featured a disc of cooked spinach topped with a creamy golden egg, and finally by a pan seared slice of crispy sausage. Running the gamut from vegetal to creamy to savory to earthy this was a well crafted dish even with the truffles less aromatic than optimal. Course 7: Peking Duck Breast with confit leg, baby root vegetables, chestnut puree and sour cherry. Having gotten somewhat used to the complex flavors of aged duck breast during recent dining experiences (namely Paris and the night prior at L'Espalier) this fresh preparation was surprisingly tasty and although a bit "chewy" the skin was immaculate and crisp thanks to what I was told was a few hours of brining in soy, sugar, and Chinese Five-spice. Moving past the breast to the molten confit and the sweet/savory balance of accoutrements on the plate I really liked the way each ingredient seemed to pull a different flavor from the duck - particularly the cherries which highlighted notes of cinnamon and clove in the crispy skin. One Savory was awful, desserts were lacking, cheese cart was excellent, service was flawless. Well worth the price, overall, but not the cream of the crop in a city with O-Ya and L'Espalier.
(4)Stephanie C.
We stopped in for dessert on a busy Friday. Called ahead to secure a table and were happy to get a high top in the bar. I cannot stress enough that the smoked ice cream that comes with the cocoa pain is hands down an amazing taste. First of all, the cake itself was perfect and served two or three different ways. virgin, chocolate topping, and white chocolate topping if I remember correctly. But the ice cream, in my opinion, is the star of the show. It is like eating smores while sitting at a campfire. unreal. The other order of dessert was the olive oil cake which was equally delicious. The fennel was an inventive touch. cannot wait to return on another weekend for dinner sometime soon.
(4)Jeremy K.
I waited. I waited a very long time, too long in fact, to experience a meal at No. 9 Park. I wanted to go, but never managed to make it happen, that is, until Ericalynn G. and I decided to have an improvised dinner there. I was quite excited at the idea of dining at such an establishment, and made my way there, arriving thirty minutes early. I sat at the bar, a whiskey smash in my hand, quietly waiting and observing the decor and clientele around me. Having had a long week, I arrived on purpose so I could wind down with a nice drink. Or two. The bar is well stocked and the bartenders are both friendly and very attentive. They put a lot of work into their cocktails and it shows. The drink was great. The bar food looked very good as well, especially the cheese platter that the people next to me where having. Then Ericalynn arrived and we proceeded to get seated in the dimly lit dinning area. The table was in one of the corners of the small dinning area and was setup in a way which made us sit at a 90 degree angle from one another instead of face-to-face. I actually liked that better and it enabled us to peer right into the room. Quickly, both water and bread & butter arrived and we placed our order. As an appetizer, after much hesitation, I decided to go with some pruned-stuffed gnocchi which came with some fois gras, toasted almonds and some Vin Santo. Vin Santo is a sweet Italian cooking wine and it paired beautiful with the luscious, delicious pasta. It was surprisingly light and was very fresh. The texture of the pasta was fluffy and was delightful. The entree which arrived moments later was very intimidating, being platted in a beautiful manner. It was a real piece of art and I felt bad digging in. I had the Colorado Lamb Saddle which came served with rillons, grilled eggplant and provencal-style vegetables. Again, another hit. The lamb was cooked beautiful and was very tasty, lean and very tender. A real treat for one's palate and the sides were good. The portions also, I must add, were perfectly portioned. Before getting dessert, I decided to have some cheese. Chocking, I know but being French and all... I asked to have some Roquefort but instants later the waiter came back, apologetic, telling me that they were unfortunately out of it and instead of made an assortment of three pieces of cheese, which he also comped. A very nice gesture on the restaurant's part. The three cheeses were each very different but also very good. They came with two tiny sides, one being raspberry coulis and the other was fresh, reduced blueberries. For the dessert I had something very unusual and which intrigued me and almost excited me. It was a chocolat biscuit coulant, a sort of lava cake but the best part was the side which was a smoke milk glace. Yup, you read correctly, an ice-cream featuring smoked milk. The taste is like nothing I've ever had and it was pretty damn good. The side of cocoa nibs and cherry complimented the biscuit well. Overall the level of service and dining at this establishment met my high expectations. The waiter and staff there were both friendly, attentive and spot on when it came to providing services. They were there when needed but almost invisible in the routine tasks. The comping on the cheese was a very nice gesture on their part. The complimentary coat check was also a very nice touch. The prices are high but for what you get, this is a surprisingly good value. I look forward to returning there in the future for another great meal. Or for drinks. Either way, I'm sure I'll be very happy with my experience.
(5)D B.
Amazing bar service. Bob treated me great with great drinks. Food is creative and top notch.
(5)John L.
We've been making the trek here once a year from NYC, so I figured it's time I write a review. This restaurant is spectacular in every way. In terms of food, it's fine dining based in a hybrid of classic french and Italian technique, with modern, international twists. Everything is always delicious and beautifully presented. In terms of service, No. 9 Park can't be beat. We've eaten at many three Michelin starred restaurants, and this is hands-down this is the best service we've ever experienced (with the possible exception of Eleven Madison Park in NYC).
(5)Jessica C.
I felt like everything was a bit off the night we dined at N9P. I was pretty disappointed as this establishment appears on Boston's Best restaurants over and over again. We were seated at one of the back tables, (I highly recommend requesting a window table) did the 7 course tasting menu (should have just opted for the 3 course) it was just not impressive at all. Flavors were boring and bland. I'm not quite sure what everyone else is raving about. Am I missing something? I wasn't drinking that evening and the waiter made an effort to see what the bar could make for me as a substitute. He described a fizzy elderflower citrus drink and I was sold. It was served icy cold in a champagne glass, and I could have had 10 glasses of that stuff. That was the best part of the evening. I forget what the name of the drink, but just know that they have yummy non-alcoholic beverages too. I'm not going to sit here and list out all the courses of the tasting menu. But like MC wrote on 2/24/2013--"unremarkable and unmemorable chef's tasting" that about sums it up. Since the theme of this review are "U" adjectives.. here's another one to add to the list: UNACCEPTABLE: Our petit fours: chestnut financiers--- they almost broke our teeth off. My poor husband ate his without complaint and asked me if they were supposed to be that hard. I literally could NOT bite into the mini cake. I swear you could chuck a financier at someone's head and knock them unconscious. I asked the waiter what happened. She, in a not-so-sorry tone dismissed us and said, oh, you must have gotten an edge piece. what the?! Totally rude. They tried to make up for it by sending out some of their homemade salted caramel popcorn. I ate it a few days later and that was pretty tasty, but still didn't make up for our overall experience at the restaurant. Anyhow, for 200$ a person, I would gladly eat elsewhere.... please refer to my O Ya review.. still my fav restaurant in Bos!! Presentation: 2 stars Food: 2 stars Service: 2 stars Overall: 2 stars
(2)Misa N.
This was the first restaurant I ate at once I landed in Boston for the very first time. This restaurant provided me insight on how Boston will be for the rest of the weekend. The dining experience was impeccable. Initially upon calling the restaurant, the restaurant was not able to seat a party of two for at least an hour or two; however, upon further inquiry, they were able to accommodate us near the front of the restaurant as a small table opened up . The hostess greeted us warmly and offered to take our coats as it was a very cold night. Shortly after, our server came out and offered to take our drink and appetizer order. He was very thorough and explicit when explaining what the chef's specials were for the day. And being from California, our main interest was to eat foie gras, and the menu had no shortage of that!!! The server recommended several plates in which all of them were delicious. We ordered 5 plates: the prime steak tartare, duck liver mousse, Terrine of Hudson Valley Foie Gras and Veal Sweetbreads, Prune-Stuffed Gnocchi with seared slices of foie gras and lastly, the bone marrow. Everything was amazing and was delivered in a timely manner. The service was second to none as they were checking up on us in between each dish. Once we were done with the meal, we requested the check and to our surprise, noticed that two of the foie gras dish we ordered were excluded from the bill. Shortly after the hostess advised us that they comped the foie gras based on our out-of-state enthusiasm and our seemingly insatiable craving for it. In total, we ordered 5 dishes with 2 cocktails and the total came out to be $78.00 (foie gras excluded). We were so touched by the generosity and observation of the staff that we decided to tip them the correct total anyways. The gesture alone was deserving of the twenty percent AND some. Overall, definitely recommend without hesitation. We'll be sure to visit again on our next Boston adventure.
(5)Kiki P.
No 9. Park is a fantastic place for special occasions. Although it is a bit on the pricy side, the prices are not unreasonable. The ambiance is elegant and classy and it sits in an excellent location right at the top of Boston Commons. My date and I decided to go with the three course pre-fix. I started with Gazpacho soup, which is a Spanish classic cold tomato soup. This soup was rather different than the typical Gazpacho you find in Espana. Instead of a tomato base, the majority of the base was red bell peppers. It was a nice change from the traditional Gazpacho you would eat at a Spanish restaurant. My date started with prune stuffed with gnocchi, which is one of the restaurants signature dishes. It was unique with the perfect combination of sweet and salty. For dinner I ordered striped bass with vegetables . It was fresh and flavorful, but a little overcooked and chewy. They cooked the fish and vegetables with tons of olive oil which tasted delicious, however I would have preferred much less oil. Next time, I will definitely request my meal to be prepared with less oil. My date ordered native hake fish which he enjoyed very much. Dessert was a nice treat. I ordered the chocolate cake and my date ordered cheesecake. Both of which were pretty good. Overall, the food here is great, the ambiance is pleasant and the service is beyond extraordinary. I had special dietary requests, all of which were completely met. I really appreciated the excellent service. I would highly recommend checking out No. 9 Park.
(4)M C.
Unremarkable and unmemorable chef's tasting. Writing about it would only cause me to relive the disappointment. No thanks.
(2)Lee H.
I recently went to No. 9 Park with colleagues, for a business dinner. Haute cuisine is not really my cup of tea, but the evening was extremely pleasant. Good company, good food, good wine, good service. I'm being understated. The food was delicious and beautifully presented, and the flavors bold enough to appeal to my unsophisticated palette. The service was impeccable. Some things are a bit over the top. Putting an empty plate in front of you because you have the 3 course menu and others have the 7 course puts you in an odd position. Do you say "that was delicious"? "You forgot something"? "Thanks for making me feel included"? What? Also, the level of detail about the ingredients is almost comical, almost Pythonesque (recall the Crunchy Frogs sketch). The dinner was a long ritual, especially the 7 course version. You'd better have plenty to talk about (we did, no problem). Parking is awful - use the valet. Why not 5 stars? At those lofty prices, if the food doesn't make me think "how is that even possible?" I generally dock a star. Even on an expense account.
(4)Anna T.
This is a fancy place, so when I go to a place like this I expect nearly perfect service. We were interrupted multiple times. The cocktails were fantastic. My mom had one. When there was a little bit left, it was snatched from her without being asked if she was finished. I realize this was an attempt at good service - trying to keep the table clear, so when my mom said something, I assumed that they would just make her another cocktail, no big deal. They made another one alright - except it came out in a tiny glass with a massive ice cube in it. We're paying big bucks for this goddamn precious meal, and they can't simply make another drink. Instead they take the tacky route and bring us a paltry little parody of a drink. It came off as mocking and classless, not something I would expect from a seemingly hallowed place. Anyway, the food. I'm not going to use the correct names of the things I got here, as my brother and his girlfriend looked up everything on the menu before we came here and I do not remember anything. I got the soft shell crab risotto. The crab was so good - never had it before. The risotto was as tasteless as the service. For the entree I got the pork shoulder - which was cooked just right. It came with this mushroom puree thing which had a scatological look to it, but in fact tasted quite the opposite. It was delicious. For dessert I got the ice cream medley. The scoops could have stood to be (much) bigger, but who's measuring (me)? Overall, this place has a lot of hype and it doesn't quite measure up. If the hype were a bit less, maybe it would.
(3)Morgan M.
Arrived at 6:00pm on a Saturday night with hopes of sitting at the bar. Ended up at a high top table nearby instead which I think ended up being the better option. Split two apps, the duck confit salad and beef tartare and both were outstanding. Portions were a pleasant surprise. To end we split the prune stuffed gnocchi which were savory, sweet and delicious. I've paid more for less for other other dinners in Boston so this is worth the price as under $200 for two is reasonable. Couldn't help but notice the couple to our right drop four hundred and not bat an eyelash. The waitstaff was very attentive and friendly. At times it looked as if there was more staff than customers in the restaurant but they all move seamlessly about. I was pleasantly surprised by the ambience as it wasn't too stuffy, just right for the place. Will certainly be going back. Not to be forgotten the cocktails were excellent and worthy of the food they were paired with.
(5)Molly K.
The highest rated N restaurant in Boston is No. 9 Park, Barbara Lynch's Italian-French masterpiece located in Beacon Hill steps from the state house. With dark wood floors & multiple antique chandeliers hanging in every room, the restaurant exudes elegance. The menu consists of a 3-course prix fixe option as well as a seven-course chef's tasting menu. With multiple accolades under its belt including a AAA Four Diamond Rating, 2012 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Wine Program, and always placing on the Best of Boston and 50 Best Restaurants list, you will have a memorable tasty meal, every time. After ordering a bottle of Sancerre for the table, I started with the potato agnolotti with celeriac brown butter, chestnuts, and black trumpet mushrooms. This dish was my favorite of the evening. Little pierogi-like light pillows of delicious potato mixtures, I couldn't get enough! Apologies for the dim & washed-out photos, the candle mood-lighting got to me once again! As always, I had to order the chicken. I went with the Giannone Farms chicken with a sunny-side up egg and an escargot puff-pastry. The puff-pastry was a nice addition and texture change to the dish, and the chicken was obviously perfectly prepared. One of my dates went with the prime flat iron steak with roasted shallot, bone marrow bread pudding, a chard and spinach parcel, and a few roasted carrots garnishing the dish. My other date went with the dish I was so close to ordering: the medium-rare roasted Scottish salmon with potato mille-feuille, beet jus, and horseradish. To finish the meal, we went with dessert over cheese. I went with the cashew nougat glace with banana, molasses, and banana. Delicious once again, but I was still dreaming of my appetizer. The other desserts at the table were chocolate-focused. One of which I can remember nothing other than chocolate, mint, and meringue, and the other was the chocolate cream tart with bourbon raisin, smoked cinnamon, and banana. Another memorable meal, with fantastic service, and a beautiful setting. Next on my No. 9 Park go-to-list is their lunch!
(4)Dan C.
I had been psyched up for a what was supposed to be a top French restaurant, led by a top Boston chef. Frustration began when I tried to order a Captain Morgan and coke at the bar. I know Cap'n is cheapo rum, but EVERYBODY has it. Not No. 9. My request was responded with," Ohhh....wellll.....we don't have that....we have Mount Gayyyyy" Oy vey, Mt Gay is Mt Crap, it just sounds nicer than going sailing with the Captain. Then onto the dinnnuhhh. Dinner consisted of several courses of ok, but fussily prepared tiny portions. My main entree came on flat square plate, with the entree "artfully" distributed around the plate. If you have ever seen the movie "American Psycho" with the scenes in the 80's pretentious chic restaurants, you will know what I mean about the presentation. Needless to say, I left No. 9 Park hungry and unimpressed.
(2)Yue Z.
Service: 5 Food: 5 Ambiance: 4.5 I came here for vday dinner, so this review could be a little biased. We had a reservation but our table was not quite ready when we walked in, so we sat in the waiting/bar area for 10 minutes or so. They then took us to a nice table facing out the window. I was a fan of that fact that they put the two of us at the two edges of a four person square table, instead of the typical rectangular-face-each-other deal. We ordered a bottle of Syrah for $70, very decent and easy to drink. They have a very extensive wine last with all types of prices, but I didn't see anything lower than $60. We had the 3 course menu. I had the foie gras, farm chicken, and Friend Carnaroli Rice Cake. My favorite was actually the farm chicken, made with escargot, pithivier, and farm egg. The skin was just the right amount of crispy, and the meat very juicy. The foie gras was melt in mouth delicious, and the bread perfectly toasted. The cranberry added more depth and character for the flavor. The rice cakes were crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. Although I was already stuffed by dessert, I still made room for all of the dishes. I am typically not a fan of sweets, but I definitely enjoyed this one. They even gave us a free dessert and cookies at the end! I loved the food at this place, though the bill does rack up quickly!
(5)Vivian H.
I was about 20 minutes late to our anniversary dinner (oops rush hour traffic on the T...) but they were nice enough to hold our table. And give me a bandaid since I made myself bleed a little running in my heels (sigh). Boyfriend and I got the prix-fixe menus because we're not quite ready for the tasting menu at this point in our lives yet :) OYSTERS ON THE HALF -- moans and groans from the boyfriend are a pretty good indication that these oysters were goooood. PRUNE STUFFED GNOCCHI -- omg the foie gras was so ridiculously good, and with the light gnocchi and the almond.. mmmmm.. GRILLED SWORDFISH -- wonderfully cooked, good portions, and those little croutons were surprisingly good! MILK-FED PORCELET -- can't taste the milk-fed-ness and didn't find this dish to be out-of-this-world but it was decent... BLACK COCOA TORTE -- the curry ice cream & the pb actually worked well with the cocoa, though the torte itself wasn't very sweet/chocolatey PANNA COTTA -- yumm loved the bruleed bananas and the oats and getting everything in a single bite was like a wonderful little experience Service was really outstanding. Not only because they held our table but because they were patient with how indecisive we were with ordering, very knowledgeable while answering our questions, and super courteous throughout the meal. And then when boyfriend left a book under his seat, they sent a valet to chase us 2 blocks around the corner to return it. The service definitely bumped it uo to 5 stars.
(5)IamInthebiz ..
If you have not tried one of Chef Barbara Lynch's restaurants - this a great place to start. I have eaten here on several occasions and it is always fantastic. The bartenders make everyone feel welcome and can make a drink suitable to anyone's taste. The service is five star all the way (Thank you Matthew!) and never a rush. Make sure and inquire about "The Cheese Cart". Many finish with this but my girl-friend likes to begin the experience with this and what is not to like about cheese, especially cheeses like these. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation ASAP!
(5)Capt k.
This is a nice little restaurant situated right next to Boston common. The hostess place us on the side that over look the park witch is nice. Candle light romantic but it does not compare to looking at the sunset while we enjoy our food. The stuffed gnocchi is decent however it not light as I though it would be . Ok, this is all Tom Colicchio's fault. Watching too many episodes of top chef, I was expecting something light as cloud. I guess he is right. The dough is overwork when they stuff the prune. However the Foie Gras is perfectly cooked and is delicious. We split the duck as our 2nd course. The breast is really tender and confit is very flavor. The mushroom gastrique is a bit week and the sour cherry add a nice touch to the dish. My third course is beef trio (rib eye, short rib and bone marrow). The short rib and boasted bone marrow is delicious. The rib eye is perfectly cooked however the oyster hollandaise is a raw oyster and it overwhelm the beef and left my mouth a very very foul taste. I have to drink lots of wine to get rid of the raw oyster taste. Panna Cotta is a bit too firm for my personal liking, The peach spiked with alcohol is just ok. The staff are extremely friendly. However, the service is not impeccable. There are too many small mistakes during dinner (ie. don't explain the dish when the food is served, rusted knife, misplaced my credit card receipt and accuse me that I lost it on purpose, long wait to refilled my hot water.) 40 dollars for the duck course is a bit outrageous
(4)Heidi O.
Came here for my birthday and do not understand the hype about this place. I love love love foie grais but this was quite tasteless. I am always excited to try new culinary experiences but realized after a bite that I am not ready to appreciate bone marrow bread pudding. The quail entree was mediocre and artisan cheese selection unimpressive for being an upscale French restaurant. My husband menu choice of beef was much better than mine. Tables were placed way to close together, you are basically sitting as close to someone in your party as to the guest at the neighboring table. Nice touch was a complementary, nicely presented birthday plate although I did not order any dessert.
