Elisa L.

Excellent service from the wait staff and manager. Wasn't a stuffy environment. Good cocktail menu with many special drinks and food selection with restaurant week menu. Was seated at booth and had reservation confirmed and seated on time. Food was amazing and this is now one of my favorite restaurants! Unlike some other places, the Restaurant week food quality is as good as on a regular night.

Glenn B.

Really delicious food, romantic atmosphere, beautiful restaurant, professional staff. Absolutely perfect night out.

SR M.

Went here for restaurant week a couple of weeks ago. I love this place. Especially for RW prices. As a group of 3, we ordered the salmon tartare, beef carpachio, steak and salmon for dinner and I for some reason I can't remember the desserts. Anyway, the food was good and the quality and service was great. I read earlier reviews saying that this place can be off sometimes for RW week but I've been twice and both times have been happy and satisfied.

Kim Y.

Overall one of the best dining experiences! From the appetizer to the entree to dessert, everything was divine and so perfectly seasoned. The BEST truffle fries! I would come back for those alone! The service was excellent and so attentive. Even the hostess was incredibly gracious. My boyfriend and I ordered maine crab ravioli and lobster bisque, half roasted duck and rib eye. Highly recommend every dish we ordered!

Traci K.

BRUNCH REVIEW, Y'ALL. I love going to a fancy joint for brunch. It's less stuffy, but you still get the amaze food + service without the balls-to-the-wall pricing. I've been to Mistral for brunch a couple times now and the standout is: Bacon. Side of bacon ($7, I think) comes in a cast iron skillet in a mound. Mountain of bacon. Perfectly crispy and chewy and delightful. *drool* The baked-to-order cinnamon buns are a must for an app. Hot and gooey and cinnamony and just all around amazing. Definitely one to share with the table unless you want a sugar-induced coma. The just-for-coming warm coffee cake is a delight. This cakey treat + a taste of the cinnamon bun and I've never wanted to order a sweet entree. The duck confit + root veggie hash is legit. It doesn't look like much, but it is seriously filling and wonderful. Comes with a side of your choice of bread -- I chose the best one (challah - per our super handsome waiter). The mushroom + cheese fritatta was also insanely good. Needed a pinch of salt, but that delight was packed to the gills with mushrooms. Crazy delicious. Other standouts? Those table potatoes. Heavenly. The hollandaise on the eggs bene - to die for. The service was impeccable. They really know how to treat a group of fancy ladies. Love it.

Hugh P.

Rack of lamb was great!

Paul A.

This restaurant to me is one of the top ten in Boston. Impeccable service,food and drink . Prices are typical of other fine restaurants but the ambiance and quality are 10/10. The other restaurants in the chain; Sorellinas, Moo, Landana, Teatro and coming soon Ostra also fall into this A category. All have their special niche and feature sumptuous entrees and menu fare. For a special evening where you can dine leisurely and feel like your special, I highly recommend Mistral as well as the others mentioned above.

Dan F.

Went there after the holidays with a $200 gift card. We asked the waiter if the dish we were ordering could be cooked with oil instead of butter, he said no.He then said they could do it only with the dover sole, the most exspensive dish on the menu. We agreed and it came out dry and tasteless. My steak was just ok and the staff were very young and lacking in dignity. After the so so meal I proceeded to wait for 20 minutes for my valet to bring me my car, then I just walked outside and asked for my keys and got my car myself. For $250, I expect alot more. Next time it L'espalier where I can count on a GREAT meal.

John D.

Went to Mistral Saturday night for drinks & apps at the bar. As usual the food was delicious. The reason for me writing this review is because I finally found a bartender in Boston that can make an old fashioned drink! I met Donna the bartender for the first time & she said she knew her drinks so she made me a dirty martini to start that was perfect & then made me an old fashioned that was the best I have had outside of south beach. I was very impressed by her knowledge of drinks and will be back to visit her again. Thanks for a great night!

Rachel N.

My go-to date spot in Boston with people who like to eat well but not creatively -- first discovered 12ish years ago (!!) when my parentals first visited me at sweet, sweet Milton Academy, Mistral has maintained its quality and deliciousness. The food is not remotely inventive (though, bless them, they try w/ those flat breads, and that ubiquitous Asian tuna tartare on every menu...but which should def not be on a "French bistro" menu) -- I digress -- but meals here are tastttty in that traditional way. Seared foie with duck confit remains a favorite diet-buster, as does the rack of lamb -- as a pescatarian, I tend to opt into the lighter fish options, all of which are delicious, if a bit plain. Oh, the truffle mac, a winter item, rings in at $95 and isn't worth it unless someone else is paying. Starters are around $15-20, with mains going for $24-44. Portion to prize ratio is hard to figure out -- the shroom carpaccio is tiny, but most of the mains are hulking masses of food. Side note, the bread and spreads they serve are nom nom-riffic. Service is attentive-ish, but could be improved upon. We were once forgotten at the bar for 40 minutes (my fussy face came out, don't worry). Din for 2 will easily run you $300, esp if you involve their gorgeous wine list. For the price point, if you want fun, go to L'Espalier. If you want WASP, put on your St. John's and come to Mistral.

Cindy K.

I've been here a bunch of times. The atmosphere is pretty elegant. What I like about this place is coming here and just sitting at the bar and ordering a cocktail and the seared foie gras with duck confit. It is pretty amazing. Their brunch is amazing as well. I wish I could afford and have their brunch everyday. I've also been in their private function room. It is cute and intimate and has its own private bar which is nice if you ever plan on throwing a party there.

Melissa F.

This is in my top 3 favorite restaurants in the city hands down. I first went to Mistral because of restaurant week and was blown away by how good their food and service was. As most of us know when it's restaurant week a lot of places will drop the ball regarding service and the quality of their food. I get it, you're experiencing a higher volume of patrons, but it should still be a good meal. Mistral handles RW like it does any other night. Everyone from the restaurant that we encountered was friendly and attentive. Food: absolutely delicious. Their menu changes so not everything I've tried is currently on the menu. Their caesar salad was great (yes you can mess this up, either too much dressing or just bad dressing.) and their chilled corn soup was surprisingly tasty as well. I've mostly had their steak whenever I go because I just love it. Always cooked perfectly and served with potatoes cooked in different ways. I've tried the half chicken and that was great, but since I make chicken at home I try not to order it when I go out. For dessert I had one of the best carrot cakes ever. It's not currently on the menu and makes me sad. I've also had creme brulee and the chocolate torte. All fantastic. Pair this all off with good wine and you have a fabulous meal. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Chic, elegant and romantic. This is the perfect place for a special occasion dinner or date night. I'm in love with this place.

Jenn Z.

Loved it for a normal dinner night, but strongly disliked it for Restaurant Week. Mistral gave me an excellent meal when I came here on a normal, non-RW day. My entree was delicious and I also thoroughly enjoyed the appetizers and desserts we shared. In addition, my cocktail was tasty and strong. On the other hand, after coming here twice for RW, I probably wouldn't return here again despite having a good experience before. There are several other restaurants that will probably give me an overall better dinning experience RW or not. For my last RW experience: Service: slow, inattentive wait staff; especially at the beginning of our meal Ambiance: I found Mistral to be quite noisy compared to other restaurants in this price range. The interior, which is long and tunnel-like, seems to facilitate sound projection even when the restaurant is mostly empty. Additionally, perhaps due to the narrowness of the building structure, I felt the layout of the tables gave an impression of disorganization and messiness. Food: Appetizer: I personally thought my corn soup was too sweet; especially for an appetizer. But some people at the table enjoyed it. I also tried the sirloin carpaccio and felt it was a better dish. Entree: very disappointed with my chicken since I had a much higher expectation from Mistral. It was extremely bland, and actually made me miss well-seasoned strips from KFC. I understand that chicken might not be the most popular dish compared to sirloins or salmon, but that shouldn't excuse the restaurant from providing a less-flavorful course. I had expected quality and tastiness from Mistral for all its dishes, and that chicken did not live up to the expectation at all. Dessert: the Pot du creme was nothing special and didn't taste that differently from an ordinary pudding from the supermarket. Likewise, the blueberry financier was a bit dry and again, nothing to be raved about. Wine: definitely had better in several other places. Overall, I think Mistral is a bit overrated especially if you are hoping to get a good value for your money during RW. Given the subpar experiences I have had here, I'm hesitant to return here despite my good experience on an normal night. Fundamentally, I don't think a restaurant, especially a highly reputable one such as Mistral, should lower its standard just because it's RW or because it's serving a less-popular dish

Elizabeth S.

Pretty sure this is the best Restaurant Week value in town, and my meal here was probably the best dining out experience I've had, ever! Truth time: I only booked here, because last year, I noticed this restaurant was completely booked within a half hour of Restaurant Week reservations going live. I thought, people know something. This place must be good. Expectations fulfilled! For RW, the selections are diverse, the portions are huge, the food's delicious, and the service is good (and quick and friendly). Yummy drinks, delightful everything (beef carpaccio, mushroom bisque, pork osso bucco, salmon, chocolate cake). My poor boyfriend asked the waiter for a good drink to cure his cold, and the waiter laughed and gave him a glass of Jameson, straight up. Simple and made my boyfriend happy. My only regret is that we didn't pay enough, or have a big enough party, to sit on the couches with the pillows! (How spoiled is that, for a complaint?) Someday, I will be able to reserve the pillow-clad booths, and order off the full menu. Thank you for top notch food and service - this combination, unfortunately, is not typical at most places, so it is even more appreciated!

Nicole B.

I was here for brunch and had a lovely time. I arrived on time but after the other member of my party and was promptly seated by a friendly hostess. Our waiter was attentive and never left our water glasses empty, a small detail that I always appreciate at any restaurant. While we waited for our food, we enjoyed an absolutely delicious coffee cake type muffin with butter and apple butter. We ordered the beignets to begin and they were tasty and perfectly portioned. My ham and Gruyere omelette was absolutely delicious. The side of potatoes were delicious as well, but we barely had room for them because of the bountiful entree portions. All of the waitstaff was friendly, polite and attentive. A 5-star experience at a 5-star establishment.

Anita C.

We reserved table through open table for a friends birthday. Sunday brunch is best time to go. The restaurant is expensive for dinner but the brunch menu is decent. The service was professional. Food was extremely delicious, my salmon pizza was too salty for my taste but I tried my friends food and they'd were delicious. I absolutely loved the muffin bread that came before our meal with butter and strawberry cream cheese. Yum! That was more delicious than my meal!

Cindy S.

Fantastic and classy restaurant! I went on a Monday night with a group of friends from business school and we enjoyed a wonderful evening. The pizza we shared as an appetizer was delicious, very thin crust. We also had the escargots and tuna tartare. All highly recommended! My main dish was the Filet, which was perfectly cooked but was served in a pool of bloody sauce that was a little off putting to me. Be sure to have the profiteroles for dessert!

Julie J.

AMAZING! I looove this restaurant! The ambiance and the food are equally great. We started off with the tuna tartare and a flatbread that had truffles and mashed potatoes. They were both sooooo tasty and just delicious. I had as an entree the filet mignonette which was cooked perfectly and was complemented exquisitely with the sauce they served it with. My fiancé had the rack of lambs that he refused to leave behind and took extra long to make sure he had the whole plate since it was too delicious to leave behind. Whenever I return to Boston I will be visiting this restaurant again for sure.

Ted F.

Very good but have had better meals in Boston for the $.... the foi gras is good and the rack of lamb is the best....

Sara S.

Great service, great food and love the ambiance. Would recommend in a heartbeat.

Jenelle J.

"Best" describes a heck of a lot here. The Beef Carpaccio. The Tuna Tartare. And the flatbreads...just try one, you will never want pizza anywhere else in Boston. The only less than "best" were the cocktails - probably better next time to stick with the vino. Complementing the top-notch food is a chic atmosphere that draws those in the know in Beantown, and great service to boot. And you need not commit to a table to taste deliciousness - you can eat at the bar if you wish for a more relaxed feel. Recommend.

Marina C.

Came here for brunch and the food was delicious! They also served a warm muffin before your meal.

Wini H.

I'd say 4.7 for this wonderful restaurant of the Columbus Hospitality Group. I've been for brunch multiple times and once for Restaurant Week. Beginning with the restaurant itself, it's beautifully decorated with plenty of natural light during the daytime. At night it's dimly and romantically lit. The high ceilings make it feel particularly spacious and yet intimate at the same time. Waiters, hostesses, and bus boys are all well-trained and do a great job. Still, brunch is the best deal in town for food of this quality. Just skip the drinks. The mimosa I had was unreasonably expensive for its mediocrity (watered down, a bit sour without enough sweet to mellow it out). The point is, however, that I remember almost all of the brunch dishes we've ordered because they were notably good in their own ways. Also of note is the nice muffin they give you with fruit butters/jams (we had strawberry butter last time). The pommes lyonnaise that come with some of the brunch entrees are great too. The BLT is prepared exactly the way I like it, and exactly the way a more labor-intensive, I-wouldn't-make-this-at-home BLT should be: thick bacon, one crisp sheet of lettuce (not too much!), deliciously juicy but flavorful oven-cured tomato (you could eat a whole tray of these alone, even if you don't like tomato), on yummy potato bread. The duck confit hash is an overall ridiculously delicious dish and I highly recommend it. The chocolate chip pancakes have great presentation and would be great for kids, although to be honest it's just really well done pancakes and thus not as awe-inspiring as the other dishes. The bacon pizza was a great shareable dish. The cinnamon buns are delectable but dense, so share one order with the whole table or you'll be way too full. I also highly recommend the Valhrona hot chocolate--the homemade marshmallow on top is perfectly toasted and melty. The truffled deviled eggs is another super flavorful recommendation. We had a lot of leftovers and took them with us for breakfast the next day--so I think it's a great value. As for Restaurant Week, the food was similarly executed well, but not as sensational as I would like. I've also always found their menu choices to be rather typical and boring with a few exceptions. Unlike their sister Sorellina, I would recommend checking their menu out before signing up to see if you're intrigued by it.

Kate G.

AMAZING BRUNCH!!! This is one of the best brunch experiences I have had in Boston. From the food to the service, this restaurant is nothing short of exceptional! Even the price was reasonable. I will definitely be back!

Danny S.

