I always come by this restaurant whenever im picking up pastries from cafe madeline opposite for brunch. It is always a pleasant meal especially their brunch menu of egg benedict and french toast! Its such a great place with a relaxed, easy atomsphere with french comfort food! Yum!
(5)
Aleh V.
Feels like you are back in Paris. A church across the street adds to the flavor. Petit french cuisine. Omelettes are great. Soup is fine. A retractable roof to make enough shade when sitting on a hot day. Even the wind blows along the street to release you from the daytime heart. Perfect for brunch.
(5)
Tim K.
In the competitive South End restaurant scene, we always end up coming back here more than the rest. They keep their menu fresh but leave on the greatest hits, including their rich French Onion soup and steak frites. They often have a great pork dish as well. Their dessert and wine list are extensive and fulfilling. I specifically recommend the Profiterole, share with a friend! Our service has always been pleasantly paced. They are not in a rush, so you shouldn't be either. It's funny to see people complain about slow service; these people have clearly never been to France.
(5)
Lyndsey C.
Very cute little joint. We ate outside. The food was yummy and atmosphere was really pleasant. I enjoyed the quiche of the day with salmon and my friend had the salmon croissant. We enjoyed our meal and it was very fresh. Waitress was not very helpful, she didn't come back much and we had to literally find her to get our check. I would return but wouldn't count on great service... we were only there for a short lunch so I am unsure on dinner but great neighborhood and cute joint.
(4)
Christine J.
A nice french restaurant, quiet, classy and simple. excellent food and service. will be back.
(4)
Rita R.
Lovely French restaurant and corresponding ambiance. Quiet on a Friday at 6 pm, then gets busy. Service took a little on the long side, and prices a bit on the high side, hence the loss of one star. All in all, a pleasant dining experience for a daughter and mom pair.
(4)
Shani T.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. My boyfriend and I came in for brunch on Easter around 12:30PM. We got seated at the table right next to the window, which was nice. There is a fair bit of space in the restaurant and I never felt too close to the table next to us, which was nice. I judge restaurants pretty harshly on the complimentary bread that they provide, and oh my goodness, PRB kills it with their complimentary baguettes. These baguettes are bomb. They come out extremely fresh and warm, and my boyfriend and I each had one for ourselves before our meal. My boyfriend ordered the omelette lyonnaise and I ordered the boeuf bourguignon. 1) Omelette Lyonnaise ($12)--very large serving that came with a salad and fries. The omelette was cooked to perfection, very moist and still a bit runny, exactly how my boyfriend prefers his eggs. Many places leave the omelettes a bit too dry, but PRB did a good job with. The bacon in the omelette was also extremely crispy and delicious, not too greasy either. 2) Boeuf bourguignon ($26)--I really actually wanted to order the omelette lyonnaise myself, but when my boyfriend said that's what he wanted, I decided to switch it up. Normally when I've ordered beef bourguignon at other restaurants, it comes as a pasta dish (thanks, Julia Childs). Here, I got the beef stew with some potatoes and vegetables on the side. It surprised me a bit, but the beef itself was very tender. I barely needed to use the steak knife to cut through the beef; my fork was enough. The stew wasn't too heavy in flavoring and I guess I don't mind cutting back on carbs since I ate an entire baguette by myself anyway. Overall, quite good, though pricey. The vegetables were good, nothing too spectacular, but seasoned well. Now, a few gripes about the restaurant. Our host never gave us the Easter specials menu. I saw other tables with them but for some reason it seems like the host just forgot? It would have been nice to see, but I didn't notice until after we had ordered. That being said, the waiter never walked us through any specials either, so we also didn't have a clue that there were any specials. Another issue I had with PRB was the fact that on our check, we were charged $27 for the beef bourguignon. It clearly says $26 on the menu, and it's just confusing to me as to why we were charged a different price. We pointed this out to our waiter and he changed it for us with no questions asks / no explanation given, but I kind of was more curious about the why, instead of caring for the $1 difference. I would come back for brunch and get an omelette. $12 for the omelette seemed very worth it. $26 for the beef bourguignon, not so much. I've had better and cheaper elsewhere. Definitely take a quick look at the check though... Can't say I trust this place too much after the extra dollar charged on my dish.
(4)
Al S.
My second best meal of my lifetime. Wonderful, personable service, decent decor, and the food! Holy crap! My buddy had foie gras, I ordered pate maison. For mains, scallops for me (although I didn't care for the bed of eggplant they came on) and chicken for my dinner companion. One word. Excellent. Perfectly seared scallops. Chicken that's truly falling off the bone. And the waitress picked a perfect bottle ($42). Truly, truly enjoyable. (And I'm a huge snob when it comes to food)
(5)
Jake E.
Not really sure why all the mediocre to bad reviews. My girlfriend and I went here for our anniversary dinner and were thoroughly impressed all around by the quality of the food, attentiveness of the service, and classy atmosphere. I agree the food is expensive, but if you're on a budget, then you probably shouldn't be eating at a bistro in the first place! Personally, I wouldn't dine here except for special occasions, but I don't think it's exorbitant as far as upscale restaurants go. Food was excellent all around. The complementary crusty baguette they provided was enough to whet our appetites for the main courses. My girlfriend ordered roasted chicken, which she said was tender and flavorful and I ordered the (skirt) steak-frites. Let me just qualify my review by saying that I am quite picky when it comes to steak and this was one of the best cooked steaks I have had in a long while. Unlike many restaurants, they actually cooked to order (medium-rare) and the meat was soft and well marinated. The French fries were just the right amount salty and crispy and paired well with the provided garlic aioli. Service was great too, no complaints! The atmosphere in the patio seating can get a tad noisy at times since Columbus Ave. is a main thoroughfare in the South End, but that's hardly the restaurant's fault. All in all, would definitely return, though infrequently and only for a special occasion.
(4)
Antonio E.
Honest food review. I've been in France many times and I can say this is the typical food you can find all around France. It's not a top-notch restaurant of course, but if you want to taste authentic French food with a decent bottle of wine without having to empty your pockets you've come to the right place. The only thing I did not like was one of the three pates they have in their pate selection plate. Everything else pretty good. Also the atmosphere, the small place, the small tables, really makes you feel like you are in a Petit French Bistro :)
(4)
Lisa L.
Charming place to have a visit with old friends and enjoy good food but not great. The service was outstanding but the Onion Soup was just passable. Salads were very good but over all it made me miss the old Cafe Du Barry's on Newbury Street.
Beautiful location and I was able to sit outside. The staff was very friendly and informative about the menu. The cocktails were amazing; I had the dirty dawn. Food was perfectly portioned and I would recommend sharing appetizers because it's difficult to choose just one. Will be coming back to this restaurant.
(5)
Lily J.
Great food, service, and atmosphere. Nice place to enjoy some delicious French food without necessarily needing a reservation. I am always surprised they are not busier! When the weather is nice they also have outdoor tables available. Their menu changes seasonally and I can't remember exactly what I ordered the last time I was there (some kind of fish with lemon and thyme...it was awesome). I'll definitely be back for more!
(5)
Noreen A.
Amazing food. Stefano, the chef, makes food that my mouth falls in love with. Great wine selection, service staff, atmosphere, and eye candy.
(4)
Adam S.
Love this place. Food is always good as is the wine. Also the service is top notch. I mean who doesn't like quality French food with a great atmosphere!?
(5)
Aneesh B.
I was in town for a conference and met a friend for dinner at Petit Robert; what a lovely dinner! Food: We started the meal with a bottle of Sancerre, which was perfect for the warm-day-turning-into-cool-evening; I thought the wine list was thoughtfully chose. As for the food, the words I think best describe the food at Petit Robert are simple, flavorful, and light. I generally don't opt for French food, but I'm slowly being brought back into the light with French bistro fare. To start, we shared a plate of mussels persillade (parsley sauce), which had a nice bite from the vinegar and garlic, but wasn't overpowering. Then I had the grilled salmon served with ratatouille. I asked for the salmon to be grilled rare, and that is exactly what I got. Makes me really happy when a cook knows how to grill to the proper temperature, especially when for a piece of fish. It was a nice entree, and I am glad I ordered it. Others at the table ordered the scallops and a special octopus salad with kale and lentils. All the food looked amazing. We also shared sides of sauteed mushrooms and spinach. Veggies were well-seasoned and not at all overcooked. We skipped dessert in favor of another bottle of Sancerre, but other tables looked quite happy with their sweet treats. Service: Outstanding. Full disclosure: my friend knows the owner of the Petit Robert restaurants, and during our meal the owner sat down with us to eat, so I suppose you could assume the service was extra-special" because of that; I don't think it would have made a difference, though. I think the staff is well-trained and knows how to make you feel comfortable. Vibe: Chill, with a menu to match. Nothing about the place is flashy, yet the experience felt way better than average. It's a comfortable place with indoor and outdoor seating that I think anyone would love. Family-friendly: Unless your kids like French food, I'd probably leave them at home. But this is definitely not a stuffy place which would frown upon bringing children in to dine. No kids menu, but it's a neighborhood bistro that I am sure could rustle up something a kid would enjoy. Summary: A gem in the South End, Petit Robert will make you feel at home and serve you flavorful fare with no fuss. Definitely worth your time and money. Bon appetit!
(4)
Peter K.
Great French restaurant in Boston! Awesome food, amazing foie gras! Nice atmosphere, good service. Love this place.
(5)
Daniel R.
Service was okay -- friendly, but slow, and they forgot the rolls until my girlfriend asked about it later (after the main course was already here.) Food was good, but not great, and didn't justify the price. I typically frequent cheaper places, and I expect a cut above from a pricier place like this. The thing that really ruined it for us, though, was that we came PURELY for the purpose of using a gift certificate. When we handed it to the waiter at the end, he informed us that our gift certificate was good at some Petit Robert locations, but not others, and he couldn't accept it. The certificate did not say anything about which locations it was valid for, and any normal customer would assume it's valid for all of them. According to the waiter, this issue comes up on a regular basis, yet they haven't done anything about it. We paid the full bill (as though we had no gift certificate), but left unhappy. When I contacted them via their web feedback form to complain, not only did they not attempt to rectify the situation, but they never even bothered to respond. A classy place like this should be able to do much better.
Clarice was a very pleasant server and was very helpful with making our decisions on entrees which we were very happy with . 5 stars for sure on this one.
(5)
Danielle K.
Petit Robert Bistro is in a really cute and quaint part of Boston. The staff here is also really accommodating and down to earth so it was hard to see how this place could ever go wrong right off the bat. We ordered the escargot and the calf's liver and I was in love. The escargot is nice and buttery and the calf's liver is really well cooked. If you don't like a more soft calf's liver, make sure to tell the waiter because it comes out on the rarer side. The bread is ah-may-zing. So amazing that we really didn't feel bad or embarrassed about asking for more even if their stockpile went down because of us.
(4)
Anthony M.
The escargot were to die for at this little Parisian bistro in downtown Boston. The prices are high, portions are small, quarters are tight and the food is delish. We ordered specials as the entrees which made the prices higher than expected, the food was good but not for the price especially if you are going to leave hungry. I would love to go back just for some escargot and some drinks at the bar.
(3)
Carlos A.
I went there for dinner. We ordered two steak frites one rare and one medium. After an one hour wait the medium one was brought well done and the rare one was brought medium. When we told our waiter that both steaks were overcooked she brought back the person I assume was the owner or general manager. I was expecting an apology and have it immediately changed because it was very clear that both steaks were overcooked. Instead of that they said that the reason it was overcooked was because the steak was thin and that if I brought it to the light I could see that there was a little red in the middle of the "rare" one. They refused to change them and they were rude making it seem like I had never ordered a steak before. There are a lot of other good restaurants in the area to choose from, so avoid Petit Robert Bistro.
(1)
Timothy A.
Le Petit Robert still has a lot to recommend it, but our visit on 10/12/14 was disappointing compared to previous ones. We arrived at 12:25 PM with a 12:30 reservation and were seated immediately. It took 35 minutes before a waiter even took a drink order, and it was nearly an hour before any food arrived. There was only a Sunday Brunch menu available (this was not mentioned on the website). Two of us had Moules Frites (one marniere and one curry), and they were excellent along with very good frites. The third person had Coq au Vin, which was on the greasy side and relatively flavorless. The bread was not up to par, essentially a roll that lacked a good crust and a soft inside. The basket of viennoiserie had a super croissant, two pain au chocolate, and a blueberry muffin that was tasteless and did not belong in the company of the others. The Vouvray wine was crisp and fresh but the Cotes de Rhone was stale (perhaps the bottle had been opened the day before). In general, the service was slow and inattentive. Compared with previous visits, I would say that Le Petit Robert is on the way down, living on reputation but still having an affected arrogance about what it used to be. I'll pass in the future and seek another bistro that cares to make its reputation in Boston.
(3)
Lynn J.
FINE FRENCH FOOD! The service was very attentive and consistent. I had a baked salmon with a very rich sauce. It was very good, but Boston high priced, and not something that I'd come back for again. I'm told though, that red meats are where they shine. So, if that's your thing, my dining friends recommend it. My companions had come here often for their meat dishes. THE DEAL: Loved the Profiterole dessert!
(4)
Jacob M.
Food is excellent. Very homey and tasty French food, not fancy at all. I usually get their cassoulet, it's really really good! Their wine selection is excellent also. But the service is extremely slow (still polite, just unbearably slow), just like what you'd expect from an authentic bistro in Paris, I guess.. It's ironic, because the French word "bistro" is actually a loanword that originates from Russian, meaning 'fast' or 'quickly'... :-/ It's no l'espalier, but for the price and the quality of food, I really shouldn't complain about this charming little place in the neighborhood.
(3)
Eric F.
Came in for lunch with the family and the experience was a tiny step up from awful. There was no one at the front upon arrival and service throughout the meal left much to be desired, eg. it doesn't help to ask us how everything was 3-4 times when my water and coffee are repeatedly left empty and unnoticed. It's also a bad sign when I contemplate leaving 5 minutes after being seated since no one had come by our table. We had a BLT, escargot, omelette and crispy poached egg among us and nothing left an impression. The poached egg was bland, the fries looked store bought and I make far more flavorful eggs at home. The one tiny saving grace was (arguably) the bread as it was at least served hot. Highlight of the meal: "What's the fish of the day?" "Scallops."
(1)
A C.
I just dropped this place, one of my favorite places, to two stars, because of the below response from the restaurant. I sent them an email with my above concerns, and this was their reply: "Thank you for your feedback. I am glad you had a true Bistro experience. We have worked very hard for almost 8 years to create a true Parisian atmosphere in our Bistros and it seems that our Guests are finally getting it. Welcome to France! A tres bientot et merci encore! Loic Le Garrec Directeur-Proprietaire loiclg@comcast.net " Clearly, it just bespeaks to the poor management. Contrast this reply to the personal apology and gift certificate from Chef Hamersley, and you know which place takes service seriously.
(2)
Paloma M.
I went there on saturday night for the first time (I've only been at the commonwealth location) and I was not very impressed, to be honest. I had a cod with vegetables that was really meh, the cod had no taste at all! My husband had scallops with zucchini and said it was good. At least the tarte tatin was amazing! Service was good but the restaurant was extremely noisy, different from the one in back bay, which is much better, btw.
(3)
A G.
Not a bad experience. The food was well prepared and very tasty Service was good however not all plates were served at the same time for our party.
(3)
Sara S.
Romantic and fantastic food. Great spot if you're a fan of French cuisine.
(4)
Bing X.
Loved the food! All the food! The place was a bit too crowded but It is acceptable considering the food....
(5)
McGhee O.
We were here on Friday, the 11th. Let me start by saying that I thought the food was AMAZING. So very good. What brought my review so far down was the service. I was there with my girlfriend, and for the first part of the meal our service was fine. However, when a table came in (I believe they were regulars), our server proceeded to stand at their table and talk very loudly with/at them for over 20 minutes. Meanwhile all his other tables, including ours, were completely ignored. We ended up having to ask another server for our check. I had every intention of having dessert and an after dinner drink, but after sitting there for a long time waiting for our waiter to pay attention to anyone else, we decided to skip it and just get the check. It was quite upsetting, as I have loved Petit Robert up until now. I doubt we will go back.
(2)
Iri A.
We were there for brunch early on Sunday morning. The omellette and eggs bennedict were great. I didn't like to french toast because it was not soft. the atmosphere was nice and quiet, the coffee fresh out of the brewer, the music very pleasant and the servers polite.
(4)
Daniel J.
Nice dinner - good food - not too much and very tasty. Great atmosphere even down to the bone fide French waiters - lost on some of the customers I'm afraid
(4)
matthew g.
My wife and I went here on a busy Saturday night for dinner. Based on reviews we expected good food and poor service. However, Petite Robert Bistro managed to far surpass our expectations. The appetizers were served promptly, the escargot buttery and garlicky. Wonderful. I had the steak frites and it was cooked a perfect medium rare, my wife had the beef bourguignon and is was so unbelievably moist, flavorful. Just terrific. Now onto the service. We were extremely well taken care of from the hostess who seated us, to the waiter that took good care of us, to the friendly staff who packed our leftover wine up to take home. I would definitely recommend this place. It felt very much like a high quality restaurant in Paris, just easier to understand the people sitting around you.
Had a really nice, early dinner there with the family,
(4)
Silvia V.
This is one of the best French bistros in town when it comes to what you get for your buck. I've been to all three locations and I've had great meals at all three. I just came home from having dinner at the South End location. Once again, I had a great experience at Petit Robert's. While waiting for my friend, I ordered mulled wine. It was warm enough and strong enough. The garden salad with panko crusted goat cheese was delicious. The Chilean sea bass special was perfect taste wise as well as portion wise. The Nutella crepes were oh so delicious. The service was attentive and knowledgeable. And the bill was wallet-friendly too. Very pleasant experience all around.
(5)
Jiyea C.
This is probably a less than 3 star restaurant, but I decided to bump it up because the service was good! Much better than the food. If the most memorable part of the meal was the bread that was served at the beginning of the meal, you can get an idea of what I thought of the food. The french roll was served warm and had the perfect crunchy/chewy consistency. For a girl who knows her carbs, it was very satisfying. We tried the pate appeitizer, the cassoulet, and the daily dessert special, almond cake. I thought all the components of the cassoulet were salty, but other than that, there wasn't anything wrong with the food. My dining companion said that the sausages were made in-house, and he enjoyed the sausage, but me..not so much. While I can't pinpoint anything WRONG with what we tried (other than the saltiness I mentioned), I can't really say anything positive about it either. It was just OK, which is surprising and a little sad because I was rather hungry when we came into the restaurant. I would say that this is a slightly upscale family restaurant. You could easily bring a date here, but I noticed that there were families with (very) young children here also. I'm talking babies in carseats. I feel a little bad about writing a mediocre review because our server was so nice! Never rushed us and was just the right level of attentive, with a cute accent to boot! And we went in without a reservation on Saturday at 7:30pm and were seated within a few minutes.
(3)
Lesley P.
Good service. Very cute patio seating. We thought the quiche would have been better if hot and also if actually good. Fries were good. Coffee fine. I can see why they track at 3.5 stars at this location.
(3)
Harri S.
The place was cute enough, the service was very courteous, but the food BLECH. My food (Salmon (charred, and not by choice)) was inedible and the Biff's food (the duck) was truly meh at best. The sides to the main dishes were pretty decent. We had one app, the escargot and the half the Biff had was apparently part frozen. He was convinced it was out of the freezer. I liked it enough, didn't think it was pre-frozen, but I've certainly had better. They were so kind, so I feel bad about handing down such a review, but the food really stunk. Maybe we should have done the fondue special instead :/
(2)
Lisa M.
I love French bistro and this restaurant is mediocre. The Croque Monsieur was fried, not grilled. Onion soup is good, but not spetacular.
(2)
Neel M.
Vegetarian. They put ham in my first omelet. They said they would fix it. They put ham in the second one. Fail.
(1)
Amanda O.
We went to Petit Robert Bistro on a Friday night after work with a group of 4 and made a reservation. It was busy, but when I arrived about 20 minutes early they had our table ready and didn't mind me sitting down and getting started with a drink. It was very nice after a busy week at work to not have to wait for the rest of our party. I got the Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles which was AMAZING! The chicken was delicious and just fell off the bone. It was so good I don't remember anything else about the restaurant (we went about a 1-2 months ago). Met expectations. I'm looking forward to going back and trying something else.
(4)
Corona W.
My boyfriend and I dined here a couple of weeks ago. The service was friendly and the restaurant was cozy but I still much prefer the original location in Kenmore. For some reason, I think the food there tastes better. For appetizers, we ordered a side dish - Ratatouille Niçoise and the Escargot. Sadly, the appetizers were probably the best part of the meal. The escargot came swimming in a sea of decadent pesto butter. We tried to stop eating the bread but the butter was so delicious, we couldn't stop. For entrees, my boyfriend had the salmon cordon blue and I had the sauteed scallops in mushroom risotto. Both were good but not super amazing. I personally found his salmon to be a little dry. In terms of french restaurants, the portions at Petit Robert have always been above average and they will leave you quite full. Prices are also very reasonable as far as French restaurants go. Anyways, we had a good time and a nice window seat for for South End people watching. We ordered a bottle of wine and ended the night with coffee laced with cognac and amaretto. These were delicious by the way. Despite the mediocre entrees on this particular night, I will be back. However, next time, I'll stick with the Kenmore location.
(3)
Brian S.
Petit Robert is a great place to take a date. Nice, romantic, and great service the moment you step in. Problem is that it's a bit far away from the center of the city, and we made the mistake of trying to walk there in the blistering cold. Still, I would say it's worth a trek. Overall the food was great. The escargots were delicious. However for my entree, I strongly believe I just ordered the wrong thing. While I had no complaints about the pork dish, it just felt like and looked like a dish that I could have attempted at home with similar success. My girlfriend, on the other hand, ordered the liver and loved it! So choose wisely, and I'm sure you'll come out with at least a star rating above mine.
(3)
C B.
Happy, quiet, comfortable, relaxed, date night... great drinks, relaxed, friendly service. funky drinks--delicious
(5)
Kevin R.
Came last night for a late dinner. Service was attentive and polite. Escargot for an appetizer; very pleased for my first time. We had the duck confit and the pork tenderloin. The pork was very good, tender not at all dry and overall very satisfying. The duck was just ok, edible , but dry. Thought about dessert, but passed. Overall a quality experience.
Okay little background: my father was a chef (in big places in NYC, Sydney, France, to mention a few), and I lived 20 years in France... Service: terrible! My table had to request bread all the time. The waiter kept bumping me all evening. Oh the best part was that my friend was burned when receiving his plate. Somebody forgot to mention how hot the plate was. I was lucky enough to have another waiter coming for mine, and she warmed me. I worked in my father's kitchen for years as a teenager, so I am used to hot plates, but those were way too hot not to be announced. The bus boy/ girl were actually good. my water was always replenished. My friend requested a sauce, and of course he got the wrong one. The cream on the service was being billed for an item that was not ordered by my table (7). Just in case you are wondering, yes we had to pay it. Menu: understandably small; however, "there is no modifications." This is abusing. If the food is fresh (seems to be) then what is the issue to change my side of rice, or requesting without an item on my appetizer. This attitude would get you out of the market even in France. Food: the menu covers plenty of typical French dishes, but the creamy rognons were watery. The cured salmon terrible. My friends food was not sadly not better. I am not going over it more because I don't feel like wasting more time on this place that certainly not deserve it. The valet was actually nice and friendly. Now, I experienced many French restaurants in the US, and I am generally very disappointed as an average one in France would be better. Now, considering that the manager (owner) is French, or speak French without any accent, I fount that sad to have such a poor quality of service ( a must in France), and poor quality of food. I definitely experienced better in the US. To the risk of appearing condescending, only somebody that never experiences French cuisine in France would find that place wonderful in term of food. It seems very unlikely that we came on the wrong day when looking at the end products. However, I am willing to think that he service is generally better if you don't have a big table like I had, or that the guy simply had a bad day as the rest of the team was good.
(1)
Steven E.
Costumer service here is terrible. In a nutshell: Drunk patron gets in a fight with the valet (evidently the valet lost his keys? I don't know, don't care). Big loud fight in the middle of the bar area where I am eating dinner with my bf. The fight lasts perhaps 30 min, on and off, complete with shoving, name calling, pretty much everyone saying they will be pressing charges and/or calling the police on everyone else. The hostess basically joins in and starts yelling at the valet - big scene - ruined my dinner. Well, if I were a hostess, I would have at least apologized to the six people who were eating in the same tiny room as this very upsetting exchange that I had just taken part in (I believe the final words of the exchange were the hostess telling the valet to "get lost"). I probably would have offered them complimentary dessert, drink, discount, SOMETHING (but at the very least an acknowledgment that this is not the experience one should expect here). Nope. Nothing. Just pretended like the past 30 min hadn't happened. Yummy food though. And hey, really cool thing that is actually really awesome and would have landed them 5 stars from me? Vegan options. WHAT? I know right? Where are there French places with items that don't contain butter. Very cool. Now hire staff who aren't incompetent.
(1)
Charlene C.
This place barely even deserves 1 star -- not because the food is bad but because the service is. And when I say "bad," I'm being generous. What I really mean to say is "atrocious." The service here is really, seriously, unbelievably atrocious. I went for the first time with a friend for Valentine's Day, and our waiter's name -- if our receipt is to be believed -- was Smythe. We both actually thought the food was fine, but she received noticeably worse service than I did. And by "worse," I mean rude, unacceptable, and very likely discriminatory. We're both Asian females, but whereas I have no trace of an accent at all, she has an obvious accent (despite being completely understandable, having perfect grammar, a large vocabulary, etc.). She believes this was the reason she received lower quality service, as other people in the service industry have behaved similarly towards her in the past. Honestly, I thought our waiter's behavior would have been considered appallingly rude by any paying customer. My friend was very upset by the treatment, and rightly so. Her whole dining experience was literally ruined by his behavior alone. She did contact the restaurant via web form to complain that night, making sure to include her email and phone number, but a full week later, she still hasn't received a response of any kind. To be fair, let me say that I did enjoy my food (enough to finish eating it, at least). The greeters were polite, friendly, and prompt. The service I myself received was fair, nothing special, but I had no complaints about it until the very end when I just got fed up with the way my friend was being treated and had to jump in to get him to correct several mistakes on our bill -- mistakes that were very obviously his. No matter how good the food is (and objectively speaking, the food here isn't even that good), when a waiter makes several obvious mistakes on the bill and then instigates an argument about those mistakes with a patron, it should be viewed as a red flag for bad service. And that was the least of this waiter's behavior issues. It's hard to say whether he was an ill-concealed racist or just extremely incompetent at doing his job, but after reading other Yelpers' low-rating reviews for this place, I'm inclined to believe he might be both. The thought had also occurred to me that he might have been annoyed at having to work on Valentine's or perhaps was just bitter at the 'holiday' itself, but again, neither is any excuse to mistreat a customer. Nor does it explain the restaurant ignoring my friend's complaint. I tried very hard not to judge this establishment based on the actions of one waiter, but all things considered, I found the service and lack of redress to be totally unacceptable, and neither of us will ever be returning to Petit Robert in the future.
(1)
May N.
Went here for Restaurant Week on a weeknight with a few friends. It was not very busy when I arrived for our 7pm reservations, just a handful of people on the patio and a couple of groups inside. The selections all sounded really good. I went with the scallops, swordfish au poivre, and chocolate mousse. The scallops were perfectly cooked. The fish was moist, tender, and perfectly flavored. The chocolate mousse was to die for. It comes in a very small container, but it's so rich. The service was very good. It did take a some time for our food to come, but we didn't mind. Hopefully we weren't too obnoxious, being the loud people catching up and laughing together. The place was busier when we left.
(4)
Holly S.
Food was very elegant, most dished little on the salty side, but the wine helped with that! Also the warm bread warmed my belly:) veggie salad very good
(4)
Nate Y.
To say this place is a perfect date place would be an understatement. A rainy evening just added to the romance in the air, fogging the windows where we were seated allowing my companion to draw a whimsical smiley face.Tthe hostess and waitstaff with their authentic french accents and walking through the kitchen to the dining area with low ceilings, low lighting, white table cloths, and other dining patrons having conversations made me feel I was walking through an impressionist's painting. Sharing our meal (lobster mac n' cheese, duck, and pork loin) was like our conversation; authentic and honest, just delicious. It didn't matter that the dessert we ordered, the souffle, would take 20 minutes, since it would prolong the experience. Some practical information; reservations would be a good idea if you want to make sure to get a table, although there are two locations. Waitstaff was attentive and helpful. I hope that this can be repeated, but the experience may have been a meeting of so many things coming together at the right time. As the saying goes, "better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all"?
(5)
Opal L.
I've been having great luck with groupons. I had lunch there with a groupon and the experience made me want to go back there. Since it was restaurant week, there was a 3-course lunch that was about the price of the groupon so I had that with a Sam Adams light. I was sitting at the bar and should have seen all the other things I could have ordered to drink. They have good beers on tap, like Leffe and 1664. It's quite refreshing to be in a Boston restaurant that has something else besides Sam Adams on tap. If you're in the mood for something sweeter, they have Framboise. Next time, I'm getting that. Okay, so I had the smoked salmon soup of the day, the fried pork, and creme caramel. I thought the French served smaller portions but I guess they adapted to the American customs. I probably shouldn't have eaten the whole bowl of soup. The carrots were a little too crunch for my taste and I left those on the plate. Fortunately, dessert was light. If you look at my pictures, you'll see that the food is presented very simply and cleanly. It was a delicious lunch but I probably won't have a 3-course meal again any time soon. Two courses is enough. I went in at about 1:30 p.m. and the place was almost empty. The service was obviously great because the waiter had only one other table and me to take care of. So, if you want a quiet place to have lunch, go there after 1 p.m. I think they serve lunch until 5 p.m.
I'm glad that I had the opportunity to give this place another shot. We came here with another couple for dinner, and we ran through the menu like Tiny Tim through the tulips. It was a frigid night, and after walking the 10 or so blocks from our place to the restaurant, we were ready for a hot drink. Fortunately, they have a fantastic mulled wine on the drink menu. Steaming hot, a little sweet, with wine, cognac, and rich winter spices, it is absolutely perfect for driving the chill from the bones. Regarding the food, let me first just say - I ATE BRAINS FOR THE FIRST TIME. I don't know how often they sell it, but Petit Robert sells lightly pan fried calves' brains. They were great - a light crispiness on the outside, creamy and soft on the inside, with a very rich flavor. The capers went perfectly with them. The escargot are everything you'd want them to be - garlicky, buttery and firm, full of flavor. The raw oysters are served in a surprisingly large amount of brine, on the half-shell, with a very nice mignonette sauce on the side. As good as you get at B&G or Neptune. Alas, my short rib entree fell a bit short, being somewhat dry. Either they left the braise in for too long, or left it uncovered when they re-warmed it, because the meat was very fibrous, though soft, and there was a distinct lack of liquid goodness. The atmosphere on a cold winter night, however, is not to be overstated. It's a lovely, cozy room, full of warmth and charm, with a giant window showing the blowing snow outside. Really makes you feel like you're wrapped in a giant expensive French cocoon. Service is impeccably rendered by wait staff who are seemingly all of European origin. In the end, the pleasure of the experience won out over my disappointment at their treatment of one of my most favorite main ingredients, and I would come back in the hopes that the next time I order the short ribs, they are a little bit juicier. Bon Chance!
(4)
Linda E.
Nice place to sit on the patio and eat brunch. Ordered a coffee and the eggs benedict. The plate was enough to split with my friend and we had some free bread too. The service is a bit iffy, they had to be flagged down a bit for coffee refills, but all in all it was a nice brunch for about $13.
(3)
Sara M.
3.5 stars honestly... My husband and I came here with his old boss for dinner not too long ago. It was overall a pleasant evening. I did not realize how small and cramped it is inside. Those tables are quite close together and made it feel like we were all part of other people's intimate conversations. I had crispy calf's brains and the lamb shanks as my meal. The brains were delectable! I loved how the crispy texture really contrasted with the smooth, creamy inside. The flavor was not unbearable gamey/strong and I enjoyed it very much. The lamb shanks were done pretty well but there was not a lot of creativity. My husband did not care for his braised short ribs since there were beets - it did not state on the menu this important ingredient! The prices were fair for the South End and the quality of the food. We weren't blown away and have had better meals at other places. Perhaps it did not live up to the hype since we were expecting more.
Warm, inviting, casual, approachable authentic French food. Sit at the bar, enjoy the scallops and mushroom risotto, the onion soup, and the herring and potato salad (in the reverse order) and converse with Jeremy and Bruno, the finest bartenders in the land.
(4)
Anna R.
This place is great! I will definitely be back! The atmosphere is perfect--intimate and classy but still casual enough for a late weekday meal. The neighborhood feel of the South End also makes it feel more like a bistro than a restaurant. The food is FANTASTIC--I had the roast chicken and was absolutely in love. It was perfect, every single bite, crispy yet moist. The mashed potatoes and veggies on the side were also impeccably cooked and seasoned. To top it all off, the price was very reasonable ($18). The only reason for the 4 stars is the service--we were not greeted upon entering, and had to awkwardly stand around until the hostess came and got us. Our waitress was aloof and mildly attentive. We had to ask for water refills, and she corrected my fiance on sauce pronunciation (poh-vray to pohvr). I understand we're butchering your language, but you never correct customers.
(4)
Bianca T.
Dining at The Petite Robert Bistro was an experience I will never forget ! The atmosphere is french perfection. Relaxed and comfortable. The food was unbelievable .. I order an omelet ... it was light, fluffy and filled with the freshest ingratiates ... just bursting with the flavors of ham, spinach, mushrooms, tomato and cheddar. My mother ordered the eggs benedict .... the eggs were perfectly poached, the hollandaise sauce was light, creamy and buttery .... honestly I wish I could eat there every day .... I can't wait to have brunch there again - there is a jazz singer that performs on Sundays Our waiter Jack was welcoming and attending to our every need. I think the biggest surprise cam when the bill arrived .... the total was $20.35 .... for brunch and cappuccinos .... very reasonable !
(5)
Scott B.
Stopping in to Petit Robert on a Sunday evening for a drink... what a fantastic idea. The bartender (who created the drink menu himself) quickly informed us that ALL the specialty drinks on the menu are his "babies" and that "of course they are delicious." And, they were. The atmosphere was nice, and much quieter than surrounding establishments, with quiet couples and decent French music in the background. The adorable bartender was attentive while he danced and sang along to the music. Lovely. Since we only came for drinks, I cannot critique the food, but I can sum up the Petit in with these three F's... Fantastic, Friendly, and French. And there you have it.
(4)
Lickety Split N.
The atmosphere is nice and the waitstaff is friendly, but the food fell way short of expectations. Everything is drowned in butter and really salty, yet still bland somehow. We got steak tartare (mushy and over-chopped), the scallops (can easily make better at home), and the lamb chop (not flavorful). Go here if you really love water because the waiters are very attentive with refilling the glasses, but maybe it's because they know how salty the food is. I don't plan on returning.
(2)
Kenneth R.
While strolling by this morning on my way to Render Coffee, I decided that this Petit Robert was cute enough to be worthy of a dinner visit. I got together a group of 5 diners and most of my group seemed to be delighted with the choice. In fact, one of my team members intends to come back tomorrow with an even larger group! So the place isn't a disaster. We came on a quiet night -- the end of a holiday weekend. The house was only 1/3 full, and the servers were not energized. My impression is that the kitchen wasn't all that hot either, but I think that a 2-star rating would be on the lowball side. Basically, the main thing that this establishment is selling is canned French-ness. This appeals to a lot of people but it seemed to me that the personnel were from other corners of the globe. The main courses, which are called "plats" in France, are "entrees" on the Petit Robert menu -- I considered this to be a bad sign. I can report on the food that I sampled and on the two wines that I ordered. Those wines were a low-end white Burgundy and a 100% syrah Cotes du Rhone (which was a recommendation of the patron). The first wine was pleasant enough but no big deal; I thought that the second wine was much better -- it was a good value. For my appetizer, I chose the soupe du jour, which turned out to be a beet and orange soup with horseradish cream. The tastes were unusual, bordering on the bizarre; the soup alone lifts the restaurant out of the "completely meh" category. One of my companions ordered a plate of French fries as his appetizer. (I'm not making this up.) Several of us tried a French fry dipped into the ketchup-looking beet soup and enjoyed the experience of having something taste totally different than its appearance would suggest. This was perhaps the highlight of the dinner! For my main course, I selected the cassoulet, which really was A-OK. I can eat better cassoulet at home by buying it from The Fifth Quarter at my local farmers market yelp.com/biz/the-fifth-q… , but that's there rather than here. All in all, Kenneth R. goes for the 3-star rating.
(3)
Back B.
I have been to this Petite Robert location a hand full of times. The service, food, and no frills atmosphere really is awesome. This restaurant reminded me of the small restaurants I went to in Paris. The waitstaff are very helpful, and always have a smile on their faces. Our waiter, Smyth, is on top of his game. He not only made our night special, he made us feel relaxed, and was funny and enjoyable. I don't care what any negative reviews say about Petite Robert, they are wrong. Come to this restaurant, its worth every dollar. Try their chocolate moose for dessert after your meal, you can't go wrong.
(5)
Olivia D.
Went here with my mother as a good-bye dinner yesterday after my matriculation at Boston University. Let me tell you, the food was HEAVENLY. My mom had the fresh caught bluefin special and she said the sauce was probably the best sauce she had in her life. I enjoyed a soup and an artichoke and shrimp salad (I wish I could say the actual menu names but I would butcher them) . Probably the best food that I've eaten out in a very very very long time, maybe ever. And I love that it seemed to be family run and the staff was incredibly friendly. The atmosphere made you think you were in Paris. It was a perfect dinner and I can't wait to take my parents here again when they're up or go here on a date- I will definitely be back !
(5)
Victoria J.
My fat-kid best friend and gluttonous partner in crime is back in town, so what do we do? MmmmMmmMMMmmmmyum!!! Driving around the South End, we were thinking Joe V's, (great pizza), but thought..."Hmmm, we've never been to Petit - Let's go tonight!" It was a beautiful spring night, and there were plenty of people enjoying Petit's outdoor seating. We opted to go inside, by the window - perfect amount of breeze and warmth. The way the restaurant is set-up slightly strange - you have to walk past the bar area, through the kitchen, and then take a left to the dining area. And slightly even stranger, is that everyone speaks French. It's almost as if we've been transported to France - French spoken outside, French spoken at the bar, every host/hostess, waiter/waitress was spouting out "Bonsoir" as if we were all 10yr old and finally dropped the F bomb. So we started off with drinks - Bordeaux for him, Basil Martini for me. I loved my martini, it was refreshing with a kick. For appetizers we got the Escargot and the Trio of Pates. The snails - super buttery and delicious. The pates - three different kinds, (obviously, hence the "trio"), served with Dijon mustard and teeny, tiny little pickles (Awww, how cute!), and tasted perfectly with the French baguette that was served. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. I scanned the menu for my entree, and the first thing that jumped out - French Onion Soup. Hmmm, interesting how I began craving it so desperately since seeing it on the menu. Perhaps, some meat would be more filling? - but then that melty, gooey cheese sold me. So obviously I had soup, my dear friend decided to try to the frog legs, as he had actually never had them, (I reassured that they are actually quite good and I think that sold him). My soup - was fucking divine. And I am using the F word to emphasis, how much, truly, really, really, hit the spot. Piping hot, delicious onion broth with a multitude of delicious, gooey cheese on top. Oh man, it was just great. I in no way regretted ordering the soup, nor did I care to try my friend's frog legs because I was just so utterly consumed by my soup. If it wasn't for the soup, I probably would have given Petit 3 stars. Thank your lucky stars, Petit, that I went for the soup! We were there for almost three hours, eating and continuing on drinking, and at no point in time, did I feel rushed. Oh do I love that. One of my biggest pet peeves is when restaurants try to force you out - from some places, (Chili's/Cheesecake Factory/Outback), I expect it and have no problem complying. Who really wants to dwell in the ambiance of an Outback Steakhouse? But we listened to the French classics playing in the background, sitting by the window, enjoying the cool breeze, people watching, and good conversation. Without any dirty looks, or annoyance from the waitstaff. And I think this, is what I enjoyed the most - Thank you Petit Robert!
(4)
Erwin F.
I only went to this restaurant because my GF and I had BWM voucher for it. First - The Service The waitstaff were attentive and helpful. The food came out pretty quick and our waiter checked in on us to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Second - The Food The food was disappointing. The food wasn't bad or anything, but it did lack flavor. After the first few bites, our excitement dropped. My GF's fish was bland and my duck was overcooked. The vegetable sides were forgettable as was pretty much the entire meal. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the food. If all meals there are similar in flavor and taste as the meals we had, I would not return.
(2)
max s.
Lived in the South End for 3 years and this was our favorite go-to restaurant; ate here about 20 times with a variety of people and never heard a complaint. Have tried many different dishes on the frequently changing menu; favorites include the escargot (in a delicious garlicy buttery sauce), fois gras, coq au vin (chicken melts in your mouth), steak frites (one of our favorite choices - perfectly cooked each time), pork chop (panko crusted, nice and moist), and scallops (delicious! also perfectly cooked - always). Basically everything is so good that it's always difficult to decide what to order! Sides are also a treat - mushrooms, spinach, brussel sprouts - you can't help but finish them all. Also the warm crusty bread they leave on the table is phenomenal. Great servers who are helpful and professional; service is occasionally slow but we found that a bonus because it gave us more quality time with the guests we were having dinner with.
(5)
Jason K.
Fantastic! The food and service were both excellent. I was not sure what to expect since we chose it on a whim before the theater but of all the places surrounding the Huntington this is the best we have eaten at this year.
(4)
Kathy A.
I finally got to try out Petit Robert, but I didn't leave as satisfied as I had expected. Some things were great, but others fell short. The south end location is really cute and homey. Our waitress was fine, but nothing special and they never refilled out waters. The bread they bring is great. So hot and fresh and just plain delicious. For entrees we had the Hake with Asparagus Risotto (although that evening hake was replaced with haddock) and the Scallops with spinach and crab. The haddock itself was quite good, but sadly the risotto was pretty bland. The scallops were really good, but the veggies on the side were boring and the wilted spinach and crab tasted strange. It tasted rather old and stale which was not appealing at all. We got two sides of haricot vert and creamed corn and peas gratin The haricot vert was awesome and the creamed corn was very rich and good, but lacking peas... Overall, the food was decent, but I must say the portion sizes and prices cannot be beat. They give you a lot of food with entrees all under $20.
(3)
Colleen H.
This review is for their brunch, which I am a huge fan of as it was almost a weekly spot for my roomie and I. Dinner/lunch on the other hand, never tried, so read everyone elses reviews for the good word on that. Their menu is simple, their waitstaff speaks french, and their bread and coffee is just so comforting. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd want in the south end -- patio, people watching, sweet and quaint. I dream of the crispy poached eggs with the frisee salad... so obviously, I order it almost every time. Definitely a great (and not usually too crowded) summer brunch spot. And hey - it's the south end, so bring your pup!
(5)
Linda P.
Authentic French food in Boston at decent price is difficult to find - but Petit Robert Bistro was all that and more. Waiters/waitresses there were fluent in French and very friendly. The Fresh Vegetable Salad Crudite was okay - I'm not really a salad kinda gal, but if you are, you'd probably enjoy it. I really enjoyed the Creamy Lobster Bisque - it had a little spice to it and that made me love it even more. The flavor was not too overwhelming and it was not too thick. It was just right. The Chicken Coq-au-Vin with Buttered Noodles lived up to its amazing reviews on Yelp. It fell right off the bone and the waitress told us that it takes them HOURS to get it like that. The Roasted Rack of Lamb with Ratatouille was to die for. I didn't care too much for the Ratatouille (even though the movie made me curious!) ... but the lamb was tender and perfect. I've been here twice and plan to go back!
(5)
Natasha A.
Love it, love it, love it. I have been a devoted fan of the Kenmore Sq location, but have moved and find this one to be more convenient. Petit Robert is a little slice of French heaven. The food is superbly executed in the traditional french bistro style. This is a white table cloth restaurant with great service. However and best of all, it is unpretentious and everything on the menu is under $20...thats right even the rack of lamb. They serve a lunch/brunch menu in addition to the dinner menu until 5 pm...so yes one can go at 4:30 and still pay ridiculously cheap lunch prices. The wine list has everything from light Rhones, to heavier reads and some zesty whites. We paid less than 90 for 2 soups, escargot, 2 entrees and a great bottle of Cote de Rhone. So enjoy some real french food without attitude and while listening to some light french jazz and pop. Recommendations...any blue fish dish (crispy on the outside, flaky and moist on the inside), the french onion soup, the escargot appetizer and any of their meats (lamb or steak frits). ...and yes they have en Eiffel tower shaped chocolate dessert. I go drool now...
(5)
Dino D.
It was pretty good. The place was nice, clean, and the staff was attentive. The food was good, but nothing memorable.
(3)
Chris C.
While I've had a great brunch here before (croque madame), this dinner was disappointing. The onion soup was good, but not great, but the duck was the same. Good, not great. It was a rainy night, sitting under the awning which was nice, but it was all marred by disinterested, lackluster (even for a French restaurant) service. Made me rethink my former positive view of this place. Also, the website menu says strictly no substitutions of sides, which is incredibly off-putting, though it did NOT say that on the printed menu, nor did it come up.
(2)
Ellie W.
I've been to this restaurant a few times, and have always had a great dinner here. Like a lot of smaller South End eateries, you feel a little elbow to elbow with people at the next table, but with good food, can't complain much. Super friendly waitstaff, and a good menu to boot. They've got great French desserts, and delish escargot. I've had their chicken dishes a few times, and the chicken is always cooked well--not dry at all. I don't think they take reservations, but the wait isn't too bad. Great price for French food, also. You don't have make your bank account weep uncontrollably for some good French food at Petit Robert...always a plus!
(4)
Jessica E.
It hurts me to give Petit Robert 2 stars because food-wise our meal was superb. I've also been to the Kenmore location and think both locations serve quality French bistro food at relatively reasonable prices. However, on my first trip to the South End branch, the service left a lot to be desired. My husband and I were taking out our friend to celebrate, but the incompetence on the part of the hostess and our server really put a damper on our evening. The Wait - It was clearly a busy Friday night; we had a reservation for three people. We weren't seated until 45 minutes after our reservation time! We weren't offered any sort of explanation just "it'll be a few more minutes" a few times. After 30 minutes of waiting, the hostess offered us glasses of water. Honestly, I think a few more words of explanation, admitting whatever their mistake was, or a complimentary glass of wine would have gone a long way to make the wait more pleasant. Our Server - When he took our orders and my friend and I both ordered lamb, he didn't ask her how she wanted it cooked, so we had to flag him back down to tell him. We also ordered the souffles with our appetizer and entrees since according to the menu they take about 30 minutes to cook. When clearing our entrees, we reminded him about our souffles. He said they would be out of the oven in "exactly eight minutes." Well, guess how long it took for us to get our souffles? Yup, 30 minutes. If you add up the extra time we waited to get seated plus the delay in getting our dessert souffles, we were physically at the restaurant for almost three hours. I like to linger over meals, but I spent about half that time being annoyed at the staff. A quick recap about the delicious food I had because it was really good: 1. Trio of pates - Great app to share. Comes with mustard and teeny tiny pickles. We all loved it and were afraid we'd fill up on bread and pate. 2. Rack of lamb - Cooked perfectly. It was so tender, and I ate everything on my plate down to the last potato. 3. Souffle - Creamy and light. After the two previous courses, I was glad to split one souffle with my husband to have a small taste. I'd like to go to Petit Robert again for the food, but I'm not sure if I can stomach the service again.
(2)
Laura A.
Ok, maybe this review isn't entirely fair because I just came back from Paris, but this place is the cheesiest approximation of a Parisian brasserie ever - Paris souvenirs on the walls, decidedly un-Parisian ginormous portions, a dessert with a chocolate eiffel tower. Sooooooo cheesy. Sorry, but that "Parisian atmosphere" doesn't really work when seemingly every table is made up of loudmouthed groups of 40-somethings having a parents' night out and getting wasted on house wine. Is it so much to ask to not have to hear every word of their conversations, given that this is supposed to be a romantic, intimate place? Not PRB's fault exactly - but I wonder if their recent simultaneous Groupon AND BuyWithMe deals might be to blame. To be honest, I haven't had a good experience here since my initial visit. I always find the food to be bland and our recent meal here was no exception - I ordered the lemon mushroom risotto, and was served a ginormous bowl of tasteless risotto. I prefer quality over quantity when I'm dining out and I would have much rather been served a perfect, delicious risotto in a small bowl (like the Butcher Shop, for instance). I think my risotto had maybe 5 mushrooms in it and no lemon flavor to speak of. Overall this place is just really underwhelming.
(2)
D H.
Cannot say enough good things about this place. Starting years ago, the wife and I would go to the Kenmore Square location or South End location. More recently, the Downtown Crossing location. I'd say that after about twelve visits, the only thing I had that wasn't outstanding was a new pork chop dish they offered. Not enough to knock a star off. This is very affordable food for its quality, and they generally keep a very good wine list as well. The escargots get special mention as the best I've had - better than the ones in Aux Armes De Bruxelles (well known restaurant in Brussels I visited earlier this year). They do have a few locations, but it is nothing like a "chain" restaurant.
(5)
Jen D.
Based on the meal alone, I would've given Petit Robert 4 stars, however, the service was very sub par. I came here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night and we were able to get a seat out on the terrace. The atmosphere was relaxing and very much added to the bistro feel. We ordered the escargo appetizer and it was delicious. For entrees, I got the Chicken coq au vin which was pretty good. I'm not usually a fan of coq au vin's but I really finished this one - the chicken was tender and delicious. The boyfriend got the steak fries with Bernais sauce which he thought was also delicious, although not amazing. Overall, I thought the food was a good deal considering the prices. The reason I give Petit Robert 3-3.5 stars is because of service. It seemed like they had four waitresses for the whole restaurant. We had different servers through out the night they would walk by us, even when we were trying to get their attention. After we finished our meal and they cleared the table, we waited a good ten minutes until another waiter came by and asked us if we wanted the dessert menu. After dealing with inattentive waiters all night, we decided it was time to leave. Overall, we might try this place again, hoping that service will be better.
(3)
Artiste A.
7:00 PM reservation for 4, with a short delay on our part, and we called to let them know, we arrived at 7:15. Didn't sit down until 8:00 PM. Tried to get us to sit in the bar, so I think they were overbooked. We brought our drinks from the bar so after a bit the waitress took our orders, then shortly reappeared, going guest by guest, guessing what we had ordered to confirm them, as if it were a new restaurant game show. Soon, without an offer of a wine to go with our food, our starters dropped to the table. Ouch. You know that good food can make up for so many issues, like waiting to be seated and awkward service but , alas, this was not to be the case. A tough hanger steak , braised short ribs, that unless three experienced cooks at our table were wrong, were not short ribs at all, but rather more likely a pot roast cut. No bone and very dry without the signature flavor, soft texture and richness of a short rib. A confit of duck with cabbage was passable. We did have a few laughs at the vegetable sides. Those were either a slightly cool steamed broccoli or what we jokingly referred to has horse carrots. I mean these carrot were cut into disks that were thick and substantial. Who really wants to have to use a steak knife on a carrot. Reminded us of a school cafeteria carrot from 5th grade. On the picky side, the wine list was weak, northing that made you really want it, from the low to the high priced. Au revoir Petit Robert!
(1)
Jeffrey H.
Quite possibly the best value in Boston for a lunch date. I visited Petit Robert on a lovely afternoon with fellow Yelper Deepa C. The weather was just getting warm (the kind of day that you'd consider freezing in August but for some reason in April you're sweating like a republican at a gay pride parade). All that being said, we decided to enjoy our weekend lunch date outside on their sidewalk patio on Columbus Ave. Glorious. The menu has a variety of options in an affordable price range. Keep it simple or take it up a notch - whatever you're feeling when it comes to eating and spending, they've got you covered. I ordered the Chicken Crepe Basquaise whilst my date decided on a quiche. To start we were served a delicious warm bread loaf as well as the soup of the day (It was some carrot and tomato or something concoction - to be honest I was too busy inhaling the soup to remember the name). Our entrees were delicious, although I envied Deepa since not only is she a married woman, but she had a delicious quiche to boot. Not that my crepe was bad, but I wish I was in her shoes that afternoon. Despite my full belly (that's French for "belly"), Deepa insisted she take my profiterole virginity. We ordered the giant dessert fittingly titled, "One Giant Profiterole." The thought of the ice cream in the center of the profiterole topped with oozing warm hot fudge is enough for me to take some PTO right now and head down to the bistro for another taste. The service was impeccable from start to finish and the atmosphere was so relaxing - I just loved sitting outside and watching all the happy Bostonians skip about soaking up the sunshine...even the woman who stopped us on the street to tell us about Armageddon had a smile (not kidding). The bill came and good lord was it cheap. Complimentary bread, drinks, soup, entree, and a shared dessert was roughly $20 a person including tip. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? Since I'm single, unlike Deepa, I'm going to keep this place in mind for the next time I have a date and want to look like a hot shot. The boy will order up all this great food and when the bill comes, Mr. Suave (Jeffrey H) will be all, "Oh, allow me." *swoon goes the boy* But little does he know that he'll be breaking the bank when it's time for marriage and my hag Amanda drags him over to Tiffany at Copley Place to get the ring I've already selected. P.S. - Apparently some Yelpers (Deepa, Sasha, and Yi-Hwa) decided to venture to the bistro not too long ago without me. While they were there, Mr. Rob Lowe himself (aka, my fake boyfriend from "Brothers & Sisters", Sunday nights on ABC) was enjoying a lunch there as well at the table next to them. Keeping in mind that I live down the street and was never telephoned about either the Bistro lunch or Rob Lowe, well, some tears were shed.
(5)
Lisa S.
Delicious - I was here for dinner last weekend and had the garden salad with the panko crusted goat cheese - it was divine. I think I can eat a plate full of panko crusted goat cheese balls :) In addition I ordered the scallops and the frites.....also very delicious. The other members of my party ordered the flank steak which wasn't up to par that night, however, I know that they come here all the time and keep coming back. We sat at the bar and Bruno, the bartender, took our order. He was fantastic and makes delicious cocktails to boot. I highly recommend this cozy bistro if you are visiting the south end of Boston.
I am a repeat customer of Petit Robert. This is very good French cuisine and the price is right. The service is great, as is the atmosphere. Perfect place for a date or a dinner meeting. I recommend the steak frites, coq au vin, and the escargot. Their wine and beer menu is very comprehensive and the waiters are very knowledgeable. For dessert, I'd recommend ordering either the profiteroles or the tart. Both are appropriately rich and enough to share between two.
(5)
Liz T.
My friend and I had dinner at this quaint, bustling restaurant. There was a 45-minute wait on a Friday night, but there's a bar area where you have a glass of wine or 3. We started with the Six Escargots Bourguinons ($7.75). I know escargot is commonly served with mushrooms, but all I could taste were the mushrooms--I really think the kitchen forgot to throw in the snails. Since I was in a good mood, I let this slide. My friend had the Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles ($15.75). Chicken and noodles at a French restaurant are just boring to me, but she thought they were good. I think she was scared after she had asked our waiter what boudin noire is (which was in the dish she was going to order)--when he informed her it was pig's blood she lost her all guts. I had the Petit Calf's Liver Sauteed with Caramelized Onion and Bacon ($14.50). Unfortunately, there was no bacon--you can imagine how sad I was as my nickname is BLT (bacon Liz Tran--haha). The cook tried to make up for it by giving me a bigger than average liver. Oh, joy. The liver was pretty good actually--nowhere near a filet mignon but I ate all of it. I called my dad in Hawaii to tell him I had liver afterward and he basically responded, "You're so stupid. You ate the filter of a cow's bloodstream!" I was an Econ/Poli Sci major, what did he expect? Dessert is the real reason for the 4 stars. My friend and I shared the White Chocolate Bread Pudding. It was out of the ballpark and dare I say, the best bread pudding I've ever consumed in my life. I could've eaten 3 of them by myself if there were no consequences in the waistline. I like that this bistro actually has bistro prices (under $20 entrees). I'll be back here when in Boston again.
the pate is the only reason why i'm giving petit robert 4 stars. i've been to the kenmore location, and the dinner was great. i'm sure everyone will agree finding affordable french cusine is like finding a level 3 sex offender NOT living within 20 yards of an elementary school...Anyway, i digress. my recent trip to the columbus location was a little bit of a disappointment. i'm a little sad about that. the atmosphere was great. dim lights, not loud, open kitchen. i think we had at least two waiters. i lost track of who was running the food, filling our glasses, and taking our order. That being said, maybe this needs to be streamlined a little bit. service was lackluster. our appetizer of the pate trio was awesome. seriously. awesome. my entree of chicken coq au vin was only so-so. the chicken was a little gross, actually. bones/cartiledge still in the chicken. the noodles and sauce weren't that bad, though. pretty tasty actually. my date had a rather limp response to the cod. sounds like dinner struck out on both sides. even though this visit was disappointing, we will of course return to petit robert. just not in the very near future.
(4)
Kate P.
Although my Mom and I had a great meal here, I can only give PRB three stars because I lived across the street from it for two years and only ate there just the once. It's worth trying out if you live in the area. Go in the summer when you can eat outside. The service was friendly and the coq au vin was delicious!
(3)
Ismet G.
Lived in France long time and having seen their non-French cooks, it is easy to say that this is not a real French restaurant, or those you can find around train stations in France. I would spend few extra bucks to go to a real French restaurant: Brasserie Joe on Huntington Ave, Aquitaine on Tremont St., Sel de la Terre by the harbor, La Voile on Newburry St.
(1)
Wesley C.
I'm a big fan of Petit Robert (especially the columbus ave. one). There's not to much that beats sitting on the patio having a drink and the trio of pates.
(4)
Ryan L.
Was here two weeks ago for dinner. Amazingly I found parking in the South End (which is a feat in itself) so the evening was already going well despite the rain. The exterior is quaint, looks like someplace you'd imagine would exist in France somewhere. Then when you walk in, the waitstaff greets you in heavy French accented English which further adds to the ambiance. Whether or not they're actually French people or American waiters trained to speak with a French accent I couldn't tell you but what I can tell you is the food is great here. I had the duck confit with grilled sausage and it was excellent. The duck was not too gamey and the saltiness of the sausage went perfect with the duck. For dessert I had this peach sorbet which I enjoyed immensely. It had a strong peach taste and was not overly sweet. It was an added bonus that it wasn't one of those Finale's dessert portions where you finish your dessert with one gulp and get charged $42 for it. A magnifique experience overall.
(5)
Jennifer F.
ooo la la... Great food! This location is freakishly crowded...like, "you-could-absolutely- not-bring-your-friend-with-a-wee-bit-of-claustrophÂobia-here," crowded. To be perfectly honest, it felt illegal. Yeah. It was that crowded. Alas, on to the food... Lobster mac and cheese appetizer was not creamy the way mac and cheese should be. Instead, I found this dish to be extremely watery. Now, mind you, it was delicious, just not the texture one would expect. The bread, that was served so hot I tinged my fingers, was helpful in sopping up the watery, lobster-y cheese. (will be curious on another visit to see if this consistency was deliberate or a fluke(?) ) The Blue Fish dish I had was divine, though I would have liked more of the corn (with cheese?) to have mixed with it. Together, these combined to a wonderful taste mix in the mouth. Friends had the Chicken Coq au Vin, liked, but reported it to be "very heavy", and the pork dish was reported as very good. For dessert we shared the Chocolate Eiffel Tower Cake, which was moist and just the right consistency, and the crepes, which the menu did not say came with ice cream, but did (important to note when you are lactose intolerant like me). The mixed drinks were served cold and poured from the shaker at our table, a nice touch, though I cannot remember the name of the drink... The night ended with a $143.00 bill for three. I think that it was a great price when you consider we had 4 drinks, 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 2 desserts. A bargain for what you get. The service was attentive, and we were given lots of leeway in not feeling rushed and spreading our dinner time out. Two negatives: 1. Only one shared bathroom (meaning one for men and women) for the whole place, diner side and bar side...this meant long waits. 2. Was disappointed that there was no reference to the birthday. When reservations were made on line, there was a place to note special requests/occasions. I typed in that this was a birthday celebration. There was no acknowledgement of this in any way. It was even listed there in the confirmation email that was sent to me. I would give them 4.5 stars if I could. Really, it should be 5, but I minused points for the lack of paying attention to the reservation notes, the bathroom, and the freakishly crowded dining room. (random Saturday evening).
(4)
Christine C.
Really good service. The quiche was very good, as well as the pouched eggs. We asked our server to wrap some of our leftovers up and she forgot to do it and took one of our orders off of our bill for us (something that we ate most of and was the most expensive). Definitely great customer service.
(4)
Courtney M.
Went for brunch with my parents. Great authentic French food. Friendly native French waitress. Odd French techno music? Noisy heater. Did I mention the food was fantastic? Decently priced too. I'd go back!
(4)
Suburban R.
a nice place. went there for lunch during a convention in boston. chatted up the waitress who was two months old in the states from avignon. enjoyed the soup d'oignion and sardine sandwich.
(4)
Seraphine K.
Well, I am not a huge french food girl, but oh boy, this place has me! Unlimited warm french bread, for starters, delicious Kir, and friendly staff, not to mention what a sexy dining room! Awesome COUNTRY french food. Not that fancy stuff that I am scared to order. A very simple menu that you can feel confidant ordering from! I will admit, the girl who dropped my food put the fish at "12 o'clock" so I had to turn the plate [I am a server myself] But that is MINOR in the world of the food industry. It was a few months ago, so I cannot remember what fish I got... Dang, I want to say Blue Fish? No idea, but I remember loving it and ate every bit. It came with yummy mashed fennel. We also got veggie pate which was amazing. My boyfriend got the fois gras, [sp?] It was wild, very mousse texture, but yummy I must say. Dessert was a simply divine flourless chocolate cake, OH MY GOODNESS!! [I am soo picky on choc cake!] We eat slow [I think we were there 2.5 hrs] Had primo seating [made a reservation for 7PM on Tuesday the same day and got the window] there was no hurry to leave, the staff was not bugging us, or neglecting us. This is a perfect place to take a date when you are starting to reach that romantic-serious point in your relationship. Moderate price for 2 entree, 2 app, one dessert, 2 cocktails and a bottle of wine. I cant remember per say, but somewhere around $120 - totally worth it !
(5)
John D.
Not going to go on and on here: Great food. Great wine. Great price. Good Service. Be sure to visit Columbus Ave location, not Kenmore Sq.
(5)
Gabe M.
For "affordable" French food, this place is great. Very good prices for most entrees sub $25. Decor is lacking, but service and food is good quality.
(4)
A P.
I have been going to PRB for a couple years now pretty much on and off for special occasions alternating with other French restaurants. The atmosphere is always very pleasing with a great selection of goodies. I can always find a great wine to pair with the succulent food. Some of my PRB favorites include the Fillet Mignon, Sole Meuniere, Mousse au Chocolat and Macarons. This is the perfect spot for a romantic get together.
(5)
Tim N.
I'm still going to stick to 4 stars for dinner but brunch gets 3. The service was slow - definitely not the A list waiters you get at night. The portions are also very small and not that filling.
(4)
Eric W.
If you're reading this review, Petit Robert Bistro may be for you, but it isn't for me. I'll preface with the fact that I remove a star just for the fact that it's French. Not in the "French are wussies, we should call them Freedom Fries" way, but in the "European food was so bland, they built great big boats and sailed half way around the world to find something better" way. Honestly, I don't have a refined enough taste pallet for "savory." I'll give them credit for helping me realize that I like pate (in this more rustic form, anyway), and the two entries I've had there (chicken and steak) have both been fine but unnoteworthy, a bit short of justifying the bill.
(3)
C C.
okay, as i said in my last review, this place recently went from long-standing favorite brunch, to being on my list of places you couldn't get me into with a cattle prod. let me elaborate. there are three of us who make the trip together often. generally it has been a leisurely brunch with delicious food and sweet service. great taste, great portions, amazing cocktails. we stay for a long time and get cocktails, apertif's, dessert.... always lovely. this time we brought three friends from out of town with us, one here all the way from ireland, and were downright embarassed by the service our friends experienced. our waiter, whom we presume is a manager based on his attire, disappeared after bringing our drinks and taking our food order. we didn't see him again until we were exiting two hours later, he smiled and wished us a great afternoon. our food took over an hour to arrive at our table. we counted eight parties whom came and sat after us got their food long before we did. granted, we were a party of six, and the largest party in aftere and out before us was a party of four. but COME ON. at NO POINT did someone come out to apologize for the delay. when our food finally came (an hour after we ordered, which was half an hour after we had arrived) the mystery waiter who brought it out joked that he was sorry for the delay, the salmon (for the three orders of salmon benedict) had to be delivered from france. ha. ha. the three orders of benedict were fine, except one person was very short on fries and another had NO dressing on their salad. i had the french toast, my usual. they shrunk the portions and stuck the four tiny, wafer-thin pieces all over on one little section of plate, as if to emphasize how short they were changing me. when they brought an order of fries to somehow make up for the bullshit that was our experience, one of the first timers, whom had been sitting quietly, asked to send back his duck sushi and have it taken off the bill because the rice was completely uncooked... we're talking raw and crunchy, people, and the meat was incredibly chewy. the poor guy didn't order anything else to replace it. when the bill came, the duck sushi was still on it. we had to go through TWO MORE PEOPLE to get it taken off. as we left, the multiple mystery waiters, and our original waiter (whom we assumed must have quit suddenly in a fit of rage, sending the restaurant into a downward spiral), all smiled and wished us a wonderful day.
(1)
Paul K.
Fantastic food and terrific prices. I've been here a few times and the food and service are excellent. The staff are all incredibly friendly. One note, it can get very tight in this restaurant, and a table in the bar section can be even more crowded and loud, albeit I loved it. You can valet park, or go 2 block on the same side of the road towards Mass Ave and there's non-resident parking for free.
(4)
Alisa S.
Ooh, my friends and I had brunch here on a whim. We planned to go somewhere else but it was closed. I am glad, the food was surprisingly good! Pate appetizer, quiche, nicoise salad, all were tasty. The bluefish that my friend got was a bit too rich, but all in all a nice place to try.
(4)
cassy f.
If you're looking for high quality French food, don't go here. You're better off elsewhere. The only dish that is decent is the foie gras. To top it off, their staff are SOOO RUDE! I had to drop by to pick up an order that my sister placed over the phone (I stopped eating there after facing rude service time and time again). I walked in and said hi to the bartender who just looked at me and completely ignored me! Then some other girl walks in and he's helping her! The thing is, he has a reputation for being rude to Asian people. Most of my Asian friends refuse to meet up there cos the bartender just blatently ignores you if you're someone of color. I had to stand there for 7 minutes today JUST to pick up my to-go order while the serving staff were just standing there! Maybe management is trying to keep the place White, so beware. If you're a person of color, you'll get shoddy service and definitely an attitude from their bartender.
(1)
C S.
The food certainly isn't bad, but it's nothing to write home about, either. The steak frites and roasted chicken are merely mediocre. I'm enamored of the steak frites at Beacon Hill Bistro, so I think I will stick with them!
(2)
gado.gado D.
pate and croque monsiour are to die for also the french waiters - yummy.
(4)
Scott B.
a lot of people like this place much to my surprise - i dont really think it is anything special - i mean you get what you get - low grade gourmet food at a low grade price- - not my idea of gourmet - if you want something really tastey i can grill you a burger myself for less
(3)
Meghan M.
Wow, why, oh why have I not tried this place sooner?? I've lived in South End for just about a year and my first venture to Petit Robert's was just yesterday. I am not even sure where to begin but I'm sure I'll figure it out as we go here... Drinks...FANTASTIC. Let me start by saying, I'm usually not a big mixed drink person. I definitely am not a big fan of sweet or fruity drinks. If I do end up with a mixed drink, it's likely going to be an extra dirty martini. I have to say, though, that I listened to the bartender last night and, lo and behold, had the best martini of my life. It was a rhubarb martini (the name is slipping me at the moment) with a rim of balsamic and sugar. Tangy, a tiny bit sweet...Just perfect! I had started with a bluberry martini which was made with fresh bluberry puree (don't spill it on yourself!) but that was a bit too thick and sweet for my taste. I also hear that their peach sangria is delicious. I'll have to try that next time I go. They also have some awesome French beers on tap including Kronenberg (my sister's personal favorite...I know where we're going next time she pays me a visit). For dinner, I split the salad (mixed greens) and steak frites with my dining partner and we were both very happy with the food. It is probably the closest thing to what I used to eat at the bistros in Paris that I've had in Boston. The portions were very large (it was perfect to split - they even split the portions on two different plates for us) and the prices were really inexpensive for the quality of food we enjoyed. Petit Robert's is, by far, my new favorite French bistro in all of Boston.
(5)
Kevin L.
Oh how I love Ze France:) So, I've lived above this place for 2 years now and have FINALLY ventured the WHOLE WAY downstairs and actually had more than a glass of wine and/or a cocktail... I shall review their brunch now: I cannot get over this brunch. 1st of all, there were 6 of us and it was UNDER $40 (mind you, we didn't have cocktails...but still!!!). PHENOM. It was just so good. I was really sad it was cold out b/c their outdoor space is quite nice and they have a new awning to boot! Dinner is fantastic, also...more crowded...but, I just love love love their brunch. Such a variety of breakfast and lunch food, and plenty of it. Quiches for all! ha. I actually didn't have the Quiche (I had a sardine panini thinger), but everyone loved what they got!!! MAGNIFIQUE!
(4)
Hiherson D.
I believe this was the first restaurant that my wife and I tried when we moved to the South End area a few months back. It was a cute little place and the atmosphere was great. My wife and I went there for a dinner date. She had the Duck Confit and Grilled Sausage with Braised Cabbage and I had Chicken Coq au Vin with Butter Noodles. Both are highly recommended. The Chicken Coq au Vin was delicious. The chicken just fell of the bone and the sauce was heavenly. The portions were more than enough. I wasn't able to finish my place. My wife loved the Duck Confit so much that she ended up finishing hers.
(5)
Mark W.
I took a walk to trader joe's on boylston today and decided to stop by petit robert for a quick "express lunch". This place gives me fond memories of a little bistro in paris. I have to say i've walked past this place a couple times while walking to whole foods and i've missed it. I don't know what it is about the outside but it's very easy to miss. Like a bistro, you take your time and usually just sit and eat your meal and relax. Everyone was very nice and when you enter you get greated by everyone. I was perfectly fine with the timing of everything. I had a nice book with me and got the croque monsieur. Though it's not exactly the same as in paris but it was still great. The cheese was great and the pomme frites were great too. I had a glass of red wine on the side too which brought back great memories. All in all the place was a great place to just sit back, relax and take a break from the busy world of grocery shopping. The price of everything was just great too. I think i'll be back to try the dinner menu someday soon. On a side note i think the people actually speak french. Interesting for a french restaurant :)
(4)
Kelly M.
Went to a petite robert somewhere in boston, but i don't recall which it is, but i am pretty sure it is this one. My friend Bet, a local, loves this place and knew itnto be gluten friendly, so here she led me. They didn't have a menu, but the server knew about gluten and i had mussels which were pretty good. We had creme brule for dessert. I liked petite robert and always feel good after eating french food, i'm just not a 'let's go get french!' kind of person.
Man, I love PRB. Love their food, their atmosphere, their drinks, their service, everything. My first time at the South End location was a couple weeks ago and it's a little more snug fitting than the one on Comm Ave, but just as wonderful. A+ Peach Sangria -- with a giant peach in it! When I come back to Boston, I try to work PRB into my plans.
(5)
Marcus C.
So much better than the Petit Robert Bistro downtown! The trio of pates was excellent and I really, really want to eat more of the coq au vin!
(4)
Tammie P.
3.5 stars - Petit Robert serves really great bread and butter. I could not stop eating it!! But I had escargot and lobster bisque coming, so I had to refrain from munching on more bread. The escargots were served sans the shell, and were good. The lobster bisque was a big disappointment. There was no lobster meat at all!!! And the bisque was mildly warm, not very warm. I had about 5 spoonfuls and was done. The wine was a bit warm. Seems like the temperature of the offerings were a bit off tonight. My dining companion and I split a steak frites entree because we were not very hungry when we had arrived at the restaurant. Fortunately, the steak was quite good and cooked to order, with bernaise sauce on the side. The French fries were OK, and the bernaise sauce was great for dipping. Splitting the entree made it a perfect portion, even if we were hungry. As full as I was, I finished my half of the steak because it was so good - very tender and flavorful. For dessert, we ordered the creme brulee and coffee. The creme brulee was average. The sugar crust was thin, and the creme tasted very egg yolky. Definitely had a lot better! Our server did a good job, but the table next to us had some issues with their server. They had to call the manager over and tell him about it. The manager explained that the server did not understand English very well, and I guess he did not know he was being offensive. The table to the other side of us was celebrating a recent engagement, and another server came to offer us some glasses of champagne, but it turns out they were really for our neighbors. Oh well! Would have loved to have some champagne, but wouldn't know where it would fit! Overall, the dining experience was good. I would come back to try other entrees, and hopefully will have a better experience next time.
(3)
Jason A.
When people ask me what's good at Petit, I start talking and end up telling them the whole menu. Everything is delicious! The food is all top quality and made with love. The lobster bisque is the best you'll ever have. The paninis are awesome, too. Oh, and the sweet potato fries! Hello! Heaven! And the mac-n-cheese. Ugh, here I go reciting the menu again. The service is always great.
(5)
Rosie Z.
Very cute restaurant - like a little family-run french bistro tucked in a nice part of the South End. Had the calf's liver - was very good. Great price and the portion was big! They also had really fresh, warm french baguette to start with.
(4)
CeeCee R.
First time to the South End location, a cute little restaurant nestled on Colombus Ave. Got seated immediately without reservation which was nice. Starter Nicoise Salad, it's usually only available for lunch but they specially made it for me as I requested it. Excellent dish! Very nice for them to do so. Smoked Salmon, my husband ordered this dish for a starter and he loved it. Main Course Lobster Mac and Cheese, part of their specials. It's a bit too rich and runny to my liking but it was ok. Lamb Shank, my husband ordered it and he thinks it was ok. Service was pretty good, we both had positive experiences. We would be back there again.
(4)
Sarah D.
I just really love this place. While it's not perfect, it is pretty awesome and, in my experience, unbeatable at this price point. First off, great bread. This should be a given at a french restaurant but i don't care, i am always psyched about a crusty baquette with butter, and in general i don't feel like you get really nice bread often enough these days. Second, appetizers. I've tried the trio of pate, the mussels and the escargot, all tasty. To be honest i had never tried pate before so i can't compare it to others, but i found each of the three to be really delicious and each was slightly different than the others. The mussels were fresh and flavorful and i liked the broth they were served in. Escargot was pretty standard, butter and garlic, and tasty. Appetizers i think are in the $6-$10 range? I might be wrong on that but they are definitely not expensive. The entrees that i've had have all been really nice. I've tried the braised lamb shank, fell right off the bone and tasted like home cooking. The pork roast was very good but not very exciting; the seasoning and cooking was done well but it's not very creative. Even so, very enjoyable. Steak Frites is dependably juicy and delicious and the fries are shoestring macdonalds style minus the rancid taste of fast food oil. I also tried the calves liver when my sister ordered it; i'm not a big fan of liver but it was actually really good. Beer list is small, wine list i don't know i don't order wine so i've never looked at it closely. The actual space is pretty cramped, getting in and out of your seat can be troublesome as it gets crowded in there. There is only one bathroom i think. Prices are medium/low, with entrees hovering above and below the $20 mark depending on what you order. I have always had good meals here, and i am always amazed by how low the bill is compared to how nice everything is.
(5)
Deborah H.
I came here at the recommendation of a local, and had pretty high expectations. We arrived around 9PM with no reservation on a Thursday, and had no problem being seated. My coworker and I both had soups to start with: me, the fish quenelle. My waiter said this was an "ancient" delicious French recipe. He made it sound amazing, but it was really just two squishy fishballs swimming in CHEESE soup. NOT GOOD. My coworker tried the potato leek soup, which tasted like it was pure butter and cream with a touch of potato. Way too rich. The bread was AMAZING though: warm, crusty, yum. This, paired with the fact that the entrees took FOREVER to come out, led to two stuffed people who were not happy with their appetizers when the entrees came out. Too bad, because they were amazing. I had the coq au vin, which was spectacular! It had a depth of flavor and richness that implies that it was the reason why our entrees took so long. My coworker was extremely happy with his skirt steak. Unfortunately we were seriously so full off the bread that we couldn't appreciate these entrees more. Because I was disappointed by the appetizers, and the lack of attention from the waiter during our 45+ minute wait for our entrees, I'm not dying to return. But I guess I'd come back if someone insisted, and this time would skip the appetizer.
(3)
Trish F.
Wow.. people have been telling me to come here for 2 years. My old boss, who I think had impeccable taste, absolutely loved this place. Why didn't I come sooner? Oh wait.. probably because I would have gotten Petit Robert's routing number and had my job direct deposit my paycheck to them. Needless to say, I totally believe the hype. In celebration of Kenny (in general and his brief return to the east coast), a few of us went to Petit Robert. I tried to get a bigger reservation but was somewhat disappointed when I could only get it for a foursome. I later found out that there was either a wedding reception or a rehearsal dinner that night (the bride and groom had "laid back" wedding wear) so the tables near us were completely occupied. This place is smallish (you walk through the kitchen to get through to the dining room) but I still think this place is good for groups, just try and get in your reservations ASAP. I actually got there early (as per usual) and whilst waiting for my crew, I couldn't get over how nice everyone was. I don't know, I just always felt that Petit Robert was way way way classy. And it is.. but no one treats you any differently because you don't look like you fell out of a Benneton ad. I definitely appreciated that considering I think some restaurants in Boston are ageist (which sucks since I look like I'm 12). When my companions arrived, we ordered wine and cocktails and settled into the warm lighting and generally busy atmosphere. I had some wild strawberry concoction and it pleased both my need for a girly drink and my need for a "long-week-at-work-drink". For dinner, Ligaya and I shared a romaine/roquefort salad and for entrees we ordered the coq au vin (me), the steak frites (Yihwa), blue fish (Ligaya), and the tilapia special that day (Kenny). Oh HEAVEN! The chicken in my coq au vin fell right off the bone. It was ridiculously delicious.. and come to think about it.. I didn't share! Ligaya gave me some of her blue fish (so tasty.. this was my 2nd choice. I heard it sells out sometimes) and Yihwa let me taste her skirt steak (good except I like mine medium well).. but me and my coq au vin with buttered noodles.. we became soulmates that night. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,,, For dessert.. the pound cake (British?) was a bit hard for my liking but the apple tarte tatin was borderline illegal. The crust was incredibly soft and tasted fantastic.. I don't even want to know how many pounds of butter went into that thing. .. and all that food for a really reasonable price. I mean, I wouldn't go eating there all the time (routing number failure).. but I feel like it needs to be a monthly treat. Good for special occasions, dates, whatever. The atmosphere, the service, the food, the company.. I walked out of there thinking.. this is what 5 star service is like. But.. uh.. what's with the vibrating bathroom?
(5)
Kristine M.
We liked the food (yummy mussels, mashed potatoes, bread pudding) , the ambiance was fun, and the restaurant was cozy but the service was really bad. REALLY BAD. We were there for almost 3 hours because the waiter was so slow. And it wasn't the food that took so long...we waited a very long time before the waiter even came to take our order, bring us the dessert menu, and bring us our check. He also made a mistake with my husband's coffee. He brought him the wrong thing, and then my husband returned it and asked for the correct item. It took about 15 minutes for the correct coffee to come. Then both the mistake coffee and ordered coffee were both on the bill, so when we had to tell the waiter...and it was another 15 minutes for us to get our fixed check!
(3)
Lily L.
My friend and I decided to go to Petit Robert Bistro at 5PM for a super early dinner. Upon arriving, we see no one. We were greeted by no one. After 30 seconds, we see a dishwasher (?), we asked if we could be seated. He scrambles around and finds the maitre d. Since we arrived so early (but technically on time for our reservation), we were seated next to a window. A while into our dinner, the restaurant was getting populated. As we were working on our entree, my friend looks outside and notices that a man was trying to parallel park a HUGE truck into a tiny space. The driver proceeded to hit the bumper of the SUV parked in the rear about 2-3 times. My friend points this out to me. Friend: Look at that person trying to parallel park and hitting the car behind him. Hahaha... Me: Man, that sucks! Hahaha... Our laughter must have attracted some attention as we proceeded to describe this situation unfolding as the patron a table away shouts, "Oh my god. That's OUR CAR!!!" It was a father-son duo. Father (50s-60s being rather chill): Well, it's just the bumper. Look at that tiny spot. Son (20s): Yeah. I can parallel park with my eyes blindfolded if I bounce off the cars around me! Let's key the car! We know where it's parked!!! Moral of the story? Although there's off-street parking, you probably want to be safe and take the public transit or walk. Now onto the food. We came here for Restaurant Week but discovered that the regular entree is actually cheaper. So I ordered the coq au vin. I don't know what I was expecting, perhaps just braised chicken. I'll admit. This chicken had flesh that was just falling off the bone tender. It was dark purple, like what I'd expect a chicken that's been marinating/braised in red wine would look like. However, maybe I've had super inauthentic coq au vin, but the flavor of the chicken was just masked by the wine. I felt the meat tasted bitter. And I can taste fairly strong alcohol. Is this what authentic French coq au vin should taste like? I don't know. So I feel that in some ways, I shouldn't judge. But I'm REALLY not a fan of the strong, bitter taste of alcohol. So if that's not what you like, I'd advise you to stay away from this dish. My friend had the venison and seemed to enjoy it, and this is especially important as it affirmed his desires to go hunting for deer now. Service for the restaurant was alright. My water glass was empty for a good while. And the only refill of water I had was after the bill had come. All in all, an okay experience.
(3)
Paul S.
Service was good. An off night for the kitchen. Food took 50 minutes between courses and arrived cold and under seasoned. Night was saved by good company and champagne. Decent wine list.
I agree with Jeffrey H. - The "express lunch" menu is a fantastic deal! I almost feel bad paying so little for such fantastic food! I came to PRB this afternoon to enjoy the unbelievable weather. There was plenty of outdoor seating, and the doors in the main dining room were open. My brother and I were too excited to notice that we entered the restaurant on the bar side and ended up forfeiting being seated at a nice table-clothed table, but whatever - It was still a great dining experience. :) A hostess with the type of French accent that you'd kill to have sat us down and gave us our menus. We were offered three menus: one regular menu, a smaller menu with express lunch items one side and brunch items on the other. Oh, the choices! While we waited for our food, water was poured and bread was brought. This bread was hot from the oven and tasted like heaven. Nothing fancy, just bread. But how did they make it so good? I decided on the frisee salad with fried poached egg with bacon, and a chicken crepe that came with the soup of the day, which was a deliciously creamy chilled asparagus and potato soup. The frisee salad was to die for! The frisee, drizzled with a light vinaigrette dressing, was topped with a poached egg that was ingeniously deep fried. "How in the world did they do this?" we wondered. The crepe was hearty and practically bursting with chicken, tomatoes, and other goodies, and was served with a side of roasted potato and broccoli. My brother ordered the tiger shrimp (from the regular menu, I think?), and it was delicious, though I think my choices beat his. :) He also ordered a beer (something-blanche?) which was really clean-tasting, light and had a little hint of banana at the end. Yum! $33 for our entire lunch! Everything at this restaurant was wonderful - the food, decor, service, value. I highly recommend Petit Robert Bistro, especially for a lunch date.
(5)
Rebecca F.
Very tasty, simply said. The only problem is we used to walk in whenever we wanted to before they decided to start taking reservations and now they're almost always booked. Ah well, I guess I can't blame them. Some favorite dishes: Garden Salad w/ Panko Crusted Goat Cheese, Coq au Vin, Escalopes de Venison with Blueberries, and a bunch of other stuff from their previous menu (that's all I've tried of the current menu). Their soups always seem to be delicious. Also, I'm never a big fan of the bread & butter pre-meal deal, but theirs is always devoured in minutes after it arrives. Last, if you're a woman, the male waiters always flirt with you, which is a nice boost. ; ) Save room for dessert: They are to die for.
(4)
John A.
There are many good things to say about Petit Robert Bistro but one thing that needs to be highlighted is that the great atmosphere and classy food at reasonable prices make this a good place for a date. Also, the waitstaff is super attentive and very good at explaining the somewhat complex menu (some of it is in French). I had the rabbit and my hottie accomplice had the sea scallops. Both were excellent. Petit Robert Bistro is a very small and cozy so I'd recommend making a reservation, especially on the weekend.
(4)
Jenn T.
EDIT (5/2/09) I'm changing my review from a 5 star to a 2 star. I just got back from brunch from Petite Robert and I really couldn't be more disappointed. We were not offered their daily special today when, as far as I know, all the other parties that were seat AFTER us were told of today's special. Our bread NEVER came (although the waitress said the bread would be right out after bringing my coffee) until I asked about it when our entrees came out. I ordered my usual crispy poached eggs and it was DISGUSTING, both mine and my cousin's dish (we ordered the same thing). Their poached eggs have always been cooked runny. Today's eggs were 100% well done. Because I had ordered this dish so many times that I know this isn't "right" to the restaurant's standards, so I sent our dishes back. Sadly, chef's second try was still just as bad. Eggs were still VERY cooked. FIne, we ate it (or I tried to. I didn't finish my entree). Our coffees aren't refilled, water not refilled. After I asked for more coffee, it was still not refilled, although the waitress had walked by us after I asked her for more coffee, to just check on things. The restaurant wasn't even to full capacity, not even close, and they're unable to provide at least decent service? What happened to this place? I've never had this problem with this restaurant and I have ALWAYS recommended it whenever someone's looking for a place to eat in the South End. I will have to think twice about recommending this place now. Oh, and normally I'd give today's service and food a 1 star, but I'm hoping that this is just a "glitch' and the next time I give it a try it'll be back to normal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've been to this location several times but always for lunch and the food is always excellent. I've always tried different dishes and have always impressed me. My favorite so far is the crispy poached eggs. YUM... I love the decor, the outdoor seating when the weather's nice and the bill. It's definitely a very affordable place, great for a date. service may be a bit slow but the wait staff has always been very polite. I highly recommended this place.