(2)Eunice R.
At first I was annoyed that even though I made reservations for restaurant week, I had to wait 30 minutes to be seated. But because they were so friendly, I couldn't get mad. They took our bags and coats, and we ordered drinks while we waited to be seated. At the end of my meal, the waiter asked if I didn't like my cocktail (because I didn't finish it), I said that I did, but just didn't end up drinking a lot of it because it was so strong. He then proceeded to tell me that they wouldn't charge me for it since I didn't drink much of it. Who does this??? Excellent service to say the least. Pre-Fixe: 1) FLUKE CRUDO (marcona almond, preserved lemon, harissa) - 4 stars. 2) DAUBE DE BOEUF (macomber turnip, bacon, petite vegetables) - 5 stars. 3) BUTTERMILK PANNA COTTA (coconut, almond, mango) - 3 stars. All of the dishes were good, but not very memorable taste wise. I do however remember that the presentations for each dish was superb. So if you're looking to impress, this is your spot!
(4)David C.
Disappointing does not even begin to describe my experience at No. 9 Park. Frustrating, unsatisfying, and depressing don't quite do it justice either. Disheartening is the only way I can describe it, thanks to the monumental expectations I came in with. Then again, I came for Restaurant Week. Am I allowed to be this disappointed? At a place like No. 9 Park, I think yes. It's not that the people at No. 9 didn't try hard (with the exception of our waiter, they tried extremely hard), but the overall product continually fell short. Case in point, the rolls. I have never been to a fancy restaurant that served such lackluster bread. Considering how many reviews have complained about this, I find it quite surprising that Lynch and Co. have done nothing to change this. I went to lunch at Sportello the day before, and their bread was delicious. What gives, No. 9? That was kind of a lengthy tangent about bread, but I really don't have much to say about the food, and that in and of itself says a lot. My boyfriend and I got the RW tasting menus, complete with No. 9's signature prune stuffed gnocchi, and felt nothing. Given the restaurant's reputation, I expected the dishes to dazzle, and they simply fell flat. I also can't help but feel a little cheated over the tasting menu. Two tasting menus cost us $110 (sans tax and tip), whereas the regular RW menu would have cost us $66. There were obviously more courses in the tasting menu (you got to have both the pork and bluefish entrees, as well as the gnocchi), but the portions were downsized to such an extent that the amount of food was basically the same. We would have been better off sharing the regular RW menu and an appetizer portion of the gnocchi. That would have ran us just under $90. My last complaint, it must be said, lay with the service. While the runners and bussers made sure to keep our water glasses full and our tables clean, our actual waiter appeared to us only sporadically throughout the night. (Side note: Tipping is difficult under these circumstances. Without knowing how tips are divided at the end of the night, do I tip based on the overall service of the restaurant, or simply that of my waiter?) I felt that we were constantly overlooked by the larger tables, especially those ordering wine and drinks. Disappointment, thy name is No. 9 Park.
(2)Renee D.
Attention to detail! From the cocktails right to dessert, a perfect meal. Just the right amount of food- we got the prix fixe menu, and for the price you are getting a lot of quality. I can't say enough about how thought out and delicious the meal was, and our server and all the staff were friendly and helpful, and very knowledgable about everything they serve. We do not have them, but they are ready to adjust for any food allergy. Truly a great, great dining experience. Thanks no. 9!
(5)Satchimo D.
Great food and probably the best service I've ever had. The staff are very attentive and efficient. An enjoyable dinning experience. The food was beautifully presented and well balanced flavors. For the price the 3 course Prix Fixe is the way to go.
(4)Snuffles B.
Thumbs up for the overall experience, however, it was also an evening filled with BUTs: Atmosphere: Very casual for fine dining. Basic decor - Back room fits the mold BUT the front is stark, almost depressing. Thank goodness I requested a back banquette in advance. Service: Very good, reserved/more formal BUT not as tight as it could be. Food: Delicious BUT unoriginal, a lot of been there, done that. Everything was very good, BUT nothing extraordinary. - No Amuse? - What the heck? - Bread - Average - Corn Veloute - Silky and refreshing, The best thing we ate. - Foie - Foie always tastes good b/c it is foie, BUT nothing special about this one - Prune stuffed gnocchi - Good, light for gnocchi, really tasted more like a stuffed pasta than gnocchi. - Bass - Good BUT the highlights were really the green tomato and polenta - Duck - Perfect confit leg BUT breast was blaaaand. - Raspberry Tart - The pistachio ice cream was good BUT the tart was too tart and boring - Cheese cart - Kind of loved this - our waiter picked out a couple of great ones: the Panerello and Raypanaer were really tasty. No buts here. - Complementary marshmallow and insanely adorable micro-macaron - both were excellent, particularly the filling of the little macaron. Honestly, as a total package, this place is goodt. BUT for the 25% mark up on the true value of the experience, I think you can get a better bang for your buck at lots of other places.
(4)Danielle R.
We arrived at 7:15 and were promptly greeted by valet ($16). We walked in and were greeted by the extremely nice hostess who asked us if we would like to grab a seat in the lounge while we waited for our table. Throughout the entire night we were very well taken care of and never felt as though we were being ignored. It was a "team" service the entire night and that seemed to work extremely well, from a guest's perspective. Chris and I both ordered a glass of pinot noir, relaxed and chatted, and were whisked away to our table promptly at 7:45. As we looked over our menu and snacked on our rolls, we ultimately decided to go for the seven course tasting menu (plus cheese plate and additional course)- go big or go home, right? Moments later one of the waitresses made her way over with the cheeses. She brought out a cart that had 25 or so cheeses on it, and began to go through explaining each one. It's origin, the type of milk, etc. We selected a cheese from each "group" and as we made our selections she sliced the cheese in front of us and placed it on a plate. She then quietly made her exit, and we began to dig in. In the mean time we were also brought a plate with honey, jam, grapes, and thin bread crisps to enjoy as well. I enjoyed the majority of the cheeses, however I prefer a harder cheese, so those were my favorite. Chris enjoyed all of it - and needless to say there wasn't any cheese left on the plate when they returned with what was (technically) our first course. Course 1 - Chilled Young Garlic Soup,served with pickled cilantro & assortment of fish. The first course was a cold garlic soup, accompanied by a barely cooked piece of salmon, a raw piece of tuna, and three shelled mussels. The flavor of the soup was incredible, and had a strong garlic essence without being overpowering. The various fish and shellfish were a perfect compliment to the dish, and the flavors married well together - but then again, what does garlic not taste great with? Also, I had never in my life had mussels before. I think the reason I agreed to eat them last night was a combination of liquid courage from the second glass of wine, and security one feels when eating dishes prepared by a james beard award winning chef - mostly the wine though. Course 2 - Smoked Bluefish, Cooked to perfection - meaty & tender. Great transition from the soup. The sauce offered a little bit of heat to the dish which was a nice surprise. Course 3 - Homemade Cannelloni, with ricotta, broccoli and potato. The pasta was cooked nicely and the ricotta was perfect inside. This was, for me, the least creative - but I love pasta and I loved this. Also the presentation with the broccoli was stunning. Course 4 (Added course)- Prune Stuffed Gnocchi with Foie Gras, and almonds I mean words can't describe how good it was. Although the dish could almost be considered sweet instead of savory, the texture of the pasta was amazing - and the presentation was similar to a dumpling or ravioli rather than your traditional gnocchi. From a culinary standpoint I can say that the foie gras was tasty, however I prefer to not eat foie gras, and this dish would still have been wonderful without it. That being said, this was the most fantastic dish, and neck in neck for tastiest (#6 is definitely a contender). Course 5 - Roasted Organic Squab, served with champagne grapes and cocoa nibs. This was a trio of squab, with one piece served over a puff pastry that was filled with the meat from the leg. The meat was the perfect temperature, and was very juicy. The consistency of the meat reminded me of duck, which is a favorite protein of mine. This was actually my first time having squab, and I didn't hate it :) Course 6 - Prime Beef Ribeye (poached in duck fat), served with brown butter and green tomatoes. I didn't even feel guilty about eating this dish because I know I will never have something like it again, and I had decided earlier that I would be taking the stairs at work for the next week. The only way I can describe the flavor is this - think about eating the fattiest part of a piece of bacon - how good that tastes. Now imagine if you were biting into a peace of steak, and bite after bite oozed this flavor, while still presenting itself like a regular old rare filet. I'm literally drooling while typing this. Course 7 - Homemade Red Currant Sorbet with lime- Nice flavor, and a little more on the tart side. This came as a little shocking to my pallet after what I had eaten as the previous course. Course 8 - Vannilla Cremeux, with aged balsamic, brioche ice cream, brioche tweel, & peach. Delicious! Great texture, great flavor, amazing way to conclude the meal. And as far as presentation is concerned, it was stunning. Overall this was my favorite collective culinary experience. The food was incredible and I truly enjoyed not only everything I ate, but the professionalism of the service, and overall kindness of everyone we encountered.
(5)Bex M.
Barbara Lynch does it again! It's the holidays so we went with the holiday lunch menu, and once again, I was blown away by the food. I was full after my appetizer but had to make room for the other courses to come. We basically sampled the whole menu and there was only one dish that I was meh about: the chestnut corzetti. My main entree, flat iron steak was delicious and the potato mille-feuille was divine. I'm all for super adventurous and was impressed with the coconut curry sorbet. It threw my senses into a frenzy, but was a tad too rich for me. By far, the best foie gras in Boston. Get it before they ban it like in California!
(5)sasha h.
4.5 stars. To this day I can never forget the prune stuffed gnocchi and orange wine. I come here quite a bit for client dinners, various special occasions and to just hang out at their bar. They have specials pretty often where for like $50 bucks you can get a pre-fix in their lounge - food isn't as good as normal but plenty good for a night out with friends. Add yourself to the mailing list so you know these types of events come up. Much like boston, this place is historic. It feels a little stuffy and old world but you get used to it. Service isn't slow per se but they definitely take their time. I've asked on multiple occasions to speed it up. They staff is attentive and has always made great recommendations. Love the cheese, always incredible. Definitely make your way here if you haven't already, its one of Boston's top 10 restaurants, hands down.
(4)Raymond W.
I thought that it would be appropriate that I made my 500th Yelp review for No. 9 Park. You see, I went to school at BU and the 4 years at BU was what made me into the "foodie" I am today. The holy grail of restaurants was No. 9 Park which has the local celebrity chef to boot and after 4 years at Bu, I wasn't able to crave out the budget to try out No. 9 Park. After moving back to Boston last year, I finally made it a mission to try No. 9 Park out. After a few failed attempts to snag a restaurant week reservation, I finally decided to just cave and go with a few BU friends who were instrumental in my food quests. The restaurant was dark and lively, especially at the bar near the entrance, but once we were seated in the dining room, the space was a lot more intimate. Something that the older gentleman and his likely mistress would appreciate at the table next to ours. The service was impeccable, coordinated, attentive, and knowledgeable throughout the evening. The prune stuffed gnocchi was rich and would made Scrooge McDuck proud minus the part of pan seared foie gras. Boston should be proud to have such a signature dish at one of the premiere dining destinations. For my entree, The hake was flaky, tender and delicate, although I think there are other restaurants capable of creating a similar dish. It was delicious nonetheless. As for dessert, it was likely the low point of the meal and my friend's dish was too smokey. Overall a must try restaurant for a special occasion.
(5)Lilia S.
Overall, we had an amazing experience. The service was superb and the food was great, in both taste and presentation. We were immediately sited and offered beverages. We were sited at a table that offered a gorgeous view of Boston Common's and the surrounding area. One downside was the A.C. It was fairly chilly at our table, which we were not prepared for. We would have probably lingered longer if it was a bit warmer. The bread served at the table was also nothing to write home about. However, that is probably a good thing as it left us hungry enough to truly enjoy the rest of the meal. The portions are fairly small. However, due to the richness of the food that is a good thing. It also ensures that you really take the time to taste and immerse yourself in the flavorful dishes. You leave the dinner full and happy but not uncomfortably stuffed. We had the 3 course Prix-Fixe menu, and we each got a different appetizer, dessert, and main course. Our server excelled in answering our questions about the different menu items and making recommendations regarding food and wine pairings. For appetizer, we tried the prune stuffed gnocchi, the Corn Agnolotti (essentially a corn stuffed gnocchi served with very fresh lobster meat), and the Native Beets dish. All were beautifully presented on the plate, with a melt in your mouth taste. For the main course, we ordered Maine Halibut, Roulade of Rabbit, and Prime New York Strip. Again, the presentation was flawless. The halibut was well prepared and flakey. The rabbit meat was very tender and delicious and so was the garnish of pistachio puree and bing cherries. The rabbit was served with what appeared to be a meatloaf, which, well, tasted like a meatloaf and personally was not a favorite. The New York Strip was delicious, but the meat cut itself was a bit tough, which was a bit surprising in a restaurant of this caliber. As to the dessert, all I can say is... amazing, whatever you choose you can't go wrong. However, the Poached Peach and the Raspberry Tart were a favorite at our table. I ordered the Coffee Éclair, frankly because I have a sweet tooth and can't resist dulce de leche. The dulce de leche sauce and coffee gelato did not disappoint. I was less impressed with the éclair itself, the pastry for the éclair reminded me of a piece of toast. Despite the above comments, I do not hesitate to give this place 5 stars and would defiantly come back for another amazing experience, albeit I might make some different selections.
(5)Sarah C.
Perfect for any special evening, as long as you're willing to break the bank. It's worth it though! Seriously - the tasting menu...with the wine...my brain is falling over itself. Wait, brain? I mean tongue. Wait, no, stomach. All of the above perhaps? This place is incredibly fantastic - from the bar staff, to the wait staff, to the service, to the food, the view through the windows, etc. Oh and the drink - damn I can't remember it's name - it's their most popular...it takes like limeade and it has a little mint-airplane perched on the glass. Really freakin' delicious - one of the best cocktails I think I've ever had. But really, I think I would eat the prune-stuffed gnocchi every single day if I was allowed (i'm a sweet-savory fan.) And the dessert I had - black sesame mousse with a chocolate coating and chocolate cardamom sorbet. HOLY SHIT. I've never been more impressed by a restaurant dessert, nevermind a dessert that sounded like it was going to be awful. Long story short (for real this time!) go here, go here go here. Maybe only once every 5 years (cha-ching) but do it, nonetheless.
(5)Cathy G.
For the full review including high res pictures of all the dishes, go to marlboroughmash.com/2012… No. 9 Park is a gem in the Barbara Lynch portfolio of restaurants. This French / Italian place sits on a slope in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. The interior is small and cozy, dimly lit and rather spartan with the starched white table clothes and very little else. My dining companion and I both ordered the Chef's Tasting menu which is a 7 course prix fixe dinner for $112-a bargain in hindsight given the price and quality of the ingredients used. I also opted for both the optional supplementary dishes-a foie gras dish and a prune stuffed gnocchi dish. Another highlight is the service-the servers were warm and unobtrusive, never haughty. My wine glass was quietly taken away and my bread roll replaced...all without my notice-a certain sign of meticulous service. Overall impressions: top notice ingredients and excellent preparations. The first two seafood dishes were delightful starters. The raw scallops were wonderfully sweet and sat in a uniquely exquisite green apple consome-it's bright fruitful flavor was distinctly apple and paired with the mild scallops well. There were also two tiny pieces of uni in the dish that lent a nice creaminess to the dish. The next dish, the lobster dish, was also a home run. The sweetbreads were the best I've ever tasted...just barely breaded, allowing the very special taste of the sweetbread to shine. The cabbage gave the rich dish nice balance with its tart flavor and crunchy texture. The chestnut cortezzi was a little disappointing after the first two dishes. Well executed but I found it to be too heavy on the butter and rather bland otherwise. The prune stuffed gnocchi was also rather bland. I probably would not order this supplement next time. Note: it does include a small piece of foie gras. The foie gras was your standard foie gras and came served with two pieces of a very dense sausage. A good dish but nothing special. The egg and flat iron steak where both delicious dishes. The flat iron steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and was moist and superbly tasty. A standout dish. Before serving, a rich beef broth is poured over the steak which enhances its flavor greatly-I actually wanted to drink the broth, it's that good. The dessert (we skipped the cheese dish...we were both getting very full by this point) included a sweet potato "sorbet" that was extremely creamy and not icy at all. It was very pleasant and cooling and very mildly sweet. The main dessert was cranberry clafoutis which was absolutely delicious although I detected no miso. Dinner finished with petite fours...orange madeleine cookies and raspberry (I think?) fruit squares. Conclusion: A wonderful experience. The restaurant is quite romantic but I did see a larger business group there as well. Food and service are both top notch and more creative than I had anticipated (especially the apple consume). If I were to go again, I would certainly get the prix fixe menu but probably would not get any of the supplements (or perhaps share the foie gras dish). Without the supplements, expect to leave the restaurant full but not about to burst (ala PerSe).
(5)Lisa S.
I'm updating this review because I had the chance to do their tasting menu last week! For my friend's birthday, I decided to take him to No 9 Park. I told him that if he wanted to do the tasting journey, I'd contribute money towards it as his bday present. He decided to go for it! No 9 Park was great about accommodating a birthday. They let me put my credit card on file before the dinner, and asked me if I wanted to add tip on beforehand, or if I wanted the check dropped off at the table at the end of the meal. For the dessert course, they also wrote 'Happy Birthday Mike' on his plate and put a candle in his dessert, and wished him a happy birthday when they brought it out. It was perfect! The tasting menu itself was a blast. I've only done a tasting menu once before, at L'Espalier. The menu at No 9 Park is 7 courses ($112), and changes weekly. In addition, you can add on 2-3 more courses for $16 each (the foie gras, prune stuffed gnocchi and cheese course). We opted to add 2 courses: we shared the foie gras & prune stuffed gnocchi for one course, and the cheese course. We asked the waitress some advice for a red wine that would go with most of the courses, and she pointed us to wine I hadn't heard before, for only $50 (quite cheap for their wine list!). She told us it was one of her favorites, and it definitely worked well with all the courses. We also ordered a round of cocktails before the meal- my friend went for a drink made with foie-gras washed bourbon, and I went for a drink with tequila. Both were tasty. Our courses, very briefly from memory were: sashimi, monkfish, whole wheat pasta with ricotto, prune stuffed gnocchi + foie gras, quail, ribeye, cheese course, ginger soup, dessert (fennel sorbet). I have to say that I'm not a fish person, but the monkfish course blew my mind. The sashimi was a close 2nd, and the ginger soup was another favorite. Everything we had was good, but I was a bit disappointed in the meat courses- they just paled in comparison to the other ones. The pace of the meals was perfect, and the service was great, as usual. Overall, it was a great meal with no real complaints (besides the sticker shock at the end of the meal, when your check arrives!) The tasting menu at No 9 Park is definitely something everybody should try to do once. Fantastic experience!
(5)Shaloo S.
Overall I would say this was a good place - attentive service, good ambiance and location, good menu and cocktails. The actual food left something to be desired - but my caveat is that I am a vegetarian.
(4)Shea D.