Wife and I decided to try Mistral during Boston's Restaurant Week. We went with the 3-Course prix fixe meal. The Sirloin Beef Carpaccio and the Salmon Tartar were both top-notch. For the main dishes, we ordered the Grilled 12oz Sirloin ("Potato Lyonnaise", Port Wine Reduction, Gorgonzola Butter) and the Roasted Cornish Game Hen (Fingerling Potato, Garlic & Rosemary). I actually ordered the sirloin medium-rare but got what it seemed like a medium, barely any red. But I didn't want to bother and since it was still delicious, I just ate it. The hen was also delicious. I wasn't sure what to order for desserts and the waiter kindly recommended that we order the Meyer Lemon Pot de Crème with French Butter Cookies and the Classic Profiteroles with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Dark Chocolate Sauce & Pistachio Croquant. The Meyer Lemon Pot de Crème was something special. Everything was great. The atmosphere, the food, the service, the price.

Michael C.

Stopped by Mistral for their Sunday brunch, it's too bad they don't do it on Saturday's too because it is fantastic. This is a classy/modern joint for dinner time and brunch is no different. You can tell they take a lot of time preparing not only the taste but the presentation of the food as well. For Brunch I got: Jelly Doughnuts: This is a breakfast appetizer, but it could fill you up if you weren't too hungry. They look like dunkin doughnuts munchkins covered in powdered sugar and they come served to you fresh and piping hot. These were great. Duck Donfit Vegatable Hash: For those not familiar with hash, it is basically a mix of vegatables and meat, chopped up and grilled together. The duck here has just the right amount of salt and comes served with 3 eggs sunny side up.

maya z.

One of my top 5 restaurants in Boston!!!you can never go wrong with anything on their menu !!!Beef Tenderloin pizza & Tuna tartar are my favorite apps!!!

Leonid D.

I love french food. Mistral was my excuse to take my wife out for a special bday dinner. We were met with a great atmosphere just a bit on the pretentious side but not over the top. Awesome service. And of course amazing meal. We had the escargot 1st time for us both ... super memorable dish. I had a very tender delicious veal main course and my wife has a super crispy duck. For desert creme brulee topped it all off. Highly recommend. I am not sure if Boston's other French restaurants can keep up with Mistral.

Iris L.

I have been to my fair share of good restaurants, being from New York City and studying in Boston. I would easily rank Mistral within the top 5 restaurants I have ever been to. I had gone with my boyfriend for restaurant week ($38 prix fixe per person), and the quality was amazing. They did not skimp out at all! The appetizers (salmon tartare and beef carpaccio) were light and delicious-- the flavors were amazing. For the entrees, my boyfriend ordered the chicken and I had the steak-- both were cooked to perfection. The desserts, a lemon posset and milk chocolate profiteroles, were sweet, artful, and light, a great way to finish off the rich meal. This is the only restaurant week restaurant that I will return to.

Sonia D.

I came here on a Monday night for a drink and dessert and it was perfect. We sat in the comfy seats in what looks like a waiting area and it was fun and relaxing! Definitely in my top 5 places to go during the weekly for a cocktail and dessert.

Deborah H.

I'll say this again and again: high-end restaurants in Boston are overpriced and underwhelming. Mistral falls into this bucket as well in terms of food, though the space is gorgeous and the service is very good. The food is good, but not worth the extravagance. I mean, $20 for an appetizer is acceptable if it's EXCEPTIONAL. But the food here isn't exceptional, it's just good. I had the duck as my entree, which was good, but not worth $37. Sorry if I'm sounding like a broken record here. As far as Boston goes, Mistral is not a bad choice for special occasions, but unless I had a ton of cash to burn, I wouldn't return.

Johan P.

Great value for money. Fantastic and stylish location. Great bar and audience. Had a tuna tartare and a steak. Both were top notch!

Mel C.

Noisy Saturday Night at an "In" Restaurant We arrived to a greeting of loud, thumping music and noise equal to a Patriot's home game. Our reservation was honored, but our table was near the yet nosier bar. When we asked, we were told it would be, wt least, a15-minutes wait to change tables. (A local "known" person was shown to a far more desieable table upon his arrival. We had made the reservation several months prevoiusly.) The wine list is very nice, but materially overpriced. A common Burgundy that sells for $20, was priced at $75. We selected a nice, overpriced Beajolais. Menus and a wine "menu" arrived immediately. The waiter took longer. Our strarter, mushroom carpaccio that we shared, took 15-minutes to arrive. We split the plate; it was delicious and very well prepared. Our prinicipal plates arrive at least 20-minutes sfter our strarter plates had been cleared. Both my wife's Cornish hen and my Dover sole were excellent. The Dover sole was priced at $74! God save the Queen! She must have caught it personally. Both dishes were very well prepared. About one-half of the frites were overcooked. The restaruant took them off our bill. The sound level lowered ss the evening progressed, but not the "boom-a-booma" music. The server gave us a sorbet medly as a peace offer. If dining at an "in" restarant is important, pick Le Mistral. If you would like to dine in peace with your food served at a professional pace, look elsewhere.

Jenna H.

My friend and I had a small, 4 person, brunch baby shower for our dear friend whose family is out of state. It was a perfect choice food wise. We were greeted with a warm and tasty muffin. To start we had the truffled eggs - oh my goodness amazing! For my entree I had a ham and cheese omelet which was served in a cute pan which kept it warm with some potatoes. The omelet was a little buttery for my taste, but still very good. The service you ask? It was horrid! Our waiter could care less about us and forgot us while he was chatting up his buddies at the bar. Our friend ordered a to go order for the Dad to be and it was completely forgotten. Good thing they have good food or I would never return.

Bea G.

I had really high expectations for Mistral, and was more than pleased with our dining experience there. We got great, romantic seating - on a corner spot of a nice comfy couch. Lighting was great as well as the music - which added a more youthful feel to complement the upscale setting. The service was excellent! ... We had an awesome server named Seth, who gave great consternation over our food ordering decisions :-) We were also welcomed and greeted graciously by several of the staff. We ate BIGGG and of the total of nine items ordered (from appetizers, main entrees, desserts, and drinks) seven were cooked to perfection!!! The Sirloin Steak sat atop this rich burgundy sauce, and went VERY well with the side of Mushrooms risotto. We are huge risotto fans, but being as difficult as it is to cook the grains just right it can be hit or miss. Mistral got it just right! Their fries are also great - crunchy on the outside, creamy on the inside. And their foie gras was heaven! Served over a light bread, saturated by shredded braised duck. The items which were lacking, for us, were the Gazpacho soup - which tasted like you were eating a cannister of cheap salsa with a dollop of frozen avocado paste. The other item that was not Mistral's standards was the Perfitteroles on the dessert menu... They tasted like a frozen Sara Lee desert. I would definitely like to return to Mistral on our next visit to Boston, and maybe check our their lunch menu.

Ali B.

I went here for a Restaurant Week dinner and it was the 2nd time in a year that I did that. If I could give it 4.5 stars I would. The slight deductions would be for the crowded dining room and the service that was just a touch on the slow side. Otherwise, it was a top notch experience. I got the arugula salad, the pork dish, and the nectarine dessert. All three courses were amazing. I especially liked the dressing on the salad and the brown butter that was served with the pork. I asked for a fruity drink with no alcohol and left it up to the bartender. The drink was absolutely beautiful but unfortunately I didn't mention that I didn't like grapefruit and the drink contained it. But they did a good job with the drink. The bar was relatively empty so that might be a good option if you don't have a reservation. I really like the lounge area with couches in the front but I'm not sure if that's for drinks or just waiting for your table. Last time I went here there was no street parking so this time I took the T, and ironically found several spots on the street within a block of the restaurant. It's definitely a busy area of the city. I would like to go back and try the beef tenderloin, potato, and truffle oil flatbread pizza.

MJ S.

Mistral is a fine restaurant but last night (Saturday) was not their best effort. We had 6PM reservations that coincided with a very large private party arriving at about the same time. This seemed to impact the service. One member of our party was brought the wrong appetizer, this was corrected but by the time the correct dish was served everyone else had finished the course. We ordered a side of fries with our dinner but it was never brought out. We weren't charged, but everyone at the table agreed that I had ordered this clearly. Water glasses were allowed to stay empty. While there's a fine line between not rushing the dinner party and bringing food too quickly...our dinner lasted 3 hours and there were many lengthy waits for food to be brought out etc. My main course was the Colorado rack of lamb ($55). It was a generous portion and presented well, but the flavors didn't seem the blend as well as I'd have liked. It was good, but not yummy/memorable. We didn't drink alcohol, but our dinner was still $550 with tip for 7 guests. I didn't feel that we got that much bang for the $. Mistral has created high expectations. I didn't feel that it met them last night.

Jessie E.

Amazing. Tuna tartar, crab ravioli are little pockets of heaven. Wine list is fantastic. Restaurant week is such a deal too! With or without RW just go! great service too. HEAVEN.

Roger T.

OUTSTANDING... That's why they have been doing crazy business 10+ years. Filet mignon pizza smeared with mashed potatoes and truffle oil - HEAVENLY.... Cozy and romantic atmosphere. Tuna tartare and a mushroom soup that I could eat for the rest of my life. Escargot was yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.. Hands down one of the best restaurants in Boston.

Rudy J. T.

And one day I went back to Mistral. I happened to have a project in Boston several years ago, pretty much when this restaurant was almost brand new. After all these years, the only thing I will have to say about Mistral is that they are superior today than I remember from the old days. From the atmosphere, decor, service and of course food and drinks, I have nothing to say but compliments. In this occasion I went for one of their specials for the day. It was a sea bass over spinach and crab fritter. Simply unbelievable. I sat at the bar, as usual. I saw the way the plates were presented. I have no opportunity to taste all those plates but according to the people at the bar, they all coincide the food is phenomenal. I will have only one tip for you, go for the beef and fish (I will say lamb included) and stay away from hen, chicken and even salmon (I know is fish but I talk about the salmon plate they offer). Before finishing the review, a little paragraph about appetizers and desserts. As this place has some French fusion on their menu (although it is marketed as new american cuisine), they have escargot (what I hate with a passion), and foie gras. Next time I will definitively try it (by the looks, I will say the plate is very tempting). On the dessert side, I decided to have the small samples of their dessert menu. Just a sample of creme brûlée, profiterole, chocolate mouse and berries and cream. Honestly, my friends, it is something you should try, specially the berries and cream with cream. I ended my meal with a double espresso and a single malt scotch. After all I said, you will be really wondering why I give Mistral only 4 out of 5 stars. Pretty easy, even for Boston, Mistral is really on the expensive side, way over what I pay in similar places in Chicago or New York (even Paris or London). I do not have a problem of paying big bucks for something (check my other reviews) but I think Mistral is slightly overpriced. For the rest, please sit down, order and enjoy.

An L.

Outstanding food. The seabass market special was yummy. The lobster tortellini was well done. Almond bread pudding was good too. Service was great, great recommendations from the waiter; except he seemed to push for ordering more food beyond our comfort level.

Colleen H.

Mistral is just one of those places that just smells incredible when you walk in! They have a great variety of seating too - lots of soft lounge furniture in the front, a pretty decent sized bar and an even bigger dining area. Whatever mood you're looking to cater to, they should have you covered. As far as food goes, we ordered quite the spread! To start we got the burgundy truffle macaroni - which alone is worth you coming here. I'm the first to admit I'm quite partial to anything truffle but it was INCREDIBLE. The pasta was cooked to perfection! We also ordered the tuna tartare which had great flavor but the presentation was kind of messy with all the crunchy asian-noodle things. You really don't need them all, but it's tasty. In addition we shared the mushroom flatbread which tasted as good as it sounded on the menu. For entrees, we ordered the lamb which was my favorite of all - it was paired with scalloped potatoes that were really impressive. So often I am not a fan of scallop potatoes, but these were fantastic. The cod was perfectly cooked and very tasty. It laid upon a bed of paella style risotto which I was very eager to try. Lots of saffron here, for all you saffron fans! It was a tad salty for me, but definitely delicious. The final entree we ordered, recommended by the bartender was the duck. The duck was very moist and flavorful, and definitely a generous portion. The mushroom risotto it sat upon was good, and definitely absorbed the duck juices which gave it an extra flair. We really stuffed our faces, as you can tell. And it didn't stop there - for dessert we ordered the profiteroles and torte. Both were tasty but as you can imagine, we barely took more than a bite of each. Overall, if you're looking for must order items I'd HIGHLY recommend the truffle macaroni and the lamb entree!

Honor P.

We went for restaurant week and it was still over $200 but I cannot stop dreaming about the avocado shrimp soup I had for my starter. My only qualm is that I felt the people at the table next to us could hear our conversation and smell our food; the tables were a little closer than I would have liked but not abnormally so. If you have money to spend, enjoy! If you are a slightly more frugal, take full advantage of the restaurant week prix frix menu: vegetarian friendly! I am going back for soup asap!

Jazmine S.

Came here for brunch for Father's Day. Since it was early, we were lucky to have found a parking space almost in front of the restaurant. Otherwise, you can park at a garage (a bit of a walk) or valet. We had reservations but it was pretty early when we arrived so we were seated immediately. The atmosphere was casual for brunch and very bright. We ordered virgin red and white sangrias for drinks. Our family had: duck confit and hash, sirloin burger, eggs benedict with pork loin and smoked salmon eggs benedict. The food and service was good. I'd come back here for dinner some time.

Susan V.

Good wine selection. Seafood stew especially good. Pleasant atmosphere. A bit pricey.

Nicki R.

We happened upon this place on our recent trip to Mistral. The ambiance of this restaurant is the best I have experienced in years, and I frequently dine "out". The crowd was elegant and diverse, sexy atmosphere, but in a very non pretension sense. The food, particularly the simple linguine, a vegetarian dish, was particularly impressive. Pasta cooked perfectly al dente, everything came out at the right pace, felt the service was very good. We shared the dessert platter for two, all items were good, particularly the chocolate pistachio cream puff. Of all the fine restaurants we went to on our trip (no. 9 Park, l'ermitage, Bergamot), Mistral stands out as the best, and when we come back to Boston, we will be back here for certain.

Josh C.