(2)
Sasha R.
It appears that I happen to be on a search of fabulous french restaurants - or SOMEthing, cause seems that's all I've been visiting, lately! Well I've heard rumors about Petit Robert - that it sucks, that's it's not real French, that it lacks ambiance. I OBJECT! Of all the places I've been, I think it's the most authentic, concentrating less on fake Parisian cafe decor, and more on food, thereby turning out to be most like a Parisian eatery... Small, noisy, bustling, tight seating, open windows: all these things are quite familiar. If you go on their website, they tell you what bistro and brasserie dining is supposed to be (cheap and informal) - and they uphold that in their menu. It's really no nonsense, no fru fru, just delicious traditional dishes, like Coq Au Vin, Pate, Steak Frite, and I had Calf's liver (um, deeeelicious!). A formidable wine list is present too, as well as a long list of desserts, the most popular being the giant profiteroles. Now, our night in particular was a) ruined by the fact that half way through I found out I was on call, and my pager was going off like mad, so I couldn't even enjoy myself. b) immediately redeemed by the fact that Rob Lowe (yes, Rob Lowe) was dining next to us with, what looked like, his mom. I'll SO be back.
(4)
Marilyn T.
I've been to both the Comm Ave PRB and the one on Columbus, and I think I prefer the South End one. I've gone during lunch and actually prefer lunch selections more, as there's more creative variety. I've had interesting dishes like coffee soup, which was daring and innovative, though I don't know if I'd order it again. Other more memorable selections included salads with poached then fried egg. I don't recommend the vegetarian terrine - it's a very pretty dish with its multiple colors, but the flavors just don't stand out. Dinner is more French bistro style, with many classic French dishes like steak, roast chicken, mussels. I would be very happy dining here simply for bread and wine. The bread is the freshest and most amazing baguette I've had in Boston, and rumor is that the dough is trucked in from Montreal a couple times a week. It's soooo good warm, and it's the main reason I crave Petit Robert. It's decently priced for the South End, and the bread alone may just be motivation enough for me to go back.
(3)
Ron U.
My visit to Petit Robert is the product of my Yelp search for 'liver' in the greater Boston area. I really just wanted the best liver dish I could find. Petit Robert Bistro delivered with the calf's liver. Also, great wine selection, service, and ambiance. Price is very affordable for the quality of food. Wait staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about the food. ** Update ** Tried the duck confit. Just as good if not better than the calf liver. Warm bread is served prior to the meal.
my favorite spot for a nice meal on my lunch hour - perfect for lunch dates. I could just say CHEAP FRENCH FOOD and that would be sufficient for some, but I've eaten here so so many times that I really must elaborate. when I worked at NEU I would eat here about once a week. you can get GOOD DELICIOUS french food, something light or more substantial, a full lunch for under $10 !!! we're not talking fake stuff either, I mean fresh baked cruchy tender baguettes with pate, tapenade, sardines, anything you want! this bread is to die for. I love the burgerdog and they will warn you it takes time to cook, but its worth it! enjoy a glass of wine or a delicious latte while you wait - relax & listen to the great french music they always have playing. really the whole vibe is relaxed, understated, but crisp. everything is very clean and bright. overall it is one of my favorite spots in Boston - if you are afraid of french food this is a great unpretentious and comfortable place to start exploring. the service is spotty - ok I'll admit, the service is not so good in fact they get things wrong quite frequently. but I LIKE that, ok? why do I care if they hot french waiter screws up my order? HE'S HOT! AND FRENCH! I have never had room for desert here but I cant wait to come back and try some. I would also really like to try the dinner. if you are looking for a real french bistro that is comfortable and easy on the budget, look no further. just be patient with your waiters - they'll get it right eventually ;)
(4)
John G.
Perfect for sitting outside, nursing a Sunday morning hangover over a croque with egg and cappuccino.
(4)
noell b.
taken here by friends in boston i had to say i was totally impressed. the chicken coq au vin was not only super delicious, but came in a HUGE portion and served with really delicious buttered noodles on the side. my husband's boeuf bourguignon was equally delicious--and huge. we had a great table, excellent service, and the ambiance was great. i think, though, while it was really good (and having never been to france, i'm not sure how it holds up in authenticity) i feel like i can get better french-styled food in seattle.
(3)
Chris F.
This is place is pure awesomeness. It's fancy and cheap. You can take friends, family, or hobos off the street in there. The food's surprisingly spectacular, and the cocktails are all good (especially the Vesper martini). The music in the bar is mostly French, and perhaps the oddest collection of pop songs you'll ever hear. The staff's pretty cool, and the bistro atmosphere is perfectomundo.
(5)
Melissa F.
I've only dined here once and only in the South End. I went here for lunch and it was very quiet so we were able to get a cute little table outside on the patio [perfect for people watching!]. Since I'm a picky eater, I didn't get any of the food that I'm sure the restaurant is famous for, so I stuck to my default. A cheeseburger. Now, you might think who the heck orders a cheeseburger at a french bistro, well, your answer is me. I do. BUT, it was the coolest burger ever! I've never seen anything like it. It was a hamburger rolled up in the shape of a foot long hot dog!!! And it was inside a toasted sub roll with melted cheese. I wish I could post pictures of it, because yes I totally took a picture. It tasted delicious and it was the best thing I've ever seen!
(4)
Restaurant L.
Despite the pretentious anti-customer service, "I speak French so I'm probably better than you," American waiter, Petit Robert is a delicious quaint spot. This was only my second time eating here, and to be honest I didn't love the chicken and crepe special, but the Mussels appetizer was full of flavor! My first visit a couple of years ago was spectacular, because just as the other yelpers claim, the chicken Coq au Vin is to die for. I think the waiter just needs a little lesson on how to treat the customer. Like, just recommend a cocktail to me, don't sit there with a blank stare like I should know what I want. Also, repeat the specials when I ask. Don't stand there and look at me like I'm an idiot, because I may have forgotten one. Actually, the first time we asked you about the specials, you had to go consult the chef. Shouldn't you have known them in the first place? Don't let this all stop you from going to Petit Robert, however. The location is quiet, because it's a bit separated from the other restaurants on Columbus Ave, and the patio faces a beautiful church.
(3)
Nancy L.
I tend to judge a resturant by the bread. How can you not when it is the first thing that greets you once you sit down? And I am pleased to say that the bread/baguette at Petit Robert Bistro is AMAZING: delicious crunchy crust on the outside with a soft and warm center. Perfect for breaking apart with a dining companion and for the endless dipping into the soups. The best thing about them: they're FREE, well kinda :P If the bread is good then it set the bar high for the rest of the night because 1- you expect the other food to be just as delicious and 2- you might have stuffed yourself silly with the bread so if the entree entices you to keep eating, then the restaurant has done well. Well PRB didn't disappoint!!! The creamy lobster bisque was WONDERFUL: not your run of the mill chowder like creation that is overwhelmed by cream but a delicate bisque that sings of seafood flavors. I couldn't help dipping the bread into my companion's soup till he hovered over the bowl protectively. I had the beef short ribs and he had several types of different sausage ranging from black to white. The beef short ribs was incredibly homey and just what I needed on a cold winter night. I'm not a big sausage/hotdog person but the PRB's sausage has a wide range of taste that is very interesting. My companion liked it a lot. Since we were so full of bread, bread, soup, and entree we didn't get dessert but I definitely want to go back for it!
(5)
Stephen B.
Coffee and potato soup? Excuse me? It's not potato soup with a cup of coffee - it's potato soup with coffee in it. ... ok? Aside from the ostentatious soup selection, this restaurant boasts that their beef hotdogs are "9 inches of pure heaven"... or something like that. My hotdog was more like "9 manhunt inches of burnt cow carcas," though it was still tasty. The overly peppery bloody mary I got helped my food go down that much more. Would be one star, but the waiter was hot.
(2)
Andrew D.
I went here with a friend a while back for a drink and we decided to come back for brunch. The drink was good, a bit pricey but I really only needed the one. I like the atmosphere though walking through the kitchen to get to your table was a bit strange but I kind of liked that. At least I know the conditions of the preparation are clean. I had the eggs Benedict and I would say that it was probably one of the best I have had in Boston. It beats many restaurants and isn't too busy that you feel rushed. The price for lunch is reasonable but dinner seemed like it could get expensive and delicious. I would have given this place 4 stars for the loud mouth sitting next to us but I figured it wasn't their fault obnoxious people like French food. So if your really loud I wouldn't suggest eating here, you'll just ruin the atmosphere.
(5)
Sean H.
Amazing! Friendly staff, cozy atmosphere, and savory food. Had rabbit for the first time... absolutely scrumshious! Looking forward to dining here again soon.
This is a wonderful restaurant. The dishes were fantastic, very lovely location and it has a nice large glass window overlooking the street. It was snowing and it was very cozy and romantic. Food-wise, I like the ingredients here, fresh and unique, very distinctive platings. I tried the venison and Chilean sea bass, both were well worth the price. My only complaint with this place is that it's really tight, tables were really closed together.
(4)
Shang S.
We were charmed by our waitress' ability to speak French. I don't know why everyone is saying it doesn't take reservations, we made reservations for 2 on a Wednesday night. They must have had a new hire bringing out the food because he was constantly confused as to which dishes went with which table. Lobster bisque was really good for Boston, but not a lot of lobster. The bread was really, really heavenly, although I guiltily admit it reminds me of Bertucci's rolls. I got the Normandy pork sausages, which came with a delightful apple cream sauce. My boyfriend got the calf liver... which, unless you like the taste of liver, well, didn't go down quite so well. I liked the lift that the sauce gave to the liver, but we agreed we'd never get that again. Got the giant profiterole for dessert. Neither of us were a huge fan of the fudge, and most of the desserts at this restaurant rested on the heavy side. However, I do want to come back, I think that once the menu is picked correctly the experience is really good, given the value of the price and everything.
(3)
Ayon J. R.
The menu is somewhat limited, but the food is great. And, so is the service.
(4)
Alex B.
Cozy french bistro, perfect for a date or for a group of friends. Prices are very reasonable, and the staff were helpful. I found it funny that the entire staff were extremely french (lots of zis and zee's) but the main chef was an asian woman. No complaints here, the coq au vin was delicious. So far: my favorite french restaurant in the city.
(5)
Arestia R.
I'm pretty sure it's hard to go wrong with this place. Great French food at an affordable price in a little bistro setting is good for any occasion. My friends and I went for my birthday to avoid a lot of fuss and had a wonderful time. Our service was a bit slow, but I didn't really care. The pate was fabulous, the cocktails were delicious and the food really hit the spot. I had traditional duck cocovin and it practically melted in my mouth. I'll definitely be back here.
(4)
Jon L.
I am first to admit that I am not a millionaire and there are many things in this world I will not be able to experience, but I would still like to experience them. Petit Robert allows me to do this. They give really cool French dishes, things I am i have no idea about, and present them to you at a price that is affordable. The portions are not large, but that is the price you pay for having really cool products on your plate that would cost $40 somewhere else. Sometimes its better to have a small plate of something delicious than a large plate of something average, and Petit Robert understands this.
(4)
Craig S.
Good French Onion soup. And it all ends there. Absolutely clueless service. Took them over 45 minutes to make a sandwich with brie...and the cheese wasn't even melted! We actually got up and left. To the manager's credit, at least she didn't charge us for the food we never got.
(1)
Marisa W.
The Coq Au Vin is amazing! And the service is great. Friendly staff.
(5)
Victoria G.
i LOVE everything i ate and drank here. the atmosphere was wonderful and romantic. i actually had thanksgiving lunch with friends and the food was incredible!!! the turkey was perfectly cooked as well as the potatoes and vegetables. the bread pudding dessert was divine. i'm definitely going back!! the boston comm ave petit robert is also equally delicious (the half chicken is my fave). it was so nice to have such a great thanksgiving lunch and the service was fantastic. some of the best food i've had in boston, yet.
(5)
M V.
Given the many good restaurants in the neighborhood, there's absolutely no reason to go to this place. Thoroughly mediocre food: ingredients of middling quality, preparation that recalls the food at a chain hotel near an airport. (Overdressed salad, unnecessary sauces, ill-conceived juxtapositions, industrial-grade tomatoes, indiscriminately applied cream, etc etc). Bad food is the main problem; the other problems are that tables are too crunched together and that service is pretty slow. In short: just don't do it.
(1)
David W.
I have enjoyed Petit Robert before at both Comm Ave and on Columbus, but not this last visit on a Saturday at noon for brunch. My Eggs Benedict were very substandard: small eggs, burnt English muffin, mediocre Hollandaise and cold French Fries (instead of traditional diced potatoes). My companion's Croque Monsieur was just a cheese sandwich, not prepared in the traditional way. The best part of the meal was the warm French bread. Just barely worth two stars.
(2)
S M.
I've been here before and wasn't t very impressed, but on a visit earlier this week he food (lamb special) was very good. Our server was helpful and funny (instead of snide). Recommend checking them out.
(4)
Deepa C.
I have been wanting to go here for ages, so when my father-in-law wanted to meet up and take us out to dinner (we dog sat back in Feb) I thought this would be ideal. Nice, but wouldn't break the bank. It was a huge hit with everyone. since they don't take reservations, we arrived at 6:30 (on a sat) and were seated almost immediately. the smallish dining room was full, but not packed. service was attentive and prompt and the atmosphere was impressive but not overwhelming. i like that you had to walk past the open kitchen to get from the bar area to the dining room; little things like that take away from pretension. my salad was simple, yet satisfying. my husband got the lobster bisque - good, but peppery, and my FIL had the escargot - which he seemed enjoy. main courses were scallops (simple, yet amazing, served with wilted spinach and garlic mashed potatoes) pork medallions (HUGE portions (my husband got through half...) with a great sauce), salmon steak with a basil tomato sauce (my FIL pratically licked his plate), and blue fish (which also went over very well). dessert was also incredible - giant profiteroles, apple tarts, angel food cake with fruit and chocolate mousse. the coffee was a little strong, nothing out of the ordinary. i will stop here, lest i gush too much. overall, it was a great meal. perfectly timed, good service, clean. the place was busting at the seams with we left, but we did not feel as though we were rushed out. the neighborhood is right up my alley - i love the south end. PRB is nestled in a row of brownstones across from a church, this would be a great place for an outdoor summer supper or brunch. i am def going back. ETA: So I have been here several times since this review. Nothing has changed my mind about the 5 stars. AND the last time I was there - Rob freaking Lowe sat next to us! Talk about icing on the proverbial profiterole!
(5)
Eric Y.
Being on a business trip, I was lucky enough to have dined here w/ some co-workers. This tiny French bistro has been one of the best I've been to. The wait may be long, but well worth it. Just have a couple glasses of wine while you wait near the bar. The escargot are done just right and the baquettes will go even better with the leftover sauce. Coq au Vin, Boeuf Bourginon, pate, and foie gras are a few of the stand outs. If I'm ever back in the area, I'll be sure to dine here again.
(4)
Frank J.
A mixed experience. The staff and atmosphere are great. Our party of four arrived at 7:25 on a Saturday night for our 7:30 reservations. We were not seated until 8:05 during which time we had to stand in the crowded bar dominated by a television. One of our party has trouble standing for long periods and there were no chairs for the first 20 minutes or so. The excuse for the delay was that the party at "our" table had arrived late and were not leaving despite having paid the bill. Like this had never occurred before. To their great and everlasting credit, the bartender comped us a round of drinks and the host our dessert thus making what would have been a moderately priced dinner into one that was quite inexpensive. The appetizers and desserts were by far the best parts of the meal. My wife and I split a delicious beet and goat cheese salad and our friends shared the escargot which they enjoyed. The desserts along with being free were excellent. My chocolate bread pudding was superb. I wish I could say the same of the entrees. Two of us had the salmon which was good, although the server reversed the well-done and the medium-rare portions when she served the plates. Everybody's carrots and broccoli were cold and my wife's mashed potatoes were cold. They were quickly replaced, but first impressions are what last. My scallops although specifically ordered medium rare were overcooked and tough and not a very delicate preparation. Despite all this, my wife and I would go back and try it again. It's a fun restaurant. I can't speak for our out-of-town guests who had the restaurant recommended to them by friends in Washington, DC.
(2)
Crystal S.
Oh Petit Robert.... *le sigh* I'd have to say you get your money's worth in regards to quality of food and atmosphere, I can see a couple coming here for a romantic, but modestly priced anniversary or first date, that kind of thing. It's also a great eatery in general, it's affordable enough to be a nice night out on a weekday for no reason at all. The very first time I went here, I looked at the check only to gasp and say "that's IT?!?!" Now, that doesn't mean this is pennies and nickels but really, for what you're getting, I think this is affordable fare in the city. (Please don't jack up the prices because I said this) The service can be hit or miss. Some days they are fantastic, some days they forget to give you bread or forget your drink order or suggest a fat and bean meal on 4th of July (ew). By the way, the reason it's so sad if they forget to give you the bread before your entree arrives is because the bread is FANTASTIC. This quite frankly is the best free bread I've had in the city. I have no ideal where it comes from, but it's consistently good, except, as I mentioned, when they forget to give you some...
(4)
Ligaya T.
A wipe-the-corner-of-your-mouth establishment that oozes the easy charm of a bijou bistro without an upturned nose. Just my style. And apparently everyone else's too. This place is always hopping! The bar plays host to a boisterous crew so dash through the kitchen to the dining room for a seat. Might have to suck in a little and walk sideways on the way to your table trying hard not to breathe on other patrons' meals, itty bitty aisles. The pleasant servers are in constant motion so dodge carefully. For optimal configuration at a half booth disregard standard notions putting women facing the restaurant (keepings boys' peepers locked on their companions). Instead place the tallest person on the wall side as they will sink to the eye level of their dining partners. Now you can look up at each other, gazes conveying the sheer joy at the amount of butter on your plates. Mmmm. The key is simplicity. The ingredients stand alone. (Not only just the cheese!) A little spice, dollop of dairy in some form, a sprinkle of salt. Perfection! The blue fish is a winner, they just need to dump a little more corn gravy on top. Always a classsic, the steak frites satisfies the hungry belly. I was told the coq au vin was scrumptious as well. I'm jealous of the pastry chef. The crust on the tart tartin is moist and doughy, yummicicious. I'd skip the British cake though. All around, a solid bullseye!
(4)
Shawn T.
The trio of pate is still to die for! It's really the only thing that keeps bringing me back here (that and their entrees are decently priced). My only gripe is that they raised the prices for it. The bread service is also good; I love the simple accompaniment of butter, yum!
(4)
Me B. M.
Boston needs good, honest French food. And I was sad that this was not it. It's merely overpriced and mediocre. Over-cooked, under-seasoned. The bread is really great, though! I have eaten there many times, and will again, but nothing is that great and the services is uneven.
After compiling my first list (!) I decided that my petit robert bistro review didn't really do the restaurant justice. Since my first dining experience there, I have frequented the restaurant a dozen more times. It's one of my goto restaurants that I know will never fail me (or very rarely). Whether its a cold winter night or a hot summer afternoon, the staff at the place is friendly, warm and welcoming. I love sitting in the outdoors area during the summer, just enjoying the south end with the warm, soft and delicious bread, which i use to dip into my flavorful lobster bisque. Following that, any entree on the menu is a delight, but I'm especially partial to the specials they have..yummmm rabbit. Bottom line, GO. it wont disappoint
(4)
Byron M.
The owners of Petit Robert Bistro have 3 of these around the Boston Area. Authentic french cuisine that is true to its roots at a cost that Why go to Fridays when you can go to PRB. I particularly like the short ribs when they have them and the roast chicken. Don't forget dessert. The apple pie tartin is amazing. Cheers!
(4)
Abraham N.
Food is excellent, though the service was a bit slow. On a saturday night, no one took our order for about 15 mins, then it took another 20 for the food to arrive. A bit too buttery.
(3)
Gonzalo B.
Sat at the sidewalk 'patio' tables for a late lunch while doing some errands. Have noticed lots of comments here about the service and have to say, our waiter - don't recall his name but he is from Texas - was good, attentive, and nice. We wondered about different beers and he brought us some samples to try...that was the thing to do. They send out a small basket of warm rolls with some good butter. We had some mussels which were just ok, nothin' special. when you want to dip your bread or spoon up some of the sauce is what I look for with mussels, this didn't warrent it. The smoked salmon sandwich was also just...ok. Comes on a croissant, would be better on a baguette, dry, needs some sauce...fries on the side...80% were left when the plate was taken, that says it about the fries. We tried the potate croquettes for a side and they were, well...just okay. Bland. They need some seasoning and some melted cheese inside like they do 'em at Galleria Umberto would be the way.Fine, big pours on the drafts, warm rolls, good waiter...just okay, mostly, on the food. Bob, Lil' Bobby, ramp it up.
(3)
Sarah T.
We went for a nice meal on a wintry evening in January (I am a little behind on my write-ups - oops) with another couple (read their write-up under Jason B.). It was a lovely atmosphere - very cozy and warm. Loved it! The snow was blowing by sideways, but you forgot about the weather when inside the bistro. My husband and his friend ordered the warm mulled wine. They both loved it and appreciated the flavors. I had a lovely glass of red to begin the evening meal, and my friend had a glass of white. Three of the four of us tried calf brains for the first time. To be honest, my husband and a friend split the calf brain appetizer, and I had a nano-bite to say that I had tried them. The flavor was really good, but very rich. Crispy on the outside and smooth and creamy on the inside. I was surprised at the great flavor but didn't have more due to the psychological battle ongoing in my mind as to whether brains are food - or should be food. I started the meal with Soupe a l'Onion Gratinee. It warmed me up but wasn't the best French onion soup that I have had. It was missing the depth of flavor that some others have had - for example, they make a fabulous French Onion soup at the Danversport Yacht Club. I then had a salad with romaine heart and Roquefort. I recall that the shallot vinaigrette was good and lots of flavor; however, for a better vinaigrette, try either Union Bar & Grill in the South End (so savory) or a fabulous citrus vinaigrette at Columbus Cafe. My husband had the oysters on the half shell. He stated that they were very good, but a little pricey. He prefers the more creative oyster offerings at the Meritage. For my entree, I ordered the Coq au Vin with Butter Noodles. This was fabulous and the best Coq au Vin I have had in the States. So flavorful and tender and rich! It simply melts in your mouth. And the butter noodles are the best pairing for it - EVER! We ended the evening with dessert and tried the Crepe Suzette. It was executed wonderfully - but the flavor wasn't fabulous. It almost tasted as though the orange flavor was fabricated (i.e., not from natural oranges/tangerines). Overall, the atmosphere and the Coq au Vin earn Le Petit Bistro four stars. Without those two reasons, I would only give this bistro 3 stars.
(4)
David L.
So, my sister, Phoebe L.'s, first Yelp post was on Petit Robert almost a year ago. I largely concur with her evaluation. PRB is my favorite French restaurant in Boston. Authentic French dishes at very reasonable prices. And I loved them even more after they started taking reservations a while ago! Plus, the most important reason why I love them so much, is my most successful date happened here! If I want to impress out of towners, I generally bring them here. The food is good enough to hugely impress even the New Yorkers. If you are trying to decide on South End versus Kenmore, I would say South End for larger groups and Kenmore for more romantic dates. My favorite dishes: calf's liver, brain, and the dessert with the Eiffel Tower. If you aren't as daring, the short ribs are always great, the coq au vin fantastic (better than the many I've had in France), and the duck confit is to die for. If it the weekend, make sure you get reservations. Waiting in the cold sucks!! PS: the park behind the church next to the South End PRB is the most magically place to steal a kiss.
(5)
Rebecca S.
I'd heard great things about Petit Robert, so when we were contemplating our pre-theater dinner options I was happy to finally get a chance to give them a try. There are two locations, this review is for the (original) Columbus Ave. branch. Overall we were unimpressed. Restaurant week, so we each got the prix-fixe menu. Mine featured onion soup (fine), duck confit with shredded veggies (dry duck, so-so overall), and peach melba for dessert featuring peach at the bottom that I'm pretty sure was canned. The restaurant was half-empty, it was early in the evening (pre-theater) so the somewhat slip-shod quality of our entrees was surprising. In New York there's a small chain of French bistros scattered around Manhattan called "French Roast" -- open 24/7, serving decent French standards around the clock. Busy, noisy places that you're not expecting to be *superb.* Their food is better than Petit Robert's, showing that it's possible to run a chain of bistros that get the job done. But not at Petit Robert.
(2)
Anna C.
I've had three meals here, always hopeful that the food will improve. But it doesn't. The ingredients seem to be of poor quality. Portions are not especially generous. Go here only for a drink at the bar; the ambiance is nice.
(2)
Robert D.
Romantic and lovely. Can be a little loud when busy. I suggest make a later reservation for a quiet romanic evening. Staff could be better educated on wine and food was very good
(4)
Xena W.
My friend and I went to this location on a Monday night around 9:45 PM after a performance at the BSO. Even though we were the only customers and it was a Monday night where most places close early, the good waitstaff at Petit Robert kept the place open for us and took excellent care us till a little past midnight. At no point did they make us feel rushed and they were most attentive the whole evening. The food was delicious and we enjoyed a three course meal and nice wine and had a lovely time and enjoyed all the jazz and tango tunes being played throughout the evening. I will gladly return and bring friends over. Customer service like that is rare these days.
(4)
Peter V.
Expensive meal. My ribs were okay.... Not great, not bad. Everything else with our meal was average... Everything was average but the price.
(3)
Jochen D.
Finally a place that can be considered French and not AmericanFrench, like for example Gaslight. We really enjoyed our romantic night out. the Fois gras was very good and also the pork chop. Great Bistro experience. maybe service was a bit so so.
(4)
J. Lynn T.
Delicious food and quaint little bistro space. Entering the establishment, you see a small space and just as quickly, my guest and I were lead past the kitchen and into a separate dining room. I recommend the jambon de bayonne which comes with a great hearts of palm salad, the escargots are YUM! and the salad with panko crusted goat cheese, SO good! The beef short rib was hearty, everything was overall great! A few faults though, they really ought to have more than 1 co-ed bathroom and their servers could be more attentive, it felt as though we had to wait forever for our bill.
(4)
David D.
Ugh. WHY was my lunch cheaper at Petit Robert than a combo meal at Burger King? It's always dead in here in the early afternoon, and I've never had to wait for a seat. I had to walk 5 blocks from my office, but it's worth it, and my co-workers can't see me drinking on my lunch break to help hold in the tears. :'( Our server didn't give us bread, but it's OK, and I think he's on Grindr... so that works. Ok, I have a haircut appointment in 10 minz. Bye.
(4)
Rafael R.
Relaxed, casual and simple French bistro in the South End neighborhood of Boston. Friendly service and reasonable prices, but not enough to really have me return, when there are so many other restos in the neightborhood.
(3)
J L.
Down to 1 star, but thats all they deserve this time. Although I was greeted warmly and seated promptly, the service and food were horrible on this visit. The waiter took forever to come over to take my order. I liked their pate trio and it was good as usual; a nice portion for two but should be served room temperature to bring out the flavor and it wasn't.. The bread was soft and not crusty, it could have used a few more minutes in the oven. I made the mistake of ordering the breaded pork recommended by the waiter; after a very long wait (and it wasn't that busy) it arrived and was just terrible: swimming in oil and topped with a huge pile of salty capers and cornichons, it was overcooked and as tough as leather. A real cheap cut of pork with a lot of fat. Then it was served with literally two tablespoons of mashed potatoes, which tasted good but were swimming in oil and it was truly a very small portion. All this next to a sloppy mess of vegetables. I would have sent it back but the waiter never came by to ask how my meal was so I disected all the fat and ate some of it. This after draining all the oil. The waiter told the manager but he or she did not come over to offer an appology or any kind of gesture. Not going back anytime soon.
(1)
Binh L.
Alright, I have gone to the Commonwealth one so I had to come here to see how this compares. I came here for brunch though. The eggs benedict were nice. Beautifully plated, but came with fries? Really? I know you're a french restaurant, but I don't want french fries. I want home fries. Anyway, the eggs were good, but it seems to lack that punch. Think the sauce isn't too extraordinary. Really greasy, but not in the entirely delicious way. I got the smoked salmon one and I could barely taste the salmon. Except for the disgusting burps of salmon.. many hours later? Gross over-share (what of it?).. Oh and my friend had the chicken crepe which apparently was delicious enough for her to clean the plate. Also had a side order of bacon. Gosh, this might be the most delicious bacon I've had in Boston (second would be Ryle's). Perfectly crisp, and not a disintegrating kind of crisp. Just perfect. I ate way too much bacon, and it felt awesome (well, at the moment). So pretty quaint, Petit. I'd totally give you a second date. Dinner sometime?
Signs of a failing French bistro: French fries cooked in week-old, putrefied oil, day-old lettuce hacked into ugly chunks, watered-down salad dressing, portions half the size of what they've been for the 4 years we've been eating here. Arevois Little Bobby...
(1)
Laurinda U.
I had dinner with my sister for the first time on Saturday night. I was definitely under impressed. For our appetizer, we ordered the duck and kimchee sushi roll (~$12). It was absolutely terrible. The rice was cold and hard. You couldn't taste the duck and the kimchee tasted like bland cabbage. This dish was an epic fail. My sister ordered the rack of lamb (~$20 and came with a small baked potato and steamed broccoli) and I ordered the venison (~$20 and came with whipped potatoes and steamed broccoli and carrots). I think it says a lot when the side of whipped potatoes outperformed the entire meal. The whipped potatoes were delicious, but the venison with blueberry sauce was just meh. My sister's lamb was yummy but was pretty much lamb lollipops that I could get anywhere. This place also loses a star because of the lackadasical service. The server came by to take the empty bread basket and when we asked for another one, it sadly never came. Sadly because the bread was better than my entree (see above). Also our water glasses were never refilled, not until the end when we decided to leave anyways. Although we didn't stay for dessert, our neighbors did and it looked like maybe dessert is where this bistro shines. Overall - overpriced and underwhelmed. Do not recommend.
(2)
Jessica V.
This used to be our weekly haunt, but about two years ago the food got a little inconsistent. Still a fun place for brunch or if you're a local person not wanting to go to far for an okay meal.
(3)
Ming C.
This restaurant single-handedly helped change my review technique of every restaurant I will ever eat at. My first experience with Petit Robert on a chilly Friday night almost two years ago was atrocious. From what I allow myself to remember, we were seated all the way by the window of the back room, waited almost 45 minutes for any food to arrive, and never saw one single water refill during the entire dinner. I was parched! I believe whatever my bf had was also undercooked and mine tasted oily. Needless to say we didn't think we would be back. But back we came as the bf was craving french and the location on Columbus was only two blocks from our apartment. And I am so incredibly glad that we did because all the dozen + times we have been there since have been incredible. I have so many favorite dishes - in the colder months, the seared fois-gras totally hits the spot. The roast chicken is melt-in-your-mouth tender and just tastes the way i always imagined Julia Child would have cooked it for her favorite dinner party friends. My bf loves the duck confit and creamy pates. The other positive about this place is that their brunch is so affordable and filling! For a sardine baguette, fries and a side salad, it only sets you back around $7. The decor and ambiance is also one of the reasons we made Petit Robert one of our go-to Boston restaurants. Whenever we start reminiscing about "that little tucked-away treasure in Paris", we stroll over to this place, sip our wine, and live it all over again. Please give it a go if you've never tried it before or came once and was not that impressed. I no longer live in Boston now but I will surely miss my Paris away from Paris!
(5)
Ginny K.
Disappointing. I just wanted a good soup and salad. House salad delicious with the goat cheese. Very lemony. The lobster bisque however, was watery and lacking anything special! Very disappointing! Oh, and the bread and butter were simply delish...esp for those of us who use bread as a vehicle for butter.
(2)
Gabriele D.
I would recommend this place because it's the best French food you can get for this price in Boston. The restaurant is rather elegant and cozy, the cocktails are good. Don't expect very creative dishes, the strength of this place is that it's traditional. In other words it's a bistro in the French sense! I don't think it's possible to be disappointed. BTW it's also a great place for a quick lunch, with a delicious selection of sandwiches (their own "burgerdog" is amazing).
(4)
Nancy Z.
Affordable French food in Boston? Thank you Robert. 3 different types of yummy pate's for $7? Heh... you're starting to make me blush. A waiter that looks like a HOTTER version of Johnny Depp? Yes. You can put my name on the dinner reservation list for tonight. The food at Petit's has always been great every time I've ordered. The pates, the pastas, the skirt steak with that delicious lobster cream sauce on it... whoa. I definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Cami F.
Tucked just a few blocks away from Dartmouth street/the prudential- this little french restaurant is perfect for a summer evening dinner. The outside seating faces a beautiful church and tree lined street. The food is great, especially loved the scallops, and the servers are incredibly friendly. I was slightly disappointed by their brunch, but their dinner is worth returning for!
(3)
Cat M.
I am French I grew up with French cuisine I am also a vegetarian So there was a lot of asparagus The French still don't understand vegetarianism, and Petit Robert has exactly un plat sans viande. I'll save you the excitement of reading the menu and just tell you that it's penne with mushrooms in a buttery herb sauce. It tasted exactly like what you'd make in 20 minutes at home with stuff you grabbed at Shaw's on your commute. My mother said the coq au vin was good. I hoped that dessert would be more interesting, so I ordered the profiteroles, expecting warm fluffy biscuity things filled with richly perfumed vanilla ice cream and a divine ganache. Again, what I received tasted very store-bought -- dare I say the sauce was Hershey's? Our waiter kept changing so they had no idea who had ordered what and when the last person had checked on us so it was rather intrusive. Finally, they do online reservations through OpenTable (yay!) but don't give you points (boo!).
(2)
denis s.
Scale 1 = poor, 5 = outstanding CUSTOMER SERVICE: 2. Our waiter read us 3 specials, but we found out after we ordered about a 4th special by seeing the specials chalkboard. Then our waitress dropped the app plates on my wife when clearing them (partly due to how cramped it is - see Ambiance section). Also our water and wine glasses sat empty for long stretches with no offer. When one dessert was cold they did insist on bringing another which was nice, but as you'll see in the Food section, it was also cold. FOOD: 3 My wife got the cod and thought it was perfectly cooked, but you have no substitutions on sides and only know that you are getting a veggy and a starch - and those were way garlicky and not that great. I got the short ribs and thought it was good but not great. The macaroons were great, but the apple crisp was between cold and lukewarm. When we mentioned that they took it back and 10 minutes later another came - it was even colder. AMBIANCE: 2. Very very cramped. Some places get away with cramped (Oleana, etc). This place doesn't. Your neighbors have to slide by your table to get in and out of theirs - and slide so close their butts drag on your table. And the table legs are so big that you are forced to awkwardly place your feet on the base of the table instead of the floor. VALUE: 3. Portions were generous and it wasn't a bank-breaking dinner.
(2)
Molly R.
This was delicious! Reasonably priced for the quality and real French food. Very good. Loved it, and would definitely recommend it!
(4)
David B.
Second time here, again as a pre theatre dinner. The difference is that we can now say we've been to Parisian bistros (was in Paris for the first time the summer of '09). Petite Robert captures the vibe of a Parisian bistro but some of the food we sampled on this trip was different from the "real" thing. The beet salad and slow cooked chicken in wine sauce were delicious and spot on. I was disappointing in the mussels. They did not offer pommes frite (or bring more bread) for the sauce. The sauce that cam with the mussels was also on the sparse side. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable evening out and an easy walk to the Huntington Theatre.
(3)
Emily B.
I love this place. Back in high school, my french class walked to the one in Kenmore and we all had a great lunch. The atmosphere is tidy and comfortable. The music is light and easy to talk over. The food is great and I get to order in French. Prices are highish, but it's an upscale place so that's expected. Though I've never gotten anything but the French onion soup and creme brulee here, I still really like Petite Robert a lot.
This is my second time at Robert Petite Bristo. Just as our first time, this was an exceptional dining experience. Our server was very attentive and never rushed us to order. The menu selection is your traditional French Bristo options but each has a chef's touch that sets them apart. This restaurant is a great option for the money. Quality is superb and service is awesome.
(5)
Erin P.
Went here with a group of 6. The restaurant was slow when we sat down at 8pm but began to get busier. I was dissatisfied with the waiter service. The manager came around to ask how everything was but we hardly saw our waiter. I had the scallops and pear martini which were excellent.
(2)
Neill K.
Love the covered outdoor seating...even when it's raining! The food is always more than tasty and the service is friendly. I highly recommend brunch, if you're lucky they will have a small trio playing some tunes for you.
(5)
Jackie C.
Cozy French restaurant with all the south end feel... cute and elegant but casual at the same time. The food is sort of home cooked french style... it is great. For dessert i had the chocolate chip cookies with milk,,, how it took me back!!! The waiters were very very friendly and kind... great service. Will definitely be back there soon!!
(5)
Clare F.
I have been here three or four times in the past six months and have consistently had good food, drink, and service. Cozy in the winter and with enough outdoor seating for spring summer. The staff greet you in french with correct pronunciation. I've spent enough time in France to know that the decor and setup are authentic. For good french food, you cannot beat Petit Robert's prices. Any other South End french restaurant would force you to spend a good 25% or more for the same thing. I have found a few favorite dishes there and have not strayed. I love the salad with panko-crusted goat cheese. Goat cheese is good on anything, but especially on mixed greens with a light dressing. Instead of a main dish, I get the potatoes au grautin, which come out piping hot and are very filling. The drinks are very good - we have ordered Old Fashioneds, Kirs, and Mojitoes (yes, in the middle of January, can't blame a girl for wishful thinking!) I am always impressed by a staff that remembers large party orders... I came with a group of seven and a group of five and nothing was misplaced. In fact, the waitress remembered our party four months later AND what we ordered.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Went here for the first time last night with my boyfriend for date night. While nothing was awful, and I debated giving a 3 overall, I'm bumping this down to a 2 as my main dish was one of the more disapointing factors. (If I could give half stars I would probably have given a 2.5.) Started with a round of drinks. I ordered one of the special "Petit" drinks, of which there are two on the menu. The waitress ended up brining the wrong one, but I didn't say anything because it was actually quite good. (Simple idea, mix champagne, gin, and lemon.) Bread was pretty delicious and the French Pinot Noir I ordered was good suggestion from the waitress. For dinner, I ordered the beef short rib. There were three pieces and one was overdone. I didn't need to eat it all, but had I wanted more, I wouldn't have been able to eat the third piece. The sauce was also really just OK. Not something I would suggest or order again, but I ate most of it. Brussel sprouts were ordered on the side and those were good. We also ordered the chocolate cake with leaning tower of pizza creation as pictured on their website, which looked pretty cool and was average. Apart from the food, this place fell vicim to the changing seasons, where it was just too hot inside. This in combination to being a crowded place where you are generally right on top of the table next to you led to a little bit of an uncomfortable experience. Not that it's the restaurants fault, but there were also some very loud individuals right next to us, just making it feel that much more crowded. We wanted to get some coffee and after dinner drinks but couldn't stay there any longer as it was hot and we couldn't hear one another.
(2)
Momo K.
considering it's called petit robert, everything was pretty petite. i had duck and a spinach side, they were both non impressive and very average.
(3)
Tracy C.
I've been to PRB many times and decided to write a review for the South End location because I think it's the better of the two. This is not to say the Kenmore site is bad, it's just I've had better experiences in South End. I love how the restaurant is classy but casual, the food is authentic French priced fairly (all entree under $20), and the bread, the service and the drinks just make such a wonderful dining experience. I also signed up for their newsletter and I love reading/ watching recipe demonstrations, see what Chef Robert has to say (usually very entertaining). The atmosphere surrounding this establishment is so French yet so friendly like a true neighborhood bistro. Favorite things to get there includes the escargot, pate trio, lobster bisque and smoked herring warm potato salad for appetizer. For entree I really like the Frog Leg Provencale, Bluefish, Rack of Lamb and the skirt steak~frites. As for dessert, I love the souffle... irresistible.
(5)
laura e.
Went for brunch. The bread is great. Wonderful quiche with salad and frites! The only disappointment was the slow service and the croissants, which were sliced opened and toasted without our requesting them that way. They were dry and disappointing. We will come back to try dinner.
(3)
shannon c.
I loved this place. I recently went with my boyfriend and his family. This is a great place to go for a well priced intimate meal. The food was excellent - the roast chicken was amazing. It was gourmet comfort food cooked to perfection. They brought out as much bread as we wanted and it was warm fresh and delish! Our servers were courteous and attentive and answered all of our questions. Oh! The portion sizes were perfect! They weren't too big, if they were I would have made myself sick because I would want to keep eating - but they also weren't too small like a lot of gourmet places. It was great. Their desserts are also worth it, so save room. The only criticism is that we were a party of six and we felt a little out of place, customers shooting us looks for being too loud. It's a tiny place so conversation really carried - we certainly weren't going nuts with the boyfriends parents and his uncles. Oh, also we were told they don't take reservations, but when we got there they asked us if we had one - what's the deal with that? Save this place for an affordable intimate night out.
(4)
Judy Heller K.
Our party of four had a delicious and reasonably priced dinner here in March. Our reservation was honored promptly and service was excellent. For beef lovers the short ribs are not to be missed! And the threesome pate appetizer was superlative. Only disappointment was our first two wine choices were not available. However, they let us sample several other choices until we found what we wanted. for an intimate and fine dining experience in the South End try Petit Robert Bistro.
(4)
Caitlin C.
When fellow yelpers, Zach A. and Margaux A. came to town this weekend, they gave me the honor of selecting the restaurant. After much deliberation, I finally settled on Petit Robert. I had been once to the Comm Ave location in December of 2005 (wow that's a long time ago!), and I recall having been impressed with the meal. So, nearly 4 years later (one of which was spend spent living in France...miss it!), I made reservations for 6 for a Saturday evening. We had a to wait a few moments for them to clear off our table in the front room, but no matter. Most of the employees are French and super nice (our serveur was really sweet). The owner (well, I think she was the owner, or maybe manager) was also extremely cheerful and the mood of the restaurant reflected her pleasantness. We started out with beverages. I had the Kir, which is always my go-to aperitif. And as others have mentioned, their bread was fresh and very tasty! For an appetizer, I had the soup a l'oignon. Mmm, cheesy deliciousness. I decided on the panko encrusted pork loin for my main course and I also ordered a side of potatoes gratin dauphinoise to share with the table (I really like cheese). I had a nice glass of cote du rhone to wash it all down. The pork was really lovely and the panko ensured a satisfying crispiness. It was also enormous! Sadly, I could not fit it all in my belly. And that also meant that there was no room for dessert (which is my favorite part of the French meal). Oh well, next time I will come with a larger appetite for sure. Everyone else seemed pretty satisfied with their meals. Though, to be honest, I was so focused on mine that I can't quite remember what the others got. Everything was also extremely affordable (most the entrees were less than $20), especially when considering the quality and quantity of the food you get. Bottom Line: Petit Robert is THE best value for authentic French cuisine in Boston. Hopefully, the next time I go back it'll be before 2013!
(5)
Heather C.
As my first review, Petit Robert is 100% worthy. I have been there 3 times, (4?) and each time has been awesome! We had an appetizer, 2 entrees, dessert and a bottle of wine for $80. Amazing. The best part is feeling like you're getting a 5 star meal, at 3 star prices. Everything I have sampled on the menu, lunch and dinner items, I would order again. Please do not listen to the poor review from Tania P, I don't know what she has up her hindquarters. Please, do yourself a favor and give the place a second chance. I have had the same coq a vin and it was amazing! I don't know how you could call that bland.
(5)
Cathy H.
Great little breakfast at a great little value! Went for Saturday brunch about 1130 and got right in. Staff was nice, and the food was good (great croque monsieur).
(4)
Vincent P.
Really classic french bistro - food well-made and service good. Sit on the sidewalk in the summer for a real parisian feel.
(4)
Jared C.
I use Yelp all the time but have been reticent to actually write a review. Well--I felt so strongly about Petit Robert, that I HAD to write a review on this place! First off, I can't believe how many people say good things about this restaurant. I had been waiting to try this establishment because of all the hype, not to mention that I love French food and believe to have a refined enough palate to detect what good French food is. I went with my sister who also had high expectations, and is a trained French cook, mind you, and I started with a bowl of Lobster Bisque. TERRIBLE! The broth was so thin I might as well have been slurping water. We then went on to the dishes--I asked what their best was, which was replied with the coq au vin. Now, I enjoy coq au vin, but I was surprised to hear that this would be their signature dish...it's kind of a simple dish to make. Well, strike two! The sauce vin sauce was OK, I'll admit, but the dish as a whole was incredibly boring. I mean, I'm no master with the pots and pans, but I could have whipped up something more flavorful! My sister had the bluefish, which she also thought was very boring, and was simply not impressed. For the side, we got Haricots Verts Amandine, which--surprise surprise--were boring! I think they simply took butter and melted it on the beans and threw in some almonds with no spice whatsoever Now, before I get to the dessert, I've got to say that the service was atrocious! My water was not refilled for at least a half hour, and the food came at a snail's pace. Well, the dessert. I was so disappointed by now, I decided I was just going to get the crème brule, thinking that there was no way this could go wrong. I was wrong! It came to me like it was torched the night before, and unevenly at that. It's a shame too, because the crème was very good, but felt very old. Needless to say, this was NOT a good experience and I will never recommend this restaurant to another person. I feel like there may be something wrong with me because of how many people enjoy this place!
(1)
Dominic Y.
My favorite restaurant in the Southend. Nothing beats the original location. My favorites are Grand mariner Souffle and beef bourguignon. Overheard some dude explaining salmon legs (another recommended entree) to his date, "No they do. That's how they dig the holes for their eggs." Someone get that guy another round of Milwaukee's best!
(5)
Arthur E.
Very good meal in this great neighborhood restaurant.
(4)
Phoebe L.
I make sure I drop by Petit Robert whenever I'm in Boston. The restaurant's service, price, and food are really deserving of 5 stars. I am a big fan of trio of pates and calf's liver...makes me wish I was in Boston right now. All my experiences have been so awesome that I feel inclined to write my first yelp review on PBR. I recommend making reservations for busier nights and try a few hors d'oeuvres (the prices allow you to do so). Now, I just have to plan my next trip!
(5)
kevin g.
I ate at this restaurant for dinne this past week. I finished my meal around 10 o' clock and the restaurant had mostly cleared out. At that point, I noticed multiple mice scurrying back and forth under tables acoss the room. I didn't say anything at that point because I did not want to shock my date or cause a scene. We were there for another 15 minutes or so and there were at least two, possibly three, mice that were darting from table to table in the main dining room. On the way out, I asked to speak to a manager to alert them of the situation. When I told the manager what I had seen, her face got bright red and she admitted that they were aware of the problem. She said the building was being treated for mice but they had been unsuccessful so far and the mice were still present. I found this to be very disturbing and gross and was somewhat shocked that a high-end restuarant in the South End with the pedigree of PRB would stay open despite knowing they have a mice infestation problem. I would recommend opting for one of the many other fine dining choices in the South End rather than this restaurant.
(1)
Angelos K.
Bland food, uncoordinated service, not worth a revisit. Why? We waited 35 minutes to get the wine we ordered while waiting at the bar for a table to open up at the patio, once we ordered the food arrived eventually. Portions were huge (10x those at butcher shop for the pates and terrines) but the food (pate, duck, bluefish) was rather tasteless, generic, and bland. Think airline food. You can do better at other french restaurants in Boston.
(2)
Marcela P.
The lighting, the service and the warm bread were all good. Prices surprisingly modest.(I was imagining a $25-30 entree) The rest was disappointing. I had high hopes for this place in terms of a french dining experience. Maybe it is French, but more a homemade style of food than fine dining. We started with coctails, I had a Fig-aro (Vodka, Lillet, champagne, fig puree and I forget what else). It was not as tasty as the description. The escargots were ok, a bit dry. Next course was the lobster bisque and the romaine heart with roquefort. The bisque had ONE piece of lobster, and well, you can't fuck up a romaine heart sprinkled with Roquefort. So far the dining experience was enjoyable because the ambience was cozy and our waiter was attentive and helpful. Next, the Scallops. The Salty, salty, scallops. Too bad, because they were cooked well, but i couldn't taste anything but salt.. I downed a glass of water or two and was to stuffed to order the souffle, which looked fluffy and warm. Yeah. Meh.
(2)
Matt W.
With much trepidation, my friend dragged me back to Petit Robert. It was her birthday and I was obligated to put my hunger aside in her honor. I mixed it up and ordered the flank steak, which I would generally never do at a place such as this. Holy %$# that was a good steak! Not only was the steak great, but it came with a mound of fries. To start the meal I also ordered the French onion soup which was super tasty. With the soup and the steak, I am ashamed to admit that I actually left a few bites on my plate due to my bulging belly. I formally apologize and take back my previous 3 star review which was based on stomach cramping hunger. Assuming I stick with the soup/steak combo I will be very very pleased.
(5)
tom p.
Recently went before a Longwood performance (5/11/13), and have made our last visit to a/any Petit Robert. There was nothing really wrong with the food, although there wasn't anything special about it either. The problems, in no particular order, relate entirely to some of the worst restaurant service we have found, in any country. First, my wife, 12-year old and I were squeezed onto a round 2-top which left no room for drinks, appetizer, etc. My wife's chair was back-to a narrow passage between the woman at the table opposite us, and so nearly EVERY time a server, bus person, etc. walked by, they bumped the back of her chair, once while sipping a martini causing her to spill. We were seated without menus, which is fine, except our server brought the menus then hovered asking us to put in a drink order. I sent him away asking for a couple minutes. He returned promptly two minutes later, and asked not just about our drink order, but if we knew which entrees we would be ordering. We placed drink orders, informed him we needed time to look at food, and asked for a children's menu. He returned with the drinks, and again asked about entrees (as he handed my daughter the children's menu). We ordered an appetizer and he AGAIN asked about putting the entrees in, which we refused to do even though we had decided on our selections. He placed that order, and was back within a minute or two for the entree (my wife hadn't even taken her first sip of the martini). He clearly immediately entered the entree order, because the entrees arrived just as we finished the mussels (best part of the meal), suspicious timing, almost as though the bus person was watching with plates in hand to arrive, and wait while the server removed the appetizer and bread plates. Finally, my own glass of wine sat empty through the second half of my meal as the server disappeared once the food was down and returned only to ask about desert, which we declined and he already had the check printed and left it on the table as though desert would have been a tremendous inconvenience to both him and the restaurant. Given Boston's other French dining options, there is no reason to visit a Petit Robert bistro.
(1)
Ellen B.
Picked Petit Robert's because of other Yelp reviews and the price. Yea! Went there as a birthday dinner and were delighted with the meal and the service. The place is small and just a bit cramped. For entrees, 2 of us had the rabbit (lapin), one had the duck confit and I had the beef bourginon. All were excellent! And all very reasonably priced - especially for Boston. For dessert - the birthday boy had chocolate hazelnut crepes, another person had the rum raisin bread pudding and I shared the giant profiterole with my sister. All were delicious. And the profiterole was indeed giant (LOL). I strongly recommend making a reservation as it clearly has many regulars and fills up quickly.
(4)
Claudia H.
A really nice French restaurant in downtown Boston! They are open all-day, which is perfect if you need to go for a late lunch on the weekend. If you like French cuisine, you will enjoy most of the recipes they serve. I particularly recommend the onion soup and the roasted rabbit leg (if they serve it the day you go), but anything you try is surely worth it! The wine list is excellent, with a long list of French wines (and also from other parts of the world). The service is very good and attentive, and they might even have a French accent too! Finally, the price is pretty reasonable too, given the amount and quality of the food, around $40 (though it can get pricier with wine!)
(4)
Sarah M.
IN LOVE with this restaurant! Affordable for the South End, and beyond delish. As we walked through the door, we were welcomed with a lovely and authentic "bonjour" by a hostess, who seemed so at ease, as if we had really just stepped into a bistro in a neighborhood of Paris...the decor is rustic, warm and cozy. Our waitress was phenominal (and French as well - authenticity A++). The food was rich and hearty; I had braised shortribs that were the best hands down I've ever had. My companion, mom, had a fish that was perfectly cooked and seasoned in a light broth. It was very romantic, yet being there with my mother wasn't awkward at all. People were truly enjoying themselves at every table. I haven't tried the Comm Ave location but am dying to (because I work & live in the Fenway area) to see if this location is just as wonderful.
(5)
Dan C.
Damn Boston weather. 70 minute waits are never fun but in cold and wind erghgh. And I'm here for SPRING break dammit. Anyway. Backing up a bit. We arrived around 6pm on a Saturday night, party of 4. The hostess said it would be about a 45 min wait which normally I would have been like hell no unless I'm in a mall or a really dense neighborhood I could kill time in, but the only reason I endured it was because it looked nice and the decision making process with my family for restaurants is just painful. SERVICE The hostess was really nice and kept us updated constantly on how our wait was looking, which we appreciated. Once we did get seated, I think the whole wait staff was aware that we'd waited forever so they were really attentive with us, which was also great. My only complaint is that the waiter forgot to give our valet ticket to the valet after we finished (we finally just went outside ourselves and told the guy). I don't really care too much about that though since if I were with any people other than my parents I'd never get near that neighborhood with a car (valet parking was $14 btw). Almost all the wait staff was French too, which adds something to the experience, I do admit. FOOD Good stuff, and a really good value. Almost all the entrees are less than $20, and the place has the feel of a much more expensive place. I had the Lamb Cassoulet, which tasted great. I nibbled my family's scallops and salmon, also very good. Escargots solid, and the salmon appetizer was great. Desserts were great - the Crepe Suzette bordered on overwhelming, but the flavor of the sauce was just so good. I had a little of my sister's Ile Flottante and loved it, and my mom's pineapple tart (they only have it on some days) was very good also. ATMOSPHERE etc. I liked it. Warm, intimate and classy (it's a tablecloth place) but not intimidatingly so (you can dress casual though most other customers were dressed semi-casual). Overall, highly recommended - there just might be a long wait for parties of more than 4.
(4)
Jungmin L.
3.5 stars. The atmosphere is great - very neighborhood bistro-like, comfortable - not too loud and not too quiet. The waitstaff, however, do not know the menu all that well. The veal liver was very good, most of the dishes seemed to be quite sturdy and dressed-down. The confit, however, was quite dry and unacceptable. The foie gras was ok. We loved the profiterole (pastry was a little too hard, but can't help loving it anyway) and the frangipane/poire tarte.
(3)
Adele O.
We went to Petit Robert on a Friday night to use a buywithme coupon. We were seated at 6.30pm. Our waitress was exceptionally competent, and the food was outstanding. When the wine we ordered came, the bottle that she opened had a cork that all but disintegrated as she pulled it out. She recommended of her own fruition that the bottle needed to be replaced. When the manager came over to our table to discuss the incident with us, she tried to convince us out of opening a different bottle, by blaming the faulty cork on the ineptitude of our waitress. Despite what the manager said, we opted to go with the recommendation of our waitress. We were very happy with the result. In all honesty, we thought that the waitress made the right call, even though the manager tried to call her out on it. The food was absolutely delicious. We both ordered the coq au vin, which was moist, and beautifully rendered. The wine matched perfectly. Thumbs up to the waitress for impeccable service, in spite of a bossy and overbearing manager. We can't wait to go back again!
(5)
Jaquelina L.
My girlfriend and I had dinner here ~ 2 weeks ago. We had a great time. The food, service and atmosphere were GREAT. I ordered the Escargot and Scallops. She ordered the Foie Gras and the Beef Short Ribs. My gf said the Foie Gras was superb. For dessert, we ordered the Macarons. The Macarons were nothing like the ones from Laduree in Paris. Oh well, I am in Boston, not Paris. =P The only draw back was the long wait, but we will definitely come back.
(5)
Simon L.
Me and my friend visited Le Petit Robert Bistro today for lunch. The experience was less than satisfying. Our biggest disappointment was with the staff. While everyone walked around with a smile. We sat down for 20 minutes and no one but the water lady talked to us. I had to wave down the hostess, who barely speaks any English to find us a waiter. In the end another hostess came and took our order. We waited for 30 minutes for our entrees to show up. Then the hostess who took our order left and this blonde waitress unwillingly took our dessert order. We ordered their "signature" chocolate cake that was supposed to come with a fancy chocolate Eiffel Towel (dramatically featured on their website), but apparently they ran out of the towels and they replaced it with a sad little macaroon. We were terribly disappointed but the waitress did not seem to care. The only person who seemed to care about our dining experience was the water lady - Kudos to her, I wish I could have tipped her directly. The bread was wonderful and freshly baked. The onion soup was mediocre considering it's a $9 cup of soup. The duck confit was nicely done, and the Croque Madame sandwich was just okay - the egg was overcooked. The chocolate cake was delicious, but again, lacking its "signature" component. Overall, I would not return to Petit Robert because the disappointing service overwhelmingly destroyed the better than average food.
(2)
Gary F.
Dear Little Bobby, About two years ago, we wrote a kind of mean review of your Comm Ave location. We made fun of the tower. We made fun of the bread. We claimed that your bread pudding tasted of cheese. We're sorry. On a whim, we decided to try it again, South End-style. Oh, Little Bobby. We were so, so, so wrong about you. We take it all back. The escargots were not as good as Jo's, but they were second best. The beef tongue salad (on special) was so good, we licked the plate...get it? The pot au feu was...pretty tight and the pan-seared sweetbreads pretty much sent SheGary over the edge. A heaping plate of fried sweetbreads with mashed potatoes...it doesn't get any tighter. For dessert, we reduxed the bread pudding and nary a whiff of...cheese...was detected as was previously noted at the Comm Ave location. Also, the ambiance and service were about 10384729 times better this time around. Even the Eiffel Tower thingy out front. N.B. They mix a very, very good martini. Merci, Little B. And again, our apologies for that previous review.
Great place for a nice dinner out - charming restaurant in a convenient location (good for a pre-symphony dinner since it's only about a 10-15 min walk). We had the petit sale salad (some kind of bacon), scallops and the salmon "en croute." The petit sale and the scallops were particularly delicious. Dinner for two (2 entrees, salad, 1 cocktail) came to about $55 before tip - pretty reasonable for a nice dinner out.
(4)
Melissa V.
I am happy to say this is a quick walk in the snow for me. They serve great food, and a mean cocktail. It will be a long winter together.
(5)
anastasia c.
It's more 3.5 stars an 3 but it's not close enough to 4 for me to add that one. I saw it on groupon and the Lady Friend and I decided to give it a shot. It was a friday night but amazingly they weren't overly busy. We had a reservation anyway so I wasn't worried. The couple in front of us didn't, however, and the guy made a big stink about sitting at a regular table anyway. Luckily for us we were seated right by him. By that I mean pretty much on top. They split a table for 4 into 2 tables for 2 and sat us side by side. Mistake number one. We spent the whole night listening to him talk to loud like he needed to seem important. There were other places for us to sit and we definitely should've been sat somewhere else. I'm a server and get annoyed when people ask to change tables so I didn't say anything. We were crammed next to an unused door which was pretty awful consider how cold it was outside. Our server was nice enough but I could sense he was just reeling off stuff he had memorized or been told, no real knowledge. We started with the lobster bisque. It was so overly fishy and too much for 2 of us. Maybe offer 2 sizes or a smaller portion because it sucks to waste a $10 bowl of soup. I had the skirt steak-frites. Asked for it medium, it came out rare, and I had to have it recooked. I always get sick from undercooked red meat and didn't wanna take a chance. It came back completely burnt through so I just ate the fries. LF had the Haddock with crab meat sauce. It was amazing. I definitely recommend it. For dessert we had the cheesecake with blueberry sauce. It tasted like flavorless cheesecake with blueberry sauce added on it. Without the blueberry sauce it would've been completely a no. The cheesecake should've been sweeter so you can eat it on its own. It took the server a while to bring our check, even after we'd finished dessert. I'm a huge fan of leaving when I'm done so sitting there waiting to pay wasn't a good way to end the night. They lose a star for purposely seating us directly on top of another table when there were other available tables not sat for an hour. Another half star lost for burning my steak and for flavorless dessert. If I do give this restaurant another chance it'll be at another location. First impression though was it's a bit overpriced and not very impressive.
(3)
Busy L.
Had dinner here last night and was fantastic. Started off with mussels and fried calf brains. Should give it a try. Not that bad...Pan fried and a little crispy. Could've used a little more salt on the brains... Coq Au Vin and Beef Bourginon were tremendous. My son had the pork which he raved. Scallop dish was very good as well with a cream crab sauce. Ratatouille was great. Pomme Frites were OK. Have to order the souffle for desert. Well worth the 15 minutes wait. All in all a great place that I'd highly recommend.
(4)
E C.
I was pleasantly surprised with my whole experience at Petit Robert after reading some of the reviews before going. Everything from the food to the service was great. I went on a Wednesday night around 8 with my boyfriend and we were seated right away. The atmosphere was romantic even though we were sitting pretty close to the people on either side of us. Someone came right over to fill our waters (and kept refilling them through the night) and our waiter, who was very friendly, came over soon after that. I started with the Soup du jour and my BF with a salad, both delish. Then we had the lamb chop and roast chicken. We were not disapointed. My only regreat is we were too full to try dessert.
(4)
Bridget D.
Merci mon amour. You are so very sweet! For Bradley, my love, took me here to eat. Running late for our resi, we circled the Ave several times. But, pulled up for valet and paid one hundred and forty dimes. We entered the Bistro and announced our arrival. The kind hostess grabbed menus for our gastronomic revival. Whisked to our table, through the kitchen, how strange. What hit us first was the intense volume range. It was loud and bustling, with eating and drinking of hooch. We just leaned into chat, each time stealing a smooch. The decor is charming, but B felt slightly underdressed. However, his beauty and wit, is what makes him the best. We perused the menu and waited for our server. Things moved a bit slowly and we were eager to order. She finally appeared with her French accent in tow. I asked for my veggie options, of which she did show. Veggie pate, and mushroom risotto for my treat And the swordfish special please, for my Sweet. Warm bread and butter arrived for us to consume As I stared googly eyed (this boy makes me swoon!) The pate was interesting, both orange and green But the flavors were good, and we licked the plate clean. Our dinners came next, after a bit of a wait. Risotto in a giant bowl and B's fish on a lovely plate. Now I hate mushrooms with a passion you see, But the mushrooms in this were amazing to me. The risotto so creamy, the shroomies divine. B kept stealing tastes, but I share, I am kind. His swordfish he enjoyed and he ate every bite. But the pommes frites we ordered never arrived that night. We told the waitress and she took it off the bill. Full of deliciousness we felt very chill. Now the key to our meal rested on the closing treat I am made out of sugar and I require my sweet. So many choices, each one looked amazing. I had read of these treasures in all the Yelp praising. The special bread pudding caught my eye right away. "Whatever you want baby," is what Bradley did say. Oh white chocolate bread pudding, a beauty you are. My tummy so happy, I might not fit into my car. A romantical meal and a reasonable price. Wonderful food and a boyfriend, so nice. I am happy and pleased with this life of mine. And Petit Robert is a fine place to dine.
(4)
Grace S.
This is the South End version of the one on Commonwealth. The food there is fantastic -- I recommend the grilled double lamb chop or the beef bourguignon. The drinks aren't bad either -- I had a peach martini. I'm docking one star, though, because the wait-staff, while courteous, also tend to talk to each other a lot in French in front of you, which always puts you in an uncomfortable situation whether you understand the language or not. Oh, and although the kitchen's open 11A-11P, the bar's open til 1AM.
(4)
Tina C.
Came for drinks and appetizers. The mussels we ordered were super fresh and tasty. Drinks were good and refreshing. The wait staff and the owner are actually French and very friendly. Prices were very fair and affordable. I really liked the decoration and atmosphere too!
(5)
Matt G.
Last night I took my girlfriend here for dinner. Overall I thought the food was great. I had the duck confit which was amazing. She had the panko breaded pork loin which I was not as impressed by. On the down side the service is beyond slow. I also felt it was an overly crowded atmosphere and it was fairly hot too.
(3)
Ani G.
We were really disappointed in Petit Robert Bistro. We picked it because we needed a restaurant near the Prudential Center that was not too expensive and had decent food (and we didn't want to go to Cheesecake Factory or PF Chang's, although perhaps in retrospect, we should have). Petit Robert isn't outrageously expensive, but we left feeling like we had gotten a bad deal. The food just wasn't that good. I ordered the French Onion soup and the Moules Marinieres, and neither were as good as what I have had elsewhere. (NB- Central Kitchen in Cambridge had AWESOME moules marinieres!). I also got the sauteed cauliflower on recommendation from the waiter, and felt that it wasn't worth it (maybe the spinach would have been better? That was my other choice, but the waiter recommended the cauliflower). They forgot our friend's glass of wine that he ordered, and he had to ask a second time. My husband ordered skirt steak, and thought we have made it better at home. As for dessert, my husband and his friend ordered the chocolate mousse, which was overly viscous. I had the creme brulee, which was fine, but the palmier was not crunchy and light; it was almost soggy. Overall opinion: adequate for what we were looking for, just not worth going there again. The description Yelp gives when you roll over the two stars "Meh. I've experienced better." describes it perfectly.
I love this restaurant! The food is authentic and delicious and well-priced, the atmosphere is very cozy, the service is great, and the level of hospitality is outstanding. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. I have brought everyone here, from dates to friends to parents, and everyone has loved it.
(4)
candy c.
The food is great. The roasted cauliflower was incroyable! The chicken served au jus, was tender and the jus was so delicious you could slurp it with a straw. Salads each have wonderful light but flavorful dressings--mais oui, homemade. Pot de creme--if you're into rich chocolat that you ought not to finish, this is the dessert for you. The service is friendly, but not attentive. They seem to be chronically understaffed. The waiter usually has a deer-in-headlights (in the weeds) approach to meeting your needs. But personally, I'm sick of mediocre food at buzzing restaurants, so I will happily concede service for stellar food which is exactly what you'll get here. Vive le france! Besides, it's a french restaurant. A garcon who ignores you but sets stellar food in front of you.... what's more french than that?
(5)
ack c.
loved this place with a passion, had given them a full five, count em, 5 stars... but i will not return anytime soon... staff was RUDE, food was terrible, and the price isn't that great either. i see no reason to schlep all the way over there for that... they should fire the host/mgr as i am reasonably sure he's setting the dreadful tone. ugh, so disappointed! And check out the trend line graph, it looks just like the stock market! sniff, went back again, got rotten salad... really, most of the salad was rotten. so sad, i think they sent all the good staff to their other location.
(1)
Sophia C.
I LOVE french food. So when my chance to go to Little Robbie's, I gladly accepted! Here was the biggest problem - We drove into the South End, because sadly I moved out of Back Bay into the suburbs - and I COULD NOT find a parking space to save my life. We drove around for 20 minutes... and in the heat, that does not go well in my book! We resorted to suing valet parking. Here was the worst part of this parking dilemma - the valet circled around - driving my car for 20 minutes and I saw my car pass me, sitting outside approximately 20 times. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT!? So DON'T valet park - the valet guy thinks its his car to cruise around the streets! Let me get to the better stuff - they sat us right away - the service staff were friendly and kept coming by frequently to refill water glasses and make sure we didn't need anything. We started with the trio of pate - it was good - didn't like the chicken liver part but it's an acquired taste so it doesn't hurt my impression of the restaurant. We also ordered escargot and it was Sooooo good! The bread was hot and toasty that we devoured it quickly with the pate and escargot. I had the Chicken coq au vin with buttered noodle. I was hesitant at first because of the buttered noodle but the waiter explained its not what I would think and he was right - I couldn't taste any butter. I probably won't have coq au vin only because I didn't like the red wine reduction as much as I thought but the food was still extremely tasty. My friend had the special - the rabbit leg - and as an act of bravery, I took a bite and it was extremely delicious! I should have ordered it!!! Better than chicken! My fiance ordered the rack of lamb and I didn't try that but had a bit of the potato that came with it and the sauce was delicious! We also had dessert - I had the profiterole with vanilla ice cream and fudge - it was sweet and I probably won't have it again but worth a try. My fiance had the Creme Brulee and they did it JUST RIGHT! YUMMY!! Our friend had the Frepe Suzette and that was good too. The experience was good only if I didn't see the valet driver driving my car up and down the street so many times during my stay at the restaurant.
(3)
L And E.
Unfortunately, when we went there the last time (for my birthday), I was a bit disappointed. We had somehow turned into 'that table', the one where for some reason we get forgotten, orders don't go in, wine doesn't get served, dishes never come out... I am sure it wasn't intentional, but it was sort of a let down.
(3)
Tracey N.
Wow. Excellent, and reasonably priced. Came early in the evening with several people so we could get seats, and had a wonderful meal in the dining room. Our service was great, and the only detractor is the seats are so close together that it's easy to overhear your neighbors' conversations. Steak, salmon, scallops, pork. The salad with panko-crusted goat cheese is delightful and I'd go back just for that. We had the macaroons for dessert (there are six minis in 3 different flavors) perfect for sharing.
(5)
Jason M.
Great neighborhood French spot. Good selection of French and Belgian beers.
(5)
Erik D.
Food quality is no longer consistent. Wine list is ok. Still a neighborhood staple but not what it used to be.
(3)
Natasha D.
I've been to this location twice, and to the Kenmore spot once. If the review were based solely on the latter, I probably wouldn't return. South End is definitely better. The first time I went here everything was good, but I wasn't blown away (except by my cocktail...). Last night, however, blew my mind. They changed their cocktail menu from last time I was there, so while one friend and I were waiting for the rest of our group, the bartender actually came over to consult with me on an acceptable substitute. The tarte tatin martini was amazing, and is actually made w/ tarte tain puree, according to my server. I was lucky enough to be with people who like to offer me bites of everything... We had a bottle of pinot noir from burgundy with dinner, chosen because it was a "manager's recommendation" and it tasted fine with everything- perhaps that's because I got the biggest glass... Smart waiter. Apps: mussels, about 1/3 of which were closed, so I wouldn't get those again, although the broth was delicious; beet and goat cheese salad- delicious and perfect as a light app; foie gras- out of everything, this was probably the most amazingly fattening and delicious app. It's served with some kind of grape sauce, and the fat was perfectly crisp and caramelized. Dinner: I had the rabbit moutarde, the night's special. The whipped mashed potatoes were divine, and the rabbit was delicious, with the mushrooms in the sauce balancing the strong mustard flavor. We also had the lamb shank, which was probably my least favorite, although still good, the coq au vin (amazing, and fell off the bone), and the pork loin. All amazing. Dessert: Profiteroles, white-chocolate bread pudding, chocolate mousse with langue du chat, and tarte tatin. All were delicious, but the tarte tatin and bread pudding were my favorites. Our server was wonderful, and was attentive without overdoing it- all in all a perfect girls' night out.
(4)
Mary C.
I just got home from dinner at Petit Robert Bistro. I had a groupon, so i guess it was semi worth it... i dunno though. I had their special for my appetizer the "endive heart of palm w/ smoked trout salad" it was terrible... TERRIBLE. the endives' bitterness was overpowering the whole flavor and the smoked trout was in huge pieces. It was hard to eat (i couldnt cut the trout into pieces) and it was bitter and fishy. The maincourse was better... but for 19.95 i expect more than 3 bites ( seriously they were 1" x 2" pieces) of venison. It must've come from the world's smallest deer! Even my brocolli was bigger than my meat! The brussel sprout appetizer was yummy. The croquettes were tasty. The lambshanks was delish and the portions were decent. Finally the desert was good. Nothing special, but not bad. By far I would, if I ever did come back, only get dessert here. I hate to give such a bad review but the prices were ridiculous. If I'm going to be paying these prices the food better be worth it.
(2)
Little B.
Dumpy, dreadful bathrooms with ripped posters and a giant door that opens out into the cramped hall. The waiter coasted thru our meal never introducing himself, food was forgettable, the location is good but why go here when there are so many other places doing the same thing so much better? Aquitaine, Gas Light, Frankiln??
(2)
Josh S.
I was here for brunch with a couple people on a Sunday. The food was very good (we had the eggs Benedict [two people] and the salmon croissant sandwich). The coffee was also very good, although they didn't seem to be able to keep up with the coffee demand because we had to wait twice while they brewed more. Coffee supply is crucial to a brunch! The staff was very friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable, all of which was appreciated. The table we were sat at was a little small for three people, though, making it difficult to have three plates of food, coffee, cream, water, bread, and a salt/pepper shaker on the table at the same time. The tables were rather close to each other, making it difficult to have a conversation or which meant someone in the party would be pinned in between another person at their table and then by a table/seated person next to them. Overall, though, I did like Petit Robert and will probably return!
(4)
Spm S.
Standout French restaurant in an area that's overcrowded with French restaurants. I first tried this place out with a BuyWithMe, but have been back since. Everything is full of flavor and cooked just perfectly. Both the salmon and the scallops are amazing.
Petit Robert used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Definitely my favorite French restaurant. It is sad to see the quality has declined recently. I went on a date to PRB last Friday and the service was horrible! The waiter curtly corrected my French in front of my date and then disappeared for the rest of the night. We had to flag down mutliple other servers to get any attention and it wasn't busy. We waited a half hour for a drink at one point and when we finally got our server to return to the table he muttered something about the bartender missing the order. Pardonnez moi! No je suis dsol? Perhaps the awful service is just the fault of the tall brown haired, brown eyed, bushy eyebrowed fellow working at the South End location, but I really wish you would fire him. He is spoiling one of my favorite places to dine!
(1)
Kyra T.
While anxious to try this place out, I was looking forward to going to lunch there with some friends. After much debate on what to order I though the all-famous Burgerdog was the definite way to go. At first, the waiter was extremely attentive and informative, just as expected for a tiny french bistro. As soon as our meal arrived (we ordered the burgerdog medium) the waiter never checked in on us or asked how the food was. We didn't even get a refill of coffee or water. The service was horrible. We sat for over a half an hour ready to pay our check. Furthermore, my friends burgerdog was extremely undercooked- very bloody while mine was the typical 'medium' pink color. I was not impressed with this place, mainly because the service was so horrible.
(2)
Carol L.
Perfect dining experience for the family. Warm, welcoming, attentive staff. Didn't have a reservation and they worked to find us the perfect outdoor table. Terrific food, starting with the heavenly bread. Loved the location, especially if you're into Columbus Avenue as the dog-walking capital of the world.
(5)
Robert T.
We went for Dinner a few times last year and thought it was very good. But not so much the last time. The service is always great but the food has changed. I would give it another chance however.
(3)
Barry B.
Very French front of house, nice warm dark wood interior, started with wonderful hot from the oven aromatic (yes aromatic) demi baguette, entree composed of grilled salmon, mashed potatoes, and sliced carrots, all simply but exquisitely prepared.
(4)
Bevin C.
Went here for a romantical dinner before the symphony, and I must say that PRB delivered. I loved loved loved the ambience - perfect mix of casual and nice nice. I love loved the low prices on the menu, and all the food was taaaasty. Both the coq au vin and the beef bourguignon were competely delicious, as was the homemade pate, which leads me to surmise that everything else on the menu is also good. Oh, and I had this funny citrus soup for dessert. I had never thought to consider orange juice with little blood orange chunks floating around in it "soup", but now that I do, a whole world of juice-soup possibilities is open to me. Yum yum, I will be back.
(5)
Anna B.
I go to Petit Robert pretty often as it's right near where I live, and I love it. The drinks are phenomenal (the Rive Gauche is my favorite), the food is good and very reasonably priced, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. My only critique is that the menu doesn't really change very often, so it can get a little repetitive. That said, I like what's on there. Favorites are: the trio of pate app, the onion soup, the steak frites, and practically everything on their lunch menu. I also love the ambiance: nice, charming, cosy, but not too trendy or pretentious. Their outdoor dining is terrific.
(5)
Frank J.
A mixed experience. The staff and atmosphere are great. Our party of four arrived at 7:25 on a Saturday night for our 7:30 reservations. We were not seated until 8:05 during which time we had to stand in the crowded bar dominated by a television. One of our party has trouble standing for long periods and there were no chairs for the first 20 minutes or so. The excuse for the delay was that the party at "our" table had arrived late and were not leaving despite having paid the bill. Like this had never occurred before. To their great and everlasting credit, the bartender comped us a round of drinks and the host our dessert thus making what would have been a moderately priced dinner into one that was quite inexpensive. The appetizers and desserts were by far the best parts of the meal. My wife and I split a delicious beet and goat cheese salad and our friends shared the escargot which they enjoyed. The desserts along with being free were excellent. My chocolate bread pudding was superb. I wish I could say the same of the entrees. Two of us had the salmon which was good, although the server reversed the well-done and the medium-rare portions when she served the plates. Everybody's carrots and broccoli were cold and my wife's mashed potatoes were cold. They were quickly replaced, but first impressions are what last. My scallops although specifically ordered medium rare were overcooked and tough and not a very delicate preparation. Despite all this, my wife and I would go back and try it again. It's a fun restaurant. I can't speak for our out-of-town guests who had the restaurant recommended to them by friends in Washington, DC.
(2)
Angelos K.
Bland food, uncoordinated service, not worth a revisit. Why? We waited 35 minutes to get the wine we ordered while waiting at the bar for a table to open up at the patio, once we ordered the food arrived eventually. Portions were huge (10x those at butcher shop for the pates and terrines) but the food (pate, duck, bluefish) was rather tasteless, generic, and bland. Think airline food. You can do better at other french restaurants in Boston.
(2)
Marcela P.
The lighting, the service and the warm bread were all good. Prices surprisingly modest.(I was imagining a $25-30 entree) The rest was disappointing. I had high hopes for this place in terms of a french dining experience. Maybe it is French, but more a homemade style of food than fine dining. We started with coctails, I had a Fig-aro (Vodka, Lillet, champagne, fig puree and I forget what else). It was not as tasty as the description. The escargots were ok, a bit dry. Next course was the lobster bisque and the romaine heart with roquefort. The bisque had ONE piece of lobster, and well, you can't fuck up a romaine heart sprinkled with Roquefort. So far the dining experience was enjoyable because the ambience was cozy and our waiter was attentive and helpful. Next, the Scallops. The Salty, salty, scallops. Too bad, because they were cooked well, but i couldn't taste anything but salt.. I downed a glass of water or two and was to stuffed to order the souffle, which looked fluffy and warm. Yeah. Meh.
(2)
Matt W.
With much trepidation, my friend dragged me back to Petit Robert. It was her birthday and I was obligated to put my hunger aside in her honor. I mixed it up and ordered the flank steak, which I would generally never do at a place such as this. Holy %$# that was a good steak! Not only was the steak great, but it came with a mound of fries. To start the meal I also ordered the French onion soup which was super tasty. With the soup and the steak, I am ashamed to admit that I actually left a few bites on my plate due to my bulging belly. I formally apologize and take back my previous 3 star review which was based on stomach cramping hunger. Assuming I stick with the soup/steak combo I will be very very pleased.
(5)
tom p.
Recently went before a Longwood performance (5/11/13), and have made our last visit to a/any Petit Robert. There was nothing really wrong with the food, although there wasn't anything special about it either. The problems, in no particular order, relate entirely to some of the worst restaurant service we have found, in any country. First, my wife, 12-year old and I were squeezed onto a round 2-top which left no room for drinks, appetizer, etc. My wife's chair was back-to a narrow passage between the woman at the table opposite us, and so nearly EVERY time a server, bus person, etc. walked by, they bumped the back of her chair, once while sipping a martini causing her to spill. We were seated without menus, which is fine, except our server brought the menus then hovered asking us to put in a drink order. I sent him away asking for a couple minutes. He returned promptly two minutes later, and asked not just about our drink order, but if we knew which entrees we would be ordering. We placed drink orders, informed him we needed time to look at food, and asked for a children's menu. He returned with the drinks, and again asked about entrees (as he handed my daughter the children's menu). We ordered an appetizer and he AGAIN asked about putting the entrees in, which we refused to do even though we had decided on our selections. He placed that order, and was back within a minute or two for the entree (my wife hadn't even taken her first sip of the martini). He clearly immediately entered the entree order, because the entrees arrived just as we finished the mussels (best part of the meal), suspicious timing, almost as though the bus person was watching with plates in hand to arrive, and wait while the server removed the appetizer and bread plates. Finally, my own glass of wine sat empty through the second half of my meal as the server disappeared once the food was down and returned only to ask about desert, which we declined and he already had the check printed and left it on the table as though desert would have been a tremendous inconvenience to both him and the restaurant. Given Boston's other French dining options, there is no reason to visit a Petit Robert bistro.
(1)
Ellen B.
Picked Petit Robert's because of other Yelp reviews and the price. Yea! Went there as a birthday dinner and were delighted with the meal and the service. The place is small and just a bit cramped. For entrees, 2 of us had the rabbit (lapin), one had the duck confit and I had the beef bourginon. All were excellent! And all very reasonably priced - especially for Boston. For dessert - the birthday boy had chocolate hazelnut crepes, another person had the rum raisin bread pudding and I shared the giant profiterole with my sister. All were delicious. And the profiterole was indeed giant (LOL). I strongly recommend making a reservation as it clearly has many regulars and fills up quickly.
(4)
Claudia H.
A really nice French restaurant in downtown Boston! They are open all-day, which is perfect if you need to go for a late lunch on the weekend. If you like French cuisine, you will enjoy most of the recipes they serve. I particularly recommend the onion soup and the roasted rabbit leg (if they serve it the day you go), but anything you try is surely worth it! The wine list is excellent, with a long list of French wines (and also from other parts of the world). The service is very good and attentive, and they might even have a French accent too! Finally, the price is pretty reasonable too, given the amount and quality of the food, around $40 (though it can get pricier with wine!)
(4)
Heather C.
As my first review, Petit Robert is 100% worthy. I have been there 3 times, (4?) and each time has been awesome! We had an appetizer, 2 entrees, dessert and a bottle of wine for $80. Amazing. The best part is feeling like you're getting a 5 star meal, at 3 star prices. Everything I have sampled on the menu, lunch and dinner items, I would order again. Please do not listen to the poor review from Tania P, I don't know what she has up her hindquarters. Please, do yourself a favor and give the place a second chance. I have had the same coq a vin and it was amazing! I don't know how you could call that bland.
(5)
Cathy H.
Great little breakfast at a great little value! Went for Saturday brunch about 1130 and got right in. Staff was nice, and the food was good (great croque monsieur).
(4)
Sarah M.
IN LOVE with this restaurant! Affordable for the South End, and beyond delish. As we walked through the door, we were welcomed with a lovely and authentic "bonjour" by a hostess, who seemed so at ease, as if we had really just stepped into a bistro in a neighborhood of Paris...the decor is rustic, warm and cozy. Our waitress was phenominal (and French as well - authenticity A++). The food was rich and hearty; I had braised shortribs that were the best hands down I've ever had. My companion, mom, had a fish that was perfectly cooked and seasoned in a light broth. It was very romantic, yet being there with my mother wasn't awkward at all. People were truly enjoying themselves at every table. I haven't tried the Comm Ave location but am dying to (because I work & live in the Fenway area) to see if this location is just as wonderful.
(5)
Jaquelina L.
My girlfriend and I had dinner here ~ 2 weeks ago. We had a great time. The food, service and atmosphere were GREAT. I ordered the Escargot and Scallops. She ordered the Foie Gras and the Beef Short Ribs. My gf said the Foie Gras was superb. For dessert, we ordered the Macarons. The Macarons were nothing like the ones from Laduree in Paris. Oh well, I am in Boston, not Paris. =P The only draw back was the long wait, but we will definitely come back.
(5)
Dan C.
Damn Boston weather. 70 minute waits are never fun but in cold and wind erghgh. And I'm here for SPRING break dammit. Anyway. Backing up a bit. We arrived around 6pm on a Saturday night, party of 4. The hostess said it would be about a 45 min wait which normally I would have been like hell no unless I'm in a mall or a really dense neighborhood I could kill time in, but the only reason I endured it was because it looked nice and the decision making process with my family for restaurants is just painful. SERVICE The hostess was really nice and kept us updated constantly on how our wait was looking, which we appreciated. Once we did get seated, I think the whole wait staff was aware that we'd waited forever so they were really attentive with us, which was also great. My only complaint is that the waiter forgot to give our valet ticket to the valet after we finished (we finally just went outside ourselves and told the guy). I don't really care too much about that though since if I were with any people other than my parents I'd never get near that neighborhood with a car (valet parking was $14 btw). Almost all the wait staff was French too, which adds something to the experience, I do admit. FOOD Good stuff, and a really good value. Almost all the entrees are less than $20, and the place has the feel of a much more expensive place. I had the Lamb Cassoulet, which tasted great. I nibbled my family's scallops and salmon, also very good. Escargots solid, and the salmon appetizer was great. Desserts were great - the Crepe Suzette bordered on overwhelming, but the flavor of the sauce was just so good. I had a little of my sister's Ile Flottante and loved it, and my mom's pineapple tart (they only have it on some days) was very good also. ATMOSPHERE etc. I liked it. Warm, intimate and classy (it's a tablecloth place) but not intimidatingly so (you can dress casual though most other customers were dressed semi-casual). Overall, highly recommended - there just might be a long wait for parties of more than 4.
(4)
Jungmin L.
3.5 stars. The atmosphere is great - very neighborhood bistro-like, comfortable - not too loud and not too quiet. The waitstaff, however, do not know the menu all that well. The veal liver was very good, most of the dishes seemed to be quite sturdy and dressed-down. The confit, however, was quite dry and unacceptable. The foie gras was ok. We loved the profiterole (pastry was a little too hard, but can't help loving it anyway) and the frangipane/poire tarte.
(3)
Adele O.
We went to Petit Robert on a Friday night to use a buywithme coupon. We were seated at 6.30pm. Our waitress was exceptionally competent, and the food was outstanding. When the wine we ordered came, the bottle that she opened had a cork that all but disintegrated as she pulled it out. She recommended of her own fruition that the bottle needed to be replaced. When the manager came over to our table to discuss the incident with us, she tried to convince us out of opening a different bottle, by blaming the faulty cork on the ineptitude of our waitress. Despite what the manager said, we opted to go with the recommendation of our waitress. We were very happy with the result. In all honesty, we thought that the waitress made the right call, even though the manager tried to call her out on it. The food was absolutely delicious. We both ordered the coq au vin, which was moist, and beautifully rendered. The wine matched perfectly. Thumbs up to the waitress for impeccable service, in spite of a bossy and overbearing manager. We can't wait to go back again!