*deep breath* I asked...SHE SAID YES!! :D *jumps in the air* After the pacing back-and-forth "will you PLEASE just look at what's waiting for you on the door already?!?" part was over, we mosey'd (skipped, jumped for joy, what have you) on over to No. 9 Park for the best engagement dinner one could possibly hope for. I learned on Thursday morning that I was taken off the waiting list for a Friday evening table for two, and I asked them in advance if they wouldn't mind bringing out some celebratory champagne after we'd sat down and before we received our menus. That's it. That's all I asked for. Here's what they gave us: - the best table in the house overlooking the entire Boston Commons, the State House, and a view of the entire city - the celebratory champagne ON THE HOUSE - multiple congratulations from pretty much everyone on staff - the words "congratulations" written in chocolate syrup on both of our dessert plates when they were brought out - incredibly attentive and wonderful service !!! No. 9 Park really helped make this an absolutely perfect night for both of us. We both did the 3-course prix-fixe meal with an accompanying wine pairing. For the first course I went with the Maine lobster and she had the stuff gnocchi (and she doesn't even like gnocci that much!). Both were absolutely divine. I was worried that there was no way the second course could follow the lobster I'd had, but I was very much mistaken. I've never had better chicken in my life...ever. It fell apart like well-cooked salmon does when I attempted to cut a piece, and it was incredibly delicious. She went with the scallops, and they were probably the best scallops we've ever had. There's nothing I can say about this night that can do it justice. As I told my (now) fiancée, I wanted to show her a glimpse of the kind of life we're working toward despite the temporary long distance, law school for her, the grueling federal hiring process for me, etc etc, and No. 9 Park was one of several factors that really made that a success. It was worth every penny!
(5)Michael C.
Dined at No. 9 Park for restaurant week for their tasting menu. I decided to go for the 5 course tasting instead of the standard 3 course for $55. The only advantage of the 5 course is the variety of items you get to eat, the portion for the 3 or the 5 course is actually about the same. Overall I really liked it but I don't know if I would run back I had: Smoked Salmon Rilletes - Not having tried anything like this before I woulld almost call it a salmon tar tar. Pretty tasty. Native Bluefish - Great fish, cooked perfectly. Prune Stuffed Gnocchi - I was really looking forward to this dish. Sadly you only get 3 Gnocchi's in the order. It was my favorite dish. Pork Shoulder Confit - It included what look like pork cooked 2 ways. One looked pulled the other was a tender chunk. If you like pork you will enjoy this. Creme Fraiche Parfait - eh... If it wasn't included I wouldn't have got this one. Refreshing and light but bland.
(4)Cody S.
Took my girl for a surprise getaway to Boston, and this place kept popping up on all my searches for a nice romantic restaurant. Once the concierge at our hotel confirmed this was the place to be we made reservations. I must say I was NOT let down. This place was amazing !! we arrived a tad early and sat in the lounge and had a drink while they prepared our table. Which by the way, they career non mainstream liquors that were out of this world. Because we waited an extra 10 mins, the staff took care of our drinks which was sweet. For those who aren't used to fine dinning, like us, the menu was a bit confusing at first . You have two options, either take on a 7-9 course meal, which you can include an optional wine tasting, or go with the classic three course. Of course you can pick each entree a la carte, but its not the way to go. If your on a romantic date, take on the 7 course. Thankfully our awesome waitress Abby walked us through the process, even helped me choose the perfect wine, while allowing me to try a couple other options. the staff there was phenomenal, matched only by the food. This may sound cheesy, but for the first time in my life, I understood what all the food critics talked about when they describe food. I had the Gnocchi app, with the beef entree. The flavors danced on my tongue and lingered there for what seemed forever, I kid you not, after tasting the gnocchi, I was literally lost for thoughts and words, and only the flavor existed for a few moments. AMAZING. Staff was awesome, helped me understand how to eat the Bone Marrow in a smart way, the food was pricey, but worth it. And they definitely live by the value of " we are here to feed them, not fatten them" The portions were perfect, I didn't feel like I ate a lot, but I was very satiated. If you have the cash, I would recommend this to anyone, even if its out of your way, place is great !!
(5)Catherine D.
I had the prix fixe: stuffed gnocci with foie gras to start, wild boar, and chocolate macaron to end. My manfriend and I were here to celebrate his birthday. The service was great (waitress with curly hair had great timing and noticed when I was getting cold, amazing). The ambiance--modern/classic? And of course, the dinner was delicious. Sadly, I was too full to finish my main and dessert.
(5)Brenda P.
Had an 8:30pm reservation and got seated at 9:00pm. The place was buzzing with activity. It has a conservative modern decor to it. Mostly grays with random pops of color here and there. A waiter came by to take drink orders while we waited and all I asked for was a ginger ale which must have stumped him because he took almost 10 minutes to bring it. By the time he did, we were on our way to our table and We were going to order a wine bottle anyway. Had the Chefs tasting menu which was 5 courses and upped to 7 with an added cheese course and an added gnocchi or foie gras options. It ended up being way too much food. I was having a really hard time finishing it! Phew! Quite a task. My faves were the salmon tartare, the gnocchi and the ox tail. Ox tail! Who would have thunk it? Certainly not my usual! The cheese course was spectacular as well. The dessert left a lot to be desired though. Overall, the food was really great. It ended up being a little over $ 500.00 with tip including a bottle of wine and the supplements to the tasting menu. Certainly not cheap but worth it for a special occasion I would say. 4 stars because of the wait, drink hold up, cold bread (though I did ask for it to be heated) and lackluster dessert!
(4)William M.
This past weekend my family and I had the pleasure of dining at No. 9 Park and boy did it deliver in more ways than one. This place is a foodies dream! Our servers name was Kimberly and she did a fantastic job. She was very knowledgeable about the entire menu and extremely knowledgeable about wine. She recommended we all do the chefs tasting and we took her advice and we were all so impressed with the taste and presentation of each dish. In my opinion this is the only way to dine at an establishment such as No. 9 Park. Let the chef make the decisions for you. All you need to do is get a drink and sit back and relax. Although all of the dishes were delicious I do have to point out the fresh crab, hearts of palm, apple and pumpkin seed ash dish... PERFECT. So simple and so elegant, a perfect way to start any meal. I do have to say that I rarely take the time to write reviews however; in this case I have decided to take the time. You see when dining at an establishment such as No. 9 Park, impeccable service is expected. But when impeccable service, in this case, is met with someone going so above and beyond it needs to be recognized. Let me explain... On our way in I noticed that my car was warning me that I had low tire pressure, and I really thought nothing of it cause the sensors are so sensitive. After the conclusion of our delicious dinner we routinely went to valet to reclaim my car. The valet informed me that when they went to get my car, the left rear tire was reading 0 tire pressure so they routinely did what any valet service would do and brought my car to a garage and had it fixed!!! I couldn't believe my ears and never in a million year would I have expected that be done. So on top of an unbelievable dining experience is followed up with this experience with the valet team. Take it as you want, maybe a random act of kindness or just some of the best customer service I have ever experienced. If I could give this review an extra star I would. Cheers!
(5)Daniel Y.
I thought it was one of the best fine dining places in Boston. The gnocchi was out of this world.
(5)Kathy A.
So happy that I finally got to try out No. 9! I would say it is a 4.5 or so. Very close to a 5 star review with just a few minor complaints. I absolutely love the ambiance to the place. It is very cozy, dimly lit, but not to the point that you can't see anything. The service is very good with everyone being incredibly attentive. A friend and I went to try it out and we both opted for the 3 course prix fixe. We have very similar taste so we ended up ordering the same thing for each course. To start we, of course, had the prune stuffed gnocchi. Considering every other review on No. 9 I don't think I need to elaborate much on this dish. It is exquisite and I absolutely understand what all the hype is about. For entrees we had the bacon wrapped pollock with lobster and américaine sauce. It was also very good. It was three small pieces of fish with chunks of lobsters beneath covered in the delicious sauce. It wasn't as heavy as I expected which was a pleasant surprise. Finally for dessert we had the chocolate gateau with black sesame ice cream and cocoa nibs. It was a delicious dark chocolate flourless cake topped with a shiso foam which, go figure, was very light and airy but didn't really add anything to the dish. The black sesame ice cream was amazing. I know it sounds a little scary, but the flavor was very delicate and just plain YUM. Beneath it was the cocoa nibs which were quite good and a great contrast in texture to the ice cream. As I said before the service was great. Our waitress Kerri was sweet and incredibly good at describing each dish and helping us make decisions. They were very good about keeping our water glasses full and constantly resupplying us with bread. This is the only restaurant I've been to where I couldn't eat my bread fast enough before they were ready to bring me another piece (and I eat A LOT of bread when I go out and FAST). Only problem was the bread itself wasn't anything special and you expect it to be nice and warm and steaming when you break it open and instead it's just plain cold. Overall, fantastic experience and if I were rich I'd be going back many more times.
(4)Russell B.
Simple, yet elegant interior. Service was precise yet warm and friendly. Wonderful food. It's [subtly] fabulous.
(5)David T.
FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY I got to try No. 9 Park!!! As a grad student with a not-so-high paying job, who eats out FAR more than he should as it is, I wanted to wait for restaurant week to treat myself to Barbara Lynch's signature restaurant. After scheduling conflicts interfered with the past several restaurant weeks, I just had to get to No. 9 this time around. I called 3 weeks in advance for a reservation and had to be wait-listed. A Wednesday night (7.30pm) slot opened up and when they called me I gave them an orgasmic YES. Since I got the reservation from being wait-listed I expected a mediocre table but that was not the case at all. My friend and I were pleasantly surprised with a wonderful corner booth. Service was top-notch from the moment they took our coats at the door. The courses were perfectly timed and the bread and water were constantly refilled. Now on to the real excitement; the food. Mind you, this was the RW menu so some items may differ from a normal meal here. *1st Course: Terrine of Foie Gras (served with langue de boeuf, housemade sauerkraut, soft pretzel). I usually prefer my foie gras seared but this was a nice presentation and extremely velvety. The tongue was very tender and the sauerkraut was mild and slightly tangy. In fact, I usually hate sauerkraut but their's was delicious. The Dijon mustard that accompanied gave a nice bite and the pretzel balls were adorable. *2nd Course: Crispy Pork Belly (served with sweet pea veloute, bacon jam, sauce gribiche). Pork belly is always flavourful and No. 9's was no exception. The crispy layer on the top gave a nice texture in contrast to the fatty middle. Could have been a bit more tender but, especially as a result of the bacon jam, the dish was still a winner. Bacon jam you say? Yes, yes, OH YES. I have never heard of such a thing and now I never want to forget it. Such a unique twist on bacon and an even more unique twist on jam; it was fatty (in a good way), salty, sweet and savory all at once. Texturally it was more like a marmalade but these are mere semantics. If you ever have a chance to try it you must. You will love it, and if you don't you are crazy. *3rd Course: Chocolate Torte (served with malt, caramel, cocoa nibs). Cake was extremely moist with a rich chocolate flavour. Cocoa nibs added a nice crunch and the caramel was smooth and very buttery. Portion was just the right size to end an extremely rich and exquisite meal. No. 9 Park is a special place and deserves it's reputation as one of Boston's premier fine dining establishments. I will certainly return one day now that I have been teased with the delights they have to offer. A meal here is an unforgettable experience.
(5)Clif P.
My wife and I had a good meal at No. 9 Park. We had the chef's tasting menu (adjusted to be pescatarian), and had a few beers and cocktails. While the food was good, I can't give it more than 3 stars for a few reasons: 1. My expectation was a restaurant that would compete some of the top NYC and Chicago tasting-menu spots I've been (Alinea, Moto, L2O, Le Bernadin, wd-50, etc.) No. 9 Park wasn't anywhere near the level of these restaurants. 2. I was not a fan of the 'optional supplement' part of their tasting menu. I think that if I'm paying hundred of dollars for the chef's vision of a tasting menu, include everything. Besides that, the prune gnocchi wasn't anything special (which means a lot coming from someone who loves gnocchi). That being said, I would recommend this restaurant to those looking for a nice meal in Boston, however, skip the tasting menu, save the money, and order what you want.
(3)Jennifer D.
I used to think that No. 9 Park was a fancy, special occasion, super high end restaurant. I wasn't entirely wrong, but I've since had many chances to stop by after work, or on a Sunday, or just any random day, and sit at the bar and banter with the bartenders, and enjoy a few expertly made cocktails. No. 9 Park is some of the best food in the city. But it is not pompous. It is friendly and fun when that's what you're looking for, or elegant and special, on those occasions when you want to celebrate more serenely. The service is top-notch, and the food (again) is beyond compare. I enjoyed a 4 hour lunch this past December, and I'm still reminiscing about it. It has become my local neighborhood bar, even though there are several watering holes that are much closer to my apartment. If you sit at the bar, keep an eye out for Tyler, who has an outstanding ability to shake the heck out of a cocktail shaker.
(5)Christina R.
This restaurant never disappoints! The chefs tasting menu is to die for. It is always creative and delicious with just the right amount of food. We had a spectacular meal but with that comes a hefty price tag, of course. Come for a dining experience, not just a meal but be prepared to spend a lot of money!! It was worth it though. The prune gnocchi were amazing as was the artichoke course and the desserts were very interesting. Mint ice cream made with fresh mint . . . There is a difference!! It was fantastic!
(5)Lorrie M.
Hello my new love. No.9 Park, you are spectacular. I never expected this, in fact, when I was walking around Boston earlier, I passed by this place and thought to myself, how odd that it looks so small inside. I never expected to be completely wow'd by my experience here. To speak of the bar, when you order a drink at your table, your waitress brings it to the table in the shaker, shakes it up at the table, and pours it into the glass. Who does that? It was awesome and fun! Their cocktail menu is very creative so you definitely can go nuts here (along with the selection). Now the food ... and probably you already know this but the gnocchi was out of this world. My bf doesn't even usually like gnocchi, stuffed, or anything with cream sauce since he feels that it's typically too heavy but my GOODNESS was it good. Winner for sure. I also had the pleasure of tasting their regular foie gra dish which was very delicious and well paired. I got fish dishes and they were very well cooked with the flavors balancing perfectly. Even dessert was phenomenal. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was upscale but relaxed. I felt like I could laugh and it would be okay! I really, thoroughly, absolutely enjoyed this place and at $69 for a fixed price menu, count me in!
(5)Caitlin A.
The boy took me here to celebrate my birthday and we decided ahead of time to get the chef's tasting menu. It was a cozy, dim dining room and we sat facing out the window, looking at Boston Common all lit up for the Holidays. It made for a very nice atmosphere. It was our first time ever getting a tasting menu; seven courses and we added in the cheese plate supplement. All of the courses were very good, but only the pork shoulder blew me away completely. The service was outstanding; attentive but not overbearing. Because it was my birthday (which the boy had called to alert them of prior to our arrival), the final dessert had a candle and a beautifully chocolate scripted 'Happy Birthday'. Very classy. Overall, I was charmed and happily full when leaving the restaurant and walking back through the park. It was the perfect setting for a wonderful birthday dinner.
(4)Harri S.
Firstly, a DISCLAIMER: We went for the Restaurant Week Prix-fixe dinner menu. I have often wondered if places like this dumb-down their restaurant week menus, so as not to waste food on stingy customers. This dinner was nowhere near fantastic and definitely not what I would expect from a James Beard Foundation Award winner. I decided to go in with an open mind. SO the menu was as follows: APPETIZERS: Mackerel- Local mackerel with beets, radish, watercress and one halved fava-bean sized potato which they dared to call potato salad. What utter horse shit. Foie Gras- TOTALLY worth the extra 9 dollars. So succulent so rich. I think it's the first time in a long I had to wait a minute to articulate my feelings. This was what I had hoped for from No. 9. MAIN COURSE: Braised Short Rib (with shredded ??oxtail??)- So there was a shredded some meat along with the beef. The texture of the short rib was rather tender, but the dish was certainly over-salted. NOT the kind of amateur move I would expect from a restaurant of this caliber. Sea Bass- Served with seared calamari and tomatoes, this dish was the least enjoyable of the night for me. The skin on the sea bass was delectable. The fish itself was tough. Not a texture I would typically use to describe fish. The dish on the whole appeared to be trying to much. Jasmine green tea, basil, fennel and the kitchen sink are not all necessary to achieve taste and flare. Simplicity goes a long way. DESSERT: Raspberry tart: Very good, Had a great balance of flavors and textures wasn't too sour or too sweet. Loved the spun sugar crumbles on top! Chocolate Cake: With a classic dessert No. 9 HAS to try a lot harder than this. The candied hazelnuts were good though, as was the cherry compote. SERVICE: Yes, they were very attentive, but I've had similar service at cheaper places that tasted better. The never-ending bread rolls were a bit tough, but the softened butter was much appreciated. Like I said, maybe we got the scraps of what No. 9 normally features, but this experience really had me wondering whether 1) People like this place because it's SUPPOSED to be good, or 2) If No. 9 Park decided they had enough of a following to just do whatever.
(3)Briana C.
The waiter was fantastic. Sometimes I feel out of place/not fancy enough for restaurants like this, and usually don't understand half of what the waiter is talking about it. This one made me feel comfortable and provided interesting explanations (Wagyu beef vs. Angus beef...). The food was good, not great. In the restaurants defense, I should have ordered better. I tried some new things to find out that I didn't like them. Fig gnocchi did not have enough fig, but everything else was really good. Desserts were some of the best I've ever had!
(4)G M.
I went to No. 9 for my birthday, and the overall experience was excellent. Barbara Lynch does a great job with this restaurant including everything from the unadorned but sophisticated ambience to the intimate nature of this restaurant. The service was excellent. The staff here are attentive yet not overly attentive and are acutely aware of what you might need. In many ways, I felt they anticipated concerns and addressed them promptly. They were also extremely friendly. The food was also very good. The price is a bit high relative to the quality; however, the tilefish I had was quite excellent and I would recommend the tasting menu. We had the prix fix menu which was fewer but larger courses. I would definitely return!
(4)Marie B.
Coming from Chicago where palates are spoiled, the Prune stuffed Gnocchi was melt in your mouth delicious. I know-Prunes. That's what I was thinking after this dish was recommended by a friend. It was so good that my friend's and I dipped our bread into the gnocchi sauce. Ha! The rest of the meal was impressive. The service was ok. Our table server was great, but found it weird how they wouldn't let us order drinks directly from the bar while we were waiting for our table to be ready. We had to wait for a server who was completely slow and brought my friend's wind first and I didn't receive my cocktail until we were seated at our table. I guess it got lost in the shuffle! Other than that a good choice while in town
(4)Nate Y.
In terms of service and cuisine, Barbara Lynch has replicated this at Menton. The service at both restaurants is the best I've had anywhere. Decor obviously different; No. 9 with it's traditional, authentic old school Beacon Hill digs versus Menton's modern minimalist. clean lines in black and white. If you can, go with the chef's tasting, you can substitute dishes, and they can accommodate allergies and/or dislikes (i.e. prefer seafood or not). Yes, be prepared to spend $$$$, especially if you go with cocktails and/or wine. The cheese tray is well worth trying, even if by that point you are stuffed (which I was, and for me, surprisingly so). Just the description on the variety of fromage is worth hearing. Love the sorbet with cinnamon and basil and the complimentary bites of decadent chocolate terrine and sugared pear jelly. So I'm thinking what next? Butcher Shop, B&G Oyster, Sportello?? Hmmm.
(5)Liza K.
While on a pleasure food eating tour my husband and I decided to stop by No.9 Park for the Che'f's 7 course tasting menu. We figured why not go balls out. We did, and we were impressed. Every dish had amazing contrast, it was like a piece of artwork. The first dish came out and I was concerned that it wouldn't be enough food since each plate did seem to be small portions. I was wrong, all 7 courses left us satisfied. It helped that the courses were spaced out nicely giving us time to admire what we had just eaten. The service was spot on, after each dish was taken away a new set of silverware was placed. My only regret is what we were absolutely too full to try the cheeses. They have a jaw dropping cheese CART..yes CART...that I so wanted to wheel back to the hotel. This will definitely be a meal I remember for a very long time...not just because it was basically a $300 meal for 2people but because it was truly an "eating experience"
(5)Emily F.