I've used Yelp countless times to help guide me to fantastic restaurants; however I didn't sign up for an account until I felt implored to write about my experience at Mistral. So taking the time to write about it here was a big deal for me. After reading all the 5 star reviews here, I came to Mistral with high expectations. Unfortunately, even before we stepped foot into the restaurant we had a very bad experience. As my fiancee and I were crossing the street (ok, so we were jaywalking however no cars were coming), one of the valets stepped on the gas and whipped a sharp U-turn and came within a foot of hitting us. I explained this to one of the hostesses who had a fairly horrified look on her face. I expected that some sort of action would be taken here but the most we had was the manager came over and said she would talk to the valet manager. There was no offer of buying my fiancee a drink or apologizing to her directly (although the manager was friendly and apologized to me). Brushing off the indifference wasn't difficult until later in the night when I saw the lack of properly managing the incident. Now, to the food. If the food was out of this world spectacular, I could have forgotten the incident that happened here. However, that was far from the case. Our table had a number of dishes however I will only comment on the ones that I personally ordered and tasted. NATIVE TOMATO BISQUE WITH SNIPPED BASIL, PARMESAN "EN CROÛTE" - This was clearly not any standard tomato soup. The presentation was done nicely, with a big billowy puff of cheese capping the top of the soup. This made it look almost like an oversize popover. Very tasty and pretty -- but I didn't come here for the soup! SEARED FOIE GRAS WITH CONFIT OF DUCK IN BRIOCHE, WISCONSIN DRIED CHERRY GASTRIQUE - After reading the reviews here, I would have expected this foie gras to be out of this world. This was one of the dishes that drew me to Mistral. It turned out to be a decent presentation of one seared whole liver lobe on top of a few small pieces of duck confit with a soggy brioche from the cherry gastrique. The foie gras was good, not great. What spoilt it for me was that for what should have been like a buttery custard to cut and eat, it had some sort of stringy connecting tissue that prevented it from being cut easily, which made parts of it chewy when eating. There were parts of the foie gras that were quite impeccable but a bit of nastiness can ruin the whole thing -- I found it difficult to eat the entire dish. ROAST RACK OF COLORADO LAMB, WARD'S FARM TOMATO & BEAN SALAD, GOATS MILK FETA & KALAMATA OLIVES - This was a fairly well-cooked french rack of lamb -- 2 cuts of 2 ribs so the loin was cut nice and thick. The lamb could have been cut better -- I found myself having to trim large sections of fat off. Normally it's a fatty cut to keep the meat moist through cooking; however, it probably should have been trimmed a bit tighter. This just might be my preference, but I did notice other cuts coming out of the kitchen that looked much better. The lamb was cooked medium-rare+ so cooked a bit too much for my liking. Overall: good WARM CHOCOLATE TORTE, VANILLA ICE CREAM, SAUCE ANGLAISE - I ate one bite of the dessert and it was tasty. The middle was oozy gooey molten chocolate. WINE: My suggestion is to definitely go with a full bottle of good stuff rather than order by the glass. They have a very nice list as long as it's not by the glass. I had the two cabernet sauvignon's on the by-the-glass menu and wasn't very impressed. They really shouldn't serve cabs that young (2010) The service I must say was very good. Our waiter was very eager to please, the hostesses were very friendly, the bartender attentive. When we walked out of the restaurant, we were snarkily greeted by the valet who had almost hit my fiancee. Clearly the manager had taken care of the situation. Bottom line: when you're spending more than $100 PP, expect a lot more. I would have given a 3 star rating without the valet experience; however the valet incident and lack of properly managing the incident after it happened docks this down to a 1 star. I will not be back.

sasha h.

Hands down my favorite brunch spot in boston and one my favorite dinner places. Their food is extremely good if you order right. Make sure to make a reservation in advance as good times are hard to secure. Service is sometimes a little slow and not as friendly as it should be but the food is so good I don't care. Sooo what to order... as for brunch, cinnamon buns, hot chocolate, frittata, lemon pancakes, french toast, waffles, benedict (basically all the sweet dishes here are amazing). Dinner time, try any of the pizzas, crab ravioli, foie gras, lobster bisque, cod with beet risotto, scottish salmon, lamb. Only thing i don't like are the deviled eggs, just too eggy Come to this place for anything..a date, dinner with the family, clients.. the ambiance works for everything.

Amy C.

Started with the fiddle head app, this was so delish. The pancetta and shallots really set this dish off. It was a great start to an amazing meal. I ordered the filet and it was cooked to perfection, super tender with a nice sear. Seasoned perfectly. The whipped horseradish potato's were to die for. We ended the night was a really refreshing sorbet trio. The hands down fave of the three was the apricot (lemon & strawberry). The atmosphere here is nice but cozy. You don't feel out of place if you are considered the top 1%. I would certainly go back, hands down.

Julie B.

Food: 5 stars. Foie gras appetizer was divine. Tuna tartar among the best I've ever had. Atmosphere: 3 stars. Not the best place for a romantic date. It's pretty noisy and a large space, so I find it better suited for groups than one on one. We also happend to get get a seat by door on one of the coldest nights of the year and I felt the draft any time the door opened. Service: 3 stars. Our server was good, but not at the level he should have been for a restaurant of this caliber. He brought the wrong appetizer, which happend to be mussels, to which my boyfriend is deathly allergic to. I felt that he was swamped with tables and would check on us at inopportune times, making things a bit awkward. I know everyone loves Mistral, so I'd be happy to give it another try. But for now, an overall 3.5, rounded down.

David C.

One Restaurant Week dinner down, six to go. Truth be told, of all the reservations I made for RW, Mistral was the one I was least excited about. Lowered expectations may have inflated my rating, but I definitely enjoyed myself more than I thought I would. Food and service were solid, if not quite exceptional. My roommate and I arrived right on time for our 8 o'clock reservation, and were promptly escorted to our table. We encountered a little mix-up, however, as our table had not been completely cleared. This was forgivable as it was only the second night of RW, and most restaurants were probably still working out the kinks. Our waitress informed us that there were a couple additions to the RW menu, including a veal milanese with sweet corn polenta that tempted me much more than the other entrees that were previously advertised. My milanese was one of those dishes that got better the more I ate of it. It was nicely accented flavor-wise by some sweetly simmered tomatoes, but the meat itself was a little tough. My roommate had the mustard glazed salmon with corn and scallion ragout and applewood smoked bacon, and savored every bite of it. I'm backtracking a little bit, but I would be remiss to leave out our appetizers, which simply stole the show. My sirloin carpaccio was gone in about three bites, but each of those bites was sublime. The real star, however, was my roommate's cold corn soup (lots of corn that night, am I sensing a restaurant trying to cut corners during RW?) with lump crab meat and jalapeno oil. The range of flavors one could experience with a single spoonful was incredible. Our desserts, chocolate devils food cake and a warm stone fruit tart (stone fruit?), were probably the biggest disappointments of the night. My cake was definitely on the dry side, and the vanilla ice cream, which I found lacking in flavor, did little to help it. There was a long gap between our entrees and dessert, and based on the state of my roommate's tart when it was served, I think I can guess why. The dish had obviously been left to sit in the kitchen for a while before being served, as the mascarpone ice cream that came on top had almost completely melted. It tasted fine, but the dish was a hot mess. I couldn't believe a fine-dining restaurant like Mistral would allow a plate like that to be served. Dessert definitely left us on a sour note, but the rest of our meal was good enough to compensate. 3.5 Stars.

Chris X.

I was in town for a weekend, and Mistral came highly recommended. It's a boisterous French restaurant catering to a professional-looking set, and we were generally happy. The space is large and minimalist chic, yet warm. Lofty ceilings make the place loud, so ask to be seated in the back if you plan to spend your evening talking about something complicated. This is one of those spots that just has that certain vibe to it that makes you feel like you're doing something special. The cuisine is decidedly French with some New World accents. Since it was a Friday during Lent (should've thought that through and flip-flopped with Saturday plans but oh well), we kept to the seafood. 1) mussels: noteworthy. De-shelled and served in a savory, chive/cream broth, which was fantastic. Points for doing all the work for you. 2) fish of the day was a whole roasted black bass in a ginger/citrus broth. This was outstanding. Perfect technique and interesting flavors. 3) salmon: more run-of-the mill, but also tasty Service is pro and friendly. Had an entree returned (undercooked) and a drink forgotten (although not billed), but they couldn't have been nicer and the place was super busy, so I withhold the customary demerit. I would definitely come back here.

Michael W.

Mistral was decent, maybe good for a fair price do restaurant, but for a high end restaurant very disappointing! Menu is classic, so nothing really interesting, but that is OK. We went on a Wed night for our anniversary dinner. The restaurant was not packed, yet they kept trying to sit people near the windows when it was 10 degrees out! Freezing there, every person asked to be moved! I don't believe the beet salad was dressed, very very boring! Dinner was good, nothing to write home about. The waiter was horrible. I ate half my steak before he asked if it was cooked correctly (and I am a slow eater), not attentive at all, and it was Wed night, not busy! He suggested a wine, not dry with hints of fruit! He obviously never had the wine, it was very dry! Desert was boring. A restaurant at this price point should be so much more! Don't waste your money!

Patrick B.

Really amazing place, with well informed and professional waitstaff.

Jonny C.

Simply among the epitomes of luxury eating in Boston. I've never had a meal that was less than stellar, and while the prices are high (read Dover sole, ahem) they are not incongruous with other establishments of this stature. The decor is modern elegance, although the ideas of decor have changed slightly since this place was finished (mirrors, gold etc are a bit ubiquitous) but it is in no way gaudy. The food, divine. Escargot is top 5 of my life. I can attest to the comforting sophistication of both the tenderloin and the rack of lamb, although the latter will set you back more than half a note and will absolutely send you headfirst into a food coma. Prepare for a lengthy dine- as should be the case in establishments of this level of refinement and culinary execution. A full meal could easily run you two hours. If there are not constraints on your time or budget, I defy you to have anything but an amazing experience.

Lala I.

loved the corn soup with crab meat and avocado. everything else wasnt impressive

john g.

Visited during restaurant week. Got seated quickly and the server came around to take our drink orders. The GF had a prosecco and I ordered a mixed drink. We then ordered the mushroom soup & meatball appetizers. The meatballs were very good, the soup light and tasty. For our main course, we ordered the pork osso buco and cornish game hen and shared dishes. The pork was very good and well cooked. The game hen was moist but rather bland. The accompanying vegetables were a good compliment to the chicken. We split a dessert plate, it was good but nothing exceptional. We had two cappuccinos to finish off the meal. We were expecting to be blown away based on all of the excellent reviews - sorry to say it just didn't happen. The service was excellent, maybe the best we've had. The atmosphere was very warm and inviting. The food was good but not phenomenal, as we had hoped.

Jane L.

Mistral is an exquisite restaurant with elegant, imaginative, and delicious food. The wine list is extensive. Appetizer of salmon tartar was over the top. Dover sole the best ever served to my husband. The waiter suggested the halibut with risotto ... Out of this world. This a must for your next elegant night out!

Michael U.

With reservations made well in advance after hearing the French-Mediterranean bistro could often present a substantial wait at the bar for walk-ins I arrived just on time for my 12:30 reservation and having walked from the convention center in dress shirt, slacks, and jacket I was glad to find the room cool and my table ready when I checked in - what I wasn't ready for, however, was just how jammed packed the main seating area would be with tables certainly less than an child's arm length apart and a noise level bordering on the loudest I'd ever experienced in a restaurant with linen and quality silverware. With my bag checked and reservation confirmed I was quickly led through the lengthy dining room by way of the lounge/bar and within moments I found myself at a comfortable two-top covered with paper and within moments my water and coffee were both filled - the water remaining so throughout the meal without fail but the coffee often sitting empty for long periods of time largely because I'm pretty sure the servers simply couldn't see (or navigate) through the fray. Greeted next by my captain the menu was presented but having already browsed the online options thoroughly and wanting to get back to the conference by 2:30 I opted to place my order without further ado. With orders placed and coffee prepared to my liking I sat back for a bit and enjoyed the high ceilings, slate floors, and ornate lighting while thinking to myself that that if the tables were better spaced and the noise turned down it really could be a lovely and dramatic room - and with that thought in mind I was interrupted by a woman's purse grazing my temple followed by a quick apology. Slightly annoyed by the ambiance (or lack thereof) thankfully this would be the last glitch of the afternoon as my next interruption was the welcome sort - a young man sporting a tray of warm brioche "coffee cake" muffins topped with brown sugar streusel and a side dish of house made cherry compote and unsalted butter. Having been told that my order would start to arrive "in about fifteen minutes" and now with two muffins under my belt I was a bit surprised when my first menu selection arrived after a mere ten minutes - particularly as the menu indicated a fifteen minute wait was to be expected for this specific choice. Titled simply "Warm Cinnamon Buns" and arriving as a pair in a piping hot rectangular Staub cast-iron dish with the creamy frosting still bubbling my first thought was "damn, I over ordered" but after a single bite those thoughts changed to "I'll make room!" Gooey, golden, loaded with Vietnamese cinnamon, and so buttery that it almost seemed impossible that the pastry itself remained fluffy these were not your typical "Cinnabon," but rather the sort of cinnamon roll you'd make at home if you had the time. After finishing my cinnamon rolls I indulged in the house made parfait of Hudson Valley foie gras on brioche with cognac cured red grapes - an ingredient list that would have had to try pretty hard to fail. Arriving again as a pair this time with the golden brioche at most two-bites each and the "parfait" essentially a whipped terrine topped with cracked pepper, sea salt, olive oil, and small slices of grape this was a very competent foie gras prep and although small in size the gossamer finish was quite substantial. With my breakfast sweet tooth well documented my final selection of the morning was Milk chocolate chip pancakes with banana brulee, hazelnut nutella, and crisp plantains. Arriving after another fifteen minute wait and stacked three high with a sealed container of Vermont maple syrup my first impression on receiving the plate was one of awe - the entire dish smelled like chocolate and nutella though none was to be seen, but with the plate then dressed in warm syrup and my fork cracking through the caramelized banana my answer came quickly as a gush of liquid chocolate poured forth from the steaming cakes. With a side order of golden and buttery Lyonnaise potatoes with rosemary, onions, and chives serving as a counterpoint to the pure sweetness of the pancakes I will simply note that in the end many potatoes returned to the kitchen but not one of the hundreds of chocolate chips remained. With my table cleared and the restaurant now perhaps half full as the brunch hour neared its end I was asked if there was anything else I'd like and with another cup of coffee the bill was paid and I found myself back on the street en route for the conference center by 1:50pm - perfect timing and now with a breeze coming out of the east bringing perfect weather. Admittedly pricey at $40 with tax and tip I cannot say that I'd frequent Mistral for brunch if I lived locally even though the food was excellent given the noise and cramped seating but at the same time I'd definitely consider going back for dinner sometime when (hopefully) there was less noise and (ideally) equally excellent food.

Helen V.

Restaurant Week review: I get enticed by the thought of deals and my favorite hobby: eating out. Don't worry, I do my due diligence and make sure the RW deal is really a steal, or I don't go. On that note, when I picked Mistral, I knew that I would never go when it's full price and if I really like the experience, I would find a way to come back. The food was ok...I say ok because my steak wasn't cooked properly. My medium rare came out about well. I know, I know, I shouldn't gripe about small details, but those are details I would care about on my second visit paying full price. So, detail to note! My bf enjoyed all his pickings: corn soup and roasted chicken served in copper pan. I sampled, I agreed; I still couldn't get over my steak though :( . Dessert was forgettable... It's a nice place; it's downtown. The menu doesn't WOW me, but the food is good. Just don't think I'll be back for another gamble of my dinner decisions.