(5)
Simon L.
Me and my friend visited Le Petit Robert Bistro today for lunch. The experience was less than satisfying. Our biggest disappointment was with the staff. While everyone walked around with a smile. We sat down for 20 minutes and no one but the water lady talked to us. I had to wave down the hostess, who barely speaks any English to find us a waiter. In the end another hostess came and took our order. We waited for 30 minutes for our entrees to show up. Then the hostess who took our order left and this blonde waitress unwillingly took our dessert order. We ordered their "signature" chocolate cake that was supposed to come with a fancy chocolate Eiffel Towel (dramatically featured on their website), but apparently they ran out of the towels and they replaced it with a sad little macaroon. We were terribly disappointed but the waitress did not seem to care. The only person who seemed to care about our dining experience was the water lady - Kudos to her, I wish I could have tipped her directly. The bread was wonderful and freshly baked. The onion soup was mediocre considering it's a $9 cup of soup. The duck confit was nicely done, and the Croque Madame sandwich was just okay - the egg was overcooked. The chocolate cake was delicious, but again, lacking its "signature" component. Overall, I would not return to Petit Robert because the disappointing service overwhelmingly destroyed the better than average food.
(2)
Gary F.
Dear Little Bobby, About two years ago, we wrote a kind of mean review of your Comm Ave location. We made fun of the tower. We made fun of the bread. We claimed that your bread pudding tasted of cheese. We're sorry. On a whim, we decided to try it again, South End-style. Oh, Little Bobby. We were so, so, so wrong about you. We take it all back. The escargots were not as good as Jo's, but they were second best. The beef tongue salad (on special) was so good, we licked the plate...get it? The pot au feu was...pretty tight and the pan-seared sweetbreads pretty much sent SheGary over the edge. A heaping plate of fried sweetbreads with mashed potatoes...it doesn't get any tighter. For dessert, we reduxed the bread pudding and nary a whiff of...cheese...was detected as was previously noted at the Comm Ave location. Also, the ambiance and service were about 10384729 times better this time around. Even the Eiffel Tower thingy out front. N.B. They mix a very, very good martini. Merci, Little B. And again, our apologies for that previous review.
(4)
Vincent P.
Really classic french bistro - food well-made and service good. Sit on the sidewalk in the summer for a real parisian feel.
(4)
ack c.
loved this place with a passion, had given them a full five, count em, 5 stars... but i will not return anytime soon... staff was RUDE, food was terrible, and the price isn't that great either. i see no reason to schlep all the way over there for that... they should fire the host/mgr as i am reasonably sure he's setting the dreadful tone. ugh, so disappointed! And check out the trend line graph, it looks just like the stock market! sniff, went back again, got rotten salad... really, most of the salad was rotten. so sad, i think they sent all the good staff to their other location.
(1)
Momo K.
considering it's called petit robert, everything was pretty petite. i had duck and a spinach side, they were both non impressive and very average.
Great place for a nice dinner out - charming restaurant in a convenient location (good for a pre-symphony dinner since it's only about a 10-15 min walk). We had the petit sale salad (some kind of bacon), scallops and the salmon "en croute." The petit sale and the scallops were particularly delicious. Dinner for two (2 entrees, salad, 1 cocktail) came to about $55 before tip - pretty reasonable for a nice dinner out.
(4)
Melissa V.
I am happy to say this is a quick walk in the snow for me. They serve great food, and a mean cocktail. It will be a long winter together.
(5)
anastasia c.
It's more 3.5 stars an 3 but it's not close enough to 4 for me to add that one. I saw it on groupon and the Lady Friend and I decided to give it a shot. It was a friday night but amazingly they weren't overly busy. We had a reservation anyway so I wasn't worried. The couple in front of us didn't, however, and the guy made a big stink about sitting at a regular table anyway. Luckily for us we were seated right by him. By that I mean pretty much on top. They split a table for 4 into 2 tables for 2 and sat us side by side. Mistake number one. We spent the whole night listening to him talk to loud like he needed to seem important. There were other places for us to sit and we definitely should've been sat somewhere else. I'm a server and get annoyed when people ask to change tables so I didn't say anything. We were crammed next to an unused door which was pretty awful consider how cold it was outside. Our server was nice enough but I could sense he was just reeling off stuff he had memorized or been told, no real knowledge. We started with the lobster bisque. It was so overly fishy and too much for 2 of us. Maybe offer 2 sizes or a smaller portion because it sucks to waste a $10 bowl of soup. I had the skirt steak-frites. Asked for it medium, it came out rare, and I had to have it recooked. I always get sick from undercooked red meat and didn't wanna take a chance. It came back completely burnt through so I just ate the fries. LF had the Haddock with crab meat sauce. It was amazing. I definitely recommend it. For dessert we had the cheesecake with blueberry sauce. It tasted like flavorless cheesecake with blueberry sauce added on it. Without the blueberry sauce it would've been completely a no. The cheesecake should've been sweeter so you can eat it on its own. It took the server a while to bring our check, even after we'd finished dessert. I'm a huge fan of leaving when I'm done so sitting there waiting to pay wasn't a good way to end the night. They lose a star for purposely seating us directly on top of another table when there were other available tables not sat for an hour. Another half star lost for burning my steak and for flavorless dessert. If I do give this restaurant another chance it'll be at another location. First impression though was it's a bit overpriced and not very impressive.
(3)
Bridget D.
Merci mon amour. You are so very sweet! For Bradley, my love, took me here to eat. Running late for our resi, we circled the Ave several times. But, pulled up for valet and paid one hundred and forty dimes. We entered the Bistro and announced our arrival. The kind hostess grabbed menus for our gastronomic revival. Whisked to our table, through the kitchen, how strange. What hit us first was the intense volume range. It was loud and bustling, with eating and drinking of hooch. We just leaned into chat, each time stealing a smooch. The decor is charming, but B felt slightly underdressed. However, his beauty and wit, is what makes him the best. We perused the menu and waited for our server. Things moved a bit slowly and we were eager to order. She finally appeared with her French accent in tow. I asked for my veggie options, of which she did show. Veggie pate, and mushroom risotto for my treat And the swordfish special please, for my Sweet. Warm bread and butter arrived for us to consume As I stared googly eyed (this boy makes me swoon!) The pate was interesting, both orange and green But the flavors were good, and we licked the plate clean. Our dinners came next, after a bit of a wait. Risotto in a giant bowl and B's fish on a lovely plate. Now I hate mushrooms with a passion you see, But the mushrooms in this were amazing to me. The risotto so creamy, the shroomies divine. B kept stealing tastes, but I share, I am kind. His swordfish he enjoyed and he ate every bite. But the pommes frites we ordered never arrived that night. We told the waitress and she took it off the bill. Full of deliciousness we felt very chill. Now the key to our meal rested on the closing treat I am made out of sugar and I require my sweet. So many choices, each one looked amazing. I had read of these treasures in all the Yelp praising. The special bread pudding caught my eye right away. "Whatever you want baby," is what Bradley did say. Oh white chocolate bread pudding, a beauty you are. My tummy so happy, I might not fit into my car. A romantical meal and a reasonable price. Wonderful food and a boyfriend, so nice. I am happy and pleased with this life of mine. And Petit Robert is a fine place to dine.
(4)
Grace S.
This is the South End version of the one on Commonwealth. The food there is fantastic -- I recommend the grilled double lamb chop or the beef bourguignon. The drinks aren't bad either -- I had a peach martini. I'm docking one star, though, because the wait-staff, while courteous, also tend to talk to each other a lot in French in front of you, which always puts you in an uncomfortable situation whether you understand the language or not. Oh, and although the kitchen's open 11A-11P, the bar's open til 1AM.
(4)
Tina C.
Came for drinks and appetizers. The mussels we ordered were super fresh and tasty. Drinks were good and refreshing. The wait staff and the owner are actually French and very friendly. Prices were very fair and affordable. I really liked the decoration and atmosphere too!
(5)
Matt G.
Last night I took my girlfriend here for dinner. Overall I thought the food was great. I had the duck confit which was amazing. She had the panko breaded pork loin which I was not as impressed by. On the down side the service is beyond slow. I also felt it was an overly crowded atmosphere and it was fairly hot too.
(3)
Ani G.
We were really disappointed in Petit Robert Bistro. We picked it because we needed a restaurant near the Prudential Center that was not too expensive and had decent food (and we didn't want to go to Cheesecake Factory or PF Chang's, although perhaps in retrospect, we should have). Petit Robert isn't outrageously expensive, but we left feeling like we had gotten a bad deal. The food just wasn't that good. I ordered the French Onion soup and the Moules Marinieres, and neither were as good as what I have had elsewhere. (NB- Central Kitchen in Cambridge had AWESOME moules marinieres!). I also got the sauteed cauliflower on recommendation from the waiter, and felt that it wasn't worth it (maybe the spinach would have been better? That was my other choice, but the waiter recommended the cauliflower). They forgot our friend's glass of wine that he ordered, and he had to ask a second time. My husband ordered skirt steak, and thought we have made it better at home. As for dessert, my husband and his friend ordered the chocolate mousse, which was overly viscous. I had the creme brulee, which was fine, but the palmier was not crunchy and light; it was almost soggy. Overall opinion: adequate for what we were looking for, just not worth going there again. The description Yelp gives when you roll over the two stars "Meh. I've experienced better." describes it perfectly.
I love this restaurant! The food is authentic and delicious and well-priced, the atmosphere is very cozy, the service is great, and the level of hospitality is outstanding. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. I have brought everyone here, from dates to friends to parents, and everyone has loved it.
(4)
candy c.
The food is great. The roasted cauliflower was incroyable! The chicken served au jus, was tender and the jus was so delicious you could slurp it with a straw. Salads each have wonderful light but flavorful dressings--mais oui, homemade. Pot de creme--if you're into rich chocolat that you ought not to finish, this is the dessert for you. The service is friendly, but not attentive. They seem to be chronically understaffed. The waiter usually has a deer-in-headlights (in the weeds) approach to meeting your needs. But personally, I'm sick of mediocre food at buzzing restaurants, so I will happily concede service for stellar food which is exactly what you'll get here. Vive le france! Besides, it's a french restaurant. A garcon who ignores you but sets stellar food in front of you.... what's more french than that?
(5)
Sophia C.
I LOVE french food. So when my chance to go to Little Robbie's, I gladly accepted! Here was the biggest problem - We drove into the South End, because sadly I moved out of Back Bay into the suburbs - and I COULD NOT find a parking space to save my life. We drove around for 20 minutes... and in the heat, that does not go well in my book! We resorted to suing valet parking. Here was the worst part of this parking dilemma - the valet circled around - driving my car for 20 minutes and I saw my car pass me, sitting outside approximately 20 times. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT!? So DON'T valet park - the valet guy thinks its his car to cruise around the streets! Let me get to the better stuff - they sat us right away - the service staff were friendly and kept coming by frequently to refill water glasses and make sure we didn't need anything. We started with the trio of pate - it was good - didn't like the chicken liver part but it's an acquired taste so it doesn't hurt my impression of the restaurant. We also ordered escargot and it was Sooooo good! The bread was hot and toasty that we devoured it quickly with the pate and escargot. I had the Chicken coq au vin with buttered noodle. I was hesitant at first because of the buttered noodle but the waiter explained its not what I would think and he was right - I couldn't taste any butter. I probably won't have coq au vin only because I didn't like the red wine reduction as much as I thought but the food was still extremely tasty. My friend had the special - the rabbit leg - and as an act of bravery, I took a bite and it was extremely delicious! I should have ordered it!!! Better than chicken! My fiance ordered the rack of lamb and I didn't try that but had a bit of the potato that came with it and the sauce was delicious! We also had dessert - I had the profiterole with vanilla ice cream and fudge - it was sweet and I probably won't have it again but worth a try. My fiance had the Creme Brulee and they did it JUST RIGHT! YUMMY!! Our friend had the Frepe Suzette and that was good too. The experience was good only if I didn't see the valet driver driving my car up and down the street so many times during my stay at the restaurant.
(3)
Anna B.
I go to Petit Robert pretty often as it's right near where I live, and I love it. The drinks are phenomenal (the Rive Gauche is my favorite), the food is good and very reasonably priced, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. My only critique is that the menu doesn't really change very often, so it can get a little repetitive. That said, I like what's on there. Favorites are: the trio of pate app, the onion soup, the steak frites, and practically everything on their lunch menu. I also love the ambiance: nice, charming, cosy, but not too trendy or pretentious. Their outdoor dining is terrific.
(5)
Natasha D.
I've been to this location twice, and to the Kenmore spot once. If the review were based solely on the latter, I probably wouldn't return. South End is definitely better. The first time I went here everything was good, but I wasn't blown away (except by my cocktail...). Last night, however, blew my mind. They changed their cocktail menu from last time I was there, so while one friend and I were waiting for the rest of our group, the bartender actually came over to consult with me on an acceptable substitute. The tarte tatin martini was amazing, and is actually made w/ tarte tain puree, according to my server. I was lucky enough to be with people who like to offer me bites of everything... We had a bottle of pinot noir from burgundy with dinner, chosen because it was a "manager's recommendation" and it tasted fine with everything- perhaps that's because I got the biggest glass... Smart waiter. Apps: mussels, about 1/3 of which were closed, so I wouldn't get those again, although the broth was delicious; beet and goat cheese salad- delicious and perfect as a light app; foie gras- out of everything, this was probably the most amazingly fattening and delicious app. It's served with some kind of grape sauce, and the fat was perfectly crisp and caramelized. Dinner: I had the rabbit moutarde, the night's special. The whipped mashed potatoes were divine, and the rabbit was delicious, with the mushrooms in the sauce balancing the strong mustard flavor. We also had the lamb shank, which was probably my least favorite, although still good, the coq au vin (amazing, and fell off the bone), and the pork loin. All amazing. Dessert: Profiteroles, white-chocolate bread pudding, chocolate mousse with langue du chat, and tarte tatin. All were delicious, but the tarte tatin and bread pudding were my favorites. Our server was wonderful, and was attentive without overdoing it- all in all a perfect girls' night out.
(4)
Mary C.
I just got home from dinner at Petit Robert Bistro. I had a groupon, so i guess it was semi worth it... i dunno though. I had their special for my appetizer the "endive heart of palm w/ smoked trout salad" it was terrible... TERRIBLE. the endives' bitterness was overpowering the whole flavor and the smoked trout was in huge pieces. It was hard to eat (i couldnt cut the trout into pieces) and it was bitter and fishy. The maincourse was better... but for 19.95 i expect more than 3 bites ( seriously they were 1" x 2" pieces) of venison. It must've come from the world's smallest deer! Even my brocolli was bigger than my meat! The brussel sprout appetizer was yummy. The croquettes were tasty. The lambshanks was delish and the portions were decent. Finally the desert was good. Nothing special, but not bad. By far I would, if I ever did come back, only get dessert here. I hate to give such a bad review but the prices were ridiculous. If I'm going to be paying these prices the food better be worth it.
(2)
Little B.
Dumpy, dreadful bathrooms with ripped posters and a giant door that opens out into the cramped hall. The waiter coasted thru our meal never introducing himself, food was forgettable, the location is good but why go here when there are so many other places doing the same thing so much better? Aquitaine, Gas Light, Frankiln??
(2)
Josh S.
I was here for brunch with a couple people on a Sunday. The food was very good (we had the eggs Benedict [two people] and the salmon croissant sandwich). The coffee was also very good, although they didn't seem to be able to keep up with the coffee demand because we had to wait twice while they brewed more. Coffee supply is crucial to a brunch! The staff was very friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable, all of which was appreciated. The table we were sat at was a little small for three people, though, making it difficult to have three plates of food, coffee, cream, water, bread, and a salt/pepper shaker on the table at the same time. The tables were rather close to each other, making it difficult to have a conversation or which meant someone in the party would be pinned in between another person at their table and then by a table/seated person next to them. Overall, though, I did like Petit Robert and will probably return!
(4)
Spm S.
Standout French restaurant in an area that's overcrowded with French restaurants. I first tried this place out with a BuyWithMe, but have been back since. Everything is full of flavor and cooked just perfectly. Both the salmon and the scallops are amazing.
Petit Robert used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Definitely my favorite French restaurant. It is sad to see the quality has declined recently. I went on a date to PRB last Friday and the service was horrible! The waiter curtly corrected my French in front of my date and then disappeared for the rest of the night. We had to flag down mutliple other servers to get any attention and it wasn't busy. We waited a half hour for a drink at one point and when we finally got our server to return to the table he muttered something about the bartender missing the order. Pardonnez moi! No je suis dsol? Perhaps the awful service is just the fault of the tall brown haired, brown eyed, bushy eyebrowed fellow working at the South End location, but I really wish you would fire him. He is spoiling one of my favorite places to dine!
(1)
Kyra T.
While anxious to try this place out, I was looking forward to going to lunch there with some friends. After much debate on what to order I though the all-famous Burgerdog was the definite way to go. At first, the waiter was extremely attentive and informative, just as expected for a tiny french bistro. As soon as our meal arrived (we ordered the burgerdog medium) the waiter never checked in on us or asked how the food was. We didn't even get a refill of coffee or water. The service was horrible. We sat for over a half an hour ready to pay our check. Furthermore, my friends burgerdog was extremely undercooked- very bloody while mine was the typical 'medium' pink color. I was not impressed with this place, mainly because the service was so horrible.
(2)
Carol L.
Perfect dining experience for the family. Warm, welcoming, attentive staff. Didn't have a reservation and they worked to find us the perfect outdoor table. Terrific food, starting with the heavenly bread. Loved the location, especially if you're into Columbus Avenue as the dog-walking capital of the world.
(5)
Robert T.
We went for Dinner a few times last year and thought it was very good. But not so much the last time. The service is always great but the food has changed. I would give it another chance however.
(3)
Barry B.
Very French front of house, nice warm dark wood interior, started with wonderful hot from the oven aromatic (yes aromatic) demi baguette, entree composed of grilled salmon, mashed potatoes, and sliced carrots, all simply but exquisitely prepared.
(4)
Bevin C.
Went here for a romantical dinner before the symphony, and I must say that PRB delivered. I loved loved loved the ambience - perfect mix of casual and nice nice. I love loved the low prices on the menu, and all the food was taaaasty. Both the coq au vin and the beef bourguignon were competely delicious, as was the homemade pate, which leads me to surmise that everything else on the menu is also good. Oh, and I had this funny citrus soup for dessert. I had never thought to consider orange juice with little blood orange chunks floating around in it "soup", but now that I do, a whole world of juice-soup possibilities is open to me. Yum yum, I will be back.
(5)
L And E.
Unfortunately, when we went there the last time (for my birthday), I was a bit disappointed. We had somehow turned into 'that table', the one where for some reason we get forgotten, orders don't go in, wine doesn't get served, dishes never come out... I am sure it wasn't intentional, but it was sort of a let down.
(3)
Tracey N.
Wow. Excellent, and reasonably priced. Came early in the evening with several people so we could get seats, and had a wonderful meal in the dining room. Our service was great, and the only detractor is the seats are so close together that it's easy to overhear your neighbors' conversations. Steak, salmon, scallops, pork. The salad with panko-crusted goat cheese is delightful and I'd go back just for that. We had the macaroons for dessert (there are six minis in 3 different flavors) perfect for sharing.
(5)
David D.
the pate is the only reason why i'm giving petit robert 4 stars. i've been to the kenmore location, and the dinner was great. i'm sure everyone will agree finding affordable french cusine is like finding a level 3 sex offender NOT living within 20 yards of an elementary school...Anyway, i digress. my recent trip to the columbus location was a little bit of a disappointment. i'm a little sad about that. the atmosphere was great. dim lights, not loud, open kitchen. i think we had at least two waiters. i lost track of who was running the food, filling our glasses, and taking our order. That being said, maybe this needs to be streamlined a little bit. service was lackluster. our appetizer of the pate trio was awesome. seriously. awesome. my entree of chicken coq au vin was only so-so. the chicken was a little gross, actually. bones/cartiledge still in the chicken. the noodles and sauce weren't that bad, though. pretty tasty actually. my date had a rather limp response to the cod. sounds like dinner struck out on both sides. even though this visit was disappointing, we will of course return to petit robert. just not in the very near future.
(4)
Kate P.
Although my Mom and I had a great meal here, I can only give PRB three stars because I lived across the street from it for two years and only ate there just the once. It's worth trying out if you live in the area. Go in the summer when you can eat outside. The service was friendly and the coq au vin was delicious!
(3)
Ismet G.
Lived in France long time and having seen their non-French cooks, it is easy to say that this is not a real French restaurant, or those you can find around train stations in France. I would spend few extra bucks to go to a real French restaurant: Brasserie Joe on Huntington Ave, Aquitaine on Tremont St., Sel de la Terre by the harbor, La Voile on Newburry St.
(1)
Wesley C.
I'm a big fan of Petit Robert (especially the columbus ave. one). There's not to much that beats sitting on the patio having a drink and the trio of pates.
(4)
Ryan L.
Was here two weeks ago for dinner. Amazingly I found parking in the South End (which is a feat in itself) so the evening was already going well despite the rain. The exterior is quaint, looks like someplace you'd imagine would exist in France somewhere. Then when you walk in, the waitstaff greets you in heavy French accented English which further adds to the ambiance. Whether or not they're actually French people or American waiters trained to speak with a French accent I couldn't tell you but what I can tell you is the food is great here. I had the duck confit with grilled sausage and it was excellent. The duck was not too gamey and the saltiness of the sausage went perfect with the duck. For dessert I had this peach sorbet which I enjoyed immensely. It had a strong peach taste and was not overly sweet. It was an added bonus that it wasn't one of those Finale's dessert portions where you finish your dessert with one gulp and get charged $42 for it. A magnifique experience overall.
(5)
Jennifer F.
ooo la la... Great food! This location is freakishly crowded...like, "you-could-absolutely- not-bring-your-friend-with-a-wee-bit-of-claustrophÂobia-here," crowded. To be perfectly honest, it felt illegal. Yeah. It was that crowded. Alas, on to the food... Lobster mac and cheese appetizer was not creamy the way mac and cheese should be. Instead, I found this dish to be extremely watery. Now, mind you, it was delicious, just not the texture one would expect. The bread, that was served so hot I tinged my fingers, was helpful in sopping up the watery, lobster-y cheese. (will be curious on another visit to see if this consistency was deliberate or a fluke(?) ) The Blue Fish dish I had was divine, though I would have liked more of the corn (with cheese?) to have mixed with it. Together, these combined to a wonderful taste mix in the mouth. Friends had the Chicken Coq au Vin, liked, but reported it to be "very heavy", and the pork dish was reported as very good. For dessert we shared the Chocolate Eiffel Tower Cake, which was moist and just the right consistency, and the crepes, which the menu did not say came with ice cream, but did (important to note when you are lactose intolerant like me). The mixed drinks were served cold and poured from the shaker at our table, a nice touch, though I cannot remember the name of the drink... The night ended with a $143.00 bill for three. I think that it was a great price when you consider we had 4 drinks, 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 2 desserts. A bargain for what you get. The service was attentive, and we were given lots of leeway in not feeling rushed and spreading our dinner time out. Two negatives: 1. Only one shared bathroom (meaning one for men and women) for the whole place, diner side and bar side...this meant long waits. 2. Was disappointed that there was no reference to the birthday. When reservations were made on line, there was a place to note special requests/occasions. I typed in that this was a birthday celebration. There was no acknowledgement of this in any way. It was even listed there in the confirmation email that was sent to me. I would give them 4.5 stars if I could. Really, it should be 5, but I minused points for the lack of paying attention to the reservation notes, the bathroom, and the freakishly crowded dining room. (random Saturday evening).
(4)
Christine C.
Really good service. The quiche was very good, as well as the pouched eggs. We asked our server to wrap some of our leftovers up and she forgot to do it and took one of our orders off of our bill for us (something that we ate most of and was the most expensive). Definitely great customer service.
(4)
Courtney M.
Went for brunch with my parents. Great authentic French food. Friendly native French waitress. Odd French techno music? Noisy heater. Did I mention the food was fantastic? Decently priced too. I'd go back!
(4)
Suburban R.
a nice place. went there for lunch during a convention in boston. chatted up the waitress who was two months old in the states from avignon. enjoyed the soup d'oignion and sardine sandwich.
(4)
Seraphine K.
Well, I am not a huge french food girl, but oh boy, this place has me! Unlimited warm french bread, for starters, delicious Kir, and friendly staff, not to mention what a sexy dining room! Awesome COUNTRY french food. Not that fancy stuff that I am scared to order. A very simple menu that you can feel confidant ordering from! I will admit, the girl who dropped my food put the fish at "12 o'clock" so I had to turn the plate [I am a server myself] But that is MINOR in the world of the food industry. It was a few months ago, so I cannot remember what fish I got... Dang, I want to say Blue Fish? No idea, but I remember loving it and ate every bit. It came with yummy mashed fennel. We also got veggie pate which was amazing. My boyfriend got the fois gras, [sp?] It was wild, very mousse texture, but yummy I must say. Dessert was a simply divine flourless chocolate cake, OH MY GOODNESS!! [I am soo picky on choc cake!] We eat slow [I think we were there 2.5 hrs] Had primo seating [made a reservation for 7PM on Tuesday the same day and got the window] there was no hurry to leave, the staff was not bugging us, or neglecting us. This is a perfect place to take a date when you are starting to reach that romantic-serious point in your relationship. Moderate price for 2 entree, 2 app, one dessert, 2 cocktails and a bottle of wine. I cant remember per say, but somewhere around $120 - totally worth it !
(5)
John D.
Not going to go on and on here: Great food. Great wine. Great price. Good Service. Be sure to visit Columbus Ave location, not Kenmore Sq.
(5)
Gabe M.
For "affordable" French food, this place is great. Very good prices for most entrees sub $25. Decor is lacking, but service and food is good quality.
(4)
A P.
I have been going to PRB for a couple years now pretty much on and off for special occasions alternating with other French restaurants. The atmosphere is always very pleasing with a great selection of goodies. I can always find a great wine to pair with the succulent food. Some of my PRB favorites include the Fillet Mignon, Sole Meuniere, Mousse au Chocolat and Macarons. This is the perfect spot for a romantic get together.
(5)
Tim N.
I'm still going to stick to 4 stars for dinner but brunch gets 3. The service was slow - definitely not the A list waiters you get at night. The portions are also very small and not that filling.
(4)
Eric W.
If you're reading this review, Petit Robert Bistro may be for you, but it isn't for me. I'll preface with the fact that I remove a star just for the fact that it's French. Not in the "French are wussies, we should call them Freedom Fries" way, but in the "European food was so bland, they built great big boats and sailed half way around the world to find something better" way. Honestly, I don't have a refined enough taste pallet for "savory." I'll give them credit for helping me realize that I like pate (in this more rustic form, anyway), and the two entries I've had there (chicken and steak) have both been fine but unnoteworthy, a bit short of justifying the bill.
(3)
C C.
okay, as i said in my last review, this place recently went from long-standing favorite brunch, to being on my list of places you couldn't get me into with a cattle prod. let me elaborate. there are three of us who make the trip together often. generally it has been a leisurely brunch with delicious food and sweet service. great taste, great portions, amazing cocktails. we stay for a long time and get cocktails, apertif's, dessert.... always lovely. this time we brought three friends from out of town with us, one here all the way from ireland, and were downright embarassed by the service our friends experienced. our waiter, whom we presume is a manager based on his attire, disappeared after bringing our drinks and taking our food order. we didn't see him again until we were exiting two hours later, he smiled and wished us a great afternoon. our food took over an hour to arrive at our table. we counted eight parties whom came and sat after us got their food long before we did. granted, we were a party of six, and the largest party in aftere and out before us was a party of four. but COME ON. at NO POINT did someone come out to apologize for the delay. when our food finally came (an hour after we ordered, which was half an hour after we had arrived) the mystery waiter who brought it out joked that he was sorry for the delay, the salmon (for the three orders of salmon benedict) had to be delivered from france. ha. ha. the three orders of benedict were fine, except one person was very short on fries and another had NO dressing on their salad. i had the french toast, my usual. they shrunk the portions and stuck the four tiny, wafer-thin pieces all over on one little section of plate, as if to emphasize how short they were changing me. when they brought an order of fries to somehow make up for the bullshit that was our experience, one of the first timers, whom had been sitting quietly, asked to send back his duck sushi and have it taken off the bill because the rice was completely uncooked... we're talking raw and crunchy, people, and the meat was incredibly chewy. the poor guy didn't order anything else to replace it. when the bill came, the duck sushi was still on it. we had to go through TWO MORE PEOPLE to get it taken off. as we left, the multiple mystery waiters, and our original waiter (whom we assumed must have quit suddenly in a fit of rage, sending the restaurant into a downward spiral), all smiled and wished us a wonderful day.
(1)
Paul K.
Fantastic food and terrific prices. I've been here a few times and the food and service are excellent. The staff are all incredibly friendly. One note, it can get very tight in this restaurant, and a table in the bar section can be even more crowded and loud, albeit I loved it. You can valet park, or go 2 block on the same side of the road towards Mass Ave and there's non-resident parking for free.
(4)
Alisa S.
Ooh, my friends and I had brunch here on a whim. We planned to go somewhere else but it was closed. I am glad, the food was surprisingly good! Pate appetizer, quiche, nicoise salad, all were tasty. The bluefish that my friend got was a bit too rich, but all in all a nice place to try.
(4)
cassy f.
If you're looking for high quality French food, don't go here. You're better off elsewhere. The only dish that is decent is the foie gras. To top it off, their staff are SOOO RUDE! I had to drop by to pick up an order that my sister placed over the phone (I stopped eating there after facing rude service time and time again). I walked in and said hi to the bartender who just looked at me and completely ignored me! Then some other girl walks in and he's helping her! The thing is, he has a reputation for being rude to Asian people. Most of my Asian friends refuse to meet up there cos the bartender just blatently ignores you if you're someone of color. I had to stand there for 7 minutes today JUST to pick up my to-go order while the serving staff were just standing there! Maybe management is trying to keep the place White, so beware. If you're a person of color, you'll get shoddy service and definitely an attitude from their bartender.
(1)
C S.
The food certainly isn't bad, but it's nothing to write home about, either. The steak frites and roasted chicken are merely mediocre. I'm enamored of the steak frites at Beacon Hill Bistro, so I think I will stick with them!
(2)
gado.gado D.
pate and croque monsiour are to die for also the french waiters - yummy.
(4)
Scott B.
a lot of people like this place much to my surprise - i dont really think it is anything special - i mean you get what you get - low grade gourmet food at a low grade price- - not my idea of gourmet - if you want something really tastey i can grill you a burger myself for less
(3)
Oki P.
I always come by this restaurant whenever im picking up pastries from cafe madeline opposite for brunch. It is always a pleasant meal especially their brunch menu of egg benedict and french toast! Its such a great place with a relaxed, easy atomsphere with french comfort food! Yum!
(5)
Aleh V.
Feels like you are back in Paris. A church across the street adds to the flavor. Petit french cuisine. Omelettes are great. Soup is fine. A retractable roof to make enough shade when sitting on a hot day. Even the wind blows along the street to release you from the daytime heart. Perfect for brunch.
(5)
Tim K.
In the competitive South End restaurant scene, we always end up coming back here more than the rest. They keep their menu fresh but leave on the greatest hits, including their rich French Onion soup and steak frites. They often have a great pork dish as well. Their dessert and wine list are extensive and fulfilling. I specifically recommend the Profiterole, share with a friend! Our service has always been pleasantly paced. They are not in a rush, so you shouldn't be either. It's funny to see people complain about slow service; these people have clearly never been to France.
(5)
Rita R.
Lovely French restaurant and corresponding ambiance. Quiet on a Friday at 6 pm, then gets busy. Service took a little on the long side, and prices a bit on the high side, hence the loss of one star. All in all, a pleasant dining experience for a daughter and mom pair.
(4)
Al S.
My second best meal of my lifetime. Wonderful, personable service, decent decor, and the food! Holy crap! My buddy had foie gras, I ordered pate maison. For mains, scallops for me (although I didn't care for the bed of eggplant they came on) and chicken for my dinner companion. One word. Excellent. Perfectly seared scallops. Chicken that's truly falling off the bone. And the waitress picked a perfect bottle ($42). Truly, truly enjoyable. (And I'm a huge snob when it comes to food)
(5)
Shani T.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. My boyfriend and I came in for brunch on Easter around 12:30PM. We got seated at the table right next to the window, which was nice. There is a fair bit of space in the restaurant and I never felt too close to the table next to us, which was nice. I judge restaurants pretty harshly on the complimentary bread that they provide, and oh my goodness, PRB kills it with their complimentary baguettes. These baguettes are bomb. They come out extremely fresh and warm, and my boyfriend and I each had one for ourselves before our meal. My boyfriend ordered the omelette lyonnaise and I ordered the boeuf bourguignon. 1) Omelette Lyonnaise ($12)--very large serving that came with a salad and fries. The omelette was cooked to perfection, very moist and still a bit runny, exactly how my boyfriend prefers his eggs. Many places leave the omelettes a bit too dry, but PRB did a good job with. The bacon in the omelette was also extremely crispy and delicious, not too greasy either. 2) Boeuf bourguignon ($26)--I really actually wanted to order the omelette lyonnaise myself, but when my boyfriend said that's what he wanted, I decided to switch it up. Normally when I've ordered beef bourguignon at other restaurants, it comes as a pasta dish (thanks, Julia Childs). Here, I got the beef stew with some potatoes and vegetables on the side. It surprised me a bit, but the beef itself was very tender. I barely needed to use the steak knife to cut through the beef; my fork was enough. The stew wasn't too heavy in flavoring and I guess I don't mind cutting back on carbs since I ate an entire baguette by myself anyway. Overall, quite good, though pricey. The vegetables were good, nothing too spectacular, but seasoned well. Now, a few gripes about the restaurant. Our host never gave us the Easter specials menu. I saw other tables with them but for some reason it seems like the host just forgot? It would have been nice to see, but I didn't notice until after we had ordered. That being said, the waiter never walked us through any specials either, so we also didn't have a clue that there were any specials. Another issue I had with PRB was the fact that on our check, we were charged $27 for the beef bourguignon. It clearly says $26 on the menu, and it's just confusing to me as to why we were charged a different price. We pointed this out to our waiter and he changed it for us with no questions asks / no explanation given, but I kind of was more curious about the why, instead of caring for the $1 difference. I would come back for brunch and get an omelette. $12 for the omelette seemed very worth it. $26 for the beef bourguignon, not so much. I've had better and cheaper elsewhere. Definitely take a quick look at the check though... Can't say I trust this place too much after the extra dollar charged on my dish.
(4)
Lyndsey C.
Very cute little joint. We ate outside. The food was yummy and atmosphere was really pleasant. I enjoyed the quiche of the day with salmon and my friend had the salmon croissant. We enjoyed our meal and it was very fresh. Waitress was not very helpful, she didn't come back much and we had to literally find her to get our check. I would return but wouldn't count on great service... we were only there for a short lunch so I am unsure on dinner but great neighborhood and cute joint.
(4)
Christine J.
A nice french restaurant, quiet, classy and simple. excellent food and service. will be back.
(4)
Jake E.
Not really sure why all the mediocre to bad reviews. My girlfriend and I went here for our anniversary dinner and were thoroughly impressed all around by the quality of the food, attentiveness of the service, and classy atmosphere. I agree the food is expensive, but if you're on a budget, then you probably shouldn't be eating at a bistro in the first place! Personally, I wouldn't dine here except for special occasions, but I don't think it's exorbitant as far as upscale restaurants go. Food was excellent all around. The complementary crusty baguette they provided was enough to whet our appetites for the main courses. My girlfriend ordered roasted chicken, which she said was tender and flavorful and I ordered the (skirt) steak-frites. Let me just qualify my review by saying that I am quite picky when it comes to steak and this was one of the best cooked steaks I have had in a long while. Unlike many restaurants, they actually cooked to order (medium-rare) and the meat was soft and well marinated. The French fries were just the right amount salty and crispy and paired well with the provided garlic aioli. Service was great too, no complaints! The atmosphere in the patio seating can get a tad noisy at times since Columbus Ave. is a main thoroughfare in the South End, but that's hardly the restaurant's fault. All in all, would definitely return, though infrequently and only for a special occasion.
(4)
Antonio E.
Honest food review. I've been in France many times and I can say this is the typical food you can find all around France. It's not a top-notch restaurant of course, but if you want to taste authentic French food with a decent bottle of wine without having to empty your pockets you've come to the right place. The only thing I did not like was one of the three pates they have in their pate selection plate. Everything else pretty good. Also the atmosphere, the small place, the small tables, really makes you feel like you are in a Petit French Bistro :)
(4)
Lisa L.
Charming place to have a visit with old friends and enjoy good food but not great. The service was outstanding but the Onion Soup was just passable. Salads were very good but over all it made me miss the old Cafe Du Barry's on Newbury Street.
Beautiful location and I was able to sit outside. The staff was very friendly and informative about the menu. The cocktails were amazing; I had the dirty dawn. Food was perfectly portioned and I would recommend sharing appetizers because it's difficult to choose just one. Will be coming back to this restaurant.
(5)
Lily J.
Great food, service, and atmosphere. Nice place to enjoy some delicious French food without necessarily needing a reservation. I am always surprised they are not busier! When the weather is nice they also have outdoor tables available. Their menu changes seasonally and I can't remember exactly what I ordered the last time I was there (some kind of fish with lemon and thyme...it was awesome). I'll definitely be back for more!
(5)
Noreen A.
Amazing food. Stefano, the chef, makes food that my mouth falls in love with. Great wine selection, service staff, atmosphere, and eye candy.
(4)
Adam S.
Love this place. Food is always good as is the wine. Also the service is top notch. I mean who doesn't like quality French food with a great atmosphere!?
(5)
Aneesh B.
I was in town for a conference and met a friend for dinner at Petit Robert; what a lovely dinner! Food: We started the meal with a bottle of Sancerre, which was perfect for the warm-day-turning-into-cool-evening; I thought the wine list was thoughtfully chose. As for the food, the words I think best describe the food at Petit Robert are simple, flavorful, and light. I generally don't opt for French food, but I'm slowly being brought back into the light with French bistro fare. To start, we shared a plate of mussels persillade (parsley sauce), which had a nice bite from the vinegar and garlic, but wasn't overpowering. Then I had the grilled salmon served with ratatouille. I asked for the salmon to be grilled rare, and that is exactly what I got. Makes me really happy when a cook knows how to grill to the proper temperature, especially when for a piece of fish. It was a nice entree, and I am glad I ordered it. Others at the table ordered the scallops and a special octopus salad with kale and lentils. All the food looked amazing. We also shared sides of sauteed mushrooms and spinach. Veggies were well-seasoned and not at all overcooked. We skipped dessert in favor of another bottle of Sancerre, but other tables looked quite happy with their sweet treats. Service: Outstanding. Full disclosure: my friend knows the owner of the Petit Robert restaurants, and during our meal the owner sat down with us to eat, so I suppose you could assume the service was extra-special" because of that; I don't think it would have made a difference, though. I think the staff is well-trained and knows how to make you feel comfortable. Vibe: Chill, with a menu to match. Nothing about the place is flashy, yet the experience felt way better than average. It's a comfortable place with indoor and outdoor seating that I think anyone would love. Family-friendly: Unless your kids like French food, I'd probably leave them at home. But this is definitely not a stuffy place which would frown upon bringing children in to dine. No kids menu, but it's a neighborhood bistro that I am sure could rustle up something a kid would enjoy. Summary: A gem in the South End, Petit Robert will make you feel at home and serve you flavorful fare with no fuss. Definitely worth your time and money. Bon appetit!
(4)
Peter K.
Great French restaurant in Boston! Awesome food, amazing foie gras! Nice atmosphere, good service. Love this place.
(5)
Daniel R.
Service was okay -- friendly, but slow, and they forgot the rolls until my girlfriend asked about it later (after the main course was already here.) Food was good, but not great, and didn't justify the price. I typically frequent cheaper places, and I expect a cut above from a pricier place like this. The thing that really ruined it for us, though, was that we came PURELY for the purpose of using a gift certificate. When we handed it to the waiter at the end, he informed us that our gift certificate was good at some Petit Robert locations, but not others, and he couldn't accept it. The certificate did not say anything about which locations it was valid for, and any normal customer would assume it's valid for all of them. According to the waiter, this issue comes up on a regular basis, yet they haven't done anything about it. We paid the full bill (as though we had no gift certificate), but left unhappy. When I contacted them via their web feedback form to complain, not only did they not attempt to rectify the situation, but they never even bothered to respond. A classy place like this should be able to do much better.
Clarice was a very pleasant server and was very helpful with making our decisions on entrees which we were very happy with . 5 stars for sure on this one.
(5)
Danielle K.
Petit Robert Bistro is in a really cute and quaint part of Boston. The staff here is also really accommodating and down to earth so it was hard to see how this place could ever go wrong right off the bat. We ordered the escargot and the calf's liver and I was in love. The escargot is nice and buttery and the calf's liver is really well cooked. If you don't like a more soft calf's liver, make sure to tell the waiter because it comes out on the rarer side. The bread is ah-may-zing. So amazing that we really didn't feel bad or embarrassed about asking for more even if their stockpile went down because of us.
(4)
Anthony M.
The escargot were to die for at this little Parisian bistro in downtown Boston. The prices are high, portions are small, quarters are tight and the food is delish. We ordered specials as the entrees which made the prices higher than expected, the food was good but not for the price especially if you are going to leave hungry. I would love to go back just for some escargot and some drinks at the bar.
(3)
Carlos A.
I went there for dinner. We ordered two steak frites one rare and one medium. After an one hour wait the medium one was brought well done and the rare one was brought medium. When we told our waiter that both steaks were overcooked she brought back the person I assume was the owner or general manager. I was expecting an apology and have it immediately changed because it was very clear that both steaks were overcooked. Instead of that they said that the reason it was overcooked was because the steak was thin and that if I brought it to the light I could see that there was a little red in the middle of the "rare" one. They refused to change them and they were rude making it seem like I had never ordered a steak before. There are a lot of other good restaurants in the area to choose from, so avoid Petit Robert Bistro.
(1)
Timothy A.
Le Petit Robert still has a lot to recommend it, but our visit on 10/12/14 was disappointing compared to previous ones. We arrived at 12:25 PM with a 12:30 reservation and were seated immediately. It took 35 minutes before a waiter even took a drink order, and it was nearly an hour before any food arrived. There was only a Sunday Brunch menu available (this was not mentioned on the website). Two of us had Moules Frites (one marniere and one curry), and they were excellent along with very good frites. The third person had Coq au Vin, which was on the greasy side and relatively flavorless. The bread was not up to par, essentially a roll that lacked a good crust and a soft inside. The basket of viennoiserie had a super croissant, two pain au chocolate, and a blueberry muffin that was tasteless and did not belong in the company of the others. The Vouvray wine was crisp and fresh but the Cotes de Rhone was stale (perhaps the bottle had been opened the day before). In general, the service was slow and inattentive. Compared with previous visits, I would say that Le Petit Robert is on the way down, living on reputation but still having an affected arrogance about what it used to be. I'll pass in the future and seek another bistro that cares to make its reputation in Boston.
(3)
Lynn J.
FINE FRENCH FOOD! The service was very attentive and consistent. I had a baked salmon with a very rich sauce. It was very good, but Boston high priced, and not something that I'd come back for again. I'm told though, that red meats are where they shine. So, if that's your thing, my dining friends recommend it. My companions had come here often for their meat dishes. THE DEAL: Loved the Profiterole dessert!
(4)
Jacob M.
Food is excellent. Very homey and tasty French food, not fancy at all. I usually get their cassoulet, it's really really good! Their wine selection is excellent also. But the service is extremely slow (still polite, just unbearably slow), just like what you'd expect from an authentic bistro in Paris, I guess.. It's ironic, because the French word "bistro" is actually a loanword that originates from Russian, meaning 'fast' or 'quickly'... :-/ It's no l'espalier, but for the price and the quality of food, I really shouldn't complain about this charming little place in the neighborhood.
(3)
Eric F.
Came in for lunch with the family and the experience was a tiny step up from awful. There was no one at the front upon arrival and service throughout the meal left much to be desired, eg. it doesn't help to ask us how everything was 3-4 times when my water and coffee are repeatedly left empty and unnoticed. It's also a bad sign when I contemplate leaving 5 minutes after being seated since no one had come by our table. We had a BLT, escargot, omelette and crispy poached egg among us and nothing left an impression. The poached egg was bland, the fries looked store bought and I make far more flavorful eggs at home. The one tiny saving grace was (arguably) the bread as it was at least served hot. Highlight of the meal: "What's the fish of the day?" "Scallops."
(1)
A C.
I just dropped this place, one of my favorite places, to two stars, because of the below response from the restaurant. I sent them an email with my above concerns, and this was their reply: "Thank you for your feedback. I am glad you had a true Bistro experience. We have worked very hard for almost 8 years to create a true Parisian atmosphere in our Bistros and it seems that our Guests are finally getting it. Welcome to France! A tres bientot et merci encore! Loic Le Garrec Directeur-Proprietaire loiclg@comcast.net " Clearly, it just bespeaks to the poor management. Contrast this reply to the personal apology and gift certificate from Chef Hamersley, and you know which place takes service seriously.
(2)
Paloma M.
I went there on saturday night for the first time (I've only been at the commonwealth location) and I was not very impressed, to be honest. I had a cod with vegetables that was really meh, the cod had no taste at all! My husband had scallops with zucchini and said it was good. At least the tarte tatin was amazing! Service was good but the restaurant was extremely noisy, different from the one in back bay, which is much better, btw.
(3)
A G.
Not a bad experience. The food was well prepared and very tasty Service was good however not all plates were served at the same time for our party.
(3)
Sara S.
Romantic and fantastic food. Great spot if you're a fan of French cuisine.
(4)
Bing X.
Loved the food! All the food! The place was a bit too crowded but It is acceptable considering the food....
(5)
McGhee O.
We were here on Friday, the 11th. Let me start by saying that I thought the food was AMAZING. So very good. What brought my review so far down was the service. I was there with my girlfriend, and for the first part of the meal our service was fine. However, when a table came in (I believe they were regulars), our server proceeded to stand at their table and talk very loudly with/at them for over 20 minutes. Meanwhile all his other tables, including ours, were completely ignored. We ended up having to ask another server for our check. I had every intention of having dessert and an after dinner drink, but after sitting there for a long time waiting for our waiter to pay attention to anyone else, we decided to skip it and just get the check. It was quite upsetting, as I have loved Petit Robert up until now. I doubt we will go back.
(2)
Iri A.
We were there for brunch early on Sunday morning. The omellette and eggs bennedict were great. I didn't like to french toast because it was not soft. the atmosphere was nice and quiet, the coffee fresh out of the brewer, the music very pleasant and the servers polite.
(4)
Daniel J.
Nice dinner - good food - not too much and very tasty. Great atmosphere even down to the bone fide French waiters - lost on some of the customers I'm afraid
(4)
matthew g.
My wife and I went here on a busy Saturday night for dinner. Based on reviews we expected good food and poor service. However, Petite Robert Bistro managed to far surpass our expectations. The appetizers were served promptly, the escargot buttery and garlicky. Wonderful. I had the steak frites and it was cooked a perfect medium rare, my wife had the beef bourguignon and is was so unbelievably moist, flavorful. Just terrific. Now onto the service. We were extremely well taken care of from the hostess who seated us, to the waiter that took good care of us, to the friendly staff who packed our leftover wine up to take home. I would definitely recommend this place. It felt very much like a high quality restaurant in Paris, just easier to understand the people sitting around you.
Had a really nice, early dinner there with the family,
(4)
Neel M.
Vegetarian. They put ham in my first omelet. They said they would fix it. They put ham in the second one. Fail.
(1)
Jiyea C.
This is probably a less than 3 star restaurant, but I decided to bump it up because the service was good! Much better than the food. If the most memorable part of the meal was the bread that was served at the beginning of the meal, you can get an idea of what I thought of the food. The french roll was served warm and had the perfect crunchy/chewy consistency. For a girl who knows her carbs, it was very satisfying. We tried the pate appeitizer, the cassoulet, and the daily dessert special, almond cake. I thought all the components of the cassoulet were salty, but other than that, there wasn't anything wrong with the food. My dining companion said that the sausages were made in-house, and he enjoyed the sausage, but me..not so much. While I can't pinpoint anything WRONG with what we tried (other than the saltiness I mentioned), I can't really say anything positive about it either. It was just OK, which is surprising and a little sad because I was rather hungry when we came into the restaurant. I would say that this is a slightly upscale family restaurant. You could easily bring a date here, but I noticed that there were families with (very) young children here also. I'm talking babies in carseats. I feel a little bad about writing a mediocre review because our server was so nice! Never rushed us and was just the right level of attentive, with a cute accent to boot! And we went in without a reservation on Saturday at 7:30pm and were seated within a few minutes.
(3)
Lesley P.
Good service. Very cute patio seating. We thought the quiche would have been better if hot and also if actually good. Fries were good. Coffee fine. I can see why they track at 3.5 stars at this location.
(3)
Harri S.
The place was cute enough, the service was very courteous, but the food BLECH. My food (Salmon (charred, and not by choice)) was inedible and the Biff's food (the duck) was truly meh at best. The sides to the main dishes were pretty decent. We had one app, the escargot and the half the Biff had was apparently part frozen. He was convinced it was out of the freezer. I liked it enough, didn't think it was pre-frozen, but I've certainly had better. They were so kind, so I feel bad about handing down such a review, but the food really stunk. Maybe we should have done the fondue special instead :/
(2)
Lisa M.
I love French bistro and this restaurant is mediocre. The Croque Monsieur was fried, not grilled. Onion soup is good, but not spetacular.
(2)
Amanda O.
We went to Petit Robert Bistro on a Friday night after work with a group of 4 and made a reservation. It was busy, but when I arrived about 20 minutes early they had our table ready and didn't mind me sitting down and getting started with a drink. It was very nice after a busy week at work to not have to wait for the rest of our party. I got the Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles which was AMAZING! The chicken was delicious and just fell off the bone. It was so good I don't remember anything else about the restaurant (we went about a 1-2 months ago). Met expectations. I'm looking forward to going back and trying something else.
(4)
Corona W.
My boyfriend and I dined here a couple of weeks ago. The service was friendly and the restaurant was cozy but I still much prefer the original location in Kenmore. For some reason, I think the food there tastes better. For appetizers, we ordered a side dish - Ratatouille Niçoise and the Escargot. Sadly, the appetizers were probably the best part of the meal. The escargot came swimming in a sea of decadent pesto butter. We tried to stop eating the bread but the butter was so delicious, we couldn't stop. For entrees, my boyfriend had the salmon cordon blue and I had the sauteed scallops in mushroom risotto. Both were good but not super amazing. I personally found his salmon to be a little dry. In terms of french restaurants, the portions at Petit Robert have always been above average and they will leave you quite full. Prices are also very reasonable as far as French restaurants go. Anyways, we had a good time and a nice window seat for for South End people watching. We ordered a bottle of wine and ended the night with coffee laced with cognac and amaretto. These were delicious by the way. Despite the mediocre entrees on this particular night, I will be back. However, next time, I'll stick with the Kenmore location.
(3)
Brian S.
Petit Robert is a great place to take a date. Nice, romantic, and great service the moment you step in. Problem is that it's a bit far away from the center of the city, and we made the mistake of trying to walk there in the blistering cold. Still, I would say it's worth a trek. Overall the food was great. The escargots were delicious. However for my entree, I strongly believe I just ordered the wrong thing. While I had no complaints about the pork dish, it just felt like and looked like a dish that I could have attempted at home with similar success. My girlfriend, on the other hand, ordered the liver and loved it! So choose wisely, and I'm sure you'll come out with at least a star rating above mine.
(3)
C B.
Happy, quiet, comfortable, relaxed, date night... great drinks, relaxed, friendly service. funky drinks--delicious
(5)
Kevin R.
Came last night for a late dinner. Service was attentive and polite. Escargot for an appetizer; very pleased for my first time. We had the duck confit and the pork tenderloin. The pork was very good, tender not at all dry and overall very satisfying. The duck was just ok, edible , but dry. Thought about dessert, but passed. Overall a quality experience.
Okay little background: my father was a chef (in big places in NYC, Sydney, France, to mention a few), and I lived 20 years in France... Service: terrible! My table had to request bread all the time. The waiter kept bumping me all evening. Oh the best part was that my friend was burned when receiving his plate. Somebody forgot to mention how hot the plate was. I was lucky enough to have another waiter coming for mine, and she warmed me. I worked in my father's kitchen for years as a teenager, so I am used to hot plates, but those were way too hot not to be announced. The bus boy/ girl were actually good. my water was always replenished. My friend requested a sauce, and of course he got the wrong one. The cream on the service was being billed for an item that was not ordered by my table (7). Just in case you are wondering, yes we had to pay it. Menu: understandably small; however, "there is no modifications." This is abusing. If the food is fresh (seems to be) then what is the issue to change my side of rice, or requesting without an item on my appetizer. This attitude would get you out of the market even in France. Food: the menu covers plenty of typical French dishes, but the creamy rognons were watery. The cured salmon terrible. My friends food was not sadly not better. I am not going over it more because I don't feel like wasting more time on this place that certainly not deserve it. The valet was actually nice and friendly. Now, I experienced many French restaurants in the US, and I am generally very disappointed as an average one in France would be better. Now, considering that the manager (owner) is French, or speak French without any accent, I fount that sad to have such a poor quality of service ( a must in France), and poor quality of food. I definitely experienced better in the US. To the risk of appearing condescending, only somebody that never experiences French cuisine in France would find that place wonderful in term of food. It seems very unlikely that we came on the wrong day when looking at the end products. However, I am willing to think that he service is generally better if you don't have a big table like I had, or that the guy simply had a bad day as the rest of the team was good.
(1)
Steven E.
Costumer service here is terrible. In a nutshell: Drunk patron gets in a fight with the valet (evidently the valet lost his keys? I don't know, don't care). Big loud fight in the middle of the bar area where I am eating dinner with my bf. The fight lasts perhaps 30 min, on and off, complete with shoving, name calling, pretty much everyone saying they will be pressing charges and/or calling the police on everyone else. The hostess basically joins in and starts yelling at the valet - big scene - ruined my dinner. Well, if I were a hostess, I would have at least apologized to the six people who were eating in the same tiny room as this very upsetting exchange that I had just taken part in (I believe the final words of the exchange were the hostess telling the valet to "get lost"). I probably would have offered them complimentary dessert, drink, discount, SOMETHING (but at the very least an acknowledgment that this is not the experience one should expect here). Nope. Nothing. Just pretended like the past 30 min hadn't happened. Yummy food though. And hey, really cool thing that is actually really awesome and would have landed them 5 stars from me? Vegan options. WHAT? I know right? Where are there French places with items that don't contain butter. Very cool. Now hire staff who aren't incompetent.
(1)
Charlene C.
This place barely even deserves 1 star -- not because the food is bad but because the service is. And when I say "bad," I'm being generous. What I really mean to say is "atrocious." The service here is really, seriously, unbelievably atrocious. I went for the first time with a friend for Valentine's Day, and our waiter's name -- if our receipt is to be believed -- was Smythe. We both actually thought the food was fine, but she received noticeably worse service than I did. And by "worse," I mean rude, unacceptable, and very likely discriminatory. We're both Asian females, but whereas I have no trace of an accent at all, she has an obvious accent (despite being completely understandable, having perfect grammar, a large vocabulary, etc.). She believes this was the reason she received lower quality service, as other people in the service industry have behaved similarly towards her in the past. Honestly, I thought our waiter's behavior would have been considered appallingly rude by any paying customer. My friend was very upset by the treatment, and rightly so. Her whole dining experience was literally ruined by his behavior alone. She did contact the restaurant via web form to complain that night, making sure to include her email and phone number, but a full week later, she still hasn't received a response of any kind. To be fair, let me say that I did enjoy my food (enough to finish eating it, at least). The greeters were polite, friendly, and prompt. The service I myself received was fair, nothing special, but I had no complaints about it until the very end when I just got fed up with the way my friend was being treated and had to jump in to get him to correct several mistakes on our bill -- mistakes that were very obviously his. No matter how good the food is (and objectively speaking, the food here isn't even that good), when a waiter makes several obvious mistakes on the bill and then instigates an argument about those mistakes with a patron, it should be viewed as a red flag for bad service. And that was the least of this waiter's behavior issues. It's hard to say whether he was an ill-concealed racist or just extremely incompetent at doing his job, but after reading other Yelpers' low-rating reviews for this place, I'm inclined to believe he might be both. The thought had also occurred to me that he might have been annoyed at having to work on Valentine's or perhaps was just bitter at the 'holiday' itself, but again, neither is any excuse to mistreat a customer. Nor does it explain the restaurant ignoring my friend's complaint. I tried very hard not to judge this establishment based on the actions of one waiter, but all things considered, I found the service and lack of redress to be totally unacceptable, and neither of us will ever be returning to Petit Robert in the future.
(1)
May N.
Went here for Restaurant Week on a weeknight with a few friends. It was not very busy when I arrived for our 7pm reservations, just a handful of people on the patio and a couple of groups inside. The selections all sounded really good. I went with the scallops, swordfish au poivre, and chocolate mousse. The scallops were perfectly cooked. The fish was moist, tender, and perfectly flavored. The chocolate mousse was to die for. It comes in a very small container, but it's so rich. The service was very good. It did take a some time for our food to come, but we didn't mind. Hopefully we weren't too obnoxious, being the loud people catching up and laughing together. The place was busier when we left.
(4)
Silvia V.
This is one of the best French bistros in town when it comes to what you get for your buck. I've been to all three locations and I've had great meals at all three. I just came home from having dinner at the South End location. Once again, I had a great experience at Petit Robert's. While waiting for my friend, I ordered mulled wine. It was warm enough and strong enough. The garden salad with panko crusted goat cheese was delicious. The Chilean sea bass special was perfect taste wise as well as portion wise. The Nutella crepes were oh so delicious. The service was attentive and knowledgeable. And the bill was wallet-friendly too. Very pleasant experience all around.
(5)
Holly S.
Food was very elegant, most dished little on the salty side, but the wine helped with that! Also the warm bread warmed my belly:) veggie salad very good
(4)
Nate Y.
To say this place is a perfect date place would be an understatement. A rainy evening just added to the romance in the air, fogging the windows where we were seated allowing my companion to draw a whimsical smiley face.Tthe hostess and waitstaff with their authentic french accents and walking through the kitchen to the dining area with low ceilings, low lighting, white table cloths, and other dining patrons having conversations made me feel I was walking through an impressionist's painting. Sharing our meal (lobster mac n' cheese, duck, and pork loin) was like our conversation; authentic and honest, just delicious. It didn't matter that the dessert we ordered, the souffle, would take 20 minutes, since it would prolong the experience. Some practical information; reservations would be a good idea if you want to make sure to get a table, although there are two locations. Waitstaff was attentive and helpful. I hope that this can be repeated, but the experience may have been a meeting of so many things coming together at the right time. As the saying goes, "better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all"?
(5)
Opal L.
I've been having great luck with groupons. I had lunch there with a groupon and the experience made me want to go back there. Since it was restaurant week, there was a 3-course lunch that was about the price of the groupon so I had that with a Sam Adams light. I was sitting at the bar and should have seen all the other things I could have ordered to drink. They have good beers on tap, like Leffe and 1664. It's quite refreshing to be in a Boston restaurant that has something else besides Sam Adams on tap. If you're in the mood for something sweeter, they have Framboise. Next time, I'm getting that. Okay, so I had the smoked salmon soup of the day, the fried pork, and creme caramel. I thought the French served smaller portions but I guess they adapted to the American customs. I probably shouldn't have eaten the whole bowl of soup. The carrots were a little too crunch for my taste and I left those on the plate. Fortunately, dessert was light. If you look at my pictures, you'll see that the food is presented very simply and cleanly. It was a delicious lunch but I probably won't have a 3-course meal again any time soon. Two courses is enough. I went in at about 1:30 p.m. and the place was almost empty. The service was obviously great because the waiter had only one other table and me to take care of. So, if you want a quiet place to have lunch, go there after 1 p.m. I think they serve lunch until 5 p.m.
(4)
Jason B.
I'm glad that I had the opportunity to give this place another shot. We came here with another couple for dinner, and we ran through the menu like Tiny Tim through the tulips. It was a frigid night, and after walking the 10 or so blocks from our place to the restaurant, we were ready for a hot drink. Fortunately, they have a fantastic mulled wine on the drink menu. Steaming hot, a little sweet, with wine, cognac, and rich winter spices, it is absolutely perfect for driving the chill from the bones. Regarding the food, let me first just say - I ATE BRAINS FOR THE FIRST TIME. I don't know how often they sell it, but Petit Robert sells lightly pan fried calves' brains. They were great - a light crispiness on the outside, creamy and soft on the inside, with a very rich flavor. The capers went perfectly with them. The escargot are everything you'd want them to be - garlicky, buttery and firm, full of flavor. The raw oysters are served in a surprisingly large amount of brine, on the half-shell, with a very nice mignonette sauce on the side. As good as you get at B&G or Neptune. Alas, my short rib entree fell a bit short, being somewhat dry. Either they left the braise in for too long, or left it uncovered when they re-warmed it, because the meat was very fibrous, though soft, and there was a distinct lack of liquid goodness. The atmosphere on a cold winter night, however, is not to be overstated. It's a lovely, cozy room, full of warmth and charm, with a giant window showing the blowing snow outside. Really makes you feel like you're wrapped in a giant expensive French cocoon. Service is impeccably rendered by wait staff who are seemingly all of European origin. In the end, the pleasure of the experience won out over my disappointment at their treatment of one of my most favorite main ingredients, and I would come back in the hopes that the next time I order the short ribs, they are a little bit juicier. Bon Chance!
(4)
Linda E.
Nice place to sit on the patio and eat brunch. Ordered a coffee and the eggs benedict. The plate was enough to split with my friend and we had some free bread too. The service is a bit iffy, they had to be flagged down a bit for coffee refills, but all in all it was a nice brunch for about $13.
(3)
Sara M.
3.5 stars honestly... My husband and I came here with his old boss for dinner not too long ago. It was overall a pleasant evening. I did not realize how small and cramped it is inside. Those tables are quite close together and made it feel like we were all part of other people's intimate conversations. I had crispy calf's brains and the lamb shanks as my meal. The brains were delectable! I loved how the crispy texture really contrasted with the smooth, creamy inside. The flavor was not unbearable gamey/strong and I enjoyed it very much. The lamb shanks were done pretty well but there was not a lot of creativity. My husband did not care for his braised short ribs since there were beets - it did not state on the menu this important ingredient! The prices were fair for the South End and the quality of the food. We weren't blown away and have had better meals at other places. Perhaps it did not live up to the hype since we were expecting more.
Warm, inviting, casual, approachable authentic French food. Sit at the bar, enjoy the scallops and mushroom risotto, the onion soup, and the herring and potato salad (in the reverse order) and converse with Jeremy and Bruno, the finest bartenders in the land.
(4)
Anna R.
This place is great! I will definitely be back! The atmosphere is perfect--intimate and classy but still casual enough for a late weekday meal. The neighborhood feel of the South End also makes it feel more like a bistro than a restaurant. The food is FANTASTIC--I had the roast chicken and was absolutely in love. It was perfect, every single bite, crispy yet moist. The mashed potatoes and veggies on the side were also impeccably cooked and seasoned. To top it all off, the price was very reasonable ($18). The only reason for the 4 stars is the service--we were not greeted upon entering, and had to awkwardly stand around until the hostess came and got us. Our waitress was aloof and mildly attentive. We had to ask for water refills, and she corrected my fiance on sauce pronunciation (poh-vray to pohvr). I understand we're butchering your language, but you never correct customers.
(4)
Bianca T.
Dining at The Petite Robert Bistro was an experience I will never forget ! The atmosphere is french perfection. Relaxed and comfortable. The food was unbelievable .. I order an omelet ... it was light, fluffy and filled with the freshest ingratiates ... just bursting with the flavors of ham, spinach, mushrooms, tomato and cheddar. My mother ordered the eggs benedict .... the eggs were perfectly poached, the hollandaise sauce was light, creamy and buttery .... honestly I wish I could eat there every day .... I can't wait to have brunch there again - there is a jazz singer that performs on Sundays Our waiter Jack was welcoming and attending to our every need. I think the biggest surprise cam when the bill arrived .... the total was $20.35 .... for brunch and cappuccinos .... very reasonable !
(5)
Back B.
I have been to this Petite Robert location a hand full of times. The service, food, and no frills atmosphere really is awesome. This restaurant reminded me of the small restaurants I went to in Paris. The waitstaff are very helpful, and always have a smile on their faces. Our waiter, Smyth, is on top of his game. He not only made our night special, he made us feel relaxed, and was funny and enjoyable. I don't care what any negative reviews say about Petite Robert, they are wrong. Come to this restaurant, its worth every dollar. Try their chocolate moose for dessert after your meal, you can't go wrong.
(5)
Kenneth R.
While strolling by this morning on my way to Render Coffee, I decided that this Petit Robert was cute enough to be worthy of a dinner visit. I got together a group of 5 diners and most of my group seemed to be delighted with the choice. In fact, one of my team members intends to come back tomorrow with an even larger group! So the place isn't a disaster. We came on a quiet night -- the end of a holiday weekend. The house was only 1/3 full, and the servers were not energized. My impression is that the kitchen wasn't all that hot either, but I think that a 2-star rating would be on the lowball side. Basically, the main thing that this establishment is selling is canned French-ness. This appeals to a lot of people but it seemed to me that the personnel were from other corners of the globe. The main courses, which are called "plats" in France, are "entrees" on the Petit Robert menu -- I considered this to be a bad sign. I can report on the food that I sampled and on the two wines that I ordered. Those wines were a low-end white Burgundy and a 100% syrah Cotes du Rhone (which was a recommendation of the patron). The first wine was pleasant enough but no big deal; I thought that the second wine was much better -- it was a good value. For my appetizer, I chose the soupe du jour, which turned out to be a beet and orange soup with horseradish cream. The tastes were unusual, bordering on the bizarre; the soup alone lifts the restaurant out of the "completely meh" category. One of my companions ordered a plate of French fries as his appetizer. (I'm not making this up.) Several of us tried a French fry dipped into the ketchup-looking beet soup and enjoyed the experience of having something taste totally different than its appearance would suggest. This was perhaps the highlight of the dinner! For my main course, I selected the cassoulet, which really was A-OK. I can eat better cassoulet at home by buying it from The Fifth Quarter at my local farmers market yelp.com/biz/the-fifth-q… , but that's there rather than here. All in all, Kenneth R. goes for the 3-star rating.
(3)
Dino D.
It was pretty good. The place was nice, clean, and the staff was attentive. The food was good, but nothing memorable.
(3)
Chris C.
While I've had a great brunch here before (croque madame), this dinner was disappointing. The onion soup was good, but not great, but the duck was the same. Good, not great. It was a rainy night, sitting under the awning which was nice, but it was all marred by disinterested, lackluster (even for a French restaurant) service. Made me rethink my former positive view of this place. Also, the website menu says strictly no substitutions of sides, which is incredibly off-putting, though it did NOT say that on the printed menu, nor did it come up.
(2)
Ellie W.
I've been to this restaurant a few times, and have always had a great dinner here. Like a lot of smaller South End eateries, you feel a little elbow to elbow with people at the next table, but with good food, can't complain much. Super friendly waitstaff, and a good menu to boot. They've got great French desserts, and delish escargot. I've had their chicken dishes a few times, and the chicken is always cooked well--not dry at all. I don't think they take reservations, but the wait isn't too bad. Great price for French food, also. You don't have make your bank account weep uncontrollably for some good French food at Petit Robert...always a plus!
(4)
Victoria J.
My fat-kid best friend and gluttonous partner in crime is back in town, so what do we do? MmmmMmmMMMmmmmyum!!! Driving around the South End, we were thinking Joe V's, (great pizza), but thought..."Hmmm, we've never been to Petit - Let's go tonight!" It was a beautiful spring night, and there were plenty of people enjoying Petit's outdoor seating. We opted to go inside, by the window - perfect amount of breeze and warmth. The way the restaurant is set-up slightly strange - you have to walk past the bar area, through the kitchen, and then take a left to the dining area. And slightly even stranger, is that everyone speaks French. It's almost as if we've been transported to France - French spoken outside, French spoken at the bar, every host/hostess, waiter/waitress was spouting out "Bonsoir" as if we were all 10yr old and finally dropped the F bomb. So we started off with drinks - Bordeaux for him, Basil Martini for me. I loved my martini, it was refreshing with a kick. For appetizers we got the Escargot and the Trio of Pates. The snails - super buttery and delicious. The pates - three different kinds, (obviously, hence the "trio"), served with Dijon mustard and teeny, tiny little pickles (Awww, how cute!), and tasted perfectly with the French baguette that was served. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. I scanned the menu for my entree, and the first thing that jumped out - French Onion Soup. Hmmm, interesting how I began craving it so desperately since seeing it on the menu. Perhaps, some meat would be more filling? - but then that melty, gooey cheese sold me. So obviously I had soup, my dear friend decided to try to the frog legs, as he had actually never had them, (I reassured that they are actually quite good and I think that sold him). My soup - was fucking divine. And I am using the F word to emphasis, how much, truly, really, really, hit the spot. Piping hot, delicious onion broth with a multitude of delicious, gooey cheese on top. Oh man, it was just great. I in no way regretted ordering the soup, nor did I care to try my friend's frog legs because I was just so utterly consumed by my soup. If it wasn't for the soup, I probably would have given Petit 3 stars. Thank your lucky stars, Petit, that I went for the soup! We were there for almost three hours, eating and continuing on drinking, and at no point in time, did I feel rushed. Oh do I love that. One of my biggest pet peeves is when restaurants try to force you out - from some places, (Chili's/Cheesecake Factory/Outback), I expect it and have no problem complying. Who really wants to dwell in the ambiance of an Outback Steakhouse? But we listened to the French classics playing in the background, sitting by the window, enjoying the cool breeze, people watching, and good conversation. Without any dirty looks, or annoyance from the waitstaff. And I think this, is what I enjoyed the most - Thank you Petit Robert!
(4)
Lickety Split N.
The atmosphere is nice and the waitstaff is friendly, but the food fell way short of expectations. Everything is drowned in butter and really salty, yet still bland somehow. We got steak tartare (mushy and over-chopped), the scallops (can easily make better at home), and the lamb chop (not flavorful). Go here if you really love water because the waiters are very attentive with refilling the glasses, but maybe it's because they know how salty the food is. I don't plan on returning.
(2)
max s.
Lived in the South End for 3 years and this was our favorite go-to restaurant; ate here about 20 times with a variety of people and never heard a complaint. Have tried many different dishes on the frequently changing menu; favorites include the escargot (in a delicious garlicy buttery sauce), fois gras, coq au vin (chicken melts in your mouth), steak frites (one of our favorite choices - perfectly cooked each time), pork chop (panko crusted, nice and moist), and scallops (delicious! also perfectly cooked - always). Basically everything is so good that it's always difficult to decide what to order! Sides are also a treat - mushrooms, spinach, brussel sprouts - you can't help but finish them all. Also the warm crusty bread they leave on the table is phenomenal. Great servers who are helpful and professional; service is occasionally slow but we found that a bonus because it gave us more quality time with the guests we were having dinner with.
(5)
Jason K.
Fantastic! The food and service were both excellent. I was not sure what to expect since we chose it on a whim before the theater but of all the places surrounding the Huntington this is the best we have eaten at this year.
(4)
Kathy A.
I finally got to try out Petit Robert, but I didn't leave as satisfied as I had expected. Some things were great, but others fell short. The south end location is really cute and homey. Our waitress was fine, but nothing special and they never refilled out waters. The bread they bring is great. So hot and fresh and just plain delicious. For entrees we had the Hake with Asparagus Risotto (although that evening hake was replaced with haddock) and the Scallops with spinach and crab. The haddock itself was quite good, but sadly the risotto was pretty bland. The scallops were really good, but the veggies on the side were boring and the wilted spinach and crab tasted strange. It tasted rather old and stale which was not appealing at all. We got two sides of haricot vert and creamed corn and peas gratin The haricot vert was awesome and the creamed corn was very rich and good, but lacking peas... Overall, the food was decent, but I must say the portion sizes and prices cannot be beat. They give you a lot of food with entrees all under $20.
(3)
Colleen H.
This review is for their brunch, which I am a huge fan of as it was almost a weekly spot for my roomie and I. Dinner/lunch on the other hand, never tried, so read everyone elses reviews for the good word on that. Their menu is simple, their waitstaff speaks french, and their bread and coffee is just so comforting. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd want in the south end -- patio, people watching, sweet and quaint. I dream of the crispy poached eggs with the frisee salad... so obviously, I order it almost every time. Definitely a great (and not usually too crowded) summer brunch spot. And hey - it's the south end, so bring your pup!
(5)
Olivia D.
Went here with my mother as a good-bye dinner yesterday after my matriculation at Boston University. Let me tell you, the food was HEAVENLY. My mom had the fresh caught bluefin special and she said the sauce was probably the best sauce she had in her life. I enjoyed a soup and an artichoke and shrimp salad (I wish I could say the actual menu names but I would butcher them) . Probably the best food that I've eaten out in a very very very long time, maybe ever. And I love that it seemed to be family run and the staff was incredibly friendly. The atmosphere made you think you were in Paris. It was a perfect dinner and I can't wait to take my parents here again when they're up or go here on a date- I will definitely be back !
(5)
Scott B.
Stopping in to Petit Robert on a Sunday evening for a drink... what a fantastic idea. The bartender (who created the drink menu himself) quickly informed us that ALL the specialty drinks on the menu are his "babies" and that "of course they are delicious." And, they were. The atmosphere was nice, and much quieter than surrounding establishments, with quiet couples and decent French music in the background. The adorable bartender was attentive while he danced and sang along to the music. Lovely. Since we only came for drinks, I cannot critique the food, but I can sum up the Petit in with these three F's... Fantastic, Friendly, and French. And there you have it.
(4)
Linda P.
Authentic French food in Boston at decent price is difficult to find - but Petit Robert Bistro was all that and more. Waiters/waitresses there were fluent in French and very friendly. The Fresh Vegetable Salad Crudite was okay - I'm not really a salad kinda gal, but if you are, you'd probably enjoy it. I really enjoyed the Creamy Lobster Bisque - it had a little spice to it and that made me love it even more. The flavor was not too overwhelming and it was not too thick. It was just right. The Chicken Coq-au-Vin with Buttered Noodles lived up to its amazing reviews on Yelp. It fell right off the bone and the waitress told us that it takes them HOURS to get it like that. The Roasted Rack of Lamb with Ratatouille was to die for. I didn't care too much for the Ratatouille (even though the movie made me curious!) ... but the lamb was tender and perfect. I've been here twice and plan to go back!
(5)
Natasha A.
Love it, love it, love it. I have been a devoted fan of the Kenmore Sq location, but have moved and find this one to be more convenient. Petit Robert is a little slice of French heaven. The food is superbly executed in the traditional french bistro style. This is a white table cloth restaurant with great service. However and best of all, it is unpretentious and everything on the menu is under $20...thats right even the rack of lamb. They serve a lunch/brunch menu in addition to the dinner menu until 5 pm...so yes one can go at 4:30 and still pay ridiculously cheap lunch prices. The wine list has everything from light Rhones, to heavier reads and some zesty whites. We paid less than 90 for 2 soups, escargot, 2 entrees and a great bottle of Cote de Rhone. So enjoy some real french food without attitude and while listening to some light french jazz and pop. Recommendations...any blue fish dish (crispy on the outside, flaky and moist on the inside), the french onion soup, the escargot appetizer and any of their meats (lamb or steak frits). ...and yes they have en Eiffel tower shaped chocolate dessert. I go drool now...
(5)
Jessica E.
It hurts me to give Petit Robert 2 stars because food-wise our meal was superb. I've also been to the Kenmore location and think both locations serve quality French bistro food at relatively reasonable prices. However, on my first trip to the South End branch, the service left a lot to be desired. My husband and I were taking out our friend to celebrate, but the incompetence on the part of the hostess and our server really put a damper on our evening. The Wait - It was clearly a busy Friday night; we had a reservation for three people. We weren't seated until 45 minutes after our reservation time! We weren't offered any sort of explanation just "it'll be a few more minutes" a few times. After 30 minutes of waiting, the hostess offered us glasses of water. Honestly, I think a few more words of explanation, admitting whatever their mistake was, or a complimentary glass of wine would have gone a long way to make the wait more pleasant. Our Server - When he took our orders and my friend and I both ordered lamb, he didn't ask her how she wanted it cooked, so we had to flag him back down to tell him. We also ordered the souffles with our appetizer and entrees since according to the menu they take about 30 minutes to cook. When clearing our entrees, we reminded him about our souffles. He said they would be out of the oven in "exactly eight minutes." Well, guess how long it took for us to get our souffles? Yup, 30 minutes. If you add up the extra time we waited to get seated plus the delay in getting our dessert souffles, we were physically at the restaurant for almost three hours. I like to linger over meals, but I spent about half that time being annoyed at the staff. A quick recap about the delicious food I had because it was really good: 1. Trio of pates - Great app to share. Comes with mustard and teeny tiny pickles. We all loved it and were afraid we'd fill up on bread and pate. 2. Rack of lamb - Cooked perfectly. It was so tender, and I ate everything on my plate down to the last potato. 3. Souffle - Creamy and light. After the two previous courses, I was glad to split one souffle with my husband to have a small taste. I'd like to go to Petit Robert again for the food, but I'm not sure if I can stomach the service again.
(2)
Laura A.
Ok, maybe this review isn't entirely fair because I just came back from Paris, but this place is the cheesiest approximation of a Parisian brasserie ever - Paris souvenirs on the walls, decidedly un-Parisian ginormous portions, a dessert with a chocolate eiffel tower. Sooooooo cheesy. Sorry, but that "Parisian atmosphere" doesn't really work when seemingly every table is made up of loudmouthed groups of 40-somethings having a parents' night out and getting wasted on house wine. Is it so much to ask to not have to hear every word of their conversations, given that this is supposed to be a romantic, intimate place? Not PRB's fault exactly - but I wonder if their recent simultaneous Groupon AND BuyWithMe deals might be to blame. To be honest, I haven't had a good experience here since my initial visit. I always find the food to be bland and our recent meal here was no exception - I ordered the lemon mushroom risotto, and was served a ginormous bowl of tasteless risotto. I prefer quality over quantity when I'm dining out and I would have much rather been served a perfect, delicious risotto in a small bowl (like the Butcher Shop, for instance). I think my risotto had maybe 5 mushrooms in it and no lemon flavor to speak of. Overall this place is just really underwhelming.
(2)
D H.
Cannot say enough good things about this place. Starting years ago, the wife and I would go to the Kenmore Square location or South End location. More recently, the Downtown Crossing location. I'd say that after about twelve visits, the only thing I had that wasn't outstanding was a new pork chop dish they offered. Not enough to knock a star off. This is very affordable food for its quality, and they generally keep a very good wine list as well. The escargots get special mention as the best I've had - better than the ones in Aux Armes De Bruxelles (well known restaurant in Brussels I visited earlier this year). They do have a few locations, but it is nothing like a "chain" restaurant.
(5)
Jen D.
Based on the meal alone, I would've given Petit Robert 4 stars, however, the service was very sub par. I came here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night and we were able to get a seat out on the terrace. The atmosphere was relaxing and very much added to the bistro feel. We ordered the escargo appetizer and it was delicious. For entrees, I got the Chicken coq au vin which was pretty good. I'm not usually a fan of coq au vin's but I really finished this one - the chicken was tender and delicious. The boyfriend got the steak fries with Bernais sauce which he thought was also delicious, although not amazing. Overall, I thought the food was a good deal considering the prices. The reason I give Petit Robert 3-3.5 stars is because of service. It seemed like they had four waitresses for the whole restaurant. We had different servers through out the night they would walk by us, even when we were trying to get their attention. After we finished our meal and they cleared the table, we waited a good ten minutes until another waiter came by and asked us if we wanted the dessert menu. After dealing with inattentive waiters all night, we decided it was time to leave. Overall, we might try this place again, hoping that service will be better.
(3)
Artiste A.
7:00 PM reservation for 4, with a short delay on our part, and we called to let them know, we arrived at 7:15. Didn't sit down until 8:00 PM. Tried to get us to sit in the bar, so I think they were overbooked. We brought our drinks from the bar so after a bit the waitress took our orders, then shortly reappeared, going guest by guest, guessing what we had ordered to confirm them, as if it were a new restaurant game show. Soon, without an offer of a wine to go with our food, our starters dropped to the table. Ouch. You know that good food can make up for so many issues, like waiting to be seated and awkward service but , alas, this was not to be the case. A tough hanger steak , braised short ribs, that unless three experienced cooks at our table were wrong, were not short ribs at all, but rather more likely a pot roast cut. No bone and very dry without the signature flavor, soft texture and richness of a short rib. A confit of duck with cabbage was passable. We did have a few laughs at the vegetable sides. Those were either a slightly cool steamed broccoli or what we jokingly referred to has horse carrots. I mean these carrot were cut into disks that were thick and substantial. Who really wants to have to use a steak knife on a carrot. Reminded us of a school cafeteria carrot from 5th grade. On the picky side, the wine list was weak, northing that made you really want it, from the low to the high priced. Au revoir Petit Robert!
(1)
Jeffrey H.
Quite possibly the best value in Boston for a lunch date. I visited Petit Robert on a lovely afternoon with fellow Yelper Deepa C. The weather was just getting warm (the kind of day that you'd consider freezing in August but for some reason in April you're sweating like a republican at a gay pride parade). All that being said, we decided to enjoy our weekend lunch date outside on their sidewalk patio on Columbus Ave. Glorious. The menu has a variety of options in an affordable price range. Keep it simple or take it up a notch - whatever you're feeling when it comes to eating and spending, they've got you covered. I ordered the Chicken Crepe Basquaise whilst my date decided on a quiche. To start we were served a delicious warm bread loaf as well as the soup of the day (It was some carrot and tomato or something concoction - to be honest I was too busy inhaling the soup to remember the name). Our entrees were delicious, although I envied Deepa since not only is she a married woman, but she had a delicious quiche to boot. Not that my crepe was bad, but I wish I was in her shoes that afternoon. Despite my full belly (that's French for "belly"), Deepa insisted she take my profiterole virginity. We ordered the giant dessert fittingly titled, "One Giant Profiterole." The thought of the ice cream in the center of the profiterole topped with oozing warm hot fudge is enough for me to take some PTO right now and head down to the bistro for another taste. The service was impeccable from start to finish and the atmosphere was so relaxing - I just loved sitting outside and watching all the happy Bostonians skip about soaking up the sunshine...even the woman who stopped us on the street to tell us about Armageddon had a smile (not kidding). The bill came and good lord was it cheap. Complimentary bread, drinks, soup, entree, and a shared dessert was roughly $20 a person including tip. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? Since I'm single, unlike Deepa, I'm going to keep this place in mind for the next time I have a date and want to look like a hot shot. The boy will order up all this great food and when the bill comes, Mr. Suave (Jeffrey H) will be all, "Oh, allow me." *swoon goes the boy* But little does he know that he'll be breaking the bank when it's time for marriage and my hag Amanda drags him over to Tiffany at Copley Place to get the ring I've already selected. P.S. - Apparently some Yelpers (Deepa, Sasha, and Yi-Hwa) decided to venture to the bistro not too long ago without me. While they were there, Mr. Rob Lowe himself (aka, my fake boyfriend from "Brothers & Sisters", Sunday nights on ABC) was enjoying a lunch there as well at the table next to them. Keeping in mind that I live down the street and was never telephoned about either the Bistro lunch or Rob Lowe, well, some tears were shed.
(5)
Lisa S.
Delicious - I was here for dinner last weekend and had the garden salad with the panko crusted goat cheese - it was divine. I think I can eat a plate full of panko crusted goat cheese balls :) In addition I ordered the scallops and the frites.....also very delicious. The other members of my party ordered the flank steak which wasn't up to par that night, however, I know that they come here all the time and keep coming back. We sat at the bar and Bruno, the bartender, took our order. He was fantastic and makes delicious cocktails to boot. I highly recommend this cozy bistro if you are visiting the south end of Boston.
I am a repeat customer of Petit Robert. This is very good French cuisine and the price is right. The service is great, as is the atmosphere. Perfect place for a date or a dinner meeting. I recommend the steak frites, coq au vin, and the escargot. Their wine and beer menu is very comprehensive and the waiters are very knowledgeable. For dessert, I'd recommend ordering either the profiteroles or the tart. Both are appropriately rich and enough to share between two.
(5)
Liz T.
My friend and I had dinner at this quaint, bustling restaurant. There was a 45-minute wait on a Friday night, but there's a bar area where you have a glass of wine or 3. We started with the Six Escargots Bourguinons ($7.75). I know escargot is commonly served with mushrooms, but all I could taste were the mushrooms--I really think the kitchen forgot to throw in the snails. Since I was in a good mood, I let this slide. My friend had the Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles ($15.75). Chicken and noodles at a French restaurant are just boring to me, but she thought they were good. I think she was scared after she had asked our waiter what boudin noire is (which was in the dish she was going to order)--when he informed her it was pig's blood she lost her all guts. I had the Petit Calf's Liver Sauteed with Caramelized Onion and Bacon ($14.50). Unfortunately, there was no bacon--you can imagine how sad I was as my nickname is BLT (bacon Liz Tran--haha). The cook tried to make up for it by giving me a bigger than average liver. Oh, joy. The liver was pretty good actually--nowhere near a filet mignon but I ate all of it. I called my dad in Hawaii to tell him I had liver afterward and he basically responded, "You're so stupid. You ate the filter of a cow's bloodstream!" I was an Econ/Poli Sci major, what did he expect? Dessert is the real reason for the 4 stars. My friend and I shared the White Chocolate Bread Pudding. It was out of the ballpark and dare I say, the best bread pudding I've ever consumed in my life. I could've eaten 3 of them by myself if there were no consequences in the waistline. I like that this bistro actually has bistro prices (under $20 entrees). I'll be back here when in Boston again.