I went for Summer 2012 Restaurant Week; but I have been before. Basically, OK to amazing food, not so great atmosphere, and some sketchiness with the staff and hygiene = my review. Food: Had the Air Mail champagne drink ($15 = meh), the Salmon tartar, the Gnude (nude-y = PlayDough pasta = gross), and the Cheese plate (yum). The cappuccino was delicious too. Atmosphere: The waitstaff were mixed; some pretentious, some very normal down-to-earth people. No overall complaints except... Hygiene/manners: used the lavatory as humans tend to do, and went to refill the roll of TP and noticed a giant syringe and all of its wrapper parts in the basket with the paper. OK... super gross, and super bizarre. Fair enough, the restaurant can't control what its clients do! (I am upset with whoever that particular client was). So to be helpful, I didn't act upset, just reported it to the nearest staff member (a young woman, possibly helping to manage the floor?). She looked alarmed, but did not offer any sort of apology or compensation of the sort; just ran away. So while the food is impressive, it seems weird that when a patron is concerned about the image of the restaurant, the least they could do was buy me a cappuccino. Go for: a pricey meal in a hyped-up location which ends up being delicious.
(3)Susan F.
I went in for Restaurant week while visiting Boston for a friends wedding. This place was amaZING! The food was some of the best I've ever had. Worth the splurge! I am gluten free and have mulitple allergies, they were very attentive to me and my needs. They even made me some fresh gluten free rolls, hot out of the oven. And when i asked for the recipe, they emailed it to me =) We were completely satisfied and dleighted by the experience. Wine pairings were perfect. Service was excellent! If i was local to Boston, i would have to eat there, a LOT! Compliments to Pastry Chef Jaimie on some of the best desserts i have EVER had!
(5)Mike H.
First the bad: way too warm in the dining area, evidently an issue every summer with the old building. Not what I expect with a restaurant of this renown. (Evidently a known issue in the old building, since the servers knew this, brought out water every two minutes and provided wet cloths to keep cool. SHould have told me when we made reservation and we could have dressed appropriately). Saying that, every other aspect was tremendous, from the impeccable service to the imaginative food. Server knew all of the wine pairings we had with the tasting menu, as well as the history behind some of the dishes and pairings. I had the Chef's Tasting (including wine pairing) and was duly impressed, even added in the three optional items (Prune-stuffed Gnocchi, Carpaccio, and Cheese Tasting). Highlights were the Gnocchi, Whole wheat pasta with spicy peppers and salted fish paste, and the gorgeous, funky, wonderful cheese cart.
(4)Stephanie Elena G.
The. Real. Deal. This is not only the most amazing food I've ever had in Boston but the most incredible service experience as well. I've only been in one other time, and the bartender recognized myself and a friend when he was serving in the dining room. The staff is not only friendly and operates like a well-timed and oiled machine but is also completely enthusiastic and knowledgeable about everything you are about to eat (or order when you go back, because you'll want to go back). This place is beautiful, but small. And obviously, it's a pricey meal, but worth every penny. I'll use any special occasion as a reason to go back and relish in every bite again.
(5)Daphné A.
While I am still digesting a great 3 course dinner, I want to capture my feeling about this place. Let's start by what is outstanding: The service: perfect, discreet but extremely helpful and attentive. This is probably the best place I have been in Boston where the service was exactly on that edge between being attentive to any need but not interrupting. It was better than at DeuxAve. The wine: the champagne was very good; Louis Roederer... and perfect temperature. The wine list in general was very large with a thorough variety of choice. We tried 4 different wines, that I won't describe here, but they were serve at the right temperature. The red one was poured in a decanter. And when we had a second bottle of the white we had during our appetizers, the waiters changed our glasses to avoid mixing the bottles. Also, they informed us it was a different year, so another reason to taste. It was BTW more uplifted and therefore a nice little surprise. Now, what was just good: The food. I am sorry but at this reputation and price point, you cannot be wrong. I had the gnocchi, and it was perfectly coked, but the contrast of flavors was not very harmonious. I felt the Fois gras was very good, and the dough of the Gnocchi too thick and too present. It shadowed the prune filling which therefore almost disappeared... I then had the pair of duck. It was ok, but I wished there was a tiny bit more vegetables. My meat was a bit tough, but I asked for medium well, so my mistake. The quality of ingredients is very good. No complains in general, just a slight lack of veggies to balance the textures. Then our party decided to try the outstanding cheese tray: try it it is awesome, and the waiters really know their job. I am not crazy about the toasts they serve to go with the cheese. And finally I had the vacherin for desert. I was a bit disappointed by the dessert: it didn't looked like vacherin at all in my opinion, although it tasted alright, the texture of the cake was between biscuit and sponge. I have mixed feeling about that desert. The ice-cream was fantastic and so it contrasted with the flavorless cake. So overall, it is one of the best place in Boston for sure, at this high end positioning, but there could be few improvement in perfecting the balance of flavors in the dishes. Final note, the room decoration. It is sophisticated yet neutral, the silver ware and glassware are fine and this really enhance the dinning experience.
(4)Kelly O.
The boy got me a gift cert here as a gift, knowing how much I've been dying to try it, and last night we got to get all dressed up and pop our No.9 cherry. Atmosphere and ambiance: we were clearly the youngest people there (late 20s), and the lighting was dim and cozy, classy but not pretentious. It was relaxing but still a bit formal, and I really liked the view of the garden from the dining room. Service: as has been said here, it was exceptionally professional and kind without being pretentious. Everyone was very kind and pleasant, and extremely knowledgeble about everything from food preparation to cocktails (and never hesitated to send us their good wishes). I was a bit nervous we'd be looked down since we were so young, but we were treated with respect just like everyone else (love the whole, let-me-fold-your-napkin-whenever-you-get-up). The boy's scarf somehow fell out of his sleeve at coat-check, and the hostess literally was crawling on the floor trying to find it, a level of dedication and service you don't see too often. I did notice that the older 4-top next to us got a bit more explanation and hand-holding regarding the menu (explaining how the prix fixe worked, detailing out each main course), but that may be because we were a bit more decisive about our choices and only had a few simple questions, rather than because of our age. Drinks: Love how they come out in shakers and are poured at the table. I had the pear martini which was divine, and the boy had the No. 10 which apparently the first time around had some sort of schmutz in it, so it was whisked back and replaced in the blink of an eye with a sincere apology. Very classy. Bread: I liked the unlimitedness of it, and loved the homemade butter plus salt on the side, but was a little disappointed in the rolls themselves... they were cold and nondescript in flavor. Was expecting something a bit more memorable. App: the gnocchi, of course. This was actually my first time having fois gras, and I really enjoyed the balance of this dish. It had flavors and textures unlike anything else I'd had before, and the homemade pasta was made just perfectly. I didn't think this was a life-changing dish, as many on here do, but it was definitely delicious and a well-crafted dish. I don't know that I'm a fois gras convert at all, but it worked well here. The boy had the turnip veloute with duck pastrami which was really tasty, smooth and rich full of flavor, and the pastrami was unexpected and flavorful. Main: Hake en Croute. Littered with shrimp and cockles and covered in a brown butter-parsley crust, the fish was delicious. My favorite part of this was the uni butter sauce, absolutely delectable, I would have licked the plate if I could have. The boy had the venison, which was his first (mine too) as well as his first escargot (mine too), and he enjoyed it... it was quite beefy tasting, not sure if that's normal? We don't really have much to compare this too since it was our first, but presumably it was cooked to perfection. Dessert: Baba au Ruhm. Really pretty plating, lots of different components to the plate, some I liked better than others... the cakes were a little *too* soaked with rum, but the passion fruit gelee thingie was delicious, and the banana ice cream was wicked banana-y (in a good way). Could have done without the random orange slices scattered around though. The boy had the cranberry glace which he generally liked (he's easily pleased) and I thought was interesting, not so much my cup of tea but presented nicely and excellent for what it was. Extra comped dessert, because I had recently celebrated my birthday: trio of house-made frozen yogurt, tangelo sorbet, and some kind of other sorbet (tea?) with "Happy Birthday" written at the bottom. I'm a sucker for homemade ice creams and sorbets so I really loved this, especially since it was unexpected and free (so nice of them!). Overall, it was a lovely dinner and a lovely experience, great for special occasions, and I'm so glad my sweetie gave us the opportunity to finally try this place out for ourselves. I did enjoy myself and the food, but I'm not sure if I'd list this place as one of my tops ever (I wasn't completely blown away), and likely won't be returning any time soon as I just don't have the bank (frankly, I found the prices a little high for what it was, I've found comparable quality and technique for far less, I.e. 10 Tables, Oleana, etc).
(4)Lauren D.
I dream about a childhood where Barbara Lynch packs my lunch every day for school... Alas, this was not the case. But now I have the pleasure and privelage of being able to dine at one of her several restaurants, my favorite being No. 9 Park. The atmosphere of No. 9 Park, for gourmet restaurant, has a very low-key, unpretentious feel. The service is exact but gracious. I typically eat in the bar area, but the main dining room doesn't have any uppity airs either. The food is fantastic. You seriously can't order a bad thing on the menu. And the price is well worth the quality of your meal. Hands down my favorite restaurant in the city.
(5)Katie V.
Best meal I've had in Boston. It's as simple as that. If you are getting a fat tax refund, I'd recommend blowing it on a meal at No. 9 Park. The food is exquisite. I did the tasting menu, which changes weekly. Two delicious vegetable dishes (one starring artichoke hearts, the other with cauliflower), a halibut dish that was otherwordly, then....FOIE GRAS AND FIG GNOCCHI. It deserves the all-caps. Then there was squab, which is sort of like a gamey chicken. Then "surf and turf", aka a little bit ot steak and a bit of lobster on top of a puff pastry. Then a palate-cleanser of plum sorbet before the chocolate finale. I can't think of anything bad to say about the food. The service was also excellent. Amazing wine list too, with many half bottles. It was an incredible dining experience.
(5)Marie C.
Top notch is an understatement...my husband & I have been visiting this divine restaurant for 10 years..all I can say is -- GO! The food is outstanding, well presented, and fresh..the wine list is unique and the bartender is friendly..and all of the staff are professional, kind, knowledgable, and always make us feel welcome..this is the kind of place you can go on a romantic date, or a work dinner, or a special family celebration with older children. Tasting menu is amazing..cheese plate -- an experience in itself, and, yes, the prune gnocchi are terrific!
(5)Jaime G.
I tried this place on a brief stop-over in Boston. They didn't have any reservations available but we showed up with the intention of sitting in the bar area and they kindly accommodated us with a table for two by the door. Not the best table in the house but we were happy to get in despite a full reservation book. We decided to do the multi-course tasting menu with paired wine. Both the food and wine were good if somewhat prosaic. Everything was perfectly cooked and seasoned but the amount of food on the plate was a bit on the miniscule side (and I say this as a veteran of Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay and Eric Rippert tasting menus). The runners who brought the food out of the kitchen seemed a bit light in their knowledge of some of the ingredients and where the food was sourced. The dishes were certainly the work of a competent chef. But we didn't feel as though any of the dishes surprised or delighted us, nor did it push any boundaries. A foie gras course, with a somewhat tired peanut butter and jelly riff, was presented to us as if it hadn't already been done by just about every chef back in 2005. I found the staff, without exception, to be warm and friendly But the biggest issue of the evening was that when my dining companion (who picked up the check) got his credit card statement someone at the restaurant had added a $100 tip to his bill. In a lifetime of fine dining I can't say I have ever had this happen to me. Of course he called the restaurant and spoke to the manager who was obviously very apologetic but who never looped back with a sufficient explanation of how this happened. He filed a dispute and the restaurant did end up crediting his statement later for the entire value of the check, a kind gesture. But the experience gives me pause both about dining at No. 9 Park again and recommending it to others. Bottom line. Competently prepared, somewhat interesting dishes if not cutting edge. Tasting menu is a bit too tiny in the manner of "bring back the 80's nouvelle cuisine." And be sure to check your credit card statements after you dine there!
(2)Courtney S.
The food at No. 9 Park is fabulous. The service is pretentious and snobby beyond anything I have ever experienced. During the last Restaurant Week, a fellow foodie friend called with exceptional news - she somehow managed to secure Friday night reservations for No. 9. Every Restaurant Week I'd tried to go to No. 9 and it was always - ALWAYS - booked. Getting actual reservations for a Friday night? I was thrilled. If you've ever been to No. 9, there's two sides to the restaurant - the more formal dining room to the right and the more boisterous, casual bar/bistro area to the left. We got to the restaurant, checked in, and were pretty promptly seated in the dining room. Soon, a waiter came by and gave us menus - the regular menu. No Restaurant Week menu in sight. When we inquired, he informed us that Restaurant Week was only being served in the bar. OK, so right away, this leaves me a little cold - apparently, the No. 9 dining room is simply too good for Restaurant Week. But no matter, they'd accidentally seated us in the dining room, we'd already ordered drinks, surely they'd correct this by simply making an exception for us and allowing us to order the RW menu in the dining room, right? WRONG. The hostess came over and basically told us if we wanted the RW menu, we'd need to move into the bar. Ok, that was an affront, but I suppose we would have been willing to do that. Then they hit us with the fact that it was an hour wait! When we balked, she accused us of making a mistake in our reservations (my friend insisted that she was clear in booking RW reservations) and then proceeded to tell us that we should be LUCKY that they were squeezing us in. Needless to say, we were outraged. Unfortunately, they had us over a bit of a barrel. By then, it was 9 p.m. Friday night. We were hungry and certainly the wait most other places the Friday of Restaurant Week was sure to also be an hour. So we stayed, but the bad taste of the incident stayed with us all night. I consider myself to be a bit of a foodie and pretty knowledgeable about Boston restaurants. I am not afraid to drop a few hundred dollars on a meal once and a while. I use Restaurant Week as an opportunity to explore high end restaurants that I've never visited before, and then decide if I'd like to return for the full menu sometime. No. 9 Park lost an opportunity to ever have me as a diner again, based on the attitude of the staff. Apparently, No. 9 staff isn't afraid to offend the "riff raff" enjoying Restaurant Week, because clearly they can't afford better. Again, wrong. Their loss.
(1)Scott P.
To all the staff at No. 9 Park you have it right! April 6, 2010 was the day I had been anticipating for months...no years! The moment I walked into this historic building turned restaurant I just knew it was going to be amazing. I will start out by saying my partner and I agree that this was the best dining experience we have encountered over the years. The food, wine, and service was perfection. They put the T in the word Team. Every single staff member from my team (team 2) was knowledgeable about every aspect of the meal. We arrived a bit early and took a seat in the corner bar banquette. Our hostess came by and offered the wine list and chatted with us a bit. I was gushing about how long I have waited to come and experience this restaurant in Barbara's empire. She stood for 5 minutes listening to me gush and sincerely seemed happy that we were guests that evening. Once we were escorted to our table we were put in another lovely corner booth where we could view the entire restaurant and the show that was before us. The rooms are a bit small and the place was packed so the room was a bit hot. I went to the host and asked if we could relocate due to the heat. Without question they suggested they put the air-conditioning back on and see how that worked first. They then checked on us every few minutes to ensure we were happy. And we were! I could just go on and on gushing about the food and service and it will all be true. This is just one of those experiences where you walk away feeling so happy. Like a few other guests I enjoyed the Foie Gras and Fig Gnocchi. It was presented so well and just worked with the wine. Much to our surprise the waitress even brought out a treat from the kitchen. A glass of the most delicious white wine accompanied with an extra dish from the chef. This could be something they do all the time or perhaps it was for us because they knew how much I loved the place. Regardless it was the best little touch to round out a special meal. No 9 Park, Team 2, Barbara, and everyone else who came into contact that evening you should feel very proud about the work you do! I will be sending a personal note to Barbara and look forward to her visit to San Francisco where she will hopefully be signing Stir at Omnivore Books in Noe Valley. I know she has already been there to check out the location and I pray she approves of it. Barbara if you are reading this I will be in contact with you and hopefully we can enjoy a cocktail together. Thanks again!
(5)Alaina H.
The staff is attentive without being overbearing and is quite friendly - not at all pretentious. I was impressed with Matt's excellent service, even with a full restaurant/ many other tables to attend to. I had the gnocchi and duck - both absolutely perfect. I liked how in depth the back servers described each course. Matt talked with us knowledgeably about the wine list and directed us towards great pairings. Everything about my experience at No. 9 Park was flawless. I felt like I could enjoy all my courses without being rushed.
(5)Bri T.
VEGETARIAN HEAVEN! Had the vegetarian 7-course tasting menu. Fantastic, and can't wait to go back. I'm not vegan, but was told they can accomidate that as well.
(5)Nik B.
The bar at No 9 park could be equatable to a modern-day Cheers bar. I say this only because it's homely comfortable and the bartenders treat you like an old friend. Your conversation at the bar easily becomes bar-wide conversation. Upon taking my chair at the bar, I was asked what my favorite liquors are. Of course my answer was Rye Whiskey and Absinthe, and of course, the cocktail he made me had neither of those. Instead prepared a Mezcal Sazerac for me (Arrack wash). It was exactly the type of cocktail I like: clean, bold, strong and zero vodka. It also featured flavors that I don't usually associate that way. The Arrack did a great job pulling out the smokiness of the Mezcal. It was delicious. I also shared the charcuterie plate with my buddy elleF. It featured rabbit terrine, duck riet and lamb sausage. My favorite was the lamb sausage in its salty savory goodness, especially when dabbed into the house mustard and washed down some red wine. When looking for a real Drink near Boston Common, skip the uncomfortable tourist trap of Cheers, skip the overpriced hotel bars, and come get some get some real comfort, some real drinks, and some real food at No 9 park.
(5)Jessica H.
Be prepared when coming to this restaurant to spend a good deal of money, but the food is great, and oh so worth it. Each plate came out of the kitchen looking like a piece of art. Beautiful. My dinner guests and I opted for the 3 course prix fixe in which I had the foie gras to start which was so smooth and so buttery. I really enjoyed dining here during my trip to Boston and it definitely falls into the category of one of the best restaurants I've dined at.
(5)May W.
This was such a fun tasting menu! In the end, we probably consumed 10 courses. The servers were really attentive and explained everything. The plating was also well done. Definitely try their No.9 wines. That's all I have to say. The tasting menu was amazing, and I loved the ambience and the view outside the large windows at Boston Common.
(5)Suzanne S.
My husband took me here again to celebrate my birthday. What is not to love! Perfect service and excellent food. Of course I ordered the gnocci's and my husband ordered the pistou soup, which we shared. I had the striped bass, he had a steak. Wine was perfectly paired.
(5)Mike S.
Their allergy accommodations are to die for! They made me gluten free bread - freshly baked on demand, and were happy to offer me extra, which I accepted! They also made me a custom gluten free and lactose free pastry desert which was awesome. My wife enjoyed the hand-churned butter from their Vermont cow they own (I'm serious!) Great food, very upscale, superb service.
(5)Michael N.
