You have until August 30th to dine at L'Espalier in its legendary townhouse on Gloucester Street in the Back Bay. After dinner that evening they'll close to reopen September 15th around the corner on Boylston Street inside the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
We recently enjoyed a three and a half hour lunch at a window table in the front room.
Many consider this the best restaurant in Boston, and we are happy to call it our neighbor. Lunch is a very affordable option, and one we wish we had time to enjoy more often.
The three-course Prix Fixe lunch is priced at $30.00. This gave us room in our budget to enjoy a few special choices from their deep wine list.
Because we know that L'Espalier has a special relationship with Westport Rivers Vineyards and Winery we opened our afternoon with a glass of RJR Sparkling Wine.
Ed began his meal with a leek and potato soup. He opted for grilled hanger steak with Swiss chard and crispy shallots. The crispy shallots got my attention. Try to imagine the best, sweetest, crispiest onion rings possible, and you may come close to tasting these in your mind.
He matched his meal with a wonderful Barolo. I had a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
My choice was the mushroom risotto with asparagus from the al la carte menu. I had the pleasure of meeting the man who supplies truffles and mushrooms to the restaurant and had seen the lovely product he brought to the kitchen.
Now I tasted what the chefs did with it. I make a great risotto and seldom order it out. L'Espalier made a better one and pleased this demanding diner.
A cheese course was up next for us. We let the staff decide and savored five perfect, ripe, and ready cheeses.
(EDIT: We had a request to identify the cheeses. Here is that entry.
http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/07/by-request-our.html)
We are sad to see the change. The townhouse is a breathtakingly lovely place with so many small details to enjoy. But, we imagine it is a nightmare for the kitchen and staff and we've heard that lines form for the restrooms on busy evenings.
And, for us there will be the bonus of a Sel De La Terre complete with a boulangerie of our very own right next door to L'Espalier. Ah, to be able to buy great bread, pastry and cheese in the neighborhood!
Details:
L'ESPALIER
30 Gloucester Street, Boston MA 02115
617-262-3023
Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery
Other Opinions:
Search of Boston Chowhound.com Board
Here's the Yelp.