Sat at the sidewalk 'patio' tables for a late lunch while doing some errands. Have noticed lots of comments here about the service and have to say, our waiter - don't recall his name but he is from Texas - was good, attentive, and nice. We wondered about different beers and he brought us some samples to try...that was the thing to do. They send out a small basket of warm rolls with some good butter. We had some mussels which were just ok, nothin' special. when you want to dip your bread or spoon up some of the sauce is what I look for with mussels, this didn't warrent it. The smoked salmon sandwich was also just...ok. Comes on a croissant, would be better on a baguette, dry, needs some sauce...fries on the side...80% were left when the plate was taken, that says it about the fries. We tried the potate croquettes for a side and they were, well...just okay. Bland. They need some seasoning and some melted cheese inside like they do 'em at Galleria Umberto would be the way.Fine, big pours on the drafts, warm rolls, good waiter...just okay, mostly, on the food. Bob, Lil' Bobby, ramp it up.
(3)
Sarah T.
We went for a nice meal on a wintry evening in January (I am a little behind on my write-ups - oops) with another couple (read their write-up under Jason B.). It was a lovely atmosphere - very cozy and warm. Loved it! The snow was blowing by sideways, but you forgot about the weather when inside the bistro. My husband and his friend ordered the warm mulled wine. They both loved it and appreciated the flavors. I had a lovely glass of red to begin the evening meal, and my friend had a glass of white. Three of the four of us tried calf brains for the first time. To be honest, my husband and a friend split the calf brain appetizer, and I had a nano-bite to say that I had tried them. The flavor was really good, but very rich. Crispy on the outside and smooth and creamy on the inside. I was surprised at the great flavor but didn't have more due to the psychological battle ongoing in my mind as to whether brains are food - or should be food. I started the meal with Soupe a l'Onion Gratinee. It warmed me up but wasn't the best French onion soup that I have had. It was missing the depth of flavor that some others have had - for example, they make a fabulous French Onion soup at the Danversport Yacht Club. I then had a salad with romaine heart and Roquefort. I recall that the shallot vinaigrette was good and lots of flavor; however, for a better vinaigrette, try either Union Bar & Grill in the South End (so savory) or a fabulous citrus vinaigrette at Columbus Cafe. My husband had the oysters on the half shell. He stated that they were very good, but a little pricey. He prefers the more creative oyster offerings at the Meritage. For my entree, I ordered the Coq au Vin with Butter Noodles. This was fabulous and the best Coq au Vin I have had in the States. So flavorful and tender and rich! It simply melts in your mouth. And the butter noodles are the best pairing for it - EVER! We ended the evening with dessert and tried the Crepe Suzette. It was executed wonderfully - but the flavor wasn't fabulous. It almost tasted as though the orange flavor was fabricated (i.e., not from natural oranges/tangerines). Overall, the atmosphere and the Coq au Vin earn Le Petit Bistro four stars. Without those two reasons, I would only give this bistro 3 stars.
(4)
David L.
So, my sister, Phoebe L.'s, first Yelp post was on Petit Robert almost a year ago. I largely concur with her evaluation. PRB is my favorite French restaurant in Boston. Authentic French dishes at very reasonable prices. And I loved them even more after they started taking reservations a while ago! Plus, the most important reason why I love them so much, is my most successful date happened here! If I want to impress out of towners, I generally bring them here. The food is good enough to hugely impress even the New Yorkers. If you are trying to decide on South End versus Kenmore, I would say South End for larger groups and Kenmore for more romantic dates. My favorite dishes: calf's liver, brain, and the dessert with the Eiffel Tower. If you aren't as daring, the short ribs are always great, the coq au vin fantastic (better than the many I've had in France), and the duck confit is to die for. If it the weekend, make sure you get reservations. Waiting in the cold sucks!! PS: the park behind the church next to the South End PRB is the most magically place to steal a kiss.
(5)
Erwin F.
I only went to this restaurant because my GF and I had BWM voucher for it. First - The Service The waitstaff were attentive and helpful. The food came out pretty quick and our waiter checked in on us to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Second - The Food The food was disappointing. The food wasn't bad or anything, but it did lack flavor. After the first few bites, our excitement dropped. My GF's fish was bland and my duck was overcooked. The vegetable sides were forgettable as was pretty much the entire meal. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the food. If all meals there are similar in flavor and taste as the meals we had, I would not return.
(2)
Rebecca S.
I'd heard great things about Petit Robert, so when we were contemplating our pre-theater dinner options I was happy to finally get a chance to give them a try. There are two locations, this review is for the (original) Columbus Ave. branch. Overall we were unimpressed. Restaurant week, so we each got the prix-fixe menu. Mine featured onion soup (fine), duck confit with shredded veggies (dry duck, so-so overall), and peach melba for dessert featuring peach at the bottom that I'm pretty sure was canned. The restaurant was half-empty, it was early in the evening (pre-theater) so the somewhat slip-shod quality of our entrees was surprising. In New York there's a small chain of French bistros scattered around Manhattan called "French Roast" -- open 24/7, serving decent French standards around the clock. Busy, noisy places that you're not expecting to be *superb.* Their food is better than Petit Robert's, showing that it's possible to run a chain of bistros that get the job done. But not at Petit Robert.
(2)
Anna C.
I've had three meals here, always hopeful that the food will improve. But it doesn't. The ingredients seem to be of poor quality. Portions are not especially generous. Go here only for a drink at the bar; the ambiance is nice.
(2)
Robert D.
Romantic and lovely. Can be a little loud when busy. I suggest make a later reservation for a quiet romanic evening. Staff could be better educated on wine and food was very good
(4)
Xena W.
My friend and I went to this location on a Monday night around 9:45 PM after a performance at the BSO. Even though we were the only customers and it was a Monday night where most places close early, the good waitstaff at Petit Robert kept the place open for us and took excellent care us till a little past midnight. At no point did they make us feel rushed and they were most attentive the whole evening. The food was delicious and we enjoyed a three course meal and nice wine and had a lovely time and enjoyed all the jazz and tango tunes being played throughout the evening. I will gladly return and bring friends over. Customer service like that is rare these days.
(4)
Peter V.
Expensive meal. My ribs were okay.... Not great, not bad. Everything else with our meal was average... Everything was average but the price.
(3)
Jochen D.
Finally a place that can be considered French and not AmericanFrench, like for example Gaslight. We really enjoyed our romantic night out. the Fois gras was very good and also the pork chop. Great Bistro experience. maybe service was a bit so so.
(4)
J. Lynn T.
Delicious food and quaint little bistro space. Entering the establishment, you see a small space and just as quickly, my guest and I were lead past the kitchen and into a separate dining room. I recommend the jambon de bayonne which comes with a great hearts of palm salad, the escargots are YUM! and the salad with panko crusted goat cheese, SO good! The beef short rib was hearty, everything was overall great! A few faults though, they really ought to have more than 1 co-ed bathroom and their servers could be more attentive, it felt as though we had to wait forever for our bill.
(4)
David D.
Ugh. WHY was my lunch cheaper at Petit Robert than a combo meal at Burger King? It's always dead in here in the early afternoon, and I've never had to wait for a seat. I had to walk 5 blocks from my office, but it's worth it, and my co-workers can't see me drinking on my lunch break to help hold in the tears. :'( Our server didn't give us bread, but it's OK, and I think he's on Grindr... so that works. Ok, I have a haircut appointment in 10 minz. Bye.
(4)
Rafael R.
Relaxed, casual and simple French bistro in the South End neighborhood of Boston. Friendly service and reasonable prices, but not enough to really have me return, when there are so many other restos in the neightborhood.
(3)
J L.
Down to 1 star, but thats all they deserve this time. Although I was greeted warmly and seated promptly, the service and food were horrible on this visit. The waiter took forever to come over to take my order. I liked their pate trio and it was good as usual; a nice portion for two but should be served room temperature to bring out the flavor and it wasn't.. The bread was soft and not crusty, it could have used a few more minutes in the oven. I made the mistake of ordering the breaded pork recommended by the waiter; after a very long wait (and it wasn't that busy) it arrived and was just terrible: swimming in oil and topped with a huge pile of salty capers and cornichons, it was overcooked and as tough as leather. A real cheap cut of pork with a lot of fat. Then it was served with literally two tablespoons of mashed potatoes, which tasted good but were swimming in oil and it was truly a very small portion. All this next to a sloppy mess of vegetables. I would have sent it back but the waiter never came by to ask how my meal was so I disected all the fat and ate some of it. This after draining all the oil. The waiter told the manager but he or she did not come over to offer an appology or any kind of gesture. Not going back anytime soon.
(1)
Binh L.
Alright, I have gone to the Commonwealth one so I had to come here to see how this compares. I came here for brunch though. The eggs benedict were nice. Beautifully plated, but came with fries? Really? I know you're a french restaurant, but I don't want french fries. I want home fries. Anyway, the eggs were good, but it seems to lack that punch. Think the sauce isn't too extraordinary. Really greasy, but not in the entirely delicious way. I got the smoked salmon one and I could barely taste the salmon. Except for the disgusting burps of salmon.. many hours later? Gross over-share (what of it?).. Oh and my friend had the chicken crepe which apparently was delicious enough for her to clean the plate. Also had a side order of bacon. Gosh, this might be the most delicious bacon I've had in Boston (second would be Ryle's). Perfectly crisp, and not a disintegrating kind of crisp. Just perfect. I ate way too much bacon, and it felt awesome (well, at the moment). So pretty quaint, Petit. I'd totally give you a second date. Dinner sometime?
Signs of a failing French bistro: French fries cooked in week-old, putrefied oil, day-old lettuce hacked into ugly chunks, watered-down salad dressing, portions half the size of what they've been for the 4 years we've been eating here. Arevois Little Bobby...
(1)
Gabriele D.
I would recommend this place because it's the best French food you can get for this price in Boston. The restaurant is rather elegant and cozy, the cocktails are good. Don't expect very creative dishes, the strength of this place is that it's traditional. In other words it's a bistro in the French sense! I don't think it's possible to be disappointed. BTW it's also a great place for a quick lunch, with a delicious selection of sandwiches (their own "burgerdog" is amazing).
(4)
Laurinda U.
I had dinner with my sister for the first time on Saturday night. I was definitely under impressed. For our appetizer, we ordered the duck and kimchee sushi roll (~$12). It was absolutely terrible. The rice was cold and hard. You couldn't taste the duck and the kimchee tasted like bland cabbage. This dish was an epic fail. My sister ordered the rack of lamb (~$20 and came with a small baked potato and steamed broccoli) and I ordered the venison (~$20 and came with whipped potatoes and steamed broccoli and carrots). I think it says a lot when the side of whipped potatoes outperformed the entire meal. The whipped potatoes were delicious, but the venison with blueberry sauce was just meh. My sister's lamb was yummy but was pretty much lamb lollipops that I could get anywhere. This place also loses a star because of the lackadasical service. The server came by to take the empty bread basket and when we asked for another one, it sadly never came. Sadly because the bread was better than my entree (see above). Also our water glasses were never refilled, not until the end when we decided to leave anyways. Although we didn't stay for dessert, our neighbors did and it looked like maybe dessert is where this bistro shines. Overall - overpriced and underwhelmed. Do not recommend.
(2)
Jessica V.
This used to be our weekly haunt, but about two years ago the food got a little inconsistent. Still a fun place for brunch or if you're a local person not wanting to go to far for an okay meal.
(3)
Ming C.
This restaurant single-handedly helped change my review technique of every restaurant I will ever eat at. My first experience with Petit Robert on a chilly Friday night almost two years ago was atrocious. From what I allow myself to remember, we were seated all the way by the window of the back room, waited almost 45 minutes for any food to arrive, and never saw one single water refill during the entire dinner. I was parched! I believe whatever my bf had was also undercooked and mine tasted oily. Needless to say we didn't think we would be back. But back we came as the bf was craving french and the location on Columbus was only two blocks from our apartment. And I am so incredibly glad that we did because all the dozen + times we have been there since have been incredible. I have so many favorite dishes - in the colder months, the seared fois-gras totally hits the spot. The roast chicken is melt-in-your-mouth tender and just tastes the way i always imagined Julia Child would have cooked it for her favorite dinner party friends. My bf loves the duck confit and creamy pates. The other positive about this place is that their brunch is so affordable and filling! For a sardine baguette, fries and a side salad, it only sets you back around $7. The decor and ambiance is also one of the reasons we made Petit Robert one of our go-to Boston restaurants. Whenever we start reminiscing about "that little tucked-away treasure in Paris", we stroll over to this place, sip our wine, and live it all over again. Please give it a go if you've never tried it before or came once and was not that impressed. I no longer live in Boston now but I will surely miss my Paris away from Paris!
(5)
Ginny K.
Disappointing. I just wanted a good soup and salad. House salad delicious with the goat cheese. Very lemony. The lobster bisque however, was watery and lacking anything special! Very disappointing! Oh, and the bread and butter were simply delish...esp for those of us who use bread as a vehicle for butter.
(2)
Nancy Z.
Affordable French food in Boston? Thank you Robert. 3 different types of yummy pate's for $7? Heh... you're starting to make me blush. A waiter that looks like a HOTTER version of Johnny Depp? Yes. You can put my name on the dinner reservation list for tonight. The food at Petit's has always been great every time I've ordered. The pates, the pastas, the skirt steak with that delicious lobster cream sauce on it... whoa. I definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Cami F.
Tucked just a few blocks away from Dartmouth street/the prudential- this little french restaurant is perfect for a summer evening dinner. The outside seating faces a beautiful church and tree lined street. The food is great, especially loved the scallops, and the servers are incredibly friendly. I was slightly disappointed by their brunch, but their dinner is worth returning for!
(3)
Cat M.
I am French I grew up with French cuisine I am also a vegetarian So there was a lot of asparagus The French still don't understand vegetarianism, and Petit Robert has exactly un plat sans viande. I'll save you the excitement of reading the menu and just tell you that it's penne with mushrooms in a buttery herb sauce. It tasted exactly like what you'd make in 20 minutes at home with stuff you grabbed at Shaw's on your commute. My mother said the coq au vin was good. I hoped that dessert would be more interesting, so I ordered the profiteroles, expecting warm fluffy biscuity things filled with richly perfumed vanilla ice cream and a divine ganache. Again, what I received tasted very store-bought -- dare I say the sauce was Hershey's? Our waiter kept changing so they had no idea who had ordered what and when the last person had checked on us so it was rather intrusive. Finally, they do online reservations through OpenTable (yay!) but don't give you points (boo!).
(2)
denis s.
Scale 1 = poor, 5 = outstanding CUSTOMER SERVICE: 2. Our waiter read us 3 specials, but we found out after we ordered about a 4th special by seeing the specials chalkboard. Then our waitress dropped the app plates on my wife when clearing them (partly due to how cramped it is - see Ambiance section). Also our water and wine glasses sat empty for long stretches with no offer. When one dessert was cold they did insist on bringing another which was nice, but as you'll see in the Food section, it was also cold. FOOD: 3 My wife got the cod and thought it was perfectly cooked, but you have no substitutions on sides and only know that you are getting a veggy and a starch - and those were way garlicky and not that great. I got the short ribs and thought it was good but not great. The macaroons were great, but the apple crisp was between cold and lukewarm. When we mentioned that they took it back and 10 minutes later another came - it was even colder. AMBIANCE: 2. Very very cramped. Some places get away with cramped (Oleana, etc). This place doesn't. Your neighbors have to slide by your table to get in and out of theirs - and slide so close their butts drag on your table. And the table legs are so big that you are forced to awkwardly place your feet on the base of the table instead of the floor. VALUE: 3. Portions were generous and it wasn't a bank-breaking dinner.
(2)
Molly R.
This was delicious! Reasonably priced for the quality and real French food. Very good. Loved it, and would definitely recommend it!
(4)
David B.
Second time here, again as a pre theatre dinner. The difference is that we can now say we've been to Parisian bistros (was in Paris for the first time the summer of '09). Petite Robert captures the vibe of a Parisian bistro but some of the food we sampled on this trip was different from the "real" thing. The beet salad and slow cooked chicken in wine sauce were delicious and spot on. I was disappointing in the mussels. They did not offer pommes frite (or bring more bread) for the sauce. The sauce that cam with the mussels was also on the sparse side. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable evening out and an easy walk to the Huntington Theatre.
(3)
Emily B.
I love this place. Back in high school, my french class walked to the one in Kenmore and we all had a great lunch. The atmosphere is tidy and comfortable. The music is light and easy to talk over. The food is great and I get to order in French. Prices are highish, but it's an upscale place so that's expected. Though I've never gotten anything but the French onion soup and creme brulee here, I still really like Petite Robert a lot.
This is my second time at Robert Petite Bristo. Just as our first time, this was an exceptional dining experience. Our server was very attentive and never rushed us to order. The menu selection is your traditional French Bristo options but each has a chef's touch that sets them apart. This restaurant is a great option for the money. Quality is superb and service is awesome.
(5)
Erin P.
Went here with a group of 6. The restaurant was slow when we sat down at 8pm but began to get busier. I was dissatisfied with the waiter service. The manager came around to ask how everything was but we hardly saw our waiter. I had the scallops and pear martini which were excellent.
(2)
Neill K.
Love the covered outdoor seating...even when it's raining! The food is always more than tasty and the service is friendly. I highly recommend brunch, if you're lucky they will have a small trio playing some tunes for you.
(5)
Clare F.
I have been here three or four times in the past six months and have consistently had good food, drink, and service. Cozy in the winter and with enough outdoor seating for spring summer. The staff greet you in french with correct pronunciation. I've spent enough time in France to know that the decor and setup are authentic. For good french food, you cannot beat Petit Robert's prices. Any other South End french restaurant would force you to spend a good 25% or more for the same thing. I have found a few favorite dishes there and have not strayed. I love the salad with panko-crusted goat cheese. Goat cheese is good on anything, but especially on mixed greens with a light dressing. Instead of a main dish, I get the potatoes au grautin, which come out piping hot and are very filling. The drinks are very good - we have ordered Old Fashioneds, Kirs, and Mojitoes (yes, in the middle of January, can't blame a girl for wishful thinking!) I am always impressed by a staff that remembers large party orders... I came with a group of seven and a group of five and nothing was misplaced. In fact, the waitress remembered our party four months later AND what we ordered.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Went here for the first time last night with my boyfriend for date night. While nothing was awful, and I debated giving a 3 overall, I'm bumping this down to a 2 as my main dish was one of the more disapointing factors. (If I could give half stars I would probably have given a 2.5.) Started with a round of drinks. I ordered one of the special "Petit" drinks, of which there are two on the menu. The waitress ended up brining the wrong one, but I didn't say anything because it was actually quite good. (Simple idea, mix champagne, gin, and lemon.) Bread was pretty delicious and the French Pinot Noir I ordered was good suggestion from the waitress. For dinner, I ordered the beef short rib. There were three pieces and one was overdone. I didn't need to eat it all, but had I wanted more, I wouldn't have been able to eat the third piece. The sauce was also really just OK. Not something I would suggest or order again, but I ate most of it. Brussel sprouts were ordered on the side and those were good. We also ordered the chocolate cake with leaning tower of pizza creation as pictured on their website, which looked pretty cool and was average. Apart from the food, this place fell vicim to the changing seasons, where it was just too hot inside. This in combination to being a crowded place where you are generally right on top of the table next to you led to a little bit of an uncomfortable experience. Not that it's the restaurants fault, but there were also some very loud individuals right next to us, just making it feel that much more crowded. We wanted to get some coffee and after dinner drinks but couldn't stay there any longer as it was hot and we couldn't hear one another.
I've been to PRB many times and decided to write a review for the South End location because I think it's the better of the two. This is not to say the Kenmore site is bad, it's just I've had better experiences in South End. I love how the restaurant is classy but casual, the food is authentic French priced fairly (all entree under $20), and the bread, the service and the drinks just make such a wonderful dining experience. I also signed up for their newsletter and I love reading/ watching recipe demonstrations, see what Chef Robert has to say (usually very entertaining). The atmosphere surrounding this establishment is so French yet so friendly like a true neighborhood bistro. Favorite things to get there includes the escargot, pate trio, lobster bisque and smoked herring warm potato salad for appetizer. For entree I really like the Frog Leg Provencale, Bluefish, Rack of Lamb and the skirt steak~frites. As for dessert, I love the souffle... irresistible.
(5)
laura e.
Went for brunch. The bread is great. Wonderful quiche with salad and frites! The only disappointment was the slow service and the croissants, which were sliced opened and toasted without our requesting them that way. They were dry and disappointing. We will come back to try dinner.
(3)
shannon c.
I loved this place. I recently went with my boyfriend and his family. This is a great place to go for a well priced intimate meal. The food was excellent - the roast chicken was amazing. It was gourmet comfort food cooked to perfection. They brought out as much bread as we wanted and it was warm fresh and delish! Our servers were courteous and attentive and answered all of our questions. Oh! The portion sizes were perfect! They weren't too big, if they were I would have made myself sick because I would want to keep eating - but they also weren't too small like a lot of gourmet places. It was great. Their desserts are also worth it, so save room. The only criticism is that we were a party of six and we felt a little out of place, customers shooting us looks for being too loud. It's a tiny place so conversation really carried - we certainly weren't going nuts with the boyfriends parents and his uncles. Oh, also we were told they don't take reservations, but when we got there they asked us if we had one - what's the deal with that? Save this place for an affordable intimate night out.
(4)
Busy L.
Had dinner here last night and was fantastic. Started off with mussels and fried calf brains. Should give it a try. Not that bad...Pan fried and a little crispy. Could've used a little more salt on the brains... Coq Au Vin and Beef Bourginon were tremendous. My son had the pork which he raved. Scallop dish was very good as well with a cream crab sauce. Ratatouille was great. Pomme Frites were OK. Have to order the souffle for desert. Well worth the 15 minutes wait. All in all a great place that I'd highly recommend.
(4)
Caitlin C.
When fellow yelpers, Zach A. and Margaux A. came to town this weekend, they gave me the honor of selecting the restaurant. After much deliberation, I finally settled on Petit Robert. I had been once to the Comm Ave location in December of 2005 (wow that's a long time ago!), and I recall having been impressed with the meal. So, nearly 4 years later (one of which was spend spent living in France...miss it!), I made reservations for 6 for a Saturday evening. We had a to wait a few moments for them to clear off our table in the front room, but no matter. Most of the employees are French and super nice (our serveur was really sweet). The owner (well, I think she was the owner, or maybe manager) was also extremely cheerful and the mood of the restaurant reflected her pleasantness. We started out with beverages. I had the Kir, which is always my go-to aperitif. And as others have mentioned, their bread was fresh and very tasty! For an appetizer, I had the soup a l'oignon. Mmm, cheesy deliciousness. I decided on the panko encrusted pork loin for my main course and I also ordered a side of potatoes gratin dauphinoise to share with the table (I really like cheese). I had a nice glass of cote du rhone to wash it all down. The pork was really lovely and the panko ensured a satisfying crispiness. It was also enormous! Sadly, I could not fit it all in my belly. And that also meant that there was no room for dessert (which is my favorite part of the French meal). Oh well, next time I will come with a larger appetite for sure. Everyone else seemed pretty satisfied with their meals. Though, to be honest, I was so focused on mine that I can't quite remember what the others got. Everything was also extremely affordable (most the entrees were less than $20), especially when considering the quality and quantity of the food you get. Bottom Line: Petit Robert is THE best value for authentic French cuisine in Boston. Hopefully, the next time I go back it'll be before 2013!
(5)
S M.
I've been here before and wasn't t very impressed, but on a visit earlier this week he food (lamb special) was very good. Our server was helpful and funny (instead of snide). Recommend checking them out.
(4)
Jared C.
I use Yelp all the time but have been reticent to actually write a review. Well--I felt so strongly about Petit Robert, that I HAD to write a review on this place! First off, I can't believe how many people say good things about this restaurant. I had been waiting to try this establishment because of all the hype, not to mention that I love French food and believe to have a refined enough palate to detect what good French food is. I went with my sister who also had high expectations, and is a trained French cook, mind you, and I started with a bowl of Lobster Bisque. TERRIBLE! The broth was so thin I might as well have been slurping water. We then went on to the dishes--I asked what their best was, which was replied with the coq au vin. Now, I enjoy coq au vin, but I was surprised to hear that this would be their signature dish...it's kind of a simple dish to make. Well, strike two! The sauce vin sauce was OK, I'll admit, but the dish as a whole was incredibly boring. I mean, I'm no master with the pots and pans, but I could have whipped up something more flavorful! My sister had the bluefish, which she also thought was very boring, and was simply not impressed. For the side, we got Haricots Verts Amandine, which--surprise surprise--were boring! I think they simply took butter and melted it on the beans and threw in some almonds with no spice whatsoever Now, before I get to the dessert, I've got to say that the service was atrocious! My water was not refilled for at least a half hour, and the food came at a snail's pace. Well, the dessert. I was so disappointed by now, I decided I was just going to get the crème brule, thinking that there was no way this could go wrong. I was wrong! It came to me like it was torched the night before, and unevenly at that. It's a shame too, because the crème was very good, but felt very old. Needless to say, this was NOT a good experience and I will never recommend this restaurant to another person. I feel like there may be something wrong with me because of how many people enjoy this place!
(1)
Trish F.
Wow.. people have been telling me to come here for 2 years. My old boss, who I think had impeccable taste, absolutely loved this place. Why didn't I come sooner? Oh wait.. probably because I would have gotten Petit Robert's routing number and had my job direct deposit my paycheck to them. Needless to say, I totally believe the hype. In celebration of Kenny (in general and his brief return to the east coast), a few of us went to Petit Robert. I tried to get a bigger reservation but was somewhat disappointed when I could only get it for a foursome. I later found out that there was either a wedding reception or a rehearsal dinner that night (the bride and groom had "laid back" wedding wear) so the tables near us were completely occupied. This place is smallish (you walk through the kitchen to get through to the dining room) but I still think this place is good for groups, just try and get in your reservations ASAP. I actually got there early (as per usual) and whilst waiting for my crew, I couldn't get over how nice everyone was. I don't know, I just always felt that Petit Robert was way way way classy. And it is.. but no one treats you any differently because you don't look like you fell out of a Benneton ad. I definitely appreciated that considering I think some restaurants in Boston are ageist (which sucks since I look like I'm 12). When my companions arrived, we ordered wine and cocktails and settled into the warm lighting and generally busy atmosphere. I had some wild strawberry concoction and it pleased both my need for a girly drink and my need for a "long-week-at-work-drink". For dinner, Ligaya and I shared a romaine/roquefort salad and for entrees we ordered the coq au vin (me), the steak frites (Yihwa), blue fish (Ligaya), and the tilapia special that day (Kenny). Oh HEAVEN! The chicken in my coq au vin fell right off the bone. It was ridiculously delicious.. and come to think about it.. I didn't share! Ligaya gave me some of her blue fish (so tasty.. this was my 2nd choice. I heard it sells out sometimes) and Yihwa let me taste her skirt steak (good except I like mine medium well).. but me and my coq au vin with buttered noodles.. we became soulmates that night. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,,, For dessert.. the pound cake (British?) was a bit hard for my liking but the apple tarte tatin was borderline illegal. The crust was incredibly soft and tasted fantastic.. I don't even want to know how many pounds of butter went into that thing. .. and all that food for a really reasonable price. I mean, I wouldn't go eating there all the time (routing number failure).. but I feel like it needs to be a monthly treat. Good for special occasions, dates, whatever. The atmosphere, the service, the food, the company.. I walked out of there thinking.. this is what 5 star service is like. But.. uh.. what's with the vibrating bathroom?
(5)
Kristine M.
We liked the food (yummy mussels, mashed potatoes, bread pudding) , the ambiance was fun, and the restaurant was cozy but the service was really bad. REALLY BAD. We were there for almost 3 hours because the waiter was so slow. And it wasn't the food that took so long...we waited a very long time before the waiter even came to take our order, bring us the dessert menu, and bring us our check. He also made a mistake with my husband's coffee. He brought him the wrong thing, and then my husband returned it and asked for the correct item. It took about 15 minutes for the correct coffee to come. Then both the mistake coffee and ordered coffee were both on the bill, so when we had to tell the waiter...and it was another 15 minutes for us to get our fixed check!
(3)
Lily L.
My friend and I decided to go to Petit Robert Bistro at 5PM for a super early dinner. Upon arriving, we see no one. We were greeted by no one. After 30 seconds, we see a dishwasher (?), we asked if we could be seated. He scrambles around and finds the maitre d. Since we arrived so early (but technically on time for our reservation), we were seated next to a window. A while into our dinner, the restaurant was getting populated. As we were working on our entree, my friend looks outside and notices that a man was trying to parallel park a HUGE truck into a tiny space. The driver proceeded to hit the bumper of the SUV parked in the rear about 2-3 times. My friend points this out to me. Friend: Look at that person trying to parallel park and hitting the car behind him. Hahaha... Me: Man, that sucks! Hahaha... Our laughter must have attracted some attention as we proceeded to describe this situation unfolding as the patron a table away shouts, "Oh my god. That's OUR CAR!!!" It was a father-son duo. Father (50s-60s being rather chill): Well, it's just the bumper. Look at that tiny spot. Son (20s): Yeah. I can parallel park with my eyes blindfolded if I bounce off the cars around me! Let's key the car! We know where it's parked!!! Moral of the story? Although there's off-street parking, you probably want to be safe and take the public transit or walk. Now onto the food. We came here for Restaurant Week but discovered that the regular entree is actually cheaper. So I ordered the coq au vin. I don't know what I was expecting, perhaps just braised chicken. I'll admit. This chicken had flesh that was just falling off the bone tender. It was dark purple, like what I'd expect a chicken that's been marinating/braised in red wine would look like. However, maybe I've had super inauthentic coq au vin, but the flavor of the chicken was just masked by the wine. I felt the meat tasted bitter. And I can taste fairly strong alcohol. Is this what authentic French coq au vin should taste like? I don't know. So I feel that in some ways, I shouldn't judge. But I'm REALLY not a fan of the strong, bitter taste of alcohol. So if that's not what you like, I'd advise you to stay away from this dish. My friend had the venison and seemed to enjoy it, and this is especially important as it affirmed his desires to go hunting for deer now. Service for the restaurant was alright. My water glass was empty for a good while. And the only refill of water I had was after the bill had come. All in all, an okay experience.
(3)
Byron M.
The owners of Petit Robert Bistro have 3 of these around the Boston Area. Authentic french cuisine that is true to its roots at a cost that Why go to Fridays when you can go to PRB. I particularly like the short ribs when they have them and the roast chicken. Don't forget dessert. The apple pie tartin is amazing. Cheers!
(4)
Abraham N.
Food is excellent, though the service was a bit slow. On a saturday night, no one took our order for about 15 mins, then it took another 20 for the food to arrive. A bit too buttery.
(3)
Bryanne R.
Man, I love PRB. Love their food, their atmosphere, their drinks, their service, everything. My first time at the South End location was a couple weeks ago and it's a little more snug fitting than the one on Comm Ave, but just as wonderful. A+ Peach Sangria -- with a giant peach in it! When I come back to Boston, I try to work PRB into my plans.
(5)
Ina C.
I agree with Jeffrey H. - The "express lunch" menu is a fantastic deal! I almost feel bad paying so little for such fantastic food! I came to PRB this afternoon to enjoy the unbelievable weather. There was plenty of outdoor seating, and the doors in the main dining room were open. My brother and I were too excited to notice that we entered the restaurant on the bar side and ended up forfeiting being seated at a nice table-clothed table, but whatever - It was still a great dining experience. :) A hostess with the type of French accent that you'd kill to have sat us down and gave us our menus. We were offered three menus: one regular menu, a smaller menu with express lunch items one side and brunch items on the other. Oh, the choices! While we waited for our food, water was poured and bread was brought. This bread was hot from the oven and tasted like heaven. Nothing fancy, just bread. But how did they make it so good? I decided on the frisee salad with fried poached egg with bacon, and a chicken crepe that came with the soup of the day, which was a deliciously creamy chilled asparagus and potato soup. The frisee salad was to die for! The frisee, drizzled with a light vinaigrette dressing, was topped with a poached egg that was ingeniously deep fried. "How in the world did they do this?" we wondered. The crepe was hearty and practically bursting with chicken, tomatoes, and other goodies, and was served with a side of roasted potato and broccoli. My brother ordered the tiger shrimp (from the regular menu, I think?), and it was delicious, though I think my choices beat his. :) He also ordered a beer (something-blanche?) which was really clean-tasting, light and had a little hint of banana at the end. Yum! $33 for our entire lunch! Everything at this restaurant was wonderful - the food, decor, service, value. I highly recommend Petit Robert Bistro, especially for a lunch date.
(5)
Rebecca F.
Very tasty, simply said. The only problem is we used to walk in whenever we wanted to before they decided to start taking reservations and now they're almost always booked. Ah well, I guess I can't blame them. Some favorite dishes: Garden Salad w/ Panko Crusted Goat Cheese, Coq au Vin, Escalopes de Venison with Blueberries, and a bunch of other stuff from their previous menu (that's all I've tried of the current menu). Their soups always seem to be delicious. Also, I'm never a big fan of the bread & butter pre-meal deal, but theirs is always devoured in minutes after it arrives. Last, if you're a woman, the male waiters always flirt with you, which is a nice boost. ; ) Save room for dessert: They are to die for.
(4)
John A.
There are many good things to say about Petit Robert Bistro but one thing that needs to be highlighted is that the great atmosphere and classy food at reasonable prices make this a good place for a date. Also, the waitstaff is super attentive and very good at explaining the somewhat complex menu (some of it is in French). I had the rabbit and my hottie accomplice had the sea scallops. Both were excellent. Petit Robert Bistro is a very small and cozy so I'd recommend making a reservation, especially on the weekend.
(4)
Jenn T.
EDIT (5/2/09) I'm changing my review from a 5 star to a 2 star. I just got back from brunch from Petite Robert and I really couldn't be more disappointed. We were not offered their daily special today when, as far as I know, all the other parties that were seat AFTER us were told of today's special. Our bread NEVER came (although the waitress said the bread would be right out after bringing my coffee) until I asked about it when our entrees came out. I ordered my usual crispy poached eggs and it was DISGUSTING, both mine and my cousin's dish (we ordered the same thing). Their poached eggs have always been cooked runny. Today's eggs were 100% well done. Because I had ordered this dish so many times that I know this isn't "right" to the restaurant's standards, so I sent our dishes back. Sadly, chef's second try was still just as bad. Eggs were still VERY cooked. FIne, we ate it (or I tried to. I didn't finish my entree). Our coffees aren't refilled, water not refilled. After I asked for more coffee, it was still not refilled, although the waitress had walked by us after I asked her for more coffee, to just check on things. The restaurant wasn't even to full capacity, not even close, and they're unable to provide at least decent service? What happened to this place? I've never had this problem with this restaurant and I have ALWAYS recommended it whenever someone's looking for a place to eat in the South End. I will have to think twice about recommending this place now. Oh, and normally I'd give today's service and food a 1 star, but I'm hoping that this is just a "glitch' and the next time I give it a try it'll be back to normal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've been to this location several times but always for lunch and the food is always excellent. I've always tried different dishes and have always impressed me. My favorite so far is the crispy poached eggs. YUM... I love the decor, the outdoor seating when the weather's nice and the bill. It's definitely a very affordable place, great for a date. service may be a bit slow but the wait staff has always been very polite. I highly recommended this place.
(2)
Sasha R.
It appears that I happen to be on a search of fabulous french restaurants - or SOMEthing, cause seems that's all I've been visiting, lately! Well I've heard rumors about Petit Robert - that it sucks, that's it's not real French, that it lacks ambiance. I OBJECT! Of all the places I've been, I think it's the most authentic, concentrating less on fake Parisian cafe decor, and more on food, thereby turning out to be most like a Parisian eatery... Small, noisy, bustling, tight seating, open windows: all these things are quite familiar. If you go on their website, they tell you what bistro and brasserie dining is supposed to be (cheap and informal) - and they uphold that in their menu. It's really no nonsense, no fru fru, just delicious traditional dishes, like Coq Au Vin, Pate, Steak Frite, and I had Calf's liver (um, deeeelicious!). A formidable wine list is present too, as well as a long list of desserts, the most popular being the giant profiteroles. Now, our night in particular was a) ruined by the fact that half way through I found out I was on call, and my pager was going off like mad, so I couldn't even enjoy myself. b) immediately redeemed by the fact that Rob Lowe (yes, Rob Lowe) was dining next to us with, what looked like, his mom. I'll SO be back.
(4)
Marilyn T.
I've been to both the Comm Ave PRB and the one on Columbus, and I think I prefer the South End one. I've gone during lunch and actually prefer lunch selections more, as there's more creative variety. I've had interesting dishes like coffee soup, which was daring and innovative, though I don't know if I'd order it again. Other more memorable selections included salads with poached then fried egg. I don't recommend the vegetarian terrine - it's a very pretty dish with its multiple colors, but the flavors just don't stand out. Dinner is more French bistro style, with many classic French dishes like steak, roast chicken, mussels. I would be very happy dining here simply for bread and wine. The bread is the freshest and most amazing baguette I've had in Boston, and rumor is that the dough is trucked in from Montreal a couple times a week. It's soooo good warm, and it's the main reason I crave Petit Robert. It's decently priced for the South End, and the bread alone may just be motivation enough for me to go back.
(3)
Ron U.
My visit to Petit Robert is the product of my Yelp search for 'liver' in the greater Boston area. I really just wanted the best liver dish I could find. Petit Robert Bistro delivered with the calf's liver. Also, great wine selection, service, and ambiance. Price is very affordable for the quality of food. Wait staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about the food. ** Update ** Tried the duck confit. Just as good if not better than the calf liver. Warm bread is served prior to the meal.
my favorite spot for a nice meal on my lunch hour - perfect for lunch dates. I could just say CHEAP FRENCH FOOD and that would be sufficient for some, but I've eaten here so so many times that I really must elaborate. when I worked at NEU I would eat here about once a week. you can get GOOD DELICIOUS french food, something light or more substantial, a full lunch for under $10 !!! we're not talking fake stuff either, I mean fresh baked cruchy tender baguettes with pate, tapenade, sardines, anything you want! this bread is to die for. I love the burgerdog and they will warn you it takes time to cook, but its worth it! enjoy a glass of wine or a delicious latte while you wait - relax & listen to the great french music they always have playing. really the whole vibe is relaxed, understated, but crisp. everything is very clean and bright. overall it is one of my favorite spots in Boston - if you are afraid of french food this is a great unpretentious and comfortable place to start exploring. the service is spotty - ok I'll admit, the service is not so good in fact they get things wrong quite frequently. but I LIKE that, ok? why do I care if they hot french waiter screws up my order? HE'S HOT! AND FRENCH! I have never had room for desert here but I cant wait to come back and try some. I would also really like to try the dinner. if you are looking for a real french bistro that is comfortable and easy on the budget, look no further. just be patient with your waiters - they'll get it right eventually ;)
(4)
John G.
Perfect for sitting outside, nursing a Sunday morning hangover over a croque with egg and cappuccino.
(4)
noell b.
taken here by friends in boston i had to say i was totally impressed. the chicken coq au vin was not only super delicious, but came in a HUGE portion and served with really delicious buttered noodles on the side. my husband's boeuf bourguignon was equally delicious--and huge. we had a great table, excellent service, and the ambiance was great. i think, though, while it was really good (and having never been to france, i'm not sure how it holds up in authenticity) i feel like i can get better french-styled food in seattle.
(3)
Chris F.
This is place is pure awesomeness. It's fancy and cheap. You can take friends, family, or hobos off the street in there. The food's surprisingly spectacular, and the cocktails are all good (especially the Vesper martini). The music in the bar is mostly French, and perhaps the oddest collection of pop songs you'll ever hear. The staff's pretty cool, and the bistro atmosphere is perfectomundo.
(5)
Melissa F.
I've only dined here once and only in the South End. I went here for lunch and it was very quiet so we were able to get a cute little table outside on the patio [perfect for people watching!]. Since I'm a picky eater, I didn't get any of the food that I'm sure the restaurant is famous for, so I stuck to my default. A cheeseburger. Now, you might think who the heck orders a cheeseburger at a french bistro, well, your answer is me. I do. BUT, it was the coolest burger ever! I've never seen anything like it. It was a hamburger rolled up in the shape of a foot long hot dog!!! And it was inside a toasted sub roll with melted cheese. I wish I could post pictures of it, because yes I totally took a picture. It tasted delicious and it was the best thing I've ever seen!
(4)
Restaurant L.
Despite the pretentious anti-customer service, "I speak French so I'm probably better than you," American waiter, Petit Robert is a delicious quaint spot. This was only my second time eating here, and to be honest I didn't love the chicken and crepe special, but the Mussels appetizer was full of flavor! My first visit a couple of years ago was spectacular, because just as the other yelpers claim, the chicken Coq au Vin is to die for. I think the waiter just needs a little lesson on how to treat the customer. Like, just recommend a cocktail to me, don't sit there with a blank stare like I should know what I want. Also, repeat the specials when I ask. Don't stand there and look at me like I'm an idiot, because I may have forgotten one. Actually, the first time we asked you about the specials, you had to go consult the chef. Shouldn't you have known them in the first place? Don't let this all stop you from going to Petit Robert, however. The location is quiet, because it's a bit separated from the other restaurants on Columbus Ave, and the patio faces a beautiful church.
(3)
Nancy L.
I tend to judge a resturant by the bread. How can you not when it is the first thing that greets you once you sit down? And I am pleased to say that the bread/baguette at Petit Robert Bistro is AMAZING: delicious crunchy crust on the outside with a soft and warm center. Perfect for breaking apart with a dining companion and for the endless dipping into the soups. The best thing about them: they're FREE, well kinda :P If the bread is good then it set the bar high for the rest of the night because 1- you expect the other food to be just as delicious and 2- you might have stuffed yourself silly with the bread so if the entree entices you to keep eating, then the restaurant has done well. Well PRB didn't disappoint!!! The creamy lobster bisque was WONDERFUL: not your run of the mill chowder like creation that is overwhelmed by cream but a delicate bisque that sings of seafood flavors. I couldn't help dipping the bread into my companion's soup till he hovered over the bowl protectively. I had the beef short ribs and he had several types of different sausage ranging from black to white. The beef short ribs was incredibly homey and just what I needed on a cold winter night. I'm not a big sausage/hotdog person but the PRB's sausage has a wide range of taste that is very interesting. My companion liked it a lot. Since we were so full of bread, bread, soup, and entree we didn't get dessert but I definitely want to go back for it!
(5)
Stephen B.
Coffee and potato soup? Excuse me? It's not potato soup with a cup of coffee - it's potato soup with coffee in it. ... ok? Aside from the ostentatious soup selection, this restaurant boasts that their beef hotdogs are "9 inches of pure heaven"... or something like that. My hotdog was more like "9 manhunt inches of burnt cow carcas," though it was still tasty. The overly peppery bloody mary I got helped my food go down that much more. Would be one star, but the waiter was hot.
(2)
Andrew D.
I went here with a friend a while back for a drink and we decided to come back for brunch. The drink was good, a bit pricey but I really only needed the one. I like the atmosphere though walking through the kitchen to get to your table was a bit strange but I kind of liked that. At least I know the conditions of the preparation are clean. I had the eggs Benedict and I would say that it was probably one of the best I have had in Boston. It beats many restaurants and isn't too busy that you feel rushed. The price for lunch is reasonable but dinner seemed like it could get expensive and delicious. I would have given this place 4 stars for the loud mouth sitting next to us but I figured it wasn't their fault obnoxious people like French food. So if your really loud I wouldn't suggest eating here, you'll just ruin the atmosphere.
(5)
Sean H.
Amazing! Friendly staff, cozy atmosphere, and savory food. Had rabbit for the first time... absolutely scrumshious! Looking forward to dining here again soon.
This is a wonderful restaurant. The dishes were fantastic, very lovely location and it has a nice large glass window overlooking the street. It was snowing and it was very cozy and romantic. Food-wise, I like the ingredients here, fresh and unique, very distinctive platings. I tried the venison and Chilean sea bass, both were well worth the price. My only complaint with this place is that it's really tight, tables were really closed together.
(4)
Shang S.
We were charmed by our waitress' ability to speak French. I don't know why everyone is saying it doesn't take reservations, we made reservations for 2 on a Wednesday night. They must have had a new hire bringing out the food because he was constantly confused as to which dishes went with which table. Lobster bisque was really good for Boston, but not a lot of lobster. The bread was really, really heavenly, although I guiltily admit it reminds me of Bertucci's rolls. I got the Normandy pork sausages, which came with a delightful apple cream sauce. My boyfriend got the calf liver... which, unless you like the taste of liver, well, didn't go down quite so well. I liked the lift that the sauce gave to the liver, but we agreed we'd never get that again. Got the giant profiterole for dessert. Neither of us were a huge fan of the fudge, and most of the desserts at this restaurant rested on the heavy side. However, I do want to come back, I think that once the menu is picked correctly the experience is really good, given the value of the price and everything.
(3)
Ayon J. R.
The menu is somewhat limited, but the food is great. And, so is the service.
(4)
E C.
I was pleasantly surprised with my whole experience at Petit Robert after reading some of the reviews before going. Everything from the food to the service was great. I went on a Wednesday night around 8 with my boyfriend and we were seated right away. The atmosphere was romantic even though we were sitting pretty close to the people on either side of us. Someone came right over to fill our waters (and kept refilling them through the night) and our waiter, who was very friendly, came over soon after that. I started with the Soup du jour and my BF with a salad, both delish. Then we had the lamb chop and roast chicken. We were not disapointed. My only regreat is we were too full to try dessert.
(4)
Alex B.
Cozy french bistro, perfect for a date or for a group of friends. Prices are very reasonable, and the staff were helpful. I found it funny that the entire staff were extremely french (lots of zis and zee's) but the main chef was an asian woman. No complaints here, the coq au vin was delicious. So far: my favorite french restaurant in the city.
(5)
Arestia R.
I'm pretty sure it's hard to go wrong with this place. Great French food at an affordable price in a little bistro setting is good for any occasion. My friends and I went for my birthday to avoid a lot of fuss and had a wonderful time. Our service was a bit slow, but I didn't really care. The pate was fabulous, the cocktails were delicious and the food really hit the spot. I had traditional duck cocovin and it practically melted in my mouth. I'll definitely be back here.
(4)
Jon L.
I am first to admit that I am not a millionaire and there are many things in this world I will not be able to experience, but I would still like to experience them. Petit Robert allows me to do this. They give really cool French dishes, things I am i have no idea about, and present them to you at a price that is affordable. The portions are not large, but that is the price you pay for having really cool products on your plate that would cost $40 somewhere else. Sometimes its better to have a small plate of something delicious than a large plate of something average, and Petit Robert understands this.
(4)
Craig S.
Good French Onion soup. And it all ends there. Absolutely clueless service. Took them over 45 minutes to make a sandwich with brie...and the cheese wasn't even melted! We actually got up and left. To the manager's credit, at least she didn't charge us for the food we never got.
(1)
Marisa W.
The Coq Au Vin is amazing! And the service is great. Friendly staff.
(5)
Victoria G.
i LOVE everything i ate and drank here. the atmosphere was wonderful and romantic. i actually had thanksgiving lunch with friends and the food was incredible!!! the turkey was perfectly cooked as well as the potatoes and vegetables. the bread pudding dessert was divine. i'm definitely going back!! the boston comm ave petit robert is also equally delicious (the half chicken is my fave). it was so nice to have such a great thanksgiving lunch and the service was fantastic. some of the best food i've had in boston, yet.
(5)
Deepa C.
I have been wanting to go here for ages, so when my father-in-law wanted to meet up and take us out to dinner (we dog sat back in Feb) I thought this would be ideal. Nice, but wouldn't break the bank. It was a huge hit with everyone. since they don't take reservations, we arrived at 6:30 (on a sat) and were seated almost immediately. the smallish dining room was full, but not packed. service was attentive and prompt and the atmosphere was impressive but not overwhelming. i like that you had to walk past the open kitchen to get from the bar area to the dining room; little things like that take away from pretension. my salad was simple, yet satisfying. my husband got the lobster bisque - good, but peppery, and my FIL had the escargot - which he seemed enjoy. main courses were scallops (simple, yet amazing, served with wilted spinach and garlic mashed potatoes) pork medallions (HUGE portions (my husband got through half...) with a great sauce), salmon steak with a basil tomato sauce (my FIL pratically licked his plate), and blue fish (which also went over very well). dessert was also incredible - giant profiteroles, apple tarts, angel food cake with fruit and chocolate mousse. the coffee was a little strong, nothing out of the ordinary. i will stop here, lest i gush too much. overall, it was a great meal. perfectly timed, good service, clean. the place was busting at the seams with we left, but we did not feel as though we were rushed out. the neighborhood is right up my alley - i love the south end. PRB is nestled in a row of brownstones across from a church, this would be a great place for an outdoor summer supper or brunch. i am def going back. ETA: So I have been here several times since this review. Nothing has changed my mind about the 5 stars. AND the last time I was there - Rob freaking Lowe sat next to us! Talk about icing on the proverbial profiterole!
(5)
Eric Y.
Being on a business trip, I was lucky enough to have dined here w/ some co-workers. This tiny French bistro has been one of the best I've been to. The wait may be long, but well worth it. Just have a couple glasses of wine while you wait near the bar. The escargot are done just right and the baquettes will go even better with the leftover sauce. Coq au Vin, Boeuf Bourginon, pate, and foie gras are a few of the stand outs. If I'm ever back in the area, I'll be sure to dine here again.
(4)
Jason M.
Great neighborhood French spot. Good selection of French and Belgian beers.
(5)
Erik D.
Food quality is no longer consistent. Wine list is ok. Still a neighborhood staple but not what it used to be.
(3)
Jackie C.
Cozy French restaurant with all the south end feel... cute and elegant but casual at the same time. The food is sort of home cooked french style... it is great. For dessert i had the chocolate chip cookies with milk,,, how it took me back!!! The waiters were very very friendly and kind... great service. Will definitely be back there soon!!
(5)
Dominic Y.
My favorite restaurant in the Southend. Nothing beats the original location. My favorites are Grand mariner Souffle and beef bourguignon. Overheard some dude explaining salmon legs (another recommended entree) to his date, "No they do. That's how they dig the holes for their eggs." Someone get that guy another round of Milwaukee's best!
(5)
Arthur E.
Very good meal in this great neighborhood restaurant.
(4)
Phoebe L.
I make sure I drop by Petit Robert whenever I'm in Boston. The restaurant's service, price, and food are really deserving of 5 stars. I am a big fan of trio of pates and calf's liver...makes me wish I was in Boston right now. All my experiences have been so awesome that I feel inclined to write my first yelp review on PBR. I recommend making reservations for busier nights and try a few hors d'oeuvres (the prices allow you to do so). Now, I just have to plan my next trip!
(5)
kevin g.
I ate at this restaurant for dinne this past week. I finished my meal around 10 o' clock and the restaurant had mostly cleared out. At that point, I noticed multiple mice scurrying back and forth under tables acoss the room. I didn't say anything at that point because I did not want to shock my date or cause a scene. We were there for another 15 minutes or so and there were at least two, possibly three, mice that were darting from table to table in the main dining room. On the way out, I asked to speak to a manager to alert them of the situation. When I told the manager what I had seen, her face got bright red and she admitted that they were aware of the problem. She said the building was being treated for mice but they had been unsuccessful so far and the mice were still present. I found this to be very disturbing and gross and was somewhat shocked that a high-end restuarant in the South End with the pedigree of PRB would stay open despite knowing they have a mice infestation problem. I would recommend opting for one of the many other fine dining choices in the South End rather than this restaurant.
(1)
Meghan M.
Wow, why, oh why have I not tried this place sooner?? I've lived in South End for just about a year and my first venture to Petit Robert's was just yesterday. I am not even sure where to begin but I'm sure I'll figure it out as we go here... Drinks...FANTASTIC. Let me start by saying, I'm usually not a big mixed drink person. I definitely am not a big fan of sweet or fruity drinks. If I do end up with a mixed drink, it's likely going to be an extra dirty martini. I have to say, though, that I listened to the bartender last night and, lo and behold, had the best martini of my life. It was a rhubarb martini (the name is slipping me at the moment) with a rim of balsamic and sugar. Tangy, a tiny bit sweet...Just perfect! I had started with a bluberry martini which was made with fresh bluberry puree (don't spill it on yourself!) but that was a bit too thick and sweet for my taste. I also hear that their peach sangria is delicious. I'll have to try that next time I go. They also have some awesome French beers on tap including Kronenberg (my sister's personal favorite...I know where we're going next time she pays me a visit). For dinner, I split the salad (mixed greens) and steak frites with my dining partner and we were both very happy with the food. It is probably the closest thing to what I used to eat at the bistros in Paris that I've had in Boston. The portions were very large (it was perfect to split - they even split the portions on two different plates for us) and the prices were really inexpensive for the quality of food we enjoyed. Petit Robert's is, by far, my new favorite French bistro in all of Boston.
(5)
Judy Heller K.
Our party of four had a delicious and reasonably priced dinner here in March. Our reservation was honored promptly and service was excellent. For beef lovers the short ribs are not to be missed! And the threesome pate appetizer was superlative. Only disappointment was our first two wine choices were not available. However, they let us sample several other choices until we found what we wanted. for an intimate and fine dining experience in the South End try Petit Robert Bistro.
(4)
Kevin L.
Oh how I love Ze France:) So, I've lived above this place for 2 years now and have FINALLY ventured the WHOLE WAY downstairs and actually had more than a glass of wine and/or a cocktail... I shall review their brunch now: I cannot get over this brunch. 1st of all, there were 6 of us and it was UNDER $40 (mind you, we didn't have cocktails...but still!!!). PHENOM. It was just so good. I was really sad it was cold out b/c their outdoor space is quite nice and they have a new awning to boot! Dinner is fantastic, also...more crowded...but, I just love love love their brunch. Such a variety of breakfast and lunch food, and plenty of it. Quiches for all! ha. I actually didn't have the Quiche (I had a sardine panini thinger), but everyone loved what they got!!! MAGNIFIQUE!
(4)
Hiherson D.
I believe this was the first restaurant that my wife and I tried when we moved to the South End area a few months back. It was a cute little place and the atmosphere was great. My wife and I went there for a dinner date. She had the Duck Confit and Grilled Sausage with Braised Cabbage and I had Chicken Coq au Vin with Butter Noodles. Both are highly recommended. The Chicken Coq au Vin was delicious. The chicken just fell of the bone and the sauce was heavenly. The portions were more than enough. I wasn't able to finish my place. My wife loved the Duck Confit so much that she ended up finishing hers.
(5)
Mark W.
I took a walk to trader joe's on boylston today and decided to stop by petit robert for a quick "express lunch". This place gives me fond memories of a little bistro in paris. I have to say i've walked past this place a couple times while walking to whole foods and i've missed it. I don't know what it is about the outside but it's very easy to miss. Like a bistro, you take your time and usually just sit and eat your meal and relax. Everyone was very nice and when you enter you get greated by everyone. I was perfectly fine with the timing of everything. I had a nice book with me and got the croque monsieur. Though it's not exactly the same as in paris but it was still great. The cheese was great and the pomme frites were great too. I had a glass of red wine on the side too which brought back great memories. All in all the place was a great place to just sit back, relax and take a break from the busy world of grocery shopping. The price of everything was just great too. I think i'll be back to try the dinner menu someday soon. On a side note i think the people actually speak french. Interesting for a french restaurant :)
(4)
Kelly M.
Went to a petite robert somewhere in boston, but i don't recall which it is, but i am pretty sure it is this one. My friend Bet, a local, loves this place and knew itnto be gluten friendly, so here she led me. They didn't have a menu, but the server knew about gluten and i had mussels which were pretty good. We had creme brule for dessert. I liked petite robert and always feel good after eating french food, i'm just not a 'let's go get french!' kind of person.
Given the many good restaurants in the neighborhood, there's absolutely no reason to go to this place. Thoroughly mediocre food: ingredients of middling quality, preparation that recalls the food at a chain hotel near an airport. (Overdressed salad, unnecessary sauces, ill-conceived juxtapositions, industrial-grade tomatoes, indiscriminately applied cream, etc etc). Bad food is the main problem; the other problems are that tables are too crunched together and that service is pretty slow. In short: just don't do it.
(1)
David W.
I have enjoyed Petit Robert before at both Comm Ave and on Columbus, but not this last visit on a Saturday at noon for brunch. My Eggs Benedict were very substandard: small eggs, burnt English muffin, mediocre Hollandaise and cold French Fries (instead of traditional diced potatoes). My companion's Croque Monsieur was just a cheese sandwich, not prepared in the traditional way. The best part of the meal was the warm French bread. Just barely worth two stars.
(2)
Tammie P.
3.5 stars - Petit Robert serves really great bread and butter. I could not stop eating it!! But I had escargot and lobster bisque coming, so I had to refrain from munching on more bread. The escargots were served sans the shell, and were good. The lobster bisque was a big disappointment. There was no lobster meat at all!!! And the bisque was mildly warm, not very warm. I had about 5 spoonfuls and was done. The wine was a bit warm. Seems like the temperature of the offerings were a bit off tonight. My dining companion and I split a steak frites entree because we were not very hungry when we had arrived at the restaurant. Fortunately, the steak was quite good and cooked to order, with bernaise sauce on the side. The French fries were OK, and the bernaise sauce was great for dipping. Splitting the entree made it a perfect portion, even if we were hungry. As full as I was, I finished my half of the steak because it was so good - very tender and flavorful. For dessert, we ordered the creme brulee and coffee. The creme brulee was average. The sugar crust was thin, and the creme tasted very egg yolky. Definitely had a lot better! Our server did a good job, but the table next to us had some issues with their server. They had to call the manager over and tell him about it. The manager explained that the server did not understand English very well, and I guess he did not know he was being offensive. The table to the other side of us was celebrating a recent engagement, and another server came to offer us some glasses of champagne, but it turns out they were really for our neighbors. Oh well! Would have loved to have some champagne, but wouldn't know where it would fit! Overall, the dining experience was good. I would come back to try other entrees, and hopefully will have a better experience next time.
(3)
Jason A.
When people ask me what's good at Petit, I start talking and end up telling them the whole menu. Everything is delicious! The food is all top quality and made with love. The lobster bisque is the best you'll ever have. The paninis are awesome, too. Oh, and the sweet potato fries! Hello! Heaven! And the mac-n-cheese. Ugh, here I go reciting the menu again. The service is always great.
(5)
Rosie Z.
Very cute restaurant - like a little family-run french bistro tucked in a nice part of the South End. Had the calf's liver - was very good. Great price and the portion was big! They also had really fresh, warm french baguette to start with.
(4)
CeeCee R.
First time to the South End location, a cute little restaurant nestled on Colombus Ave. Got seated immediately without reservation which was nice. Starter Nicoise Salad, it's usually only available for lunch but they specially made it for me as I requested it. Excellent dish! Very nice for them to do so. Smoked Salmon, my husband ordered this dish for a starter and he loved it. Main Course Lobster Mac and Cheese, part of their specials. It's a bit too rich and runny to my liking but it was ok. Lamb Shank, my husband ordered it and he thinks it was ok. Service was pretty good, we both had positive experiences. We would be back there again.
(4)
Sarah D.
I just really love this place. While it's not perfect, it is pretty awesome and, in my experience, unbeatable at this price point. First off, great bread. This should be a given at a french restaurant but i don't care, i am always psyched about a crusty baquette with butter, and in general i don't feel like you get really nice bread often enough these days. Second, appetizers. I've tried the trio of pate, the mussels and the escargot, all tasty. To be honest i had never tried pate before so i can't compare it to others, but i found each of the three to be really delicious and each was slightly different than the others. The mussels were fresh and flavorful and i liked the broth they were served in. Escargot was pretty standard, butter and garlic, and tasty. Appetizers i think are in the $6-$10 range? I might be wrong on that but they are definitely not expensive. The entrees that i've had have all been really nice. I've tried the braised lamb shank, fell right off the bone and tasted like home cooking. The pork roast was very good but not very exciting; the seasoning and cooking was done well but it's not very creative. Even so, very enjoyable. Steak Frites is dependably juicy and delicious and the fries are shoestring macdonalds style minus the rancid taste of fast food oil. I also tried the calves liver when my sister ordered it; i'm not a big fan of liver but it was actually really good. Beer list is small, wine list i don't know i don't order wine so i've never looked at it closely. The actual space is pretty cramped, getting in and out of your seat can be troublesome as it gets crowded in there. There is only one bathroom i think. Prices are medium/low, with entrees hovering above and below the $20 mark depending on what you order. I have always had good meals here, and i am always amazed by how low the bill is compared to how nice everything is.
(5)
Deborah H.
I came here at the recommendation of a local, and had pretty high expectations. We arrived around 9PM with no reservation on a Thursday, and had no problem being seated. My coworker and I both had soups to start with: me, the fish quenelle. My waiter said this was an "ancient" delicious French recipe. He made it sound amazing, but it was really just two squishy fishballs swimming in CHEESE soup. NOT GOOD. My coworker tried the potato leek soup, which tasted like it was pure butter and cream with a touch of potato. Way too rich. The bread was AMAZING though: warm, crusty, yum. This, paired with the fact that the entrees took FOREVER to come out, led to two stuffed people who were not happy with their appetizers when the entrees came out. Too bad, because they were amazing. I had the coq au vin, which was spectacular! It had a depth of flavor and richness that implies that it was the reason why our entrees took so long. My coworker was extremely happy with his skirt steak. Unfortunately we were seriously so full off the bread that we couldn't appreciate these entrees more. Because I was disappointed by the appetizers, and the lack of attention from the waiter during our 45+ minute wait for our entrees, I'm not dying to return. But I guess I'd come back if someone insisted, and this time would skip the appetizer.
(3)
Crystal S.
Oh Petit Robert.... *le sigh* I'd have to say you get your money's worth in regards to quality of food and atmosphere, I can see a couple coming here for a romantic, but modestly priced anniversary or first date, that kind of thing. It's also a great eatery in general, it's affordable enough to be a nice night out on a weekday for no reason at all. The very first time I went here, I looked at the check only to gasp and say "that's IT?!?!" Now, that doesn't mean this is pennies and nickels but really, for what you're getting, I think this is affordable fare in the city. (Please don't jack up the prices because I said this) The service can be hit or miss. Some days they are fantastic, some days they forget to give you bread or forget your drink order or suggest a fat and bean meal on 4th of July (ew). By the way, the reason it's so sad if they forget to give you the bread before your entree arrives is because the bread is FANTASTIC. This quite frankly is the best free bread I've had in the city. I have no ideal where it comes from, but it's consistently good, except, as I mentioned, when they forget to give you some...
(4)
Ligaya T.
A wipe-the-corner-of-your-mouth establishment that oozes the easy charm of a bijou bistro without an upturned nose. Just my style. And apparently everyone else's too. This place is always hopping! The bar plays host to a boisterous crew so dash through the kitchen to the dining room for a seat. Might have to suck in a little and walk sideways on the way to your table trying hard not to breathe on other patrons' meals, itty bitty aisles. The pleasant servers are in constant motion so dodge carefully. For optimal configuration at a half booth disregard standard notions putting women facing the restaurant (keepings boys' peepers locked on their companions). Instead place the tallest person on the wall side as they will sink to the eye level of their dining partners. Now you can look up at each other, gazes conveying the sheer joy at the amount of butter on your plates. Mmmm. The key is simplicity. The ingredients stand alone. (Not only just the cheese!) A little spice, dollop of dairy in some form, a sprinkle of salt. Perfection! The blue fish is a winner, they just need to dump a little more corn gravy on top. Always a classsic, the steak frites satisfies the hungry belly. I was told the coq au vin was scrumptious as well. I'm jealous of the pastry chef. The crust on the tart tartin is moist and doughy, yummicicious. I'd skip the British cake though. All around, a solid bullseye!
(4)
Shawn T.
The trio of pate is still to die for! It's really the only thing that keeps bringing me back here (that and their entrees are decently priced). My only gripe is that they raised the prices for it. The bread service is also good; I love the simple accompaniment of butter, yum!
(4)
Me B. M.
Boston needs good, honest French food. And I was sad that this was not it. It's merely overpriced and mediocre. Over-cooked, under-seasoned. The bread is really great, though! I have eaten there many times, and will again, but nothing is that great and the services is uneven.
After compiling my first list (!) I decided that my petit robert bistro review didn't really do the restaurant justice. Since my first dining experience there, I have frequented the restaurant a dozen more times. It's one of my goto restaurants that I know will never fail me (or very rarely). Whether its a cold winter night or a hot summer afternoon, the staff at the place is friendly, warm and welcoming. I love sitting in the outdoors area during the summer, just enjoying the south end with the warm, soft and delicious bread, which i use to dip into my flavorful lobster bisque. Following that, any entree on the menu is a delight, but I'm especially partial to the specials they have..yummmm rabbit. Bottom line, GO. it wont disappoint
(4)
Marcus C.
So much better than the Petit Robert Bistro downtown! The trio of pates was excellent and I really, really want to eat more of the coq au vin!
(4)
Paul S.
Service was good. An off night for the kitchen. Food took 50 minutes between courses and arrived cold and under seasoned. Night was saved by good company and champagne. Decent wine list.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Oki P.
I always come by this restaurant whenever im picking up pastries from cafe madeline opposite for brunch. It is always a pleasant meal especially their brunch menu of egg benedict and french toast! Its such a great place with a relaxed, easy atomsphere with french comfort food! Yum!
(5)Aleh V.
Feels like you are back in Paris. A church across the street adds to the flavor. Petit french cuisine. Omelettes are great. Soup is fine. A retractable roof to make enough shade when sitting on a hot day. Even the wind blows along the street to release you from the daytime heart. Perfect for brunch.
(5)Tim K.
In the competitive South End restaurant scene, we always end up coming back here more than the rest. They keep their menu fresh but leave on the greatest hits, including their rich French Onion soup and steak frites. They often have a great pork dish as well. Their dessert and wine list are extensive and fulfilling. I specifically recommend the Profiterole, share with a friend! Our service has always been pleasantly paced. They are not in a rush, so you shouldn't be either. It's funny to see people complain about slow service; these people have clearly never been to France.
(5)Lyndsey C.
Very cute little joint. We ate outside. The food was yummy and atmosphere was really pleasant. I enjoyed the quiche of the day with salmon and my friend had the salmon croissant. We enjoyed our meal and it was very fresh. Waitress was not very helpful, she didn't come back much and we had to literally find her to get our check. I would return but wouldn't count on great service... we were only there for a short lunch so I am unsure on dinner but great neighborhood and cute joint.
(4)Christine J.
A nice french restaurant, quiet, classy and simple. excellent food and service. will be back.
(4)Rita R.
Lovely French restaurant and corresponding ambiance. Quiet on a Friday at 6 pm, then gets busy. Service took a little on the long side, and prices a bit on the high side, hence the loss of one star. All in all, a pleasant dining experience for a daughter and mom pair.
(4)Shani T.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. My boyfriend and I came in for brunch on Easter around 12:30PM. We got seated at the table right next to the window, which was nice. There is a fair bit of space in the restaurant and I never felt too close to the table next to us, which was nice. I judge restaurants pretty harshly on the complimentary bread that they provide, and oh my goodness, PRB kills it with their complimentary baguettes. These baguettes are bomb. They come out extremely fresh and warm, and my boyfriend and I each had one for ourselves before our meal. My boyfriend ordered the omelette lyonnaise and I ordered the boeuf bourguignon. 1) Omelette Lyonnaise ($12)--very large serving that came with a salad and fries. The omelette was cooked to perfection, very moist and still a bit runny, exactly how my boyfriend prefers his eggs. Many places leave the omelettes a bit too dry, but PRB did a good job with. The bacon in the omelette was also extremely crispy and delicious, not too greasy either. 2) Boeuf bourguignon ($26)--I really actually wanted to order the omelette lyonnaise myself, but when my boyfriend said that's what he wanted, I decided to switch it up. Normally when I've ordered beef bourguignon at other restaurants, it comes as a pasta dish (thanks, Julia Childs). Here, I got the beef stew with some potatoes and vegetables on the side. It surprised me a bit, but the beef itself was very tender. I barely needed to use the steak knife to cut through the beef; my fork was enough. The stew wasn't too heavy in flavoring and I guess I don't mind cutting back on carbs since I ate an entire baguette by myself anyway. Overall, quite good, though pricey. The vegetables were good, nothing too spectacular, but seasoned well. Now, a few gripes about the restaurant. Our host never gave us the Easter specials menu. I saw other tables with them but for some reason it seems like the host just forgot? It would have been nice to see, but I didn't notice until after we had ordered. That being said, the waiter never walked us through any specials either, so we also didn't have a clue that there were any specials. Another issue I had with PRB was the fact that on our check, we were charged $27 for the beef bourguignon. It clearly says $26 on the menu, and it's just confusing to me as to why we were charged a different price. We pointed this out to our waiter and he changed it for us with no questions asks / no explanation given, but I kind of was more curious about the why, instead of caring for the $1 difference. I would come back for brunch and get an omelette. $12 for the omelette seemed very worth it. $26 for the beef bourguignon, not so much. I've had better and cheaper elsewhere. Definitely take a quick look at the check though... Can't say I trust this place too much after the extra dollar charged on my dish.
(4)Al S.
My second best meal of my lifetime. Wonderful, personable service, decent decor, and the food! Holy crap! My buddy had foie gras, I ordered pate maison. For mains, scallops for me (although I didn't care for the bed of eggplant they came on) and chicken for my dinner companion. One word. Excellent. Perfectly seared scallops. Chicken that's truly falling off the bone. And the waitress picked a perfect bottle ($42). Truly, truly enjoyable. (And I'm a huge snob when it comes to food)
(5)Jake E.
Not really sure why all the mediocre to bad reviews. My girlfriend and I went here for our anniversary dinner and were thoroughly impressed all around by the quality of the food, attentiveness of the service, and classy atmosphere. I agree the food is expensive, but if you're on a budget, then you probably shouldn't be eating at a bistro in the first place! Personally, I wouldn't dine here except for special occasions, but I don't think it's exorbitant as far as upscale restaurants go. Food was excellent all around. The complementary crusty baguette they provided was enough to whet our appetites for the main courses. My girlfriend ordered roasted chicken, which she said was tender and flavorful and I ordered the (skirt) steak-frites. Let me just qualify my review by saying that I am quite picky when it comes to steak and this was one of the best cooked steaks I have had in a long while. Unlike many restaurants, they actually cooked to order (medium-rare) and the meat was soft and well marinated. The French fries were just the right amount salty and crispy and paired well with the provided garlic aioli. Service was great too, no complaints! The atmosphere in the patio seating can get a tad noisy at times since Columbus Ave. is a main thoroughfare in the South End, but that's hardly the restaurant's fault. All in all, would definitely return, though infrequently and only for a special occasion.
(4)Antonio E.
Honest food review. I've been in France many times and I can say this is the typical food you can find all around France. It's not a top-notch restaurant of course, but if you want to taste authentic French food with a decent bottle of wine without having to empty your pockets you've come to the right place. The only thing I did not like was one of the three pates they have in their pate selection plate. Everything else pretty good. Also the atmosphere, the small place, the small tables, really makes you feel like you are in a Petit French Bistro :)
(4)Lisa L.
Charming place to have a visit with old friends and enjoy good food but not great. The service was outstanding but the Onion Soup was just passable. Salads were very good but over all it made me miss the old Cafe Du Barry's on Newbury Street.
(3)Joe R.
We had a wonderful dinner. I had the duo des canards (duck confit and duck breast) which was amazing. We got the pate plate as an appetizer and that is always good. The place is small and really busy / popular, so a reservation is a must! The menu says they have soufflé, but they've discontinued it at the south end location. It was disappointing to us, but in no way ruined the dinner as all the good was delicious and there were several other dessert options.
(4)Brea L.
Beautiful location and I was able to sit outside. The staff was very friendly and informative about the menu. The cocktails were amazing; I had the dirty dawn. Food was perfectly portioned and I would recommend sharing appetizers because it's difficult to choose just one. Will be coming back to this restaurant.
(5)Lily J.
Great food, service, and atmosphere. Nice place to enjoy some delicious French food without necessarily needing a reservation. I am always surprised they are not busier! When the weather is nice they also have outdoor tables available. Their menu changes seasonally and I can't remember exactly what I ordered the last time I was there (some kind of fish with lemon and thyme...it was awesome). I'll definitely be back for more!
(5)Noreen A.
Amazing food. Stefano, the chef, makes food that my mouth falls in love with. Great wine selection, service staff, atmosphere, and eye candy.
(4)Adam S.
Love this place. Food is always good as is the wine. Also the service is top notch. I mean who doesn't like quality French food with a great atmosphere!?
(5)Aneesh B.
I was in town for a conference and met a friend for dinner at Petit Robert; what a lovely dinner! Food: We started the meal with a bottle of Sancerre, which was perfect for the warm-day-turning-into-cool-evening; I thought the wine list was thoughtfully chose. As for the food, the words I think best describe the food at Petit Robert are simple, flavorful, and light. I generally don't opt for French food, but I'm slowly being brought back into the light with French bistro fare. To start, we shared a plate of mussels persillade (parsley sauce), which had a nice bite from the vinegar and garlic, but wasn't overpowering. Then I had the grilled salmon served with ratatouille. I asked for the salmon to be grilled rare, and that is exactly what I got. Makes me really happy when a cook knows how to grill to the proper temperature, especially when for a piece of fish. It was a nice entree, and I am glad I ordered it. Others at the table ordered the scallops and a special octopus salad with kale and lentils. All the food looked amazing. We also shared sides of sauteed mushrooms and spinach. Veggies were well-seasoned and not at all overcooked. We skipped dessert in favor of another bottle of Sancerre, but other tables looked quite happy with their sweet treats. Service: Outstanding. Full disclosure: my friend knows the owner of the Petit Robert restaurants, and during our meal the owner sat down with us to eat, so I suppose you could assume the service was extra-special" because of that; I don't think it would have made a difference, though. I think the staff is well-trained and knows how to make you feel comfortable. Vibe: Chill, with a menu to match. Nothing about the place is flashy, yet the experience felt way better than average. It's a comfortable place with indoor and outdoor seating that I think anyone would love. Family-friendly: Unless your kids like French food, I'd probably leave them at home. But this is definitely not a stuffy place which would frown upon bringing children in to dine. No kids menu, but it's a neighborhood bistro that I am sure could rustle up something a kid would enjoy. Summary: A gem in the South End, Petit Robert will make you feel at home and serve you flavorful fare with no fuss. Definitely worth your time and money. Bon appetit!
(4)Peter K.
Great French restaurant in Boston! Awesome food, amazing foie gras! Nice atmosphere, good service. Love this place.
(5)Daniel R.
Service was okay -- friendly, but slow, and they forgot the rolls until my girlfriend asked about it later (after the main course was already here.) Food was good, but not great, and didn't justify the price. I typically frequent cheaper places, and I expect a cut above from a pricier place like this. The thing that really ruined it for us, though, was that we came PURELY for the purpose of using a gift certificate. When we handed it to the waiter at the end, he informed us that our gift certificate was good at some Petit Robert locations, but not others, and he couldn't accept it. The certificate did not say anything about which locations it was valid for, and any normal customer would assume it's valid for all of them. According to the waiter, this issue comes up on a regular basis, yet they haven't done anything about it. We paid the full bill (as though we had no gift certificate), but left unhappy. When I contacted them via their web feedback form to complain, not only did they not attempt to rectify the situation, but they never even bothered to respond. A classy place like this should be able to do much better.
(1)L P.
We eat here often and love to bring out of town guests. This place is awesome all around. There is a varied and delicious cocktail menu, I always start with that. We will generally then pick a wine from their impressive wine list. Their appetizers are lovely. Our favorites are the crab salad and the escargot. We have loved every entrée we've had there, but especially the scallops, risotto, and the pork shank. For dessert you can't go wrong either. We love the fondant, the creme brulee, and especially the giant profiterole. The food and drinks would probably be enough for 5 stars, but when you add the lovely service we have consistently had and the year round comfort and ambience (lovely outdoor dining in the summer, cozy dining room in the winter) this place is really a stand out.
(5)Shaelyn C.
Clarice was a very pleasant server and was very helpful with making our decisions on entrees which we were very happy with . 5 stars for sure on this one.
(5)Danielle K.
Petit Robert Bistro is in a really cute and quaint part of Boston. The staff here is also really accommodating and down to earth so it was hard to see how this place could ever go wrong right off the bat. We ordered the escargot and the calf's liver and I was in love. The escargot is nice and buttery and the calf's liver is really well cooked. If you don't like a more soft calf's liver, make sure to tell the waiter because it comes out on the rarer side. The bread is ah-may-zing. So amazing that we really didn't feel bad or embarrassed about asking for more even if their stockpile went down because of us.
(4)Anthony M.
The escargot were to die for at this little Parisian bistro in downtown Boston. The prices are high, portions are small, quarters are tight and the food is delish. We ordered specials as the entrees which made the prices higher than expected, the food was good but not for the price especially if you are going to leave hungry. I would love to go back just for some escargot and some drinks at the bar.
(3)Carlos A.
I went there for dinner. We ordered two steak frites one rare and one medium. After an one hour wait the medium one was brought well done and the rare one was brought medium. When we told our waiter that both steaks were overcooked she brought back the person I assume was the owner or general manager. I was expecting an apology and have it immediately changed because it was very clear that both steaks were overcooked. Instead of that they said that the reason it was overcooked was because the steak was thin and that if I brought it to the light I could see that there was a little red in the middle of the "rare" one. They refused to change them and they were rude making it seem like I had never ordered a steak before. There are a lot of other good restaurants in the area to choose from, so avoid Petit Robert Bistro.
(1)Timothy A.
Le Petit Robert still has a lot to recommend it, but our visit on 10/12/14 was disappointing compared to previous ones. We arrived at 12:25 PM with a 12:30 reservation and were seated immediately. It took 35 minutes before a waiter even took a drink order, and it was nearly an hour before any food arrived. There was only a Sunday Brunch menu available (this was not mentioned on the website). Two of us had Moules Frites (one marniere and one curry), and they were excellent along with very good frites. The third person had Coq au Vin, which was on the greasy side and relatively flavorless. The bread was not up to par, essentially a roll that lacked a good crust and a soft inside. The basket of viennoiserie had a super croissant, two pain au chocolate, and a blueberry muffin that was tasteless and did not belong in the company of the others. The Vouvray wine was crisp and fresh but the Cotes de Rhone was stale (perhaps the bottle had been opened the day before). In general, the service was slow and inattentive. Compared with previous visits, I would say that Le Petit Robert is on the way down, living on reputation but still having an affected arrogance about what it used to be. I'll pass in the future and seek another bistro that cares to make its reputation in Boston.
(3)Lynn J.
FINE FRENCH FOOD! The service was very attentive and consistent. I had a baked salmon with a very rich sauce. It was very good, but Boston high priced, and not something that I'd come back for again. I'm told though, that red meats are where they shine. So, if that's your thing, my dining friends recommend it. My companions had come here often for their meat dishes. THE DEAL: Loved the Profiterole dessert!
(4)Jacob M.
Food is excellent. Very homey and tasty French food, not fancy at all. I usually get their cassoulet, it's really really good! Their wine selection is excellent also. But the service is extremely slow (still polite, just unbearably slow), just like what you'd expect from an authentic bistro in Paris, I guess.. It's ironic, because the French word "bistro" is actually a loanword that originates from Russian, meaning 'fast' or 'quickly'... :-/ It's no l'espalier, but for the price and the quality of food, I really shouldn't complain about this charming little place in the neighborhood.
(3)Eric F.
Came in for lunch with the family and the experience was a tiny step up from awful. There was no one at the front upon arrival and service throughout the meal left much to be desired, eg. it doesn't help to ask us how everything was 3-4 times when my water and coffee are repeatedly left empty and unnoticed. It's also a bad sign when I contemplate leaving 5 minutes after being seated since no one had come by our table. We had a BLT, escargot, omelette and crispy poached egg among us and nothing left an impression. The poached egg was bland, the fries looked store bought and I make far more flavorful eggs at home. The one tiny saving grace was (arguably) the bread as it was at least served hot. Highlight of the meal: "What's the fish of the day?" "Scallops."
(1)A C.
I just dropped this place, one of my favorite places, to two stars, because of the below response from the restaurant. I sent them an email with my above concerns, and this was their reply: "Thank you for your feedback. I am glad you had a true Bistro experience. We have worked very hard for almost 8 years to create a true Parisian atmosphere in our Bistros and it seems that our Guests are finally getting it. Welcome to France! A tres bientot et merci encore! Loic Le Garrec Directeur-Proprietaire loiclg@comcast.net " Clearly, it just bespeaks to the poor management. Contrast this reply to the personal apology and gift certificate from Chef Hamersley, and you know which place takes service seriously.
(2)Paloma M.
I went there on saturday night for the first time (I've only been at the commonwealth location) and I was not very impressed, to be honest. I had a cod with vegetables that was really meh, the cod had no taste at all! My husband had scallops with zucchini and said it was good. At least the tarte tatin was amazing! Service was good but the restaurant was extremely noisy, different from the one in back bay, which is much better, btw.
(3)A G.
Not a bad experience. The food was well prepared and very tasty Service was good however not all plates were served at the same time for our party.
(3)Sara S.
Romantic and fantastic food. Great spot if you're a fan of French cuisine.
(4)Bing X.
Loved the food! All the food! The place was a bit too crowded but It is acceptable considering the food....
(5)McGhee O.
We were here on Friday, the 11th. Let me start by saying that I thought the food was AMAZING. So very good. What brought my review so far down was the service. I was there with my girlfriend, and for the first part of the meal our service was fine. However, when a table came in (I believe they were regulars), our server proceeded to stand at their table and talk very loudly with/at them for over 20 minutes. Meanwhile all his other tables, including ours, were completely ignored. We ended up having to ask another server for our check. I had every intention of having dessert and an after dinner drink, but after sitting there for a long time waiting for our waiter to pay attention to anyone else, we decided to skip it and just get the check. It was quite upsetting, as I have loved Petit Robert up until now. I doubt we will go back.
(2)Iri A.
We were there for brunch early on Sunday morning. The omellette and eggs bennedict were great. I didn't like to french toast because it was not soft. the atmosphere was nice and quiet, the coffee fresh out of the brewer, the music very pleasant and the servers polite.
(4)Daniel J.
Nice dinner - good food - not too much and very tasty. Great atmosphere even down to the bone fide French waiters - lost on some of the customers I'm afraid
(4)matthew g.
My wife and I went here on a busy Saturday night for dinner. Based on reviews we expected good food and poor service. However, Petite Robert Bistro managed to far surpass our expectations. The appetizers were served promptly, the escargot buttery and garlicky. Wonderful. I had the steak frites and it was cooked a perfect medium rare, my wife had the beef bourguignon and is was so unbelievably moist, flavorful. Just terrific. Now onto the service. We were extremely well taken care of from the hostess who seated us, to the waiter that took good care of us, to the friendly staff who packed our leftover wine up to take home. I would definitely recommend this place. It felt very much like a high quality restaurant in Paris, just easier to understand the people sitting around you.
(5)J C.
Petit Robert has an open outdoor dining area where you can bring your dog, so we go despite the mediocre food and poor service. Last time we went, though, on Mother's Day for brunch, it was truly awful. We waited several minutes for water. We had to ask twice for them to bring us iced tea. The waitress was generally uninterested in speaking with us. But the most ridiculous part was when I ordered an omelette and asked if they could add spinach. The waitress said they couldn't take any special orders because they were so busy (the indoor section was half full) and I could get a side of spinach. I let it slide and ordered the side, which was just sautéed spinach in oil (not even seasoned). It was fine, but I would've preferred it I'm the omelette so it wasn't so greasy. Fast forward to us getting the bill (after asking two people three times for it), and they charged us $8 DOLLARS for the side of spinach on top of the cost of the omelette. It was straight out of an episode of Kitchen Nightmares. Apparently not only is the customer not always right, but you can charge them an arm and a leg when they make special requests. We will not be back.
(1)Gavin R.
Had a really nice, early dinner there with the family,
(4)Silvia V.
This is one of the best French bistros in town when it comes to what you get for your buck. I've been to all three locations and I've had great meals at all three. I just came home from having dinner at the South End location. Once again, I had a great experience at Petit Robert's. While waiting for my friend, I ordered mulled wine. It was warm enough and strong enough. The garden salad with panko crusted goat cheese was delicious. The Chilean sea bass special was perfect taste wise as well as portion wise. The Nutella crepes were oh so delicious. The service was attentive and knowledgeable. And the bill was wallet-friendly too. Very pleasant experience all around.
(5)Jiyea C.
This is probably a less than 3 star restaurant, but I decided to bump it up because the service was good! Much better than the food. If the most memorable part of the meal was the bread that was served at the beginning of the meal, you can get an idea of what I thought of the food. The french roll was served warm and had the perfect crunchy/chewy consistency. For a girl who knows her carbs, it was very satisfying. We tried the pate appeitizer, the cassoulet, and the daily dessert special, almond cake. I thought all the components of the cassoulet were salty, but other than that, there wasn't anything wrong with the food. My dining companion said that the sausages were made in-house, and he enjoyed the sausage, but me..not so much. While I can't pinpoint anything WRONG with what we tried (other than the saltiness I mentioned), I can't really say anything positive about it either. It was just OK, which is surprising and a little sad because I was rather hungry when we came into the restaurant. I would say that this is a slightly upscale family restaurant. You could easily bring a date here, but I noticed that there were families with (very) young children here also. I'm talking babies in carseats. I feel a little bad about writing a mediocre review because our server was so nice! Never rushed us and was just the right level of attentive, with a cute accent to boot! And we went in without a reservation on Saturday at 7:30pm and were seated within a few minutes.
(3)Lesley P.
Good service. Very cute patio seating. We thought the quiche would have been better if hot and also if actually good. Fries were good. Coffee fine. I can see why they track at 3.5 stars at this location.
(3)Harri S.
The place was cute enough, the service was very courteous, but the food BLECH. My food (Salmon (charred, and not by choice)) was inedible and the Biff's food (the duck) was truly meh at best. The sides to the main dishes were pretty decent. We had one app, the escargot and the half the Biff had was apparently part frozen. He was convinced it was out of the freezer. I liked it enough, didn't think it was pre-frozen, but I've certainly had better. They were so kind, so I feel bad about handing down such a review, but the food really stunk. Maybe we should have done the fondue special instead :/
(2)Lisa M.