This is the definition of a five-star dining experience. Alas, I can only visit when the parents are in town (and, therefore, are picking up the check). But their one visit a year is worth it. You'll never eat more delicious food served by a happier, more informative group of servers. It's a pitch-perfect dining experience. A tip: sit at the bar, where you can eat dinner and converse with the extraordinary friendly bartenders, who can tell you pretty much everything about any drink you can order. I listened, rapt, as one of them described the history behind the first cocktail, and then invited us to sample his version of it. That was followed by another tasting of an egg-based alcoholic drink that was the restaurant's own creation - it sounds strange, I know, but it was remarkably light and tasty. I've never had a better cheese-plate sampler for an appetizer. Hunks of delicious cheeses, separated by animal (cow, sheep and goat) and accompanied by sweet fruits, nuts and delightfully crispy apricot-flavored crackers. That was followed by a heavenly andouille sausage pappardelle, with thick ribbons of pasta around succulent meat flavored with kale and peppers, paired perfectly with one of their excellent beer selections. It was Valentine's Day when I went, so the restaurant had a complimentary hot-chocolate bar - presided over by their pastry chef - which dispensed cup after cup of jaw-meltingly good dark and spiced chocolate drinks. Mouth-watering. And, to cap off the whole night, the chef / owner Barbara Lynch was there mingling with the guests, and couldn't have been friendlier to us when we went over and thanked her. You can't get better than this in Boston. Hell, I don't think you can get better than this in America.
(5)Karen M.
We arrived early for our reservation, and they were able to seat us right away which was really nice. I appreciate the way the restaurant foregrounds the cocktails by having them poured for you at the table by the bartender. In some restaurants you feel the point of the cocktail is to dull your senses. Here it's really part of the meal, like an appetizer, and taken that seriously. The palmyra was bracing and opened up our appetites. Beware if you are hungry, the food portions are small. My husband somehow was prescient about this and had a snack at home beforehand! I had eaten lightly all day to save my appetite--not recommended. But the food is rich and the flavors intense, which helps. One thing I don't understand, though, is why such a stingy hand with the sauces? I was rationing my sauces so there would be enough to have a little with each bite. A little more sauce would set my mind at ease. Oysters from all over the world were lots of fun, fois gras spectacularly buttery (shout-out to the brioche toast, just perfect, firm on the outside, dense and soft inside), vegetables not too raw, not too cooked, not too salty, hooray! The swordfish was done the way I asked, and the venison was incredibly tender, close to a rare beef tenderloin in consistency. The desserts were OK. Olives on the chocolate got scraped off after bite #1, the yogurt panna cotta was unobjectionable and refreshing. The service was excellent. Our servers made us feel at home and were knowledgable and not a bit arrogant about the wine. The dining room felt comfortable, cozy, a tiny bit too crowded, but on Beacon Hill that's probably unavoidable. The atmosphere and music made it acceptably romantic even when the room filled up. I hate the way most restaurants put my silverware back on the table and expect me to reuse it course after course. It's so nice finally to be in a restaurant where they know enough not to do that! I guess that sets a kind of low bar but the silverware thing has just been getting me down lately. Do I have to pay $200 per couple to get two forks? Maybe I do. The platings are artistic and done with an eye to appetizing color. One weird thing, a lot of the food is served like it was molded or squeezed out of an elastic bag in a pointy egg shape? Why? Also amusing: the butter for the bread is unsalted so it comes with a little dish of salt in case you like salted butter! I thought a 3-course prix fixe for $69 seemed appropriate for the level of craft in the cuisine. If you have the money to add extra dishes and cheeses to appease hungry appetites it's the perfect place for a celebratory dinner.
(4)aaron t.
No9 park has been around Boston for some time and is a classic location for that "special" dinner but it's also a great place just to catch up with fiends without the need to dress up and have a great time. It has a classic bar with a cozy corner to sip of cocktail beforehand or while waiting (say hi to TED), and has maybe 20 tables... The food is very fresh, local, and changes often but the favorites stay on the menu. Come here for a celebration, a special meal, a great bar experience, and if you like cheese oh my, they have an astonishing cheese platter...also a great wine list. Price is not too bad, but expect to pay around $65+ per person or more. No 9 park is a staple of the Babara Lynch group which also runs sportello, drink, menton, butcher shop, b&g oyster, and a few others... amazing group. all their places rock!
(5)Asya N.
Delicious. If you go for Restaurant Week, definitely pay the extra $9 for the foie gras. Amazing service, never a shortage of rolls, and delicious food.
(5)Barney B.
Once a chef reaches a certain level of fame, the restaurants they open start to really seem like they are 'phoning it in' - don't believe me? I give you as examples: wolfgang puck, todd english, emeril... I wrote the above paragraph in my review of a miami establishment which luckily bucked that trend. But sadly it's appropriate for this review because I think Barbara Lynch might prove my point. Simply put, at 200 bucks a head, there shouldn't be room for mediocre - but from drinks and apps, thru entrees to dessert... It all was just 'ok' - nothing bad, just.... ok. The service was pretty good, but at this price point that should be a given. Boston could be such a foodie town - and places like TW Food, Craigie on Main and Oleana prove restaurants with inventive menus can thrive in the city. But they seem drowned out by places that charge silly prices for the sheer privilege of dining. And sadly, I didn't walk out of here feeling very privileged.
(2)Chris B.
Came for a $100 lite-meal-in-the-lounge experience... kind of confused what happened. ~ Steak tartare and foie-prune-gnocchi were both excellent. The gnocchi were incredibly rich, so just the 3 I had were quite enough. Really appreciated trying the gnocchi though, as they were pretty special. Small bits of foie on top always add to the fun, and these were well cooked (lightly, really). The tartare was very creamy, which was a nice change of pace from some of the others I've been having lately. ~ Bread was unfortunate - dense, not exciting in any way, and plopped on the plate to come to rest sideways. I always laugh at other reviewers who critique the bread at places too much, but hey, someone should write something about this one. ~ Drinks were outstanding -- probably the best in the city. I tried a cocktails flight (3 mini drinks) which I can only imagine creates havoc for the team. Each cocktail came out amazingly well -- crisp, expertly composed/balanced, and with lovely herbal aromatics. Of special note is the pear martini which came out not sweet -- thankfully. I know Barbara Lynch runs Drink as well, but based off this one flight I think the cocktail service at No 9 Park is quite a lot better than Drink (and this is a bit confusing, as Drink just won a few awards in the cocktails convention down in New Orleans). ~ Panna cotta was playful -- just the right portion size and thickened up far more than I'm used to, accompanied with lots of interesting tastes (thickened sauces, etc.). A chocolate dessert (I forget the name... not a triumph, but a... blank!) was not particularly appealing to me, as it had freeze-dried miso sprinkled very lightly on top. I love miso soup, and so I think I'm a bit more attuned to the flavor than most Americans -- and so the dessert didn't come together for me; I basically just tasted miso on top of chocolate. ~ The server seemed unsure how to handle us. We were the youngest people in the room at that time (in our upper 20's!), and I got the feeling he thought we weren't buying a lot because we couldn't afford it. That's not properly true; we just weren't overwhelmingly hungry -- in fact, we didn't have a reservation, and we basically dropped by simply because it was near Park Station & my work (where I was at, unfortunately, until 10pm on a Friday night). He made several weird kind of communications throughout the night that made us feel we were getting treated differently -- not badly, per se, but kind of mismatched expectations. ~ We recognized an attending physician from Stanford neurology at the bar, which was fun. All in all, I love Barbara Lynch's places (Sportello, Drink, B&G Oyster, Butcher Shop), and I would return particularly to No 9 Park for cocktail service -- but I'm not entirely convinced I will ever choose to go for the tasting menu here. I'm also a little confused about whether Menton would be a good choice for me or not.
(4)Mary G.
[3.5 stars] My friend and I had talked about going to one of Boston's nicer restaurants, and this is the one he recommended. No. 9 Park isn't a place my foodie friends (who tend to be fond of Gastropubs and the sort of place that will serve marrow) aim to go at, so I hadn't heard too much about it. While Ultimately, the food was outshone by the service. We showed up without a reservation and asked for bar seating. We were placed in a (drafty, but otherwise comfortable) lounge, and had our drink orders taken. After waiting awhile, I was starting to wonder where our drinks were.. Shortly after a waitress arrived, and we were alerted that our drinks would be ready after we were seated. We were seated, our drinks arrived. They were light and refreshing, and it was a pleasure watching the bar tender assemble drinks for other patrons during the course of our meal. We were presented with a complimentary amuse bouche; a white cheese with butter nut squash. We decided to split a prix fixe, and buffer it with some bar plates and appetizers. The bay scallops came out, and while well-plated, nothing about them stood out. Roulade de Tete was next: crispy pigs' tails wth wax beans & whole grain mustard, served over four large slices of head cheese. The head cheese was fatty and paired nicely with the mustard, the tails were melt-in-your mouth with a well-fried crispy exterior. Definitely a good bar menu item for sharing with a friend. Foie Gras au Torchon, a thimble of rich, dense, "melts-at-your-body's temperature" foie gras with three toast points. Again, a good dish for sharing. Then there was the baby octopus with squid ink, which was a playful take on spaghetti with meatballs... pasta in a red squid ink and lobster puree sauce, with 'meatballs' of ground octopus. I did find the pasta somewhat undercooked, and the meatballs a bit tough and fishy. Perhaps not the best presentation. We were brought out a complimentary plate, from the tasting menu, 3 little raviolis each, filled with sour cream, with braised beef, and accompanied by a borscht broth. Again I felt the pasta a little undercooked, but the components of the dish paired nicely. We were prompted with the dessert menu before our main course came, then they promptly apologized. For the main course, we got the Atlantic monkfish with braised oxtail, matsutake, and celeriac. The celeriac was a nice contrast to the meaty mushrooms, fish, and 'tail. Honestly, the dish was incredibly salty and I found my self alternating between that and my water. However, when the bar tender asked how the dish was, and I said "a little salty," he immediately offered to take it back and fix that up. I asked how, exactly, would he fix it, to which he explained that they would basically make a new one. Perhaps I should have taken him up on it, I had found most of the dishes a bit too salty, but I was happy enough to finish it as is. Bete Noir was the dessert; a tasty, undercooked, low sugar brownie is the best way of describing it.. with two balls of a caramel-like accompaniment, and a quenelle of vanilla ice cream. The bartender was appreciable company, and happy to share his opinion, though we were promised some savory pate a choux that never arrived. So, in writing this review, I switched my star rating from 4 stars to 3. The service was wonderful, the food was well executed, but honestly nothing really floored me. I feel mildly odd giving a restaurant four stars when I would not insist it to my friends as a "must try," or fill with excitement when a friend insists on taking me there, as I do with Oleanna. So, it is 3 stars.
(3)Dara C.
I went several months ago with two close friends, so time--and wine--play a part in this review. Suffice it to say, everything was fantastic. We three did the chef's tasting, which we paired with champagne. No, no special occasion. Just a Thursday, and the rare experience of being flush with cash for once. The food was incredible. The first course was so simple, just fresh garden vegetables with a simple green goddess dressing. The flavors were so clear and fresh, I wanted to cry on them (but my salty tears would have ruined everything.) I remember clearly holding an asparagus spear and staring at it, smiling, glad for its existence. Following was a good fish course (pardon me, I forget the fish but it came in a delicious, creamy green soup.) Then the legendary prune-stuffed gnocchi, which deserves its reputation. The foie gras was rich and decadent, the prunes nicely sweet, the Vin Santo a perfect flavor. There was lamb, also perfectly-cooked, and then pork belly. Omfg. I'd never had pork belly but this was like bacon's hotter older sister. So well done, fatty and juicy. It melted away on my tongue. Dessert was a chocolate-dusted beignet, which was good but not terrific. Then again, I don't like chocolate. BUT we were given a complimentary dessert wine that was perfect. (Again. Perfect. How many times have I said that? Stop GUSHING, Dar. It's not attractive.) The food was simple but beautiful, and not fussy in the slightest. Nor was the service; our server was warm and attentive without being obtrusive. Even the backwaiters were great, with nary a water glass unfilled. The ambiance was dim and old-money. Crisp tablecloths, warm candlelight, Boston Common glowing right outside the windows. How could you not enjoy that? I didn't find it claustrophobic at all. Must go back for drinks. I'm sure they too would be perfect. Five stars: food, ambiance, service, wine, and the ability to make me regret the eight months I was vegetarian, because I wasn't enjoying pork belly the entire time.
(5)Katharine O.
I'm not sure you could call this a meal when you only take 12 bites the entire night of 3 courses.... BUT aside from that.... Foie gras: absolutely delectable. Gnocchi (not the prune filled it ...wasn't on the Restaurant Week menu), was pretty good, though I've had better in Italy....and my Mom's kitchen. Chocolate Napoleon: Did not overly impress me, do not recommend it. Drinks were ok, wine list was incredible, as was the waitresses 2 minute shpeel about each bottle of wine. Service was ok, our particular waitress let her expression show a LITTLE too much on her face, so for instance, when you're disgusted, you should attempt to hide it. Menu was falling apart, when I'm paying a thousand dollars for dinner, I want my menu to stay together and I also do not want to be bumped into, kicked or elbowed every time a waiter or waitress walks by when I'm sitting on the aisle. I definitely do not weigh that much that I was THAT much in the way. Definitely will not ever go back here as it is entirely over priced for what it is, but I suppose the experience was alright.
(3)Hugh K.
I've been going to No. 9 almost since the month it opened because my once-monthly book group at the Athenaeum is right around the corner. I'd say 95% of my visits are for appetizers in the bar, and that's what I continue to recommend. For the first decade I think the staff was almost unchanging, which says a lot of good things about the restaurant. The food has never been less than delicious, and the drinks, though a little less spectacular now that John Gertsen has gone to Drink, are very fine indeed. The staff seems to turn over more regularly now, and the policy on reserving seats in the bar area seems to change more than the local weather, but the food, wine and desserts, as expensive as they are, never fail to impress me.
(4)Yb W.
No. 9 Park has to be one of the most innovative and cutting edge restaurants in Boston! The trend in haute cuisine seems to be to borrow from international influences, but to keep the presentation and cooking techniques decidedly European (keeping it upscale). No. 9 Park more than succeeds in this undertaking. Our dinner started with a trio of cocktails: a refreshing Palmyra, pear martini, and the No. 10 (tasted like spiked cough syrup). Noticeably absent was an amuse bouche. Instead, we launched right into the first course: the foie gras and prune gnocchi. The foie gras was seared crisp, but the inside remained luxurious. The gnocchi's were little puffs of heaven with sweet prune filling and accented with shaves of foie gras. The portions were small, but still filling because of the rich ingredients. I was especially hungry that day. I had hoped for gluttonous portions and was sorely disappointed when I was served more tastefully sized main courses. Our venison loin was petite, as was the side of polenta. The venison had been dusted with cumin and cooked medium rare. The result was melt in my mouth tenderness. There were also two little spoon shaped mounds of swiss chard which were oversalted. The highlight of my evening was the pork belly! Oh my, the pork belly! I could gush about it all day. It was amazing. The skin was crispy and the fat melted in my mouth. And if my arteries were not clogged enough, there was double fried pork rind on top. All this decadence bathed in a homemade kimchi and brussel sprout consumme. Kimchi? As in stinky fermented cabbage? Doesn't sound appetizing? Well, it was divine-I would gladly die choking on pork belly and kimchi! Discussing dessert at this point would be anticlimactic. But to be fair, dessert was delicious. I had a luscious fig cake with ginger ice cream, graham cracker crumbs, and caramel brittle--all as separate elements on the plate. We also shared a chocolate pudding/jello thing which was almost as good. The restaurant's décor is muted and elegant. The service was more casual than at many other restaurants of this caliber. Nevertheless, service was always courteous and my water glass was never half empty for too long. In sum, No. 9 Park is a treasure. It must be exhausting for Chef Lynch to continually update the menu while keeping it up to snuff. Kudos to her!
(5)Jungmin L.
The foie gras/prune stuffed gnocchi is WAY WAY overrated. I find the flavors unbalanced; too tart, not enough grease to tone down the sharpness. Dough was not seasoned enough. Even in the top stars of Paris they served me more foie gras than these miniscule dumplings. Overall, considering the food, atmosphere, price: way overrated. I'm still a fair person though- Despite their stuck-up service and overpricing, their food is quite level to L'espalier and warrants the same number of stars as a top kitchen in Boston.
(4)Josh P.
Chef made an amazing gnocchi dish with truffle oil as a vegetarian option.. Exceptional.
(5)Carla B.
Another expensive, disappointing meal. Granted, the room is beautiful, the service impecable, and the menu seemingly interesting. Best part of the meal were the warm buns we were initially served. First off, no amuse bouche. I have eaten at many fine dining establishments and this was the first time that there was no complimentary treat from the chef. Pretty tacky considering how pricey it is. The food lacked flavor. The portions were miniscule. We shared a number of dishes, making our own tasting menu (they only serve a 7 course). Both the fish (black cod) and the meat (lamb) were ordinary, and they both had the same exact chopped green vegetable as their underpinning. Was there a special that day at the market? For that kind of money, I expect inspired cooking. It was quite obviously lacking.
(2)Rob D.
I was just at #9 again last night, after a long absence...I can't let that happen again. This place works two ways: as an excellent bar to meet friends/dates/business colleagues/whatever (but, not your mom, probably), and as an excellent place to bring someone for a nice evening. Everyone there knows their stuff - the wines are excellent, the food is superb, and it has one of the best cheese servings in the area. (Seriously - even if you know cheeses, pretend you don't and feel your eyes get huge when they wheel that big cart out.) Also - Steak tartare. Second to none. Honestly, its that good. (Screw the mad-cow thing.) It is pricey though, so expect two reasonably hungry adults and a bottle of Valpolicella Classico Superiore Palazzo della Torre ('94) to set you back a few hundred... well, hell, what else were you gonna do with that money? Pay mortgage to The Man? Hah.
(5)Nathan W.
The food was pretty good, but maybe I'm a fatso because I wasn't full after. Food was expensive but was definitely worth it.
(4)Cathy M.
My favorite restaurant on the planet. I have never had anything here that wasn't wonderful. We do the tasting menu with our best friends every holiday season, and despite the staggering bill, we consider it a perfect evening. The cocktails are absolutely perfect. I am partial to their Cosmopolitan, the best I have ever had anywhere, and the Palmyra (I've been trying unsuccessfully to duplicate that one at home for about a year now). The wine list is great. And the food....well, the food is pretty much in a class by itself. I do not like fish, yet here I have eaten it many, many times - once I even had skate wing. The short ribs I had about 4 years ago are still discussed on a regular basis. The service is always excellent, but not overbearing or pretentious. We have gone to dinner here in dressy clothes and also in khakis, and have always been treated exactly the same. A couple of years ago, Tom Brady and Bridget Moynihan sat at the table next to ours. Even though EVERYONE knew who it was (people walking by on their way to the restrooms were getting whiplash), not one person bothered them. And they got the same exact service and treatment as the rest of us - flawless.
(5)Emily G.
I know it's boring when everybody's right, but everybody's right. If you've got mad flow and are prepared to never again have as amazing a dining experience in Boston as you will when you're done, there's just no other place to go. My only grievance is that it will be so long before I can afford to return.
(5)Chip G.
I went to No. 9 the weekend after Valentine's day and had the chef's tasting menu plus one of the two optional courses (for 8 total). Everything was absolutely perfect, from the food to the staff to the drinks. There's really no need to write a long review. This place is unabashedly 5-star dining.
(5)Julie N.
We went to No. 9 Park for Valentine's Day 2006 and LOVED the food. It was a really upscale scene and it was everything we hoped it would be given its reputation. Again, Barbara Lynch is a genius. I got a little tipsy in my little red dress and I think they were ready for us to leave by the time the check came... but they were good about it. Make sure you try all of Barbara's restaurants! They're all phenomenal.
(5)Heather B.
Came in for holiday lunch in December. The 3 course prefix menu was a good deal. The turnip soup was really delicious, but the escargot in the bowl were a little sandy. The pork spatzele was cooked perfectly and I would love to order this again. My coworkers ordered the scallops and the cod cakes and said they were delicate and delicious. The only weird thing is when the server presented my entree, he stretched across the table and said, "I apologize for the reach across, I assure you it is the only way." Reach across? The only way? Was that supposed to have a sexual connotation? Perhaps he could have simplified his comment by saying, "Pardon me."