Corona W.

My friend invited us to Mistral for his birthday dinner. The decor is simple, but elegant, inside. There were five of us there and were started off with 3 appetizers - 1) the classic escargot, 2) the sirloin carpaccio, and 3) the seared foie gras. Out of the three, the escargot was my favorite. The flavor was amazing and, dipping the bread into the red wine and garlic butter sauce was just delicious. I don't eat red meat so I can't really provide a good review of the carpaccio but the croutons on top were good. It was a pretty simple dish. Likewise, I didn't try the foie gras, but the brioche that was soaked in the sauce, wasn't that good. For dinner, I had the halibut with rock shrimp and spring green onion risotto. While this dish was good, it didn't blow me away. The risotto was also cooked a little too al dente. Other dishes ordered were the duck, the sirloin, and the cornish hen. While everyone agreed that the dishes were good, none of us were blown away. Also, something to note - Mistral serves some of the biggest portions I have ever seen in a French restaurant. (From what my friend explained to me, Mistral isn't really a French restaurant but an American -French fusion.) From the value point of view, this may be good if you're a big eater. However, if you're looking for good French food, I'd rather take taste over quantity. All in all, Mistral is good to try but it isn't the first place I'd go running back to.

Andrea B.

This is a brunch review only! I had my eyes (and stomach) set on getting the confit of duck and root vegetable hash with sunny side up eggs, and I got it. It was good and definitely hit the spot, considering it was 1 PM and I hadn't eaten yet all day, but I do have some critiques regardless (I wouldn't be a Yelper if I didn't!): - Too many vegetables, particularly the spinach, and not enough duck! - There was a smattering of onions in addition to the root veggies, but I would've liked more, for flavor. - Some melted cheese mixed in somewhere would've made this dish even tastier. I went with David C, and he ordered the milk chocolate chip pancakes with banana brulee and hazelnut nutella. The kitchen was very accommodating to his request of adding a side of whipped ricotta to go with it. I tried some of the pancakes, and they were very sweet but not anything special, as far as pancakes go. And I couldn't really taste the nutella. So I wasn't underwhelmed by the food, but I wasn't overwhelmed either...three stars.

Tripp R.

Just go, trust me! Great food, great service and a cool vibe.

Jessica B.

Apparently I have been a very, very good employee. My company treated me to dinner with the team and I was blown away. From the second I tossed my keys to the valet (only $15!) and ran inside out of the grim Boston rain, I was in heaven. We started at the bar, where they have quite a few wines that aren't ordinarily available by the glass. The bartenders made great recommendations and were friendly and charming. I ordered the tuna tartar, which was large and delicious. I also tried the escargot, which was less chewy and garlicy than it is at lesser restaurants. As an entree, I had the Dover sole meunière. It was completely amazing, a light and buttery fish. The portion was huge. For desert I got to try the ice cream sandwich, a profiterole, and the Pot du Crème au Chocolate on the Mistral assiette for two. Of all the desserts, I recommend the Mistral assiette for two. Everything was completely lovely, by far my best work dinner out ever. Absolutely go, but don't bring American Express. Don't being your Visa card either. Go when someone else is treating you.

Ella B.

The hubs loves Mistral, especially the steak frites. Overall, nice fine dining location which will run about $75-80 per person for a three course meal, including a bottle of wine. We had friends in town, so it was nice to have a delicious dinner. I had the tuna tartar starter, lamb chops as the entree and bread pudding for dessert, it ran about $75 Per person, with wine. Service was fine, served and cleared away plates without any awkwardness. They also have a nice bar serving fun, tasty drinks.

Tracey A.

Unbelievable! Don't shy away from the $$$$. You won't regret the experience and decadent food. Sitting at the bar for Sunday brunch, order an appetizer and share a meal. We suggest the "to die for" devil eggs eggs and graham cracker encrusted pear french toast. Like nothing I've ever had before.

Jennifer P.

We were in town for extended vacay after a business trip. The hotel recommended this restaurant and they were on target. Food was great, atmosphere was great! The restaurant itself was very beautiful and comfortable. Great date night or birthday restaurant! It was pricey but what we expected. Would definitely recommend to others!

J B.

One of my favorite spots in the city; probably more of a 4.5 overall but Yelp is still super rigid. I've been here multiple times, so I was surprised to see I've never reviewed. During my most recent visit I had the duck for my entree, which I somehow had never had before. I was actually a little disappointed in it, as I thought it was a little dry. A work colleague i was with independently said the same. Not sure if they let it confit too long or what, but it was definitely more dry than I would have liked. That said, the flavor was still tasty and the mushroom risotto underneath it was amazing. A little disappointing this time around, especially for a French restaurant to screw up duck - but I've had so many other things there that I will gladly give them a pass (and a great rating). Their lamb rack is perfection, their tenderloins are all perfect and even better than many steakhouses I've been to, their short ribs to die for... so I still love you Mistral. Oh, and their foie gras is my favorite preparation I've ever had - unreal!

Jen J.

I went here last night during Restaurant Week. Maybe it's not fair to judge a place solely on a RW experience, but the whole point of RW is to wow people who've never been to your restaurant before, so they come back again and pay full price. Unfortunately, Mistral didn't live up to the hype, even with RW prices. We made a reservation at 8:00 at arrived right on time--we were going to use the valet, but saw a spot opening up just down the block, so we parked there instead. Good thing, since valet is $17 (!). We stepped inside and were greeted by the hostess, who was professional enough but also pretentious-like working at one of the top restaurants in Boston allowed her to be snotty. Except it doesn't. We were led through the restaurant, which was busy and well-decorated, to what seemed like the function room in back, which was much quieter. I would have preferred to be in the main dining room but it was RW and they were busy, so I can't really complain. We looked over the wine list and opted for a glass of Pinot Noir (A to Z, $13) and Cab Sav (also $13), both of which were off their regular wine list (not the RW featured wines), and very good. The menu had RW selections as well as a few of their regular plates--we both chose RW options. The boyfriend had the mushroom & truffle bisque to start, and I had the caesar salad. I tried his soup and it was good, complex and rich without being heavy. My salad was just ok though--there wasn't really anything wrong with it, but I wasn't a big fan of the dressing or flavor of the croutons. Very forgettable. Next up were the mains--cornish game hens with potato & spinach for him, salmon with risotto for me. Again, his dish was good--the hen was moist and flavorful. I was underwhelmed by my salmon though--again there was nothing really wrong with it, I just have had better elsewhere, even at home. The skin was somewhat crispy but very hard to cut, and while the portion of salmon was large, I only had about 1/3 cup of risotto at most. It (the risotto) was slightly underdone for my taste (I know it's supposed to be "al dente", but this was under that), and didn't really have any outstanding flavors. Again, meh. We both finished with the profiteroles, which were served with ice cream, pistachios and chocolate sauce. I'd had these before at Brasserie Jo, and liked those better because they were warm. These weren't and were fine, but again didn't really stand out. I did like the pistachios, because their saltiness worked well with the sweetness of the chocolate sauce. Usually dessert is the highlight of the meal for me, and I guess I'd say that's true here, but it wasn't a huge highlight. Good, but just not amazing. I don't mind paying for a meal out if it's delicious and a memorable experience, but I'm not sure the meal I had was even worth the $38.13/person price. That's not crazy expensive to me, but it is expensive for what I got. The only thing that saved Mistral from being two stars is the service, which was good. Our server Emilio (I think) was polite and attentive, and although the courses were paced very slow (more than 10 minutes between courses), he made sure to keep our water glasses full and cleared our plates quickly. Maybe my expectations were just too high and going during RW was a bad choice, but Mistral is supposed to be one of the best in Boston and I thought they'd put out better quality than what I experienced.

Robert B.

Had one of the worst experiences of my 16 years living in Boston at this restaurant!!! Was meeting friends to celebrate their birthdays so I showed up with flowers as a gift. Was greeted with with utmost contempt and disrespect when I tired to find out where my friends were seated. The male greeter talked to me as if I was wasting his time. When I finally figured out where my friends were seated, the male greeter growled out me saying he will take the flowers I brought with me to my friends. I explained that I was not delivering the flowers, but was actually there as a customer. Mind you I had just got out of work and was in business casual attire, not wearing jeans and a t shirt. Being a person of color, I have been profiled many times while in Boston. This interaction felt like I was profiled. I joined my friends and stayed around for a couple of drinks. While having the drinks, I asked to speak with the manager so I could talk about what happened. I found out that the male greeter with whom I had interacted with was actually one of the managers on duty. I confronted him in private so as not create a seen. I told how disrespected I felt about what had happened. All I got was a canned apology which was definitely not sincere. If he is the face of a restaurant that is supposedly one of the best in Boston, then restaurant is in trouble. I will definitely not be recommending Mistral to anybody I know. I left the place sick to my stomach. The whole thing definitely felt racist.

Karen H.

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday dinner during restaurant week and it was by far the best resturant I've ever been to. I even recommended it to my mom and her co-workers when she came to Boston for a business trip and everyone raved about how delicious the food was afterwards. A bit pricey but it is totally worth it. We ordered the grilled scottish salmon and the red wine braised short ribs. My salmon was cooked to perfection and I could taste the smokey flavor from the grill. I really appreciate when a fish dish isn't over-seasoned but rather embraces the natural flavor of the fish. Love love LOVED it. My boyfriend also really enjoyed his short ribs and said they were tender and came right off the bone. Yum. As for the atmosphere, the lights are dim (it was so difficult for me to take a decent photo with my phone, haha) but overall romantic, intimate, and classy. We had a great time here and its a perfect date place. This place is pretty expensive so I definitely recommend to try it out during restaurant week if you don't have the money to splurge. :)

James A.

As a restaurateur myself, I just love a place that puts 100% into what they do and do it well.. Mistrals is definitely is one of the best and one of my favorite places to dine in the great city of Boston.. My partner surprised me with overnight visit to Boston, before heading to PTown for my big 40th Bday. He has never been and sees on my Facebook page, my comments and that I am a big fan of yours. So needless to say it was a wonderful surprise and was wonderful night.. We started off with some excellent wine..Started off, my partner had the ceaser salad and I had the light and airy RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH ENGLISH PEAS, SUMMER CHANTERELLES & PARMESAN amazing dish.. For dinner my partner had the GRILLED TENDERLOIN OF BEEF, BORDELAISE STYLE, OLIVE OIL ROASTED ASPARAGUS & HORSERADISH WHIPPED POTATO which was wonderful. I had the fresh PAN ROASTED NATIVE HALIBUT WITH CHANTERELLE AND ZUCCHINI BLOSSOM RISOTTO, SWEET SUMMER CORN. An absolute winner if I do say so myself.. With no room to spare for desert, our lovely and attentive waiter surprised me with a trio of homemade sorbets, candle and Bday wish.. Great food, attentive staff and beautiful environment. Bravo and thank you for another wonderful visit... James

Eugene B.

Elegant atmosphere. The food is very tasty and high quality. Service is always great. I keep on coming back. Also, the drinks are awesome.

Lincoln P.

One of our absolute favorites. The dinner is fantastic, but I think the brunch might be even better. If you enjoy eating, you'll love Mistral.

Back B.

I have dined at many sunday brunch establishments, Mistral may be the best brunch I've had in Boston. And its hard to say that it lacked in service, or that the staff were not punctual, or the food wasn't amazing. This resturant is in a class in itself. Everything was spot on. If you are a foodie connoisseur, see why this resturant stands out. Make reservations at Mistral for Sunday brunch!

Priscilla T.

Great date or celebration spot. Yummy pasta, good service, and all around top notch food!

Amanda B.

Restaurant Week review! Visited last night with a friend for our bi-annual RW meal. Mistral had been on the list for a while and we decided now was the time. The interior is ...impeccable. No other word for it. Clean, modern (and also a touch rustic at the same time), and classy. Very bright and open space. And man, they really pack 'em in there! We had an early res (5:30) and when we got there, things were already starting to pick up. And naturally, the RW menu had changed when we got there. We both started with the Chilled Summer Corn Soup with Avocado and Jumbo Lump Crab, Jalapeño Oil. Delicious. Just so good. The jalapeno was not overwhelming (I am usually not a fan) and the whole dish was light and summery. I chose the Grilled Pork Chop with Sweet Corn & Summer Peach Panzanella, Aged Sherry Vinaigrette for my entree. For someone who loves food so much, I can be picky and onions and tomatoes are not high on my list. I wasn't really thinking about that when I ordered. All I saw was "Grilled Pork Chop with Corn." The chop was really good, though a bit tough to cut, but I'm going to blame that on the knife (not really that sharp!) because it didn't taste tough. My friend ordered the Duck Confit with Wild Mushroom Risotto and I was immediately jealous. I tasted the risotto and wow- YUM. But she said her duck was tough and too fatty. For dessert, I had the Lemon Butter Milk Panna Cotta with Raspberries and Crunchy Meringue. A fabulous way to end this perfect summery meal. So tasty and light. The panna cotta was perfectly done. My friend chose the Nectarine Crumble and loved it. We also both enjoyed a glass of the RW rose with dinner- a great choice if you're looking to keep your meal light! I would definitely visit Mistral again. I've heard they do a lovely brunch and that's my jam.

Leo L.

Too bad we decided to sit at the bar while waiting for the rest of the party to show up to seat at the table for dinner, as we had a bad experience with the unfriendly and unprofessional bartenders... Rating it a 3 star just because of the bar experience as the host and waitress - for the table - provided us with a great and friendly service for the rest of the night... If you are looking into Mistral for dinner, you should definitely go, but if you are looking into going here after work for a bite to eat at the bar or just a drink, go to Davio's, Red Lantern or even The Brahmin..!!!

Michael B.

Mistral is one of my favorite Boston dining spots. Classy, but not-too-pretentious top-tier restaurant. Not surprisingly, it's not cheap. I've been 3 times, most recently for a graduation celebration. Fantastic place to celebrate with family and friends. Service is top-notch. Food is delicious. Champagne bubbly. Atmosphere very pleasant - high ceilings and windows that let natural light in and offer some limited views of downtown buildings. Mistral also has room(s) for private parties in the back -- great for recruiting events and other types of receptions. Worth checking out for sure!

Anais G.