I love French bistro and this restaurant is mediocre. The Croque Monsieur was fried, not grilled. Onion soup is good, but not spetacular.
(2)Neel M.
Vegetarian. They put ham in my first omelet. They said they would fix it. They put ham in the second one. Fail.
(1)Amanda O.
We went to Petit Robert Bistro on a Friday night after work with a group of 4 and made a reservation. It was busy, but when I arrived about 20 minutes early they had our table ready and didn't mind me sitting down and getting started with a drink. It was very nice after a busy week at work to not have to wait for the rest of our party. I got the Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles which was AMAZING! The chicken was delicious and just fell off the bone. It was so good I don't remember anything else about the restaurant (we went about a 1-2 months ago). Met expectations. I'm looking forward to going back and trying something else.
(4)Corona W.
My boyfriend and I dined here a couple of weeks ago. The service was friendly and the restaurant was cozy but I still much prefer the original location in Kenmore. For some reason, I think the food there tastes better. For appetizers, we ordered a side dish - Ratatouille Niçoise and the Escargot. Sadly, the appetizers were probably the best part of the meal. The escargot came swimming in a sea of decadent pesto butter. We tried to stop eating the bread but the butter was so delicious, we couldn't stop. For entrees, my boyfriend had the salmon cordon blue and I had the sauteed scallops in mushroom risotto. Both were good but not super amazing. I personally found his salmon to be a little dry. In terms of french restaurants, the portions at Petit Robert have always been above average and they will leave you quite full. Prices are also very reasonable as far as French restaurants go. Anyways, we had a good time and a nice window seat for for South End people watching. We ordered a bottle of wine and ended the night with coffee laced with cognac and amaretto. These were delicious by the way. Despite the mediocre entrees on this particular night, I will be back. However, next time, I'll stick with the Kenmore location.
(3)Brian S.
Petit Robert is a great place to take a date. Nice, romantic, and great service the moment you step in. Problem is that it's a bit far away from the center of the city, and we made the mistake of trying to walk there in the blistering cold. Still, I would say it's worth a trek. Overall the food was great. The escargots were delicious. However for my entree, I strongly believe I just ordered the wrong thing. While I had no complaints about the pork dish, it just felt like and looked like a dish that I could have attempted at home with similar success. My girlfriend, on the other hand, ordered the liver and loved it! So choose wisely, and I'm sure you'll come out with at least a star rating above mine.
(3)C B.
Happy, quiet, comfortable, relaxed, date night... great drinks, relaxed, friendly service. funky drinks--delicious
(5)Kevin R.
Came last night for a late dinner. Service was attentive and polite. Escargot for an appetizer; very pleased for my first time. We had the duck confit and the pork tenderloin. The pork was very good, tender not at all dry and overall very satisfying. The duck was just ok, edible , but dry. Thought about dessert, but passed. Overall a quality experience.
(4)Simone F.
Went here to eat for a birthday dinner as a second option to the Italian restaurant a couple blocks away. We were not disappointed as per Ronny's recommendation. We chose to sit indoors because it was a bit chilly, but there's outdoor seating available. The ambiance inside had darker lighting than I would have liked; however, that did not take away from the meal. We started with oysters and soup. I had the soup du jour (corn and mushroom) and my sister had the lobster bisque. They were not as creamy as we were hoping, but they were good. As for the entrée, I had the chicken coq au vin with noodles. That chicken made up for the soup- extremely tasty. Would definitely recommend dining here. The music and service were great also!
(4)g l.
Okay little background: my father was a chef (in big places in NYC, Sydney, France, to mention a few), and I lived 20 years in France... Service: terrible! My table had to request bread all the time. The waiter kept bumping me all evening. Oh the best part was that my friend was burned when receiving his plate. Somebody forgot to mention how hot the plate was. I was lucky enough to have another waiter coming for mine, and she warmed me. I worked in my father's kitchen for years as a teenager, so I am used to hot plates, but those were way too hot not to be announced. The bus boy/ girl were actually good. my water was always replenished. My friend requested a sauce, and of course he got the wrong one. The cream on the service was being billed for an item that was not ordered by my table (7). Just in case you are wondering, yes we had to pay it. Menu: understandably small; however, "there is no modifications." This is abusing. If the food is fresh (seems to be) then what is the issue to change my side of rice, or requesting without an item on my appetizer. This attitude would get you out of the market even in France. Food: the menu covers plenty of typical French dishes, but the creamy rognons were watery. The cured salmon terrible. My friends food was not sadly not better. I am not going over it more because I don't feel like wasting more time on this place that certainly not deserve it. The valet was actually nice and friendly. Now, I experienced many French restaurants in the US, and I am generally very disappointed as an average one in France would be better. Now, considering that the manager (owner) is French, or speak French without any accent, I fount that sad to have such a poor quality of service ( a must in France), and poor quality of food. I definitely experienced better in the US. To the risk of appearing condescending, only somebody that never experiences French cuisine in France would find that place wonderful in term of food. It seems very unlikely that we came on the wrong day when looking at the end products. However, I am willing to think that he service is generally better if you don't have a big table like I had, or that the guy simply had a bad day as the rest of the team was good.
(1)Steven E.
Costumer service here is terrible. In a nutshell: Drunk patron gets in a fight with the valet (evidently the valet lost his keys? I don't know, don't care). Big loud fight in the middle of the bar area where I am eating dinner with my bf. The fight lasts perhaps 30 min, on and off, complete with shoving, name calling, pretty much everyone saying they will be pressing charges and/or calling the police on everyone else. The hostess basically joins in and starts yelling at the valet - big scene - ruined my dinner. Well, if I were a hostess, I would have at least apologized to the six people who were eating in the same tiny room as this very upsetting exchange that I had just taken part in (I believe the final words of the exchange were the hostess telling the valet to "get lost"). I probably would have offered them complimentary dessert, drink, discount, SOMETHING (but at the very least an acknowledgment that this is not the experience one should expect here). Nope. Nothing. Just pretended like the past 30 min hadn't happened. Yummy food though. And hey, really cool thing that is actually really awesome and would have landed them 5 stars from me? Vegan options. WHAT? I know right? Where are there French places with items that don't contain butter. Very cool. Now hire staff who aren't incompetent.
(1)Charlene C.
This place barely even deserves 1 star -- not because the food is bad but because the service is. And when I say "bad," I'm being generous. What I really mean to say is "atrocious." The service here is really, seriously, unbelievably atrocious. I went for the first time with a friend for Valentine's Day, and our waiter's name -- if our receipt is to be believed -- was Smythe. We both actually thought the food was fine, but she received noticeably worse service than I did. And by "worse," I mean rude, unacceptable, and very likely discriminatory. We're both Asian females, but whereas I have no trace of an accent at all, she has an obvious accent (despite being completely understandable, having perfect grammar, a large vocabulary, etc.). She believes this was the reason she received lower quality service, as other people in the service industry have behaved similarly towards her in the past. Honestly, I thought our waiter's behavior would have been considered appallingly rude by any paying customer. My friend was very upset by the treatment, and rightly so. Her whole dining experience was literally ruined by his behavior alone. She did contact the restaurant via web form to complain that night, making sure to include her email and phone number, but a full week later, she still hasn't received a response of any kind. To be fair, let me say that I did enjoy my food (enough to finish eating it, at least). The greeters were polite, friendly, and prompt. The service I myself received was fair, nothing special, but I had no complaints about it until the very end when I just got fed up with the way my friend was being treated and had to jump in to get him to correct several mistakes on our bill -- mistakes that were very obviously his. No matter how good the food is (and objectively speaking, the food here isn't even that good), when a waiter makes several obvious mistakes on the bill and then instigates an argument about those mistakes with a patron, it should be viewed as a red flag for bad service. And that was the least of this waiter's behavior issues. It's hard to say whether he was an ill-concealed racist or just extremely incompetent at doing his job, but after reading other Yelpers' low-rating reviews for this place, I'm inclined to believe he might be both. The thought had also occurred to me that he might have been annoyed at having to work on Valentine's or perhaps was just bitter at the 'holiday' itself, but again, neither is any excuse to mistreat a customer. Nor does it explain the restaurant ignoring my friend's complaint. I tried very hard not to judge this establishment based on the actions of one waiter, but all things considered, I found the service and lack of redress to be totally unacceptable, and neither of us will ever be returning to Petit Robert in the future.
(1)May N.
Went here for Restaurant Week on a weeknight with a few friends. It was not very busy when I arrived for our 7pm reservations, just a handful of people on the patio and a couple of groups inside. The selections all sounded really good. I went with the scallops, swordfish au poivre, and chocolate mousse. The scallops were perfectly cooked. The fish was moist, tender, and perfectly flavored. The chocolate mousse was to die for. It comes in a very small container, but it's so rich. The service was very good. It did take a some time for our food to come, but we didn't mind. Hopefully we weren't too obnoxious, being the loud people catching up and laughing together. The place was busier when we left.
(4)Holly S.
Food was very elegant, most dished little on the salty side, but the wine helped with that! Also the warm bread warmed my belly:) veggie salad very good
(4)Nate Y.
To say this place is a perfect date place would be an understatement. A rainy evening just added to the romance in the air, fogging the windows where we were seated allowing my companion to draw a whimsical smiley face.Tthe hostess and waitstaff with their authentic french accents and walking through the kitchen to the dining area with low ceilings, low lighting, white table cloths, and other dining patrons having conversations made me feel I was walking through an impressionist's painting. Sharing our meal (lobster mac n' cheese, duck, and pork loin) was like our conversation; authentic and honest, just delicious. It didn't matter that the dessert we ordered, the souffle, would take 20 minutes, since it would prolong the experience. Some practical information; reservations would be a good idea if you want to make sure to get a table, although there are two locations. Waitstaff was attentive and helpful. I hope that this can be repeated, but the experience may have been a meeting of so many things coming together at the right time. As the saying goes, "better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all"?
(5)Opal L.
I've been having great luck with groupons. I had lunch there with a groupon and the experience made me want to go back there. Since it was restaurant week, there was a 3-course lunch that was about the price of the groupon so I had that with a Sam Adams light. I was sitting at the bar and should have seen all the other things I could have ordered to drink. They have good beers on tap, like Leffe and 1664. It's quite refreshing to be in a Boston restaurant that has something else besides Sam Adams on tap. If you're in the mood for something sweeter, they have Framboise. Next time, I'm getting that. Okay, so I had the smoked salmon soup of the day, the fried pork, and creme caramel. I thought the French served smaller portions but I guess they adapted to the American customs. I probably shouldn't have eaten the whole bowl of soup. The carrots were a little too crunch for my taste and I left those on the plate. Fortunately, dessert was light. If you look at my pictures, you'll see that the food is presented very simply and cleanly. It was a delicious lunch but I probably won't have a 3-course meal again any time soon. Two courses is enough. I went in at about 1:30 p.m. and the place was almost empty. The service was obviously great because the waiter had only one other table and me to take care of. So, if you want a quiet place to have lunch, go there after 1 p.m. I think they serve lunch until 5 p.m.
(4)Milanes M.
Nom nom nom! The food is very authentic and délicieux. I absolutely love their bread and the mixed greens goat cheese salad is one to drool for. I enjoyed their summer menu more than their winter menu. On a busy weekend night, do not come with high expectations. Yes, the food will be great but your waitress/waiter may show up at your table only in 30 minute increments. That, I believe, is the one and only downside.
(4)Jason B.
I'm glad that I had the opportunity to give this place another shot. We came here with another couple for dinner, and we ran through the menu like Tiny Tim through the tulips. It was a frigid night, and after walking the 10 or so blocks from our place to the restaurant, we were ready for a hot drink. Fortunately, they have a fantastic mulled wine on the drink menu. Steaming hot, a little sweet, with wine, cognac, and rich winter spices, it is absolutely perfect for driving the chill from the bones. Regarding the food, let me first just say - I ATE BRAINS FOR THE FIRST TIME. I don't know how often they sell it, but Petit Robert sells lightly pan fried calves' brains. They were great - a light crispiness on the outside, creamy and soft on the inside, with a very rich flavor. The capers went perfectly with them. The escargot are everything you'd want them to be - garlicky, buttery and firm, full of flavor. The raw oysters are served in a surprisingly large amount of brine, on the half-shell, with a very nice mignonette sauce on the side. As good as you get at B&G or Neptune. Alas, my short rib entree fell a bit short, being somewhat dry. Either they left the braise in for too long, or left it uncovered when they re-warmed it, because the meat was very fibrous, though soft, and there was a distinct lack of liquid goodness. The atmosphere on a cold winter night, however, is not to be overstated. It's a lovely, cozy room, full of warmth and charm, with a giant window showing the blowing snow outside. Really makes you feel like you're wrapped in a giant expensive French cocoon. Service is impeccably rendered by wait staff who are seemingly all of European origin. In the end, the pleasure of the experience won out over my disappointment at their treatment of one of my most favorite main ingredients, and I would come back in the hopes that the next time I order the short ribs, they are a little bit juicier. Bon Chance!
(4)Linda E.
Nice place to sit on the patio and eat brunch. Ordered a coffee and the eggs benedict. The plate was enough to split with my friend and we had some free bread too. The service is a bit iffy, they had to be flagged down a bit for coffee refills, but all in all it was a nice brunch for about $13.
(3)Sara M.
3.5 stars honestly... My husband and I came here with his old boss for dinner not too long ago. It was overall a pleasant evening. I did not realize how small and cramped it is inside. Those tables are quite close together and made it feel like we were all part of other people's intimate conversations. I had crispy calf's brains and the lamb shanks as my meal. The brains were delectable! I loved how the crispy texture really contrasted with the smooth, creamy inside. The flavor was not unbearable gamey/strong and I enjoyed it very much. The lamb shanks were done pretty well but there was not a lot of creativity. My husband did not care for his braised short ribs since there were beets - it did not state on the menu this important ingredient! The prices were fair for the South End and the quality of the food. We weren't blown away and have had better meals at other places. Perhaps it did not live up to the hype since we were expecting more.
(3)Old Bear ..
On a Monday in late June, my wife and I had an 8:00 PM dinner reservation at Petit Robert Bistro in the South End. We arrived at the restaurant by car at about 7:30PM. The area in front of the restaurant is marked for valet parking and we waited several minutes, assuming the valet was in the process of parking another diner's vehicle. Finally, my wife headed into the restaurant to enquire but could not seem to get the attention of the maître d' or other staff. Eventually, another diner, who was waiting for her table, observed me standing by my car and came out of the restaurant to tell me that there was no valet parking on weekday evenings despite what we were told when we made our reservation. Unfamiliar with the neighborhood, and with no guidance from the restaurant staff, I drove around several blocks marked exclusively for resident parking before finding the garage at Copley Place - which was kind enough to accommodate my car for a mere $30 and a four block walk back to Petit Robert Bistro. I arrived back at Petit Robert at about 8:05PM to find my wife standing on the sidewalk, having been told there would be a "slight delay" before our table would be ready. The "slight delay" was approximately a half hour and we were seated at about 8:35PM. It was several more minutes before bread was brought to the table, with the waitress executing a remarkably graceful pirouette without even a pause to take a cocktail order. Another ten minutes passed before I managed to flag down a member of the wait staff and request a simple vodka on the rocks. Apparently, the bartender was also very busy, because it was about twenty minutes later, a little after 9:00PM, when a waitress returned with the cocktail and took our dinner order. At this point, it having been almost two hours since we had left home to set out for the restaurant, both my wife and I felt that the use of the restroom would be good idea. I suggested she go and that I would follow upon her return. However, she found a line of about four other diners waiting to use the single available toilet and her "adventure" took about a quarter hour. Never wanting to shirk a challenge, I set forth on a similar mission and found a presumably different array of four diners waiting for the lone restroom. The effect was reminiscent of being on an airliner just as the movie ends and everyone heads for the lavatories at once. While waiting in the restroom line, I was standing in front of the restaurant's bread warmer. I was amused to see a small sign, in both French and English, advising that tongs were to be used to handle the bread. Alas. all three members of the wait staff whom I observed retrieved the baguettes by hand, and one person refilled the bread warmer by dumping a box of bread into the draw, also poking things around manually. C'est la vie. When I finally returned to our table, my wife's paté and my soup had been served. Aside from its having cooled somewhat while I was on my mission of desperation, the soup was still reasonably flavorful. Dinner was finally served to us at about 9:50PM - more than two hours after our arrival at the restaurant. Like the soup and the pate, the entrées were tasty and attractively presented. It was truly a shame that we were so ravenously hungry by then, and growing stiff from prolonged sitting (with the blessed exception of the interludes standing in the toilet queue), that we gobbled our meals rather than taking the time to savor the chef's creations. Normally, I would enjoy desert and coffee following the meal, but by then it was well after 10:00PM and we still had to walk back to the Copley Place garage and drive home. Hence, we requested the check and settled up our account. As we were leaving, one of the waitresses - not the maître d' - apologized for the saga of the evening, explaining that the restaurant had been running a promotion and that everyone came at once. This seemed a little odd because it appeared that most of the diners had reservations and that the restaurant must have had a good idea of the number of customers to expect. If the promotion was to increase dollar sales, it would appear to have been successful; but if it was intended to introduce new customers to Petit Robert Bistro in the hope of building repeat business, it was a dismal failure - and may have soured many existing customers in the process. It is very unusual that I write to any establishment and I intentionally let a week pass to allow some perspective on the experience. It was my hope that time would mute my memories of the evening but did not. Hence, I sent a courteous letter expressing much of what I have written above. Now, two months latter, I have received no response, either by mail or by phone. In summary, our experience at Petit Robert Bistro may have been the worst dining experience I have had in the past decade and something for which any establishment should be deeply ashamed. I shall not return.
(1)Jon E.
Warm, inviting, casual, approachable authentic French food. Sit at the bar, enjoy the scallops and mushroom risotto, the onion soup, and the herring and potato salad (in the reverse order) and converse with Jeremy and Bruno, the finest bartenders in the land.
(4)Anna R.
This place is great! I will definitely be back! The atmosphere is perfect--intimate and classy but still casual enough for a late weekday meal. The neighborhood feel of the South End also makes it feel more like a bistro than a restaurant. The food is FANTASTIC--I had the roast chicken and was absolutely in love. It was perfect, every single bite, crispy yet moist. The mashed potatoes and veggies on the side were also impeccably cooked and seasoned. To top it all off, the price was very reasonable ($18). The only reason for the 4 stars is the service--we were not greeted upon entering, and had to awkwardly stand around until the hostess came and got us. Our waitress was aloof and mildly attentive. We had to ask for water refills, and she corrected my fiance on sauce pronunciation (poh-vray to pohvr). I understand we're butchering your language, but you never correct customers.
(4)Bianca T.
Dining at The Petite Robert Bistro was an experience I will never forget ! The atmosphere is french perfection. Relaxed and comfortable. The food was unbelievable .. I order an omelet ... it was light, fluffy and filled with the freshest ingratiates ... just bursting with the flavors of ham, spinach, mushrooms, tomato and cheddar. My mother ordered the eggs benedict .... the eggs were perfectly poached, the hollandaise sauce was light, creamy and buttery .... honestly I wish I could eat there every day .... I can't wait to have brunch there again - there is a jazz singer that performs on Sundays Our waiter Jack was welcoming and attending to our every need. I think the biggest surprise cam when the bill arrived .... the total was $20.35 .... for brunch and cappuccinos .... very reasonable !
(5)Scott B.
Stopping in to Petit Robert on a Sunday evening for a drink... what a fantastic idea. The bartender (who created the drink menu himself) quickly informed us that ALL the specialty drinks on the menu are his "babies" and that "of course they are delicious." And, they were. The atmosphere was nice, and much quieter than surrounding establishments, with quiet couples and decent French music in the background. The adorable bartender was attentive while he danced and sang along to the music. Lovely. Since we only came for drinks, I cannot critique the food, but I can sum up the Petit in with these three F's... Fantastic, Friendly, and French. And there you have it.
(4)Lickety Split N.
The atmosphere is nice and the waitstaff is friendly, but the food fell way short of expectations. Everything is drowned in butter and really salty, yet still bland somehow. We got steak tartare (mushy and over-chopped), the scallops (can easily make better at home), and the lamb chop (not flavorful). Go here if you really love water because the waiters are very attentive with refilling the glasses, but maybe it's because they know how salty the food is. I don't plan on returning.
(2)Kenneth R.
While strolling by this morning on my way to Render Coffee, I decided that this Petit Robert was cute enough to be worthy of a dinner visit. I got together a group of 5 diners and most of my group seemed to be delighted with the choice. In fact, one of my team members intends to come back tomorrow with an even larger group! So the place isn't a disaster. We came on a quiet night -- the end of a holiday weekend. The house was only 1/3 full, and the servers were not energized. My impression is that the kitchen wasn't all that hot either, but I think that a 2-star rating would be on the lowball side. Basically, the main thing that this establishment is selling is canned French-ness. This appeals to a lot of people but it seemed to me that the personnel were from other corners of the globe. The main courses, which are called "plats" in France, are "entrees" on the Petit Robert menu -- I considered this to be a bad sign. I can report on the food that I sampled and on the two wines that I ordered. Those wines were a low-end white Burgundy and a 100% syrah Cotes du Rhone (which was a recommendation of the patron). The first wine was pleasant enough but no big deal; I thought that the second wine was much better -- it was a good value. For my appetizer, I chose the soupe du jour, which turned out to be a beet and orange soup with horseradish cream. The tastes were unusual, bordering on the bizarre; the soup alone lifts the restaurant out of the "completely meh" category. One of my companions ordered a plate of French fries as his appetizer. (I'm not making this up.) Several of us tried a French fry dipped into the ketchup-looking beet soup and enjoyed the experience of having something taste totally different than its appearance would suggest. This was perhaps the highlight of the dinner! For my main course, I selected the cassoulet, which really was A-OK. I can eat better cassoulet at home by buying it from The Fifth Quarter at my local farmers market yelp.com/biz/the-fifth-q… , but that's there rather than here. All in all, Kenneth R. goes for the 3-star rating.
(3)Back B.
I have been to this Petite Robert location a hand full of times. The service, food, and no frills atmosphere really is awesome. This restaurant reminded me of the small restaurants I went to in Paris. The waitstaff are very helpful, and always have a smile on their faces. Our waiter, Smyth, is on top of his game. He not only made our night special, he made us feel relaxed, and was funny and enjoyable. I don't care what any negative reviews say about Petite Robert, they are wrong. Come to this restaurant, its worth every dollar. Try their chocolate moose for dessert after your meal, you can't go wrong.
(5)Olivia D.
Went here with my mother as a good-bye dinner yesterday after my matriculation at Boston University. Let me tell you, the food was HEAVENLY. My mom had the fresh caught bluefin special and she said the sauce was probably the best sauce she had in her life. I enjoyed a soup and an artichoke and shrimp salad (I wish I could say the actual menu names but I would butcher them) . Probably the best food that I've eaten out in a very very very long time, maybe ever. And I love that it seemed to be family run and the staff was incredibly friendly. The atmosphere made you think you were in Paris. It was a perfect dinner and I can't wait to take my parents here again when they're up or go here on a date- I will definitely be back !
(5)Victoria J.
My fat-kid best friend and gluttonous partner in crime is back in town, so what do we do? MmmmMmmMMMmmmmyum!!! Driving around the South End, we were thinking Joe V's, (great pizza), but thought..."Hmmm, we've never been to Petit - Let's go tonight!" It was a beautiful spring night, and there were plenty of people enjoying Petit's outdoor seating. We opted to go inside, by the window - perfect amount of breeze and warmth. The way the restaurant is set-up slightly strange - you have to walk past the bar area, through the kitchen, and then take a left to the dining area. And slightly even stranger, is that everyone speaks French. It's almost as if we've been transported to France - French spoken outside, French spoken at the bar, every host/hostess, waiter/waitress was spouting out "Bonsoir" as if we were all 10yr old and finally dropped the F bomb. So we started off with drinks - Bordeaux for him, Basil Martini for me. I loved my martini, it was refreshing with a kick. For appetizers we got the Escargot and the Trio of Pates. The snails - super buttery and delicious. The pates - three different kinds, (obviously, hence the "trio"), served with Dijon mustard and teeny, tiny little pickles (Awww, how cute!), and tasted perfectly with the French baguette that was served. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. I scanned the menu for my entree, and the first thing that jumped out - French Onion Soup. Hmmm, interesting how I began craving it so desperately since seeing it on the menu. Perhaps, some meat would be more filling? - but then that melty, gooey cheese sold me. So obviously I had soup, my dear friend decided to try to the frog legs, as he had actually never had them, (I reassured that they are actually quite good and I think that sold him). My soup - was fucking divine. And I am using the F word to emphasis, how much, truly, really, really, hit the spot. Piping hot, delicious onion broth with a multitude of delicious, gooey cheese on top. Oh man, it was just great. I in no way regretted ordering the soup, nor did I care to try my friend's frog legs because I was just so utterly consumed by my soup. If it wasn't for the soup, I probably would have given Petit 3 stars. Thank your lucky stars, Petit, that I went for the soup! We were there for almost three hours, eating and continuing on drinking, and at no point in time, did I feel rushed. Oh do I love that. One of my biggest pet peeves is when restaurants try to force you out - from some places, (Chili's/Cheesecake Factory/Outback), I expect it and have no problem complying. Who really wants to dwell in the ambiance of an Outback Steakhouse? But we listened to the French classics playing in the background, sitting by the window, enjoying the cool breeze, people watching, and good conversation. Without any dirty looks, or annoyance from the waitstaff. And I think this, is what I enjoyed the most - Thank you Petit Robert!
(4)Erwin F.
I only went to this restaurant because my GF and I had BWM voucher for it. First - The Service The waitstaff were attentive and helpful. The food came out pretty quick and our waiter checked in on us to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Second - The Food The food was disappointing. The food wasn't bad or anything, but it did lack flavor. After the first few bites, our excitement dropped. My GF's fish was bland and my duck was overcooked. The vegetable sides were forgettable as was pretty much the entire meal. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the food. If all meals there are similar in flavor and taste as the meals we had, I would not return.
(2)max s.
Lived in the South End for 3 years and this was our favorite go-to restaurant; ate here about 20 times with a variety of people and never heard a complaint. Have tried many different dishes on the frequently changing menu; favorites include the escargot (in a delicious garlicy buttery sauce), fois gras, coq au vin (chicken melts in your mouth), steak frites (one of our favorite choices - perfectly cooked each time), pork chop (panko crusted, nice and moist), and scallops (delicious! also perfectly cooked - always). Basically everything is so good that it's always difficult to decide what to order! Sides are also a treat - mushrooms, spinach, brussel sprouts - you can't help but finish them all. Also the warm crusty bread they leave on the table is phenomenal. Great servers who are helpful and professional; service is occasionally slow but we found that a bonus because it gave us more quality time with the guests we were having dinner with.
(5)Jason K.
Fantastic! The food and service were both excellent. I was not sure what to expect since we chose it on a whim before the theater but of all the places surrounding the Huntington this is the best we have eaten at this year.
(4)Kathy A.
I finally got to try out Petit Robert, but I didn't leave as satisfied as I had expected. Some things were great, but others fell short. The south end location is really cute and homey. Our waitress was fine, but nothing special and they never refilled out waters. The bread they bring is great. So hot and fresh and just plain delicious. For entrees we had the Hake with Asparagus Risotto (although that evening hake was replaced with haddock) and the Scallops with spinach and crab. The haddock itself was quite good, but sadly the risotto was pretty bland. The scallops were really good, but the veggies on the side were boring and the wilted spinach and crab tasted strange. It tasted rather old and stale which was not appealing at all. We got two sides of haricot vert and creamed corn and peas gratin The haricot vert was awesome and the creamed corn was very rich and good, but lacking peas... Overall, the food was decent, but I must say the portion sizes and prices cannot be beat. They give you a lot of food with entrees all under $20.
(3)Colleen H.
This review is for their brunch, which I am a huge fan of as it was almost a weekly spot for my roomie and I. Dinner/lunch on the other hand, never tried, so read everyone elses reviews for the good word on that. Their menu is simple, their waitstaff speaks french, and their bread and coffee is just so comforting. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd want in the south end -- patio, people watching, sweet and quaint. I dream of the crispy poached eggs with the frisee salad... so obviously, I order it almost every time. Definitely a great (and not usually too crowded) summer brunch spot. And hey - it's the south end, so bring your pup!
(5)Linda P.
Authentic French food in Boston at decent price is difficult to find - but Petit Robert Bistro was all that and more. Waiters/waitresses there were fluent in French and very friendly. The Fresh Vegetable Salad Crudite was okay - I'm not really a salad kinda gal, but if you are, you'd probably enjoy it. I really enjoyed the Creamy Lobster Bisque - it had a little spice to it and that made me love it even more. The flavor was not too overwhelming and it was not too thick. It was just right. The Chicken Coq-au-Vin with Buttered Noodles lived up to its amazing reviews on Yelp. It fell right off the bone and the waitress told us that it takes them HOURS to get it like that. The Roasted Rack of Lamb with Ratatouille was to die for. I didn't care too much for the Ratatouille (even though the movie made me curious!) ... but the lamb was tender and perfect. I've been here twice and plan to go back!
(5)Natasha A.
Love it, love it, love it. I have been a devoted fan of the Kenmore Sq location, but have moved and find this one to be more convenient. Petit Robert is a little slice of French heaven. The food is superbly executed in the traditional french bistro style. This is a white table cloth restaurant with great service. However and best of all, it is unpretentious and everything on the menu is under $20...thats right even the rack of lamb. They serve a lunch/brunch menu in addition to the dinner menu until 5 pm...so yes one can go at 4:30 and still pay ridiculously cheap lunch prices. The wine list has everything from light Rhones, to heavier reads and some zesty whites. We paid less than 90 for 2 soups, escargot, 2 entrees and a great bottle of Cote de Rhone. So enjoy some real french food without attitude and while listening to some light french jazz and pop. Recommendations...any blue fish dish (crispy on the outside, flaky and moist on the inside), the french onion soup, the escargot appetizer and any of their meats (lamb or steak frits). ...and yes they have en Eiffel tower shaped chocolate dessert. I go drool now...
(5)Dino D.
It was pretty good. The place was nice, clean, and the staff was attentive. The food was good, but nothing memorable.
(3)Chris C.
While I've had a great brunch here before (croque madame), this dinner was disappointing. The onion soup was good, but not great, but the duck was the same. Good, not great. It was a rainy night, sitting under the awning which was nice, but it was all marred by disinterested, lackluster (even for a French restaurant) service. Made me rethink my former positive view of this place. Also, the website menu says strictly no substitutions of sides, which is incredibly off-putting, though it did NOT say that on the printed menu, nor did it come up.
(2)Ellie W.
I've been to this restaurant a few times, and have always had a great dinner here. Like a lot of smaller South End eateries, you feel a little elbow to elbow with people at the next table, but with good food, can't complain much. Super friendly waitstaff, and a good menu to boot. They've got great French desserts, and delish escargot. I've had their chicken dishes a few times, and the chicken is always cooked well--not dry at all. I don't think they take reservations, but the wait isn't too bad. Great price for French food, also. You don't have make your bank account weep uncontrollably for some good French food at Petit Robert...always a plus!
(4)Jessica E.
It hurts me to give Petit Robert 2 stars because food-wise our meal was superb. I've also been to the Kenmore location and think both locations serve quality French bistro food at relatively reasonable prices. However, on my first trip to the South End branch, the service left a lot to be desired. My husband and I were taking out our friend to celebrate, but the incompetence on the part of the hostess and our server really put a damper on our evening. The Wait - It was clearly a busy Friday night; we had a reservation for three people. We weren't seated until 45 minutes after our reservation time! We weren't offered any sort of explanation just "it'll be a few more minutes" a few times. After 30 minutes of waiting, the hostess offered us glasses of water. Honestly, I think a few more words of explanation, admitting whatever their mistake was, or a complimentary glass of wine would have gone a long way to make the wait more pleasant. Our Server - When he took our orders and my friend and I both ordered lamb, he didn't ask her how she wanted it cooked, so we had to flag him back down to tell him. We also ordered the souffles with our appetizer and entrees since according to the menu they take about 30 minutes to cook. When clearing our entrees, we reminded him about our souffles. He said they would be out of the oven in "exactly eight minutes." Well, guess how long it took for us to get our souffles? Yup, 30 minutes. If you add up the extra time we waited to get seated plus the delay in getting our dessert souffles, we were physically at the restaurant for almost three hours. I like to linger over meals, but I spent about half that time being annoyed at the staff. A quick recap about the delicious food I had because it was really good: 1. Trio of pates - Great app to share. Comes with mustard and teeny tiny pickles. We all loved it and were afraid we'd fill up on bread and pate. 2. Rack of lamb - Cooked perfectly. It was so tender, and I ate everything on my plate down to the last potato. 3. Souffle - Creamy and light. After the two previous courses, I was glad to split one souffle with my husband to have a small taste. I'd like to go to Petit Robert again for the food, but I'm not sure if I can stomach the service again.
(2)Laura A.
Ok, maybe this review isn't entirely fair because I just came back from Paris, but this place is the cheesiest approximation of a Parisian brasserie ever - Paris souvenirs on the walls, decidedly un-Parisian ginormous portions, a dessert with a chocolate eiffel tower. Sooooooo cheesy. Sorry, but that "Parisian atmosphere" doesn't really work when seemingly every table is made up of loudmouthed groups of 40-somethings having a parents' night out and getting wasted on house wine. Is it so much to ask to not have to hear every word of their conversations, given that this is supposed to be a romantic, intimate place? Not PRB's fault exactly - but I wonder if their recent simultaneous Groupon AND BuyWithMe deals might be to blame. To be honest, I haven't had a good experience here since my initial visit. I always find the food to be bland and our recent meal here was no exception - I ordered the lemon mushroom risotto, and was served a ginormous bowl of tasteless risotto. I prefer quality over quantity when I'm dining out and I would have much rather been served a perfect, delicious risotto in a small bowl (like the Butcher Shop, for instance). I think my risotto had maybe 5 mushrooms in it and no lemon flavor to speak of. Overall this place is just really underwhelming.
(2)D H.
Cannot say enough good things about this place. Starting years ago, the wife and I would go to the Kenmore Square location or South End location. More recently, the Downtown Crossing location. I'd say that after about twelve visits, the only thing I had that wasn't outstanding was a new pork chop dish they offered. Not enough to knock a star off. This is very affordable food for its quality, and they generally keep a very good wine list as well. The escargots get special mention as the best I've had - better than the ones in Aux Armes De Bruxelles (well known restaurant in Brussels I visited earlier this year). They do have a few locations, but it is nothing like a "chain" restaurant.
(5)Jen D.
Based on the meal alone, I would've given Petit Robert 4 stars, however, the service was very sub par. I came here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night and we were able to get a seat out on the terrace. The atmosphere was relaxing and very much added to the bistro feel. We ordered the escargo appetizer and it was delicious. For entrees, I got the Chicken coq au vin which was pretty good. I'm not usually a fan of coq au vin's but I really finished this one - the chicken was tender and delicious. The boyfriend got the steak fries with Bernais sauce which he thought was also delicious, although not amazing. Overall, I thought the food was a good deal considering the prices. The reason I give Petit Robert 3-3.5 stars is because of service. It seemed like they had four waitresses for the whole restaurant. We had different servers through out the night they would walk by us, even when we were trying to get their attention. After we finished our meal and they cleared the table, we waited a good ten minutes until another waiter came by and asked us if we wanted the dessert menu. After dealing with inattentive waiters all night, we decided it was time to leave. Overall, we might try this place again, hoping that service will be better.
(3)Artiste A.
7:00 PM reservation for 4, with a short delay on our part, and we called to let them know, we arrived at 7:15. Didn't sit down until 8:00 PM. Tried to get us to sit in the bar, so I think they were overbooked. We brought our drinks from the bar so after a bit the waitress took our orders, then shortly reappeared, going guest by guest, guessing what we had ordered to confirm them, as if it were a new restaurant game show. Soon, without an offer of a wine to go with our food, our starters dropped to the table. Ouch. You know that good food can make up for so many issues, like waiting to be seated and awkward service but , alas, this was not to be the case. A tough hanger steak , braised short ribs, that unless three experienced cooks at our table were wrong, were not short ribs at all, but rather more likely a pot roast cut. No bone and very dry without the signature flavor, soft texture and richness of a short rib. A confit of duck with cabbage was passable. We did have a few laughs at the vegetable sides. Those were either a slightly cool steamed broccoli or what we jokingly referred to has horse carrots. I mean these carrot were cut into disks that were thick and substantial. Who really wants to have to use a steak knife on a carrot. Reminded us of a school cafeteria carrot from 5th grade. On the picky side, the wine list was weak, northing that made you really want it, from the low to the high priced. Au revoir Petit Robert!
(1)Jeffrey H.
Quite possibly the best value in Boston for a lunch date. I visited Petit Robert on a lovely afternoon with fellow Yelper Deepa C. The weather was just getting warm (the kind of day that you'd consider freezing in August but for some reason in April you're sweating like a republican at a gay pride parade). All that being said, we decided to enjoy our weekend lunch date outside on their sidewalk patio on Columbus Ave. Glorious. The menu has a variety of options in an affordable price range. Keep it simple or take it up a notch - whatever you're feeling when it comes to eating and spending, they've got you covered. I ordered the Chicken Crepe Basquaise whilst my date decided on a quiche. To start we were served a delicious warm bread loaf as well as the soup of the day (It was some carrot and tomato or something concoction - to be honest I was too busy inhaling the soup to remember the name). Our entrees were delicious, although I envied Deepa since not only is she a married woman, but she had a delicious quiche to boot. Not that my crepe was bad, but I wish I was in her shoes that afternoon. Despite my full belly (that's French for "belly"), Deepa insisted she take my profiterole virginity. We ordered the giant dessert fittingly titled, "One Giant Profiterole." The thought of the ice cream in the center of the profiterole topped with oozing warm hot fudge is enough for me to take some PTO right now and head down to the bistro for another taste. The service was impeccable from start to finish and the atmosphere was so relaxing - I just loved sitting outside and watching all the happy Bostonians skip about soaking up the sunshine...even the woman who stopped us on the street to tell us about Armageddon had a smile (not kidding). The bill came and good lord was it cheap. Complimentary bread, drinks, soup, entree, and a shared dessert was roughly $20 a person including tip. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? Since I'm single, unlike Deepa, I'm going to keep this place in mind for the next time I have a date and want to look like a hot shot. The boy will order up all this great food and when the bill comes, Mr. Suave (Jeffrey H) will be all, "Oh, allow me." *swoon goes the boy* But little does he know that he'll be breaking the bank when it's time for marriage and my hag Amanda drags him over to Tiffany at Copley Place to get the ring I've already selected. P.S. - Apparently some Yelpers (Deepa, Sasha, and Yi-Hwa) decided to venture to the bistro not too long ago without me. While they were there, Mr. Rob Lowe himself (aka, my fake boyfriend from "Brothers & Sisters", Sunday nights on ABC) was enjoying a lunch there as well at the table next to them. Keeping in mind that I live down the street and was never telephoned about either the Bistro lunch or Rob Lowe, well, some tears were shed.
(5)Lisa S.
Delicious - I was here for dinner last weekend and had the garden salad with the panko crusted goat cheese - it was divine. I think I can eat a plate full of panko crusted goat cheese balls :) In addition I ordered the scallops and the frites.....also very delicious. The other members of my party ordered the flank steak which wasn't up to par that night, however, I know that they come here all the time and keep coming back. We sat at the bar and Bruno, the bartender, took our order. He was fantastic and makes delicious cocktails to boot. I highly recommend this cozy bistro if you are visiting the south end of Boston.
(4)Kenny L.
Place to gather with close friends #1 Thanks to Yihwa and Ligaya, the two lovely ladies of Yelp, and Trish...okay, okay THREE for taking me to have my ultimate favorite French restaurant outside of France! Special kudos to Trish for setting all the reservation up. Selections of the night: Yihwa: Grilled Skirt Steak~Frites, Choice of Bordelaise, Béarnaise or Poivre Sauce Me: Pan-seared tilapia with shallot rum sauce Ligaya: Cape Cod Blue Fish, Fresh Corn Cream Sauce (very popular according to Yihwa and can sell out quickly) Trish the Main Dish: Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles Dessert: Warm Apple Tarte Tatin, Créme Fraîche and British cake with vanilla ice cream on top and caramelized bananas shared among four of us. Party of four plus wine and cocktails came out to be around $140, with everyone splitting between $46 and $40. The service is great as well as usual. One was even fascinated with my SLR Nikon camera. Worth. Every. Bite.
(5)Zachary W.
I am a repeat customer of Petit Robert. This is very good French cuisine and the price is right. The service is great, as is the atmosphere. Perfect place for a date or a dinner meeting. I recommend the steak frites, coq au vin, and the escargot. Their wine and beer menu is very comprehensive and the waiters are very knowledgeable. For dessert, I'd recommend ordering either the profiteroles or the tart. Both are appropriately rich and enough to share between two.
(5)Liz T.
My friend and I had dinner at this quaint, bustling restaurant. There was a 45-minute wait on a Friday night, but there's a bar area where you have a glass of wine or 3. We started with the Six Escargots Bourguinons ($7.75). I know escargot is commonly served with mushrooms, but all I could taste were the mushrooms--I really think the kitchen forgot to throw in the snails. Since I was in a good mood, I let this slide. My friend had the Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles ($15.75). Chicken and noodles at a French restaurant are just boring to me, but she thought they were good. I think she was scared after she had asked our waiter what boudin noire is (which was in the dish she was going to order)--when he informed her it was pig's blood she lost her all guts. I had the Petit Calf's Liver Sauteed with Caramelized Onion and Bacon ($14.50). Unfortunately, there was no bacon--you can imagine how sad I was as my nickname is BLT (bacon Liz Tran--haha). The cook tried to make up for it by giving me a bigger than average liver. Oh, joy. The liver was pretty good actually--nowhere near a filet mignon but I ate all of it. I called my dad in Hawaii to tell him I had liver afterward and he basically responded, "You're so stupid. You ate the filter of a cow's bloodstream!" I was an Econ/Poli Sci major, what did he expect? Dessert is the real reason for the 4 stars. My friend and I shared the White Chocolate Bread Pudding. It was out of the ballpark and dare I say, the best bread pudding I've ever consumed in my life. I could've eaten 3 of them by myself if there were no consequences in the waistline. I like that this bistro actually has bistro prices (under $20 entrees). I'll be back here when in Boston again.
(4)James T.
I felt as though I was waiting for either the most perfect or most horrifying dining experience before committing to my first ever Yelp review. Congratulations, Petit Robert, you're DEFINITELY the winner. I had heard good things about Petit Robert for a while, so tonight I decided to give it a try. We were whisked through the kitchen (lovely gimmick), presented with at least two audible "bonjours" from the bus boys, and found ourselves in a busy-yet-quaint dining room. I'd say the French Bistro theme was humming along nicely. My attention was soon (very soon) drawn to the haughty gentleman and his female companion at the next table. Apparently, the soup that the man was presented with (the soup du jour) was not satisfactory. When the waiter arrived, the man paused, gave the waiter a look (the kind of look admissions officers must flash to students while preparing to say: "I'm sorry, young man, but you're just not Yale material"), then informed him that, "It just wasn't what I expected." The discerning patron then proceeded to hold up the soup in eager anticipation of the waiter hurrying it back to the kitchen. Oh. My. God. I had never had the pleasure of seeing someone reject food at a restaurant in such a disinterested-yet-obviously-douchey manner. Anyway, after that display, I decided I had to: 1) Find out what the soup du jour was; 2) order it immediately; and D) consume it with great enthusiasm. It turns out that the soup du jour was a broccoli and pear cream soup, served slightly chilled ($5). The soup was a triumph; the crisp, slightly tart pear flavor perfectly supported the creamy broccoli background. And, despite being cream based, was a light, refreshing dish on an oppressively humid summer evening. I ordered the steak frites with bearnaise sauce ($19). The steak was ordered medium-rare and came out perfectly cooked--the outside was seared and the middle was a light-purple color. The matchstick fries were aptly salted, but the bearnaise sauce tied the two together perfectly. It had a sharp aroma of lightly sautéed shallots with a tangy lemon follow-up. In short, this dish was a home run. My companion ordered the panko-crusted pork loin with caper butter and mashed potatoes. This was another hit. She remarked that it tasted like a pork piccata. The service was attentive if not a little overwhelmed, as the dining room appeared to be full. Our waiter was very laid back and pleasant, an impressive feat considering the behavior of our neighbor. Petit Robert exceeded all of my expectations (except for the quality of my fellow diners... yikes) and I would definitely like to go back sometime soon.
(5)David D.
the pate is the only reason why i'm giving petit robert 4 stars. i've been to the kenmore location, and the dinner was great. i'm sure everyone will agree finding affordable french cusine is like finding a level 3 sex offender NOT living within 20 yards of an elementary school...Anyway, i digress. my recent trip to the columbus location was a little bit of a disappointment. i'm a little sad about that. the atmosphere was great. dim lights, not loud, open kitchen. i think we had at least two waiters. i lost track of who was running the food, filling our glasses, and taking our order. That being said, maybe this needs to be streamlined a little bit. service was lackluster. our appetizer of the pate trio was awesome. seriously. awesome. my entree of chicken coq au vin was only so-so. the chicken was a little gross, actually. bones/cartiledge still in the chicken. the noodles and sauce weren't that bad, though. pretty tasty actually. my date had a rather limp response to the cod. sounds like dinner struck out on both sides. even though this visit was disappointing, we will of course return to petit robert. just not in the very near future.
(4)Kate P.
Although my Mom and I had a great meal here, I can only give PRB three stars because I lived across the street from it for two years and only ate there just the once. It's worth trying out if you live in the area. Go in the summer when you can eat outside. The service was friendly and the coq au vin was delicious!
(3)Ismet G.
Lived in France long time and having seen their non-French cooks, it is easy to say that this is not a real French restaurant, or those you can find around train stations in France. I would spend few extra bucks to go to a real French restaurant: Brasserie Joe on Huntington Ave, Aquitaine on Tremont St., Sel de la Terre by the harbor, La Voile on Newburry St.
(1)Wesley C.
I'm a big fan of Petit Robert (especially the columbus ave. one). There's not to much that beats sitting on the patio having a drink and the trio of pates.
(4)Ryan L.
Was here two weeks ago for dinner. Amazingly I found parking in the South End (which is a feat in itself) so the evening was already going well despite the rain. The exterior is quaint, looks like someplace you'd imagine would exist in France somewhere. Then when you walk in, the waitstaff greets you in heavy French accented English which further adds to the ambiance. Whether or not they're actually French people or American waiters trained to speak with a French accent I couldn't tell you but what I can tell you is the food is great here. I had the duck confit with grilled sausage and it was excellent. The duck was not too gamey and the saltiness of the sausage went perfect with the duck. For dessert I had this peach sorbet which I enjoyed immensely. It had a strong peach taste and was not overly sweet. It was an added bonus that it wasn't one of those Finale's dessert portions where you finish your dessert with one gulp and get charged $42 for it. A magnifique experience overall.
(5)Jennifer F.
ooo la la... Great food! This location is freakishly crowded...like, "you-could-absolutely- not-bring-your-friend-with-a-wee-bit-of-claustrophÂobia-here," crowded. To be perfectly honest, it felt illegal. Yeah. It was that crowded. Alas, on to the food... Lobster mac and cheese appetizer was not creamy the way mac and cheese should be. Instead, I found this dish to be extremely watery. Now, mind you, it was delicious, just not the texture one would expect. The bread, that was served so hot I tinged my fingers, was helpful in sopping up the watery, lobster-y cheese. (will be curious on another visit to see if this consistency was deliberate or a fluke(?) ) The Blue Fish dish I had was divine, though I would have liked more of the corn (with cheese?) to have mixed with it. Together, these combined to a wonderful taste mix in the mouth. Friends had the Chicken Coq au Vin, liked, but reported it to be "very heavy", and the pork dish was reported as very good. For dessert we shared the Chocolate Eiffel Tower Cake, which was moist and just the right consistency, and the crepes, which the menu did not say came with ice cream, but did (important to note when you are lactose intolerant like me). The mixed drinks were served cold and poured from the shaker at our table, a nice touch, though I cannot remember the name of the drink... The night ended with a $143.00 bill for three. I think that it was a great price when you consider we had 4 drinks, 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 2 desserts. A bargain for what you get. The service was attentive, and we were given lots of leeway in not feeling rushed and spreading our dinner time out. Two negatives: 1. Only one shared bathroom (meaning one for men and women) for the whole place, diner side and bar side...this meant long waits. 2. Was disappointed that there was no reference to the birthday. When reservations were made on line, there was a place to note special requests/occasions. I typed in that this was a birthday celebration. There was no acknowledgement of this in any way. It was even listed there in the confirmation email that was sent to me. I would give them 4.5 stars if I could. Really, it should be 5, but I minused points for the lack of paying attention to the reservation notes, the bathroom, and the freakishly crowded dining room. (random Saturday evening).
(4)Christine C.
Really good service. The quiche was very good, as well as the pouched eggs. We asked our server to wrap some of our leftovers up and she forgot to do it and took one of our orders off of our bill for us (something that we ate most of and was the most expensive). Definitely great customer service.
(4)Courtney M.
Went for brunch with my parents. Great authentic French food. Friendly native French waitress. Odd French techno music? Noisy heater. Did I mention the food was fantastic? Decently priced too. I'd go back!
(4)Suburban R.
a nice place. went there for lunch during a convention in boston. chatted up the waitress who was two months old in the states from avignon. enjoyed the soup d'oignion and sardine sandwich.
(4)Seraphine K.
Well, I am not a huge french food girl, but oh boy, this place has me! Unlimited warm french bread, for starters, delicious Kir, and friendly staff, not to mention what a sexy dining room! Awesome COUNTRY french food. Not that fancy stuff that I am scared to order. A very simple menu that you can feel confidant ordering from! I will admit, the girl who dropped my food put the fish at "12 o'clock" so I had to turn the plate [I am a server myself] But that is MINOR in the world of the food industry. It was a few months ago, so I cannot remember what fish I got... Dang, I want to say Blue Fish? No idea, but I remember loving it and ate every bit. It came with yummy mashed fennel. We also got veggie pate which was amazing. My boyfriend got the fois gras, [sp?] It was wild, very mousse texture, but yummy I must say. Dessert was a simply divine flourless chocolate cake, OH MY GOODNESS!! [I am soo picky on choc cake!] We eat slow [I think we were there 2.5 hrs] Had primo seating [made a reservation for 7PM on Tuesday the same day and got the window] there was no hurry to leave, the staff was not bugging us, or neglecting us. This is a perfect place to take a date when you are starting to reach that romantic-serious point in your relationship. Moderate price for 2 entree, 2 app, one dessert, 2 cocktails and a bottle of wine. I cant remember per say, but somewhere around $120 - totally worth it !
(5)John D.
Not going to go on and on here: Great food. Great wine. Great price. Good Service. Be sure to visit Columbus Ave location, not Kenmore Sq.
(5)Gabe M.
For "affordable" French food, this place is great. Very good prices for most entrees sub $25. Decor is lacking, but service and food is good quality.
(4)A P.
I have been going to PRB for a couple years now pretty much on and off for special occasions alternating with other French restaurants. The atmosphere is always very pleasing with a great selection of goodies. I can always find a great wine to pair with the succulent food. Some of my PRB favorites include the Fillet Mignon, Sole Meuniere, Mousse au Chocolat and Macarons. This is the perfect spot for a romantic get together.
(5)Tim N.
I'm still going to stick to 4 stars for dinner but brunch gets 3. The service was slow - definitely not the A list waiters you get at night. The portions are also very small and not that filling.
(4)Eric W.
If you're reading this review, Petit Robert Bistro may be for you, but it isn't for me. I'll preface with the fact that I remove a star just for the fact that it's French. Not in the "French are wussies, we should call them Freedom Fries" way, but in the "European food was so bland, they built great big boats and sailed half way around the world to find something better" way. Honestly, I don't have a refined enough taste pallet for "savory." I'll give them credit for helping me realize that I like pate (in this more rustic form, anyway), and the two entries I've had there (chicken and steak) have both been fine but unnoteworthy, a bit short of justifying the bill.
(3)C C.
okay, as i said in my last review, this place recently went from long-standing favorite brunch, to being on my list of places you couldn't get me into with a cattle prod. let me elaborate. there are three of us who make the trip together often. generally it has been a leisurely brunch with delicious food and sweet service. great taste, great portions, amazing cocktails. we stay for a long time and get cocktails, apertif's, dessert.... always lovely. this time we brought three friends from out of town with us, one here all the way from ireland, and were downright embarassed by the service our friends experienced. our waiter, whom we presume is a manager based on his attire, disappeared after bringing our drinks and taking our food order. we didn't see him again until we were exiting two hours later, he smiled and wished us a great afternoon. our food took over an hour to arrive at our table. we counted eight parties whom came and sat after us got their food long before we did. granted, we were a party of six, and the largest party in aftere and out before us was a party of four. but COME ON. at NO POINT did someone come out to apologize for the delay. when our food finally came (an hour after we ordered, which was half an hour after we had arrived) the mystery waiter who brought it out joked that he was sorry for the delay, the salmon (for the three orders of salmon benedict) had to be delivered from france. ha. ha. the three orders of benedict were fine, except one person was very short on fries and another had NO dressing on their salad. i had the french toast, my usual. they shrunk the portions and stuck the four tiny, wafer-thin pieces all over on one little section of plate, as if to emphasize how short they were changing me. when they brought an order of fries to somehow make up for the bullshit that was our experience, one of the first timers, whom had been sitting quietly, asked to send back his duck sushi and have it taken off the bill because the rice was completely uncooked... we're talking raw and crunchy, people, and the meat was incredibly chewy. the poor guy didn't order anything else to replace it. when the bill came, the duck sushi was still on it. we had to go through TWO MORE PEOPLE to get it taken off. as we left, the multiple mystery waiters, and our original waiter (whom we assumed must have quit suddenly in a fit of rage, sending the restaurant into a downward spiral), all smiled and wished us a wonderful day.
(1)Paul K.
Fantastic food and terrific prices. I've been here a few times and the food and service are excellent. The staff are all incredibly friendly. One note, it can get very tight in this restaurant, and a table in the bar section can be even more crowded and loud, albeit I loved it. You can valet park, or go 2 block on the same side of the road towards Mass Ave and there's non-resident parking for free.
(4)Alisa S.
Ooh, my friends and I had brunch here on a whim. We planned to go somewhere else but it was closed. I am glad, the food was surprisingly good! Pate appetizer, quiche, nicoise salad, all were tasty. The bluefish that my friend got was a bit too rich, but all in all a nice place to try.
(4)cassy f.
If you're looking for high quality French food, don't go here. You're better off elsewhere. The only dish that is decent is the foie gras. To top it off, their staff are SOOO RUDE! I had to drop by to pick up an order that my sister placed over the phone (I stopped eating there after facing rude service time and time again). I walked in and said hi to the bartender who just looked at me and completely ignored me! Then some other girl walks in and he's helping her! The thing is, he has a reputation for being rude to Asian people. Most of my Asian friends refuse to meet up there cos the bartender just blatently ignores you if you're someone of color. I had to stand there for 7 minutes today JUST to pick up my to-go order while the serving staff were just standing there! Maybe management is trying to keep the place White, so beware. If you're a person of color, you'll get shoddy service and definitely an attitude from their bartender.
(1)C S.
The food certainly isn't bad, but it's nothing to write home about, either. The steak frites and roasted chicken are merely mediocre. I'm enamored of the steak frites at Beacon Hill Bistro, so I think I will stick with them!
(2)gado.gado D.
pate and croque monsiour are to die for also the french waiters - yummy.
(4)Scott B.
a lot of people like this place much to my surprise - i dont really think it is anything special - i mean you get what you get - low grade gourmet food at a low grade price- - not my idea of gourmet - if you want something really tastey i can grill you a burger myself for less
(3)Meghan M.
Wow, why, oh why have I not tried this place sooner?? I've lived in South End for just about a year and my first venture to Petit Robert's was just yesterday. I am not even sure where to begin but I'm sure I'll figure it out as we go here... Drinks...FANTASTIC. Let me start by saying, I'm usually not a big mixed drink person. I definitely am not a big fan of sweet or fruity drinks. If I do end up with a mixed drink, it's likely going to be an extra dirty martini. I have to say, though, that I listened to the bartender last night and, lo and behold, had the best martini of my life. It was a rhubarb martini (the name is slipping me at the moment) with a rim of balsamic and sugar. Tangy, a tiny bit sweet...Just perfect! I had started with a bluberry martini which was made with fresh bluberry puree (don't spill it on yourself!) but that was a bit too thick and sweet for my taste. I also hear that their peach sangria is delicious. I'll have to try that next time I go. They also have some awesome French beers on tap including Kronenberg (my sister's personal favorite...I know where we're going next time she pays me a visit). For dinner, I split the salad (mixed greens) and steak frites with my dining partner and we were both very happy with the food. It is probably the closest thing to what I used to eat at the bistros in Paris that I've had in Boston. The portions were very large (it was perfect to split - they even split the portions on two different plates for us) and the prices were really inexpensive for the quality of food we enjoyed. Petit Robert's is, by far, my new favorite French bistro in all of Boston.
(5)Kevin L.
Oh how I love Ze France:) So, I've lived above this place for 2 years now and have FINALLY ventured the WHOLE WAY downstairs and actually had more than a glass of wine and/or a cocktail... I shall review their brunch now: I cannot get over this brunch. 1st of all, there were 6 of us and it was UNDER $40 (mind you, we didn't have cocktails...but still!!!). PHENOM. It was just so good. I was really sad it was cold out b/c their outdoor space is quite nice and they have a new awning to boot! Dinner is fantastic, also...more crowded...but, I just love love love their brunch. Such a variety of breakfast and lunch food, and plenty of it. Quiches for all! ha. I actually didn't have the Quiche (I had a sardine panini thinger), but everyone loved what they got!!! MAGNIFIQUE!
(4)Hiherson D.
I believe this was the first restaurant that my wife and I tried when we moved to the South End area a few months back. It was a cute little place and the atmosphere was great. My wife and I went there for a dinner date. She had the Duck Confit and Grilled Sausage with Braised Cabbage and I had Chicken Coq au Vin with Butter Noodles. Both are highly recommended. The Chicken Coq au Vin was delicious. The chicken just fell of the bone and the sauce was heavenly. The portions were more than enough. I wasn't able to finish my place. My wife loved the Duck Confit so much that she ended up finishing hers.
(5)Mark W.
I took a walk to trader joe's on boylston today and decided to stop by petit robert for a quick "express lunch". This place gives me fond memories of a little bistro in paris. I have to say i've walked past this place a couple times while walking to whole foods and i've missed it. I don't know what it is about the outside but it's very easy to miss. Like a bistro, you take your time and usually just sit and eat your meal and relax. Everyone was very nice and when you enter you get greated by everyone. I was perfectly fine with the timing of everything. I had a nice book with me and got the croque monsieur. Though it's not exactly the same as in paris but it was still great. The cheese was great and the pomme frites were great too. I had a glass of red wine on the side too which brought back great memories. All in all the place was a great place to just sit back, relax and take a break from the busy world of grocery shopping. The price of everything was just great too. I think i'll be back to try the dinner menu someday soon. On a side note i think the people actually speak french. Interesting for a french restaurant :)
(4)Kelly M.
Went to a petite robert somewhere in boston, but i don't recall which it is, but i am pretty sure it is this one. My friend Bet, a local, loves this place and knew itnto be gluten friendly, so here she led me. They didn't have a menu, but the server knew about gluten and i had mussels which were pretty good. We had creme brule for dessert. I liked petite robert and always feel good after eating french food, i'm just not a 'let's go get french!' kind of person.
(3)Landy N.
ahh, who doesn't love France, the tower, the shopping and the food are some of the wonderful things about this country. I think so many people dream of taking a trip there or their love lingers for the country after they have visited because of these wonderful atributes. I think it's safe to say that Petit Robert Bistro captures all of these things in more in their little bite of France in the South End. I do want to preface this review by saying I have dined at both of their locations and while the food does not change, the atmosphere of each location is very different. The Kenmore Square location is a bit more roomy and romantic. You feel like you are dining with the people you arrived with, not the whole restaurant like the South End location. If you do find yourself in the South End, sit in the bar area. The service is better, the atmosphere more inviting and you do not feel like you are dining with a bunch of strangers! On to the food .... we started our meal with their fresh baked baguette. I believe the spread they brought with was brie. Smooth, creamy and just enough to give the baguette a rich flavor. I ordered the, Garden Salad, Shallot Vinaigrette with Panko Crusted Goat Cheese to start with. All I can say is that Goat Cheese must come from the same place sex does, cuz girl, it made me sing in until the last bite was done! For dinner, I seem to order these things all the time, a Grilled Skirt Steak~Frites, with a choice of Bordelaise, Béarnaise or Poivre Sauce. I chose the Poivre Sauce, a rich blend of pepper, lemon and scallots to cover my rather large Steak. While this cut of meat is not my favorite it was pleasant to my palette and more than enough to eat! The meat was a little tough but well cooked and might I recommend that it could be even better left to marinade in it's juices a littte more before being sent to the flame! Satisfying none the less! The frites here are always so delicious that you want to keep eating them even after you are completely full! Small, slivers of delcious potatoes, cooked to a crisp perfection and served in a lovely cone. Eat em till you're sick, it's the only way! AND FULL WE WERE, I didn't even have dessert! Although I am sure they are delicious here I did not have room to finish the meal one! I give this place 5 stars and hope you will be as reminiscent of France as I was while visiting Petit Robert Bistro!
(5)Bryanne R.
Man, I love PRB. Love their food, their atmosphere, their drinks, their service, everything. My first time at the South End location was a couple weeks ago and it's a little more snug fitting than the one on Comm Ave, but just as wonderful. A+ Peach Sangria -- with a giant peach in it! When I come back to Boston, I try to work PRB into my plans.
(5)Marcus C.
So much better than the Petit Robert Bistro downtown! The trio of pates was excellent and I really, really want to eat more of the coq au vin!
(4)Tammie P.
3.5 stars - Petit Robert serves really great bread and butter. I could not stop eating it!! But I had escargot and lobster bisque coming, so I had to refrain from munching on more bread. The escargots were served sans the shell, and were good. The lobster bisque was a big disappointment. There was no lobster meat at all!!! And the bisque was mildly warm, not very warm. I had about 5 spoonfuls and was done. The wine was a bit warm. Seems like the temperature of the offerings were a bit off tonight. My dining companion and I split a steak frites entree because we were not very hungry when we had arrived at the restaurant. Fortunately, the steak was quite good and cooked to order, with bernaise sauce on the side. The French fries were OK, and the bernaise sauce was great for dipping. Splitting the entree made it a perfect portion, even if we were hungry. As full as I was, I finished my half of the steak because it was so good - very tender and flavorful. For dessert, we ordered the creme brulee and coffee. The creme brulee was average. The sugar crust was thin, and the creme tasted very egg yolky. Definitely had a lot better! Our server did a good job, but the table next to us had some issues with their server. They had to call the manager over and tell him about it. The manager explained that the server did not understand English very well, and I guess he did not know he was being offensive. The table to the other side of us was celebrating a recent engagement, and another server came to offer us some glasses of champagne, but it turns out they were really for our neighbors. Oh well! Would have loved to have some champagne, but wouldn't know where it would fit! Overall, the dining experience was good. I would come back to try other entrees, and hopefully will have a better experience next time.
(3)Jason A.
When people ask me what's good at Petit, I start talking and end up telling them the whole menu. Everything is delicious! The food is all top quality and made with love. The lobster bisque is the best you'll ever have. The paninis are awesome, too. Oh, and the sweet potato fries! Hello! Heaven! And the mac-n-cheese. Ugh, here I go reciting the menu again. The service is always great.
(5)Rosie Z.
Very cute restaurant - like a little family-run french bistro tucked in a nice part of the South End. Had the calf's liver - was very good. Great price and the portion was big! They also had really fresh, warm french baguette to start with.
(4)CeeCee R.
First time to the South End location, a cute little restaurant nestled on Colombus Ave. Got seated immediately without reservation which was nice. Starter Nicoise Salad, it's usually only available for lunch but they specially made it for me as I requested it. Excellent dish! Very nice for them to do so. Smoked Salmon, my husband ordered this dish for a starter and he loved it. Main Course Lobster Mac and Cheese, part of their specials. It's a bit too rich and runny to my liking but it was ok. Lamb Shank, my husband ordered it and he thinks it was ok. Service was pretty good, we both had positive experiences. We would be back there again.
(4)Sarah D.
I just really love this place. While it's not perfect, it is pretty awesome and, in my experience, unbeatable at this price point. First off, great bread. This should be a given at a french restaurant but i don't care, i am always psyched about a crusty baquette with butter, and in general i don't feel like you get really nice bread often enough these days. Second, appetizers. I've tried the trio of pate, the mussels and the escargot, all tasty. To be honest i had never tried pate before so i can't compare it to others, but i found each of the three to be really delicious and each was slightly different than the others. The mussels were fresh and flavorful and i liked the broth they were served in. Escargot was pretty standard, butter and garlic, and tasty. Appetizers i think are in the $6-$10 range? I might be wrong on that but they are definitely not expensive. The entrees that i've had have all been really nice. I've tried the braised lamb shank, fell right off the bone and tasted like home cooking. The pork roast was very good but not very exciting; the seasoning and cooking was done well but it's not very creative. Even so, very enjoyable. Steak Frites is dependably juicy and delicious and the fries are shoestring macdonalds style minus the rancid taste of fast food oil. I also tried the calves liver when my sister ordered it; i'm not a big fan of liver but it was actually really good. Beer list is small, wine list i don't know i don't order wine so i've never looked at it closely. The actual space is pretty cramped, getting in and out of your seat can be troublesome as it gets crowded in there. There is only one bathroom i think. Prices are medium/low, with entrees hovering above and below the $20 mark depending on what you order. I have always had good meals here, and i am always amazed by how low the bill is compared to how nice everything is.
(5)Deborah H.
I came here at the recommendation of a local, and had pretty high expectations. We arrived around 9PM with no reservation on a Thursday, and had no problem being seated. My coworker and I both had soups to start with: me, the fish quenelle. My waiter said this was an "ancient" delicious French recipe. He made it sound amazing, but it was really just two squishy fishballs swimming in CHEESE soup. NOT GOOD. My coworker tried the potato leek soup, which tasted like it was pure butter and cream with a touch of potato. Way too rich. The bread was AMAZING though: warm, crusty, yum. This, paired with the fact that the entrees took FOREVER to come out, led to two stuffed people who were not happy with their appetizers when the entrees came out. Too bad, because they were amazing. I had the coq au vin, which was spectacular! It had a depth of flavor and richness that implies that it was the reason why our entrees took so long. My coworker was extremely happy with his skirt steak. Unfortunately we were seriously so full off the bread that we couldn't appreciate these entrees more. Because I was disappointed by the appetizers, and the lack of attention from the waiter during our 45+ minute wait for our entrees, I'm not dying to return. But I guess I'd come back if someone insisted, and this time would skip the appetizer.
(3)Trish F.
Wow.. people have been telling me to come here for 2 years. My old boss, who I think had impeccable taste, absolutely loved this place. Why didn't I come sooner? Oh wait.. probably because I would have gotten Petit Robert's routing number and had my job direct deposit my paycheck to them. Needless to say, I totally believe the hype. In celebration of Kenny (in general and his brief return to the east coast), a few of us went to Petit Robert. I tried to get a bigger reservation but was somewhat disappointed when I could only get it for a foursome. I later found out that there was either a wedding reception or a rehearsal dinner that night (the bride and groom had "laid back" wedding wear) so the tables near us were completely occupied. This place is smallish (you walk through the kitchen to get through to the dining room) but I still think this place is good for groups, just try and get in your reservations ASAP. I actually got there early (as per usual) and whilst waiting for my crew, I couldn't get over how nice everyone was. I don't know, I just always felt that Petit Robert was way way way classy. And it is.. but no one treats you any differently because you don't look like you fell out of a Benneton ad. I definitely appreciated that considering I think some restaurants in Boston are ageist (which sucks since I look like I'm 12). When my companions arrived, we ordered wine and cocktails and settled into the warm lighting and generally busy atmosphere. I had some wild strawberry concoction and it pleased both my need for a girly drink and my need for a "long-week-at-work-drink". For dinner, Ligaya and I shared a romaine/roquefort salad and for entrees we ordered the coq au vin (me), the steak frites (Yihwa), blue fish (Ligaya), and the tilapia special that day (Kenny). Oh HEAVEN! The chicken in my coq au vin fell right off the bone. It was ridiculously delicious.. and come to think about it.. I didn't share! Ligaya gave me some of her blue fish (so tasty.. this was my 2nd choice. I heard it sells out sometimes) and Yihwa let me taste her skirt steak (good except I like mine medium well).. but me and my coq au vin with buttered noodles.. we became soulmates that night. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,,, For dessert.. the pound cake (British?) was a bit hard for my liking but the apple tarte tatin was borderline illegal. The crust was incredibly soft and tasted fantastic.. I don't even want to know how many pounds of butter went into that thing. .. and all that food for a really reasonable price. I mean, I wouldn't go eating there all the time (routing number failure).. but I feel like it needs to be a monthly treat. Good for special occasions, dates, whatever. The atmosphere, the service, the food, the company.. I walked out of there thinking.. this is what 5 star service is like. But.. uh.. what's with the vibrating bathroom?
(5)Kristine M.
We liked the food (yummy mussels, mashed potatoes, bread pudding) , the ambiance was fun, and the restaurant was cozy but the service was really bad. REALLY BAD. We were there for almost 3 hours because the waiter was so slow. And it wasn't the food that took so long...we waited a very long time before the waiter even came to take our order, bring us the dessert menu, and bring us our check. He also made a mistake with my husband's coffee. He brought him the wrong thing, and then my husband returned it and asked for the correct item. It took about 15 minutes for the correct coffee to come. Then both the mistake coffee and ordered coffee were both on the bill, so when we had to tell the waiter...and it was another 15 minutes for us to get our fixed check!
(3)Lily L.
My friend and I decided to go to Petit Robert Bistro at 5PM for a super early dinner. Upon arriving, we see no one. We were greeted by no one. After 30 seconds, we see a dishwasher (?), we asked if we could be seated. He scrambles around and finds the maitre d. Since we arrived so early (but technically on time for our reservation), we were seated next to a window. A while into our dinner, the restaurant was getting populated. As we were working on our entree, my friend looks outside and notices that a man was trying to parallel park a HUGE truck into a tiny space. The driver proceeded to hit the bumper of the SUV parked in the rear about 2-3 times. My friend points this out to me. Friend: Look at that person trying to parallel park and hitting the car behind him. Hahaha... Me: Man, that sucks! Hahaha... Our laughter must have attracted some attention as we proceeded to describe this situation unfolding as the patron a table away shouts, "Oh my god. That's OUR CAR!!!" It was a father-son duo. Father (50s-60s being rather chill): Well, it's just the bumper. Look at that tiny spot. Son (20s): Yeah. I can parallel park with my eyes blindfolded if I bounce off the cars around me! Let's key the car! We know where it's parked!!! Moral of the story? Although there's off-street parking, you probably want to be safe and take the public transit or walk. Now onto the food. We came here for Restaurant Week but discovered that the regular entree is actually cheaper. So I ordered the coq au vin. I don't know what I was expecting, perhaps just braised chicken. I'll admit. This chicken had flesh that was just falling off the bone tender. It was dark purple, like what I'd expect a chicken that's been marinating/braised in red wine would look like. However, maybe I've had super inauthentic coq au vin, but the flavor of the chicken was just masked by the wine. I felt the meat tasted bitter. And I can taste fairly strong alcohol. Is this what authentic French coq au vin should taste like? I don't know. So I feel that in some ways, I shouldn't judge. But I'm REALLY not a fan of the strong, bitter taste of alcohol. So if that's not what you like, I'd advise you to stay away from this dish. My friend had the venison and seemed to enjoy it, and this is especially important as it affirmed his desires to go hunting for deer now. Service for the restaurant was alright. My water glass was empty for a good while. And the only refill of water I had was after the bill had come. All in all, an okay experience.
(3)Paul S.
Service was good. An off night for the kitchen. Food took 50 minutes between courses and arrived cold and under seasoned. Night was saved by good company and champagne. Decent wine list.
(2)Anders R.
Meh. Terrible rack of lamb. I think the cap came off the salt shaker when the chef was seasoning. Soggy and boring vegetables. Wine list was off in vintage by two years compared to what was brought. Creme brûlée was good, although it was only a 3.5 out of 5. Service was fast and friendly. In Summary, AVOID and go to gaslight instead.
(2)Ina C.
I agree with Jeffrey H. - The "express lunch" menu is a fantastic deal! I almost feel bad paying so little for such fantastic food! I came to PRB this afternoon to enjoy the unbelievable weather. There was plenty of outdoor seating, and the doors in the main dining room were open. My brother and I were too excited to notice that we entered the restaurant on the bar side and ended up forfeiting being seated at a nice table-clothed table, but whatever - It was still a great dining experience. :) A hostess with the type of French accent that you'd kill to have sat us down and gave us our menus. We were offered three menus: one regular menu, a smaller menu with express lunch items one side and brunch items on the other. Oh, the choices! While we waited for our food, water was poured and bread was brought. This bread was hot from the oven and tasted like heaven. Nothing fancy, just bread. But how did they make it so good? I decided on the frisee salad with fried poached egg with bacon, and a chicken crepe that came with the soup of the day, which was a deliciously creamy chilled asparagus and potato soup. The frisee salad was to die for! The frisee, drizzled with a light vinaigrette dressing, was topped with a poached egg that was ingeniously deep fried. "How in the world did they do this?" we wondered. The crepe was hearty and practically bursting with chicken, tomatoes, and other goodies, and was served with a side of roasted potato and broccoli. My brother ordered the tiger shrimp (from the regular menu, I think?), and it was delicious, though I think my choices beat his. :) He also ordered a beer (something-blanche?) which was really clean-tasting, light and had a little hint of banana at the end. Yum! $33 for our entire lunch! Everything at this restaurant was wonderful - the food, decor, service, value. I highly recommend Petit Robert Bistro, especially for a lunch date.
(5)Rebecca F.
Very tasty, simply said. The only problem is we used to walk in whenever we wanted to before they decided to start taking reservations and now they're almost always booked. Ah well, I guess I can't blame them. Some favorite dishes: Garden Salad w/ Panko Crusted Goat Cheese, Coq au Vin, Escalopes de Venison with Blueberries, and a bunch of other stuff from their previous menu (that's all I've tried of the current menu). Their soups always seem to be delicious. Also, I'm never a big fan of the bread & butter pre-meal deal, but theirs is always devoured in minutes after it arrives. Last, if you're a woman, the male waiters always flirt with you, which is a nice boost. ; ) Save room for dessert: They are to die for.
(4)John A.
There are many good things to say about Petit Robert Bistro but one thing that needs to be highlighted is that the great atmosphere and classy food at reasonable prices make this a good place for a date. Also, the waitstaff is super attentive and very good at explaining the somewhat complex menu (some of it is in French). I had the rabbit and my hottie accomplice had the sea scallops. Both were excellent. Petit Robert Bistro is a very small and cozy so I'd recommend making a reservation, especially on the weekend.
(4)Jenn T.
EDIT (5/2/09) I'm changing my review from a 5 star to a 2 star. I just got back from brunch from Petite Robert and I really couldn't be more disappointed. We were not offered their daily special today when, as far as I know, all the other parties that were seat AFTER us were told of today's special. Our bread NEVER came (although the waitress said the bread would be right out after bringing my coffee) until I asked about it when our entrees came out. I ordered my usual crispy poached eggs and it was DISGUSTING, both mine and my cousin's dish (we ordered the same thing). Their poached eggs have always been cooked runny. Today's eggs were 100% well done. Because I had ordered this dish so many times that I know this isn't "right" to the restaurant's standards, so I sent our dishes back. Sadly, chef's second try was still just as bad. Eggs were still VERY cooked. FIne, we ate it (or I tried to. I didn't finish my entree). Our coffees aren't refilled, water not refilled. After I asked for more coffee, it was still not refilled, although the waitress had walked by us after I asked her for more coffee, to just check on things. The restaurant wasn't even to full capacity, not even close, and they're unable to provide at least decent service? What happened to this place? I've never had this problem with this restaurant and I have ALWAYS recommended it whenever someone's looking for a place to eat in the South End. I will have to think twice about recommending this place now. Oh, and normally I'd give today's service and food a 1 star, but I'm hoping that this is just a "glitch' and the next time I give it a try it'll be back to normal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've been to this location several times but always for lunch and the food is always excellent. I've always tried different dishes and have always impressed me. My favorite so far is the crispy poached eggs. YUM... I love the decor, the outdoor seating when the weather's nice and the bill. It's definitely a very affordable place, great for a date. service may be a bit slow but the wait staff has always been very polite. I highly recommended this place.
(2)Sasha R.
It appears that I happen to be on a search of fabulous french restaurants - or SOMEthing, cause seems that's all I've been visiting, lately! Well I've heard rumors about Petit Robert - that it sucks, that's it's not real French, that it lacks ambiance. I OBJECT! Of all the places I've been, I think it's the most authentic, concentrating less on fake Parisian cafe decor, and more on food, thereby turning out to be most like a Parisian eatery... Small, noisy, bustling, tight seating, open windows: all these things are quite familiar. If you go on their website, they tell you what bistro and brasserie dining is supposed to be (cheap and informal) - and they uphold that in their menu. It's really no nonsense, no fru fru, just delicious traditional dishes, like Coq Au Vin, Pate, Steak Frite, and I had Calf's liver (um, deeeelicious!). A formidable wine list is present too, as well as a long list of desserts, the most popular being the giant profiteroles. Now, our night in particular was a) ruined by the fact that half way through I found out I was on call, and my pager was going off like mad, so I couldn't even enjoy myself. b) immediately redeemed by the fact that Rob Lowe (yes, Rob Lowe) was dining next to us with, what looked like, his mom. I'll SO be back.
(4)Marilyn T.
I've been to both the Comm Ave PRB and the one on Columbus, and I think I prefer the South End one. I've gone during lunch and actually prefer lunch selections more, as there's more creative variety. I've had interesting dishes like coffee soup, which was daring and innovative, though I don't know if I'd order it again. Other more memorable selections included salads with poached then fried egg. I don't recommend the vegetarian terrine - it's a very pretty dish with its multiple colors, but the flavors just don't stand out. Dinner is more French bistro style, with many classic French dishes like steak, roast chicken, mussels. I would be very happy dining here simply for bread and wine. The bread is the freshest and most amazing baguette I've had in Boston, and rumor is that the dough is trucked in from Montreal a couple times a week. It's soooo good warm, and it's the main reason I crave Petit Robert. It's decently priced for the South End, and the bread alone may just be motivation enough for me to go back.
(3)Ron U.
My visit to Petit Robert is the product of my Yelp search for 'liver' in the greater Boston area. I really just wanted the best liver dish I could find. Petit Robert Bistro delivered with the calf's liver. Also, great wine selection, service, and ambiance. Price is very affordable for the quality of food. Wait staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about the food. ** Update ** Tried the duck confit. Just as good if not better than the calf liver. Warm bread is served prior to the meal.
(5)Sarah M.
The ambiance of this restaurant hits you as soon as you walk through the door. It looks tiny when you first enter, but then you are escorted through a corner of the kitchen to another room, packed with tables giving it a true European bistro feel. The menu is truly a French Bistro. Half roasted chicken. Steak and frites. Mussels. Everything sounded sooooo good. And then people around us started ordering desserts. Holy cow. They are huge. My friend and I wound up splitting the chocolate moose, which was served in beer glass (but cooler shape, of course). I had the steak frite, which was a little different than I'd had at other places. It was a long skinny piece of skirt steak rather than hanger or a flat iron. It was still good. Perfectly cooked with a slight crust on the outside and tender middle. The fries were fresh and also really good., seasoned well and not to crispy nor soft. They were amazing in the steak juices. My friend got the roasted chicken, which was moist all the way through. The potatoes that came with it were a good texture and perfectly whipped. Its reasonably priced. We each got an entrée and split a dessert, no drinks, for about 26 bucks each (w/ tax and tip). It's on my 'to return to' list, but it might take a while to get there. I have quite a few other places to try first.
(4)Vanessa C.
my favorite spot for a nice meal on my lunch hour - perfect for lunch dates. I could just say CHEAP FRENCH FOOD and that would be sufficient for some, but I've eaten here so so many times that I really must elaborate. when I worked at NEU I would eat here about once a week. you can get GOOD DELICIOUS french food, something light or more substantial, a full lunch for under $10 !!! we're not talking fake stuff either, I mean fresh baked cruchy tender baguettes with pate, tapenade, sardines, anything you want! this bread is to die for. I love the burgerdog and they will warn you it takes time to cook, but its worth it! enjoy a glass of wine or a delicious latte while you wait - relax & listen to the great french music they always have playing. really the whole vibe is relaxed, understated, but crisp. everything is very clean and bright. overall it is one of my favorite spots in Boston - if you are afraid of french food this is a great unpretentious and comfortable place to start exploring. the service is spotty - ok I'll admit, the service is not so good in fact they get things wrong quite frequently. but I LIKE that, ok? why do I care if they hot french waiter screws up my order? HE'S HOT! AND FRENCH! I have never had room for desert here but I cant wait to come back and try some. I would also really like to try the dinner. if you are looking for a real french bistro that is comfortable and easy on the budget, look no further. just be patient with your waiters - they'll get it right eventually ;)
(4)John G.
Perfect for sitting outside, nursing a Sunday morning hangover over a croque with egg and cappuccino.
(4)noell b.
taken here by friends in boston i had to say i was totally impressed. the chicken coq au vin was not only super delicious, but came in a HUGE portion and served with really delicious buttered noodles on the side. my husband's boeuf bourguignon was equally delicious--and huge. we had a great table, excellent service, and the ambiance was great. i think, though, while it was really good (and having never been to france, i'm not sure how it holds up in authenticity) i feel like i can get better french-styled food in seattle.
(3)Chris F.
This is place is pure awesomeness. It's fancy and cheap. You can take friends, family, or hobos off the street in there. The food's surprisingly spectacular, and the cocktails are all good (especially the Vesper martini). The music in the bar is mostly French, and perhaps the oddest collection of pop songs you'll ever hear. The staff's pretty cool, and the bistro atmosphere is perfectomundo.
(5)Melissa F.
I've only dined here once and only in the South End. I went here for lunch and it was very quiet so we were able to get a cute little table outside on the patio [perfect for people watching!]. Since I'm a picky eater, I didn't get any of the food that I'm sure the restaurant is famous for, so I stuck to my default. A cheeseburger. Now, you might think who the heck orders a cheeseburger at a french bistro, well, your answer is me. I do. BUT, it was the coolest burger ever! I've never seen anything like it. It was a hamburger rolled up in the shape of a foot long hot dog!!! And it was inside a toasted sub roll with melted cheese. I wish I could post pictures of it, because yes I totally took a picture. It tasted delicious and it was the best thing I've ever seen!
(4)Restaurant L.
Despite the pretentious anti-customer service, "I speak French so I'm probably better than you," American waiter, Petit Robert is a delicious quaint spot. This was only my second time eating here, and to be honest I didn't love the chicken and crepe special, but the Mussels appetizer was full of flavor! My first visit a couple of years ago was spectacular, because just as the other yelpers claim, the chicken Coq au Vin is to die for. I think the waiter just needs a little lesson on how to treat the customer. Like, just recommend a cocktail to me, don't sit there with a blank stare like I should know what I want. Also, repeat the specials when I ask. Don't stand there and look at me like I'm an idiot, because I may have forgotten one. Actually, the first time we asked you about the specials, you had to go consult the chef. Shouldn't you have known them in the first place? Don't let this all stop you from going to Petit Robert, however. The location is quiet, because it's a bit separated from the other restaurants on Columbus Ave, and the patio faces a beautiful church.
(3)Nancy L.
I tend to judge a resturant by the bread. How can you not when it is the first thing that greets you once you sit down? And I am pleased to say that the bread/baguette at Petit Robert Bistro is AMAZING: delicious crunchy crust on the outside with a soft and warm center. Perfect for breaking apart with a dining companion and for the endless dipping into the soups. The best thing about them: they're FREE, well kinda :P If the bread is good then it set the bar high for the rest of the night because 1- you expect the other food to be just as delicious and 2- you might have stuffed yourself silly with the bread so if the entree entices you to keep eating, then the restaurant has done well. Well PRB didn't disappoint!!! The creamy lobster bisque was WONDERFUL: not your run of the mill chowder like creation that is overwhelmed by cream but a delicate bisque that sings of seafood flavors. I couldn't help dipping the bread into my companion's soup till he hovered over the bowl protectively. I had the beef short ribs and he had several types of different sausage ranging from black to white. The beef short ribs was incredibly homey and just what I needed on a cold winter night. I'm not a big sausage/hotdog person but the PRB's sausage has a wide range of taste that is very interesting. My companion liked it a lot. Since we were so full of bread, bread, soup, and entree we didn't get dessert but I definitely want to go back for it!
(5)Stephen B.
Coffee and potato soup? Excuse me? It's not potato soup with a cup of coffee - it's potato soup with coffee in it. ... ok? Aside from the ostentatious soup selection, this restaurant boasts that their beef hotdogs are "9 inches of pure heaven"... or something like that. My hotdog was more like "9 manhunt inches of burnt cow carcas," though it was still tasty. The overly peppery bloody mary I got helped my food go down that much more. Would be one star, but the waiter was hot.
(2)Andrew D.
I went here with a friend a while back for a drink and we decided to come back for brunch. The drink was good, a bit pricey but I really only needed the one. I like the atmosphere though walking through the kitchen to get to your table was a bit strange but I kind of liked that. At least I know the conditions of the preparation are clean. I had the eggs Benedict and I would say that it was probably one of the best I have had in Boston. It beats many restaurants and isn't too busy that you feel rushed. The price for lunch is reasonable but dinner seemed like it could get expensive and delicious. I would have given this place 4 stars for the loud mouth sitting next to us but I figured it wasn't their fault obnoxious people like French food. So if your really loud I wouldn't suggest eating here, you'll just ruin the atmosphere.
(5)Sean H.