(3)Billy B.
I have been going to No.9 Park for over four years. What amazes me about this place is, aside from a brief mis-step, is how consistently good it is. Not just good, but above and beyond. The entire service experience, from the pre-meal cocktail to the dessert is just amazing. They take care of you as though you were the paying customer, as it were. The cocktails. Ted has done an incredible job taking over John Gertsen's spot behind the bar, keeping John's respect for traditional classic cocktails while adding his own creativity to the mix. Like John, Ted and his minions will be able to adeptly match a cocktail to whatever is on your plate. I've never had a glass of wine at No.9 because the cocktails are simply too good. Then the food. Always changing and always good. There's a little inconsistency in how to get that food over the years (bar menu, a la carte option, required chef's menu, etc.), so research before going so you can plan your budget appropriately. When dining at the bar I average $60-80 for a couple of drinks and a light bite or two. When there for a full dinner experience with a group of friends, we have averaged $150-$250/person. The $250 was for the 7 course tasting menu with foie gras option and a cocktial matched with every course. One of the most expensive meals that I ever had, but also one of the most memorable (in spite of all the cocktails!). Anyway, as much as we love this place, and I do think the food is worth the price, we only go here once or twice a year. That time is usually determined by being awaken from a less than restful sleep only to find feathers in my mouth. Yes, I was eating my pillow because I was dreaming about that pruned stuffed gnocchi again. This is the perennial favorite at No. 9. There was a year where every time I went there that dish was "off", but this last year every time I've been there for a drink or dinner, it has been spot on again (i.e. enough sauce and not being stingy with the foie). I'd like to talk about other appetizers, but that's the only one I ever get. I taste my friends', and they always make me regret not straying from the gnocchi path. The entrées are always unique and exquisite. Light and fluffy fish or perfectly cooked meat. And the desserts sublime. The other thing I like about No. 9 is that, for such an incredible menu and professional staff, there is no pretentiousness about the place. It's a white table cloth restaurant, but a jacket and tie are not required. A very laid back and casual experience. When there with friends, we usually dine early, and they let us know that the table "ours" so we don't have to feel pressure to rush out for the next guests. Time to check my "fine restaurant savings account" (yes I have a dedicated account for dealing with my foodie ways). Writing this review has made me totally hungry for No.9 again!
(5)Korri Leigh C.
Fantastic. A true culinary experience from start to finish. Our waiter took very good care of us, made excellent recommendations, and even sent us out a complimentary dessert. My pastry chef dining companion got us a tour of the back so we got to see the chefs in action, a special treat for sure. Check out the door into the kitchen if you can, trust me, its crazy! Definitely a special occasion destination. Try the duck - amazing!
(5)Alex A.
Perhaps its because the last time I dined here was before I moved to New York, but No. 9 Park was a sore dissappointment. While we were given a wondeful table with a view of the Common (being lit up for Christmas!) and the service was fine, the food surely did not live up to a 4.5 star rating. The menu was limited and portion sizes varied (and left two member of my dinner party extremely hungry!). Nothing wowed us, and for the prices they charge, the food really should!
(3)danny v.
This is the place that my wife and I always fall back on when we want to ensure ourselves a wonderful night out. I can honestly say that we've never had a bad experience here and we've been at least a dozen times. We've eaten in the dining room a handful of times for special occasions, but I actually prefer sitting at the bar. The prices on the cafe menu are reasonable enough for a Tuesday night out and the food is amazing. (You can also order form the regular menu if you'd like.) The real perk of bellying up to the bar, however, is watching the bartenders in action. John and Ryan make spot-on cocktails and wine recommendations and then educate you on the production methods and history of that rare Italian spirit you've never heard of. They remember what I've liked in the past and inspired me to stray from my regular Negroni and try similar drinks like their house concoction, the Contessa. Sit at the bar, ask for recommendations and enjoy a great evening-- you'll be treated right.
(5)Paul D.
when it comes to restaurants, i am very rarely speechless. but wow... classy and sophisticated top to bottom, but never intimidating.. If you are picky or timid or are the kindve person who orders the same thing all the time when you go out, then turn around and go grab a whopper at BK. but if you like food and the finer things in life, let go and get the chef's tasting menu, trust the servers and prepare to be shot out of a cannon.... Amazing!
(5)Moondog J.
The Wife and I went here on our last night in Boston. Could not have ended our trip on a better note. First off we sat for some cocktails while waiting for our table. The drinks were excellent and the staff very friendly. Now onto the really impressive part. We had the chef's tasting with wine pairing. Can honestly say I've never had a more impressive meal. Every dish was wonderful with flavors that built so well on one another. The wine pairings with each course were excellent. Our waiter and the staff in general could not have been better. Now I've also never spent more on a meal, but the experience was worth every penny. If you have a special occasion to celebrate this is the perfect place. My fondest memory of Boston, will also be our number one reason for wanting to go back sooner than later.
(5)Emily S.
Ummm more island creek oysters. And more great wine. Love this place when I'm not on a business dinner.
(4)Lu W.
I had a great dinner here for Restaurant Week. I started with the bluefish pate, which was impossibly smooth and served with delicious pickled beans (yes for pickling!). I had the crazy-rich pork belly for my main course- no skimping here, it was a huge portion of fatty goodness. My favorite part, however, was the corn "pudding" it was served with. It was more like a thick sauce, but it was sweet, rich, and oh-so-good; I dream about it at night. For dessert, I had the cheese plate. The waiter wheeled out a giant cart of cheese and promptly began to wax poetic about the qualities of each tempting chunk. I lost track after a while, but ended up getting an Irish bleu and an unripened Belgian goat cheese. They were were served with honey, grapes, and nuts, and left me blissfully (read: painfully) stuffed. I also had two cocktails- one was a special for RW composed of gin, lemon, and apricot, and the second was a Martinez. The first was so-so, but the Martinez, supposedly the original Martini, was great. I would loooove to come back here when I have cash to blow, it was one of the best meals I've had.
(5)David S.
Stoped and had drinks with some friends. Easy access to parking in the Common. Kinda upscale and not for familys or Kids. Right accross from the state house.
(4)andrew k.
I LOVE # 9 Park. The food, the service and the attention to detail. I prefer the cafe side to the dining room, as there is a larger variety on the menu. The wines that Cat brings are wines you do not regularly encounter and are a treat to expose the palate to new grapes and tastes especially when paired to the tasty, delicious and finely presented dishes. Bravo!
(5)Wendy L.
Definitely one of the least impressive meals I've experienced. Almost all of the food I had was virtually tasteless and bland. The dessert was decent but definitely not worth the money.
(2)Alec Y.
i had an excellent dining here. the hosts were just absolutely phenomenal and the server was great. a friend and i wanted to have a memorable fine dining experience before she went off to college. we tried getting a reservation here, and we couldn't. so we were put on a waiting list. and the morning of the dinner, i got a phone call saying that a spot had opened up. you can imagine my excitement. it was just great. however, we did not plan very well. we ended being a half an hour late to our reservation. and the woman said there was a reservation after, but she didn't want to rush us. so it would be up to us. and i obviously jumped at the chance. we were seated and from there on out, it was amazing. we were never rushed. she said by dessert, we may have to move to the bar. but we never did. even though the reservation came, i guess they just didn't feel that we needed to move? i don't even know. but they were great. the service was great. our server joked with us and he was very kind. they knew we were in a rush, so they brought out our food at lightning speed. it was very impressive. i started with the bluefish pate, which i had never had. it was great. it was too fishy, and it was nice and thick and spreadable. it came with a small potato salad, which was great. very light. then i got the striped bass with mussels. the bass was cooked to perfection and the mussels soaked up all the flavor. my friend got the glazed pork belly, which was the most amazing thing ever. i wish i had gotten that. the skin had been fried to a crispy texture, and the flavor of it was phenomenal. it really was. finally, i got the duet of cheese, which was great. we got a soft, creamy cheese made with cows milk. and another hard cheese. i don't remember where they were from. but both were very good. my friend got the yogurt panna cotta which was also very good. i really enjoyed no. 9 park, and it seems like the bar scene was pretty hoppin' as well.
(5)Robert M.
Walking into No. 9 Park I feel an almost unique historical passage. Centered in Boston's most historic of neighborhoods, Beacon Hill, and under the watchful shadow of the Massachusetts dome, the lower level exterior of No. 9 Park speaks to the post colonialism of the early 1800s. But walking through its doors and quickly into the deep mahogany and marbled accents nestled in muted taupe decor, one steps back through the history that predated this place to a more refined and discernible Europe. The bar is one of the most inviting rooms of the restaurant. The lines are smooth, the light incandescent and low, and large cornered counter make this an ideal spot for a great cocktail and small bite. The dining area is equally intimate with soft colors, fabrics, and fixtures. I especially like the cornered couch seating where couples are seated kitty corner and not across from one another, making the meal all the more shared. So at first experience, Chef Barbara Lynch has created yet another sensory delight to (hopefully) pair with her acclaimed menus. The staff is attentive, and well versed in the concept of the food. (Ours also knew his wines well, important in a restaurant that touts a diverse wine list primarily from Europe with many nice smaller allocation offerings throughout.) One would expect as much in a venue of this caliber but too often this is not the case. As our server proceeded to explain the first offerings, he made sure to expound upon the Yellow fin Tuna Nicoise and the prune stuffed gnocchi with seared foie gras (its the best appetizer in Boston he assured us...we'll see). We ordered the gnocchi (who could resist that introduction) and a Salad of Baby Beets (house-made cows milk cheese, pistachios, ras el hanout). The beet salad was a mixture of predominantly red beets with a smattering of golden beets throughout. It also had what appeared to be a red beet cream. Good, but too much red beet. The dish lacked balance and was overpowered by the red beet flavor, which tasted slightly tinny (I'm not even going to think it). The golden beets were roasted to perfection and when added, did provide the balance I think the dish was attempting. Just not enough of it. The gnocchi was, well, kick a**. That's a culinary term. The best app in Boston? Well, I think some would challenge that, but it certainly holds its own. The gnocchi were perfectly done (not as easy as one would think) and the prune lent a nice acidity and bite to the taste. But what really makes this dish is the foie gras and glaze. The foie is seared and then gently placed atop the gnocchi. The pan is then de glazed with Vin Santo and then incorporated with clarified butter. The silky yet slightly sweet result combined with the texture of the gnocchi and prune is beautiful. For the main course, my companion ordered the wild sea bass with broccoli potage. The fish was cooked perfectly and nicely seasoned. It came in a bowl with the potage (broccoli and potato soup), which was delicate, but a bit underwhelming. The consistency of the potage was exemplary, however the flavor was a little too leafy. Mixed with basil, the fresh garden flavor was clearly present, however, the fish being gently seasoned itself, fell a little short against this backdrop. Now I'm not a proponent of season or die, but in this case...find the salt and pepper or maybe a little more mustard seed. (a note here...the wine may have played a role...see below) On to my dish, the lamb saddle with kohlrabi, fennel and roasted vidalia. We had ordered a french burgundy and he suggested that the veal, while rich and full of complimentary flavors, might not be as suited as the lamb which was presented as a plate of individual flavors with slightly more spice to augment the wine. The result was fantastic. The lamb was like cutting into fillet sized carpaccio slices with only the wonderful flavors of rich meat to accompany the other plated tastes. The fennel, kohlrabi and onion balanced the tongue to present a perfectly rounded and seasoned bite in exacting proportion. The dinner finished with a wonderful Creme Fraiche Croustillant. Now if I have one complaint it is here. My companion this evening was my beautiful wife and she had let it slip that this was our anniversary weekend. I'm sure No. 9 gets its fair share of birthdays and anniversaries, however in a restaurant of this espousement one expects nothing more than a congratulations by the server. We got a little more. When the desert was brought out, the words Happy Anniversary were written on the plate in chocolate syrup...this of course drew the attention of the couple next to us who appropriately asked "is it your birthday?" Then, the server brought by two glasses of Dolceto Di Aqi, a much too sweet finish to a fine dinner. It was as strange end to an otherwise well coordinated dinner. I hope you go and enjoy (but not on your birthday!)
(4)Yoav S.
Perfect meal: amazing service, small menu executed to perfection, never rushed. While #9 Park doesn't always have some of the trendiest ingredients or presentations like other cutting-edge restaurants, whatever the kitchen does turn out is executed to perfection. The bananas and chocolate dessert is to die for, out of this world.
(5)Anthony A.
A truly wonderful meal. Wife and I went on our anniversary and when we arrived, they seated us at the table overlooking the Boston Commons, a beautiful view, and spectacular food.
(5)Anna M.
After all the talk about No.9 Park I have to say my meal here was pretty disappointing. The food is decent but too much of a hype. The drinks at No.9 Park are pretty good- try the trio of house drinks. Yum. If you are looking to go out for a legit nice meal in Boston L'Espalier is definitely the way to go.
(3)Paul G.
No 9 Park is great for special occasions - at least they think so. When several of us sat down for a business dinner here recently the waiter was a bit surprised that we were not celebrating something. Nope, just a plain old business dinner, I said. Anyway, the service is OK, but do not go hungry. The portions are very small. I had the sashimi starter with the halibut for my main. Others has interesting dishes including the gnocchi and the monk fish. Overall the food quality and preparation was excellent and the high marks for food are deserved. You will do better here for a romantic dinner with your date rather than a business dinner. The room can be a bit loud if full. Anyway, No 9 is expecting you for that "special occasion" (like you won a lawsuit or something).
(4)Biddy D.
Atmosphere * great, tucked-away location, decor was a little retro; I and my date felt that it was decorated like an old sears-roebuck, particularly the beaded lampshades with mirrored walls. Just a matter of your taste. No stars lost. Service * Slightly nervous but wonderful young man who really catered to us. Food: ** Appetizer: Prune Stuffed Gnocchi - wildly overrated, excellent flavor combination, but not as amazing or interesting as many reviewers have noted. Also, this is an older combination of flavors that I've had a few years ago in Philadelphia. Well-executed, immaculately prepared, but not that impressive. Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras - outstanding in flavor and combination, but you can't go wrong with foie gras. ** Main Organic Poussin - again, immaculately prepared, great flavor but nothing that jumps out at you. Granted, I thought that this was the safe bet that my date ordered. Petite Sirloin - excellent, albeit a touch rare, bone marrow bread pudding was inspired and had a wonderful flavor. ** Dessert Banana Custard - Impressive, very balanced sweetness Milk Chocolate Cremeux - Incredibly rich chocolate dessert, peanuts and popcorn glace were a wonderfully whimsical and tasty combination Finishing comments: I thought everything was good...but not a five-star place. I don't feel they did much more than present what you expected vs. going far beyond what you expect (five stars). I would sum up a lack of five stars by saying that when we were walking to the car, my dining companion looks at me and says, "I don't really think I would go back. It was really good and very nice, but to pay that much...I don't know.."
(4)Logan S.
One of the best meals I've had in 2 years in Boston, though I had severe munchies when I arrived. That's not something I've ever done before a fine dining experience in the past. It was due to a spur of the moment and bizarre bannana bread baking "experiment" nearly 10 hours before that would just not wear off. So I admit my judgment may have been altered a bit as I was ravenous. I also don't remember much about the decor. Elegant but a tad stuffy seems accurate. What I do remember-the service was excellent and friendly, though a little pretentious in an unoffensive way. The waiter casually made overstated and even absurd remarks like how incredibly fresh the truffles are this time of year. I wasn't so out of it as to order the $80 truffle risotto, though I kinda wish I had. The waiter also was very helpful with wine and cheese. The appetizers and the cheese were by far my favorites. We had an incredible prune gnocchi and lobster napoleon. The relatively broad and interesting menu reminded me a bit of Hammersley's another favorite of mine, though it's a bit stuffier and more expensive (entrees in 30's instead of mid and high 20's and pricier wine list). The cheese cart was the best I've seen in Boston, probably 15 cheeses to choose from, all fabulous and with excellent descriptions from the waiter. The entrees (lamb and venison) were very solid, but like at most restaurants, not as good as the first course. Delicious bread too. They have a bar/cafe next door which I think has similar food at much more reasonable prices (we defintely spent over $200 for too with 3 courses and wine). I think I'll try that next time, though I'd definitely go back to the main dining room.
(5)Brian K.
One of my favorite restaurants in Boston hands down. I usually get the prefix menu with the wine pairing.. usually this is not only a great deal but they also have some unique wines hand picked from small wineries. If you have not been here put it on the list of places to try.
(5)Daniel H.
A small gourmet restaurant quite popular with a bistro feel across from the State House. Food Rating = 4 Stars Service Rating = 4 Stars Decor Rating = 3 Stars
(4)S S.
If there were 6 stars for this place i would probably give them that. What made all the difference in the world was their service! I have never had such good service ever. We were there to celebrate an anniversary-they gave us their best table, and host wished us. We had the seven course which i highly recommend. They are very good about substituting dishes. We got a complimentary dessert, and we had already ordered dessert, which came with a candle and happy anniversary written in choclate. Yum! No we didnt arrange for that. Plus a complementary glass of wine, that the chef recommended with the dessert. I would say thats great service, wouldn't you?
(5)Dan S.
Really should be 3.75 stars. The service is unparalleled, but I care mostly about the food. I had the 7 course tasting menu, plus the small complimentary dishes as well as a whole complimentary course (prune stuffed gnocchi). Everything was solid, but nothing was exceptional. The foie gras is pretty delicious and they certainly make use of it in most of their dishes, ultimately making a lot of the dishes just creamy goodness, leaving the other ingredients out of the spotlight. I was very content with the meal, however, this is not a menu that will wow you with bold and unique flavors, instead you'll find a lot of rich and creamy flavors that will satisfy your more primal appetite. Definitely worth trying as long as you don't set your expectations as high as all of the hype that surrounds this place.
(4)Matt Y.
Food was great! Annoyed the hell out of me because I couldn't do the chef's tasting menu due to the fact that the whole table didn't order it. Come on, if Julia's Kitchen in Napa can coordinate odd numbered tasting menus, surely this restaurant could. Also, either the folks in Boston take themselves way too seriously or the staff is trained to just be obnoxious. SF "nice shirt and jeans" wear is definitely snubbed. Cheeses were amazing! However, the cheese man said everything was "most excellent." He needed a thesaurus or should be more sincere.
(4)Robert G.
Not one of my favorite places in Boston - and definitely not my favorite Barbara Lynch Restaurant (I'd say go to B&G if you want a great meal!). The food was okay, the wait was so long (even with a reservation), the place is crowded, and the wait staff was pretentious. It's definitely a great "celebratory" place - great views, the chance to see someone "famous" (for Boston at least) and a price tag to save up for. I wouldn't head back for a meal anytime soon, although maybe I'll check out the bar at some point.
(3)Kristin G.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? -amazing food -amazing cocktails -amazing desserts -amazing service -convenient location
(5)Annie C.
There's a lot of hype surrounding this restaurant and it will not disappoint! Although I felt a little guilty walking past the line of people waiting to get into what seemed like a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, I'd come here any chance I'd get. Our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly. We had the highly acclaimed prune stuffed gnocchi and it was heaven! The wine list was expensive, but worth it. I recommend trying a Savennières. The cheese plate was a perfect conclusion to the best meal I had in Boston.
(5)Will E.