I loved the sleek-rustic atmosphere of this restaurant. The corner seating let you be close to your dinner mate and the pillows add an awesome cozy touch. The service is really great and our server was very caring and nice. The food is Fantastic!!! I had the best butternut tortellini of my life, I would have leaked the plate ( actually I soaked the brown-butter sage sauce with the fresh sourdough delicious bread! Ssshhh!!) I had the salmon and my boyfriend the swordfish! Usually, I am not a big fan of fish but both dishes were just delicious. The salmon was melting in your mouth without being overly rich. The autumn roasted veggies were to die for. And the dessert was a typical southern France Apple pie, a Croustade, which was absolutely delightful. The wine list is also very dense and you will probably find a wine to accompany your dinner ( I suggest a Burgundy white, yum!!) An awesome date/birthday/anniversary destination!!

Michael G.

Review of Mistral for Restaurant week 2011 ONLY. Corn Soup and Grilled Salmon were outstanding. Dessert was good but a bit small. Serrver was good but seemed a bit ovewhelmed. Crowd was younger than usual for this restaurant due to RW. However the great looking people I used to see here 5 years ago are gone. I hear they are now at Scampo Summary: This is one of the best buys around for RW. But a larger portion of the app (soup) and the dessert would be appreciated. This is a 5 star place except during RW but the prices are very high then.

Gabriel H.

Had dinner here with a friend last week. The BUTTERNUT SQUASH TORTELLINI WITH BROWN BUTTER & SAGE was ridiculous. The pizza (beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes) had terrific ingredients but perhaps not enough of them to make it truly savory. Swordfish portion was Enormous. the tortellini was truly the best, and the rest was somewhat underwhelming, but I would certainly return again there are a number of menu items that look delicious that i need to try. very nice upscale dining room without feeling stuffy. looking forward to going back for brunch, menu looks amazing!

Allan S.

Mistral consistently receives top ratings from just about everyone that dines there. There is little that I can add other than we love sitting at the bar and getting to know the people next to us (I know, un-Boston-like behavior, but I am from SoCal). Try the Basil martini, I kid you not! It is not on the menu and is really really good. Berries are also not on the menu but they will serve them with your champagne if you ask for it. The appetizers are as delicious as the meals. We will often forgo a main course and just dine on appetizers.

david s.

I live in NY and I love this place just really good solid food and nice atmosphere. Come everytime I am in beantown

Terry W.

Went here for brunch and all I can think about is when can I go back! Jelly donuts or munchkins that are like crack! Amazing, eggs Benedict that were great and a crab omelet that has my mouth watering just thinking of it. Service was great and drink menu was as well. Go here you'll not be disappointed.

J A.

I came here for dinner during restaurant week and was fairly pleased. The dining room is well laid out with great natural light however tables are very close together which contributes to the noise level. Server was friendly, introduced herself and provided the days specials. We were served a round bread with butter and a chickpea spread (very good). Starter of English Pea bisque was good, followed by an okay 12 oz sirloin. I was underwhelmed with the devil's food cake although it was very well presented. Overall, I'm willing to give this place another try but won't be rushing back.

Jenny L.

I was not impressed with my experience at Mistral at all. The place itself is quaint and cozy but very loud. I could barely hear my bf who was sitting across the table from me. The service was extremely slow and even though they apologized for the wait, nothing was done to improve our experience. When you go to a restaurant like this, you expect them to do something...bring you an additional appetizer, comp dessert, etc. Not only that, the waitress told us the specials for the night and then told us it was no longer available when she came to take our order. It was only 8pm and the restaurant was only halfway through dinner service and they ran out of their special already? We ended up ordering the beef tenderloin flat bread pizza which was quite good. Our entrees of duck and halibut were dry and nothing special. I can get a better duck in Chinatown for half the price. For dessert we got the chocolate torte and the ice cream sandwich. The torte was good but you can get better ice cream and cookies at Cold Stone. And the funny part? The waitress kept asking my bf if the dishes she brought out were spectacular. I wish he had just said no to her and risk her spitting in our food. So in conclusion, there wasn't much that was good about this place and I will never return if I have to pay for the meal myself. If you're going to charge these kind of prices, you need to do everything well and they definitely don't. That being said, if I had to come back here again, I would stick to drinks and pizza. Those are the only things that they actually do well.

Jessica C.

Mistral was a pleasant experience. We needed to eat dinner in 1 hour since we had to catch the prayer meeting. For a Tuesday night, it was extremely packed out. I think most ppl came straight from work, since professional attire was of the norm. Anyhow, I was meeting my husband there so I checked in and then waited at the bar. The bar staff was super nice and quick to see what I wanted. The hubby came soon afterward and we were seated. We shared a total of 4 appetizers: mushroom capraccio, mussels, butternut squash and crab ravioli. This was the perfect amount for a dinner between us 2. All was delicious and the butternut squash was very FALL feeling, very sweet and just perfect. The crab ravioli was generously stuffed with fresh crab and the mussels came in a little clay pot, but a very generous portion. The mushrooms were prepared in such thin slices, it was the best veggie app ever. I would order all 4 dishes again. The husband used to know the pastry chef here but since they now have a new guy, I tried his rasberry creme brulee. Either I was super in the mood for creme brulee, or it was just that good. There was a little verona-like biscuit that gave a perfect nutty taste as well. We were out of there on-time and the wait staff was perfectly efficient about it all. This restaurant has been around for years and has been consistently good, we will be back!

Michal P.

The mussels are to die for. I have been here a couple of times and I'm always very satisfied with service and the food.

Joanne C.

3.5-4 stars. My date and I went on the first day of Boston Restaurant Week (last night). The business was great, needless to say during Restaurant week. Despite having booked in advance and receiving a call 24 hours to confirm, the wait was 30-40 mins. I loved how spacious the restaurant was, high ceiling, dim lighting, warm decor. Very romantic and classy! Food - honestly, I was a little disappointed (but I had very high expectations!) I'd been wanting to try Mistral for a while and looked so forward to it. For appetizers, we ordered the mushroom bisque (so-so; not bad) and beef sirloin carpaccio (average). Entree - grilled tenderloin beef - very good, juicy, tender, flavoursome and minimal fat. The only complaint is that the order was for medium rare but it was a little over-cooked (almost a medium). The other entree we ordered was the Osso-bucco - a bit of a let down. A little dry, and way too sweet. Meat was tender though. I didn't finish it (not a good sign). Side order - Mushroom risotto - this was delicious. A very small portion ($18 though) but very tasty. Infused with truffle and very cheesy. Delicious. Dessert - panna cotta - hmm soso. A little on the too sweet and creamy side. Overall, a good place to try. Very fancy, fairly satisfied but was not quite the taste of heaven.

Abdullah A.

You bank on Mistral to delivery consistent service, great atmosphere, and an exceptional dining experience...every single time. The food, though, does not surprise me. I would expect more taste, which I unfortunately do not experience in the 4-5 times I have been there. Dishes: - The mussels are worth checking out - The rack of lamb is something out of this world - Great thin crust pizzas - Warm chocolate torte...put your diet on hold and try it Only negative is the TV at the bar. Kind of ruins the ambiance. Otherwise, cool place.

Nors P.

My friend and I had dinner at Mistral last night as part of Boston's Restaurant week - (3 courses for 33 bucks). Service - (4.5 Stars) Great - friendly, curteous, not rushed - knowledgable about the food and made good recommendations. Made us feel very welcome Atmosphere - (5 stars) Wonderful, nice lighting and we felt very comfortable sitting, eating and chatting for a few hours. Food - Good (3 stars) The bread was warm, crusty, yum and the butter and white bean dip (guessing) were great! We started with the Mushroom Bisque - creamy, smooth, rich but not overly heavy and good but not terribly memorable- and the Beef Carpaccio (yay for truffle oil!) Entrees were the pork shank and Salmon which were both phenomenal - 5 stars - so good! Dessert - Devils food cake with milk chocolate sauce and vanilla icecream - exactly that, nothing special, and the panna cotta with salted carmel - meh - interesting but nothing too special either.

Bridget B.

Big surprise, I love Mistral. The Decor is great, the food is fantastic, and the help is helpful. There's really not much more I can say about such a highly rated restaurant other than the fact that I think it lives up to the hype, which is rare.

Brian G.

Went for Restaurant week and we had an amazing time. The food and service were all excellent and the wine list was great with prices that were affordable (during Restaurant week that is). I'd go back for a nice date or special occasion.

mike h.

A favorite for me when I'm in Boston. Great place for a business dinner or with Friends.

unknown u.

I've been going to mistral since may on a monthly basis. I order the lemon blueberry pancakes and they are delicious, complimented with marscapone and sweetened lemon peels. The mimosa's are great too. The best server for brunch that we have had was a girl named rose, she is nice, pleasant and gets your order correct every time. The decor is nice similar to the sister restaurants and it is very open and spacious. The booths are very cozy, especially the corner ones with pillows. Always great to snuggle up to your live when eating brunch.

Jason S.

We love Mistral for dinner, tried Brunch this past Sunday and as usual the staff, and food were excellent. We had the beef tenderloin benedict, the steak and eggs, mushroom fritata, and the burger and all were great! Drinks are also very good and well priced for brunch. We will try to make this our usual Sunday brunch spot.

Jacqueline H.

This place is TRES COOL! The atmosphere is very trendy and it's great for a date spot. They're doing restaurant week, which is helfpul, because it is a little pricey, but absolutely worth it. Working on a tight budget? At least stop in for a drink and dessert at the bar, it's well worth it!

A F.

I really wanted to love this place. Got great reviews on yelp, but I was really disappointed. Came here for restaurant week with my boyfriend. Food was OK, I had the carpaccio for app, grilled salmon for entree, and the apricot tart for desert. The best part was the desert, the app and entree were so so.... Worse part was service. Our waiter came to around to us only once. My wine glass was empty and he didn't even ask if I wanted seconds, which I did. We waited forever for him to come around so we could have our check and we finally resulted to asking one of the other waiters. Giving two stars for ambiance and our water glass was never empty due to the attentive bus boys.

Liz L.

B'day celebration.. one glass champagne each, one Caesar salad, two entrees, no dessert, Total- $136 plus tip,, about what we expected. We went on a Tuesday, it was early, about 5:45PM. We parked about a block away & fed meter... Mistral has lovely atmosphere/decor but I agree with one previous reviewer; certain seating puts you too close to fellow diners.. Along the wall, the seating consists of a long line of small tables; one diner has a chair, the other diner sits on a very comfortable "sofa" [pillows and all] that runs the length of the wall. We were OK because it was early & not crowded but when the restaurant is full, conversation might be difficult because you'll be elbow to elbow, just so you know. He had Rack of Lamb [$44] which came with rainbow chard and a garlicky type of potato. I ordered grilled tenderloin Bordelaise Style w/ Roasted Asparagus & Horseradish Whipped Potato.. beef was fabulous but the potatoes w/horseradish was a letdown.. I love horseradish & the combo intrigued me but it was just OK, not bad, just OK.. The lamb was a surprise.. we expected a small but delectable portion but to our amazement the rack of lamb was two huge pieces on the bone but already separated.. they had been rolled in something delicious and the lamb was so tender & mild it melted in your mouth. It really was an outstanding dish.. Service was attentive but not overbearing & manager stopped by to check and ask how everything was... nice touch & we appreciated the extra effort.. All in all, very nice.

Enrique D.

mmmm hmmm. this place is delicious. period. worth every pretty penny...and it will run you a few... especially if you like to order full courses, wine,etc. but i dunno about you, if ur out to a place like this , money should not be on your mind. eat , drink , relax, get ur bill, cry a little, drink some more and eventually you wont care :) its worth it. dress up. i had given 4 stars... but then i remembered... on valentine's day, they even sent us a private car to pick us up...and then drove us home when we were done!!! are u kidding me? 5 stars for sure.

Mike B.

I've been to Mistral twice, and it is very, very good. The service is outstanding. The atmosphere arresting. The food is superb. On my most recent visit, I had the tuna tartar for an appetizer, and it was among the most sublime dishes I've had the pleasure of tasting (Yikes! Did I just say "sublime?"): the tuna was served in a chilled sauce of soy, ginger and cilantro, and was topped with crispy wonton strings. Holy crap was it good!!! One word of caution: on my most recent visit, I had the Dover sole and was very disappointed. It was good (and a very good-sized portion); but perhaps because it came after the tuna tartar (which was extremely flavorful), it tasted relatively bland. Yes, yes, I understand it's a delicate tasting fish and all, but still... for $48 (the spendiest dish on the list), there should have been more *wow*. For dessert, I had the Pistachio-crusted profiteroles with vanilla ice cream: freaking great. Bottom line: were it not for the outstanding service, it would be somewhat overpriced. But if you go for the tuna with a vodka martini, you will not be disappointed!

Hubert H.

Went here for a wedding dinner / reception. Wonderful food, great ambiance, and very attentive wait staff. it's been a while but I remember the duck confit being rich and succulent, and the desserts being varied and light and all together delicious. Can't speak for the main dining room but I assume it's as good as well.

Jungmin L.

In my mind, there is a dichotomy between the food at Mistral and the price you pay/image it wants to project. The dining room is luxurious and classic, blending well into the modern/hip bar area. Thumbs up on the interior. However, the food is A-ok: every dish, while absolutely acceptable and well plated, had at least one crucial misstep. The cherries are too strong for the foie gras. Decrease the cherry ratios or use an onion/raisin compote, would cut the fattiness while accentuating the foie gras in the right way. The consistency of the tenderloin on the pizza was rubbery: thicker, smaller, juicier cubes may work better. Chicken special of the night was good but needed more mushrooms. And so the story goes on. On the dessert menu, nothing much is worth it apart from the profiteroles. I personally love profiteroles, and Mistral's, paired with pistachios, are delectable. Only complaint is that the vanilla ice cream is indistinguishable from Friendly's vanilla bean - while I kind of enjoy the "cheap" junk food taste a lot, I expect the ice cream to have more oomph to it if i'm paying so much for it. Not to say that it's bad, just saying that the food has so much potential to be better!

Andy M.

Sorry...for these prices MIstral falls short on multiple fronts. Our appetizers were OK (gauged against what one should expect for a $300 dinner for two), but our entrees were sub-par. The duck was inexplicably undersauced. When you were halfway done with the dish, there simply was no sauce left...and plain duck just isn't a terribly appetizing experience. My wife's salmon was blah and missing ingredients promised on the menu. Dessert was good. But most of all, they really need to start enforcing a dress code -- I'm sorry, but a purported high-end restaurant should turn away diners dressed like they just finished changing the oil in their car.

Brent S.

Very good experience. The service was good and the food is pretty outstanding. It's also walking distance from the mall attached to the Marriot. I would recommend trying the lobster bisque and the Colorado lamb. The lobster bisque is creatively presented in a souffle looking soup bowl. And the Colorado lamb had a divinely tasting sauce that made this dish quite unique.

Foodforthought.m F.