Amazing! Friendly staff, cozy atmosphere, and savory food. Had rabbit for the first time... absolutely scrumshious! Looking forward to dining here again soon.
(5)Mike G.
menu of french standards nearly identical to Gaslight, but dishes at PR tastes a bit more authentic and is of better quality. plus in summer, outdoor patio dining on columbus ave 'est plus agréable'. but have to say Gaslight makes terrific salads and the parisian-styled venue more festive for a night out with friends. oh well, even in france, bistros are not created equal.
(3)Khiem T.
This is a wonderful restaurant. The dishes were fantastic, very lovely location and it has a nice large glass window overlooking the street. It was snowing and it was very cozy and romantic. Food-wise, I like the ingredients here, fresh and unique, very distinctive platings. I tried the venison and Chilean sea bass, both were well worth the price. My only complaint with this place is that it's really tight, tables were really closed together.
(4)Shang S.
We were charmed by our waitress' ability to speak French. I don't know why everyone is saying it doesn't take reservations, we made reservations for 2 on a Wednesday night. They must have had a new hire bringing out the food because he was constantly confused as to which dishes went with which table. Lobster bisque was really good for Boston, but not a lot of lobster. The bread was really, really heavenly, although I guiltily admit it reminds me of Bertucci's rolls. I got the Normandy pork sausages, which came with a delightful apple cream sauce. My boyfriend got the calf liver... which, unless you like the taste of liver, well, didn't go down quite so well. I liked the lift that the sauce gave to the liver, but we agreed we'd never get that again. Got the giant profiterole for dessert. Neither of us were a huge fan of the fudge, and most of the desserts at this restaurant rested on the heavy side. However, I do want to come back, I think that once the menu is picked correctly the experience is really good, given the value of the price and everything.
(3)Ayon J. R.
The menu is somewhat limited, but the food is great. And, so is the service.
(4)Alex B.
Cozy french bistro, perfect for a date or for a group of friends. Prices are very reasonable, and the staff were helpful. I found it funny that the entire staff were extremely french (lots of zis and zee's) but the main chef was an asian woman. No complaints here, the coq au vin was delicious. So far: my favorite french restaurant in the city.
(5)Arestia R.
I'm pretty sure it's hard to go wrong with this place. Great French food at an affordable price in a little bistro setting is good for any occasion. My friends and I went for my birthday to avoid a lot of fuss and had a wonderful time. Our service was a bit slow, but I didn't really care. The pate was fabulous, the cocktails were delicious and the food really hit the spot. I had traditional duck cocovin and it practically melted in my mouth. I'll definitely be back here.
(4)Jon L.
I am first to admit that I am not a millionaire and there are many things in this world I will not be able to experience, but I would still like to experience them. Petit Robert allows me to do this. They give really cool French dishes, things I am i have no idea about, and present them to you at a price that is affordable. The portions are not large, but that is the price you pay for having really cool products on your plate that would cost $40 somewhere else. Sometimes its better to have a small plate of something delicious than a large plate of something average, and Petit Robert understands this.
(4)Craig S.
Good French Onion soup. And it all ends there. Absolutely clueless service. Took them over 45 minutes to make a sandwich with brie...and the cheese wasn't even melted! We actually got up and left. To the manager's credit, at least she didn't charge us for the food we never got.
(1)Marisa W.
The Coq Au Vin is amazing! And the service is great. Friendly staff.
(5)Victoria G.
i LOVE everything i ate and drank here. the atmosphere was wonderful and romantic. i actually had thanksgiving lunch with friends and the food was incredible!!! the turkey was perfectly cooked as well as the potatoes and vegetables. the bread pudding dessert was divine. i'm definitely going back!! the boston comm ave petit robert is also equally delicious (the half chicken is my fave). it was so nice to have such a great thanksgiving lunch and the service was fantastic. some of the best food i've had in boston, yet.
(5)M V.
Given the many good restaurants in the neighborhood, there's absolutely no reason to go to this place. Thoroughly mediocre food: ingredients of middling quality, preparation that recalls the food at a chain hotel near an airport. (Overdressed salad, unnecessary sauces, ill-conceived juxtapositions, industrial-grade tomatoes, indiscriminately applied cream, etc etc). Bad food is the main problem; the other problems are that tables are too crunched together and that service is pretty slow. In short: just don't do it.
(1)David W.
I have enjoyed Petit Robert before at both Comm Ave and on Columbus, but not this last visit on a Saturday at noon for brunch. My Eggs Benedict were very substandard: small eggs, burnt English muffin, mediocre Hollandaise and cold French Fries (instead of traditional diced potatoes). My companion's Croque Monsieur was just a cheese sandwich, not prepared in the traditional way. The best part of the meal was the warm French bread. Just barely worth two stars.
(2)S M.
I've been here before and wasn't t very impressed, but on a visit earlier this week he food (lamb special) was very good. Our server was helpful and funny (instead of snide). Recommend checking them out.
(4)Deepa C.
I have been wanting to go here for ages, so when my father-in-law wanted to meet up and take us out to dinner (we dog sat back in Feb) I thought this would be ideal. Nice, but wouldn't break the bank. It was a huge hit with everyone. since they don't take reservations, we arrived at 6:30 (on a sat) and were seated almost immediately. the smallish dining room was full, but not packed. service was attentive and prompt and the atmosphere was impressive but not overwhelming. i like that you had to walk past the open kitchen to get from the bar area to the dining room; little things like that take away from pretension. my salad was simple, yet satisfying. my husband got the lobster bisque - good, but peppery, and my FIL had the escargot - which he seemed enjoy. main courses were scallops (simple, yet amazing, served with wilted spinach and garlic mashed potatoes) pork medallions (HUGE portions (my husband got through half...) with a great sauce), salmon steak with a basil tomato sauce (my FIL pratically licked his plate), and blue fish (which also went over very well). dessert was also incredible - giant profiteroles, apple tarts, angel food cake with fruit and chocolate mousse. the coffee was a little strong, nothing out of the ordinary. i will stop here, lest i gush too much. overall, it was a great meal. perfectly timed, good service, clean. the place was busting at the seams with we left, but we did not feel as though we were rushed out. the neighborhood is right up my alley - i love the south end. PRB is nestled in a row of brownstones across from a church, this would be a great place for an outdoor summer supper or brunch. i am def going back. ETA: So I have been here several times since this review. Nothing has changed my mind about the 5 stars. AND the last time I was there - Rob freaking Lowe sat next to us! Talk about icing on the proverbial profiterole!
(5)Eric Y.
Being on a business trip, I was lucky enough to have dined here w/ some co-workers. This tiny French bistro has been one of the best I've been to. The wait may be long, but well worth it. Just have a couple glasses of wine while you wait near the bar. The escargot are done just right and the baquettes will go even better with the leftover sauce. Coq au Vin, Boeuf Bourginon, pate, and foie gras are a few of the stand outs. If I'm ever back in the area, I'll be sure to dine here again.
(4)Frank J.
A mixed experience. The staff and atmosphere are great. Our party of four arrived at 7:25 on a Saturday night for our 7:30 reservations. We were not seated until 8:05 during which time we had to stand in the crowded bar dominated by a television. One of our party has trouble standing for long periods and there were no chairs for the first 20 minutes or so. The excuse for the delay was that the party at "our" table had arrived late and were not leaving despite having paid the bill. Like this had never occurred before. To their great and everlasting credit, the bartender comped us a round of drinks and the host our dessert thus making what would have been a moderately priced dinner into one that was quite inexpensive. The appetizers and desserts were by far the best parts of the meal. My wife and I split a delicious beet and goat cheese salad and our friends shared the escargot which they enjoyed. The desserts along with being free were excellent. My chocolate bread pudding was superb. I wish I could say the same of the entrees. Two of us had the salmon which was good, although the server reversed the well-done and the medium-rare portions when she served the plates. Everybody's carrots and broccoli were cold and my wife's mashed potatoes were cold. They were quickly replaced, but first impressions are what last. My scallops although specifically ordered medium rare were overcooked and tough and not a very delicate preparation. Despite all this, my wife and I would go back and try it again. It's a fun restaurant. I can't speak for our out-of-town guests who had the restaurant recommended to them by friends in Washington, DC.
(2)Crystal S.
Oh Petit Robert.... *le sigh* I'd have to say you get your money's worth in regards to quality of food and atmosphere, I can see a couple coming here for a romantic, but modestly priced anniversary or first date, that kind of thing. It's also a great eatery in general, it's affordable enough to be a nice night out on a weekday for no reason at all. The very first time I went here, I looked at the check only to gasp and say "that's IT?!?!" Now, that doesn't mean this is pennies and nickels but really, for what you're getting, I think this is affordable fare in the city. (Please don't jack up the prices because I said this) The service can be hit or miss. Some days they are fantastic, some days they forget to give you bread or forget your drink order or suggest a fat and bean meal on 4th of July (ew). By the way, the reason it's so sad if they forget to give you the bread before your entree arrives is because the bread is FANTASTIC. This quite frankly is the best free bread I've had in the city. I have no ideal where it comes from, but it's consistently good, except, as I mentioned, when they forget to give you some...
(4)Ligaya T.
A wipe-the-corner-of-your-mouth establishment that oozes the easy charm of a bijou bistro without an upturned nose. Just my style. And apparently everyone else's too. This place is always hopping! The bar plays host to a boisterous crew so dash through the kitchen to the dining room for a seat. Might have to suck in a little and walk sideways on the way to your table trying hard not to breathe on other patrons' meals, itty bitty aisles. The pleasant servers are in constant motion so dodge carefully. For optimal configuration at a half booth disregard standard notions putting women facing the restaurant (keepings boys' peepers locked on their companions). Instead place the tallest person on the wall side as they will sink to the eye level of their dining partners. Now you can look up at each other, gazes conveying the sheer joy at the amount of butter on your plates. Mmmm. The key is simplicity. The ingredients stand alone. (Not only just the cheese!) A little spice, dollop of dairy in some form, a sprinkle of salt. Perfection! The blue fish is a winner, they just need to dump a little more corn gravy on top. Always a classsic, the steak frites satisfies the hungry belly. I was told the coq au vin was scrumptious as well. I'm jealous of the pastry chef. The crust on the tart tartin is moist and doughy, yummicicious. I'd skip the British cake though. All around, a solid bullseye!
(4)Shawn T.
The trio of pate is still to die for! It's really the only thing that keeps bringing me back here (that and their entrees are decently priced). My only gripe is that they raised the prices for it. The bread service is also good; I love the simple accompaniment of butter, yum!
(4)Me B. M.
Boston needs good, honest French food. And I was sad that this was not it. It's merely overpriced and mediocre. Over-cooked, under-seasoned. The bread is really great, though! I have eaten there many times, and will again, but nothing is that great and the services is uneven.
(2)Kaki N.
After an afternoon of walking all around Boston we popped in at about 6:30 p.m. with no reservation. Since it was early for a Saturday night we were able to get a table on the patio without a problem. Our waiter brought us bread and butter and water very promptly. We started with the trio of homemade patés which came with three tiny gerkins and mustard. No bread was provided by our waiter beyond the initial small baguette, which we'd already half eaten with the butter. The patés were excellent - one tuna, one "country style" pork, and one pork liver. The pork liver was the smoothest paté I've ever eaten and the tuna was a pleasant surprise. The hostess noticed that we lacked bread and brought us some, but in the meantime our dinner came. (Service from the kitchen was very fast.) I had a special: Linguini with smoked salmon and tomato crème fraîche. My friend ate what was billed on the menu as bluefish with lobster and creamed corn sauce, but which was actually halibut. (Our waiter told us about the switch when we ordered.) My dinner was fabulous -- the perfect, simple thing for a warm summer night after walking most of the afternoon. My friend also declared his fish a winner. We shared a profiterole with vanilla ice cream and fudge sauce for dessert. The pastry was so crisp as to be impossible to cut with a spoon, but the fudge sauce was first rate. The service was prompt, but (aside from the hostess) had no personality. Our waiter can only be described as a dweeb and the lack of bread with the paté was regrettable. Other waiters I observed seemed much more attentive, I just think ours was a dud. The hostess was a joy. I would certainly go back if I was in the neighborhood. It's an unassuming neighborhood place that seems to do the things it does well very well indeed, and if the waiter and dessert were a bit under par I can forgive it.
(4)Cindy C.
After compiling my first list (!) I decided that my petit robert bistro review didn't really do the restaurant justice. Since my first dining experience there, I have frequented the restaurant a dozen more times. It's one of my goto restaurants that I know will never fail me (or very rarely). Whether its a cold winter night or a hot summer afternoon, the staff at the place is friendly, warm and welcoming. I love sitting in the outdoors area during the summer, just enjoying the south end with the warm, soft and delicious bread, which i use to dip into my flavorful lobster bisque. Following that, any entree on the menu is a delight, but I'm especially partial to the specials they have..yummmm rabbit. Bottom line, GO. it wont disappoint
(4)Byron M.
The owners of Petit Robert Bistro have 3 of these around the Boston Area. Authentic french cuisine that is true to its roots at a cost that Why go to Fridays when you can go to PRB. I particularly like the short ribs when they have them and the roast chicken. Don't forget dessert. The apple pie tartin is amazing. Cheers!
(4)Abraham N.
Food is excellent, though the service was a bit slow. On a saturday night, no one took our order for about 15 mins, then it took another 20 for the food to arrive. A bit too buttery.
(3)Gonzalo B.
Sat at the sidewalk 'patio' tables for a late lunch while doing some errands. Have noticed lots of comments here about the service and have to say, our waiter - don't recall his name but he is from Texas - was good, attentive, and nice. We wondered about different beers and he brought us some samples to try...that was the thing to do. They send out a small basket of warm rolls with some good butter. We had some mussels which were just ok, nothin' special. when you want to dip your bread or spoon up some of the sauce is what I look for with mussels, this didn't warrent it. The smoked salmon sandwich was also just...ok. Comes on a croissant, would be better on a baguette, dry, needs some sauce...fries on the side...80% were left when the plate was taken, that says it about the fries. We tried the potate croquettes for a side and they were, well...just okay. Bland. They need some seasoning and some melted cheese inside like they do 'em at Galleria Umberto would be the way.Fine, big pours on the drafts, warm rolls, good waiter...just okay, mostly, on the food. Bob, Lil' Bobby, ramp it up.
(3)Sarah T.
We went for a nice meal on a wintry evening in January (I am a little behind on my write-ups - oops) with another couple (read their write-up under Jason B.). It was a lovely atmosphere - very cozy and warm. Loved it! The snow was blowing by sideways, but you forgot about the weather when inside the bistro. My husband and his friend ordered the warm mulled wine. They both loved it and appreciated the flavors. I had a lovely glass of red to begin the evening meal, and my friend had a glass of white. Three of the four of us tried calf brains for the first time. To be honest, my husband and a friend split the calf brain appetizer, and I had a nano-bite to say that I had tried them. The flavor was really good, but very rich. Crispy on the outside and smooth and creamy on the inside. I was surprised at the great flavor but didn't have more due to the psychological battle ongoing in my mind as to whether brains are food - or should be food. I started the meal with Soupe a l'Onion Gratinee. It warmed me up but wasn't the best French onion soup that I have had. It was missing the depth of flavor that some others have had - for example, they make a fabulous French Onion soup at the Danversport Yacht Club. I then had a salad with romaine heart and Roquefort. I recall that the shallot vinaigrette was good and lots of flavor; however, for a better vinaigrette, try either Union Bar & Grill in the South End (so savory) or a fabulous citrus vinaigrette at Columbus Cafe. My husband had the oysters on the half shell. He stated that they were very good, but a little pricey. He prefers the more creative oyster offerings at the Meritage. For my entree, I ordered the Coq au Vin with Butter Noodles. This was fabulous and the best Coq au Vin I have had in the States. So flavorful and tender and rich! It simply melts in your mouth. And the butter noodles are the best pairing for it - EVER! We ended the evening with dessert and tried the Crepe Suzette. It was executed wonderfully - but the flavor wasn't fabulous. It almost tasted as though the orange flavor was fabricated (i.e., not from natural oranges/tangerines). Overall, the atmosphere and the Coq au Vin earn Le Petit Bistro four stars. Without those two reasons, I would only give this bistro 3 stars.
(4)David L.
So, my sister, Phoebe L.'s, first Yelp post was on Petit Robert almost a year ago. I largely concur with her evaluation. PRB is my favorite French restaurant in Boston. Authentic French dishes at very reasonable prices. And I loved them even more after they started taking reservations a while ago! Plus, the most important reason why I love them so much, is my most successful date happened here! If I want to impress out of towners, I generally bring them here. The food is good enough to hugely impress even the New Yorkers. If you are trying to decide on South End versus Kenmore, I would say South End for larger groups and Kenmore for more romantic dates. My favorite dishes: calf's liver, brain, and the dessert with the Eiffel Tower. If you aren't as daring, the short ribs are always great, the coq au vin fantastic (better than the many I've had in France), and the duck confit is to die for. If it the weekend, make sure you get reservations. Waiting in the cold sucks!! PS: the park behind the church next to the South End PRB is the most magically place to steal a kiss.
(5)Rebecca S.
I'd heard great things about Petit Robert, so when we were contemplating our pre-theater dinner options I was happy to finally get a chance to give them a try. There are two locations, this review is for the (original) Columbus Ave. branch. Overall we were unimpressed. Restaurant week, so we each got the prix-fixe menu. Mine featured onion soup (fine), duck confit with shredded veggies (dry duck, so-so overall), and peach melba for dessert featuring peach at the bottom that I'm pretty sure was canned. The restaurant was half-empty, it was early in the evening (pre-theater) so the somewhat slip-shod quality of our entrees was surprising. In New York there's a small chain of French bistros scattered around Manhattan called "French Roast" -- open 24/7, serving decent French standards around the clock. Busy, noisy places that you're not expecting to be *superb.* Their food is better than Petit Robert's, showing that it's possible to run a chain of bistros that get the job done. But not at Petit Robert.
(2)Anna C.
I've had three meals here, always hopeful that the food will improve. But it doesn't. The ingredients seem to be of poor quality. Portions are not especially generous. Go here only for a drink at the bar; the ambiance is nice.
(2)Robert D.
Romantic and lovely. Can be a little loud when busy. I suggest make a later reservation for a quiet romanic evening. Staff could be better educated on wine and food was very good
(4)Xena W.
My friend and I went to this location on a Monday night around 9:45 PM after a performance at the BSO. Even though we were the only customers and it was a Monday night where most places close early, the good waitstaff at Petit Robert kept the place open for us and took excellent care us till a little past midnight. At no point did they make us feel rushed and they were most attentive the whole evening. The food was delicious and we enjoyed a three course meal and nice wine and had a lovely time and enjoyed all the jazz and tango tunes being played throughout the evening. I will gladly return and bring friends over. Customer service like that is rare these days.
(4)Peter V.
Expensive meal. My ribs were okay.... Not great, not bad. Everything else with our meal was average... Everything was average but the price.
(3)Jochen D.
Finally a place that can be considered French and not AmericanFrench, like for example Gaslight. We really enjoyed our romantic night out. the Fois gras was very good and also the pork chop. Great Bistro experience. maybe service was a bit so so.
(4)J. Lynn T.
Delicious food and quaint little bistro space. Entering the establishment, you see a small space and just as quickly, my guest and I were lead past the kitchen and into a separate dining room. I recommend the jambon de bayonne which comes with a great hearts of palm salad, the escargots are YUM! and the salad with panko crusted goat cheese, SO good! The beef short rib was hearty, everything was overall great! A few faults though, they really ought to have more than 1 co-ed bathroom and their servers could be more attentive, it felt as though we had to wait forever for our bill.
(4)David D.
Ugh. WHY was my lunch cheaper at Petit Robert than a combo meal at Burger King? It's always dead in here in the early afternoon, and I've never had to wait for a seat. I had to walk 5 blocks from my office, but it's worth it, and my co-workers can't see me drinking on my lunch break to help hold in the tears. :'( Our server didn't give us bread, but it's OK, and I think he's on Grindr... so that works. Ok, I have a haircut appointment in 10 minz. Bye.
(4)Rafael R.
Relaxed, casual and simple French bistro in the South End neighborhood of Boston. Friendly service and reasonable prices, but not enough to really have me return, when there are so many other restos in the neightborhood.
(3)J L.
Down to 1 star, but thats all they deserve this time. Although I was greeted warmly and seated promptly, the service and food were horrible on this visit. The waiter took forever to come over to take my order. I liked their pate trio and it was good as usual; a nice portion for two but should be served room temperature to bring out the flavor and it wasn't.. The bread was soft and not crusty, it could have used a few more minutes in the oven. I made the mistake of ordering the breaded pork recommended by the waiter; after a very long wait (and it wasn't that busy) it arrived and was just terrible: swimming in oil and topped with a huge pile of salty capers and cornichons, it was overcooked and as tough as leather. A real cheap cut of pork with a lot of fat. Then it was served with literally two tablespoons of mashed potatoes, which tasted good but were swimming in oil and it was truly a very small portion. All this next to a sloppy mess of vegetables. I would have sent it back but the waiter never came by to ask how my meal was so I disected all the fat and ate some of it. This after draining all the oil. The waiter told the manager but he or she did not come over to offer an appology or any kind of gesture. Not going back anytime soon.
(1)Binh L.
Alright, I have gone to the Commonwealth one so I had to come here to see how this compares. I came here for brunch though. The eggs benedict were nice. Beautifully plated, but came with fries? Really? I know you're a french restaurant, but I don't want french fries. I want home fries. Anyway, the eggs were good, but it seems to lack that punch. Think the sauce isn't too extraordinary. Really greasy, but not in the entirely delicious way. I got the smoked salmon one and I could barely taste the salmon. Except for the disgusting burps of salmon.. many hours later? Gross over-share (what of it?).. Oh and my friend had the chicken crepe which apparently was delicious enough for her to clean the plate. Also had a side order of bacon. Gosh, this might be the most delicious bacon I've had in Boston (second would be Ryle's). Perfectly crisp, and not a disintegrating kind of crisp. Just perfect. I ate way too much bacon, and it felt awesome (well, at the moment). So pretty quaint, Petit. I'd totally give you a second date. Dinner sometime?
(4)Kelsey C.
The décor inside has the simple elegance of French countryside and we got a table by the window. I would look inside and have flashbacks of France and then I'd look outside and suddenly be in Boston again. It was like a bewildering nostalgia. Speaking of nostalgia, the bread is the closest I've had to French baguette since...well...France. As for the food, HUGE portions! I had the trio of homemade pates as an appetizer and that seriously could have been my entire meal. The pate was delicious. I liked the chicken liver pate least because it tasted a bit salty/fishy but loved the other two. My friend and I split the rack of lamb. The sauce went well with the lamb but was a bit salty and I would have liked a little less of it on the ratatouille but I'm just not that into sauces - I'll use maybe a tablespoon of ketchup for an entire order of fries. We split the dish but each half was easily a whole meal! The menu is extensive with a wide variety of ingredients. This restaurant offers everything from coq-au-vin to skirt steak to venison, an impressive range for a small bistro. There is something so simple and pretty and polished about this place. I would come again...and probably order just as much.
(4)S. M. S.
Signs of a failing French bistro: French fries cooked in week-old, putrefied oil, day-old lettuce hacked into ugly chunks, watered-down salad dressing, portions half the size of what they've been for the 4 years we've been eating here. Arevois Little Bobby...
(1)Laurinda U.
I had dinner with my sister for the first time on Saturday night. I was definitely under impressed. For our appetizer, we ordered the duck and kimchee sushi roll (~$12). It was absolutely terrible. The rice was cold and hard. You couldn't taste the duck and the kimchee tasted like bland cabbage. This dish was an epic fail. My sister ordered the rack of lamb (~$20 and came with a small baked potato and steamed broccoli) and I ordered the venison (~$20 and came with whipped potatoes and steamed broccoli and carrots). I think it says a lot when the side of whipped potatoes outperformed the entire meal. The whipped potatoes were delicious, but the venison with blueberry sauce was just meh. My sister's lamb was yummy but was pretty much lamb lollipops that I could get anywhere. This place also loses a star because of the lackadasical service. The server came by to take the empty bread basket and when we asked for another one, it sadly never came. Sadly because the bread was better than my entree (see above). Also our water glasses were never refilled, not until the end when we decided to leave anyways. Although we didn't stay for dessert, our neighbors did and it looked like maybe dessert is where this bistro shines. Overall - overpriced and underwhelmed. Do not recommend.
(2)Jessica V.
This used to be our weekly haunt, but about two years ago the food got a little inconsistent. Still a fun place for brunch or if you're a local person not wanting to go to far for an okay meal.
(3)Ming C.
This restaurant single-handedly helped change my review technique of every restaurant I will ever eat at. My first experience with Petit Robert on a chilly Friday night almost two years ago was atrocious. From what I allow myself to remember, we were seated all the way by the window of the back room, waited almost 45 minutes for any food to arrive, and never saw one single water refill during the entire dinner. I was parched! I believe whatever my bf had was also undercooked and mine tasted oily. Needless to say we didn't think we would be back. But back we came as the bf was craving french and the location on Columbus was only two blocks from our apartment. And I am so incredibly glad that we did because all the dozen + times we have been there since have been incredible. I have so many favorite dishes - in the colder months, the seared fois-gras totally hits the spot. The roast chicken is melt-in-your-mouth tender and just tastes the way i always imagined Julia Child would have cooked it for her favorite dinner party friends. My bf loves the duck confit and creamy pates. The other positive about this place is that their brunch is so affordable and filling! For a sardine baguette, fries and a side salad, it only sets you back around $7. The decor and ambiance is also one of the reasons we made Petit Robert one of our go-to Boston restaurants. Whenever we start reminiscing about "that little tucked-away treasure in Paris", we stroll over to this place, sip our wine, and live it all over again. Please give it a go if you've never tried it before or came once and was not that impressed. I no longer live in Boston now but I will surely miss my Paris away from Paris!
(5)Ginny K.
Disappointing. I just wanted a good soup and salad. House salad delicious with the goat cheese. Very lemony. The lobster bisque however, was watery and lacking anything special! Very disappointing! Oh, and the bread and butter were simply delish...esp for those of us who use bread as a vehicle for butter.
(2)Gabriele D.
I would recommend this place because it's the best French food you can get for this price in Boston. The restaurant is rather elegant and cozy, the cocktails are good. Don't expect very creative dishes, the strength of this place is that it's traditional. In other words it's a bistro in the French sense! I don't think it's possible to be disappointed. BTW it's also a great place for a quick lunch, with a delicious selection of sandwiches (their own "burgerdog" is amazing).
(4)Nancy Z.
Affordable French food in Boston? Thank you Robert. 3 different types of yummy pate's for $7? Heh... you're starting to make me blush. A waiter that looks like a HOTTER version of Johnny Depp? Yes. You can put my name on the dinner reservation list for tonight. The food at Petit's has always been great every time I've ordered. The pates, the pastas, the skirt steak with that delicious lobster cream sauce on it... whoa. I definitely recommend this place.
(4)Cami F.
Tucked just a few blocks away from Dartmouth street/the prudential- this little french restaurant is perfect for a summer evening dinner. The outside seating faces a beautiful church and tree lined street. The food is great, especially loved the scallops, and the servers are incredibly friendly. I was slightly disappointed by their brunch, but their dinner is worth returning for!
(3)Cat M.
I am French I grew up with French cuisine I am also a vegetarian So there was a lot of asparagus The French still don't understand vegetarianism, and Petit Robert has exactly un plat sans viande. I'll save you the excitement of reading the menu and just tell you that it's penne with mushrooms in a buttery herb sauce. It tasted exactly like what you'd make in 20 minutes at home with stuff you grabbed at Shaw's on your commute. My mother said the coq au vin was good. I hoped that dessert would be more interesting, so I ordered the profiteroles, expecting warm fluffy biscuity things filled with richly perfumed vanilla ice cream and a divine ganache. Again, what I received tasted very store-bought -- dare I say the sauce was Hershey's? Our waiter kept changing so they had no idea who had ordered what and when the last person had checked on us so it was rather intrusive. Finally, they do online reservations through OpenTable (yay!) but don't give you points (boo!).
(2)denis s.
Scale 1 = poor, 5 = outstanding CUSTOMER SERVICE: 2. Our waiter read us 3 specials, but we found out after we ordered about a 4th special by seeing the specials chalkboard. Then our waitress dropped the app plates on my wife when clearing them (partly due to how cramped it is - see Ambiance section). Also our water and wine glasses sat empty for long stretches with no offer. When one dessert was cold they did insist on bringing another which was nice, but as you'll see in the Food section, it was also cold. FOOD: 3 My wife got the cod and thought it was perfectly cooked, but you have no substitutions on sides and only know that you are getting a veggy and a starch - and those were way garlicky and not that great. I got the short ribs and thought it was good but not great. The macaroons were great, but the apple crisp was between cold and lukewarm. When we mentioned that they took it back and 10 minutes later another came - it was even colder. AMBIANCE: 2. Very very cramped. Some places get away with cramped (Oleana, etc). This place doesn't. Your neighbors have to slide by your table to get in and out of theirs - and slide so close their butts drag on your table. And the table legs are so big that you are forced to awkwardly place your feet on the base of the table instead of the floor. VALUE: 3. Portions were generous and it wasn't a bank-breaking dinner.
(2)Molly R.
This was delicious! Reasonably priced for the quality and real French food. Very good. Loved it, and would definitely recommend it!
(4)David B.
Second time here, again as a pre theatre dinner. The difference is that we can now say we've been to Parisian bistros (was in Paris for the first time the summer of '09). Petite Robert captures the vibe of a Parisian bistro but some of the food we sampled on this trip was different from the "real" thing. The beet salad and slow cooked chicken in wine sauce were delicious and spot on. I was disappointing in the mussels. They did not offer pommes frite (or bring more bread) for the sauce. The sauce that cam with the mussels was also on the sparse side. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable evening out and an easy walk to the Huntington Theatre.
(3)Emily B.
I love this place. Back in high school, my french class walked to the one in Kenmore and we all had a great lunch. The atmosphere is tidy and comfortable. The music is light and easy to talk over. The food is great and I get to order in French. Prices are highish, but it's an upscale place so that's expected. Though I've never gotten anything but the French onion soup and creme brulee here, I still really like Petite Robert a lot.
(5)Calli C.
Maybe it was the company, but this numbered among my top five meals in my life. We entered this refuge on a rainy night to a cheery "Bonsoir!" I swooned a little at the sound of all the French accents. Reservations I believe are recommended, as it's not a very large restaurant but it did not feel crowded in the least. The waitstaff was if anything overattentive, coming back several times to see if we were ready to order or if we were done with our plates. As we were often too caught up in talking to get to those things, they were unfailingly patient with our multiple-hour-long meal. The food was "un plaisir délicieux:" a few glasses of Sancerre, lobster macaroni and cheese which was unlike any I'd ever had before, duck confit with sausage and cabbage was prepared and flavored to a T, and panko-crusted pork loin with capers which was so moist and tender. And yet we still managed to make room for the chocolate souffle, which was quite literally and figuratively the icing on the cake to a perfect dining experience.
(5)Gerardo A.
This is my second time at Robert Petite Bristo. Just as our first time, this was an exceptional dining experience. Our server was very attentive and never rushed us to order. The menu selection is your traditional French Bristo options but each has a chef's touch that sets them apart. This restaurant is a great option for the money. Quality is superb and service is awesome.
(5)Erin P.
Went here with a group of 6. The restaurant was slow when we sat down at 8pm but began to get busier. I was dissatisfied with the waiter service. The manager came around to ask how everything was but we hardly saw our waiter. I had the scallops and pear martini which were excellent.
(2)Neill K.
Love the covered outdoor seating...even when it's raining! The food is always more than tasty and the service is friendly. I highly recommend brunch, if you're lucky they will have a small trio playing some tunes for you.
(5)Jackie C.
Cozy French restaurant with all the south end feel... cute and elegant but casual at the same time. The food is sort of home cooked french style... it is great. For dessert i had the chocolate chip cookies with milk,,, how it took me back!!! The waiters were very very friendly and kind... great service. Will definitely be back there soon!!
(5)Clare F.
I have been here three or four times in the past six months and have consistently had good food, drink, and service. Cozy in the winter and with enough outdoor seating for spring summer. The staff greet you in french with correct pronunciation. I've spent enough time in France to know that the decor and setup are authentic. For good french food, you cannot beat Petit Robert's prices. Any other South End french restaurant would force you to spend a good 25% or more for the same thing. I have found a few favorite dishes there and have not strayed. I love the salad with panko-crusted goat cheese. Goat cheese is good on anything, but especially on mixed greens with a light dressing. Instead of a main dish, I get the potatoes au grautin, which come out piping hot and are very filling. The drinks are very good - we have ordered Old Fashioneds, Kirs, and Mojitoes (yes, in the middle of January, can't blame a girl for wishful thinking!) I am always impressed by a staff that remembers large party orders... I came with a group of seven and a group of five and nothing was misplaced. In fact, the waitress remembered our party four months later AND what we ordered.
(4)Jennifer M.
Went here for the first time last night with my boyfriend for date night. While nothing was awful, and I debated giving a 3 overall, I'm bumping this down to a 2 as my main dish was one of the more disapointing factors. (If I could give half stars I would probably have given a 2.5.) Started with a round of drinks. I ordered one of the special "Petit" drinks, of which there are two on the menu. The waitress ended up brining the wrong one, but I didn't say anything because it was actually quite good. (Simple idea, mix champagne, gin, and lemon.) Bread was pretty delicious and the French Pinot Noir I ordered was good suggestion from the waitress. For dinner, I ordered the beef short rib. There were three pieces and one was overdone. I didn't need to eat it all, but had I wanted more, I wouldn't have been able to eat the third piece. The sauce was also really just OK. Not something I would suggest or order again, but I ate most of it. Brussel sprouts were ordered on the side and those were good. We also ordered the chocolate cake with leaning tower of pizza creation as pictured on their website, which looked pretty cool and was average. Apart from the food, this place fell vicim to the changing seasons, where it was just too hot inside. This in combination to being a crowded place where you are generally right on top of the table next to you led to a little bit of an uncomfortable experience. Not that it's the restaurants fault, but there were also some very loud individuals right next to us, just making it feel that much more crowded. We wanted to get some coffee and after dinner drinks but couldn't stay there any longer as it was hot and we couldn't hear one another.
(2)Momo K.
considering it's called petit robert, everything was pretty petite. i had duck and a spinach side, they were both non impressive and very average.
(3)Tracy C.
I've been to PRB many times and decided to write a review for the South End location because I think it's the better of the two. This is not to say the Kenmore site is bad, it's just I've had better experiences in South End. I love how the restaurant is classy but casual, the food is authentic French priced fairly (all entree under $20), and the bread, the service and the drinks just make such a wonderful dining experience. I also signed up for their newsletter and I love reading/ watching recipe demonstrations, see what Chef Robert has to say (usually very entertaining). The atmosphere surrounding this establishment is so French yet so friendly like a true neighborhood bistro. Favorite things to get there includes the escargot, pate trio, lobster bisque and smoked herring warm potato salad for appetizer. For entree I really like the Frog Leg Provencale, Bluefish, Rack of Lamb and the skirt steak~frites. As for dessert, I love the souffle... irresistible.
(5)laura e.
Went for brunch. The bread is great. Wonderful quiche with salad and frites! The only disappointment was the slow service and the croissants, which were sliced opened and toasted without our requesting them that way. They were dry and disappointing. We will come back to try dinner.
(3)shannon c.
I loved this place. I recently went with my boyfriend and his family. This is a great place to go for a well priced intimate meal. The food was excellent - the roast chicken was amazing. It was gourmet comfort food cooked to perfection. They brought out as much bread as we wanted and it was warm fresh and delish! Our servers were courteous and attentive and answered all of our questions. Oh! The portion sizes were perfect! They weren't too big, if they were I would have made myself sick because I would want to keep eating - but they also weren't too small like a lot of gourmet places. It was great. Their desserts are also worth it, so save room. The only criticism is that we were a party of six and we felt a little out of place, customers shooting us looks for being too loud. It's a tiny place so conversation really carried - we certainly weren't going nuts with the boyfriends parents and his uncles. Oh, also we were told they don't take reservations, but when we got there they asked us if we had one - what's the deal with that? Save this place for an affordable intimate night out.
(4)Judy Heller K.
Our party of four had a delicious and reasonably priced dinner here in March. Our reservation was honored promptly and service was excellent. For beef lovers the short ribs are not to be missed! And the threesome pate appetizer was superlative. Only disappointment was our first two wine choices were not available. However, they let us sample several other choices until we found what we wanted. for an intimate and fine dining experience in the South End try Petit Robert Bistro.
(4)Caitlin C.
When fellow yelpers, Zach A. and Margaux A. came to town this weekend, they gave me the honor of selecting the restaurant. After much deliberation, I finally settled on Petit Robert. I had been once to the Comm Ave location in December of 2005 (wow that's a long time ago!), and I recall having been impressed with the meal. So, nearly 4 years later (one of which was spend spent living in France...miss it!), I made reservations for 6 for a Saturday evening. We had a to wait a few moments for them to clear off our table in the front room, but no matter. Most of the employees are French and super nice (our serveur was really sweet). The owner (well, I think she was the owner, or maybe manager) was also extremely cheerful and the mood of the restaurant reflected her pleasantness. We started out with beverages. I had the Kir, which is always my go-to aperitif. And as others have mentioned, their bread was fresh and very tasty! For an appetizer, I had the soup a l'oignon. Mmm, cheesy deliciousness. I decided on the panko encrusted pork loin for my main course and I also ordered a side of potatoes gratin dauphinoise to share with the table (I really like cheese). I had a nice glass of cote du rhone to wash it all down. The pork was really lovely and the panko ensured a satisfying crispiness. It was also enormous! Sadly, I could not fit it all in my belly. And that also meant that there was no room for dessert (which is my favorite part of the French meal). Oh well, next time I will come with a larger appetite for sure. Everyone else seemed pretty satisfied with their meals. Though, to be honest, I was so focused on mine that I can't quite remember what the others got. Everything was also extremely affordable (most the entrees were less than $20), especially when considering the quality and quantity of the food you get. Bottom Line: Petit Robert is THE best value for authentic French cuisine in Boston. Hopefully, the next time I go back it'll be before 2013!
(5)Heather C.
As my first review, Petit Robert is 100% worthy. I have been there 3 times, (4?) and each time has been awesome! We had an appetizer, 2 entrees, dessert and a bottle of wine for $80. Amazing. The best part is feeling like you're getting a 5 star meal, at 3 star prices. Everything I have sampled on the menu, lunch and dinner items, I would order again. Please do not listen to the poor review from Tania P, I don't know what she has up her hindquarters. Please, do yourself a favor and give the place a second chance. I have had the same coq a vin and it was amazing! I don't know how you could call that bland.
(5)Cathy H.
Great little breakfast at a great little value! Went for Saturday brunch about 1130 and got right in. Staff was nice, and the food was good (great croque monsieur).
(4)Vincent P.
Really classic french bistro - food well-made and service good. Sit on the sidewalk in the summer for a real parisian feel.
(4)Jared C.
I use Yelp all the time but have been reticent to actually write a review. Well--I felt so strongly about Petit Robert, that I HAD to write a review on this place! First off, I can't believe how many people say good things about this restaurant. I had been waiting to try this establishment because of all the hype, not to mention that I love French food and believe to have a refined enough palate to detect what good French food is. I went with my sister who also had high expectations, and is a trained French cook, mind you, and I started with a bowl of Lobster Bisque. TERRIBLE! The broth was so thin I might as well have been slurping water. We then went on to the dishes--I asked what their best was, which was replied with the coq au vin. Now, I enjoy coq au vin, but I was surprised to hear that this would be their signature dish...it's kind of a simple dish to make. Well, strike two! The sauce vin sauce was OK, I'll admit, but the dish as a whole was incredibly boring. I mean, I'm no master with the pots and pans, but I could have whipped up something more flavorful! My sister had the bluefish, which she also thought was very boring, and was simply not impressed. For the side, we got Haricots Verts Amandine, which--surprise surprise--were boring! I think they simply took butter and melted it on the beans and threw in some almonds with no spice whatsoever Now, before I get to the dessert, I've got to say that the service was atrocious! My water was not refilled for at least a half hour, and the food came at a snail's pace. Well, the dessert. I was so disappointed by now, I decided I was just going to get the crème brule, thinking that there was no way this could go wrong. I was wrong! It came to me like it was torched the night before, and unevenly at that. It's a shame too, because the crème was very good, but felt very old. Needless to say, this was NOT a good experience and I will never recommend this restaurant to another person. I feel like there may be something wrong with me because of how many people enjoy this place!
(1)Dominic Y.
My favorite restaurant in the Southend. Nothing beats the original location. My favorites are Grand mariner Souffle and beef bourguignon. Overheard some dude explaining salmon legs (another recommended entree) to his date, "No they do. That's how they dig the holes for their eggs." Someone get that guy another round of Milwaukee's best!
(5)Arthur E.
Very good meal in this great neighborhood restaurant.
(4)Phoebe L.
I make sure I drop by Petit Robert whenever I'm in Boston. The restaurant's service, price, and food are really deserving of 5 stars. I am a big fan of trio of pates and calf's liver...makes me wish I was in Boston right now. All my experiences have been so awesome that I feel inclined to write my first yelp review on PBR. I recommend making reservations for busier nights and try a few hors d'oeuvres (the prices allow you to do so). Now, I just have to plan my next trip!
(5)kevin g.
I ate at this restaurant for dinne this past week. I finished my meal around 10 o' clock and the restaurant had mostly cleared out. At that point, I noticed multiple mice scurrying back and forth under tables acoss the room. I didn't say anything at that point because I did not want to shock my date or cause a scene. We were there for another 15 minutes or so and there were at least two, possibly three, mice that were darting from table to table in the main dining room. On the way out, I asked to speak to a manager to alert them of the situation. When I told the manager what I had seen, her face got bright red and she admitted that they were aware of the problem. She said the building was being treated for mice but they had been unsuccessful so far and the mice were still present. I found this to be very disturbing and gross and was somewhat shocked that a high-end restuarant in the South End with the pedigree of PRB would stay open despite knowing they have a mice infestation problem. I would recommend opting for one of the many other fine dining choices in the South End rather than this restaurant.
(1)Angelos K.
Bland food, uncoordinated service, not worth a revisit. Why? We waited 35 minutes to get the wine we ordered while waiting at the bar for a table to open up at the patio, once we ordered the food arrived eventually. Portions were huge (10x those at butcher shop for the pates and terrines) but the food (pate, duck, bluefish) was rather tasteless, generic, and bland. Think airline food. You can do better at other french restaurants in Boston.
(2)Marcela P.
The lighting, the service and the warm bread were all good. Prices surprisingly modest.(I was imagining a $25-30 entree) The rest was disappointing. I had high hopes for this place in terms of a french dining experience. Maybe it is French, but more a homemade style of food than fine dining. We started with coctails, I had a Fig-aro (Vodka, Lillet, champagne, fig puree and I forget what else). It was not as tasty as the description. The escargots were ok, a bit dry. Next course was the lobster bisque and the romaine heart with roquefort. The bisque had ONE piece of lobster, and well, you can't fuck up a romaine heart sprinkled with Roquefort. So far the dining experience was enjoyable because the ambience was cozy and our waiter was attentive and helpful. Next, the Scallops. The Salty, salty, scallops. Too bad, because they were cooked well, but i couldn't taste anything but salt.. I downed a glass of water or two and was to stuffed to order the souffle, which looked fluffy and warm. Yeah. Meh.
(2)Matt W.
With much trepidation, my friend dragged me back to Petit Robert. It was her birthday and I was obligated to put my hunger aside in her honor. I mixed it up and ordered the flank steak, which I would generally never do at a place such as this. Holy %$# that was a good steak! Not only was the steak great, but it came with a mound of fries. To start the meal I also ordered the French onion soup which was super tasty. With the soup and the steak, I am ashamed to admit that I actually left a few bites on my plate due to my bulging belly. I formally apologize and take back my previous 3 star review which was based on stomach cramping hunger. Assuming I stick with the soup/steak combo I will be very very pleased.
(5)tom p.
Recently went before a Longwood performance (5/11/13), and have made our last visit to a/any Petit Robert. There was nothing really wrong with the food, although there wasn't anything special about it either. The problems, in no particular order, relate entirely to some of the worst restaurant service we have found, in any country. First, my wife, 12-year old and I were squeezed onto a round 2-top which left no room for drinks, appetizer, etc. My wife's chair was back-to a narrow passage between the woman at the table opposite us, and so nearly EVERY time a server, bus person, etc. walked by, they bumped the back of her chair, once while sipping a martini causing her to spill. We were seated without menus, which is fine, except our server brought the menus then hovered asking us to put in a drink order. I sent him away asking for a couple minutes. He returned promptly two minutes later, and asked not just about our drink order, but if we knew which entrees we would be ordering. We placed drink orders, informed him we needed time to look at food, and asked for a children's menu. He returned with the drinks, and again asked about entrees (as he handed my daughter the children's menu). We ordered an appetizer and he AGAIN asked about putting the entrees in, which we refused to do even though we had decided on our selections. He placed that order, and was back within a minute or two for the entree (my wife hadn't even taken her first sip of the martini). He clearly immediately entered the entree order, because the entrees arrived just as we finished the mussels (best part of the meal), suspicious timing, almost as though the bus person was watching with plates in hand to arrive, and wait while the server removed the appetizer and bread plates. Finally, my own glass of wine sat empty through the second half of my meal as the server disappeared once the food was down and returned only to ask about desert, which we declined and he already had the check printed and left it on the table as though desert would have been a tremendous inconvenience to both him and the restaurant. Given Boston's other French dining options, there is no reason to visit a Petit Robert bistro.
(1)Ellen B.
Picked Petit Robert's because of other Yelp reviews and the price. Yea! Went there as a birthday dinner and were delighted with the meal and the service. The place is small and just a bit cramped. For entrees, 2 of us had the rabbit (lapin), one had the duck confit and I had the beef bourginon. All were excellent! And all very reasonably priced - especially for Boston. For dessert - the birthday boy had chocolate hazelnut crepes, another person had the rum raisin bread pudding and I shared the giant profiterole with my sister. All were delicious. And the profiterole was indeed giant (LOL). I strongly recommend making a reservation as it clearly has many regulars and fills up quickly.
(4)Claudia H.
A really nice French restaurant in downtown Boston! They are open all-day, which is perfect if you need to go for a late lunch on the weekend. If you like French cuisine, you will enjoy most of the recipes they serve. I particularly recommend the onion soup and the roasted rabbit leg (if they serve it the day you go), but anything you try is surely worth it! The wine list is excellent, with a long list of French wines (and also from other parts of the world). The service is very good and attentive, and they might even have a French accent too! Finally, the price is pretty reasonable too, given the amount and quality of the food, around $40 (though it can get pricier with wine!)
(4)Sarah M.
IN LOVE with this restaurant! Affordable for the South End, and beyond delish. As we walked through the door, we were welcomed with a lovely and authentic "bonjour" by a hostess, who seemed so at ease, as if we had really just stepped into a bistro in a neighborhood of Paris...the decor is rustic, warm and cozy. Our waitress was phenominal (and French as well - authenticity A++). The food was rich and hearty; I had braised shortribs that were the best hands down I've ever had. My companion, mom, had a fish that was perfectly cooked and seasoned in a light broth. It was very romantic, yet being there with my mother wasn't awkward at all. People were truly enjoying themselves at every table. I haven't tried the Comm Ave location but am dying to (because I work & live in the Fenway area) to see if this location is just as wonderful.
(5)Dan C.
Damn Boston weather. 70 minute waits are never fun but in cold and wind erghgh. And I'm here for SPRING break dammit. Anyway. Backing up a bit. We arrived around 6pm on a Saturday night, party of 4. The hostess said it would be about a 45 min wait which normally I would have been like hell no unless I'm in a mall or a really dense neighborhood I could kill time in, but the only reason I endured it was because it looked nice and the decision making process with my family for restaurants is just painful. SERVICE The hostess was really nice and kept us updated constantly on how our wait was looking, which we appreciated. Once we did get seated, I think the whole wait staff was aware that we'd waited forever so they were really attentive with us, which was also great. My only complaint is that the waiter forgot to give our valet ticket to the valet after we finished (we finally just went outside ourselves and told the guy). I don't really care too much about that though since if I were with any people other than my parents I'd never get near that neighborhood with a car (valet parking was $14 btw). Almost all the wait staff was French too, which adds something to the experience, I do admit. FOOD Good stuff, and a really good value. Almost all the entrees are less than $20, and the place has the feel of a much more expensive place. I had the Lamb Cassoulet, which tasted great. I nibbled my family's scallops and salmon, also very good. Escargots solid, and the salmon appetizer was great. Desserts were great - the Crepe Suzette bordered on overwhelming, but the flavor of the sauce was just so good. I had a little of my sister's Ile Flottante and loved it, and my mom's pineapple tart (they only have it on some days) was very good also. ATMOSPHERE etc. I liked it. Warm, intimate and classy (it's a tablecloth place) but not intimidatingly so (you can dress casual though most other customers were dressed semi-casual). Overall, highly recommended - there just might be a long wait for parties of more than 4.
(4)Jungmin L.
3.5 stars. The atmosphere is great - very neighborhood bistro-like, comfortable - not too loud and not too quiet. The waitstaff, however, do not know the menu all that well. The veal liver was very good, most of the dishes seemed to be quite sturdy and dressed-down. The confit, however, was quite dry and unacceptable. The foie gras was ok. We loved the profiterole (pastry was a little too hard, but can't help loving it anyway) and the frangipane/poire tarte.
(3)Adele O.
We went to Petit Robert on a Friday night to use a buywithme coupon. We were seated at 6.30pm. Our waitress was exceptionally competent, and the food was outstanding. When the wine we ordered came, the bottle that she opened had a cork that all but disintegrated as she pulled it out. She recommended of her own fruition that the bottle needed to be replaced. When the manager came over to our table to discuss the incident with us, she tried to convince us out of opening a different bottle, by blaming the faulty cork on the ineptitude of our waitress. Despite what the manager said, we opted to go with the recommendation of our waitress. We were very happy with the result. In all honesty, we thought that the waitress made the right call, even though the manager tried to call her out on it. The food was absolutely delicious. We both ordered the coq au vin, which was moist, and beautifully rendered. The wine matched perfectly. Thumbs up to the waitress for impeccable service, in spite of a bossy and overbearing manager. We can't wait to go back again!
(5)Jaquelina L.
My girlfriend and I had dinner here ~ 2 weeks ago. We had a great time. The food, service and atmosphere were GREAT. I ordered the Escargot and Scallops. She ordered the Foie Gras and the Beef Short Ribs. My gf said the Foie Gras was superb. For dessert, we ordered the Macarons. The Macarons were nothing like the ones from Laduree in Paris. Oh well, I am in Boston, not Paris. =P The only draw back was the long wait, but we will definitely come back.
(5)Simon L.
Me and my friend visited Le Petit Robert Bistro today for lunch. The experience was less than satisfying. Our biggest disappointment was with the staff. While everyone walked around with a smile. We sat down for 20 minutes and no one but the water lady talked to us. I had to wave down the hostess, who barely speaks any English to find us a waiter. In the end another hostess came and took our order. We waited for 30 minutes for our entrees to show up. Then the hostess who took our order left and this blonde waitress unwillingly took our dessert order. We ordered their "signature" chocolate cake that was supposed to come with a fancy chocolate Eiffel Towel (dramatically featured on their website), but apparently they ran out of the towels and they replaced it with a sad little macaroon. We were terribly disappointed but the waitress did not seem to care. The only person who seemed to care about our dining experience was the water lady - Kudos to her, I wish I could have tipped her directly. The bread was wonderful and freshly baked. The onion soup was mediocre considering it's a $9 cup of soup. The duck confit was nicely done, and the Croque Madame sandwich was just okay - the egg was overcooked. The chocolate cake was delicious, but again, lacking its "signature" component. Overall, I would not return to Petit Robert because the disappointing service overwhelmingly destroyed the better than average food.
(2)Gary F.
Dear Little Bobby, About two years ago, we wrote a kind of mean review of your Comm Ave location. We made fun of the tower. We made fun of the bread. We claimed that your bread pudding tasted of cheese. We're sorry. On a whim, we decided to try it again, South End-style. Oh, Little Bobby. We were so, so, so wrong about you. We take it all back. The escargots were not as good as Jo's, but they were second best. The beef tongue salad (on special) was so good, we licked the plate...get it? The pot au feu was...pretty tight and the pan-seared sweetbreads pretty much sent SheGary over the edge. A heaping plate of fried sweetbreads with mashed potatoes...it doesn't get any tighter. For dessert, we reduxed the bread pudding and nary a whiff of...cheese...was detected as was previously noted at the Comm Ave location. Also, the ambiance and service were about 10384729 times better this time around. Even the Eiffel Tower thingy out front. N.B. They mix a very, very good martini. Merci, Little B. And again, our apologies for that previous review.
(4)Tila C.
I came here for the first time last night and was not impressed at all. We were seated immediately and served water. The rest is all downhill. No waiter, no bread, nothing for another 30 minutes. When I asked another server, who was leisurely clearing off a table, if she knew who our waiter was, she said, "yes" and walked away. Finally our waiter comes over and didn't even apologize for the wait. I asked for a recommendation out of three entrees that I had in mind and was told that he recommended all three...ok, thanks for nothing buddy. Ok..order was in..should be eating in no time now. Drinks were brought out 5 minutes later and the bread followed in another 5 minutes. Soup (dull lobster bisque) and pretty good goat cheese salad were brought out pretty quickly. Plates were cleared and then onto MORE WAITING! Our meals came out about 40 minutes later. The people who sat right next to us and were seated after we were AND had the same waiter got their food 15 minutes before we did..huh? Our waiter did come over to thank us for being so patient...clearly he doesn't know what patience looks like! Food finally came out and the plates felt like hot coals...clearly they were WAITING a long time too. Waiting under a heat lamp for the waiter to bring them out. The Beef Short Rib Bourguignon was tasty, but the Grilled Skirt Steak~Frites with Béarnaise sauce was lackluster. Waiter didn't ask how anything was and only came over to take our plates. NO apologies, NO compensation for the horrible service -NOTHING, but a great disappointment.
(1)Dominique N.
Great place for a nice dinner out - charming restaurant in a convenient location (good for a pre-symphony dinner since it's only about a 10-15 min walk). We had the petit sale salad (some kind of bacon), scallops and the salmon "en croute." The petit sale and the scallops were particularly delicious. Dinner for two (2 entrees, salad, 1 cocktail) came to about $55 before tip - pretty reasonable for a nice dinner out.
(4)Melissa V.
I am happy to say this is a quick walk in the snow for me. They serve great food, and a mean cocktail. It will be a long winter together.
(5)anastasia c.
It's more 3.5 stars an 3 but it's not close enough to 4 for me to add that one. I saw it on groupon and the Lady Friend and I decided to give it a shot. It was a friday night but amazingly they weren't overly busy. We had a reservation anyway so I wasn't worried. The couple in front of us didn't, however, and the guy made a big stink about sitting at a regular table anyway. Luckily for us we were seated right by him. By that I mean pretty much on top. They split a table for 4 into 2 tables for 2 and sat us side by side. Mistake number one. We spent the whole night listening to him talk to loud like he needed to seem important. There were other places for us to sit and we definitely should've been sat somewhere else. I'm a server and get annoyed when people ask to change tables so I didn't say anything. We were crammed next to an unused door which was pretty awful consider how cold it was outside. Our server was nice enough but I could sense he was just reeling off stuff he had memorized or been told, no real knowledge. We started with the lobster bisque. It was so overly fishy and too much for 2 of us. Maybe offer 2 sizes or a smaller portion because it sucks to waste a $10 bowl of soup. I had the skirt steak-frites. Asked for it medium, it came out rare, and I had to have it recooked. I always get sick from undercooked red meat and didn't wanna take a chance. It came back completely burnt through so I just ate the fries. LF had the Haddock with crab meat sauce. It was amazing. I definitely recommend it. For dessert we had the cheesecake with blueberry sauce. It tasted like flavorless cheesecake with blueberry sauce added on it. Without the blueberry sauce it would've been completely a no. The cheesecake should've been sweeter so you can eat it on its own. It took the server a while to bring our check, even after we'd finished dessert. I'm a huge fan of leaving when I'm done so sitting there waiting to pay wasn't a good way to end the night. They lose a star for purposely seating us directly on top of another table when there were other available tables not sat for an hour. Another half star lost for burning my steak and for flavorless dessert. If I do give this restaurant another chance it'll be at another location. First impression though was it's a bit overpriced and not very impressive.
(3)Busy L.
Had dinner here last night and was fantastic. Started off with mussels and fried calf brains. Should give it a try. Not that bad...Pan fried and a little crispy. Could've used a little more salt on the brains... Coq Au Vin and Beef Bourginon were tremendous. My son had the pork which he raved. Scallop dish was very good as well with a cream crab sauce. Ratatouille was great. Pomme Frites were OK. Have to order the souffle for desert. Well worth the 15 minutes wait. All in all a great place that I'd highly recommend.
(4)E C.
I was pleasantly surprised with my whole experience at Petit Robert after reading some of the reviews before going. Everything from the food to the service was great. I went on a Wednesday night around 8 with my boyfriend and we were seated right away. The atmosphere was romantic even though we were sitting pretty close to the people on either side of us. Someone came right over to fill our waters (and kept refilling them through the night) and our waiter, who was very friendly, came over soon after that. I started with the Soup du jour and my BF with a salad, both delish. Then we had the lamb chop and roast chicken. We were not disapointed. My only regreat is we were too full to try dessert.
(4)Bridget D.
Merci mon amour. You are so very sweet! For Bradley, my love, took me here to eat. Running late for our resi, we circled the Ave several times. But, pulled up for valet and paid one hundred and forty dimes. We entered the Bistro and announced our arrival. The kind hostess grabbed menus for our gastronomic revival. Whisked to our table, through the kitchen, how strange. What hit us first was the intense volume range. It was loud and bustling, with eating and drinking of hooch. We just leaned into chat, each time stealing a smooch. The decor is charming, but B felt slightly underdressed. However, his beauty and wit, is what makes him the best. We perused the menu and waited for our server. Things moved a bit slowly and we were eager to order. She finally appeared with her French accent in tow. I asked for my veggie options, of which she did show. Veggie pate, and mushroom risotto for my treat And the swordfish special please, for my Sweet. Warm bread and butter arrived for us to consume As I stared googly eyed (this boy makes me swoon!) The pate was interesting, both orange and green But the flavors were good, and we licked the plate clean. Our dinners came next, after a bit of a wait. Risotto in a giant bowl and B's fish on a lovely plate. Now I hate mushrooms with a passion you see, But the mushrooms in this were amazing to me. The risotto so creamy, the shroomies divine. B kept stealing tastes, but I share, I am kind. His swordfish he enjoyed and he ate every bite. But the pommes frites we ordered never arrived that night. We told the waitress and she took it off the bill. Full of deliciousness we felt very chill. Now the key to our meal rested on the closing treat I am made out of sugar and I require my sweet. So many choices, each one looked amazing. I had read of these treasures in all the Yelp praising. The special bread pudding caught my eye right away. "Whatever you want baby," is what Bradley did say. Oh white chocolate bread pudding, a beauty you are. My tummy so happy, I might not fit into my car. A romantical meal and a reasonable price. Wonderful food and a boyfriend, so nice. I am happy and pleased with this life of mine. And Petit Robert is a fine place to dine.
(4)Grace S.
This is the South End version of the one on Commonwealth. The food there is fantastic -- I recommend the grilled double lamb chop or the beef bourguignon. The drinks aren't bad either -- I had a peach martini. I'm docking one star, though, because the wait-staff, while courteous, also tend to talk to each other a lot in French in front of you, which always puts you in an uncomfortable situation whether you understand the language or not. Oh, and although the kitchen's open 11A-11P, the bar's open til 1AM.
(4)Tina C.
Came for drinks and appetizers. The mussels we ordered were super fresh and tasty. Drinks were good and refreshing. The wait staff and the owner are actually French and very friendly. Prices were very fair and affordable. I really liked the decoration and atmosphere too!
(5)Matt G.
Last night I took my girlfriend here for dinner. Overall I thought the food was great. I had the duck confit which was amazing. She had the panko breaded pork loin which I was not as impressed by. On the down side the service is beyond slow. I also felt it was an overly crowded atmosphere and it was fairly hot too.
(3)Ani G.
We were really disappointed in Petit Robert Bistro. We picked it because we needed a restaurant near the Prudential Center that was not too expensive and had decent food (and we didn't want to go to Cheesecake Factory or PF Chang's, although perhaps in retrospect, we should have). Petit Robert isn't outrageously expensive, but we left feeling like we had gotten a bad deal. The food just wasn't that good. I ordered the French Onion soup and the Moules Marinieres, and neither were as good as what I have had elsewhere. (NB- Central Kitchen in Cambridge had AWESOME moules marinieres!). I also got the sauteed cauliflower on recommendation from the waiter, and felt that it wasn't worth it (maybe the spinach would have been better? That was my other choice, but the waiter recommended the cauliflower). They forgot our friend's glass of wine that he ordered, and he had to ask a second time. My husband ordered skirt steak, and thought we have made it better at home. As for dessert, my husband and his friend ordered the chocolate mousse, which was overly viscous. I had the creme brulee, which was fine, but the palmier was not crunchy and light; it was almost soggy. Overall opinion: adequate for what we were looking for, just not worth going there again. The description Yelp gives when you roll over the two stars "Meh. I've experienced better." describes it perfectly.
(2)Charlotte E.
Complacent and Resting on their Success Since returning to Boston after living in Paris I have enjoyed dinner here at least 20 times - for celebrations, for quiet meals, to impress out of town family, to welcome French friends. It's been our favorite place, always a 5-star experience. A year ago yesterday we had a meal that will remain etched in our memory - a superb culinary experience. They have since won Best of Boston. Last night we attempted to replicate last year's experience, again for my husband's birthday. The meal was a lesson I won't soon forget. They have no business taking reservations they have no intention to honor. I was woefully misled, and that made the surly sullen attitude of the least welcoming hostess I have ever encountered all the more offensive. La vache was not only rude to us in the entirety of our interaction but surrendered our wine menu to another waitress and promised to bring another "right away". We never saw her again. Twenty minutes later our waitress finally came to take our drink order and apologized profusely when we explained what happened. Lesson learned - if I'm ever treated as completely rudely as I was by La vache I will simply walk out of the restaurant. Minus one star, it was inexcusable. The meal itself was riddled with problems too. The waitress was woefully overworked, despite there being, at minimum, at least three empty tables near us at all times. She had the best of intentions. Despite the space the room was deafening - I had to lean in and repeat myself at a shout probably half the time. I was exhausted after our hour and fifteen minute wait for our meal. Part of the problem was clearly mis-management. Not a single course was brought to us correctly. That is to say escargot before a single drink (which was then NOT the drink I'd ordered). They forgot my husband's wine with dinner, brought a random glass of wine while we were waiting to attempt to order dessert, etc. In addition I had to ask three people to find out what cheeses were available. I think the only French man working there, the one to whom we all turned for this information, was embarrassed to come tell us our only cheese options were brie and roquefort so he just disappeared. Add that to the new foie gras au micro-onde (simply microwaved) and I think we have a restaurant that's going downhill. Another hint of this decline was the numerous wine problems. My wine, which was the Sauvignon Blanc recommended on the wine list tasted of apple Jolly Rancher with an aftertaste of wet mouldy cardboard. The waitress tasted it and agreed it was awful. She'd taken 20 minutes to initially greet us because two (2!) corks had broken at other tables. That would be exceedingly bad luck. The table next to us sent their wine back too. Bad wine and boring cheese? What is going on here? My first clue re: the source of the problem was that the ONLY pro-active interest in the quality of our meal was when that same Frenchman happened to walk through the dining room. He must have seen my distress, after my high expectations I was about cry into my horrible wine at this point, he sent my waitress over instantly. And then I realized lesson number two - I think basically anyone who cares about this restaurant is in France for the months of July and August. Minus two stars for the current indifferent management of this place, resting on their formerly excellent reputation. The food that finally arrived was, as always, incredible. A wonderful meal for a wonderful value. I will do take-out, but I will never attempt a reservation; I will walk away if they're more than half full; and I will not try to eat there between now and the rentrée (back to school/work). There are so many good restaurants within steps, there is no reason to have a meal you can't wait to end. If you follow this advice (or it seems from these reviews that lunch is better) you can have a wonderful meal.
(2)Scott R.
I love this restaurant! The food is authentic and delicious and well-priced, the atmosphere is very cozy, the service is great, and the level of hospitality is outstanding. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. I have brought everyone here, from dates to friends to parents, and everyone has loved it.
(4)candy c.
The food is great. The roasted cauliflower was incroyable! The chicken served au jus, was tender and the jus was so delicious you could slurp it with a straw. Salads each have wonderful light but flavorful dressings--mais oui, homemade. Pot de creme--if you're into rich chocolat that you ought not to finish, this is the dessert for you. The service is friendly, but not attentive. They seem to be chronically understaffed. The waiter usually has a deer-in-headlights (in the weeds) approach to meeting your needs. But personally, I'm sick of mediocre food at buzzing restaurants, so I will happily concede service for stellar food which is exactly what you'll get here. Vive le france! Besides, it's a french restaurant. A garcon who ignores you but sets stellar food in front of you.... what's more french than that?
(5)ack c.
loved this place with a passion, had given them a full five, count em, 5 stars... but i will not return anytime soon... staff was RUDE, food was terrible, and the price isn't that great either. i see no reason to schlep all the way over there for that... they should fire the host/mgr as i am reasonably sure he's setting the dreadful tone. ugh, so disappointed! And check out the trend line graph, it looks just like the stock market! sniff, went back again, got rotten salad... really, most of the salad was rotten. so sad, i think they sent all the good staff to their other location.
(1)Sophia C.
I LOVE french food. So when my chance to go to Little Robbie's, I gladly accepted! Here was the biggest problem - We drove into the South End, because sadly I moved out of Back Bay into the suburbs - and I COULD NOT find a parking space to save my life. We drove around for 20 minutes... and in the heat, that does not go well in my book! We resorted to suing valet parking. Here was the worst part of this parking dilemma - the valet circled around - driving my car for 20 minutes and I saw my car pass me, sitting outside approximately 20 times. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT!? So DON'T valet park - the valet guy thinks its his car to cruise around the streets! Let me get to the better stuff - they sat us right away - the service staff were friendly and kept coming by frequently to refill water glasses and make sure we didn't need anything. We started with the trio of pate - it was good - didn't like the chicken liver part but it's an acquired taste so it doesn't hurt my impression of the restaurant. We also ordered escargot and it was Sooooo good! The bread was hot and toasty that we devoured it quickly with the pate and escargot. I had the Chicken coq au vin with buttered noodle. I was hesitant at first because of the buttered noodle but the waiter explained its not what I would think and he was right - I couldn't taste any butter. I probably won't have coq au vin only because I didn't like the red wine reduction as much as I thought but the food was still extremely tasty. My friend had the special - the rabbit leg - and as an act of bravery, I took a bite and it was extremely delicious! I should have ordered it!!! Better than chicken! My fiance ordered the rack of lamb and I didn't try that but had a bit of the potato that came with it and the sauce was delicious! We also had dessert - I had the profiterole with vanilla ice cream and fudge - it was sweet and I probably won't have it again but worth a try. My fiance had the Creme Brulee and they did it JUST RIGHT! YUMMY!! Our friend had the Frepe Suzette and that was good too. The experience was good only if I didn't see the valet driver driving my car up and down the street so many times during my stay at the restaurant.
(3)L And E.
Unfortunately, when we went there the last time (for my birthday), I was a bit disappointed. We had somehow turned into 'that table', the one where for some reason we get forgotten, orders don't go in, wine doesn't get served, dishes never come out... I am sure it wasn't intentional, but it was sort of a let down.
(3)Tracey N.
Wow. Excellent, and reasonably priced. Came early in the evening with several people so we could get seats, and had a wonderful meal in the dining room. Our service was great, and the only detractor is the seats are so close together that it's easy to overhear your neighbors' conversations. Steak, salmon, scallops, pork. The salad with panko-crusted goat cheese is delightful and I'd go back just for that. We had the macaroons for dessert (there are six minis in 3 different flavors) perfect for sharing.
(5)Jason M.
Great neighborhood French spot. Good selection of French and Belgian beers.
(5)Erik D.
Food quality is no longer consistent. Wine list is ok. Still a neighborhood staple but not what it used to be.
(3)Natasha D.
I've been to this location twice, and to the Kenmore spot once. If the review were based solely on the latter, I probably wouldn't return. South End is definitely better. The first time I went here everything was good, but I wasn't blown away (except by my cocktail...). Last night, however, blew my mind. They changed their cocktail menu from last time I was there, so while one friend and I were waiting for the rest of our group, the bartender actually came over to consult with me on an acceptable substitute. The tarte tatin martini was amazing, and is actually made w/ tarte tain puree, according to my server. I was lucky enough to be with people who like to offer me bites of everything... We had a bottle of pinot noir from burgundy with dinner, chosen because it was a "manager's recommendation" and it tasted fine with everything- perhaps that's because I got the biggest glass... Smart waiter. Apps: mussels, about 1/3 of which were closed, so I wouldn't get those again, although the broth was delicious; beet and goat cheese salad- delicious and perfect as a light app; foie gras- out of everything, this was probably the most amazingly fattening and delicious app. It's served with some kind of grape sauce, and the fat was perfectly crisp and caramelized. Dinner: I had the rabbit moutarde, the night's special. The whipped mashed potatoes were divine, and the rabbit was delicious, with the mushrooms in the sauce balancing the strong mustard flavor. We also had the lamb shank, which was probably my least favorite, although still good, the coq au vin (amazing, and fell off the bone), and the pork loin. All amazing. Dessert: Profiteroles, white-chocolate bread pudding, chocolate mousse with langue du chat, and tarte tatin. All were delicious, but the tarte tatin and bread pudding were my favorites. Our server was wonderful, and was attentive without overdoing it- all in all a perfect girls' night out.
(4)Mary C.
I just got home from dinner at Petit Robert Bistro. I had a groupon, so i guess it was semi worth it... i dunno though. I had their special for my appetizer the "endive heart of palm w/ smoked trout salad" it was terrible... TERRIBLE. the endives' bitterness was overpowering the whole flavor and the smoked trout was in huge pieces. It was hard to eat (i couldnt cut the trout into pieces) and it was bitter and fishy. The maincourse was better... but for 19.95 i expect more than 3 bites ( seriously they were 1" x 2" pieces) of venison. It must've come from the world's smallest deer! Even my brocolli was bigger than my meat! The brussel sprout appetizer was yummy. The croquettes were tasty. The lambshanks was delish and the portions were decent. Finally the desert was good. Nothing special, but not bad. By far I would, if I ever did come back, only get dessert here. I hate to give such a bad review but the prices were ridiculous. If I'm going to be paying these prices the food better be worth it.
(2)Little B.
Dumpy, dreadful bathrooms with ripped posters and a giant door that opens out into the cramped hall. The waiter coasted thru our meal never introducing himself, food was forgettable, the location is good but why go here when there are so many other places doing the same thing so much better? Aquitaine, Gas Light, Frankiln??
(2)Josh S.
I was here for brunch with a couple people on a Sunday. The food was very good (we had the eggs Benedict [two people] and the salmon croissant sandwich). The coffee was also very good, although they didn't seem to be able to keep up with the coffee demand because we had to wait twice while they brewed more. Coffee supply is crucial to a brunch! The staff was very friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable, all of which was appreciated. The table we were sat at was a little small for three people, though, making it difficult to have three plates of food, coffee, cream, water, bread, and a salt/pepper shaker on the table at the same time. The tables were rather close to each other, making it difficult to have a conversation or which meant someone in the party would be pinned in between another person at their table and then by a table/seated person next to them. Overall, though, I did like Petit Robert and will probably return!
(4)Spm S.
Standout French restaurant in an area that's overcrowded with French restaurants. I first tried this place out with a BuyWithMe, but have been back since. Everything is full of flavor and cooked just perfectly. Both the salmon and the scallops are amazing.
(4)Jen W.
Went to Petit Robert a few weeks ago when the sun finally came out and had a great lunch on their outdoor patio. No true French café would be complete without outdoor seating (or at least giant opened windows) so that is definitely a plus. Food was very tasty but I did have an issue with the croque monsieur...it wasn't a croque monsieur! I had them often in Paris and this version was a grilled ham and cheese, which is not the same thing. No cheese on top, no sauce. I found it a little strange for a french bistro not to serve a correct croque monsieur and thats why they lost a star. Overall though, the wine, food, prices and atmosphere were all great and I will definitely be going back (hopefully when I can sit outside!)
(4)Julia L.
Petit Robert used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Definitely my favorite French restaurant. It is sad to see the quality has declined recently. I went on a date to PRB last Friday and the service was horrible! The waiter curtly corrected my French in front of my date and then disappeared for the rest of the night. We had to flag down mutliple other servers to get any attention and it wasn't busy. We waited a half hour for a drink at one point and when we finally got our server to return to the table he muttered something about the bartender missing the order. Pardonnez moi! No je suis dsol? Perhaps the awful service is just the fault of the tall brown haired, brown eyed, bushy eyebrowed fellow working at the South End location, but I really wish you would fire him. He is spoiling one of my favorite places to dine!
(1)Kyra T.
While anxious to try this place out, I was looking forward to going to lunch there with some friends. After much debate on what to order I though the all-famous Burgerdog was the definite way to go. At first, the waiter was extremely attentive and informative, just as expected for a tiny french bistro. As soon as our meal arrived (we ordered the burgerdog medium) the waiter never checked in on us or asked how the food was. We didn't even get a refill of coffee or water. The service was horrible. We sat for over a half an hour ready to pay our check. Furthermore, my friends burgerdog was extremely undercooked- very bloody while mine was the typical 'medium' pink color. I was not impressed with this place, mainly because the service was so horrible.
(2)Carol L.
Perfect dining experience for the family. Warm, welcoming, attentive staff. Didn't have a reservation and they worked to find us the perfect outdoor table. Terrific food, starting with the heavenly bread. Loved the location, especially if you're into Columbus Avenue as the dog-walking capital of the world.
(5)Robert T.
We went for Dinner a few times last year and thought it was very good. But not so much the last time. The service is always great but the food has changed. I would give it another chance however.
(3)Barry B.
Very French front of house, nice warm dark wood interior, started with wonderful hot from the oven aromatic (yes aromatic) demi baguette, entree composed of grilled salmon, mashed potatoes, and sliced carrots, all simply but exquisitely prepared.
(4)Bevin C.
Went here for a romantical dinner before the symphony, and I must say that PRB delivered. I loved loved loved the ambience - perfect mix of casual and nice nice. I love loved the low prices on the menu, and all the food was taaaasty. Both the coq au vin and the beef bourguignon were competely delicious, as was the homemade pate, which leads me to surmise that everything else on the menu is also good. Oh, and I had this funny citrus soup for dessert. I had never thought to consider orange juice with little blood orange chunks floating around in it "soup", but now that I do, a whole world of juice-soup possibilities is open to me. Yum yum, I will be back.
(5)Anna B.
I go to Petit Robert pretty often as it's right near where I live, and I love it. The drinks are phenomenal (the Rive Gauche is my favorite), the food is good and very reasonably priced, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. My only critique is that the menu doesn't really change very often, so it can get a little repetitive. That said, I like what's on there. Favorites are: the trio of pate app, the onion soup, the steak frites, and practically everything on their lunch menu. I also love the ambiance: nice, charming, cosy, but not too trendy or pretentious. Their outdoor dining is terrific.
(5)Frank J.
A mixed experience. The staff and atmosphere are great. Our party of four arrived at 7:25 on a Saturday night for our 7:30 reservations. We were not seated until 8:05 during which time we had to stand in the crowded bar dominated by a television. One of our party has trouble standing for long periods and there were no chairs for the first 20 minutes or so. The excuse for the delay was that the party at "our" table had arrived late and were not leaving despite having paid the bill. Like this had never occurred before. To their great and everlasting credit, the bartender comped us a round of drinks and the host our dessert thus making what would have been a moderately priced dinner into one that was quite inexpensive. The appetizers and desserts were by far the best parts of the meal. My wife and I split a delicious beet and goat cheese salad and our friends shared the escargot which they enjoyed. The desserts along with being free were excellent. My chocolate bread pudding was superb. I wish I could say the same of the entrees. Two of us had the salmon which was good, although the server reversed the well-done and the medium-rare portions when she served the plates. Everybody's carrots and broccoli were cold and my wife's mashed potatoes were cold. They were quickly replaced, but first impressions are what last. My scallops although specifically ordered medium rare were overcooked and tough and not a very delicate preparation. Despite all this, my wife and I would go back and try it again. It's a fun restaurant. I can't speak for our out-of-town guests who had the restaurant recommended to them by friends in Washington, DC.
(2)Angelos K.
Bland food, uncoordinated service, not worth a revisit. Why? We waited 35 minutes to get the wine we ordered while waiting at the bar for a table to open up at the patio, once we ordered the food arrived eventually. Portions were huge (10x those at butcher shop for the pates and terrines) but the food (pate, duck, bluefish) was rather tasteless, generic, and bland. Think airline food. You can do better at other french restaurants in Boston.
(2)Marcela P.
The lighting, the service and the warm bread were all good. Prices surprisingly modest.(I was imagining a $25-30 entree) The rest was disappointing. I had high hopes for this place in terms of a french dining experience. Maybe it is French, but more a homemade style of food than fine dining. We started with coctails, I had a Fig-aro (Vodka, Lillet, champagne, fig puree and I forget what else). It was not as tasty as the description. The escargots were ok, a bit dry. Next course was the lobster bisque and the romaine heart with roquefort. The bisque had ONE piece of lobster, and well, you can't fuck up a romaine heart sprinkled with Roquefort. So far the dining experience was enjoyable because the ambience was cozy and our waiter was attentive and helpful. Next, the Scallops. The Salty, salty, scallops. Too bad, because they were cooked well, but i couldn't taste anything but salt.. I downed a glass of water or two and was to stuffed to order the souffle, which looked fluffy and warm. Yeah. Meh.
(2)Matt W.
With much trepidation, my friend dragged me back to Petit Robert. It was her birthday and I was obligated to put my hunger aside in her honor. I mixed it up and ordered the flank steak, which I would generally never do at a place such as this. Holy %$# that was a good steak! Not only was the steak great, but it came with a mound of fries. To start the meal I also ordered the French onion soup which was super tasty. With the soup and the steak, I am ashamed to admit that I actually left a few bites on my plate due to my bulging belly. I formally apologize and take back my previous 3 star review which was based on stomach cramping hunger. Assuming I stick with the soup/steak combo I will be very very pleased.
(5)tom p.
Recently went before a Longwood performance (5/11/13), and have made our last visit to a/any Petit Robert. There was nothing really wrong with the food, although there wasn't anything special about it either. The problems, in no particular order, relate entirely to some of the worst restaurant service we have found, in any country. First, my wife, 12-year old and I were squeezed onto a round 2-top which left no room for drinks, appetizer, etc. My wife's chair was back-to a narrow passage between the woman at the table opposite us, and so nearly EVERY time a server, bus person, etc. walked by, they bumped the back of her chair, once while sipping a martini causing her to spill. We were seated without menus, which is fine, except our server brought the menus then hovered asking us to put in a drink order. I sent him away asking for a couple minutes. He returned promptly two minutes later, and asked not just about our drink order, but if we knew which entrees we would be ordering. We placed drink orders, informed him we needed time to look at food, and asked for a children's menu. He returned with the drinks, and again asked about entrees (as he handed my daughter the children's menu). We ordered an appetizer and he AGAIN asked about putting the entrees in, which we refused to do even though we had decided on our selections. He placed that order, and was back within a minute or two for the entree (my wife hadn't even taken her first sip of the martini). He clearly immediately entered the entree order, because the entrees arrived just as we finished the mussels (best part of the meal), suspicious timing, almost as though the bus person was watching with plates in hand to arrive, and wait while the server removed the appetizer and bread plates. Finally, my own glass of wine sat empty through the second half of my meal as the server disappeared once the food was down and returned only to ask about desert, which we declined and he already had the check printed and left it on the table as though desert would have been a tremendous inconvenience to both him and the restaurant. Given Boston's other French dining options, there is no reason to visit a Petit Robert bistro.
(1)Ellen B.
Picked Petit Robert's because of other Yelp reviews and the price. Yea! Went there as a birthday dinner and were delighted with the meal and the service. The place is small and just a bit cramped. For entrees, 2 of us had the rabbit (lapin), one had the duck confit and I had the beef bourginon. All were excellent! And all very reasonably priced - especially for Boston. For dessert - the birthday boy had chocolate hazelnut crepes, another person had the rum raisin bread pudding and I shared the giant profiterole with my sister. All were delicious. And the profiterole was indeed giant (LOL). I strongly recommend making a reservation as it clearly has many regulars and fills up quickly.
(4)Claudia H.
A really nice French restaurant in downtown Boston! They are open all-day, which is perfect if you need to go for a late lunch on the weekend. If you like French cuisine, you will enjoy most of the recipes they serve. I particularly recommend the onion soup and the roasted rabbit leg (if they serve it the day you go), but anything you try is surely worth it! The wine list is excellent, with a long list of French wines (and also from other parts of the world). The service is very good and attentive, and they might even have a French accent too! Finally, the price is pretty reasonable too, given the amount and quality of the food, around $40 (though it can get pricier with wine!)
(4)Heather C.
As my first review, Petit Robert is 100% worthy. I have been there 3 times, (4?) and each time has been awesome! We had an appetizer, 2 entrees, dessert and a bottle of wine for $80. Amazing. The best part is feeling like you're getting a 5 star meal, at 3 star prices. Everything I have sampled on the menu, lunch and dinner items, I would order again. Please do not listen to the poor review from Tania P, I don't know what she has up her hindquarters. Please, do yourself a favor and give the place a second chance. I have had the same coq a vin and it was amazing! I don't know how you could call that bland.
(5)Cathy H.
Great little breakfast at a great little value! Went for Saturday brunch about 1130 and got right in. Staff was nice, and the food was good (great croque monsieur).
(4)Sarah M.
IN LOVE with this restaurant! Affordable for the South End, and beyond delish. As we walked through the door, we were welcomed with a lovely and authentic "bonjour" by a hostess, who seemed so at ease, as if we had really just stepped into a bistro in a neighborhood of Paris...the decor is rustic, warm and cozy. Our waitress was phenominal (and French as well - authenticity A++). The food was rich and hearty; I had braised shortribs that were the best hands down I've ever had. My companion, mom, had a fish that was perfectly cooked and seasoned in a light broth. It was very romantic, yet being there with my mother wasn't awkward at all. People were truly enjoying themselves at every table. I haven't tried the Comm Ave location but am dying to (because I work & live in the Fenway area) to see if this location is just as wonderful.
(5)Jaquelina L.
My girlfriend and I had dinner here ~ 2 weeks ago. We had a great time. The food, service and atmosphere were GREAT. I ordered the Escargot and Scallops. She ordered the Foie Gras and the Beef Short Ribs. My gf said the Foie Gras was superb. For dessert, we ordered the Macarons. The Macarons were nothing like the ones from Laduree in Paris. Oh well, I am in Boston, not Paris. =P The only draw back was the long wait, but we will definitely come back.
(5)Dan C.
Damn Boston weather. 70 minute waits are never fun but in cold and wind erghgh. And I'm here for SPRING break dammit. Anyway. Backing up a bit. We arrived around 6pm on a Saturday night, party of 4. The hostess said it would be about a 45 min wait which normally I would have been like hell no unless I'm in a mall or a really dense neighborhood I could kill time in, but the only reason I endured it was because it looked nice and the decision making process with my family for restaurants is just painful. SERVICE The hostess was really nice and kept us updated constantly on how our wait was looking, which we appreciated. Once we did get seated, I think the whole wait staff was aware that we'd waited forever so they were really attentive with us, which was also great. My only complaint is that the waiter forgot to give our valet ticket to the valet after we finished (we finally just went outside ourselves and told the guy). I don't really care too much about that though since if I were with any people other than my parents I'd never get near that neighborhood with a car (valet parking was $14 btw). Almost all the wait staff was French too, which adds something to the experience, I do admit. FOOD Good stuff, and a really good value. Almost all the entrees are less than $20, and the place has the feel of a much more expensive place. I had the Lamb Cassoulet, which tasted great. I nibbled my family's scallops and salmon, also very good. Escargots solid, and the salmon appetizer was great. Desserts were great - the Crepe Suzette bordered on overwhelming, but the flavor of the sauce was just so good. I had a little of my sister's Ile Flottante and loved it, and my mom's pineapple tart (they only have it on some days) was very good also. ATMOSPHERE etc. I liked it. Warm, intimate and classy (it's a tablecloth place) but not intimidatingly so (you can dress casual though most other customers were dressed semi-casual). Overall, highly recommended - there just might be a long wait for parties of more than 4.
(4)Jungmin L.
3.5 stars. The atmosphere is great - very neighborhood bistro-like, comfortable - not too loud and not too quiet. The waitstaff, however, do not know the menu all that well. The veal liver was very good, most of the dishes seemed to be quite sturdy and dressed-down. The confit, however, was quite dry and unacceptable. The foie gras was ok. We loved the profiterole (pastry was a little too hard, but can't help loving it anyway) and the frangipane/poire tarte.
(3)Adele O.
We went to Petit Robert on a Friday night to use a buywithme coupon. We were seated at 6.30pm. Our waitress was exceptionally competent, and the food was outstanding. When the wine we ordered came, the bottle that she opened had a cork that all but disintegrated as she pulled it out. She recommended of her own fruition that the bottle needed to be replaced. When the manager came over to our table to discuss the incident with us, she tried to convince us out of opening a different bottle, by blaming the faulty cork on the ineptitude of our waitress. Despite what the manager said, we opted to go with the recommendation of our waitress. We were very happy with the result. In all honesty, we thought that the waitress made the right call, even though the manager tried to call her out on it. The food was absolutely delicious. We both ordered the coq au vin, which was moist, and beautifully rendered. The wine matched perfectly. Thumbs up to the waitress for impeccable service, in spite of a bossy and overbearing manager. We can't wait to go back again!
(5)Simon L.