My fiancee and I went there on May 2 for her birthday dinner. We got the 9 course tasting menu. It was absolutely amazing - each course was really great and interesting. Waiter was friendly and helpful. The matire d' was nice and accommodating when we asked for a different table than originally offered. This place is pricey - make no mistake about that - but if you're looking to shell out for a fancy dinner in Boston you won't go wrong here. Highlights of the tasting menu were the crab ramp which is a kind of cold crab soup and the lamb confit - absolutety amazing. Cheese selection was excellent. Mini chocolate log was very interesting. Not too sweet which is how I like it. The wine is very pricey here - we did okay with a $29 beaujolais which was the second cheapest wine on a long menu ($28 being the cheapest). The decanter was a nice touch. Also, the custom cocktails we had to start off in the bar area were good. Overall: a top notch experience
(5)Tonia C.
Went to this past weekend for the first time. We heard extremely good reviews so our expectation was really high. We were 20 minutes late for our 5:30 reservation due to the train delay, the front desk offered us a 7:30 rebook or dine at the bar area. We chose the bar area and were able to be seated right away. The bar area is just as nice, with a table for two and the noise level was energetic which made us at ease. For starters, we had Prune Stuffed Gnocchi and Corn Veloute (Corn Soup w/ lobster tempura and truffle). The Gnocchi was very good and in good size, the prune balanced really well with the foie gras. The soup came in a plate with 2 piece of turnip chunk with thinly sliced truffle on top and a lobster tempura. Then the soup was poured from a pot in the form of grey-ish liquid (maybe due to the miso they put in). The taste was lighter than I thought but I couldn't taste any corn. I'd say the soup was just OK. For main courses, we had Pekin Duck (3 ways) and Milk-fed Porcelet. The duck was really good and packed with flavor. But I can't say the same thing for the piglet. Coming from Asian families, roasted milk-fed piglet is a prized dish during celebrations for its tender juicy meat and cripy skin. But what we had at No 9 Park can only be passed as a good tender pork chop, too dry for a piglet. Our waiter recommended 2 desserts: the Carrot Biscuit and the Coconut Cremeux. Since I don't like cinnamon, we had to pass the carrot biscuit and just share the coconut cremeux. The dessert turned out to be one of the best we've had, both in terms of taste and presetation. It came with 2 small chunks of chocolate, 2 pieces of smoked banana and 2 pieces of cashew cluster and a coconut creme on top of cocoa bits. The flavor of each piece was distinct and unique. If I could, I would give this place a 3.5 star for 3 of the dishes we liked and the good service we received from the wait staff. There were still 2 dishes we thought were just OK. The interior decoration and ambience are not that impressive for its class. The total plus tip came in over $150 and we had a $100 certificate to apply to it. There are definitely equally good if not better places we can go for less than that. Regarding some of the preview comments on the portion size, I think they are pretty decent indeed. The dishes may seemed small because they didn't put to much of useless decoration, but instead gave you solid portion of what you ordered. We felt very full afterward. All in all, it's a good meal although I wouldn't come back in a rush - OK, maybe I will come back just for desserts
(3)Kevin C.
This place rocks, rather quietly and very reservedly, but nonetheless, it rocks! Come prepared to taste combinations of ingredients you won't find anywhere else. For example, the prune stuffed gnocchi sounded rather bizarre, but the obviously experienced waiter insisted I give it a try -- it was incredible! Other menu items are equally astounding. One of the more adventurous menus in the area without the risk of an unwanted culinary excursion.
(5)Carolyn S.
t's not often that I have the opportunity to try out a fabulous restaurant for free. And when the chance came along, I took full advantage. We unanimously voted to go to No. 9 Park for an end-of-semester dinner celebration. As we were a large group and the restaurant is relatively small, we were given a prix-fix menu. Typically I would be irritated by the forced limitation, however, the options were so tempting I couldn't be bitter for long. I started out with the truffled gnocchi with Maine lobster, fresh peas and mushrooms. These hand-made pillows of deliciousness arrived steaming hot and served on a FABULOUS lobster cream sauce. The bits of lobster were perfectly cooked, the peas were al dente and the little mushrooms rounded out the flavors. I sopped up every bit of sauce with the crusty bread that was constantly replenished by our retinue of waiters. For a main dish I choose the prime sirloin, served with potato galette, short rib wrapped in swiss chard and a sauce made with bone marrow. The steak was tender and perfectly cooked. I could have done without the sprinkling of salt on top (it masked the flavor of the meat) and the short rib wasn't the best I've ever had. However, as a complete dish, I would say it was well-worth the price (esp since I wasn't paying!) For dessert I opted for the chocolate and cardamom mousse with Williams pear sabayon and salted butter glace. The mousse was not too sweet and deliciously chocolatey. The salted butter glace wrapped in a paper thin butter cookie and served with a dollop of whipped cream or crème fraîche perfectly complemented the intensity of the mousse. Our server, with impeccable manner, offered a selection of cocktails before dinner. The flight of No. 9 Park specialties included a fabulous pear martini, a pink campari drink and a gin based cocktail with fresh lime and mint. All were wonderfully constructed. When asked for a wine recommendation I was offered a full-bodied Sirah, but then served a wine "even better" according to the server. It was a wine made specially for No. 9 Park: spicy, aromatic and a perfect complement to the sirloin. The combination of fabulous food and impeccable service ranks this restaurant above most others in Boston. The waiters were always available, but not intrusive; the host was friendly and paid close attention to our party. I liked that the service was well-mannered, but not pretentious. Certainly a splurge (all told, our meals would probably break the bank of a graduate student) but entirely worth the investment.
(4)Allen G.
I have yet to eat in the dining room but I ate in the cafe and was extremely impressed. Clearly a lot of love went into everything and the cafe experience was a tasty, non-pretentious laid-back affair. Having this limited experience coupled with a night at The Butcher Shop it is clear why Barbara Lynch's reputation extends outside of Boston.
(5)Bianca G.
Finally got to dine at No. 9 Park a couple of nights ago and it was fan-freakin-tastic. Really, really good, especially - oh especially! - the foie gras. My friend joked that the whole table (all 5 of us ordered it) had a collective foie-gasm. Everything was perfect, down to the very last detail (even the butter served with the crusty bread was so gloriously rich and creamy). The cheese selection was amazing, and our charming server went through every cheese in detail. And I like the freebies that the chef sent our table (tuna tartare app, plus the salty chocolaty squares that came with the bill). The place was really cozy (a positive term for "really cramped") but the lighting was low and romantic and this would be a wonderful place for a big-splurge date night. No wonder this place received so many accolades (and can justify the sky high prices). Mouthwatering food, seductive plating, intimate setting, impeccable service. I'd love to go back!
(5)Alexandra L.
I haven't had the chance to have the full No. 9 experience yet, but I went there for drinks for a friends birthday (who happened to also be a former employee) and we had a fantastic time. The drinks were stellar and the service was fabulous. They were very accomodating for our large party in the bar area - and we had a spectacular time. I can't wait to get back to experience the tasting menu.
(5)Kathy M.
Went there for my husband's birthday in July. Had let them know beforehand, and so we were seated at a fabulous table in the front with a park view. Dinner was fabulous--Colorado Lamb Saddle, Roased Rib Eye. Had the prune stuffed gnocchi for an appetizer (of course), which didn't disappoint. The service was perfect -- and the dinner was well-paced. My only complaint was the wilted brown edge on the one mint leaf in my cocktail. Sounds rather trite, but everything else was so perfect, and this just stood out. (doesn't someone check this kind of stuff?). But, I'll just let that go and will definitely go back.
(4)Christina N.
Our service was phenomenal, which really took the dining experience above and beyond our expectations. Our server was amazing-- such a cheery disposition, and explained everything well. Her descriptions of all the food and wine were perfect. Everything was perfectly timed, even our valet [will get to that later]. The dishes always arrived at the right temperature.. this is definitely a leisurely dinner; not something you'd want to rush. As far as the food, we loved the wine parings, and everything seemed to come together fairly well. There is a lot of food, and the portions are on the larger end for the French portions they are... so I'd refrain from eating a lot during the day if you're going for the chef's tasting menu (which I'd highly recommend). There is also a lot of wine [at least for me] with the wine tasting... but we didn't particularly want to make any choices this evening, so we went with pretty much everything. I love the unsalted, fresh butter and the fleur de sel with the fresh rolls. The first three seafood courses were lovely-- tasted great, and were slightly more adventurous than the duck and the beef dishes. We opted for the prune stuffed gnocchi- absolutely heavenly and a must if you visit. The duck was good, but it wasn't as interesting as the previous courses. The beef was great too, and I didn't know turnips could taste so good... but a little conservative [although I don't know if you can do very much with beef]. Do opt for the cheese dolly if you're not full yet. My SO loves cheese [sometimes more than me], so it was a given we would get some cheeses. We're not much for strong blue cheeses, so we got three milder cheeses-- a gouda, a young blue, and a brie-like cheese [I don't remember, although it's not brie]-- which were all great, but I loved the gouda the most. SO loved the the brie-like one. The palette cleanser afterwards was pleasant since I like grapefruit, and it did its job. The dessert was divine... chocolate and maraschino cherries like how maraschino cherries are supposed to be. yum. We also got some tea, which was decent.. mostly just to get something warm after that rich dessert and all the wine. The sea salt chocolates are good, but the [I think] passion fruit or fruity something was so good... Thankfully, the meal took three hours, so everything could digest a bit. After our meal, we left the car for another two hours (which our server said was just fine), and came back. When we handed the valet guy our ticket, he said, "oh, you just came in time" and led us outside, where another guy was sitting in our car, driving to the curb... strangely prophetic, much? We didn't ask questions, and just left because it was that strange. I don't think he went in a joyride either, since the gas and mileage were not drastically different. Perhaps they move the car every two hours or something. Anyways, all in all-- a perfect experience.
(5)Jennifer L.
Dragged kicking and screaming all the way through Boston Commons, I was forced into No. 9 Park for a martini with Fernet in it. We arrive to find out it's not just Fernet in a martini, but a martini made with some other stuff and Fernet FOAM. It's just wrong. But fine, some people like Fernet, I get it. Bummer for him, they were all out of Fernet foam, but Joe, the guy who these drinks were named for, said he'd get him something else Fernet based - the Toronto I think? The two of us with functioning tastebuds went for some of the sweeter house specialties. Hers was something fresh and lime-y, mine made with pear (garnished with a dried, near paper thin slice of pear). We all thought we got the best one, so it seems things worked out just fine. The space was minimalist elegance, but I thought it felt a little bit cold. The service however was absolutely stellar, so I can only imagine the attention you get when dining here. I'm confident it's worth five stars (and for the prices they're charging it had better be), but as I couldn't force myself to take even one more bit of food, even at No. 9 Park, I have to reserve my final star for a day when I do.
(4)Sarah k.
Maybe I had high expectations based on reviews. It was my 12 year anniversary, I did some research and wanted to find the best restaurant in Boston to celebrate, so we picked No.9 Park. Maybe I've been ruined because I ate at Le Bernadin (Chef Eric Ripert's 3 Michelin star restaurant) a few months ago and have never experienced such amazing, attentive service (amazing food too). We were treated like royalty, seriously. Well back to No.9 Park. I was under the impression that No.9 Park was one of the best restaurants in Boston, so I assumed I would be getting food and service on the level of Le Bernadin. Waiting over 20 minutes for a table was not a good way to start the night (we had reservations). The food was pretty good 7/8 out of 10. But the service lacked, especially for a "fine dining" restaurant and the prices they charge. Our waiter that handled us for the first 4 dishes of our 7 course tasting was nice. Nothing above and beyond but nice enough. Then for the last 3 dishes he disappeared and we had a new waiter who sucked (inattentive, little knowledge of the food he was serving). I guess our first waiter got off his shift? who knows. Anyways, the end of our meal was kinda ruined by our shitty waiter. I would've given this place a 3 but for the price we paid, the service was not up to par. We each got the 7 course chef tasting with the wine pairing, so our bill was over $500. For that much spent, you should have an amazing, memorable experience, like the one we had at Le Bernadin for $600. Hopefully, Barbara Lynch's other restaurant, Menton will give me the fine dining experience I'm looking for in Boston.
(2)Deepa C.
came here for a business dinner on saturday and was blown. away. oh. my. god. i was new to the company so i wanted to see what everyone else was getting before i ordered (if people were going to get wine, apps, etc), so when they suggested the tasting menu (the whole table has to get it) i was thrilled (but tried not to show it too much:) ). we had a few dietary restrictions (no dairy for some, no shellfish for others, no red meat/pork/goat for me) and the kitchen handled it superbly. we were all amazed. we had heirloom tomatoes, scallops with this mushroom puree, oyster risotto, poached lobster (for two of us, everyone else got pork belly), seared tuna (everyone else got goat - which they loved), a grapefruit sorbet course and dessert. now the dessert was something else. everyone got this white chocolate accented chocolate dish with ice cream (the non dairy's got a sorbet) but i got something else altogether. when asked why, the waiter came back from the he kitchen and said that the white chocolate in everyone else's dishes had an animal by product, so he brought me one without. we were floored at the attention to detail. every dishes was better than the last; i felt like a queen. the waitstaff was flawless. all 6 of us were served at the same time; there was no waiting for people to get their food to start. dishes were cleared and utensils seamlessly replaced. water glasses and wine glasses were filled and we were in want of nothing. with the wine, the cocktails (i had the pisca one - superb, the rainforests martini looked good as well), the 6 tasting menus and the cheese course, the bill must have approached $1000, but i will definitely be back with the hubby. we may not go as all out as we did for the meeting, but it is an experience i want to have again (and again).
(5)G N.
We came here after making last minute reservations on Opentable on a Tuesday night. Fabulous dining experience. Service is smooth, knowledgeable, and seamless. Exceptional cocktails, well balanced flavors. I would advise the specialty drinks. There are tasting flights if you can't decide. The chef's 9 course tasting menu was tempting, but looked like too much food. We ended up getting the prix fixed 3 course dinner. We each ordered something different and shared our courses (in effect creating a 6 course tasting menu for a significant discount). Each course was layered with different tastes and textures. The portions are artistically arranged and small, but each bite was heavenly. They are also very rich bites, and we were stuffed at the end of the meal. For appetizers we had the Veloute de Morue (cream of salt cod soup) and prune stuffed gnocchi (prune dumplings wrapped in a soft potato dough). Our mains were the Milk-fed Porcelet (pork belly? with crispy skin) and Atlantic Monkfish (accompanied by a seared oxtail meat patty - the real star of the dish). Our waiter matched wines to our dishes. I can't remember what they were, but they accompanied the food well. We had perfectly pressed expresso, nutty and creamy with no bitterness. For dessert I opted for a cheese platter (with a wonderful creamy stinky robiola and a unique aged Dutch blue cheese) and my wife had a sumptuous chocolate torte. No. 9 Park has the best food in town (L'Espalier coming in a close second), and ranks among my tops in the country. Expensive, but worthwhile. I'll spring for the chef's tasting menu the next time.
(5)Lauren W.
I really, really wanted to like this place. I will say, the food was excellent (although that's to be expected when you're paying this kind of money), and the service was good -- once the meal actually got started. Two things really irked me before that, though. First, they were late with our reservation by about 15 minutes (they were very apologetic, but I hate waiting), and second, they didn't bring us the wine list, or tell us about the tasting menu (which we specifically came for) until we asked about both. But, whatever. The cheese cart was so amazing that it basically redeemed the whole experience. The bottom line? Yes, it was a good meal, but I won't be back in a hurry -- I expect a bit more from a meal that came to a thousand bucks for the four of us.
(3)Tim S.
we had the 7 course tasting menu with wine pairings ($112 & $75). summary - 2 of the food courses were great. the others were ok, but not memorable. 1 of the wine pairings was perfect - the others were either ok or awful. despite the extensive (and expensive) wine list, this restaurant is not good a matching wine to food. details - 1st - peekytoe crab. nice start to the meal - light and pleasant. sparkling french wine was blah. 2nd - pasta with scallops. nice taste, but the pasta was dried out. not al dente, but actually dried out - like it had been cooked and then sat for a bit under a heat lamp. wine pairing was nice (dry, slightly smoky white). 3rd - sea bream. very nice. crispy skin, perfectly cooked, tasty greens. wine pairing was *disgusting*. (ridiculously sweet reisling.) 4th - sweetbreads. well cooked. served with a mushroom/truffle "soup" (more like a little bit of extra sauce on the plate) that tasted nice, but looked kinda gross. they also were using these weird little chinese vegetables that literally looked like grubs. they didn't have much flavor but did add some crunch and weirdness to the plate. wine pairing was ok. 5th - lamb. this dish was amazing. (if only the others were up to the same quality.) loved, loved, loved it. wine pairing was also perfect. 6th - intermezzo. nothing memorable at all. some fruity frozen thing. 7th - desert. carrot cake. this was unbelievably disappointing. there were two itsy bitsy pieces of carrot cake and a bunch of candied carrot bits strewn about the plate. uninspired and almost flavorless. wine pairing was poor - (sweet muscat). service - friendly, (mostly) knowledgeable, and helpful. however, there were several missteps. 1. first round of sparkling white that was poured was flat. they had to come back and pour from a new bottle. 2. they brought the wrong cutlery for one course and had to come back, completely clear the table, and reset it. 3. one of the servers told us our dish came with cornells. she meant to say "quenelles". ROFL i'm being so harsh, primarily because of the price. for ~$200 per person, i expect an amazing experience at every course, and this didn't come anywhere near that. i've had *much* better overall experiences at other (and cheaper) boston restaurants. i would not return.
(3)Kirs P.
Husband and I went to No. 9 after my swearing-in ceremony to become all lawyerly and stuff- a lovely lunch to celebrate the accomplishment. We wanted something fancy, and for the most part, got it. But, there were just a few things that couldn't bring No. 9 to the mighty five star level. When we first arrived there was no one manning the maitre'd station. We had to stand around for several minutes waiting for someone to acknowledge our presence. Kind of irritating. Once someone figured out we were there we were seated promptly. Perhaps it was just because I was already slightly irked for having to wait right away, but it seemed to take an inordinately long time to get menus. So far, I wasn't impressed. Luckily our waiter, Joe, turned out to be awesome. Fine dining waiting is an art form, and he did a very good job. It's tough to find that perfect level of attentiveness without seeming pushy. Once Joe was on duty, and not the flighty hostess, things started going very smoothly. I ordered the 3 course Prix Fixe meal (a steal at $26) and Husband ordered the well-fleet oysters and Cacciuco. My meal started off with a very nice gazpacho- really nice texture and flavor. It didn't just taste like V8 in a bowl, which is the fate of many a gazpacho. The oysters were presented beautifully, but were a bit on the salty side. It probably didn't help that the shells were actually positioned on mounds of salt. (Can something become salty through osmosis?) Next came our main courses- I had brandade (which I had no idea what it was- thank god for google on my phone- it turns out it's a potato and cod thing). I liked it- very light and tasty. But nothing was better than my Husband's scallop in his dish- it was perfect. (I also managed to pick out a bottle of wine that went pretty well with the dishes- they had a great wine list. A little on the pricier side, but then, this is a pricier side restaurant). My meal came with a dessert, but we also opted to get a cheese plate. They had a great selection of cheeses- some I'd never even heard of before. Even though we had ordered the 3-cheese plate Joe added on a slice of his favorite, which we had toyed with getting, but opted for something more exotic. We should have listened to him to begin with- it was a perfect slice of cheddar. And, as an added bonus, he brought out a glass of an amazing desert wine- free of charge. The desert was simple (cherries, cream, and a little scoop of cherry ice cream) but delicious. And the final sign of a good restaurant: a decent cup of espresso. So, the reason for four stars? Well, the little annoyance at the beginning and, quite frankly, the ambiance. It was lacking. I wouldn't call the place stodgy or stuffy- it was just incredibly boring. The whole place looked a little worn down- and the grey walls and chintzy looking chandeliers didn't help. It just wasn't a very warm or welcoming place. And, finally, for the reputation this place has, I really wanted to be blown away by the food. It was good, but I wouldn't say great. Honestly, if it wasn't for our waiter, there's a good chance No. 9 would have gotten only three stars.