Delicious, especially the truffled macaroni and cheese! Great staff. Beautiful decor. Great Bartenders. Overall, this is one of my favourite spots in the city for drinks or dinner (the bar scene is quite lively and good looking, esp. on fridays.)

C.F. H.

This is a great restaurant. I could elaborate, but ultimately all I will do is pontificate... Great food, great drinks and a unique, beautiful decor. You can NOT go wrong here.

Nisha V.

I came here for date night on a Thursday evening. I recommend making a reservation in advance, since I couldn't get one for Saturday night a week in advance. The decor at Mistral is beautiful. Wide open spaces and a sophisticated ambiance-hard to find in Boston restaurants. The food was divine. I had the salmon with black beluga lentils. I had to close my eyes after the first bite. Always a good sign. Even the lentils were so perfectly cooked and seasoned. Aaand, the portions are huge! It's nice to find an upscale restaurant that doesn't charge you a fortune for a 3 oz piece of meat with parsley on the side. We also had a nice bottle of Malbec. Despite the pricy menu, Mistral offers a handful of reasonably priced wines. There's a pinot grigio for $40, a cab for $45, a Malbec for $50, and a few others. Another plus. The one (partial) downside was the wait service. We were expecting 5-star service, but our server wasn't too friendly. Makes it more of a 4.5 star review. On the other hand, the other staff was very accommodating. The valet waited out in the cold for several minutes to get us a cab. Overall, a wonderful experience and worth the occasional splurge.

Aboud Y.

One of the best fine dining establishments in Boston. Period.

Caity G.

Amazing. Ate here a few weekends ago and left full and happy. The interior is chic and beautiful...really great atmosphere whether you're on a date or with the parents. I got the the salmon...was perfect and came with grilled veggies. Definitely the best salmon I've had in Boston. My date got the sole...which he let me try and was soo delicious. But beware, the menu only says "market price"...it was $60. I thought it was worth that much but my date (who was paying) was a little annoyed. I'd come here again for sure- one of my best meals I've had in a while.

Chip C.

What can I say the food is great, came here on the Restaurant Week menu in August 2010. Was seated promptly in a cozy booth with a few coworkers. I had the caesar salad, steak and chocolate mousse. Everything came out as ordered, nothing really bad to say about the food portion of the meal. The great food was partially overshadowed by the strange waiter we had there. Our group was a range of ages (30 - 50) and this guy took to treating like kids. While maybe something suitable for your local Chuck-E-Cheese this is not something I expect in a fine dining establishment. Using words like "din-din" just wasn't cute and at one point went on about licking the dessert bowl was downright embarrassing. Friends have had very professional servers there so I guess I was just unlucky.

Erdan L.

Really disappointed for the restaurant week menu. Dishes have no flavor at all. It will be best if they can note in the restaurant week menu, "Don't expect the food to be good. This menu is for ripping off people only"

Bianca G.

I've only eaten here once but WOW it was amazing. I went with a group of people from work and the ambiance at Mistral was perfect: business-y enough but very classy and surprisingly relaxing. Everyone has been raving about the tuna tartare here and now I know why. But that night they also had a salmon tartare special and after I took a bite off it, OMG it was so good I started making some very unprofessional-sounding moans. But it really was THAT good, I couldn't help it... The escargot and the foie gras (two of my favorite rich foods of all time) were also pretty impressive. Good thing our table decided to get one appetizer each and share with everyone, so I was able to try multiple bites of goodness (more happy sounds came from me). And the entrees were delish too. Mine was the sirloin, cooked to medium rare perfection with the tastiest whipped potatoes. Mmm-mmm... Our server was super nice and helpful, and I would recommend Mistral even just for the service. Great experience. Overall, the food and service were fantastic - definitely worth the high price tags! And if you're willing to elicit some embarrassed looks from the sounds of satiation you couldn't help but make, go for it.

Ika M.

i went to mistral during restaurant week last year. the main dining room is a large open space and i liked that. the ambiance was wonderfully cozy and i liked everything they served, including the bread! i ate it so voraciously, the waiter had to come by to scrape all the bread crumbs off my side of the table after i finished... how considerate. entree wise, the half duck was delicious, the skin was crisp and the meat was juicy. i remember being extremely full after the meal. what a deal for 33$. make sure you get a reservation!!! it'll be worth it :)

Amy C.

5 stars for the crab ravioli. If I only came to eat that, I'd be super happy. Server was amazing, really friendly and helpful. Disappointed by the beef tenderloin pizza, lacked flavour and texture.

Daniel H.

Very chic and upscale; beautifully designed and a very nice long bar; nice for impressing a date. Food Rating = 4.5 Stars Service Rating = 4.5 Stars Decor Rating = 5 Stars

Nichole O.

I had my wedding in the function review of Mistral, and it was absolutely perfect. My husband and I fell in love with the room as soon as we saw it, and for a small wedding (50 guests) it couldn't have been better. Everyone there was extremely accommodating. I was worried because the regular even planner was on vacation during our reception, but it didn't affect anything! The servers were all so professional and helpful; they would check with us before doing things like bringing back the cake, and were always responsive to our requests. Truly excellent service where everything is taken care of exactly as you want it, but you barely notice that it's happening. And the food was of course AMAZING. I felt as though you got a lot of food for the costs, and people are still raving about it, especially the duck! We brought in our own cake, and they plated it for us with ice cream. The presentation was beautiful, especially for a cake they didn't make! If you don't want to worry about the details, then this place is perfect. All the small touches were there, from the lighting, to place settings to candles on the cake table, and we didn't have to worry about it at all. We also did bring in some of our own items, which they displayed and took care of perfectly. My husband wasn't a huge part of the planning process, and was just so impressed by how everything turned out. We can't wait to go back for dinner and enjoy again!

Sara T.

I've been here 3 or 4 times now and had consistently great experiences each time. The Beef Carpaccio (please ignore my spelling shortfalls) and tuna tartar are excellent. The food is consistently good. The ambiance is nice - low lighting, elegant, slight industrial feel but not cold. The drink menu is suprisingly creative with a great martini menu and huge wine list. Dessert is the best part so save room!!! I have had beef short ribs and salmon - both excellent with great accompaning sides. I love this place and would recommend to a friend looking for a higher price place for a special occasion (or a rich dude who eats $100 dinners every night)

Bill C.

Expensive, but worth it. I've been here a number of times and never been disappointed. This is a great spot for a romantic dinner. I recommend getting a reservation, but if you head there last minute you could probably get a seat at the bar or lounge.

Jenny B.

-crab ravioli: good, but made out of wonton skins and only 4 of them. taste was good but not spectacular for cost - linguine: very good, light, fresh ingredients - bread with hummus: delicious. the bread was perfectly crusty.

Bob W.

I went here for restaurant week - maybe that's why the meal was sub-par, but I'm still going to give it the review it deserves. First the good - our waiter was excellent, and the salmon/avocado app was very good. Now for the rest - entrees were OK at best - nothing I would every order again, even for half the price. Dessert was also a disappointment - it was called devils food cake, but that's really all it was - a basic light chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. I think I could get that at a grocery store. The valet parking was terrible - we waited about 40 min for our car.

Chris P.

Living in San Francisco, admittedly I do try to give as much credit as I possibly can to Boston restaurants when I visit out here, which I do often. But, honestly, I don't think they will ever live up to the service and the food quality that I get for half the price every day living out West. Why should ANYONE have to pay this much to even have a SHOT at an amazing meal and service??? But I digress... However, friends of mine did rave about Mistral, and the menu looked promising, so I thought I would give it a try. What a majorly expensive disappointment... it just missed on too many marks, although it did excel at some. The duck confit in warm brioche with seared foie gras appetizer my dining companion had was simply amazing. The red wine mushroom sauce oozing through the side of the brioche, the perfectly seared foie gras that you could cut with a fork... OK... that was heaven... then we went downhill from here... My appetizer of crab ravioli would have likely been better had the plate not been so darn hot I almost burnt my pinkie! I understand the concept of food being served on warm plates, but the plates were so ridiculously hot that unless I was a starving child that would eat anything in front of him in 2 seconds flat, something bad is bound to happen as the food continues to cook there in front of you. The crab ravioli turned into doughy potstickers, the sauce a mere pasty resemblance to what the chef might have thought it should be. The mains took it downhill from there - the beef tenderloin survived the first bite well, but the ridiculously hot plate ensured that it cooked from the medium-rare I requested to a medium in about 3 minutes and the sauce became the consistency of kid's sidewalk chalk. My dining partner's halibut screamed for mercy as it continued to simmer in a beurre blanc, itself becoming as dry as grandpa's cedar tobacco holder as the sauce took on the consistency of a plate full of Ms. Dash. I actually inquired about why the plates needed to be so hot, and the response was "the Chef likes to serve on hot plates as it keeps the food warm for our experience." Hot plates I get... scalding my finger to the point of 3rd degree, I think you doth need a re-check. I have never ever EVER in San Francisco seen restaurants need plates that hot to serve amazing food that is the appropriate temperature when you bring it out. Come on people - this technique has been perfected many places around the world, not just SF: put your attitude aside and pay attention! Then for dessert, the waiter just proceeded to piss me off. I did indeed want the molten chocolate cake. BUT, I honestly only like intensely dark chocolate. So, I inquired, "what percentage cacao is the chocolate that is used in the dish?" To which he replied, "trust me, it's really dark chocolate" in a very flippant manner. Excuse me? I'm paying a lot of money for this meal and if you don't know, you frackin' offer to go ASK THE CHEF. It's not that hard. And it's not an uncommon question from someone who actually appreciates chocolate. Alas, the cake was pretty good, although my friend's dessert was also a little disappointing - nothing special at all there. The service was arrogant, borderline rude, and what could have been amazing food was ruined by techniques that should have been left in the last decade. Boston restaurants have so much to learn. If Mistral had the intense competition experienced by San Francisco restaurants daily, it might improve its act. I can tell you that I am never taking my expense account or anyone I know and care for deeply there ever again. I can forgive a few mistakes - but blend the arrogance with a LOT of mistakes and you have the recipe for an unmitigated disaster.

Billie M.

I actually jump up and down in excitement when someone suggests Mistral. Everything about it makes me genuinely happy. I love how laid back it is, while still maintaining a sexy, upscale feel. I love that we can order foie gras, tuna, and pizza, and not be able to decide which I liked the best. And don't even get me started on the fries (I also apparently love how they encourage gluttony). The drinks give me a warm glowy feeling (except the blood orange martini, skip that) and the waitstaff is competent AND good looking, which is rare in Boston (if one more modelesque waiter simpers their way through my meal, I am going to scream) Go Go Go to Mistral, I recommend a later Friday/Saturday night reservation, because this place will definitely put you in the mood....

Sean E.

So Summer Restaurant Week(s) '07 led us to Mistral. We'd already been to Sorellina and were absolutely wowed by that place so I figured our next high-end stop should be its big brother Mistral. Good choice, me. Now while it could be argued that the little sister has grown up to outshine Mistral, there's still a whole helluva lot to admire here. The space was well chosen, with it's high ceiling, big windows and view of the Prudential. The interior is big and roomy, basically one large room -- the bar is separated from the dining room by a row of trees and at one end of it, at the front of the room, is a separate area with small tables, couches and chairs and where people were hanging-out with their drinks. You know, being fabulous or whatnot. There were soups to start us off -- a corn soup with a ring of green jalapeno oil and an island of lobster and avocado. Zang! I had the tomato gazpacho with some very tasty crab and a dollop of creme. Yeowza! Both very fresh, bright and clean flavors. I don't recall if I've ever had corn soup before, but I do know that I've had very few soups that can compare with Mistral's corn soup. Really, I'd never have thought that corn soup could be that good. That led us to a salmon dish that had a perfectly prepared cut resting atop some couscous and vegetables with a delicious dressing; and a dish of chicken breast with cornbread, a caramelized peach and this amazing corn, bean and confit thing that was going on. Zim zam! While not as entirely mind blowing as the soups, these were immaculately prepared dishes. There's not much you can do to a chicken breast to make it knock one's socks off, but this guys was so perfectly tender and moist and the skin so perfectly crisp... I'll tell you one thing as well, these guys know there was around some corn -- because that cornbread muffin was insane. The desserts were an over-the-top chocolate souffle and a peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. I killed that cobbler in under a couple minutes. The waitress said the peaches were marinated in schnapps, so that might have had something to do with it. I don't know what's going on with their ice cream, the secret ingredient may very well be crack, but I'd be willing to return to Mistral just to attack more of the dessert menu. While reservations for this place were a little trickier than usual -- the bar seemed to be a good place to head to if you're without one. It was only half-full at the most the entire time we were there. Service was good. The waitress was cool and knew her stuff, but there were a couple periods when we were waiting for dessert and then the check where we were wondering what had happened to her. But after being so thoroughly pleased with our meals it was a minor quibble and considering it was Restaurant Week, all was forgiven. I would recommend Mistral if you're looking for somewhere to go on that special occasion, and you bet I'm going to try to get here again to check out all that good stuff that doesn't get put on the prix fixe menu.

Ron S.

This was our second time here. I wasn't overwhelmed by the first visit, but since the reviews are so positive, I thought maybe we were just unlucky, so we gave it a second chance. The three word summary is: still not overwhelmed. This is an expensive restaurant, over $100/person with cocktails and a modest ($80) bottle of wine for three of us. Appetizers and entree but no dessert. So I'm comparing it to similarly priced venues. We got seated promptly by a friendly hostess and got what appeared to be a good table by the rear windows. More on that later. Waited 10 minutes for the waiter to appear and ordered cocktails. He blew my order which was a Gibson up but he brought on the rocks. I sent it back to be corrected and all he did was put it in a martini shaker and poured it into a martini glass at the table. By this time it was mostly water and I sent it back again, switching to wine. That came and the waiter went: for a long time. He finally came back after a very long wait during which we finished our drinks. Finally we ordered. The food came out at a reasonable pace. Appetizers were Caesar salad, pea soup and mussels. The salad was nothing special, and lacked sufficient dressing. We had to ask for more. The mussels were ok, but had an artificial smoke flavor which was distracting. The pea soup was good, with a dollop of creme freche flavored with truffle oil. Actually a bit heavy on the truffle flavor, which probably means it was 2,4 dithiapentane, the real deal being absurdly expensive. Between the artificial smoke and truffle oil, I guess the theme was better living through chemistry. Entrees were bouillabaisse, swordfish and halibutIt. With bouillabaisse the broth should be boss, this wasn't. Bland without that deep fish flavor. The fish was flavorful, but overcooked. The swordfish was a thin cut and lacked much fat, even though I asked for a belly cut or the fattiest cut they had. It's flavor was dominated by some sweet tomatoes and other veggies and the swordfish got lost. The halibut was very good, perfectly cooked and with a sauce that nicely complimented the fish. Back to the seating. The restaurant was overcrowded, and my seat got jostled the entire evening, even by our own server. Very distracting. And I almost got bowled over by an inattentive server who ran into me as I was up from the table. It's a great venue, which may influence the reviews. Dramatic high ceilings and decor. The crowd was smartly dressed with about half the gentlemen wearing blazers, no ties. But the meal did not live up to expectations and I think two chances will be all I am willing to give them.