Me and my friend visited Le Petit Robert Bistro today for lunch. The experience was less than satisfying. Our biggest disappointment was with the staff. While everyone walked around with a smile. We sat down for 20 minutes and no one but the water lady talked to us. I had to wave down the hostess, who barely speaks any English to find us a waiter. In the end another hostess came and took our order. We waited for 30 minutes for our entrees to show up. Then the hostess who took our order left and this blonde waitress unwillingly took our dessert order. We ordered their "signature" chocolate cake that was supposed to come with a fancy chocolate Eiffel Towel (dramatically featured on their website), but apparently they ran out of the towels and they replaced it with a sad little macaroon. We were terribly disappointed but the waitress did not seem to care. The only person who seemed to care about our dining experience was the water lady - Kudos to her, I wish I could have tipped her directly. The bread was wonderful and freshly baked. The onion soup was mediocre considering it's a $9 cup of soup. The duck confit was nicely done, and the Croque Madame sandwich was just okay - the egg was overcooked. The chocolate cake was delicious, but again, lacking its "signature" component. Overall, I would not return to Petit Robert because the disappointing service overwhelmingly destroyed the better than average food.
(2)Gary F.
Dear Little Bobby, About two years ago, we wrote a kind of mean review of your Comm Ave location. We made fun of the tower. We made fun of the bread. We claimed that your bread pudding tasted of cheese. We're sorry. On a whim, we decided to try it again, South End-style. Oh, Little Bobby. We were so, so, so wrong about you. We take it all back. The escargots were not as good as Jo's, but they were second best. The beef tongue salad (on special) was so good, we licked the plate...get it? The pot au feu was...pretty tight and the pan-seared sweetbreads pretty much sent SheGary over the edge. A heaping plate of fried sweetbreads with mashed potatoes...it doesn't get any tighter. For dessert, we reduxed the bread pudding and nary a whiff of...cheese...was detected as was previously noted at the Comm Ave location. Also, the ambiance and service were about 10384729 times better this time around. Even the Eiffel Tower thingy out front. N.B. They mix a very, very good martini. Merci, Little B. And again, our apologies for that previous review.
(4)Vincent P.
Really classic french bistro - food well-made and service good. Sit on the sidewalk in the summer for a real parisian feel.
(4)ack c.
loved this place with a passion, had given them a full five, count em, 5 stars... but i will not return anytime soon... staff was RUDE, food was terrible, and the price isn't that great either. i see no reason to schlep all the way over there for that... they should fire the host/mgr as i am reasonably sure he's setting the dreadful tone. ugh, so disappointed! And check out the trend line graph, it looks just like the stock market! sniff, went back again, got rotten salad... really, most of the salad was rotten. so sad, i think they sent all the good staff to their other location.
(1)Momo K.
considering it's called petit robert, everything was pretty petite. i had duck and a spinach side, they were both non impressive and very average.
(3)Tila C.
I came here for the first time last night and was not impressed at all. We were seated immediately and served water. The rest is all downhill. No waiter, no bread, nothing for another 30 minutes. When I asked another server, who was leisurely clearing off a table, if she knew who our waiter was, she said, "yes" and walked away. Finally our waiter comes over and didn't even apologize for the wait. I asked for a recommendation out of three entrees that I had in mind and was told that he recommended all three...ok, thanks for nothing buddy. Ok..order was in..should be eating in no time now. Drinks were brought out 5 minutes later and the bread followed in another 5 minutes. Soup (dull lobster bisque) and pretty good goat cheese salad were brought out pretty quickly. Plates were cleared and then onto MORE WAITING! Our meals came out about 40 minutes later. The people who sat right next to us and were seated after we were AND had the same waiter got their food 15 minutes before we did..huh? Our waiter did come over to thank us for being so patient...clearly he doesn't know what patience looks like! Food finally came out and the plates felt like hot coals...clearly they were WAITING a long time too. Waiting under a heat lamp for the waiter to bring them out. The Beef Short Rib Bourguignon was tasty, but the Grilled Skirt Steak~Frites with Béarnaise sauce was lackluster. Waiter didn't ask how anything was and only came over to take our plates. NO apologies, NO compensation for the horrible service -NOTHING, but a great disappointment.
(1)Dominique N.
Great place for a nice dinner out - charming restaurant in a convenient location (good for a pre-symphony dinner since it's only about a 10-15 min walk). We had the petit sale salad (some kind of bacon), scallops and the salmon "en croute." The petit sale and the scallops were particularly delicious. Dinner for two (2 entrees, salad, 1 cocktail) came to about $55 before tip - pretty reasonable for a nice dinner out.
(4)Melissa V.
I am happy to say this is a quick walk in the snow for me. They serve great food, and a mean cocktail. It will be a long winter together.
(5)anastasia c.
It's more 3.5 stars an 3 but it's not close enough to 4 for me to add that one. I saw it on groupon and the Lady Friend and I decided to give it a shot. It was a friday night but amazingly they weren't overly busy. We had a reservation anyway so I wasn't worried. The couple in front of us didn't, however, and the guy made a big stink about sitting at a regular table anyway. Luckily for us we were seated right by him. By that I mean pretty much on top. They split a table for 4 into 2 tables for 2 and sat us side by side. Mistake number one. We spent the whole night listening to him talk to loud like he needed to seem important. There were other places for us to sit and we definitely should've been sat somewhere else. I'm a server and get annoyed when people ask to change tables so I didn't say anything. We were crammed next to an unused door which was pretty awful consider how cold it was outside. Our server was nice enough but I could sense he was just reeling off stuff he had memorized or been told, no real knowledge. We started with the lobster bisque. It was so overly fishy and too much for 2 of us. Maybe offer 2 sizes or a smaller portion because it sucks to waste a $10 bowl of soup. I had the skirt steak-frites. Asked for it medium, it came out rare, and I had to have it recooked. I always get sick from undercooked red meat and didn't wanna take a chance. It came back completely burnt through so I just ate the fries. LF had the Haddock with crab meat sauce. It was amazing. I definitely recommend it. For dessert we had the cheesecake with blueberry sauce. It tasted like flavorless cheesecake with blueberry sauce added on it. Without the blueberry sauce it would've been completely a no. The cheesecake should've been sweeter so you can eat it on its own. It took the server a while to bring our check, even after we'd finished dessert. I'm a huge fan of leaving when I'm done so sitting there waiting to pay wasn't a good way to end the night. They lose a star for purposely seating us directly on top of another table when there were other available tables not sat for an hour. Another half star lost for burning my steak and for flavorless dessert. If I do give this restaurant another chance it'll be at another location. First impression though was it's a bit overpriced and not very impressive.
(3)Bridget D.
Merci mon amour. You are so very sweet! For Bradley, my love, took me here to eat. Running late for our resi, we circled the Ave several times. But, pulled up for valet and paid one hundred and forty dimes. We entered the Bistro and announced our arrival. The kind hostess grabbed menus for our gastronomic revival. Whisked to our table, through the kitchen, how strange. What hit us first was the intense volume range. It was loud and bustling, with eating and drinking of hooch. We just leaned into chat, each time stealing a smooch. The decor is charming, but B felt slightly underdressed. However, his beauty and wit, is what makes him the best. We perused the menu and waited for our server. Things moved a bit slowly and we were eager to order. She finally appeared with her French accent in tow. I asked for my veggie options, of which she did show. Veggie pate, and mushroom risotto for my treat And the swordfish special please, for my Sweet. Warm bread and butter arrived for us to consume As I stared googly eyed (this boy makes me swoon!) The pate was interesting, both orange and green But the flavors were good, and we licked the plate clean. Our dinners came next, after a bit of a wait. Risotto in a giant bowl and B's fish on a lovely plate. Now I hate mushrooms with a passion you see, But the mushrooms in this were amazing to me. The risotto so creamy, the shroomies divine. B kept stealing tastes, but I share, I am kind. His swordfish he enjoyed and he ate every bite. But the pommes frites we ordered never arrived that night. We told the waitress and she took it off the bill. Full of deliciousness we felt very chill. Now the key to our meal rested on the closing treat I am made out of sugar and I require my sweet. So many choices, each one looked amazing. I had read of these treasures in all the Yelp praising. The special bread pudding caught my eye right away. "Whatever you want baby," is what Bradley did say. Oh white chocolate bread pudding, a beauty you are. My tummy so happy, I might not fit into my car. A romantical meal and a reasonable price. Wonderful food and a boyfriend, so nice. I am happy and pleased with this life of mine. And Petit Robert is a fine place to dine.
(4)Grace S.
This is the South End version of the one on Commonwealth. The food there is fantastic -- I recommend the grilled double lamb chop or the beef bourguignon. The drinks aren't bad either -- I had a peach martini. I'm docking one star, though, because the wait-staff, while courteous, also tend to talk to each other a lot in French in front of you, which always puts you in an uncomfortable situation whether you understand the language or not. Oh, and although the kitchen's open 11A-11P, the bar's open til 1AM.
(4)Tina C.
Came for drinks and appetizers. The mussels we ordered were super fresh and tasty. Drinks were good and refreshing. The wait staff and the owner are actually French and very friendly. Prices were very fair and affordable. I really liked the decoration and atmosphere too!
(5)Matt G.
Last night I took my girlfriend here for dinner. Overall I thought the food was great. I had the duck confit which was amazing. She had the panko breaded pork loin which I was not as impressed by. On the down side the service is beyond slow. I also felt it was an overly crowded atmosphere and it was fairly hot too.
(3)Ani G.
We were really disappointed in Petit Robert Bistro. We picked it because we needed a restaurant near the Prudential Center that was not too expensive and had decent food (and we didn't want to go to Cheesecake Factory or PF Chang's, although perhaps in retrospect, we should have). Petit Robert isn't outrageously expensive, but we left feeling like we had gotten a bad deal. The food just wasn't that good. I ordered the French Onion soup and the Moules Marinieres, and neither were as good as what I have had elsewhere. (NB- Central Kitchen in Cambridge had AWESOME moules marinieres!). I also got the sauteed cauliflower on recommendation from the waiter, and felt that it wasn't worth it (maybe the spinach would have been better? That was my other choice, but the waiter recommended the cauliflower). They forgot our friend's glass of wine that he ordered, and he had to ask a second time. My husband ordered skirt steak, and thought we have made it better at home. As for dessert, my husband and his friend ordered the chocolate mousse, which was overly viscous. I had the creme brulee, which was fine, but the palmier was not crunchy and light; it was almost soggy. Overall opinion: adequate for what we were looking for, just not worth going there again. The description Yelp gives when you roll over the two stars "Meh. I've experienced better." describes it perfectly.
(2)Charlotte E.
Complacent and Resting on their Success Since returning to Boston after living in Paris I have enjoyed dinner here at least 20 times - for celebrations, for quiet meals, to impress out of town family, to welcome French friends. It's been our favorite place, always a 5-star experience. A year ago yesterday we had a meal that will remain etched in our memory - a superb culinary experience. They have since won Best of Boston. Last night we attempted to replicate last year's experience, again for my husband's birthday. The meal was a lesson I won't soon forget. They have no business taking reservations they have no intention to honor. I was woefully misled, and that made the surly sullen attitude of the least welcoming hostess I have ever encountered all the more offensive. La vache was not only rude to us in the entirety of our interaction but surrendered our wine menu to another waitress and promised to bring another "right away". We never saw her again. Twenty minutes later our waitress finally came to take our drink order and apologized profusely when we explained what happened. Lesson learned - if I'm ever treated as completely rudely as I was by La vache I will simply walk out of the restaurant. Minus one star, it was inexcusable. The meal itself was riddled with problems too. The waitress was woefully overworked, despite there being, at minimum, at least three empty tables near us at all times. She had the best of intentions. Despite the space the room was deafening - I had to lean in and repeat myself at a shout probably half the time. I was exhausted after our hour and fifteen minute wait for our meal. Part of the problem was clearly mis-management. Not a single course was brought to us correctly. That is to say escargot before a single drink (which was then NOT the drink I'd ordered). They forgot my husband's wine with dinner, brought a random glass of wine while we were waiting to attempt to order dessert, etc. In addition I had to ask three people to find out what cheeses were available. I think the only French man working there, the one to whom we all turned for this information, was embarrassed to come tell us our only cheese options were brie and roquefort so he just disappeared. Add that to the new foie gras au micro-onde (simply microwaved) and I think we have a restaurant that's going downhill. Another hint of this decline was the numerous wine problems. My wine, which was the Sauvignon Blanc recommended on the wine list tasted of apple Jolly Rancher with an aftertaste of wet mouldy cardboard. The waitress tasted it and agreed it was awful. She'd taken 20 minutes to initially greet us because two (2!) corks had broken at other tables. That would be exceedingly bad luck. The table next to us sent their wine back too. Bad wine and boring cheese? What is going on here? My first clue re: the source of the problem was that the ONLY pro-active interest in the quality of our meal was when that same Frenchman happened to walk through the dining room. He must have seen my distress, after my high expectations I was about cry into my horrible wine at this point, he sent my waitress over instantly. And then I realized lesson number two - I think basically anyone who cares about this restaurant is in France for the months of July and August. Minus two stars for the current indifferent management of this place, resting on their formerly excellent reputation. The food that finally arrived was, as always, incredible. A wonderful meal for a wonderful value. I will do take-out, but I will never attempt a reservation; I will walk away if they're more than half full; and I will not try to eat there between now and the rentrée (back to school/work). There are so many good restaurants within steps, there is no reason to have a meal you can't wait to end. If you follow this advice (or it seems from these reviews that lunch is better) you can have a wonderful meal.
(2)Scott R.
I love this restaurant! The food is authentic and delicious and well-priced, the atmosphere is very cozy, the service is great, and the level of hospitality is outstanding. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. I have brought everyone here, from dates to friends to parents, and everyone has loved it.
(4)candy c.
The food is great. The roasted cauliflower was incroyable! The chicken served au jus, was tender and the jus was so delicious you could slurp it with a straw. Salads each have wonderful light but flavorful dressings--mais oui, homemade. Pot de creme--if you're into rich chocolat that you ought not to finish, this is the dessert for you. The service is friendly, but not attentive. They seem to be chronically understaffed. The waiter usually has a deer-in-headlights (in the weeds) approach to meeting your needs. But personally, I'm sick of mediocre food at buzzing restaurants, so I will happily concede service for stellar food which is exactly what you'll get here. Vive le france! Besides, it's a french restaurant. A garcon who ignores you but sets stellar food in front of you.... what's more french than that?
(5)Sophia C.
I LOVE french food. So when my chance to go to Little Robbie's, I gladly accepted! Here was the biggest problem - We drove into the South End, because sadly I moved out of Back Bay into the suburbs - and I COULD NOT find a parking space to save my life. We drove around for 20 minutes... and in the heat, that does not go well in my book! We resorted to suing valet parking. Here was the worst part of this parking dilemma - the valet circled around - driving my car for 20 minutes and I saw my car pass me, sitting outside approximately 20 times. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT!? So DON'T valet park - the valet guy thinks its his car to cruise around the streets! Let me get to the better stuff - they sat us right away - the service staff were friendly and kept coming by frequently to refill water glasses and make sure we didn't need anything. We started with the trio of pate - it was good - didn't like the chicken liver part but it's an acquired taste so it doesn't hurt my impression of the restaurant. We also ordered escargot and it was Sooooo good! The bread was hot and toasty that we devoured it quickly with the pate and escargot. I had the Chicken coq au vin with buttered noodle. I was hesitant at first because of the buttered noodle but the waiter explained its not what I would think and he was right - I couldn't taste any butter. I probably won't have coq au vin only because I didn't like the red wine reduction as much as I thought but the food was still extremely tasty. My friend had the special - the rabbit leg - and as an act of bravery, I took a bite and it was extremely delicious! I should have ordered it!!! Better than chicken! My fiance ordered the rack of lamb and I didn't try that but had a bit of the potato that came with it and the sauce was delicious! We also had dessert - I had the profiterole with vanilla ice cream and fudge - it was sweet and I probably won't have it again but worth a try. My fiance had the Creme Brulee and they did it JUST RIGHT! YUMMY!! Our friend had the Frepe Suzette and that was good too. The experience was good only if I didn't see the valet driver driving my car up and down the street so many times during my stay at the restaurant.
(3)Anna B.
I go to Petit Robert pretty often as it's right near where I live, and I love it. The drinks are phenomenal (the Rive Gauche is my favorite), the food is good and very reasonably priced, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. My only critique is that the menu doesn't really change very often, so it can get a little repetitive. That said, I like what's on there. Favorites are: the trio of pate app, the onion soup, the steak frites, and practically everything on their lunch menu. I also love the ambiance: nice, charming, cosy, but not too trendy or pretentious. Their outdoor dining is terrific.
(5)Natasha D.
I've been to this location twice, and to the Kenmore spot once. If the review were based solely on the latter, I probably wouldn't return. South End is definitely better. The first time I went here everything was good, but I wasn't blown away (except by my cocktail...). Last night, however, blew my mind. They changed their cocktail menu from last time I was there, so while one friend and I were waiting for the rest of our group, the bartender actually came over to consult with me on an acceptable substitute. The tarte tatin martini was amazing, and is actually made w/ tarte tain puree, according to my server. I was lucky enough to be with people who like to offer me bites of everything... We had a bottle of pinot noir from burgundy with dinner, chosen because it was a "manager's recommendation" and it tasted fine with everything- perhaps that's because I got the biggest glass... Smart waiter. Apps: mussels, about 1/3 of which were closed, so I wouldn't get those again, although the broth was delicious; beet and goat cheese salad- delicious and perfect as a light app; foie gras- out of everything, this was probably the most amazingly fattening and delicious app. It's served with some kind of grape sauce, and the fat was perfectly crisp and caramelized. Dinner: I had the rabbit moutarde, the night's special. The whipped mashed potatoes were divine, and the rabbit was delicious, with the mushrooms in the sauce balancing the strong mustard flavor. We also had the lamb shank, which was probably my least favorite, although still good, the coq au vin (amazing, and fell off the bone), and the pork loin. All amazing. Dessert: Profiteroles, white-chocolate bread pudding, chocolate mousse with langue du chat, and tarte tatin. All were delicious, but the tarte tatin and bread pudding were my favorites. Our server was wonderful, and was attentive without overdoing it- all in all a perfect girls' night out.
(4)Mary C.
I just got home from dinner at Petit Robert Bistro. I had a groupon, so i guess it was semi worth it... i dunno though. I had their special for my appetizer the "endive heart of palm w/ smoked trout salad" it was terrible... TERRIBLE. the endives' bitterness was overpowering the whole flavor and the smoked trout was in huge pieces. It was hard to eat (i couldnt cut the trout into pieces) and it was bitter and fishy. The maincourse was better... but for 19.95 i expect more than 3 bites ( seriously they were 1" x 2" pieces) of venison. It must've come from the world's smallest deer! Even my brocolli was bigger than my meat! The brussel sprout appetizer was yummy. The croquettes were tasty. The lambshanks was delish and the portions were decent. Finally the desert was good. Nothing special, but not bad. By far I would, if I ever did come back, only get dessert here. I hate to give such a bad review but the prices were ridiculous. If I'm going to be paying these prices the food better be worth it.
(2)Little B.
Dumpy, dreadful bathrooms with ripped posters and a giant door that opens out into the cramped hall. The waiter coasted thru our meal never introducing himself, food was forgettable, the location is good but why go here when there are so many other places doing the same thing so much better? Aquitaine, Gas Light, Frankiln??
(2)Josh S.
I was here for brunch with a couple people on a Sunday. The food was very good (we had the eggs Benedict [two people] and the salmon croissant sandwich). The coffee was also very good, although they didn't seem to be able to keep up with the coffee demand because we had to wait twice while they brewed more. Coffee supply is crucial to a brunch! The staff was very friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable, all of which was appreciated. The table we were sat at was a little small for three people, though, making it difficult to have three plates of food, coffee, cream, water, bread, and a salt/pepper shaker on the table at the same time. The tables were rather close to each other, making it difficult to have a conversation or which meant someone in the party would be pinned in between another person at their table and then by a table/seated person next to them. Overall, though, I did like Petit Robert and will probably return!
(4)Spm S.
Standout French restaurant in an area that's overcrowded with French restaurants. I first tried this place out with a BuyWithMe, but have been back since. Everything is full of flavor and cooked just perfectly. Both the salmon and the scallops are amazing.
(4)Jen W.
Went to Petit Robert a few weeks ago when the sun finally came out and had a great lunch on their outdoor patio. No true French café would be complete without outdoor seating (or at least giant opened windows) so that is definitely a plus. Food was very tasty but I did have an issue with the croque monsieur...it wasn't a croque monsieur! I had them often in Paris and this version was a grilled ham and cheese, which is not the same thing. No cheese on top, no sauce. I found it a little strange for a french bistro not to serve a correct croque monsieur and thats why they lost a star. Overall though, the wine, food, prices and atmosphere were all great and I will definitely be going back (hopefully when I can sit outside!)
(4)Julia L.
Petit Robert used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Definitely my favorite French restaurant. It is sad to see the quality has declined recently. I went on a date to PRB last Friday and the service was horrible! The waiter curtly corrected my French in front of my date and then disappeared for the rest of the night. We had to flag down mutliple other servers to get any attention and it wasn't busy. We waited a half hour for a drink at one point and when we finally got our server to return to the table he muttered something about the bartender missing the order. Pardonnez moi! No je suis dsol? Perhaps the awful service is just the fault of the tall brown haired, brown eyed, bushy eyebrowed fellow working at the South End location, but I really wish you would fire him. He is spoiling one of my favorite places to dine!
(1)Kyra T.
While anxious to try this place out, I was looking forward to going to lunch there with some friends. After much debate on what to order I though the all-famous Burgerdog was the definite way to go. At first, the waiter was extremely attentive and informative, just as expected for a tiny french bistro. As soon as our meal arrived (we ordered the burgerdog medium) the waiter never checked in on us or asked how the food was. We didn't even get a refill of coffee or water. The service was horrible. We sat for over a half an hour ready to pay our check. Furthermore, my friends burgerdog was extremely undercooked- very bloody while mine was the typical 'medium' pink color. I was not impressed with this place, mainly because the service was so horrible.
(2)Carol L.
Perfect dining experience for the family. Warm, welcoming, attentive staff. Didn't have a reservation and they worked to find us the perfect outdoor table. Terrific food, starting with the heavenly bread. Loved the location, especially if you're into Columbus Avenue as the dog-walking capital of the world.
(5)Robert T.
We went for Dinner a few times last year and thought it was very good. But not so much the last time. The service is always great but the food has changed. I would give it another chance however.
(3)Barry B.
Very French front of house, nice warm dark wood interior, started with wonderful hot from the oven aromatic (yes aromatic) demi baguette, entree composed of grilled salmon, mashed potatoes, and sliced carrots, all simply but exquisitely prepared.
(4)Bevin C.
Went here for a romantical dinner before the symphony, and I must say that PRB delivered. I loved loved loved the ambience - perfect mix of casual and nice nice. I love loved the low prices on the menu, and all the food was taaaasty. Both the coq au vin and the beef bourguignon were competely delicious, as was the homemade pate, which leads me to surmise that everything else on the menu is also good. Oh, and I had this funny citrus soup for dessert. I had never thought to consider orange juice with little blood orange chunks floating around in it "soup", but now that I do, a whole world of juice-soup possibilities is open to me. Yum yum, I will be back.
(5)L And E.
Unfortunately, when we went there the last time (for my birthday), I was a bit disappointed. We had somehow turned into 'that table', the one where for some reason we get forgotten, orders don't go in, wine doesn't get served, dishes never come out... I am sure it wasn't intentional, but it was sort of a let down.
(3)Tracey N.
Wow. Excellent, and reasonably priced. Came early in the evening with several people so we could get seats, and had a wonderful meal in the dining room. Our service was great, and the only detractor is the seats are so close together that it's easy to overhear your neighbors' conversations. Steak, salmon, scallops, pork. The salad with panko-crusted goat cheese is delightful and I'd go back just for that. We had the macaroons for dessert (there are six minis in 3 different flavors) perfect for sharing.
(5)David D.
the pate is the only reason why i'm giving petit robert 4 stars. i've been to the kenmore location, and the dinner was great. i'm sure everyone will agree finding affordable french cusine is like finding a level 3 sex offender NOT living within 20 yards of an elementary school...Anyway, i digress. my recent trip to the columbus location was a little bit of a disappointment. i'm a little sad about that. the atmosphere was great. dim lights, not loud, open kitchen. i think we had at least two waiters. i lost track of who was running the food, filling our glasses, and taking our order. That being said, maybe this needs to be streamlined a little bit. service was lackluster. our appetizer of the pate trio was awesome. seriously. awesome. my entree of chicken coq au vin was only so-so. the chicken was a little gross, actually. bones/cartiledge still in the chicken. the noodles and sauce weren't that bad, though. pretty tasty actually. my date had a rather limp response to the cod. sounds like dinner struck out on both sides. even though this visit was disappointing, we will of course return to petit robert. just not in the very near future.
(4)Kate P.
Although my Mom and I had a great meal here, I can only give PRB three stars because I lived across the street from it for two years and only ate there just the once. It's worth trying out if you live in the area. Go in the summer when you can eat outside. The service was friendly and the coq au vin was delicious!
(3)Ismet G.
Lived in France long time and having seen their non-French cooks, it is easy to say that this is not a real French restaurant, or those you can find around train stations in France. I would spend few extra bucks to go to a real French restaurant: Brasserie Joe on Huntington Ave, Aquitaine on Tremont St., Sel de la Terre by the harbor, La Voile on Newburry St.
(1)Wesley C.
I'm a big fan of Petit Robert (especially the columbus ave. one). There's not to much that beats sitting on the patio having a drink and the trio of pates.
(4)Ryan L.
Was here two weeks ago for dinner. Amazingly I found parking in the South End (which is a feat in itself) so the evening was already going well despite the rain. The exterior is quaint, looks like someplace you'd imagine would exist in France somewhere. Then when you walk in, the waitstaff greets you in heavy French accented English which further adds to the ambiance. Whether or not they're actually French people or American waiters trained to speak with a French accent I couldn't tell you but what I can tell you is the food is great here. I had the duck confit with grilled sausage and it was excellent. The duck was not too gamey and the saltiness of the sausage went perfect with the duck. For dessert I had this peach sorbet which I enjoyed immensely. It had a strong peach taste and was not overly sweet. It was an added bonus that it wasn't one of those Finale's dessert portions where you finish your dessert with one gulp and get charged $42 for it. A magnifique experience overall.
(5)Jennifer F.
ooo la la... Great food! This location is freakishly crowded...like, "you-could-absolutely- not-bring-your-friend-with-a-wee-bit-of-claustrophÂobia-here," crowded. To be perfectly honest, it felt illegal. Yeah. It was that crowded. Alas, on to the food... Lobster mac and cheese appetizer was not creamy the way mac and cheese should be. Instead, I found this dish to be extremely watery. Now, mind you, it was delicious, just not the texture one would expect. The bread, that was served so hot I tinged my fingers, was helpful in sopping up the watery, lobster-y cheese. (will be curious on another visit to see if this consistency was deliberate or a fluke(?) ) The Blue Fish dish I had was divine, though I would have liked more of the corn (with cheese?) to have mixed with it. Together, these combined to a wonderful taste mix in the mouth. Friends had the Chicken Coq au Vin, liked, but reported it to be "very heavy", and the pork dish was reported as very good. For dessert we shared the Chocolate Eiffel Tower Cake, which was moist and just the right consistency, and the crepes, which the menu did not say came with ice cream, but did (important to note when you are lactose intolerant like me). The mixed drinks were served cold and poured from the shaker at our table, a nice touch, though I cannot remember the name of the drink... The night ended with a $143.00 bill for three. I think that it was a great price when you consider we had 4 drinks, 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 2 desserts. A bargain for what you get. The service was attentive, and we were given lots of leeway in not feeling rushed and spreading our dinner time out. Two negatives: 1. Only one shared bathroom (meaning one for men and women) for the whole place, diner side and bar side...this meant long waits. 2. Was disappointed that there was no reference to the birthday. When reservations were made on line, there was a place to note special requests/occasions. I typed in that this was a birthday celebration. There was no acknowledgement of this in any way. It was even listed there in the confirmation email that was sent to me. I would give them 4.5 stars if I could. Really, it should be 5, but I minused points for the lack of paying attention to the reservation notes, the bathroom, and the freakishly crowded dining room. (random Saturday evening).
(4)Christine C.
Really good service. The quiche was very good, as well as the pouched eggs. We asked our server to wrap some of our leftovers up and she forgot to do it and took one of our orders off of our bill for us (something that we ate most of and was the most expensive). Definitely great customer service.
(4)Courtney M.
Went for brunch with my parents. Great authentic French food. Friendly native French waitress. Odd French techno music? Noisy heater. Did I mention the food was fantastic? Decently priced too. I'd go back!
(4)Suburban R.
a nice place. went there for lunch during a convention in boston. chatted up the waitress who was two months old in the states from avignon. enjoyed the soup d'oignion and sardine sandwich.
(4)Seraphine K.
Well, I am not a huge french food girl, but oh boy, this place has me! Unlimited warm french bread, for starters, delicious Kir, and friendly staff, not to mention what a sexy dining room! Awesome COUNTRY french food. Not that fancy stuff that I am scared to order. A very simple menu that you can feel confidant ordering from! I will admit, the girl who dropped my food put the fish at "12 o'clock" so I had to turn the plate [I am a server myself] But that is MINOR in the world of the food industry. It was a few months ago, so I cannot remember what fish I got... Dang, I want to say Blue Fish? No idea, but I remember loving it and ate every bit. It came with yummy mashed fennel. We also got veggie pate which was amazing. My boyfriend got the fois gras, [sp?] It was wild, very mousse texture, but yummy I must say. Dessert was a simply divine flourless chocolate cake, OH MY GOODNESS!! [I am soo picky on choc cake!] We eat slow [I think we were there 2.5 hrs] Had primo seating [made a reservation for 7PM on Tuesday the same day and got the window] there was no hurry to leave, the staff was not bugging us, or neglecting us. This is a perfect place to take a date when you are starting to reach that romantic-serious point in your relationship. Moderate price for 2 entree, 2 app, one dessert, 2 cocktails and a bottle of wine. I cant remember per say, but somewhere around $120 - totally worth it !
(5)John D.
Not going to go on and on here: Great food. Great wine. Great price. Good Service. Be sure to visit Columbus Ave location, not Kenmore Sq.
(5)Gabe M.
For "affordable" French food, this place is great. Very good prices for most entrees sub $25. Decor is lacking, but service and food is good quality.
(4)A P.
I have been going to PRB for a couple years now pretty much on and off for special occasions alternating with other French restaurants. The atmosphere is always very pleasing with a great selection of goodies. I can always find a great wine to pair with the succulent food. Some of my PRB favorites include the Fillet Mignon, Sole Meuniere, Mousse au Chocolat and Macarons. This is the perfect spot for a romantic get together.
(5)Tim N.
I'm still going to stick to 4 stars for dinner but brunch gets 3. The service was slow - definitely not the A list waiters you get at night. The portions are also very small and not that filling.
(4)Eric W.
If you're reading this review, Petit Robert Bistro may be for you, but it isn't for me. I'll preface with the fact that I remove a star just for the fact that it's French. Not in the "French are wussies, we should call them Freedom Fries" way, but in the "European food was so bland, they built great big boats and sailed half way around the world to find something better" way. Honestly, I don't have a refined enough taste pallet for "savory." I'll give them credit for helping me realize that I like pate (in this more rustic form, anyway), and the two entries I've had there (chicken and steak) have both been fine but unnoteworthy, a bit short of justifying the bill.
(3)C C.
okay, as i said in my last review, this place recently went from long-standing favorite brunch, to being on my list of places you couldn't get me into with a cattle prod. let me elaborate. there are three of us who make the trip together often. generally it has been a leisurely brunch with delicious food and sweet service. great taste, great portions, amazing cocktails. we stay for a long time and get cocktails, apertif's, dessert.... always lovely. this time we brought three friends from out of town with us, one here all the way from ireland, and were downright embarassed by the service our friends experienced. our waiter, whom we presume is a manager based on his attire, disappeared after bringing our drinks and taking our food order. we didn't see him again until we were exiting two hours later, he smiled and wished us a great afternoon. our food took over an hour to arrive at our table. we counted eight parties whom came and sat after us got their food long before we did. granted, we were a party of six, and the largest party in aftere and out before us was a party of four. but COME ON. at NO POINT did someone come out to apologize for the delay. when our food finally came (an hour after we ordered, which was half an hour after we had arrived) the mystery waiter who brought it out joked that he was sorry for the delay, the salmon (for the three orders of salmon benedict) had to be delivered from france. ha. ha. the three orders of benedict were fine, except one person was very short on fries and another had NO dressing on their salad. i had the french toast, my usual. they shrunk the portions and stuck the four tiny, wafer-thin pieces all over on one little section of plate, as if to emphasize how short they were changing me. when they brought an order of fries to somehow make up for the bullshit that was our experience, one of the first timers, whom had been sitting quietly, asked to send back his duck sushi and have it taken off the bill because the rice was completely uncooked... we're talking raw and crunchy, people, and the meat was incredibly chewy. the poor guy didn't order anything else to replace it. when the bill came, the duck sushi was still on it. we had to go through TWO MORE PEOPLE to get it taken off. as we left, the multiple mystery waiters, and our original waiter (whom we assumed must have quit suddenly in a fit of rage, sending the restaurant into a downward spiral), all smiled and wished us a wonderful day.
(1)Paul K.
Fantastic food and terrific prices. I've been here a few times and the food and service are excellent. The staff are all incredibly friendly. One note, it can get very tight in this restaurant, and a table in the bar section can be even more crowded and loud, albeit I loved it. You can valet park, or go 2 block on the same side of the road towards Mass Ave and there's non-resident parking for free.
(4)Alisa S.
Ooh, my friends and I had brunch here on a whim. We planned to go somewhere else but it was closed. I am glad, the food was surprisingly good! Pate appetizer, quiche, nicoise salad, all were tasty. The bluefish that my friend got was a bit too rich, but all in all a nice place to try.
(4)cassy f.
If you're looking for high quality French food, don't go here. You're better off elsewhere. The only dish that is decent is the foie gras. To top it off, their staff are SOOO RUDE! I had to drop by to pick up an order that my sister placed over the phone (I stopped eating there after facing rude service time and time again). I walked in and said hi to the bartender who just looked at me and completely ignored me! Then some other girl walks in and he's helping her! The thing is, he has a reputation for being rude to Asian people. Most of my Asian friends refuse to meet up there cos the bartender just blatently ignores you if you're someone of color. I had to stand there for 7 minutes today JUST to pick up my to-go order while the serving staff were just standing there! Maybe management is trying to keep the place White, so beware. If you're a person of color, you'll get shoddy service and definitely an attitude from their bartender.
(1)C S.
The food certainly isn't bad, but it's nothing to write home about, either. The steak frites and roasted chicken are merely mediocre. I'm enamored of the steak frites at Beacon Hill Bistro, so I think I will stick with them!
(2)gado.gado D.
pate and croque monsiour are to die for also the french waiters - yummy.
(4)Scott B.
a lot of people like this place much to my surprise - i dont really think it is anything special - i mean you get what you get - low grade gourmet food at a low grade price- - not my idea of gourmet - if you want something really tastey i can grill you a burger myself for less
(3)Oki P.
I always come by this restaurant whenever im picking up pastries from cafe madeline opposite for brunch. It is always a pleasant meal especially their brunch menu of egg benedict and french toast! Its such a great place with a relaxed, easy atomsphere with french comfort food! Yum!
(5)Aleh V.
Feels like you are back in Paris. A church across the street adds to the flavor. Petit french cuisine. Omelettes are great. Soup is fine. A retractable roof to make enough shade when sitting on a hot day. Even the wind blows along the street to release you from the daytime heart. Perfect for brunch.
(5)Tim K.
In the competitive South End restaurant scene, we always end up coming back here more than the rest. They keep their menu fresh but leave on the greatest hits, including their rich French Onion soup and steak frites. They often have a great pork dish as well. Their dessert and wine list are extensive and fulfilling. I specifically recommend the Profiterole, share with a friend! Our service has always been pleasantly paced. They are not in a rush, so you shouldn't be either. It's funny to see people complain about slow service; these people have clearly never been to France.
(5)Rita R.
Lovely French restaurant and corresponding ambiance. Quiet on a Friday at 6 pm, then gets busy. Service took a little on the long side, and prices a bit on the high side, hence the loss of one star. All in all, a pleasant dining experience for a daughter and mom pair.
(4)Al S.
My second best meal of my lifetime. Wonderful, personable service, decent decor, and the food! Holy crap! My buddy had foie gras, I ordered pate maison. For mains, scallops for me (although I didn't care for the bed of eggplant they came on) and chicken for my dinner companion. One word. Excellent. Perfectly seared scallops. Chicken that's truly falling off the bone. And the waitress picked a perfect bottle ($42). Truly, truly enjoyable. (And I'm a huge snob when it comes to food)
(5)Shani T.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. My boyfriend and I came in for brunch on Easter around 12:30PM. We got seated at the table right next to the window, which was nice. There is a fair bit of space in the restaurant and I never felt too close to the table next to us, which was nice. I judge restaurants pretty harshly on the complimentary bread that they provide, and oh my goodness, PRB kills it with their complimentary baguettes. These baguettes are bomb. They come out extremely fresh and warm, and my boyfriend and I each had one for ourselves before our meal. My boyfriend ordered the omelette lyonnaise and I ordered the boeuf bourguignon. 1) Omelette Lyonnaise ($12)--very large serving that came with a salad and fries. The omelette was cooked to perfection, very moist and still a bit runny, exactly how my boyfriend prefers his eggs. Many places leave the omelettes a bit too dry, but PRB did a good job with. The bacon in the omelette was also extremely crispy and delicious, not too greasy either. 2) Boeuf bourguignon ($26)--I really actually wanted to order the omelette lyonnaise myself, but when my boyfriend said that's what he wanted, I decided to switch it up. Normally when I've ordered beef bourguignon at other restaurants, it comes as a pasta dish (thanks, Julia Childs). Here, I got the beef stew with some potatoes and vegetables on the side. It surprised me a bit, but the beef itself was very tender. I barely needed to use the steak knife to cut through the beef; my fork was enough. The stew wasn't too heavy in flavoring and I guess I don't mind cutting back on carbs since I ate an entire baguette by myself anyway. Overall, quite good, though pricey. The vegetables were good, nothing too spectacular, but seasoned well. Now, a few gripes about the restaurant. Our host never gave us the Easter specials menu. I saw other tables with them but for some reason it seems like the host just forgot? It would have been nice to see, but I didn't notice until after we had ordered. That being said, the waiter never walked us through any specials either, so we also didn't have a clue that there were any specials. Another issue I had with PRB was the fact that on our check, we were charged $27 for the beef bourguignon. It clearly says $26 on the menu, and it's just confusing to me as to why we were charged a different price. We pointed this out to our waiter and he changed it for us with no questions asks / no explanation given, but I kind of was more curious about the why, instead of caring for the $1 difference. I would come back for brunch and get an omelette. $12 for the omelette seemed very worth it. $26 for the beef bourguignon, not so much. I've had better and cheaper elsewhere. Definitely take a quick look at the check though... Can't say I trust this place too much after the extra dollar charged on my dish.
(4)Lyndsey C.
Very cute little joint. We ate outside. The food was yummy and atmosphere was really pleasant. I enjoyed the quiche of the day with salmon and my friend had the salmon croissant. We enjoyed our meal and it was very fresh. Waitress was not very helpful, she didn't come back much and we had to literally find her to get our check. I would return but wouldn't count on great service... we were only there for a short lunch so I am unsure on dinner but great neighborhood and cute joint.
(4)Christine J.
A nice french restaurant, quiet, classy and simple. excellent food and service. will be back.
(4)Jake E.
Not really sure why all the mediocre to bad reviews. My girlfriend and I went here for our anniversary dinner and were thoroughly impressed all around by the quality of the food, attentiveness of the service, and classy atmosphere. I agree the food is expensive, but if you're on a budget, then you probably shouldn't be eating at a bistro in the first place! Personally, I wouldn't dine here except for special occasions, but I don't think it's exorbitant as far as upscale restaurants go. Food was excellent all around. The complementary crusty baguette they provided was enough to whet our appetites for the main courses. My girlfriend ordered roasted chicken, which she said was tender and flavorful and I ordered the (skirt) steak-frites. Let me just qualify my review by saying that I am quite picky when it comes to steak and this was one of the best cooked steaks I have had in a long while. Unlike many restaurants, they actually cooked to order (medium-rare) and the meat was soft and well marinated. The French fries were just the right amount salty and crispy and paired well with the provided garlic aioli. Service was great too, no complaints! The atmosphere in the patio seating can get a tad noisy at times since Columbus Ave. is a main thoroughfare in the South End, but that's hardly the restaurant's fault. All in all, would definitely return, though infrequently and only for a special occasion.
(4)Antonio E.
Honest food review. I've been in France many times and I can say this is the typical food you can find all around France. It's not a top-notch restaurant of course, but if you want to taste authentic French food with a decent bottle of wine without having to empty your pockets you've come to the right place. The only thing I did not like was one of the three pates they have in their pate selection plate. Everything else pretty good. Also the atmosphere, the small place, the small tables, really makes you feel like you are in a Petit French Bistro :)
(4)Lisa L.
Charming place to have a visit with old friends and enjoy good food but not great. The service was outstanding but the Onion Soup was just passable. Salads were very good but over all it made me miss the old Cafe Du Barry's on Newbury Street.
(3)Joe R.
We had a wonderful dinner. I had the duo des canards (duck confit and duck breast) which was amazing. We got the pate plate as an appetizer and that is always good. The place is small and really busy / popular, so a reservation is a must! The menu says they have soufflé, but they've discontinued it at the south end location. It was disappointing to us, but in no way ruined the dinner as all the good was delicious and there were several other dessert options.
(4)Brea L.
Beautiful location and I was able to sit outside. The staff was very friendly and informative about the menu. The cocktails were amazing; I had the dirty dawn. Food was perfectly portioned and I would recommend sharing appetizers because it's difficult to choose just one. Will be coming back to this restaurant.
(5)Lily J.
Great food, service, and atmosphere. Nice place to enjoy some delicious French food without necessarily needing a reservation. I am always surprised they are not busier! When the weather is nice they also have outdoor tables available. Their menu changes seasonally and I can't remember exactly what I ordered the last time I was there (some kind of fish with lemon and thyme...it was awesome). I'll definitely be back for more!
(5)Noreen A.
Amazing food. Stefano, the chef, makes food that my mouth falls in love with. Great wine selection, service staff, atmosphere, and eye candy.
(4)Adam S.
Love this place. Food is always good as is the wine. Also the service is top notch. I mean who doesn't like quality French food with a great atmosphere!?
(5)Aneesh B.
I was in town for a conference and met a friend for dinner at Petit Robert; what a lovely dinner! Food: We started the meal with a bottle of Sancerre, which was perfect for the warm-day-turning-into-cool-evening; I thought the wine list was thoughtfully chose. As for the food, the words I think best describe the food at Petit Robert are simple, flavorful, and light. I generally don't opt for French food, but I'm slowly being brought back into the light with French bistro fare. To start, we shared a plate of mussels persillade (parsley sauce), which had a nice bite from the vinegar and garlic, but wasn't overpowering. Then I had the grilled salmon served with ratatouille. I asked for the salmon to be grilled rare, and that is exactly what I got. Makes me really happy when a cook knows how to grill to the proper temperature, especially when for a piece of fish. It was a nice entree, and I am glad I ordered it. Others at the table ordered the scallops and a special octopus salad with kale and lentils. All the food looked amazing. We also shared sides of sauteed mushrooms and spinach. Veggies were well-seasoned and not at all overcooked. We skipped dessert in favor of another bottle of Sancerre, but other tables looked quite happy with their sweet treats. Service: Outstanding. Full disclosure: my friend knows the owner of the Petit Robert restaurants, and during our meal the owner sat down with us to eat, so I suppose you could assume the service was extra-special" because of that; I don't think it would have made a difference, though. I think the staff is well-trained and knows how to make you feel comfortable. Vibe: Chill, with a menu to match. Nothing about the place is flashy, yet the experience felt way better than average. It's a comfortable place with indoor and outdoor seating that I think anyone would love. Family-friendly: Unless your kids like French food, I'd probably leave them at home. But this is definitely not a stuffy place which would frown upon bringing children in to dine. No kids menu, but it's a neighborhood bistro that I am sure could rustle up something a kid would enjoy. Summary: A gem in the South End, Petit Robert will make you feel at home and serve you flavorful fare with no fuss. Definitely worth your time and money. Bon appetit!
(4)Peter K.
Great French restaurant in Boston! Awesome food, amazing foie gras! Nice atmosphere, good service. Love this place.
(5)Daniel R.
Service was okay -- friendly, but slow, and they forgot the rolls until my girlfriend asked about it later (after the main course was already here.) Food was good, but not great, and didn't justify the price. I typically frequent cheaper places, and I expect a cut above from a pricier place like this. The thing that really ruined it for us, though, was that we came PURELY for the purpose of using a gift certificate. When we handed it to the waiter at the end, he informed us that our gift certificate was good at some Petit Robert locations, but not others, and he couldn't accept it. The certificate did not say anything about which locations it was valid for, and any normal customer would assume it's valid for all of them. According to the waiter, this issue comes up on a regular basis, yet they haven't done anything about it. We paid the full bill (as though we had no gift certificate), but left unhappy. When I contacted them via their web feedback form to complain, not only did they not attempt to rectify the situation, but they never even bothered to respond. A classy place like this should be able to do much better.
(1)L P.
We eat here often and love to bring out of town guests. This place is awesome all around. There is a varied and delicious cocktail menu, I always start with that. We will generally then pick a wine from their impressive wine list. Their appetizers are lovely. Our favorites are the crab salad and the escargot. We have loved every entrée we've had there, but especially the scallops, risotto, and the pork shank. For dessert you can't go wrong either. We love the fondant, the creme brulee, and especially the giant profiterole. The food and drinks would probably be enough for 5 stars, but when you add the lovely service we have consistently had and the year round comfort and ambience (lovely outdoor dining in the summer, cozy dining room in the winter) this place is really a stand out.
(5)Shaelyn C.
Clarice was a very pleasant server and was very helpful with making our decisions on entrees which we were very happy with . 5 stars for sure on this one.
(5)Danielle K.
Petit Robert Bistro is in a really cute and quaint part of Boston. The staff here is also really accommodating and down to earth so it was hard to see how this place could ever go wrong right off the bat. We ordered the escargot and the calf's liver and I was in love. The escargot is nice and buttery and the calf's liver is really well cooked. If you don't like a more soft calf's liver, make sure to tell the waiter because it comes out on the rarer side. The bread is ah-may-zing. So amazing that we really didn't feel bad or embarrassed about asking for more even if their stockpile went down because of us.
(4)Anthony M.
The escargot were to die for at this little Parisian bistro in downtown Boston. The prices are high, portions are small, quarters are tight and the food is delish. We ordered specials as the entrees which made the prices higher than expected, the food was good but not for the price especially if you are going to leave hungry. I would love to go back just for some escargot and some drinks at the bar.
(3)Carlos A.
I went there for dinner. We ordered two steak frites one rare and one medium. After an one hour wait the medium one was brought well done and the rare one was brought medium. When we told our waiter that both steaks were overcooked she brought back the person I assume was the owner or general manager. I was expecting an apology and have it immediately changed because it was very clear that both steaks were overcooked. Instead of that they said that the reason it was overcooked was because the steak was thin and that if I brought it to the light I could see that there was a little red in the middle of the "rare" one. They refused to change them and they were rude making it seem like I had never ordered a steak before. There are a lot of other good restaurants in the area to choose from, so avoid Petit Robert Bistro.
(1)Timothy A.
Le Petit Robert still has a lot to recommend it, but our visit on 10/12/14 was disappointing compared to previous ones. We arrived at 12:25 PM with a 12:30 reservation and were seated immediately. It took 35 minutes before a waiter even took a drink order, and it was nearly an hour before any food arrived. There was only a Sunday Brunch menu available (this was not mentioned on the website). Two of us had Moules Frites (one marniere and one curry), and they were excellent along with very good frites. The third person had Coq au Vin, which was on the greasy side and relatively flavorless. The bread was not up to par, essentially a roll that lacked a good crust and a soft inside. The basket of viennoiserie had a super croissant, two pain au chocolate, and a blueberry muffin that was tasteless and did not belong in the company of the others. The Vouvray wine was crisp and fresh but the Cotes de Rhone was stale (perhaps the bottle had been opened the day before). In general, the service was slow and inattentive. Compared with previous visits, I would say that Le Petit Robert is on the way down, living on reputation but still having an affected arrogance about what it used to be. I'll pass in the future and seek another bistro that cares to make its reputation in Boston.
(3)Lynn J.
FINE FRENCH FOOD! The service was very attentive and consistent. I had a baked salmon with a very rich sauce. It was very good, but Boston high priced, and not something that I'd come back for again. I'm told though, that red meats are where they shine. So, if that's your thing, my dining friends recommend it. My companions had come here often for their meat dishes. THE DEAL: Loved the Profiterole dessert!
(4)Jacob M.
Food is excellent. Very homey and tasty French food, not fancy at all. I usually get their cassoulet, it's really really good! Their wine selection is excellent also. But the service is extremely slow (still polite, just unbearably slow), just like what you'd expect from an authentic bistro in Paris, I guess.. It's ironic, because the French word "bistro" is actually a loanword that originates from Russian, meaning 'fast' or 'quickly'... :-/ It's no l'espalier, but for the price and the quality of food, I really shouldn't complain about this charming little place in the neighborhood.
(3)Eric F.
Came in for lunch with the family and the experience was a tiny step up from awful. There was no one at the front upon arrival and service throughout the meal left much to be desired, eg. it doesn't help to ask us how everything was 3-4 times when my water and coffee are repeatedly left empty and unnoticed. It's also a bad sign when I contemplate leaving 5 minutes after being seated since no one had come by our table. We had a BLT, escargot, omelette and crispy poached egg among us and nothing left an impression. The poached egg was bland, the fries looked store bought and I make far more flavorful eggs at home. The one tiny saving grace was (arguably) the bread as it was at least served hot. Highlight of the meal: "What's the fish of the day?" "Scallops."
(1)A C.
I just dropped this place, one of my favorite places, to two stars, because of the below response from the restaurant. I sent them an email with my above concerns, and this was their reply: "Thank you for your feedback. I am glad you had a true Bistro experience. We have worked very hard for almost 8 years to create a true Parisian atmosphere in our Bistros and it seems that our Guests are finally getting it. Welcome to France! A tres bientot et merci encore! Loic Le Garrec Directeur-Proprietaire loiclg@comcast.net " Clearly, it just bespeaks to the poor management. Contrast this reply to the personal apology and gift certificate from Chef Hamersley, and you know which place takes service seriously.
(2)Paloma M.
I went there on saturday night for the first time (I've only been at the commonwealth location) and I was not very impressed, to be honest. I had a cod with vegetables that was really meh, the cod had no taste at all! My husband had scallops with zucchini and said it was good. At least the tarte tatin was amazing! Service was good but the restaurant was extremely noisy, different from the one in back bay, which is much better, btw.
(3)A G.
Not a bad experience. The food was well prepared and very tasty Service was good however not all plates were served at the same time for our party.
(3)Sara S.
Romantic and fantastic food. Great spot if you're a fan of French cuisine.
(4)Bing X.
Loved the food! All the food! The place was a bit too crowded but It is acceptable considering the food....
(5)McGhee O.
We were here on Friday, the 11th. Let me start by saying that I thought the food was AMAZING. So very good. What brought my review so far down was the service. I was there with my girlfriend, and for the first part of the meal our service was fine. However, when a table came in (I believe they were regulars), our server proceeded to stand at their table and talk very loudly with/at them for over 20 minutes. Meanwhile all his other tables, including ours, were completely ignored. We ended up having to ask another server for our check. I had every intention of having dessert and an after dinner drink, but after sitting there for a long time waiting for our waiter to pay attention to anyone else, we decided to skip it and just get the check. It was quite upsetting, as I have loved Petit Robert up until now. I doubt we will go back.
(2)Iri A.
We were there for brunch early on Sunday morning. The omellette and eggs bennedict were great. I didn't like to french toast because it was not soft. the atmosphere was nice and quiet, the coffee fresh out of the brewer, the music very pleasant and the servers polite.
(4)Daniel J.
Nice dinner - good food - not too much and very tasty. Great atmosphere even down to the bone fide French waiters - lost on some of the customers I'm afraid
(4)matthew g.
My wife and I went here on a busy Saturday night for dinner. Based on reviews we expected good food and poor service. However, Petite Robert Bistro managed to far surpass our expectations. The appetizers were served promptly, the escargot buttery and garlicky. Wonderful. I had the steak frites and it was cooked a perfect medium rare, my wife had the beef bourguignon and is was so unbelievably moist, flavorful. Just terrific. Now onto the service. We were extremely well taken care of from the hostess who seated us, to the waiter that took good care of us, to the friendly staff who packed our leftover wine up to take home. I would definitely recommend this place. It felt very much like a high quality restaurant in Paris, just easier to understand the people sitting around you.
(5)J C.
Petit Robert has an open outdoor dining area where you can bring your dog, so we go despite the mediocre food and poor service. Last time we went, though, on Mother's Day for brunch, it was truly awful. We waited several minutes for water. We had to ask twice for them to bring us iced tea. The waitress was generally uninterested in speaking with us. But the most ridiculous part was when I ordered an omelette and asked if they could add spinach. The waitress said they couldn't take any special orders because they were so busy (the indoor section was half full) and I could get a side of spinach. I let it slide and ordered the side, which was just sautéed spinach in oil (not even seasoned). It was fine, but I would've preferred it I'm the omelette so it wasn't so greasy. Fast forward to us getting the bill (after asking two people three times for it), and they charged us $8 DOLLARS for the side of spinach on top of the cost of the omelette. It was straight out of an episode of Kitchen Nightmares. Apparently not only is the customer not always right, but you can charge them an arm and a leg when they make special requests. We will not be back.
(1)Gavin R.
Had a really nice, early dinner there with the family,
(4)Neel M.
Vegetarian. They put ham in my first omelet. They said they would fix it. They put ham in the second one. Fail.
(1)Jiyea C.
This is probably a less than 3 star restaurant, but I decided to bump it up because the service was good! Much better than the food. If the most memorable part of the meal was the bread that was served at the beginning of the meal, you can get an idea of what I thought of the food. The french roll was served warm and had the perfect crunchy/chewy consistency. For a girl who knows her carbs, it was very satisfying. We tried the pate appeitizer, the cassoulet, and the daily dessert special, almond cake. I thought all the components of the cassoulet were salty, but other than that, there wasn't anything wrong with the food. My dining companion said that the sausages were made in-house, and he enjoyed the sausage, but me..not so much. While I can't pinpoint anything WRONG with what we tried (other than the saltiness I mentioned), I can't really say anything positive about it either. It was just OK, which is surprising and a little sad because I was rather hungry when we came into the restaurant. I would say that this is a slightly upscale family restaurant. You could easily bring a date here, but I noticed that there were families with (very) young children here also. I'm talking babies in carseats. I feel a little bad about writing a mediocre review because our server was so nice! Never rushed us and was just the right level of attentive, with a cute accent to boot! And we went in without a reservation on Saturday at 7:30pm and were seated within a few minutes.
(3)Lesley P.
Good service. Very cute patio seating. We thought the quiche would have been better if hot and also if actually good. Fries were good. Coffee fine. I can see why they track at 3.5 stars at this location.
(3)Harri S.
The place was cute enough, the service was very courteous, but the food BLECH. My food (Salmon (charred, and not by choice)) was inedible and the Biff's food (the duck) was truly meh at best. The sides to the main dishes were pretty decent. We had one app, the escargot and the half the Biff had was apparently part frozen. He was convinced it was out of the freezer. I liked it enough, didn't think it was pre-frozen, but I've certainly had better. They were so kind, so I feel bad about handing down such a review, but the food really stunk. Maybe we should have done the fondue special instead :/
(2)Lisa M.
I love French bistro and this restaurant is mediocre. The Croque Monsieur was fried, not grilled. Onion soup is good, but not spetacular.
(2)Amanda O.
We went to Petit Robert Bistro on a Friday night after work with a group of 4 and made a reservation. It was busy, but when I arrived about 20 minutes early they had our table ready and didn't mind me sitting down and getting started with a drink. It was very nice after a busy week at work to not have to wait for the rest of our party. I got the Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles which was AMAZING! The chicken was delicious and just fell off the bone. It was so good I don't remember anything else about the restaurant (we went about a 1-2 months ago). Met expectations. I'm looking forward to going back and trying something else.
(4)Corona W.
My boyfriend and I dined here a couple of weeks ago. The service was friendly and the restaurant was cozy but I still much prefer the original location in Kenmore. For some reason, I think the food there tastes better. For appetizers, we ordered a side dish - Ratatouille Niçoise and the Escargot. Sadly, the appetizers were probably the best part of the meal. The escargot came swimming in a sea of decadent pesto butter. We tried to stop eating the bread but the butter was so delicious, we couldn't stop. For entrees, my boyfriend had the salmon cordon blue and I had the sauteed scallops in mushroom risotto. Both were good but not super amazing. I personally found his salmon to be a little dry. In terms of french restaurants, the portions at Petit Robert have always been above average and they will leave you quite full. Prices are also very reasonable as far as French restaurants go. Anyways, we had a good time and a nice window seat for for South End people watching. We ordered a bottle of wine and ended the night with coffee laced with cognac and amaretto. These were delicious by the way. Despite the mediocre entrees on this particular night, I will be back. However, next time, I'll stick with the Kenmore location.
(3)Brian S.
Petit Robert is a great place to take a date. Nice, romantic, and great service the moment you step in. Problem is that it's a bit far away from the center of the city, and we made the mistake of trying to walk there in the blistering cold. Still, I would say it's worth a trek. Overall the food was great. The escargots were delicious. However for my entree, I strongly believe I just ordered the wrong thing. While I had no complaints about the pork dish, it just felt like and looked like a dish that I could have attempted at home with similar success. My girlfriend, on the other hand, ordered the liver and loved it! So choose wisely, and I'm sure you'll come out with at least a star rating above mine.
(3)C B.
Happy, quiet, comfortable, relaxed, date night... great drinks, relaxed, friendly service. funky drinks--delicious
(5)Kevin R.
Came last night for a late dinner. Service was attentive and polite. Escargot for an appetizer; very pleased for my first time. We had the duck confit and the pork tenderloin. The pork was very good, tender not at all dry and overall very satisfying. The duck was just ok, edible , but dry. Thought about dessert, but passed. Overall a quality experience.
(4)Simone F.
Went here to eat for a birthday dinner as a second option to the Italian restaurant a couple blocks away. We were not disappointed as per Ronny's recommendation. We chose to sit indoors because it was a bit chilly, but there's outdoor seating available. The ambiance inside had darker lighting than I would have liked; however, that did not take away from the meal. We started with oysters and soup. I had the soup du jour (corn and mushroom) and my sister had the lobster bisque. They were not as creamy as we were hoping, but they were good. As for the entrée, I had the chicken coq au vin with noodles. That chicken made up for the soup- extremely tasty. Would definitely recommend dining here. The music and service were great also!
(4)g l.
Okay little background: my father was a chef (in big places in NYC, Sydney, France, to mention a few), and I lived 20 years in France... Service: terrible! My table had to request bread all the time. The waiter kept bumping me all evening. Oh the best part was that my friend was burned when receiving his plate. Somebody forgot to mention how hot the plate was. I was lucky enough to have another waiter coming for mine, and she warmed me. I worked in my father's kitchen for years as a teenager, so I am used to hot plates, but those were way too hot not to be announced. The bus boy/ girl were actually good. my water was always replenished. My friend requested a sauce, and of course he got the wrong one. The cream on the service was being billed for an item that was not ordered by my table (7). Just in case you are wondering, yes we had to pay it. Menu: understandably small; however, "there is no modifications." This is abusing. If the food is fresh (seems to be) then what is the issue to change my side of rice, or requesting without an item on my appetizer. This attitude would get you out of the market even in France. Food: the menu covers plenty of typical French dishes, but the creamy rognons were watery. The cured salmon terrible. My friends food was not sadly not better. I am not going over it more because I don't feel like wasting more time on this place that certainly not deserve it. The valet was actually nice and friendly. Now, I experienced many French restaurants in the US, and I am generally very disappointed as an average one in France would be better. Now, considering that the manager (owner) is French, or speak French without any accent, I fount that sad to have such a poor quality of service ( a must in France), and poor quality of food. I definitely experienced better in the US. To the risk of appearing condescending, only somebody that never experiences French cuisine in France would find that place wonderful in term of food. It seems very unlikely that we came on the wrong day when looking at the end products. However, I am willing to think that he service is generally better if you don't have a big table like I had, or that the guy simply had a bad day as the rest of the team was good.
(1)Steven E.
Costumer service here is terrible. In a nutshell: Drunk patron gets in a fight with the valet (evidently the valet lost his keys? I don't know, don't care). Big loud fight in the middle of the bar area where I am eating dinner with my bf. The fight lasts perhaps 30 min, on and off, complete with shoving, name calling, pretty much everyone saying they will be pressing charges and/or calling the police on everyone else. The hostess basically joins in and starts yelling at the valet - big scene - ruined my dinner. Well, if I were a hostess, I would have at least apologized to the six people who were eating in the same tiny room as this very upsetting exchange that I had just taken part in (I believe the final words of the exchange were the hostess telling the valet to "get lost"). I probably would have offered them complimentary dessert, drink, discount, SOMETHING (but at the very least an acknowledgment that this is not the experience one should expect here). Nope. Nothing. Just pretended like the past 30 min hadn't happened. Yummy food though. And hey, really cool thing that is actually really awesome and would have landed them 5 stars from me? Vegan options. WHAT? I know right? Where are there French places with items that don't contain butter. Very cool. Now hire staff who aren't incompetent.
(1)Charlene C.
This place barely even deserves 1 star -- not because the food is bad but because the service is. And when I say "bad," I'm being generous. What I really mean to say is "atrocious." The service here is really, seriously, unbelievably atrocious. I went for the first time with a friend for Valentine's Day, and our waiter's name -- if our receipt is to be believed -- was Smythe. We both actually thought the food was fine, but she received noticeably worse service than I did. And by "worse," I mean rude, unacceptable, and very likely discriminatory. We're both Asian females, but whereas I have no trace of an accent at all, she has an obvious accent (despite being completely understandable, having perfect grammar, a large vocabulary, etc.). She believes this was the reason she received lower quality service, as other people in the service industry have behaved similarly towards her in the past. Honestly, I thought our waiter's behavior would have been considered appallingly rude by any paying customer. My friend was very upset by the treatment, and rightly so. Her whole dining experience was literally ruined by his behavior alone. She did contact the restaurant via web form to complain that night, making sure to include her email and phone number, but a full week later, she still hasn't received a response of any kind. To be fair, let me say that I did enjoy my food (enough to finish eating it, at least). The greeters were polite, friendly, and prompt. The service I myself received was fair, nothing special, but I had no complaints about it until the very end when I just got fed up with the way my friend was being treated and had to jump in to get him to correct several mistakes on our bill -- mistakes that were very obviously his. No matter how good the food is (and objectively speaking, the food here isn't even that good), when a waiter makes several obvious mistakes on the bill and then instigates an argument about those mistakes with a patron, it should be viewed as a red flag for bad service. And that was the least of this waiter's behavior issues. It's hard to say whether he was an ill-concealed racist or just extremely incompetent at doing his job, but after reading other Yelpers' low-rating reviews for this place, I'm inclined to believe he might be both. The thought had also occurred to me that he might have been annoyed at having to work on Valentine's or perhaps was just bitter at the 'holiday' itself, but again, neither is any excuse to mistreat a customer. Nor does it explain the restaurant ignoring my friend's complaint. I tried very hard not to judge this establishment based on the actions of one waiter, but all things considered, I found the service and lack of redress to be totally unacceptable, and neither of us will ever be returning to Petit Robert in the future.
(1)May N.
Went here for Restaurant Week on a weeknight with a few friends. It was not very busy when I arrived for our 7pm reservations, just a handful of people on the patio and a couple of groups inside. The selections all sounded really good. I went with the scallops, swordfish au poivre, and chocolate mousse. The scallops were perfectly cooked. The fish was moist, tender, and perfectly flavored. The chocolate mousse was to die for. It comes in a very small container, but it's so rich. The service was very good. It did take a some time for our food to come, but we didn't mind. Hopefully we weren't too obnoxious, being the loud people catching up and laughing together. The place was busier when we left.
(4)Silvia V.
This is one of the best French bistros in town when it comes to what you get for your buck. I've been to all three locations and I've had great meals at all three. I just came home from having dinner at the South End location. Once again, I had a great experience at Petit Robert's. While waiting for my friend, I ordered mulled wine. It was warm enough and strong enough. The garden salad with panko crusted goat cheese was delicious. The Chilean sea bass special was perfect taste wise as well as portion wise. The Nutella crepes were oh so delicious. The service was attentive and knowledgeable. And the bill was wallet-friendly too. Very pleasant experience all around.
(5)Holly S.
Food was very elegant, most dished little on the salty side, but the wine helped with that! Also the warm bread warmed my belly:) veggie salad very good
(4)Nate Y.
To say this place is a perfect date place would be an understatement. A rainy evening just added to the romance in the air, fogging the windows where we were seated allowing my companion to draw a whimsical smiley face.Tthe hostess and waitstaff with their authentic french accents and walking through the kitchen to the dining area with low ceilings, low lighting, white table cloths, and other dining patrons having conversations made me feel I was walking through an impressionist's painting. Sharing our meal (lobster mac n' cheese, duck, and pork loin) was like our conversation; authentic and honest, just delicious. It didn't matter that the dessert we ordered, the souffle, would take 20 minutes, since it would prolong the experience. Some practical information; reservations would be a good idea if you want to make sure to get a table, although there are two locations. Waitstaff was attentive and helpful. I hope that this can be repeated, but the experience may have been a meeting of so many things coming together at the right time. As the saying goes, "better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all"?
(5)Opal L.
I've been having great luck with groupons. I had lunch there with a groupon and the experience made me want to go back there. Since it was restaurant week, there was a 3-course lunch that was about the price of the groupon so I had that with a Sam Adams light. I was sitting at the bar and should have seen all the other things I could have ordered to drink. They have good beers on tap, like Leffe and 1664. It's quite refreshing to be in a Boston restaurant that has something else besides Sam Adams on tap. If you're in the mood for something sweeter, they have Framboise. Next time, I'm getting that. Okay, so I had the smoked salmon soup of the day, the fried pork, and creme caramel. I thought the French served smaller portions but I guess they adapted to the American customs. I probably shouldn't have eaten the whole bowl of soup. The carrots were a little too crunch for my taste and I left those on the plate. Fortunately, dessert was light. If you look at my pictures, you'll see that the food is presented very simply and cleanly. It was a delicious lunch but I probably won't have a 3-course meal again any time soon. Two courses is enough. I went in at about 1:30 p.m. and the place was almost empty. The service was obviously great because the waiter had only one other table and me to take care of. So, if you want a quiet place to have lunch, go there after 1 p.m. I think they serve lunch until 5 p.m.
(4)Jason B.
I'm glad that I had the opportunity to give this place another shot. We came here with another couple for dinner, and we ran through the menu like Tiny Tim through the tulips. It was a frigid night, and after walking the 10 or so blocks from our place to the restaurant, we were ready for a hot drink. Fortunately, they have a fantastic mulled wine on the drink menu. Steaming hot, a little sweet, with wine, cognac, and rich winter spices, it is absolutely perfect for driving the chill from the bones. Regarding the food, let me first just say - I ATE BRAINS FOR THE FIRST TIME. I don't know how often they sell it, but Petit Robert sells lightly pan fried calves' brains. They were great - a light crispiness on the outside, creamy and soft on the inside, with a very rich flavor. The capers went perfectly with them. The escargot are everything you'd want them to be - garlicky, buttery and firm, full of flavor. The raw oysters are served in a surprisingly large amount of brine, on the half-shell, with a very nice mignonette sauce on the side. As good as you get at B&G or Neptune. Alas, my short rib entree fell a bit short, being somewhat dry. Either they left the braise in for too long, or left it uncovered when they re-warmed it, because the meat was very fibrous, though soft, and there was a distinct lack of liquid goodness. The atmosphere on a cold winter night, however, is not to be overstated. It's a lovely, cozy room, full of warmth and charm, with a giant window showing the blowing snow outside. Really makes you feel like you're wrapped in a giant expensive French cocoon. Service is impeccably rendered by wait staff who are seemingly all of European origin. In the end, the pleasure of the experience won out over my disappointment at their treatment of one of my most favorite main ingredients, and I would come back in the hopes that the next time I order the short ribs, they are a little bit juicier. Bon Chance!
(4)Linda E.
Nice place to sit on the patio and eat brunch. Ordered a coffee and the eggs benedict. The plate was enough to split with my friend and we had some free bread too. The service is a bit iffy, they had to be flagged down a bit for coffee refills, but all in all it was a nice brunch for about $13.
(3)Sara M.
3.5 stars honestly... My husband and I came here with his old boss for dinner not too long ago. It was overall a pleasant evening. I did not realize how small and cramped it is inside. Those tables are quite close together and made it feel like we were all part of other people's intimate conversations. I had crispy calf's brains and the lamb shanks as my meal. The brains were delectable! I loved how the crispy texture really contrasted with the smooth, creamy inside. The flavor was not unbearable gamey/strong and I enjoyed it very much. The lamb shanks were done pretty well but there was not a lot of creativity. My husband did not care for his braised short ribs since there were beets - it did not state on the menu this important ingredient! The prices were fair for the South End and the quality of the food. We weren't blown away and have had better meals at other places. Perhaps it did not live up to the hype since we were expecting more.
(3)Old Bear ..
On a Monday in late June, my wife and I had an 8:00 PM dinner reservation at Petit Robert Bistro in the South End. We arrived at the restaurant by car at about 7:30PM. The area in front of the restaurant is marked for valet parking and we waited several minutes, assuming the valet was in the process of parking another diner's vehicle. Finally, my wife headed into the restaurant to enquire but could not seem to get the attention of the maître d' or other staff. Eventually, another diner, who was waiting for her table, observed me standing by my car and came out of the restaurant to tell me that there was no valet parking on weekday evenings despite what we were told when we made our reservation. Unfamiliar with the neighborhood, and with no guidance from the restaurant staff, I drove around several blocks marked exclusively for resident parking before finding the garage at Copley Place - which was kind enough to accommodate my car for a mere $30 and a four block walk back to Petit Robert Bistro. I arrived back at Petit Robert at about 8:05PM to find my wife standing on the sidewalk, having been told there would be a "slight delay" before our table would be ready. The "slight delay" was approximately a half hour and we were seated at about 8:35PM. It was several more minutes before bread was brought to the table, with the waitress executing a remarkably graceful pirouette without even a pause to take a cocktail order. Another ten minutes passed before I managed to flag down a member of the wait staff and request a simple vodka on the rocks. Apparently, the bartender was also very busy, because it was about twenty minutes later, a little after 9:00PM, when a waitress returned with the cocktail and took our dinner order. At this point, it having been almost two hours since we had left home to set out for the restaurant, both my wife and I felt that the use of the restroom would be good idea. I suggested she go and that I would follow upon her return. However, she found a line of about four other diners waiting to use the single available toilet and her "adventure" took about a quarter hour. Never wanting to shirk a challenge, I set forth on a similar mission and found a presumably different array of four diners waiting for the lone restroom. The effect was reminiscent of being on an airliner just as the movie ends and everyone heads for the lavatories at once. While waiting in the restroom line, I was standing in front of the restaurant's bread warmer. I was amused to see a small sign, in both French and English, advising that tongs were to be used to handle the bread. Alas. all three members of the wait staff whom I observed retrieved the baguettes by hand, and one person refilled the bread warmer by dumping a box of bread into the draw, also poking things around manually. C'est la vie. When I finally returned to our table, my wife's paté and my soup had been served. Aside from its having cooled somewhat while I was on my mission of desperation, the soup was still reasonably flavorful. Dinner was finally served to us at about 9:50PM - more than two hours after our arrival at the restaurant. Like the soup and the pate, the entrées were tasty and attractively presented. It was truly a shame that we were so ravenously hungry by then, and growing stiff from prolonged sitting (with the blessed exception of the interludes standing in the toilet queue), that we gobbled our meals rather than taking the time to savor the chef's creations. Normally, I would enjoy desert and coffee following the meal, but by then it was well after 10:00PM and we still had to walk back to the Copley Place garage and drive home. Hence, we requested the check and settled up our account. As we were leaving, one of the waitresses - not the maître d' - apologized for the saga of the evening, explaining that the restaurant had been running a promotion and that everyone came at once. This seemed a little odd because it appeared that most of the diners had reservations and that the restaurant must have had a good idea of the number of customers to expect. If the promotion was to increase dollar sales, it would appear to have been successful; but if it was intended to introduce new customers to Petit Robert Bistro in the hope of building repeat business, it was a dismal failure - and may have soured many existing customers in the process. It is very unusual that I write to any establishment and I intentionally let a week pass to allow some perspective on the experience. It was my hope that time would mute my memories of the evening but did not. Hence, I sent a courteous letter expressing much of what I have written above. Now, two months latter, I have received no response, either by mail or by phone. In summary, our experience at Petit Robert Bistro may have been the worst dining experience I have had in the past decade and something for which any establishment should be deeply ashamed. I shall not return.
(1)Milanes M.
Nom nom nom! The food is very authentic and délicieux. I absolutely love their bread and the mixed greens goat cheese salad is one to drool for. I enjoyed their summer menu more than their winter menu. On a busy weekend night, do not come with high expectations. Yes, the food will be great but your waitress/waiter may show up at your table only in 30 minute increments. That, I believe, is the one and only downside.
(4)Jon E.
Warm, inviting, casual, approachable authentic French food. Sit at the bar, enjoy the scallops and mushroom risotto, the onion soup, and the herring and potato salad (in the reverse order) and converse with Jeremy and Bruno, the finest bartenders in the land.
(4)Anna R.
This place is great! I will definitely be back! The atmosphere is perfect--intimate and classy but still casual enough for a late weekday meal. The neighborhood feel of the South End also makes it feel more like a bistro than a restaurant. The food is FANTASTIC--I had the roast chicken and was absolutely in love. It was perfect, every single bite, crispy yet moist. The mashed potatoes and veggies on the side were also impeccably cooked and seasoned. To top it all off, the price was very reasonable ($18). The only reason for the 4 stars is the service--we were not greeted upon entering, and had to awkwardly stand around until the hostess came and got us. Our waitress was aloof and mildly attentive. We had to ask for water refills, and she corrected my fiance on sauce pronunciation (poh-vray to pohvr). I understand we're butchering your language, but you never correct customers.
(4)Bianca T.
Dining at The Petite Robert Bistro was an experience I will never forget ! The atmosphere is french perfection. Relaxed and comfortable. The food was unbelievable .. I order an omelet ... it was light, fluffy and filled with the freshest ingratiates ... just bursting with the flavors of ham, spinach, mushrooms, tomato and cheddar. My mother ordered the eggs benedict .... the eggs were perfectly poached, the hollandaise sauce was light, creamy and buttery .... honestly I wish I could eat there every day .... I can't wait to have brunch there again - there is a jazz singer that performs on Sundays Our waiter Jack was welcoming and attending to our every need. I think the biggest surprise cam when the bill arrived .... the total was $20.35 .... for brunch and cappuccinos .... very reasonable !
(5)Back B.
I have been to this Petite Robert location a hand full of times. The service, food, and no frills atmosphere really is awesome. This restaurant reminded me of the small restaurants I went to in Paris. The waitstaff are very helpful, and always have a smile on their faces. Our waiter, Smyth, is on top of his game. He not only made our night special, he made us feel relaxed, and was funny and enjoyable. I don't care what any negative reviews say about Petite Robert, they are wrong. Come to this restaurant, its worth every dollar. Try their chocolate moose for dessert after your meal, you can't go wrong.
(5)Kenneth R.
While strolling by this morning on my way to Render Coffee, I decided that this Petit Robert was cute enough to be worthy of a dinner visit. I got together a group of 5 diners and most of my group seemed to be delighted with the choice. In fact, one of my team members intends to come back tomorrow with an even larger group! So the place isn't a disaster. We came on a quiet night -- the end of a holiday weekend. The house was only 1/3 full, and the servers were not energized. My impression is that the kitchen wasn't all that hot either, but I think that a 2-star rating would be on the lowball side. Basically, the main thing that this establishment is selling is canned French-ness. This appeals to a lot of people but it seemed to me that the personnel were from other corners of the globe. The main courses, which are called "plats" in France, are "entrees" on the Petit Robert menu -- I considered this to be a bad sign. I can report on the food that I sampled and on the two wines that I ordered. Those wines were a low-end white Burgundy and a 100% syrah Cotes du Rhone (which was a recommendation of the patron). The first wine was pleasant enough but no big deal; I thought that the second wine was much better -- it was a good value. For my appetizer, I chose the soupe du jour, which turned out to be a beet and orange soup with horseradish cream. The tastes were unusual, bordering on the bizarre; the soup alone lifts the restaurant out of the "completely meh" category. One of my companions ordered a plate of French fries as his appetizer. (I'm not making this up.) Several of us tried a French fry dipped into the ketchup-looking beet soup and enjoyed the experience of having something taste totally different than its appearance would suggest. This was perhaps the highlight of the dinner! For my main course, I selected the cassoulet, which really was A-OK. I can eat better cassoulet at home by buying it from The Fifth Quarter at my local farmers market yelp.com/biz/the-fifth-q… , but that's there rather than here. All in all, Kenneth R. goes for the 3-star rating.
(3)Dino D.
It was pretty good. The place was nice, clean, and the staff was attentive. The food was good, but nothing memorable.
(3)Chris C.
While I've had a great brunch here before (croque madame), this dinner was disappointing. The onion soup was good, but not great, but the duck was the same. Good, not great. It was a rainy night, sitting under the awning which was nice, but it was all marred by disinterested, lackluster (even for a French restaurant) service. Made me rethink my former positive view of this place. Also, the website menu says strictly no substitutions of sides, which is incredibly off-putting, though it did NOT say that on the printed menu, nor did it come up.
(2)Ellie W.
I've been to this restaurant a few times, and have always had a great dinner here. Like a lot of smaller South End eateries, you feel a little elbow to elbow with people at the next table, but with good food, can't complain much. Super friendly waitstaff, and a good menu to boot. They've got great French desserts, and delish escargot. I've had their chicken dishes a few times, and the chicken is always cooked well--not dry at all. I don't think they take reservations, but the wait isn't too bad. Great price for French food, also. You don't have make your bank account weep uncontrollably for some good French food at Petit Robert...always a plus!
(4)Victoria J.
My fat-kid best friend and gluttonous partner in crime is back in town, so what do we do? MmmmMmmMMMmmmmyum!!! Driving around the South End, we were thinking Joe V's, (great pizza), but thought..."Hmmm, we've never been to Petit - Let's go tonight!" It was a beautiful spring night, and there were plenty of people enjoying Petit's outdoor seating. We opted to go inside, by the window - perfect amount of breeze and warmth. The way the restaurant is set-up slightly strange - you have to walk past the bar area, through the kitchen, and then take a left to the dining area. And slightly even stranger, is that everyone speaks French. It's almost as if we've been transported to France - French spoken outside, French spoken at the bar, every host/hostess, waiter/waitress was spouting out "Bonsoir" as if we were all 10yr old and finally dropped the F bomb. So we started off with drinks - Bordeaux for him, Basil Martini for me. I loved my martini, it was refreshing with a kick. For appetizers we got the Escargot and the Trio of Pates. The snails - super buttery and delicious. The pates - three different kinds, (obviously, hence the "trio"), served with Dijon mustard and teeny, tiny little pickles (Awww, how cute!), and tasted perfectly with the French baguette that was served. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. I scanned the menu for my entree, and the first thing that jumped out - French Onion Soup. Hmmm, interesting how I began craving it so desperately since seeing it on the menu. Perhaps, some meat would be more filling? - but then that melty, gooey cheese sold me. So obviously I had soup, my dear friend decided to try to the frog legs, as he had actually never had them, (I reassured that they are actually quite good and I think that sold him). My soup - was fucking divine. And I am using the F word to emphasis, how much, truly, really, really, hit the spot. Piping hot, delicious onion broth with a multitude of delicious, gooey cheese on top. Oh man, it was just great. I in no way regretted ordering the soup, nor did I care to try my friend's frog legs because I was just so utterly consumed by my soup. If it wasn't for the soup, I probably would have given Petit 3 stars. Thank your lucky stars, Petit, that I went for the soup! We were there for almost three hours, eating and continuing on drinking, and at no point in time, did I feel rushed. Oh do I love that. One of my biggest pet peeves is when restaurants try to force you out - from some places, (Chili's/Cheesecake Factory/Outback), I expect it and have no problem complying. Who really wants to dwell in the ambiance of an Outback Steakhouse? But we listened to the French classics playing in the background, sitting by the window, enjoying the cool breeze, people watching, and good conversation. Without any dirty looks, or annoyance from the waitstaff. And I think this, is what I enjoyed the most - Thank you Petit Robert!
(4)Lickety Split N.
The atmosphere is nice and the waitstaff is friendly, but the food fell way short of expectations. Everything is drowned in butter and really salty, yet still bland somehow. We got steak tartare (mushy and over-chopped), the scallops (can easily make better at home), and the lamb chop (not flavorful). Go here if you really love water because the waiters are very attentive with refilling the glasses, but maybe it's because they know how salty the food is. I don't plan on returning.
(2)max s.
Lived in the South End for 3 years and this was our favorite go-to restaurant; ate here about 20 times with a variety of people and never heard a complaint. Have tried many different dishes on the frequently changing menu; favorites include the escargot (in a delicious garlicy buttery sauce), fois gras, coq au vin (chicken melts in your mouth), steak frites (one of our favorite choices - perfectly cooked each time), pork chop (panko crusted, nice and moist), and scallops (delicious! also perfectly cooked - always). Basically everything is so good that it's always difficult to decide what to order! Sides are also a treat - mushrooms, spinach, brussel sprouts - you can't help but finish them all. Also the warm crusty bread they leave on the table is phenomenal. Great servers who are helpful and professional; service is occasionally slow but we found that a bonus because it gave us more quality time with the guests we were having dinner with.
(5)Jason K.
Fantastic! The food and service were both excellent. I was not sure what to expect since we chose it on a whim before the theater but of all the places surrounding the Huntington this is the best we have eaten at this year.
(4)Kathy A.
I finally got to try out Petit Robert, but I didn't leave as satisfied as I had expected. Some things were great, but others fell short. The south end location is really cute and homey. Our waitress was fine, but nothing special and they never refilled out waters. The bread they bring is great. So hot and fresh and just plain delicious. For entrees we had the Hake with Asparagus Risotto (although that evening hake was replaced with haddock) and the Scallops with spinach and crab. The haddock itself was quite good, but sadly the risotto was pretty bland. The scallops were really good, but the veggies on the side were boring and the wilted spinach and crab tasted strange. It tasted rather old and stale which was not appealing at all. We got two sides of haricot vert and creamed corn and peas gratin The haricot vert was awesome and the creamed corn was very rich and good, but lacking peas... Overall, the food was decent, but I must say the portion sizes and prices cannot be beat. They give you a lot of food with entrees all under $20.
(3)Colleen H.
This review is for their brunch, which I am a huge fan of as it was almost a weekly spot for my roomie and I. Dinner/lunch on the other hand, never tried, so read everyone elses reviews for the good word on that. Their menu is simple, their waitstaff speaks french, and their bread and coffee is just so comforting. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd want in the south end -- patio, people watching, sweet and quaint. I dream of the crispy poached eggs with the frisee salad... so obviously, I order it almost every time. Definitely a great (and not usually too crowded) summer brunch spot. And hey - it's the south end, so bring your pup!
(5)Olivia D.
Went here with my mother as a good-bye dinner yesterday after my matriculation at Boston University. Let me tell you, the food was HEAVENLY. My mom had the fresh caught bluefin special and she said the sauce was probably the best sauce she had in her life. I enjoyed a soup and an artichoke and shrimp salad (I wish I could say the actual menu names but I would butcher them) . Probably the best food that I've eaten out in a very very very long time, maybe ever. And I love that it seemed to be family run and the staff was incredibly friendly. The atmosphere made you think you were in Paris. It was a perfect dinner and I can't wait to take my parents here again when they're up or go here on a date- I will definitely be back !
(5)Scott B.
Stopping in to Petit Robert on a Sunday evening for a drink... what a fantastic idea. The bartender (who created the drink menu himself) quickly informed us that ALL the specialty drinks on the menu are his "babies" and that "of course they are delicious." And, they were. The atmosphere was nice, and much quieter than surrounding establishments, with quiet couples and decent French music in the background. The adorable bartender was attentive while he danced and sang along to the music. Lovely. Since we only came for drinks, I cannot critique the food, but I can sum up the Petit in with these three F's... Fantastic, Friendly, and French. And there you have it.
(4)Linda P.
Authentic French food in Boston at decent price is difficult to find - but Petit Robert Bistro was all that and more. Waiters/waitresses there were fluent in French and very friendly. The Fresh Vegetable Salad Crudite was okay - I'm not really a salad kinda gal, but if you are, you'd probably enjoy it. I really enjoyed the Creamy Lobster Bisque - it had a little spice to it and that made me love it even more. The flavor was not too overwhelming and it was not too thick. It was just right. The Chicken Coq-au-Vin with Buttered Noodles lived up to its amazing reviews on Yelp. It fell right off the bone and the waitress told us that it takes them HOURS to get it like that. The Roasted Rack of Lamb with Ratatouille was to die for. I didn't care too much for the Ratatouille (even though the movie made me curious!) ... but the lamb was tender and perfect. I've been here twice and plan to go back!
(5)Natasha A.