(4)Sutanuka L.
very happy with the food. simple but nice and delicious.
(5)Marni J.
Reservations Only pls. Or else you are not going to eat. They do offer a smaller menu on the bar side. No. 9 Park is definitely one of the best restaurants in Boston. It's an Culinary experience. . .which means smaller portions, Prices are high but reasonable given that the food can give your taste buds a good trip. I would compare their food more or less to the great restaurant "AUREOLE" at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas in a smaller scale. Decor is classic sophistication. Service is in the general-excellence level. This restaurant is frequented by politicians & the Beacon Hill Power suits crowd. Take your date for a very Special Treat or impress your potential BIG client. *
(5)Christopher N.
I think Barbara is amazing. Supposedly, that is the chef here. The Yellowfin Tuna Nicoise appetizer is to die for. Really, last meal kind of goodness. For entre, I had the striped bass. Yes! I overdosed on the fish, but like the appetizer, the bass was some incredible eats. I was able to try the roasted lamb and although I am not a lamb connoisseur, it was delicious. It is a pricy place, but if you're looking for a fancy Beacon Hill dinner, this is the place to go. People say it is one fine Boston treasure, and I must agree.
(5)Ariela M.
Wonderful dining experience, both the service and the food itself. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the wine list and helped us choose a great bottle of wine. We had the signature appetizer (prune stuffed gnocci) which was delicious. I had the duck, and the other people had the pork and the striped bass. We all enjoyed our dinners immensely; the food is wonderful and presented in a unique and creative way. We had the chocolate ganache for dessert, which was also great. I know other people have complained about the atmosphere being stuffy, but I did not find that to be the case. The servers were very polite, and overall it was a great experience. The crowd is definitely older and more "businiess" oriented rather than couples (that's what you get being near to beacon hill and all!) but everyone was very nice to us. I would definitely come back.
(5)Abdullah A.
Perhaps the poshest restaurant in Boston. The atmosphere is rich...I mean it screams "what financial crisis?". Great cocktails, but honestly the food did not blow me away. I appreciate fine dining, but for some reason this one did not hit the right note.
(3)Leo S.
Probably one of the best places to eat in Boston and still felt a little something was missing. Decoration was completely off and not deserving of such a place (think about hard wood chair, very poor (think cheap) lighting on the low height ceiling. Service was prompt, polite and knowledgeable. While waiting for the food we were served very unwelcoming bread buns (hard and cold) with uninspiring butter. Food however was divine and their signature dishes had something original of a blend between new American and new Italian (gnocci with foie gras and prunes, soft shell crab risotto for appetizer, cripsy halibut with apple sauce and slowly cooked veal loin for entrees). Desserts could do much better, in particular their chocolate cherry biscuit. The olive clafouti is a creative twist of dessert, but is the goal of dessert to be creative of perfectly executed? Philosphy talks in the restaurants would be interrupted by sights of multiple ostensible dates in the restaurant. Would come back if a minimal effort would be done on decoration and price tag. Wine list could do much better too for the French snob that I am.
(4)jenilee p.
ask anyone to list out the top five find dining establishments in boston, and surely no. 9 park will be among the best three of those top five. though i had had my doubts about the restaurant being over-hyped, i was impressed. on a bitter cold friday night, one is immediately greeted by gentilemen opening the restaurant doors situated in a street lit by the glow of the massachusetts state house. through the doors to the dining room, you are likely to spot massachusetts politicians and other statesmen getting a well needed drink during these difficult economic times at the bar. generally, diners themselves seem to be a good mix of boston's wealthy regulars, "noobs" who had been brought on a date by a companion that felt the need to $$$ impress ("you had me at no.9 park..."), and a few fortunate in-betweeners out for a special occasion, like myself. now a few items of note, a la "why you should come here": a) the service is flawless. not stuffy, as one may expect, but each server comes across as genuinely excited about the food they serve, and knowledgeable about each ingredient and intent of said ingredients by owner chef barbara lynch. and they smile at you, charmingly content that they are adding to the enjoyment of your meal. b) the sommlier is tremendously skilled. now, i am not wealthy enough to be overly knowledgeable about wine. however, i think anyone can determine the difference between a good wine, a nasty wine, and that some wines bring out the flavor of a dish better than another. this sommlier has managed to select wines for each course of no. 9's tasting menu that complement the flavor of the various dishes, but also selects bottles that many even adept palates have not seen before. our servers delighted in describing the popularity/history of each maker, and even once went in the back to show us a bottle of a special mix commissioned specially for the restaurant. c) a fine french chef possesses two skills: 1. perfectly cooked proteins. 2. interesting and flawless, textural purees and sauces. these are two elements that must be paid particular attention when dining at no. 9 park. and now onto the food. hamachi tartare - a chopped top notch quality yellowtail is served up as a tartare, adorned with raw quail egg so that the yolk sits atop the square-molded fish. a helping of onion fragrant soubise is dolloped on the side of the main ingredient, and a half teaspoon of paddlefish caviar is gingerly placed aside the yolk. steamed black bass- a wonderful little cut of steamed black bass is served barely cooked to preserve the ultimate tender, but not stringy texture. the sauce was a miso foam with just a touch of miso fragrance that did not overpower the dish. show stealer? the dish contained the finest tiny day boat scallops i have ever eaten, literally seared to the peak of their sweetness. homemade ricotta gnudi- i fully suspect that barbara lynch was exercising her pasta muscle on this little dish. gnudi has a pillowy consistency, a fluffier version of gnocchi. it was served in a pesto-type sauce of arugula and almonds and consume. terrine of foie gras- the smoothest foie gras terrine i've tasted outside of paris: with sprinkled fleur de sel, a pinch of ras el haout (spicy middle eastern ground spices) is presented on the side, and coconibs on one end of the terrine block. underneath is a carpacchio of sliced yellow beet. dueling pureed beet sauces finished the dish: red vs. yellow. clever, creamy and sweet to the last lick. squab en crepinette- one slice of breast of squab is seared rare and stuffed with foie gras. a second is simply seared to perfection. thirdly, a leg of squab is seared rare and angled onto a rectangle of cooked macomber turnip. all is served on a salted wine reduction sauce. a game bird we rarely see, cooked perfectly. colorado lamb loin- IT'S TRUFFLE SEASON! tender, seared cubes of lamb loin join quartered roasted brussel sprouts, and wonderful sliced black truffle (perigord truffle), and two separate sauces, one which resembled a lamb wine reduction, and a second that was fragrant with truffles at the moment our server placed the plate. unforgettable. after a palate cleanser and cheese course (definitely order the cheese course, and make sure to catch the spanish queso azul de valedon and the tomme de savoie), we received a trio of panna cotta for desert. as it was my bigger half's birthday, his plate had scrolling letter work in chocolate congratulating his special day- a product of conspiring with my favorite server. the panacotta: coconut & curry, honey & sesame, and cardamon & yogurt were a wonderful light end to the meal. overall, i think everyone should visit no.9 park for a special occasion, and when learning to appreciate fine cooking techniques. the tasting menu is a splurge to be had just once, but i will return again when i can to order a la carte, seeking out my favorite proteins... and maybe some serious raw milk cheeses. well done, barbara.
(5)patti t.
Great food, ambience and of course the cocktails.
(5)Flora B.
Went for drinks after dinner. It seemed kind of old and stodgy...
(2)Jason F.
Leaves you truly breathless. If you go, and I hope you do at least once in your life, you must get the tasting menu paired with wines and cheese to finish. You won't know what hit you. The most exquisite food in Boston.
(5)S A.
It was ok. The food was good, drinks were good, service was good. I just didn't think it was amazing. I'm a big foodie and French is my favorite cuisine so I'm used to small portions but a couple dishes were just ridiculous. I think there's better restaurants at the same price point.
(3)Brandon L.
I heard so much about this place how it's supposed to be the best restaurant in boston, etc...yes i only went there once but based on my experience (since i've been to just about every expensive place in boston)....this was not so. It was fine but not really the best. I told the waitress to prepare my fish low salt and under cooked but it came crisp and salty. We all know french type of restaurants like to prepare dishes with heavy sauce and high in salt but they should at least try to accomodate when a customer is asking a healthier version. My date who's also a foodie was not very impressed either. The wine was so so. If you're looking for a better place try the Bristol Lounge at the Four Seaons and their wine menu and lamb is also much better.
(3)Kate B.
Honestly, the service, including the valet, was the best part of my experience at No. 9. The food did not strike me as anything spectacular. Good, but not all that special given the price and the tiny portions. I don't think it lives up to the food hype, but I felt the same way about Lynch's 2 other restaurants, B&G Oyster and the Butcher Shop. The recurring theme seems to be that the vibe and "experience" are more important than the food. I felt that I could've enjoyed dinner just as much at any number of less-hyped Boston restaurants, and at a much lower price.
(4)David D.
I'm gonna say, best bartenders in the nation. This place is unbelievable. I actually can't say enough about the drinks here. Personal favorite is the Tom Collins, but anything you order will be amazing. Not to mention you can ask the bar tender the history behind any drink and he will tell you, in detail, everything you could possibly want to know about it. The price is 100% worth it.
(5)Kally Z.
This has been one of the restaurants that I have been very excited to try. Yes, the place is very nice and quaint, even romantic. The waitstaff was very attentive and polite. The food, not so impressed with, I had four courses and nothing stood out as great to me or even good. It is extremely overpriced for what it is. I think they are trying way too hard with the menu, I had something with chestnuts in it, I think they forgot the chestnut and just put the shell, I could have lost a tooth on it. The entrees are $40.00 plus and my fish came out cold. I would have sent it back, but it just felt too uncomfortable at a place like that, to ask them to heat it up. Even the dessert was nothing to go crazy over. I am very disappointed with a place I was so looking forward to. I agree with the other review, that B & G is much better and alot more relaxed.
(3)Lynda M.
I am on the fence about this one. For all the hype about this place I guess I expected more. Stuffy atmosphere and so so service. Food was good but there was very little of it. My entree looked like an appetizer. For the money I would rather head to the Fed!
(3)Joseph C.
The staff was amazing; the food was well thought out and executed; the wine list was unique and wonderful. With a view of Boston common and the State House from the small, elegant dining room I cannot imagine a better dining experience. We had the prix fixe as we did not want to be too full nor have had too much to drink at the end...it was perfect. I had heard rave reviews of the prune filled gnocchi appetizer which was amazing...topped with crispy foie gras it was a true indulgence. The corn agnolotti was equally impressive for a first course. The duet of guinea hen was a flavorful and well executed entree...simply perfect! The seared yellowfin tuna with octopus confit was lacking flavor, and was not well thought out. The staff was amazing and after returning that dish, we had halibut with a complimentary wine pairing...it was perfect as well. For desert we chose the cheese cart...many choices, every cheese was amazing. This would be my top choice for an amazing dinner in Boston...a must!
(5)N A.
This restaurant defines excellence. My girlfriend had the seven course I had the three course and sampled each of hers. The waitstaff were beyond attentive providing detailed descriptions of each unique course. They even provided complimentary courses so I didn't have to sit there without food while she ate. Our waiter kneweveru wine by heart and reccomended the best Riesling I've ever tasted. I was skeptical at first because usually the hype is beyond the restaurant but in this case it was all o could have hoped for and more. Would go back as often as possible. The menu is always changing.
(5)Elizabeth M.
I went here recently to impress a friend. We just wanted to sit at the bar but it was full so the host sat us at one of the tables next to the bar while we waited. (I thought this was strange) A server came over and we ordered some drinks while we looked through the menu. About 15 minutes later, we hadn't gotten our drinks and began to look around for our phantom server. A few seats opened up at the bar and we said the hell with it and took the opportunity to relocate. We sat, and without ordering anything from the bartenders, he was immediately served a beer and, myself, a flight of cocktails... Not at all what we had ordered, so naturally, we were confused. After a few minutes they realized the mistake and all was remedied. The food here is so delicious and the bartender was so charming that, by the time we left, the original encounter was laughable.
(4)Eli G.
Just went here for lunch and I must say it is impressive. I was under dressed in my jeans, t-shirt and puma jacket, but they did not treat me badly. The food was top notch with very interesting flavors. The one problem was slow service, but that fits here and would have been fine for dinner. Next time I have 4 hours to kill I will def try the 8 course tasting menu, sounds amazing!
(4)Joyce Y.
THE best restaurant in Boston. Period. Luckily, I have wealthy friends who take me here for birthdays. Appetizer, dinner and a glass of wine here literally cost an entire week of groceries at Wholefoods. But don't let that stop you. The service is magical- silverware appears out of thin air, food is presented graciously, and the breadcrumbs swept away before you can blink. And the food... I weep upon my first bite of the prune stuffed gnoccis with foie gras. The ever creative Chef Barbara Lynch must be endowed with the finest taste buds in the world. Come here with that special someone for that extra special occasion. You won't regret it.
(5)Andrew B.
No. 9 is one of my favorite bars to make a night out of. Ordering drinks is less of a stressful process and more of an adventure as one of the many fantastic bartenders guides you on a certifiable journey of drinks throughout the night. They will remember who you are and what sorts of drinks and food you enjoyed when you return another night, which has the wonderful effect of making you feel right at home. The food is amazing, and I will always have at least a desert tray if not a full meal whenever I'm there enjoying their impeccable service. Not many places can live up to their inflated prices. No. 9 is worth every penny.
(5)Jess P.
If you are having the kind of week where you need to feel momentarily like royalty, head to the cafe at No. 9 Park. The cafe/bar menu is cheaper than the restaurant menu, but just as swoon-worthy. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed, and the bartenders are the friendliest in Boston, not to mention the most innovative. Ryan was featured recently in Food&Wine (Jan '06). The gorgonzola fondue (lamb and brioche for dipping) is out of control. Their seasonal martinis are also killer (look for the watermelon in summer, and the apple brulee in fall).
(5)Scott P.
Who should eat here: Highly recommend for anyone living in the Boston area looking for a unique 5 star dining experience. Also highly recommend for visitors. 1 Star - Lacking/Turn Off 2 Stars - Needs Work, But fixable 3 Stars - Adequate 4 Stars - Near perfect, rough edge here or there 5 Stars - Can't get much Better Ambience/Atmosphere: 4.5 stars. Very nice comfortable atmosphere, nothing is over the top, but I would describe the feel as modest elegance. The bar/cafe in the front is nice, and has a great vibe, good for a drink if you are in the area, and just want to get a feel of the restaurant. I was surprised with how young the crowd was (30 to 45), as sometimes these uber-upscale places can be a bit snooty, with a bitter crowd. Not here. Very refreshing. Service: 5 stars. Overall the staff at No. 9 park is fantastic. I have to say they did everything perfectly. They were never in our face, kept the meal at the perfect pace, and were extremely accommodative in every fashion. Our main waitress had a great feel for the menu, and a great understanding about how and which wines to match with our food. To me the staff here views their positions not as jobs, but as careers, they are professionals and you will be able to tell this immediately. Food: 5 stars. My favorite part of the experience. Hands down the best food I have had in Boston to date. They have a chef's tasting menu that looked super tasty, but it was a little bit too much food for us so we opted for the a la carte. We started with the Prune stuffed Gnocchi and the Chestnut soup. The Gnocchi really stood out, very traditional Italian form, with little pouches of the most delicate dough filled with a rich interior. Not the little belly bombs of dough you get most places. Devine. The soup was very tasty, especially given the chilly weather out. The chef then brought us out sweatbreads on the house, because he thought the dish would go spectacular with the first wine we ordered. I thought this was really cool, and really makes a place like this stand out, they want you leaving having had nothing but a perfect experience. Oh, and the sweatbreads were awesome (and I am not really a fan of organs). For main dishes we had the venison and the squab. Both dishes were incredible, and I would highly recommend both. Everything was cooked to perfection, and the flavors really were perfect. Next the cheese tray. All I have to say is save room. The tray contains about 15 different rare cheeses, we tried 5, and all were interesting and delicious. Unfortunately I can't remember any of the names of the cheeses we had. For dessert we had the bittersweet Ganache. This was the only real downer of the meal. It was good, but I guess my expectations were too high. Maybe try something else, not that memorable. Wine: 5 stars. Very extensive list, with moderate pricing. There our a couple of real standouts about the wine program here. First the staff is very knowledgeable about the list, a rarity. They have an great understanding on which wines best complement the food. Secondly, their list is not just a whose who of producers, it is a well thought out group of wines designed to best bring out the experience of the food. Thirdly, is you don't have to spend an arm and a leg. You can go there if you want, but they also have some really spectacular selections under $100. What I would recommend is to pick your food, and let the staff then direct you to some wine choices. Overall: 5 Stars. A must try. Its not a meal, its an experience - a culinary journey. Well Done!
(5)Anonymous P.
This restaurant isn't stuffy, but it is pricey. $65 for today's Mother's Day prix fixe lunch menu. Breaking that down, that means roughly $40 for the entree, $15 for the appetizer, and $15 for dessert. These prices are above, say, Rialto, where we went last night. So the food had better be perfect. At Rialto the food was oddly perfect and unspectacular at the same time. At No 9 Park, the food was spectacular but lacking. The lobster risotto had stunning flavor of top-quality vanilla bean and caramelized orange peel--amazing. But plating was ugly, the portion was too small, and it was missing something to balance--perhaps even a few peas. The chicken was awesome. However, something interesting along with it would have been nice (and expected for $35). Dessert was very good, but I wouldn't have been shocked to get it at Burdick's for $4. Espresso was terribly underextracted, and should not have been served at a restaurant of this caliber imo. Perhaps the camel-back-breaking straw leading to a Yelp star reduction was that my mother managed to get three asparagus stalks as an appetizer and three with her entree, even though they were only four of each to chose from on the prix fixe menu. This seems like a screw-the-customer, cost-reduction move on the part of a restaurant charging $65 per meal. I feel bad giving four stars at a restaurant this good, but price matters.
(4)Me B. M.
Don't believe the hype. When No. 9 first opened, I had my best culinary expereince to date in Boston. Over the years, I have returned many times with each meal devolving into something worse than the previous visit. The past two attempts were so bad, that I was actually embarassed to have invited guests there. Not sure what went wrong, but I am not risking it again to find out.
(1)RonAnderson ..
One of the finest meals I've ever had in my life, and possibly one of the most expensive. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Impeccable service. Highest quality food. (try the braised short ribs, but all the dishes looked amazing). Definitely deserving of all the praise it gets. I was very very impressed. Be sure to make a reservation at few weeks in advance for the best dining times.
(5)Jennifer B.
Delicious, although entrees were not the best part. The lobster napoleon and prune gnocci appetizers were superb--large chunks of fresh lobster meat between apple slices, and hand-made gnocci that melt in your mouth with sweet yet savory prune filling. Exceptional cheeses and wine. Entrees were excellent, but not a standout from other high-quality restaurants. Was definitely worth the price tag, but much of the meal was not as interesting as Hammersley's Bistro, for example. Service was first-rate. Decor modern and elegant but not especially trendy. Bar area seems like an excellent option if you don't want to spend a fortune. Our dining room meal was around $200 for two people with appetizer, wine, and dessert.
(5)Ted G.
Went there a while ago and was disappointed. I had the pork belly and my wife had chicken. For the money I feel there are too many places in Boston that offer much more and better atmosphere. My meal was just fair and 9 Park feels 'clostrophobic' to me. Restaurants nearby like KO prime and Mooo are more worth the value with nicer atmosphere and the service is just as good.
(2)