Meghana A.

We came here and thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. Everything was cooked to perfection. The icing on the cake was the complementary car service that picked us up at our home and dropped us off after dinner so we didn't have to worry about transportation. You just have to call ahead. Just exceptional service.

Shang S.

I've returned to Mistral twice since my last review, and it remains one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Impeccable service, delicious food, great portions and atmosphere. You can't go wrong!

Denisa D.

I was amazed when a good friend of mine managed to "score" last minute dinner reservations to this place. I had heard of it, but never tried it. I'm glad I got around to do it. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was inviting (great floral arrangements). Our waiter proved to be very attentive and had great wine recommendations; he even offered us samples. We loved his choices but did end up going with a more expensive bottle - only because I really wanted to try the Alsace Riesling. On that note, I was quite impressed with their wine selection. As far as the food is concerned, only compliments. The HALF "WHOLE ROASTED" DUCK & WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO, KUMQUAT GASTRIQUE" was indeed cooked perfectly, as was everything else that we had. The most impressive part was when the waiter surprised my dinning partner with a b-day wish and candle cake - I never mentioned anything, so I wonder if they got the info from OpenTable... I was a nice touch. The deserts are great, btw. I definitely recommend MISTRAL ASSIETTE FOR TWO: CRÈME BRULÉE, POT DU CRÈME AU CHOCOLATE, PROFITEROLE, BERRIES WITH CHAMPAGNE SABAYON

Mohamed A.

I had the foie gras and the mozzarella pizza for appetizer. It wasn't my favorite foie gras but still it has a decent taste. The pizza was fine. What I liked was the steak, the Au poivre, it came with this delicious mashed potatoes covered with shiitake mushrooms. I was satisfied with its size since I was hungry and needed that extra protein. I really felt like eating desert that night but didn't find anything appealing on their menu. Overall I would give it 4/5 but from what I expected of the food I'd say 3.5/5

Casey B.

I walked in and couldn't help but wonder if i was back in NYC's trendy meatpacking/soho area. The dim lighting, modern Tuscan decor and ONLY pretty people made me feel right at home! Might i just say that giving a 5star rating doesn't come easy for me but this was well deserved- the service was great and fast and the food was fabulous! Pricey, yes- very, but so well worth it. This definitely gets ranked amongst my fave sorellina. I recommend the salmon (OMG) and if you like stinky cheeses, the 4 cheese pizza was awesome. Amazing wine list as well! Put on a cute outfit and join me there next time... trashy not need apply, this place is oh so chic.

Todd T.

Went to Mistral last week for restaurant week with my girlfriend. I was pretty impressed, I don't think she enjoyed it as much as I did. I started with the carpaccio which was great had some tasty cheese and sauce to accompany it, although the arugula was a little much. My girlfriend had the mushroom bisque which she described as the best mushroom soup she's ever had. Next I had the sirloin which was huge and had a great sauce with potatoes and spinach under it. She had the "osso busco" which was pork that kind of looked like oxtail in a cheese sauce. I tried it and thought it was very good, but she said it upset her stomach. Lastly I had a the devil's food cake which was ok. The meringue cookies and ice cream on top of it were really good. She had the panna cotta which was much better than my dessert. The waiters were very nice and helpful. The wine selection was good. I don't remember what I had, but it was pretty decent.

Rachel S.

brunch was great the pastry at the start was wonderful the food was great.

Judy L.

We joined yelp just to give this review... We hosted our wedding in the private room at mistral (le salon du mistral) a couple of weeks ago and could not have been happier with everything! Lisa (events manager) was wonderful to work with and made sure that every detail leading up to the event and during the event was more than perfect. The event went off without a hitch - our guests are still talking about the food, the service, the atmosphere, and the FUN that they had! The servers were each incredibly attentive to our every need and made every guest in that room feel well taken care of. The food was AMAZING... we still think about the tuna tartare, crispy truffled mashed potato ravioli (hors d'heuvres), and the roast rack of lamb literally melted in our mouths. It was by far the best wedding food any of our guests have ever had and may have been the best restaurant food too. The room was gorgeous - the normal decor is great and the restaurant set out votive candles everywhere to create an elegant, romantic, intimate feel, our 55 guests couldn't have been more impressed. We were able to do everything in the one room - wedding ceremony, cocktail hour with passed hors d'heuvres, sit down dinner, toasts, DJ and dancing... even the hora! For dessert we had requested a 'do it yourself cupcake bar', something the restaurant had never done but were willing to try - it was a HUGE hit! Mistral did a great job with it, the display and signage were gorgeous. In addition, they recommended a great DJ that already knew the room and was wonderful, Mistral also took care of all signage, name cards, menus, and were great with the unavoidable last minute changes. Our wedding was everything we could have dreamed of - we couldn't have been happier with our experience at Mistral!!

Matt L.

The best restaurant hands down in the city! From start to finish this is the best place to eat and it is pricey, but it is well worth it! The service and the food is top notch and the ambiance is great! Very romantic and worth a visit! I would put ti on my top favorites for the area! Order the Lamb Chops, they are awesome!

Ashley R.

Came here last night for the first time. Was very excited to see if it lived up to the hype. Well, hate to ruin it for anyone but sadly I did not fall in love with out as so many others have. Let's begin with the pros: -seated promptly for an 8pm reservation -the apps came out immediately -the mussels app was amazing! -the hummus served with the bread was delish Cons: -the wait for entrees took a very long -the entrees were tasty but definitely NOT worth the price -it seemed our waiter was overwhelmed and forgot about us at times To further clarify my boyfriend and I started off with the mussels and escargots. The mussels by far being the better option. For entrees we got the lamb and cod with paella. Let me say the texture of the lamb was good but the taste simply was not all there. The gratin served with it though was divine. The cod like the lamb, had a good texture but as far as taste was lacking as well. For dessert we got the chocolate torte which while good was not great. All in all, it was good food but not at all worth the price. If only the taste matched the texture than we'd be good. One other major problem I had was that there was football playing on the tv's (which I could see) during dinner. I mean c'mon aren't there enough dive sports bar in Boston? I don't think a restaurant that tries to pass itself off as an uppercrust French bistro should be showing this, just sayin'.

Jonathan Z.

I could go off on a several page rant about how my meal was but I'll keep this short. This place is great. Not the best place I've ever been to, but from what I've seen in Boston it's gotta be in the top few. I'll give them 5 stars because I gave Troquet 4 and I can't give them the same as Mistral was noticeably better overall. Plus I just love French, Mediterranean cuisine. The good. Pretty much everything. The four of us all got something different and sampled each other's appetizers and entrees. Service was superb. They apparently have a cool appetizer/cocktail area, which is something I am definitely going to have to check out myself as I am a lighter eater. The bad. It was a little noisy. The portions are huge (that probably is a good thing for many people and no I'm not calling you fat). It was troubling because the food was so good that by the end of the meal I found myself struggling to eat it in spite of being completely stuffed. The crowd was a little odd. I got the feeling that many people were trying too hard in the attire/make up department. I agree with some other Yelpers that commented how some of the older women dressed. It was actually a little distracting (not in a good way). Conclusion. This place is fantastic and really does not seem to be overpriced given the quality / portion size. Go here.

Cory B.

Fabulous dinner, fabulous service, incredible atmosphere. Have been there for a date and a group dinner - both times were incredible. I highly recommend for a special night out.

adrianna C.

Mistral is one of the rare places you can just take out five stars and tag it across their name. Where to begin! Strictly as a clinet and no kitchen knowledge, I can admit that the food at Mistral really is out of this world. Ecellent products, tasty and vibrant sauces, unbelievable presentation and first class service. The waitstaff does not carry a smug attitude because they work at well known place. They are very accomodating and gracious. The menu is other worldy, there duck is to die for, very tender and generous. There specials are also very good, I think we had a variation of ahi tuna, Im not sure. My husband had a filet with scallops, I believe it was the special that day. Nothing but rave reviews form him too. The decor and setting is also worthy of five stars. You must expierece it, to truley appreciate it. The pricing is on the higher end of the spectrum and I stress that does not mean that is over priced. You are paying for something well worth the price. The only bummer is valet parking in regards to price and serviec, Mistral si so busy that I suggest you tell your server to kindly give your ticket to the valet, so when you are done your vehicle is waiting. A

Robert G.

So the food was AMAZING! But there just was something wrong with walking into this place in the Back Bay and feeling like I was transported to Newton or Wellsley. The clientele is VERY upscale, and MUCH older than I was thinking. Everything I ate, though, made me want to come back - appetizers were fresh and innovative, dinners were varied and cooked to perfection and the dessert menu made me want to stuff myself even more. As for the decor - think upscale Cheesecake factor (you'll know what I'm talking about when you see it).

M J.

I went to Mistral to try it again after an ok restaurant week experience. I have realized that restaurant week doesn't really bring out the best of most places, and wanted to give Mistral another chance. We sat at the tables near the bar in the front of the restaurant which I actually liked better than the main restaurant area. It was well worth it. We split a variety of appetizers including the GRILLED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM "CARPACCIO" WITH ROASTED PEPPERS AGRODOLCE & ARUGULA, SUSHI GRADE TUNA TARTARE WITH CRISPY WONTONS, GINGER & SOY, and the LAMBS LETTUCE SALAD WITH SOFT GOAT CHEESE & PECAN MELBA, APPLE CIDER VINAIGRETTE. The bread was warm and the butter delicious. For the appetizers and main course that we split ( the GRILLED SWORDFISH WITH MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE SALAD, TORN HERBS, VIN COTTO & EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL), the restaurant was nice enough to do the splitting for us in advance which saved a lot of mess and fuss. Even split, the portions were more than enough and we left feeling full and satisfied. It's clear that this restaurant puts a lot of care and intention into their food- the delicate flavors and beautiful presentation come through and it was overall a wonderful experience.

Joelle B.

Mistral is amazing. The flatbreads are so good, especially the steak one. I thought I'd hate it but I loved it. And not just me, the other five people I dined with as well. The tuna tartare is the best I've ever had. I can't wait to go back.

Jennifer J.

Meet my girls there for Sunday brunch not realizing it was Mother's Day. Sat at the bar. Service and food timing was slow but the food was delicious. But what I really liked was how bright and open it felt during the day. Fantastic place once they get the food out a little faster.

Miguel L.

Best restaurant in Boston. Dinner and brunch, too. Been going for years and always pleased.

Janet K.

Probably my favorite restaurant in Boston. My husband says their grilled tenderloin was the best he's had in Boston and my salmon entree was spectacular. Drinks were great as well.

Chris C.

I was impressed with Mistral We ate here on a Thursday night at 8p for restaurant week. I've always wanted to try Mistral, and the restaurant week menu is one of the better-looking menus, which are so often dumbed-down cheaper dishes they wouldn't serve on the regular menu. This isn't the case with the menu here. Dishes appeared to be similar to the "real" menu, in fact the sirloin steak was big cut of meat for any entree. The space is nice and rustic while having a bit of a modern flair - my partner pretty much summed it up as "upscale-Olive-Garden-meets-Pottery Barn," which is not a bad thing - but it is showing its age just a little. The food is very good. I had the appetizer of duck confit with mushrooms, corn and house-cured bacon with puff pastry which was just luscious and Pan Roasted Sirloin with "Pommes de Terre Lyonnaise", English Stilton and Port Wine sauce that was near perfect. Cooked exactly right, and incredibly tasty. My partner didn't love his chilled corn soup ( it was one-note) The real test of a restaurant is how it reacts to mistakes and when my partner found a sticker from the laundry service under his steak, they were super good about whisking his steak away, and replacing it with a band new one -- and comping both our wines for the trouble. While i was impressed with the service and quality of the food, the price point for a non-RW meal would make it not a great deal, but then again, you do get what you pay for..... a perfectly cooked steak might be worth the premium price. Other reviews praise Mistral's consistency, and i could see that being a reason to pay a premium here - knowing your food is going to be good no matter what you order.

Caitlin M.

Mistral is an extremely elegant and a place you must check out! I went here for brunch for my Aunt's surprise 60th birthday and had just an overall wonderful dining experience. Everyone's meal was wonderful and they had a wide variety of selections that appeal to everyone's taste buds. They also give you homemade coffee cake muffins to start, which is just amazing in itself! The frittatas, eggs benedict, applewood bacon, potatoes, and cinnamon buns were amazing! Everything was very fresh and all organic. It is a must!

Chelsey A.

Just reviewing the bar. Came with a couple of girlfriends after dinner for one drink. I prefer sweet drinks, particularly a sweet martini/cocktail. Informed the bartender of that and I was kinda disappointed with the drink I had. It was pretty tart/tangy and the lemon really took away from the sweetness. I've heard amazing things about Mistral - food wise- so perhaps I'll come back for food someday but probably not anytime soon. The decor is disappointing. The chairs look like cheap hotel chairs from a motel 6 or best western lobby. The concrete bar top is rough and tacky and dated ... they seriously need to renovate and come up with the times. Or at least get a better material for the bar.

Christina M.

I give this place 5 stars although my husband thinks it is closer to 4. Since I'm writing the review, my vote wins! We came here on a Saturday night for a birthday dinner. Our reservation was at 8 and we arrived a few minutes early, so we sat down at the couches at the front of the restaurant to order a drink. Our table was ready before the drinks were, but our waiter knew where we went and brought them right over to us. Our waiter was a little brusque, but polite. While we were tempted by the specials, we decided to order off the main menu and got crab ravioli and smoked mussels to start. They split both dishes for us, which I thought was a nice touch. The crab ravioli was great - very fresh pasta and the filling tasted like it was 100% crab, no filler. The sauce was super flavorful which I was really impressed at given that it was a tomato base and tomatoes are definitely not in season right now. The mussels were also fabulous - the smoked flavor was really different and, again, the sauce they came in was delicious. We couldn't decide which app we liked better. For our entrees, I ordered the branzino with paella risotto and my husband got the duck. Both dishes were huge. The fish was cooked perfectly and the risotto was great as well. Basically I am giving this place 5 stars for their appetizers and sauces. The duck was also very good - my husband really loved the kumquat gastrique and the mushroom risotto, but wasn't totally sold on the duck itself. He said it was very good but not amazing. It was the one (small) flaw of the meal. The dessert menu was tempting, but we were too full from dinner to even attempt one. I want to come back for the profiteroles, though!