Love it, love it, love it. I have been a devoted fan of the Kenmore Sq location, but have moved and find this one to be more convenient. Petit Robert is a little slice of French heaven. The food is superbly executed in the traditional french bistro style. This is a white table cloth restaurant with great service. However and best of all, it is unpretentious and everything on the menu is under $20...thats right even the rack of lamb. They serve a lunch/brunch menu in addition to the dinner menu until 5 pm...so yes one can go at 4:30 and still pay ridiculously cheap lunch prices. The wine list has everything from light Rhones, to heavier reads and some zesty whites. We paid less than 90 for 2 soups, escargot, 2 entrees and a great bottle of Cote de Rhone. So enjoy some real french food without attitude and while listening to some light french jazz and pop. Recommendations...any blue fish dish (crispy on the outside, flaky and moist on the inside), the french onion soup, the escargot appetizer and any of their meats (lamb or steak frits). ...and yes they have en Eiffel tower shaped chocolate dessert. I go drool now...
(5)Jessica E.
It hurts me to give Petit Robert 2 stars because food-wise our meal was superb. I've also been to the Kenmore location and think both locations serve quality French bistro food at relatively reasonable prices. However, on my first trip to the South End branch, the service left a lot to be desired. My husband and I were taking out our friend to celebrate, but the incompetence on the part of the hostess and our server really put a damper on our evening. The Wait - It was clearly a busy Friday night; we had a reservation for three people. We weren't seated until 45 minutes after our reservation time! We weren't offered any sort of explanation just "it'll be a few more minutes" a few times. After 30 minutes of waiting, the hostess offered us glasses of water. Honestly, I think a few more words of explanation, admitting whatever their mistake was, or a complimentary glass of wine would have gone a long way to make the wait more pleasant. Our Server - When he took our orders and my friend and I both ordered lamb, he didn't ask her how she wanted it cooked, so we had to flag him back down to tell him. We also ordered the souffles with our appetizer and entrees since according to the menu they take about 30 minutes to cook. When clearing our entrees, we reminded him about our souffles. He said they would be out of the oven in "exactly eight minutes." Well, guess how long it took for us to get our souffles? Yup, 30 minutes. If you add up the extra time we waited to get seated plus the delay in getting our dessert souffles, we were physically at the restaurant for almost three hours. I like to linger over meals, but I spent about half that time being annoyed at the staff. A quick recap about the delicious food I had because it was really good: 1. Trio of pates - Great app to share. Comes with mustard and teeny tiny pickles. We all loved it and were afraid we'd fill up on bread and pate. 2. Rack of lamb - Cooked perfectly. It was so tender, and I ate everything on my plate down to the last potato. 3. Souffle - Creamy and light. After the two previous courses, I was glad to split one souffle with my husband to have a small taste. I'd like to go to Petit Robert again for the food, but I'm not sure if I can stomach the service again.
(2)Laura A.
Ok, maybe this review isn't entirely fair because I just came back from Paris, but this place is the cheesiest approximation of a Parisian brasserie ever - Paris souvenirs on the walls, decidedly un-Parisian ginormous portions, a dessert with a chocolate eiffel tower. Sooooooo cheesy. Sorry, but that "Parisian atmosphere" doesn't really work when seemingly every table is made up of loudmouthed groups of 40-somethings having a parents' night out and getting wasted on house wine. Is it so much to ask to not have to hear every word of their conversations, given that this is supposed to be a romantic, intimate place? Not PRB's fault exactly - but I wonder if their recent simultaneous Groupon AND BuyWithMe deals might be to blame. To be honest, I haven't had a good experience here since my initial visit. I always find the food to be bland and our recent meal here was no exception - I ordered the lemon mushroom risotto, and was served a ginormous bowl of tasteless risotto. I prefer quality over quantity when I'm dining out and I would have much rather been served a perfect, delicious risotto in a small bowl (like the Butcher Shop, for instance). I think my risotto had maybe 5 mushrooms in it and no lemon flavor to speak of. Overall this place is just really underwhelming.
(2)D H.
Cannot say enough good things about this place. Starting years ago, the wife and I would go to the Kenmore Square location or South End location. More recently, the Downtown Crossing location. I'd say that after about twelve visits, the only thing I had that wasn't outstanding was a new pork chop dish they offered. Not enough to knock a star off. This is very affordable food for its quality, and they generally keep a very good wine list as well. The escargots get special mention as the best I've had - better than the ones in Aux Armes De Bruxelles (well known restaurant in Brussels I visited earlier this year). They do have a few locations, but it is nothing like a "chain" restaurant.
(5)Jen D.
Based on the meal alone, I would've given Petit Robert 4 stars, however, the service was very sub par. I came here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night and we were able to get a seat out on the terrace. The atmosphere was relaxing and very much added to the bistro feel. We ordered the escargo appetizer and it was delicious. For entrees, I got the Chicken coq au vin which was pretty good. I'm not usually a fan of coq au vin's but I really finished this one - the chicken was tender and delicious. The boyfriend got the steak fries with Bernais sauce which he thought was also delicious, although not amazing. Overall, I thought the food was a good deal considering the prices. The reason I give Petit Robert 3-3.5 stars is because of service. It seemed like they had four waitresses for the whole restaurant. We had different servers through out the night they would walk by us, even when we were trying to get their attention. After we finished our meal and they cleared the table, we waited a good ten minutes until another waiter came by and asked us if we wanted the dessert menu. After dealing with inattentive waiters all night, we decided it was time to leave. Overall, we might try this place again, hoping that service will be better.
(3)Artiste A.
7:00 PM reservation for 4, with a short delay on our part, and we called to let them know, we arrived at 7:15. Didn't sit down until 8:00 PM. Tried to get us to sit in the bar, so I think they were overbooked. We brought our drinks from the bar so after a bit the waitress took our orders, then shortly reappeared, going guest by guest, guessing what we had ordered to confirm them, as if it were a new restaurant game show. Soon, without an offer of a wine to go with our food, our starters dropped to the table. Ouch. You know that good food can make up for so many issues, like waiting to be seated and awkward service but , alas, this was not to be the case. A tough hanger steak , braised short ribs, that unless three experienced cooks at our table were wrong, were not short ribs at all, but rather more likely a pot roast cut. No bone and very dry without the signature flavor, soft texture and richness of a short rib. A confit of duck with cabbage was passable. We did have a few laughs at the vegetable sides. Those were either a slightly cool steamed broccoli or what we jokingly referred to has horse carrots. I mean these carrot were cut into disks that were thick and substantial. Who really wants to have to use a steak knife on a carrot. Reminded us of a school cafeteria carrot from 5th grade. On the picky side, the wine list was weak, northing that made you really want it, from the low to the high priced. Au revoir Petit Robert!
(1)Jeffrey H.
Quite possibly the best value in Boston for a lunch date. I visited Petit Robert on a lovely afternoon with fellow Yelper Deepa C. The weather was just getting warm (the kind of day that you'd consider freezing in August but for some reason in April you're sweating like a republican at a gay pride parade). All that being said, we decided to enjoy our weekend lunch date outside on their sidewalk patio on Columbus Ave. Glorious. The menu has a variety of options in an affordable price range. Keep it simple or take it up a notch - whatever you're feeling when it comes to eating and spending, they've got you covered. I ordered the Chicken Crepe Basquaise whilst my date decided on a quiche. To start we were served a delicious warm bread loaf as well as the soup of the day (It was some carrot and tomato or something concoction - to be honest I was too busy inhaling the soup to remember the name). Our entrees were delicious, although I envied Deepa since not only is she a married woman, but she had a delicious quiche to boot. Not that my crepe was bad, but I wish I was in her shoes that afternoon. Despite my full belly (that's French for "belly"), Deepa insisted she take my profiterole virginity. We ordered the giant dessert fittingly titled, "One Giant Profiterole." The thought of the ice cream in the center of the profiterole topped with oozing warm hot fudge is enough for me to take some PTO right now and head down to the bistro for another taste. The service was impeccable from start to finish and the atmosphere was so relaxing - I just loved sitting outside and watching all the happy Bostonians skip about soaking up the sunshine...even the woman who stopped us on the street to tell us about Armageddon had a smile (not kidding). The bill came and good lord was it cheap. Complimentary bread, drinks, soup, entree, and a shared dessert was roughly $20 a person including tip. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? Since I'm single, unlike Deepa, I'm going to keep this place in mind for the next time I have a date and want to look like a hot shot. The boy will order up all this great food and when the bill comes, Mr. Suave (Jeffrey H) will be all, "Oh, allow me." *swoon goes the boy* But little does he know that he'll be breaking the bank when it's time for marriage and my hag Amanda drags him over to Tiffany at Copley Place to get the ring I've already selected. P.S. - Apparently some Yelpers (Deepa, Sasha, and Yi-Hwa) decided to venture to the bistro not too long ago without me. While they were there, Mr. Rob Lowe himself (aka, my fake boyfriend from "Brothers & Sisters", Sunday nights on ABC) was enjoying a lunch there as well at the table next to them. Keeping in mind that I live down the street and was never telephoned about either the Bistro lunch or Rob Lowe, well, some tears were shed.
(5)Lisa S.
Delicious - I was here for dinner last weekend and had the garden salad with the panko crusted goat cheese - it was divine. I think I can eat a plate full of panko crusted goat cheese balls :) In addition I ordered the scallops and the frites.....also very delicious. The other members of my party ordered the flank steak which wasn't up to par that night, however, I know that they come here all the time and keep coming back. We sat at the bar and Bruno, the bartender, took our order. He was fantastic and makes delicious cocktails to boot. I highly recommend this cozy bistro if you are visiting the south end of Boston.
(4)Kenny L.
Place to gather with close friends #1 Thanks to Yihwa and Ligaya, the two lovely ladies of Yelp, and Trish...okay, okay THREE for taking me to have my ultimate favorite French restaurant outside of France! Special kudos to Trish for setting all the reservation up. Selections of the night: Yihwa: Grilled Skirt Steak~Frites, Choice of Bordelaise, Béarnaise or Poivre Sauce Me: Pan-seared tilapia with shallot rum sauce Ligaya: Cape Cod Blue Fish, Fresh Corn Cream Sauce (very popular according to Yihwa and can sell out quickly) Trish the Main Dish: Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles Dessert: Warm Apple Tarte Tatin, Créme Fraîche and British cake with vanilla ice cream on top and caramelized bananas shared among four of us. Party of four plus wine and cocktails came out to be around $140, with everyone splitting between $46 and $40. The service is great as well as usual. One was even fascinated with my SLR Nikon camera. Worth. Every. Bite.
(5)Zachary W.
I am a repeat customer of Petit Robert. This is very good French cuisine and the price is right. The service is great, as is the atmosphere. Perfect place for a date or a dinner meeting. I recommend the steak frites, coq au vin, and the escargot. Their wine and beer menu is very comprehensive and the waiters are very knowledgeable. For dessert, I'd recommend ordering either the profiteroles or the tart. Both are appropriately rich and enough to share between two.
(5)Liz T.
My friend and I had dinner at this quaint, bustling restaurant. There was a 45-minute wait on a Friday night, but there's a bar area where you have a glass of wine or 3. We started with the Six Escargots Bourguinons ($7.75). I know escargot is commonly served with mushrooms, but all I could taste were the mushrooms--I really think the kitchen forgot to throw in the snails. Since I was in a good mood, I let this slide. My friend had the Chicken Coq au Vin with Buttered Noodles ($15.75). Chicken and noodles at a French restaurant are just boring to me, but she thought they were good. I think she was scared after she had asked our waiter what boudin noire is (which was in the dish she was going to order)--when he informed her it was pig's blood she lost her all guts. I had the Petit Calf's Liver Sauteed with Caramelized Onion and Bacon ($14.50). Unfortunately, there was no bacon--you can imagine how sad I was as my nickname is BLT (bacon Liz Tran--haha). The cook tried to make up for it by giving me a bigger than average liver. Oh, joy. The liver was pretty good actually--nowhere near a filet mignon but I ate all of it. I called my dad in Hawaii to tell him I had liver afterward and he basically responded, "You're so stupid. You ate the filter of a cow's bloodstream!" I was an Econ/Poli Sci major, what did he expect? Dessert is the real reason for the 4 stars. My friend and I shared the White Chocolate Bread Pudding. It was out of the ballpark and dare I say, the best bread pudding I've ever consumed in my life. I could've eaten 3 of them by myself if there were no consequences in the waistline. I like that this bistro actually has bistro prices (under $20 entrees). I'll be back here when in Boston again.
(4)James T.
I felt as though I was waiting for either the most perfect or most horrifying dining experience before committing to my first ever Yelp review. Congratulations, Petit Robert, you're DEFINITELY the winner. I had heard good things about Petit Robert for a while, so tonight I decided to give it a try. We were whisked through the kitchen (lovely gimmick), presented with at least two audible "bonjours" from the bus boys, and found ourselves in a busy-yet-quaint dining room. I'd say the French Bistro theme was humming along nicely. My attention was soon (very soon) drawn to the haughty gentleman and his female companion at the next table. Apparently, the soup that the man was presented with (the soup du jour) was not satisfactory. When the waiter arrived, the man paused, gave the waiter a look (the kind of look admissions officers must flash to students while preparing to say: "I'm sorry, young man, but you're just not Yale material"), then informed him that, "It just wasn't what I expected." The discerning patron then proceeded to hold up the soup in eager anticipation of the waiter hurrying it back to the kitchen. Oh. My. God. I had never had the pleasure of seeing someone reject food at a restaurant in such a disinterested-yet-obviously-douchey manner. Anyway, after that display, I decided I had to: 1) Find out what the soup du jour was; 2) order it immediately; and D) consume it with great enthusiasm. It turns out that the soup du jour was a broccoli and pear cream soup, served slightly chilled ($5). The soup was a triumph; the crisp, slightly tart pear flavor perfectly supported the creamy broccoli background. And, despite being cream based, was a light, refreshing dish on an oppressively humid summer evening. I ordered the steak frites with bearnaise sauce ($19). The steak was ordered medium-rare and came out perfectly cooked--the outside was seared and the middle was a light-purple color. The matchstick fries were aptly salted, but the bearnaise sauce tied the two together perfectly. It had a sharp aroma of lightly sautéed shallots with a tangy lemon follow-up. In short, this dish was a home run. My companion ordered the panko-crusted pork loin with caper butter and mashed potatoes. This was another hit. She remarked that it tasted like a pork piccata. The service was attentive if not a little overwhelmed, as the dining room appeared to be full. Our waiter was very laid back and pleasant, an impressive feat considering the behavior of our neighbor. Petit Robert exceeded all of my expectations (except for the quality of my fellow diners... yikes) and I would definitely like to go back sometime soon.
(5)Gonzalo B.
Sat at the sidewalk 'patio' tables for a late lunch while doing some errands. Have noticed lots of comments here about the service and have to say, our waiter - don't recall his name but he is from Texas - was good, attentive, and nice. We wondered about different beers and he brought us some samples to try...that was the thing to do. They send out a small basket of warm rolls with some good butter. We had some mussels which were just ok, nothin' special. when you want to dip your bread or spoon up some of the sauce is what I look for with mussels, this didn't warrent it. The smoked salmon sandwich was also just...ok. Comes on a croissant, would be better on a baguette, dry, needs some sauce...fries on the side...80% were left when the plate was taken, that says it about the fries. We tried the potate croquettes for a side and they were, well...just okay. Bland. They need some seasoning and some melted cheese inside like they do 'em at Galleria Umberto would be the way.Fine, big pours on the drafts, warm rolls, good waiter...just okay, mostly, on the food. Bob, Lil' Bobby, ramp it up.
(3)Sarah T.
We went for a nice meal on a wintry evening in January (I am a little behind on my write-ups - oops) with another couple (read their write-up under Jason B.). It was a lovely atmosphere - very cozy and warm. Loved it! The snow was blowing by sideways, but you forgot about the weather when inside the bistro. My husband and his friend ordered the warm mulled wine. They both loved it and appreciated the flavors. I had a lovely glass of red to begin the evening meal, and my friend had a glass of white. Three of the four of us tried calf brains for the first time. To be honest, my husband and a friend split the calf brain appetizer, and I had a nano-bite to say that I had tried them. The flavor was really good, but very rich. Crispy on the outside and smooth and creamy on the inside. I was surprised at the great flavor but didn't have more due to the psychological battle ongoing in my mind as to whether brains are food - or should be food. I started the meal with Soupe a l'Onion Gratinee. It warmed me up but wasn't the best French onion soup that I have had. It was missing the depth of flavor that some others have had - for example, they make a fabulous French Onion soup at the Danversport Yacht Club. I then had a salad with romaine heart and Roquefort. I recall that the shallot vinaigrette was good and lots of flavor; however, for a better vinaigrette, try either Union Bar & Grill in the South End (so savory) or a fabulous citrus vinaigrette at Columbus Cafe. My husband had the oysters on the half shell. He stated that they were very good, but a little pricey. He prefers the more creative oyster offerings at the Meritage. For my entree, I ordered the Coq au Vin with Butter Noodles. This was fabulous and the best Coq au Vin I have had in the States. So flavorful and tender and rich! It simply melts in your mouth. And the butter noodles are the best pairing for it - EVER! We ended the evening with dessert and tried the Crepe Suzette. It was executed wonderfully - but the flavor wasn't fabulous. It almost tasted as though the orange flavor was fabricated (i.e., not from natural oranges/tangerines). Overall, the atmosphere and the Coq au Vin earn Le Petit Bistro four stars. Without those two reasons, I would only give this bistro 3 stars.
(4)David L.
So, my sister, Phoebe L.'s, first Yelp post was on Petit Robert almost a year ago. I largely concur with her evaluation. PRB is my favorite French restaurant in Boston. Authentic French dishes at very reasonable prices. And I loved them even more after they started taking reservations a while ago! Plus, the most important reason why I love them so much, is my most successful date happened here! If I want to impress out of towners, I generally bring them here. The food is good enough to hugely impress even the New Yorkers. If you are trying to decide on South End versus Kenmore, I would say South End for larger groups and Kenmore for more romantic dates. My favorite dishes: calf's liver, brain, and the dessert with the Eiffel Tower. If you aren't as daring, the short ribs are always great, the coq au vin fantastic (better than the many I've had in France), and the duck confit is to die for. If it the weekend, make sure you get reservations. Waiting in the cold sucks!! PS: the park behind the church next to the South End PRB is the most magically place to steal a kiss.
(5)Erwin F.
I only went to this restaurant because my GF and I had BWM voucher for it. First - The Service The waitstaff were attentive and helpful. The food came out pretty quick and our waiter checked in on us to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. Second - The Food The food was disappointing. The food wasn't bad or anything, but it did lack flavor. After the first few bites, our excitement dropped. My GF's fish was bland and my duck was overcooked. The vegetable sides were forgettable as was pretty much the entire meal. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the food. If all meals there are similar in flavor and taste as the meals we had, I would not return.
(2)Rebecca S.
I'd heard great things about Petit Robert, so when we were contemplating our pre-theater dinner options I was happy to finally get a chance to give them a try. There are two locations, this review is for the (original) Columbus Ave. branch. Overall we were unimpressed. Restaurant week, so we each got the prix-fixe menu. Mine featured onion soup (fine), duck confit with shredded veggies (dry duck, so-so overall), and peach melba for dessert featuring peach at the bottom that I'm pretty sure was canned. The restaurant was half-empty, it was early in the evening (pre-theater) so the somewhat slip-shod quality of our entrees was surprising. In New York there's a small chain of French bistros scattered around Manhattan called "French Roast" -- open 24/7, serving decent French standards around the clock. Busy, noisy places that you're not expecting to be *superb.* Their food is better than Petit Robert's, showing that it's possible to run a chain of bistros that get the job done. But not at Petit Robert.
(2)Anna C.
I've had three meals here, always hopeful that the food will improve. But it doesn't. The ingredients seem to be of poor quality. Portions are not especially generous. Go here only for a drink at the bar; the ambiance is nice.
(2)Robert D.
Romantic and lovely. Can be a little loud when busy. I suggest make a later reservation for a quiet romanic evening. Staff could be better educated on wine and food was very good
(4)Xena W.
My friend and I went to this location on a Monday night around 9:45 PM after a performance at the BSO. Even though we were the only customers and it was a Monday night where most places close early, the good waitstaff at Petit Robert kept the place open for us and took excellent care us till a little past midnight. At no point did they make us feel rushed and they were most attentive the whole evening. The food was delicious and we enjoyed a three course meal and nice wine and had a lovely time and enjoyed all the jazz and tango tunes being played throughout the evening. I will gladly return and bring friends over. Customer service like that is rare these days.
(4)Peter V.
Expensive meal. My ribs were okay.... Not great, not bad. Everything else with our meal was average... Everything was average but the price.
(3)Jochen D.
Finally a place that can be considered French and not AmericanFrench, like for example Gaslight. We really enjoyed our romantic night out. the Fois gras was very good and also the pork chop. Great Bistro experience. maybe service was a bit so so.
(4)J. Lynn T.
Delicious food and quaint little bistro space. Entering the establishment, you see a small space and just as quickly, my guest and I were lead past the kitchen and into a separate dining room. I recommend the jambon de bayonne which comes with a great hearts of palm salad, the escargots are YUM! and the salad with panko crusted goat cheese, SO good! The beef short rib was hearty, everything was overall great! A few faults though, they really ought to have more than 1 co-ed bathroom and their servers could be more attentive, it felt as though we had to wait forever for our bill.
(4)David D.
Ugh. WHY was my lunch cheaper at Petit Robert than a combo meal at Burger King? It's always dead in here in the early afternoon, and I've never had to wait for a seat. I had to walk 5 blocks from my office, but it's worth it, and my co-workers can't see me drinking on my lunch break to help hold in the tears. :'( Our server didn't give us bread, but it's OK, and I think he's on Grindr... so that works. Ok, I have a haircut appointment in 10 minz. Bye.
(4)Rafael R.
Relaxed, casual and simple French bistro in the South End neighborhood of Boston. Friendly service and reasonable prices, but not enough to really have me return, when there are so many other restos in the neightborhood.
(3)J L.
Down to 1 star, but thats all they deserve this time. Although I was greeted warmly and seated promptly, the service and food were horrible on this visit. The waiter took forever to come over to take my order. I liked their pate trio and it was good as usual; a nice portion for two but should be served room temperature to bring out the flavor and it wasn't.. The bread was soft and not crusty, it could have used a few more minutes in the oven. I made the mistake of ordering the breaded pork recommended by the waiter; after a very long wait (and it wasn't that busy) it arrived and was just terrible: swimming in oil and topped with a huge pile of salty capers and cornichons, it was overcooked and as tough as leather. A real cheap cut of pork with a lot of fat. Then it was served with literally two tablespoons of mashed potatoes, which tasted good but were swimming in oil and it was truly a very small portion. All this next to a sloppy mess of vegetables. I would have sent it back but the waiter never came by to ask how my meal was so I disected all the fat and ate some of it. This after draining all the oil. The waiter told the manager but he or she did not come over to offer an appology or any kind of gesture. Not going back anytime soon.
(1)Binh L.
Alright, I have gone to the Commonwealth one so I had to come here to see how this compares. I came here for brunch though. The eggs benedict were nice. Beautifully plated, but came with fries? Really? I know you're a french restaurant, but I don't want french fries. I want home fries. Anyway, the eggs were good, but it seems to lack that punch. Think the sauce isn't too extraordinary. Really greasy, but not in the entirely delicious way. I got the smoked salmon one and I could barely taste the salmon. Except for the disgusting burps of salmon.. many hours later? Gross over-share (what of it?).. Oh and my friend had the chicken crepe which apparently was delicious enough for her to clean the plate. Also had a side order of bacon. Gosh, this might be the most delicious bacon I've had in Boston (second would be Ryle's). Perfectly crisp, and not a disintegrating kind of crisp. Just perfect. I ate way too much bacon, and it felt awesome (well, at the moment). So pretty quaint, Petit. I'd totally give you a second date. Dinner sometime?
(4)Kelsey C.
The décor inside has the simple elegance of French countryside and we got a table by the window. I would look inside and have flashbacks of France and then I'd look outside and suddenly be in Boston again. It was like a bewildering nostalgia. Speaking of nostalgia, the bread is the closest I've had to French baguette since...well...France. As for the food, HUGE portions! I had the trio of homemade pates as an appetizer and that seriously could have been my entire meal. The pate was delicious. I liked the chicken liver pate least because it tasted a bit salty/fishy but loved the other two. My friend and I split the rack of lamb. The sauce went well with the lamb but was a bit salty and I would have liked a little less of it on the ratatouille but I'm just not that into sauces - I'll use maybe a tablespoon of ketchup for an entire order of fries. We split the dish but each half was easily a whole meal! The menu is extensive with a wide variety of ingredients. This restaurant offers everything from coq-au-vin to skirt steak to venison, an impressive range for a small bistro. There is something so simple and pretty and polished about this place. I would come again...and probably order just as much.
(4)S. M. S.
Signs of a failing French bistro: French fries cooked in week-old, putrefied oil, day-old lettuce hacked into ugly chunks, watered-down salad dressing, portions half the size of what they've been for the 4 years we've been eating here. Arevois Little Bobby...
(1)Gabriele D.
I would recommend this place because it's the best French food you can get for this price in Boston. The restaurant is rather elegant and cozy, the cocktails are good. Don't expect very creative dishes, the strength of this place is that it's traditional. In other words it's a bistro in the French sense! I don't think it's possible to be disappointed. BTW it's also a great place for a quick lunch, with a delicious selection of sandwiches (their own "burgerdog" is amazing).
(4)Laurinda U.
I had dinner with my sister for the first time on Saturday night. I was definitely under impressed. For our appetizer, we ordered the duck and kimchee sushi roll (~$12). It was absolutely terrible. The rice was cold and hard. You couldn't taste the duck and the kimchee tasted like bland cabbage. This dish was an epic fail. My sister ordered the rack of lamb (~$20 and came with a small baked potato and steamed broccoli) and I ordered the venison (~$20 and came with whipped potatoes and steamed broccoli and carrots). I think it says a lot when the side of whipped potatoes outperformed the entire meal. The whipped potatoes were delicious, but the venison with blueberry sauce was just meh. My sister's lamb was yummy but was pretty much lamb lollipops that I could get anywhere. This place also loses a star because of the lackadasical service. The server came by to take the empty bread basket and when we asked for another one, it sadly never came. Sadly because the bread was better than my entree (see above). Also our water glasses were never refilled, not until the end when we decided to leave anyways. Although we didn't stay for dessert, our neighbors did and it looked like maybe dessert is where this bistro shines. Overall - overpriced and underwhelmed. Do not recommend.
(2)Jessica V.
This used to be our weekly haunt, but about two years ago the food got a little inconsistent. Still a fun place for brunch or if you're a local person not wanting to go to far for an okay meal.
(3)Ming C.
This restaurant single-handedly helped change my review technique of every restaurant I will ever eat at. My first experience with Petit Robert on a chilly Friday night almost two years ago was atrocious. From what I allow myself to remember, we were seated all the way by the window of the back room, waited almost 45 minutes for any food to arrive, and never saw one single water refill during the entire dinner. I was parched! I believe whatever my bf had was also undercooked and mine tasted oily. Needless to say we didn't think we would be back. But back we came as the bf was craving french and the location on Columbus was only two blocks from our apartment. And I am so incredibly glad that we did because all the dozen + times we have been there since have been incredible. I have so many favorite dishes - in the colder months, the seared fois-gras totally hits the spot. The roast chicken is melt-in-your-mouth tender and just tastes the way i always imagined Julia Child would have cooked it for her favorite dinner party friends. My bf loves the duck confit and creamy pates. The other positive about this place is that their brunch is so affordable and filling! For a sardine baguette, fries and a side salad, it only sets you back around $7. The decor and ambiance is also one of the reasons we made Petit Robert one of our go-to Boston restaurants. Whenever we start reminiscing about "that little tucked-away treasure in Paris", we stroll over to this place, sip our wine, and live it all over again. Please give it a go if you've never tried it before or came once and was not that impressed. I no longer live in Boston now but I will surely miss my Paris away from Paris!
(5)Ginny K.
Disappointing. I just wanted a good soup and salad. House salad delicious with the goat cheese. Very lemony. The lobster bisque however, was watery and lacking anything special! Very disappointing! Oh, and the bread and butter were simply delish...esp for those of us who use bread as a vehicle for butter.
(2)Nancy Z.
Affordable French food in Boston? Thank you Robert. 3 different types of yummy pate's for $7? Heh... you're starting to make me blush. A waiter that looks like a HOTTER version of Johnny Depp? Yes. You can put my name on the dinner reservation list for tonight. The food at Petit's has always been great every time I've ordered. The pates, the pastas, the skirt steak with that delicious lobster cream sauce on it... whoa. I definitely recommend this place.
(4)Cami F.
Tucked just a few blocks away from Dartmouth street/the prudential- this little french restaurant is perfect for a summer evening dinner. The outside seating faces a beautiful church and tree lined street. The food is great, especially loved the scallops, and the servers are incredibly friendly. I was slightly disappointed by their brunch, but their dinner is worth returning for!
(3)Cat M.
I am French I grew up with French cuisine I am also a vegetarian So there was a lot of asparagus The French still don't understand vegetarianism, and Petit Robert has exactly un plat sans viande. I'll save you the excitement of reading the menu and just tell you that it's penne with mushrooms in a buttery herb sauce. It tasted exactly like what you'd make in 20 minutes at home with stuff you grabbed at Shaw's on your commute. My mother said the coq au vin was good. I hoped that dessert would be more interesting, so I ordered the profiteroles, expecting warm fluffy biscuity things filled with richly perfumed vanilla ice cream and a divine ganache. Again, what I received tasted very store-bought -- dare I say the sauce was Hershey's? Our waiter kept changing so they had no idea who had ordered what and when the last person had checked on us so it was rather intrusive. Finally, they do online reservations through OpenTable (yay!) but don't give you points (boo!).
(2)denis s.
Scale 1 = poor, 5 = outstanding CUSTOMER SERVICE: 2. Our waiter read us 3 specials, but we found out after we ordered about a 4th special by seeing the specials chalkboard. Then our waitress dropped the app plates on my wife when clearing them (partly due to how cramped it is - see Ambiance section). Also our water and wine glasses sat empty for long stretches with no offer. When one dessert was cold they did insist on bringing another which was nice, but as you'll see in the Food section, it was also cold. FOOD: 3 My wife got the cod and thought it was perfectly cooked, but you have no substitutions on sides and only know that you are getting a veggy and a starch - and those were way garlicky and not that great. I got the short ribs and thought it was good but not great. The macaroons were great, but the apple crisp was between cold and lukewarm. When we mentioned that they took it back and 10 minutes later another came - it was even colder. AMBIANCE: 2. Very very cramped. Some places get away with cramped (Oleana, etc). This place doesn't. Your neighbors have to slide by your table to get in and out of theirs - and slide so close their butts drag on your table. And the table legs are so big that you are forced to awkwardly place your feet on the base of the table instead of the floor. VALUE: 3. Portions were generous and it wasn't a bank-breaking dinner.
(2)Molly R.
This was delicious! Reasonably priced for the quality and real French food. Very good. Loved it, and would definitely recommend it!
(4)David B.
Second time here, again as a pre theatre dinner. The difference is that we can now say we've been to Parisian bistros (was in Paris for the first time the summer of '09). Petite Robert captures the vibe of a Parisian bistro but some of the food we sampled on this trip was different from the "real" thing. The beet salad and slow cooked chicken in wine sauce were delicious and spot on. I was disappointing in the mussels. They did not offer pommes frite (or bring more bread) for the sauce. The sauce that cam with the mussels was also on the sparse side. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable evening out and an easy walk to the Huntington Theatre.
(3)Emily B.
I love this place. Back in high school, my french class walked to the one in Kenmore and we all had a great lunch. The atmosphere is tidy and comfortable. The music is light and easy to talk over. The food is great and I get to order in French. Prices are highish, but it's an upscale place so that's expected. Though I've never gotten anything but the French onion soup and creme brulee here, I still really like Petite Robert a lot.
(5)Calli C.
Maybe it was the company, but this numbered among my top five meals in my life. We entered this refuge on a rainy night to a cheery "Bonsoir!" I swooned a little at the sound of all the French accents. Reservations I believe are recommended, as it's not a very large restaurant but it did not feel crowded in the least. The waitstaff was if anything overattentive, coming back several times to see if we were ready to order or if we were done with our plates. As we were often too caught up in talking to get to those things, they were unfailingly patient with our multiple-hour-long meal. The food was "un plaisir délicieux:" a few glasses of Sancerre, lobster macaroni and cheese which was unlike any I'd ever had before, duck confit with sausage and cabbage was prepared and flavored to a T, and panko-crusted pork loin with capers which was so moist and tender. And yet we still managed to make room for the chocolate souffle, which was quite literally and figuratively the icing on the cake to a perfect dining experience.
(5)Gerardo A.
This is my second time at Robert Petite Bristo. Just as our first time, this was an exceptional dining experience. Our server was very attentive and never rushed us to order. The menu selection is your traditional French Bristo options but each has a chef's touch that sets them apart. This restaurant is a great option for the money. Quality is superb and service is awesome.
(5)Erin P.
Went here with a group of 6. The restaurant was slow when we sat down at 8pm but began to get busier. I was dissatisfied with the waiter service. The manager came around to ask how everything was but we hardly saw our waiter. I had the scallops and pear martini which were excellent.
(2)Neill K.
Love the covered outdoor seating...even when it's raining! The food is always more than tasty and the service is friendly. I highly recommend brunch, if you're lucky they will have a small trio playing some tunes for you.
(5)Clare F.
I have been here three or four times in the past six months and have consistently had good food, drink, and service. Cozy in the winter and with enough outdoor seating for spring summer. The staff greet you in french with correct pronunciation. I've spent enough time in France to know that the decor and setup are authentic. For good french food, you cannot beat Petit Robert's prices. Any other South End french restaurant would force you to spend a good 25% or more for the same thing. I have found a few favorite dishes there and have not strayed. I love the salad with panko-crusted goat cheese. Goat cheese is good on anything, but especially on mixed greens with a light dressing. Instead of a main dish, I get the potatoes au grautin, which come out piping hot and are very filling. The drinks are very good - we have ordered Old Fashioneds, Kirs, and Mojitoes (yes, in the middle of January, can't blame a girl for wishful thinking!) I am always impressed by a staff that remembers large party orders... I came with a group of seven and a group of five and nothing was misplaced. In fact, the waitress remembered our party four months later AND what we ordered.
(4)Jennifer M.
Went here for the first time last night with my boyfriend for date night. While nothing was awful, and I debated giving a 3 overall, I'm bumping this down to a 2 as my main dish was one of the more disapointing factors. (If I could give half stars I would probably have given a 2.5.) Started with a round of drinks. I ordered one of the special "Petit" drinks, of which there are two on the menu. The waitress ended up brining the wrong one, but I didn't say anything because it was actually quite good. (Simple idea, mix champagne, gin, and lemon.) Bread was pretty delicious and the French Pinot Noir I ordered was good suggestion from the waitress. For dinner, I ordered the beef short rib. There were three pieces and one was overdone. I didn't need to eat it all, but had I wanted more, I wouldn't have been able to eat the third piece. The sauce was also really just OK. Not something I would suggest or order again, but I ate most of it. Brussel sprouts were ordered on the side and those were good. We also ordered the chocolate cake with leaning tower of pizza creation as pictured on their website, which looked pretty cool and was average. Apart from the food, this place fell vicim to the changing seasons, where it was just too hot inside. This in combination to being a crowded place where you are generally right on top of the table next to you led to a little bit of an uncomfortable experience. Not that it's the restaurants fault, but there were also some very loud individuals right next to us, just making it feel that much more crowded. We wanted to get some coffee and after dinner drinks but couldn't stay there any longer as it was hot and we couldn't hear one another.
(2)Anders R.
Meh. Terrible rack of lamb. I think the cap came off the salt shaker when the chef was seasoning. Soggy and boring vegetables. Wine list was off in vintage by two years compared to what was brought. Creme brûlée was good, although it was only a 3.5 out of 5. Service was fast and friendly. In Summary, AVOID and go to gaslight instead.
(2)Tracy C.
I've been to PRB many times and decided to write a review for the South End location because I think it's the better of the two. This is not to say the Kenmore site is bad, it's just I've had better experiences in South End. I love how the restaurant is classy but casual, the food is authentic French priced fairly (all entree under $20), and the bread, the service and the drinks just make such a wonderful dining experience. I also signed up for their newsletter and I love reading/ watching recipe demonstrations, see what Chef Robert has to say (usually very entertaining). The atmosphere surrounding this establishment is so French yet so friendly like a true neighborhood bistro. Favorite things to get there includes the escargot, pate trio, lobster bisque and smoked herring warm potato salad for appetizer. For entree I really like the Frog Leg Provencale, Bluefish, Rack of Lamb and the skirt steak~frites. As for dessert, I love the souffle... irresistible.
(5)laura e.
Went for brunch. The bread is great. Wonderful quiche with salad and frites! The only disappointment was the slow service and the croissants, which were sliced opened and toasted without our requesting them that way. They were dry and disappointing. We will come back to try dinner.
(3)shannon c.
I loved this place. I recently went with my boyfriend and his family. This is a great place to go for a well priced intimate meal. The food was excellent - the roast chicken was amazing. It was gourmet comfort food cooked to perfection. They brought out as much bread as we wanted and it was warm fresh and delish! Our servers were courteous and attentive and answered all of our questions. Oh! The portion sizes were perfect! They weren't too big, if they were I would have made myself sick because I would want to keep eating - but they also weren't too small like a lot of gourmet places. It was great. Their desserts are also worth it, so save room. The only criticism is that we were a party of six and we felt a little out of place, customers shooting us looks for being too loud. It's a tiny place so conversation really carried - we certainly weren't going nuts with the boyfriends parents and his uncles. Oh, also we were told they don't take reservations, but when we got there they asked us if we had one - what's the deal with that? Save this place for an affordable intimate night out.
(4)Busy L.
Had dinner here last night and was fantastic. Started off with mussels and fried calf brains. Should give it a try. Not that bad...Pan fried and a little crispy. Could've used a little more salt on the brains... Coq Au Vin and Beef Bourginon were tremendous. My son had the pork which he raved. Scallop dish was very good as well with a cream crab sauce. Ratatouille was great. Pomme Frites were OK. Have to order the souffle for desert. Well worth the 15 minutes wait. All in all a great place that I'd highly recommend.
(4)Caitlin C.
When fellow yelpers, Zach A. and Margaux A. came to town this weekend, they gave me the honor of selecting the restaurant. After much deliberation, I finally settled on Petit Robert. I had been once to the Comm Ave location in December of 2005 (wow that's a long time ago!), and I recall having been impressed with the meal. So, nearly 4 years later (one of which was spend spent living in France...miss it!), I made reservations for 6 for a Saturday evening. We had a to wait a few moments for them to clear off our table in the front room, but no matter. Most of the employees are French and super nice (our serveur was really sweet). The owner (well, I think she was the owner, or maybe manager) was also extremely cheerful and the mood of the restaurant reflected her pleasantness. We started out with beverages. I had the Kir, which is always my go-to aperitif. And as others have mentioned, their bread was fresh and very tasty! For an appetizer, I had the soup a l'oignon. Mmm, cheesy deliciousness. I decided on the panko encrusted pork loin for my main course and I also ordered a side of potatoes gratin dauphinoise to share with the table (I really like cheese). I had a nice glass of cote du rhone to wash it all down. The pork was really lovely and the panko ensured a satisfying crispiness. It was also enormous! Sadly, I could not fit it all in my belly. And that also meant that there was no room for dessert (which is my favorite part of the French meal). Oh well, next time I will come with a larger appetite for sure. Everyone else seemed pretty satisfied with their meals. Though, to be honest, I was so focused on mine that I can't quite remember what the others got. Everything was also extremely affordable (most the entrees were less than $20), especially when considering the quality and quantity of the food you get. Bottom Line: Petit Robert is THE best value for authentic French cuisine in Boston. Hopefully, the next time I go back it'll be before 2013!
(5)S M.
I've been here before and wasn't t very impressed, but on a visit earlier this week he food (lamb special) was very good. Our server was helpful and funny (instead of snide). Recommend checking them out.
(4)Jared C.
I use Yelp all the time but have been reticent to actually write a review. Well--I felt so strongly about Petit Robert, that I HAD to write a review on this place! First off, I can't believe how many people say good things about this restaurant. I had been waiting to try this establishment because of all the hype, not to mention that I love French food and believe to have a refined enough palate to detect what good French food is. I went with my sister who also had high expectations, and is a trained French cook, mind you, and I started with a bowl of Lobster Bisque. TERRIBLE! The broth was so thin I might as well have been slurping water. We then went on to the dishes--I asked what their best was, which was replied with the coq au vin. Now, I enjoy coq au vin, but I was surprised to hear that this would be their signature dish...it's kind of a simple dish to make. Well, strike two! The sauce vin sauce was OK, I'll admit, but the dish as a whole was incredibly boring. I mean, I'm no master with the pots and pans, but I could have whipped up something more flavorful! My sister had the bluefish, which she also thought was very boring, and was simply not impressed. For the side, we got Haricots Verts Amandine, which--surprise surprise--were boring! I think they simply took butter and melted it on the beans and threw in some almonds with no spice whatsoever Now, before I get to the dessert, I've got to say that the service was atrocious! My water was not refilled for at least a half hour, and the food came at a snail's pace. Well, the dessert. I was so disappointed by now, I decided I was just going to get the crème brule, thinking that there was no way this could go wrong. I was wrong! It came to me like it was torched the night before, and unevenly at that. It's a shame too, because the crème was very good, but felt very old. Needless to say, this was NOT a good experience and I will never recommend this restaurant to another person. I feel like there may be something wrong with me because of how many people enjoy this place!
(1)Trish F.
Wow.. people have been telling me to come here for 2 years. My old boss, who I think had impeccable taste, absolutely loved this place. Why didn't I come sooner? Oh wait.. probably because I would have gotten Petit Robert's routing number and had my job direct deposit my paycheck to them. Needless to say, I totally believe the hype. In celebration of Kenny (in general and his brief return to the east coast), a few of us went to Petit Robert. I tried to get a bigger reservation but was somewhat disappointed when I could only get it for a foursome. I later found out that there was either a wedding reception or a rehearsal dinner that night (the bride and groom had "laid back" wedding wear) so the tables near us were completely occupied. This place is smallish (you walk through the kitchen to get through to the dining room) but I still think this place is good for groups, just try and get in your reservations ASAP. I actually got there early (as per usual) and whilst waiting for my crew, I couldn't get over how nice everyone was. I don't know, I just always felt that Petit Robert was way way way classy. And it is.. but no one treats you any differently because you don't look like you fell out of a Benneton ad. I definitely appreciated that considering I think some restaurants in Boston are ageist (which sucks since I look like I'm 12). When my companions arrived, we ordered wine and cocktails and settled into the warm lighting and generally busy atmosphere. I had some wild strawberry concoction and it pleased both my need for a girly drink and my need for a "long-week-at-work-drink". For dinner, Ligaya and I shared a romaine/roquefort salad and for entrees we ordered the coq au vin (me), the steak frites (Yihwa), blue fish (Ligaya), and the tilapia special that day (Kenny). Oh HEAVEN! The chicken in my coq au vin fell right off the bone. It was ridiculously delicious.. and come to think about it.. I didn't share! Ligaya gave me some of her blue fish (so tasty.. this was my 2nd choice. I heard it sells out sometimes) and Yihwa let me taste her skirt steak (good except I like mine medium well).. but me and my coq au vin with buttered noodles.. we became soulmates that night. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,,, For dessert.. the pound cake (British?) was a bit hard for my liking but the apple tarte tatin was borderline illegal. The crust was incredibly soft and tasted fantastic.. I don't even want to know how many pounds of butter went into that thing. .. and all that food for a really reasonable price. I mean, I wouldn't go eating there all the time (routing number failure).. but I feel like it needs to be a monthly treat. Good for special occasions, dates, whatever. The atmosphere, the service, the food, the company.. I walked out of there thinking.. this is what 5 star service is like. But.. uh.. what's with the vibrating bathroom?
(5)Kristine M.
We liked the food (yummy mussels, mashed potatoes, bread pudding) , the ambiance was fun, and the restaurant was cozy but the service was really bad. REALLY BAD. We were there for almost 3 hours because the waiter was so slow. And it wasn't the food that took so long...we waited a very long time before the waiter even came to take our order, bring us the dessert menu, and bring us our check. He also made a mistake with my husband's coffee. He brought him the wrong thing, and then my husband returned it and asked for the correct item. It took about 15 minutes for the correct coffee to come. Then both the mistake coffee and ordered coffee were both on the bill, so when we had to tell the waiter...and it was another 15 minutes for us to get our fixed check!
(3)Lily L.
My friend and I decided to go to Petit Robert Bistro at 5PM for a super early dinner. Upon arriving, we see no one. We were greeted by no one. After 30 seconds, we see a dishwasher (?), we asked if we could be seated. He scrambles around and finds the maitre d. Since we arrived so early (but technically on time for our reservation), we were seated next to a window. A while into our dinner, the restaurant was getting populated. As we were working on our entree, my friend looks outside and notices that a man was trying to parallel park a HUGE truck into a tiny space. The driver proceeded to hit the bumper of the SUV parked in the rear about 2-3 times. My friend points this out to me. Friend: Look at that person trying to parallel park and hitting the car behind him. Hahaha... Me: Man, that sucks! Hahaha... Our laughter must have attracted some attention as we proceeded to describe this situation unfolding as the patron a table away shouts, "Oh my god. That's OUR CAR!!!" It was a father-son duo. Father (50s-60s being rather chill): Well, it's just the bumper. Look at that tiny spot. Son (20s): Yeah. I can parallel park with my eyes blindfolded if I bounce off the cars around me! Let's key the car! We know where it's parked!!! Moral of the story? Although there's off-street parking, you probably want to be safe and take the public transit or walk. Now onto the food. We came here for Restaurant Week but discovered that the regular entree is actually cheaper. So I ordered the coq au vin. I don't know what I was expecting, perhaps just braised chicken. I'll admit. This chicken had flesh that was just falling off the bone tender. It was dark purple, like what I'd expect a chicken that's been marinating/braised in red wine would look like. However, maybe I've had super inauthentic coq au vin, but the flavor of the chicken was just masked by the wine. I felt the meat tasted bitter. And I can taste fairly strong alcohol. Is this what authentic French coq au vin should taste like? I don't know. So I feel that in some ways, I shouldn't judge. But I'm REALLY not a fan of the strong, bitter taste of alcohol. So if that's not what you like, I'd advise you to stay away from this dish. My friend had the venison and seemed to enjoy it, and this is especially important as it affirmed his desires to go hunting for deer now. Service for the restaurant was alright. My water glass was empty for a good while. And the only refill of water I had was after the bill had come. All in all, an okay experience.
(3)Byron M.
The owners of Petit Robert Bistro have 3 of these around the Boston Area. Authentic french cuisine that is true to its roots at a cost that Why go to Fridays when you can go to PRB. I particularly like the short ribs when they have them and the roast chicken. Don't forget dessert. The apple pie tartin is amazing. Cheers!
(4)Abraham N.
Food is excellent, though the service was a bit slow. On a saturday night, no one took our order for about 15 mins, then it took another 20 for the food to arrive. A bit too buttery.
(3)Bryanne R.
Man, I love PRB. Love their food, their atmosphere, their drinks, their service, everything. My first time at the South End location was a couple weeks ago and it's a little more snug fitting than the one on Comm Ave, but just as wonderful. A+ Peach Sangria -- with a giant peach in it! When I come back to Boston, I try to work PRB into my plans.
(5)Ina C.
I agree with Jeffrey H. - The "express lunch" menu is a fantastic deal! I almost feel bad paying so little for such fantastic food! I came to PRB this afternoon to enjoy the unbelievable weather. There was plenty of outdoor seating, and the doors in the main dining room were open. My brother and I were too excited to notice that we entered the restaurant on the bar side and ended up forfeiting being seated at a nice table-clothed table, but whatever - It was still a great dining experience. :) A hostess with the type of French accent that you'd kill to have sat us down and gave us our menus. We were offered three menus: one regular menu, a smaller menu with express lunch items one side and brunch items on the other. Oh, the choices! While we waited for our food, water was poured and bread was brought. This bread was hot from the oven and tasted like heaven. Nothing fancy, just bread. But how did they make it so good? I decided on the frisee salad with fried poached egg with bacon, and a chicken crepe that came with the soup of the day, which was a deliciously creamy chilled asparagus and potato soup. The frisee salad was to die for! The frisee, drizzled with a light vinaigrette dressing, was topped with a poached egg that was ingeniously deep fried. "How in the world did they do this?" we wondered. The crepe was hearty and practically bursting with chicken, tomatoes, and other goodies, and was served with a side of roasted potato and broccoli. My brother ordered the tiger shrimp (from the regular menu, I think?), and it was delicious, though I think my choices beat his. :) He also ordered a beer (something-blanche?) which was really clean-tasting, light and had a little hint of banana at the end. Yum! $33 for our entire lunch! Everything at this restaurant was wonderful - the food, decor, service, value. I highly recommend Petit Robert Bistro, especially for a lunch date.
(5)Rebecca F.
Very tasty, simply said. The only problem is we used to walk in whenever we wanted to before they decided to start taking reservations and now they're almost always booked. Ah well, I guess I can't blame them. Some favorite dishes: Garden Salad w/ Panko Crusted Goat Cheese, Coq au Vin, Escalopes de Venison with Blueberries, and a bunch of other stuff from their previous menu (that's all I've tried of the current menu). Their soups always seem to be delicious. Also, I'm never a big fan of the bread & butter pre-meal deal, but theirs is always devoured in minutes after it arrives. Last, if you're a woman, the male waiters always flirt with you, which is a nice boost. ; ) Save room for dessert: They are to die for.
(4)John A.
There are many good things to say about Petit Robert Bistro but one thing that needs to be highlighted is that the great atmosphere and classy food at reasonable prices make this a good place for a date. Also, the waitstaff is super attentive and very good at explaining the somewhat complex menu (some of it is in French). I had the rabbit and my hottie accomplice had the sea scallops. Both were excellent. Petit Robert Bistro is a very small and cozy so I'd recommend making a reservation, especially on the weekend.
(4)Jenn T.
EDIT (5/2/09) I'm changing my review from a 5 star to a 2 star. I just got back from brunch from Petite Robert and I really couldn't be more disappointed. We were not offered their daily special today when, as far as I know, all the other parties that were seat AFTER us were told of today's special. Our bread NEVER came (although the waitress said the bread would be right out after bringing my coffee) until I asked about it when our entrees came out. I ordered my usual crispy poached eggs and it was DISGUSTING, both mine and my cousin's dish (we ordered the same thing). Their poached eggs have always been cooked runny. Today's eggs were 100% well done. Because I had ordered this dish so many times that I know this isn't "right" to the restaurant's standards, so I sent our dishes back. Sadly, chef's second try was still just as bad. Eggs were still VERY cooked. FIne, we ate it (or I tried to. I didn't finish my entree). Our coffees aren't refilled, water not refilled. After I asked for more coffee, it was still not refilled, although the waitress had walked by us after I asked her for more coffee, to just check on things. The restaurant wasn't even to full capacity, not even close, and they're unable to provide at least decent service? What happened to this place? I've never had this problem with this restaurant and I have ALWAYS recommended it whenever someone's looking for a place to eat in the South End. I will have to think twice about recommending this place now. Oh, and normally I'd give today's service and food a 1 star, but I'm hoping that this is just a "glitch' and the next time I give it a try it'll be back to normal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've been to this location several times but always for lunch and the food is always excellent. I've always tried different dishes and have always impressed me. My favorite so far is the crispy poached eggs. YUM... I love the decor, the outdoor seating when the weather's nice and the bill. It's definitely a very affordable place, great for a date. service may be a bit slow but the wait staff has always been very polite. I highly recommended this place.
(2)Sasha R.
It appears that I happen to be on a search of fabulous french restaurants - or SOMEthing, cause seems that's all I've been visiting, lately! Well I've heard rumors about Petit Robert - that it sucks, that's it's not real French, that it lacks ambiance. I OBJECT! Of all the places I've been, I think it's the most authentic, concentrating less on fake Parisian cafe decor, and more on food, thereby turning out to be most like a Parisian eatery... Small, noisy, bustling, tight seating, open windows: all these things are quite familiar. If you go on their website, they tell you what bistro and brasserie dining is supposed to be (cheap and informal) - and they uphold that in their menu. It's really no nonsense, no fru fru, just delicious traditional dishes, like Coq Au Vin, Pate, Steak Frite, and I had Calf's liver (um, deeeelicious!). A formidable wine list is present too, as well as a long list of desserts, the most popular being the giant profiteroles. Now, our night in particular was a) ruined by the fact that half way through I found out I was on call, and my pager was going off like mad, so I couldn't even enjoy myself. b) immediately redeemed by the fact that Rob Lowe (yes, Rob Lowe) was dining next to us with, what looked like, his mom. I'll SO be back.
(4)Marilyn T.
I've been to both the Comm Ave PRB and the one on Columbus, and I think I prefer the South End one. I've gone during lunch and actually prefer lunch selections more, as there's more creative variety. I've had interesting dishes like coffee soup, which was daring and innovative, though I don't know if I'd order it again. Other more memorable selections included salads with poached then fried egg. I don't recommend the vegetarian terrine - it's a very pretty dish with its multiple colors, but the flavors just don't stand out. Dinner is more French bistro style, with many classic French dishes like steak, roast chicken, mussels. I would be very happy dining here simply for bread and wine. The bread is the freshest and most amazing baguette I've had in Boston, and rumor is that the dough is trucked in from Montreal a couple times a week. It's soooo good warm, and it's the main reason I crave Petit Robert. It's decently priced for the South End, and the bread alone may just be motivation enough for me to go back.
(3)Ron U.
My visit to Petit Robert is the product of my Yelp search for 'liver' in the greater Boston area. I really just wanted the best liver dish I could find. Petit Robert Bistro delivered with the calf's liver. Also, great wine selection, service, and ambiance. Price is very affordable for the quality of food. Wait staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about the food. ** Update ** Tried the duck confit. Just as good if not better than the calf liver. Warm bread is served prior to the meal.
(5)Sarah M.
The ambiance of this restaurant hits you as soon as you walk through the door. It looks tiny when you first enter, but then you are escorted through a corner of the kitchen to another room, packed with tables giving it a true European bistro feel. The menu is truly a French Bistro. Half roasted chicken. Steak and frites. Mussels. Everything sounded sooooo good. And then people around us started ordering desserts. Holy cow. They are huge. My friend and I wound up splitting the chocolate moose, which was served in beer glass (but cooler shape, of course). I had the steak frite, which was a little different than I'd had at other places. It was a long skinny piece of skirt steak rather than hanger or a flat iron. It was still good. Perfectly cooked with a slight crust on the outside and tender middle. The fries were fresh and also really good., seasoned well and not to crispy nor soft. They were amazing in the steak juices. My friend got the roasted chicken, which was moist all the way through. The potatoes that came with it were a good texture and perfectly whipped. Its reasonably priced. We each got an entrée and split a dessert, no drinks, for about 26 bucks each (w/ tax and tip). It's on my 'to return to' list, but it might take a while to get there. I have quite a few other places to try first.
(4)Vanessa C.
my favorite spot for a nice meal on my lunch hour - perfect for lunch dates. I could just say CHEAP FRENCH FOOD and that would be sufficient for some, but I've eaten here so so many times that I really must elaborate. when I worked at NEU I would eat here about once a week. you can get GOOD DELICIOUS french food, something light or more substantial, a full lunch for under $10 !!! we're not talking fake stuff either, I mean fresh baked cruchy tender baguettes with pate, tapenade, sardines, anything you want! this bread is to die for. I love the burgerdog and they will warn you it takes time to cook, but its worth it! enjoy a glass of wine or a delicious latte while you wait - relax & listen to the great french music they always have playing. really the whole vibe is relaxed, understated, but crisp. everything is very clean and bright. overall it is one of my favorite spots in Boston - if you are afraid of french food this is a great unpretentious and comfortable place to start exploring. the service is spotty - ok I'll admit, the service is not so good in fact they get things wrong quite frequently. but I LIKE that, ok? why do I care if they hot french waiter screws up my order? HE'S HOT! AND FRENCH! I have never had room for desert here but I cant wait to come back and try some. I would also really like to try the dinner. if you are looking for a real french bistro that is comfortable and easy on the budget, look no further. just be patient with your waiters - they'll get it right eventually ;)
(4)John G.
Perfect for sitting outside, nursing a Sunday morning hangover over a croque with egg and cappuccino.
(4)noell b.
taken here by friends in boston i had to say i was totally impressed. the chicken coq au vin was not only super delicious, but came in a HUGE portion and served with really delicious buttered noodles on the side. my husband's boeuf bourguignon was equally delicious--and huge. we had a great table, excellent service, and the ambiance was great. i think, though, while it was really good (and having never been to france, i'm not sure how it holds up in authenticity) i feel like i can get better french-styled food in seattle.
(3)Chris F.
This is place is pure awesomeness. It's fancy and cheap. You can take friends, family, or hobos off the street in there. The food's surprisingly spectacular, and the cocktails are all good (especially the Vesper martini). The music in the bar is mostly French, and perhaps the oddest collection of pop songs you'll ever hear. The staff's pretty cool, and the bistro atmosphere is perfectomundo.
(5)Melissa F.
I've only dined here once and only in the South End. I went here for lunch and it was very quiet so we were able to get a cute little table outside on the patio [perfect for people watching!]. Since I'm a picky eater, I didn't get any of the food that I'm sure the restaurant is famous for, so I stuck to my default. A cheeseburger. Now, you might think who the heck orders a cheeseburger at a french bistro, well, your answer is me. I do. BUT, it was the coolest burger ever! I've never seen anything like it. It was a hamburger rolled up in the shape of a foot long hot dog!!! And it was inside a toasted sub roll with melted cheese. I wish I could post pictures of it, because yes I totally took a picture. It tasted delicious and it was the best thing I've ever seen!
(4)Restaurant L.
Despite the pretentious anti-customer service, "I speak French so I'm probably better than you," American waiter, Petit Robert is a delicious quaint spot. This was only my second time eating here, and to be honest I didn't love the chicken and crepe special, but the Mussels appetizer was full of flavor! My first visit a couple of years ago was spectacular, because just as the other yelpers claim, the chicken Coq au Vin is to die for. I think the waiter just needs a little lesson on how to treat the customer. Like, just recommend a cocktail to me, don't sit there with a blank stare like I should know what I want. Also, repeat the specials when I ask. Don't stand there and look at me like I'm an idiot, because I may have forgotten one. Actually, the first time we asked you about the specials, you had to go consult the chef. Shouldn't you have known them in the first place? Don't let this all stop you from going to Petit Robert, however. The location is quiet, because it's a bit separated from the other restaurants on Columbus Ave, and the patio faces a beautiful church.
(3)Nancy L.
I tend to judge a resturant by the bread. How can you not when it is the first thing that greets you once you sit down? And I am pleased to say that the bread/baguette at Petit Robert Bistro is AMAZING: delicious crunchy crust on the outside with a soft and warm center. Perfect for breaking apart with a dining companion and for the endless dipping into the soups. The best thing about them: they're FREE, well kinda :P If the bread is good then it set the bar high for the rest of the night because 1- you expect the other food to be just as delicious and 2- you might have stuffed yourself silly with the bread so if the entree entices you to keep eating, then the restaurant has done well. Well PRB didn't disappoint!!! The creamy lobster bisque was WONDERFUL: not your run of the mill chowder like creation that is overwhelmed by cream but a delicate bisque that sings of seafood flavors. I couldn't help dipping the bread into my companion's soup till he hovered over the bowl protectively. I had the beef short ribs and he had several types of different sausage ranging from black to white. The beef short ribs was incredibly homey and just what I needed on a cold winter night. I'm not a big sausage/hotdog person but the PRB's sausage has a wide range of taste that is very interesting. My companion liked it a lot. Since we were so full of bread, bread, soup, and entree we didn't get dessert but I definitely want to go back for it!
(5)Stephen B.
Coffee and potato soup? Excuse me? It's not potato soup with a cup of coffee - it's potato soup with coffee in it. ... ok? Aside from the ostentatious soup selection, this restaurant boasts that their beef hotdogs are "9 inches of pure heaven"... or something like that. My hotdog was more like "9 manhunt inches of burnt cow carcas," though it was still tasty. The overly peppery bloody mary I got helped my food go down that much more. Would be one star, but the waiter was hot.
(2)Andrew D.
I went here with a friend a while back for a drink and we decided to come back for brunch. The drink was good, a bit pricey but I really only needed the one. I like the atmosphere though walking through the kitchen to get to your table was a bit strange but I kind of liked that. At least I know the conditions of the preparation are clean. I had the eggs Benedict and I would say that it was probably one of the best I have had in Boston. It beats many restaurants and isn't too busy that you feel rushed. The price for lunch is reasonable but dinner seemed like it could get expensive and delicious. I would have given this place 4 stars for the loud mouth sitting next to us but I figured it wasn't their fault obnoxious people like French food. So if your really loud I wouldn't suggest eating here, you'll just ruin the atmosphere.
(5)Sean H.
Amazing! Friendly staff, cozy atmosphere, and savory food. Had rabbit for the first time... absolutely scrumshious! Looking forward to dining here again soon.
(5)Mike G.
menu of french standards nearly identical to Gaslight, but dishes at PR tastes a bit more authentic and is of better quality. plus in summer, outdoor patio dining on columbus ave 'est plus agréable'. but have to say Gaslight makes terrific salads and the parisian-styled venue more festive for a night out with friends. oh well, even in france, bistros are not created equal.
(3)Khiem T.
This is a wonderful restaurant. The dishes were fantastic, very lovely location and it has a nice large glass window overlooking the street. It was snowing and it was very cozy and romantic. Food-wise, I like the ingredients here, fresh and unique, very distinctive platings. I tried the venison and Chilean sea bass, both were well worth the price. My only complaint with this place is that it's really tight, tables were really closed together.
(4)Shang S.
We were charmed by our waitress' ability to speak French. I don't know why everyone is saying it doesn't take reservations, we made reservations for 2 on a Wednesday night. They must have had a new hire bringing out the food because he was constantly confused as to which dishes went with which table. Lobster bisque was really good for Boston, but not a lot of lobster. The bread was really, really heavenly, although I guiltily admit it reminds me of Bertucci's rolls. I got the Normandy pork sausages, which came with a delightful apple cream sauce. My boyfriend got the calf liver... which, unless you like the taste of liver, well, didn't go down quite so well. I liked the lift that the sauce gave to the liver, but we agreed we'd never get that again. Got the giant profiterole for dessert. Neither of us were a huge fan of the fudge, and most of the desserts at this restaurant rested on the heavy side. However, I do want to come back, I think that once the menu is picked correctly the experience is really good, given the value of the price and everything.
(3)Ayon J. R.
The menu is somewhat limited, but the food is great. And, so is the service.
(4)E C.
I was pleasantly surprised with my whole experience at Petit Robert after reading some of the reviews before going. Everything from the food to the service was great. I went on a Wednesday night around 8 with my boyfriend and we were seated right away. The atmosphere was romantic even though we were sitting pretty close to the people on either side of us. Someone came right over to fill our waters (and kept refilling them through the night) and our waiter, who was very friendly, came over soon after that. I started with the Soup du jour and my BF with a salad, both delish. Then we had the lamb chop and roast chicken. We were not disapointed. My only regreat is we were too full to try dessert.
(4)Alex B.
Cozy french bistro, perfect for a date or for a group of friends. Prices are very reasonable, and the staff were helpful. I found it funny that the entire staff were extremely french (lots of zis and zee's) but the main chef was an asian woman. No complaints here, the coq au vin was delicious. So far: my favorite french restaurant in the city.
(5)Arestia R.
I'm pretty sure it's hard to go wrong with this place. Great French food at an affordable price in a little bistro setting is good for any occasion. My friends and I went for my birthday to avoid a lot of fuss and had a wonderful time. Our service was a bit slow, but I didn't really care. The pate was fabulous, the cocktails were delicious and the food really hit the spot. I had traditional duck cocovin and it practically melted in my mouth. I'll definitely be back here.
(4)Jon L.
I am first to admit that I am not a millionaire and there are many things in this world I will not be able to experience, but I would still like to experience them. Petit Robert allows me to do this. They give really cool French dishes, things I am i have no idea about, and present them to you at a price that is affordable. The portions are not large, but that is the price you pay for having really cool products on your plate that would cost $40 somewhere else. Sometimes its better to have a small plate of something delicious than a large plate of something average, and Petit Robert understands this.
(4)Craig S.
Good French Onion soup. And it all ends there. Absolutely clueless service. Took them over 45 minutes to make a sandwich with brie...and the cheese wasn't even melted! We actually got up and left. To the manager's credit, at least she didn't charge us for the food we never got.
(1)Marisa W.
The Coq Au Vin is amazing! And the service is great. Friendly staff.
(5)Victoria G.
i LOVE everything i ate and drank here. the atmosphere was wonderful and romantic. i actually had thanksgiving lunch with friends and the food was incredible!!! the turkey was perfectly cooked as well as the potatoes and vegetables. the bread pudding dessert was divine. i'm definitely going back!! the boston comm ave petit robert is also equally delicious (the half chicken is my fave). it was so nice to have such a great thanksgiving lunch and the service was fantastic. some of the best food i've had in boston, yet.
(5)Deepa C.
I have been wanting to go here for ages, so when my father-in-law wanted to meet up and take us out to dinner (we dog sat back in Feb) I thought this would be ideal. Nice, but wouldn't break the bank. It was a huge hit with everyone. since they don't take reservations, we arrived at 6:30 (on a sat) and were seated almost immediately. the smallish dining room was full, but not packed. service was attentive and prompt and the atmosphere was impressive but not overwhelming. i like that you had to walk past the open kitchen to get from the bar area to the dining room; little things like that take away from pretension. my salad was simple, yet satisfying. my husband got the lobster bisque - good, but peppery, and my FIL had the escargot - which he seemed enjoy. main courses were scallops (simple, yet amazing, served with wilted spinach and garlic mashed potatoes) pork medallions (HUGE portions (my husband got through half...) with a great sauce), salmon steak with a basil tomato sauce (my FIL pratically licked his plate), and blue fish (which also went over very well). dessert was also incredible - giant profiteroles, apple tarts, angel food cake with fruit and chocolate mousse. the coffee was a little strong, nothing out of the ordinary. i will stop here, lest i gush too much. overall, it was a great meal. perfectly timed, good service, clean. the place was busting at the seams with we left, but we did not feel as though we were rushed out. the neighborhood is right up my alley - i love the south end. PRB is nestled in a row of brownstones across from a church, this would be a great place for an outdoor summer supper or brunch. i am def going back. ETA: So I have been here several times since this review. Nothing has changed my mind about the 5 stars. AND the last time I was there - Rob freaking Lowe sat next to us! Talk about icing on the proverbial profiterole!
(5)Eric Y.
Being on a business trip, I was lucky enough to have dined here w/ some co-workers. This tiny French bistro has been one of the best I've been to. The wait may be long, but well worth it. Just have a couple glasses of wine while you wait near the bar. The escargot are done just right and the baquettes will go even better with the leftover sauce. Coq au Vin, Boeuf Bourginon, pate, and foie gras are a few of the stand outs. If I'm ever back in the area, I'll be sure to dine here again.
(4)Jason M.
Great neighborhood French spot. Good selection of French and Belgian beers.
(5)Erik D.
Food quality is no longer consistent. Wine list is ok. Still a neighborhood staple but not what it used to be.
(3)Jackie C.
Cozy French restaurant with all the south end feel... cute and elegant but casual at the same time. The food is sort of home cooked french style... it is great. For dessert i had the chocolate chip cookies with milk,,, how it took me back!!! The waiters were very very friendly and kind... great service. Will definitely be back there soon!!
(5)Dominic Y.
My favorite restaurant in the Southend. Nothing beats the original location. My favorites are Grand mariner Souffle and beef bourguignon. Overheard some dude explaining salmon legs (another recommended entree) to his date, "No they do. That's how they dig the holes for their eggs." Someone get that guy another round of Milwaukee's best!
(5)Arthur E.
Very good meal in this great neighborhood restaurant.
(4)Phoebe L.
I make sure I drop by Petit Robert whenever I'm in Boston. The restaurant's service, price, and food are really deserving of 5 stars. I am a big fan of trio of pates and calf's liver...makes me wish I was in Boston right now. All my experiences have been so awesome that I feel inclined to write my first yelp review on PBR. I recommend making reservations for busier nights and try a few hors d'oeuvres (the prices allow you to do so). Now, I just have to plan my next trip!
(5)kevin g.
I ate at this restaurant for dinne this past week. I finished my meal around 10 o' clock and the restaurant had mostly cleared out. At that point, I noticed multiple mice scurrying back and forth under tables acoss the room. I didn't say anything at that point because I did not want to shock my date or cause a scene. We were there for another 15 minutes or so and there were at least two, possibly three, mice that were darting from table to table in the main dining room. On the way out, I asked to speak to a manager to alert them of the situation. When I told the manager what I had seen, her face got bright red and she admitted that they were aware of the problem. She said the building was being treated for mice but they had been unsuccessful so far and the mice were still present. I found this to be very disturbing and gross and was somewhat shocked that a high-end restuarant in the South End with the pedigree of PRB would stay open despite knowing they have a mice infestation problem. I would recommend opting for one of the many other fine dining choices in the South End rather than this restaurant.
(1)Meghan M.
Wow, why, oh why have I not tried this place sooner?? I've lived in South End for just about a year and my first venture to Petit Robert's was just yesterday. I am not even sure where to begin but I'm sure I'll figure it out as we go here... Drinks...FANTASTIC. Let me start by saying, I'm usually not a big mixed drink person. I definitely am not a big fan of sweet or fruity drinks. If I do end up with a mixed drink, it's likely going to be an extra dirty martini. I have to say, though, that I listened to the bartender last night and, lo and behold, had the best martini of my life. It was a rhubarb martini (the name is slipping me at the moment) with a rim of balsamic and sugar. Tangy, a tiny bit sweet...Just perfect! I had started with a bluberry martini which was made with fresh bluberry puree (don't spill it on yourself!) but that was a bit too thick and sweet for my taste. I also hear that their peach sangria is delicious. I'll have to try that next time I go. They also have some awesome French beers on tap including Kronenberg (my sister's personal favorite...I know where we're going next time she pays me a visit). For dinner, I split the salad (mixed greens) and steak frites with my dining partner and we were both very happy with the food. It is probably the closest thing to what I used to eat at the bistros in Paris that I've had in Boston. The portions were very large (it was perfect to split - they even split the portions on two different plates for us) and the prices were really inexpensive for the quality of food we enjoyed. Petit Robert's is, by far, my new favorite French bistro in all of Boston.
(5)Judy Heller K.
Our party of four had a delicious and reasonably priced dinner here in March. Our reservation was honored promptly and service was excellent. For beef lovers the short ribs are not to be missed! And the threesome pate appetizer was superlative. Only disappointment was our first two wine choices were not available. However, they let us sample several other choices until we found what we wanted. for an intimate and fine dining experience in the South End try Petit Robert Bistro.
(4)Kevin L.
Oh how I love Ze France:) So, I've lived above this place for 2 years now and have FINALLY ventured the WHOLE WAY downstairs and actually had more than a glass of wine and/or a cocktail... I shall review their brunch now: I cannot get over this brunch. 1st of all, there were 6 of us and it was UNDER $40 (mind you, we didn't have cocktails...but still!!!). PHENOM. It was just so good. I was really sad it was cold out b/c their outdoor space is quite nice and they have a new awning to boot! Dinner is fantastic, also...more crowded...but, I just love love love their brunch. Such a variety of breakfast and lunch food, and plenty of it. Quiches for all! ha. I actually didn't have the Quiche (I had a sardine panini thinger), but everyone loved what they got!!! MAGNIFIQUE!
(4)Hiherson D.
I believe this was the first restaurant that my wife and I tried when we moved to the South End area a few months back. It was a cute little place and the atmosphere was great. My wife and I went there for a dinner date. She had the Duck Confit and Grilled Sausage with Braised Cabbage and I had Chicken Coq au Vin with Butter Noodles. Both are highly recommended. The Chicken Coq au Vin was delicious. The chicken just fell of the bone and the sauce was heavenly. The portions were more than enough. I wasn't able to finish my place. My wife loved the Duck Confit so much that she ended up finishing hers.
(5)Mark W.
I took a walk to trader joe's on boylston today and decided to stop by petit robert for a quick "express lunch". This place gives me fond memories of a little bistro in paris. I have to say i've walked past this place a couple times while walking to whole foods and i've missed it. I don't know what it is about the outside but it's very easy to miss. Like a bistro, you take your time and usually just sit and eat your meal and relax. Everyone was very nice and when you enter you get greated by everyone. I was perfectly fine with the timing of everything. I had a nice book with me and got the croque monsieur. Though it's not exactly the same as in paris but it was still great. The cheese was great and the pomme frites were great too. I had a glass of red wine on the side too which brought back great memories. All in all the place was a great place to just sit back, relax and take a break from the busy world of grocery shopping. The price of everything was just great too. I think i'll be back to try the dinner menu someday soon. On a side note i think the people actually speak french. Interesting for a french restaurant :)
(4)Kelly M.
Went to a petite robert somewhere in boston, but i don't recall which it is, but i am pretty sure it is this one. My friend Bet, a local, loves this place and knew itnto be gluten friendly, so here she led me. They didn't have a menu, but the server knew about gluten and i had mussels which were pretty good. We had creme brule for dessert. I liked petite robert and always feel good after eating french food, i'm just not a 'let's go get french!' kind of person.
(3)Landy N.
ahh, who doesn't love France, the tower, the shopping and the food are some of the wonderful things about this country. I think so many people dream of taking a trip there or their love lingers for the country after they have visited because of these wonderful atributes. I think it's safe to say that Petit Robert Bistro captures all of these things in more in their little bite of France in the South End. I do want to preface this review by saying I have dined at both of their locations and while the food does not change, the atmosphere of each location is very different. The Kenmore Square location is a bit more roomy and romantic. You feel like you are dining with the people you arrived with, not the whole restaurant like the South End location. If you do find yourself in the South End, sit in the bar area. The service is better, the atmosphere more inviting and you do not feel like you are dining with a bunch of strangers! On to the food .... we started our meal with their fresh baked baguette. I believe the spread they brought with was brie. Smooth, creamy and just enough to give the baguette a rich flavor. I ordered the, Garden Salad, Shallot Vinaigrette with Panko Crusted Goat Cheese to start with. All I can say is that Goat Cheese must come from the same place sex does, cuz girl, it made me sing in until the last bite was done! For dinner, I seem to order these things all the time, a Grilled Skirt Steak~Frites, with a choice of Bordelaise, Béarnaise or Poivre Sauce. I chose the Poivre Sauce, a rich blend of pepper, lemon and scallots to cover my rather large Steak. While this cut of meat is not my favorite it was pleasant to my palette and more than enough to eat! The meat was a little tough but well cooked and might I recommend that it could be even better left to marinade in it's juices a littte more before being sent to the flame! Satisfying none the less! The frites here are always so delicious that you want to keep eating them even after you are completely full! Small, slivers of delcious potatoes, cooked to a crisp perfection and served in a lovely cone. Eat em till you're sick, it's the only way! AND FULL WE WERE, I didn't even have dessert! Although I am sure they are delicious here I did not have room to finish the meal one! I give this place 5 stars and hope you will be as reminiscent of France as I was while visiting Petit Robert Bistro!
(5)M V.
Given the many good restaurants in the neighborhood, there's absolutely no reason to go to this place. Thoroughly mediocre food: ingredients of middling quality, preparation that recalls the food at a chain hotel near an airport. (Overdressed salad, unnecessary sauces, ill-conceived juxtapositions, industrial-grade tomatoes, indiscriminately applied cream, etc etc). Bad food is the main problem; the other problems are that tables are too crunched together and that service is pretty slow. In short: just don't do it.
(1)David W.
I have enjoyed Petit Robert before at both Comm Ave and on Columbus, but not this last visit on a Saturday at noon for brunch. My Eggs Benedict were very substandard: small eggs, burnt English muffin, mediocre Hollandaise and cold French Fries (instead of traditional diced potatoes). My companion's Croque Monsieur was just a cheese sandwich, not prepared in the traditional way. The best part of the meal was the warm French bread. Just barely worth two stars.
(2)Tammie P.
3.5 stars - Petit Robert serves really great bread and butter. I could not stop eating it!! But I had escargot and lobster bisque coming, so I had to refrain from munching on more bread. The escargots were served sans the shell, and were good. The lobster bisque was a big disappointment. There was no lobster meat at all!!! And the bisque was mildly warm, not very warm. I had about 5 spoonfuls and was done. The wine was a bit warm. Seems like the temperature of the offerings were a bit off tonight. My dining companion and I split a steak frites entree because we were not very hungry when we had arrived at the restaurant. Fortunately, the steak was quite good and cooked to order, with bernaise sauce on the side. The French fries were OK, and the bernaise sauce was great for dipping. Splitting the entree made it a perfect portion, even if we were hungry. As full as I was, I finished my half of the steak because it was so good - very tender and flavorful. For dessert, we ordered the creme brulee and coffee. The creme brulee was average. The sugar crust was thin, and the creme tasted very egg yolky. Definitely had a lot better! Our server did a good job, but the table next to us had some issues with their server. They had to call the manager over and tell him about it. The manager explained that the server did not understand English very well, and I guess he did not know he was being offensive. The table to the other side of us was celebrating a recent engagement, and another server came to offer us some glasses of champagne, but it turns out they were really for our neighbors. Oh well! Would have loved to have some champagne, but wouldn't know where it would fit! Overall, the dining experience was good. I would come back to try other entrees, and hopefully will have a better experience next time.
(3)Jason A.
When people ask me what's good at Petit, I start talking and end up telling them the whole menu. Everything is delicious! The food is all top quality and made with love. The lobster bisque is the best you'll ever have. The paninis are awesome, too. Oh, and the sweet potato fries! Hello! Heaven! And the mac-n-cheese. Ugh, here I go reciting the menu again. The service is always great.
(5)Rosie Z.
Very cute restaurant - like a little family-run french bistro tucked in a nice part of the South End. Had the calf's liver - was very good. Great price and the portion was big! They also had really fresh, warm french baguette to start with.
(4)CeeCee R.
First time to the South End location, a cute little restaurant nestled on Colombus Ave. Got seated immediately without reservation which was nice. Starter Nicoise Salad, it's usually only available for lunch but they specially made it for me as I requested it. Excellent dish! Very nice for them to do so. Smoked Salmon, my husband ordered this dish for a starter and he loved it. Main Course Lobster Mac and Cheese, part of their specials. It's a bit too rich and runny to my liking but it was ok. Lamb Shank, my husband ordered it and he thinks it was ok. Service was pretty good, we both had positive experiences. We would be back there again.
(4)Sarah D.
I just really love this place. While it's not perfect, it is pretty awesome and, in my experience, unbeatable at this price point. First off, great bread. This should be a given at a french restaurant but i don't care, i am always psyched about a crusty baquette with butter, and in general i don't feel like you get really nice bread often enough these days. Second, appetizers. I've tried the trio of pate, the mussels and the escargot, all tasty. To be honest i had never tried pate before so i can't compare it to others, but i found each of the three to be really delicious and each was slightly different than the others. The mussels were fresh and flavorful and i liked the broth they were served in. Escargot was pretty standard, butter and garlic, and tasty. Appetizers i think are in the $6-$10 range? I might be wrong on that but they are definitely not expensive. The entrees that i've had have all been really nice. I've tried the braised lamb shank, fell right off the bone and tasted like home cooking. The pork roast was very good but not very exciting; the seasoning and cooking was done well but it's not very creative. Even so, very enjoyable. Steak Frites is dependably juicy and delicious and the fries are shoestring macdonalds style minus the rancid taste of fast food oil. I also tried the calves liver when my sister ordered it; i'm not a big fan of liver but it was actually really good. Beer list is small, wine list i don't know i don't order wine so i've never looked at it closely. The actual space is pretty cramped, getting in and out of your seat can be troublesome as it gets crowded in there. There is only one bathroom i think. Prices are medium/low, with entrees hovering above and below the $20 mark depending on what you order. I have always had good meals here, and i am always amazed by how low the bill is compared to how nice everything is.
(5)Deborah H.
I came here at the recommendation of a local, and had pretty high expectations. We arrived around 9PM with no reservation on a Thursday, and had no problem being seated. My coworker and I both had soups to start with: me, the fish quenelle. My waiter said this was an "ancient" delicious French recipe. He made it sound amazing, but it was really just two squishy fishballs swimming in CHEESE soup. NOT GOOD. My coworker tried the potato leek soup, which tasted like it was pure butter and cream with a touch of potato. Way too rich. The bread was AMAZING though: warm, crusty, yum. This, paired with the fact that the entrees took FOREVER to come out, led to two stuffed people who were not happy with their appetizers when the entrees came out. Too bad, because they were amazing. I had the coq au vin, which was spectacular! It had a depth of flavor and richness that implies that it was the reason why our entrees took so long. My coworker was extremely happy with his skirt steak. Unfortunately we were seriously so full off the bread that we couldn't appreciate these entrees more. Because I was disappointed by the appetizers, and the lack of attention from the waiter during our 45+ minute wait for our entrees, I'm not dying to return. But I guess I'd come back if someone insisted, and this time would skip the appetizer.
(3)Crystal S.
Oh Petit Robert.... *le sigh* I'd have to say you get your money's worth in regards to quality of food and atmosphere, I can see a couple coming here for a romantic, but modestly priced anniversary or first date, that kind of thing. It's also a great eatery in general, it's affordable enough to be a nice night out on a weekday for no reason at all. The very first time I went here, I looked at the check only to gasp and say "that's IT?!?!" Now, that doesn't mean this is pennies and nickels but really, for what you're getting, I think this is affordable fare in the city. (Please don't jack up the prices because I said this) The service can be hit or miss. Some days they are fantastic, some days they forget to give you bread or forget your drink order or suggest a fat and bean meal on 4th of July (ew). By the way, the reason it's so sad if they forget to give you the bread before your entree arrives is because the bread is FANTASTIC. This quite frankly is the best free bread I've had in the city. I have no ideal where it comes from, but it's consistently good, except, as I mentioned, when they forget to give you some...
(4)Ligaya T.
A wipe-the-corner-of-your-mouth establishment that oozes the easy charm of a bijou bistro without an upturned nose. Just my style. And apparently everyone else's too. This place is always hopping! The bar plays host to a boisterous crew so dash through the kitchen to the dining room for a seat. Might have to suck in a little and walk sideways on the way to your table trying hard not to breathe on other patrons' meals, itty bitty aisles. The pleasant servers are in constant motion so dodge carefully. For optimal configuration at a half booth disregard standard notions putting women facing the restaurant (keepings boys' peepers locked on their companions). Instead place the tallest person on the wall side as they will sink to the eye level of their dining partners. Now you can look up at each other, gazes conveying the sheer joy at the amount of butter on your plates. Mmmm. The key is simplicity. The ingredients stand alone. (Not only just the cheese!) A little spice, dollop of dairy in some form, a sprinkle of salt. Perfection! The blue fish is a winner, they just need to dump a little more corn gravy on top. Always a classsic, the steak frites satisfies the hungry belly. I was told the coq au vin was scrumptious as well. I'm jealous of the pastry chef. The crust on the tart tartin is moist and doughy, yummicicious. I'd skip the British cake though. All around, a solid bullseye!
(4)Shawn T.
The trio of pate is still to die for! It's really the only thing that keeps bringing me back here (that and their entrees are decently priced). My only gripe is that they raised the prices for it. The bread service is also good; I love the simple accompaniment of butter, yum!
(4)Me B. M.
Boston needs good, honest French food. And I was sad that this was not it. It's merely overpriced and mediocre. Over-cooked, under-seasoned. The bread is really great, though! I have eaten there many times, and will again, but nothing is that great and the services is uneven.
(2)Kaki N.
After an afternoon of walking all around Boston we popped in at about 6:30 p.m. with no reservation. Since it was early for a Saturday night we were able to get a table on the patio without a problem. Our waiter brought us bread and butter and water very promptly. We started with the trio of homemade patés which came with three tiny gerkins and mustard. No bread was provided by our waiter beyond the initial small baguette, which we'd already half eaten with the butter. The patés were excellent - one tuna, one "country style" pork, and one pork liver. The pork liver was the smoothest paté I've ever eaten and the tuna was a pleasant surprise. The hostess noticed that we lacked bread and brought us some, but in the meantime our dinner came. (Service from the kitchen was very fast.) I had a special: Linguini with smoked salmon and tomato crème fraîche. My friend ate what was billed on the menu as bluefish with lobster and creamed corn sauce, but which was actually halibut. (Our waiter told us about the switch when we ordered.) My dinner was fabulous -- the perfect, simple thing for a warm summer night after walking most of the afternoon. My friend also declared his fish a winner. We shared a profiterole with vanilla ice cream and fudge sauce for dessert. The pastry was so crisp as to be impossible to cut with a spoon, but the fudge sauce was first rate. The service was prompt, but (aside from the hostess) had no personality. Our waiter can only be described as a dweeb and the lack of bread with the paté was regrettable. Other waiters I observed seemed much more attentive, I just think ours was a dud. The hostess was a joy. I would certainly go back if I was in the neighborhood. It's an unassuming neighborhood place that seems to do the things it does well very well indeed, and if the waiter and dessert were a bit under par I can forgive it.
(4)Cindy C.
After compiling my first list (!) I decided that my petit robert bistro review didn't really do the restaurant justice. Since my first dining experience there, I have frequented the restaurant a dozen more times. It's one of my goto restaurants that I know will never fail me (or very rarely). Whether its a cold winter night or a hot summer afternoon, the staff at the place is friendly, warm and welcoming. I love sitting in the outdoors area during the summer, just enjoying the south end with the warm, soft and delicious bread, which i use to dip into my flavorful lobster bisque. Following that, any entree on the menu is a delight, but I'm especially partial to the specials they have..yummmm rabbit. Bottom line, GO. it wont disappoint
(4)Marcus C.
So much better than the Petit Robert Bistro downtown! The trio of pates was excellent and I really, really want to eat more of the coq au vin!
(4)Paul S.
Service was good. An off night for the kitchen. Food took 50 minutes between courses and arrived cold and under seasoned. Night was saved by good company and champagne. Decent wine list.
(2)