Christine J.

delicious and great ambiance. great service and upscale restaurant. good chocolate martini. good experience.

Sam N.

Went here for restaurant week. It was super crowded and we had to wait for our table. The atmosphere and setting was cool and classy. The food was amazing! I got the crab soup & the salmon! My only complaint was when I asked about gluten free options for the restaurant week menu my server said the kitchen was too busy and they weren't sure if they could do anything. Luckily I didn't get sick.

Hilary H.

While Mistral is beautiful, elegant and has divine food, I can't say I loved it. Here's why: the service totally took me out of the experience and ruined it for me. That doesn't happen very often, as I am easily won over by swoon-worthy deliciousness, but it was so bad, I can't say I'd ever recommend this place or plan to go back. We mad reservations for my husband's 35th birthday waaaaaaaayyyyyyyy in advance. Upon arrival, the three (yes, THREE) hosts were confused, scrambled and genuinely unfriendly, and one even asked, "Do you have a reservation?" It's a Saturday night on Boston, people - and, we were dressed in our best. It was hard to not feel insulted. Finally, among the three of them, one managed to find our reservation and gave us a genuine smile as he led us to our table. This leading to the table took quite some time, as we were whisked past several nicer, larger, roomier and more comfortable open tables to finally land at our postage stamp squeezed between two other small-ish tables towards the back. I guess they thought we were ugly. It took a solid 15 minutes before we were acknowledged by the bus boy and given water. Another ten went by before the waiter came over, so we seized the moment and ordered everything. He was polite yet very cold and his eyes kept darting around the room to other tables rather than focusing on us for the thirty seconds he stood there. Then the food started arriving, rapid-fire. The bus boy was back every now and then, refilling our wine, switching out our plates and scraping crumbs off the table top. He, too was very busy looking around the room and at one point, scraped the crumbs from the table directly into my lap. Nice. Here's the thing: I have never seen a restaurant with so many employees in perpetual motion being so ineffective at good service. The constant rush, bustle and nervous energy stood out over the wonderful food we had, which is such a pity. I loved my tuna tartare, fresh and impeccably balanced. The Osso Bucco was flavorful (but a bit tough, I have to add) but my husband's lamb was tender, flavorful and generally divine. Even the mixed greens salad was delectable with a hint of salt and sweetness. But when you go out to dinner, especially to celebrate an occasion, the service absolutely factors in, and that's where Mistral falls woefully short.

Carrie P.

Incredibly delicious. I went here for restaurant week and was completely blown away by the beef carpaccio app. It was one of the best things I have ever tasted in my life. I had the salmon main and it was quite good but a little bit of a let down after the app. I can't remember what dessert I had, but it was really good as well. Cocktails were also great, but expensive. The total check for restaurant week ($38 menu) came out to $111/person after tip. We each had a cocktail and 2-3 glasses of wine, so the alcohol really added up fast.

Mahee F.

One of my favorite places to go for dinner. The duck is amazing

Elizabeth N.

Great pasta dish and wine options at Mistral :) The ambiance is very elegant and chic as well. Dined here after a business meeting several years ago.

Annie S.

Wow. Everything about this restaurant is amazing. Food - 5 Atmosphere - 5 Service - 5 I came with a group of co workers at 7:30 on a Wednesday evening. Although it was mid-week, the place was quite full. The decor was classic and romantic with lovely oversized windows. The complimentary bread was freshly baked and delicious. We shared a few appetizer dishes, including the escargot, tuna tartare, mushroom risotto, and asparagus & lobster. All the ingredients mixed together so harmoniously; every bite was flavorful and balanced. I enjoyed them all equally. My main course was the Bronzino with crab meat. I highly recommend it!! The chefs know exactly how to bring out flavors in food. Even though we were all stuffed by the end, the dessert menu looked too good to pass up. I had a taste of the creme brûlée which I loved, and I don't even usually like that stuff... I also tried the profiteroles with ice cream which were pleasant and came on a plate of three so it was easy to share. Definitely a wonderful place to visit with a small group of friends, family, or special someone! My one complaint is that the main course took a bit long to come out.

Paul A.

Okay, sorry to you Boston folks, but I don't need some uptight New Englander telling me what is appropriate in the culinary world. That said, forgo thy Napa knowledge and entertain the notion of pretense for one night just to check the wine list in this place. It might be the best in town, and you don't want to drink in a pub with crazy accents and Red Sox fans, hard working or not. Get out to the coast for some chowder, and that is fine. Here, splits of your favorite American and French labels are pricey yet available and that says a lot if you are trapped in the cold instead of Sonoma or the Central Coast...right? So shake off your Madrid, Paris, or Berlin sensibilities and button down that Oxford collar and try this steak. You'll love it!

Christie E.

Addictive atmosphere. The restaurant atmosphere is polished and upscale, yet theres a tinge of casualness an sexiness to it which is what I believe get people coming back for more. What set mistral apart from its other nearby fine dining competitors is the comfort level. Dining here doesnt require me to act pretentious, dandy, or be stuck with making small pointless talks. This is a very fine place perfect for friends reunion, tourists, romantic dinner or serious talks.

Julie L.

One of the best, if not the very best meals I have had in Boston. The entrees were superb, but what I really want to talk about is the apple crostada. The crust was delicately flakey while also bursting with buttery flavor. It wasn't to crisp, but not too soft either. The apples were cooked to the perfect tenderness and spiced just right. It came out evenly warm (which is often where restaurants struggle since the pastries are ways baked earlier in the day). Thank you for the superb craftsmanship and execution!!! It is hard to find both for dessert even in Boston.

Shuchi K.

Disclaimer: I went to this place during Boston restaurant week. I had a very high expectation because I heard so many good things about this place and the expectation was satisfied! First, the overall atmosphere is very classy but trendy at the same time. I would come to this place with my parents or with friends. With my fiancé for sure! I had blood orange margarita and it was great. It had many other interesting cocktail options make sure you check the menu instead of going for your favorite one right away. The fact that they have TV at the bar was very disappointing but let say it's America not Mistral. I had truffle oil mushroom soup to start and hen dish for an entree. Truffle oil mushroom soup was amazing. OH MY GOD! I can have this soup everyday. And my main, hen, I mean.. I don't usually go with chicken option cause it's really hard to be extra ordinary. But it was delicious - skin was crispy and the salad was perfect!! Staffs were very friendly and polite. Our server was great also. It was a restaurant week, she must have had a long busy day. But she checked on us several times always with smile. I liked this place. Will definitely come back again to try other dishes.

Tiffany S.

I came here for a client dinner for a group of 13. The restaurant was able to accommodate our reservations and the service was great! I had the roast duck with mushroom risotto. They literally give you half of a duck for the meal. The duck was tender and tasty and the crispy duck skin was delicious. The mushroom risotto was mediocre in my opinion, but the duck made up for it. I had the crab ravioli to start which was very good, my coworker had the lobster bisque to start and said it was absolutely amazing.

James C.

Place is amazing. Tuna Tartare was splendid. My friends had been telling me to check this place out for a long time and i'm glad I did. I will be back!

Erica D.

Bravo!!!! As a life time Bostonian and food addict I must say, " why did it take me so long to come here??" For years I had heard of Mistral and how special and expensive and serious it was. These were the three reasons my foodie husband and I steered away from this gem. We spend good$$ on good food but had the wrong idea about what was waiting for us behind those big beautiful doors. It took a dear friend of ours to get us to take the plunge!! He knows us soooo well;) Wow was it worth it! We went for Brunch as our first visit. Well were we surprised! Big, open, bright, inviting and warm room! Nice waiting area with rustic Santa Fe esque seating. Kind of a creamy stucco finish on walls and very high ceilings. Huge long bar for drinking and dinning. Gigantic windows that let tonz of light in during the day! Sometimes too much light. I have been known to sport my sunglasses through the whole meal!! (Only negative I can find to report). Not the dark, heavy, fuddy fuddy, formality We expected. To start the cocktails are great. Very spicy bloody Maria for my husband and some concoction of grapefruit juice and vodka + Each time for me. Cozy booths and big round tables welcome couples as well as parties of 8or more in the main dining area. Comfy seats and beautiful simple table settings add to the charm. So... Food! To start they deliver the most delectable coffee cake muffins as your complimentary bread. This and a cup of cappuccino would be a great breakfast unto itself!!!! But don't get any ideas of cutting out early after that suggestion! You'd miss the best brunch of your life!!! Many of their specialties are made and served in cast iron skillet ish vessels. The presentation is beautiful as well as D-lish. Egg white frittata with spinach and maybe mushrooms with goat cheese?! Killer eggs Benedict! If they have the one with tenderloin, do ya self a fav ah and go for it!!! OMG!!! Flat breads, insane BLT, risotto, ricotta and lemon pancakes I can't go on I may eat my phone just thinking about this!!! The cinnamon buns are wonderful but I must say the CC muffin is enough. Save the room for the food! Including some of the best bacon I have EVER tasted. Oh the potatoes too! Most of the egg dishes come with a pan of searing hot, crispy, salty, herb-y potatoes If there us a time to succumb it's now!!! The prices for brunch are very reasonable especially for the portion sizes and how much you can take home for later!!!:) There is a private function room too by the way!!! What a place to have your next special event!!! Can I come??;) Not sure if brunch and dinner can be had in there but dinner for sure!! Dinner here IS more serious and much more expensive. The kitchen at Mistral serves extremely fine food and prides themselves on quality ingredients to create excellent dishes. Quality and quantity planned perfectly! Nothing small about the dinner offerings that's for sure! If one can restrain oneself, a salad, a flat bread and a glass of wine can be a more casual and inexpensive dinner here but, I dare ya to not be enticed by the more extravagant things on the menu! In conclusion, huff huff fee ew! Don't be afraid!!! Come hungry!! This is a great place with terrific staff and glorious food!! Seriously Best Brunch Ever!! Bon appetite!

David J.

Had the pleasure of spending Sunday Brunch at Mistral this past May. What can I say but WOW! Great Food, Great Service, Beautiful decor. Looking froward to heading in for dinner as soon as we can.

Sharon Z.

I've always had a wonderful dining experience at the Columbus Hospitality Group restaurants (Mistral being my third one) and this was no exception. We came here during the restaurant week back in March. The restaurant is brightly decorated, light colored and beautiful. There is a lounge area and a bar for waiting if you arrive before the opening time. For starters, we had the special for the day - salmon tartare and beef carpaccio. The tartare is amazing, definitely my favorite dish of the night, the refreshing flavor of the salmon mixed with the deliciously creamy avacado, drizzled with a light oil/vinegarrete sauce, what a perfect marriage of ingredients. Absolutely delightful. The beef carpaccio was thinly sliced with a good amount of croutons and herbs, I love how the intense flavors of the Parmesan cheese adds to the delicate flavor of the carpaccio, it would have been more perfect if there was less olive oil on it. I got the salmon risotto as the main dish, could not resist. The salmon was perfectly cooked, the skin slightly crispy and the meat cooked just to the perfect degree to be tender but not raw. The risotto is less creamy than I'd like but still delicious. For the dessert, I got the lemon posset, perfect balance between citrus and sweet, smoothly blended posset, perfectly creamy and well balanced with the delicious fresh fruits and dessert crumbs. Yum. The only negative is that the bar is directly behind the diners and it can get quite loud if you are sitting very close. I would definitely give this place a try, especially during restaurant week. It is wildly popular so may need to reserve many weeks ahead, but the experience is well worth it.

David B.

5 star prices for 3 star food. We picked Mistral to celebrate our anniversary. Hadn't been in years but were expecting a flawless experience. Certain aspects were great - service, cocktails and appetizers. But our entrees were good, not great. My pork chop was huge and as such was cooked perfectly at the edges but overdone by the time I got to the middle. The other entree - halibut- was overcooked throughout. Save your money and go elsewhere.

Nora L.

My boyfriend and I came for dinner on a Sunday night after seeing that it is one of the highest rated restaurants in Boston. Our server was very polite, though rather quiet. The other server who brought us our bread didn't say a word when he dropped it off at our table. This isn't normally a big deal but I do expect a higher level of service at fine dining restaurants. We ordered the escargot to start, which had great flavors. For our entrees, we had the half "whole roasted" duck and the grilled beef tenderloin with roasted asparagus and horseradish whipped potato. The duck was absolutely divine. I liked the risotto that it came with as well. Be ready to take home leftovers- the duck is massive. The beef tenderloin was good as well, though nothing that sticks out as a "must try." Finally, the decor at Mistral was beautiful- dim, classy, vibrant. We had a lovely date but would likely prefer to try another fine dining restaurant for our next special occasion as we weren't blown away. Solid 4 stars though.

Athreya R.

What can I say about this place...The food was way overpriced for the quality and preparedness. The waiter was degrading and condescending and the wait time to get the actual food was ridiculous...and it was a WEDNESDAY and empty! The only reason i would give it 2 stars is because the manager was friendly, helpful and always around. Other than that, this place is a high price point novelty in the amazing Back Bay District of Boston. However; after expressing my discontent, I found that the manager was more than accommodating in my complaints and really wanted to make sure it didn't happen again. Overall, I don't want to rate this place any worse that I should so I would give it a 4/5 purely based on the fact that the manager really wants the restaurant experience to work for the people.

Phuong D.

I came here for a company holiday party and the food and service was superb! I love the ambiance of the restaurant as well! I had the grilled tenderloin of beef bordelaise style with asparagus and horse radish whipped mashed potatoes. It was amazing! I had requested the steak medium rare and it was melting in my mouth. I also had the dessert sampler, which came with chocolate mousse, creme brulee and a little fruit cup thing. They were small and meant for 1 person and were all very good too! It's definitely a pricey place, but a perfect place for a date night! I would definitely come back here just because the food is worth it!

Anthony C.

I've probably driven by this place about a thousand times but have never stepped foot inside, until last month when I went here for a client dinner. We sat at the bar and had a few drinks while we waited for the rest of our party to arrive. Once seated our waiter came over and introduced himself, he was very knowledgeable of the menu. I have severe allergies and he knew everything that I could and couldn't have and let the chef know (which I love). He recommended a few apps and we got all of them, I don't remember them all but there was a truffle mac n cheese that was very well done and mussels that I remember being good. Our waiter also helped when picking out our wines, he picked out some great bottles (wish I remembered the names). For the main course, everyone at our table was pleased with what they got. I know a few people got the duck as well as the sirloin. I got the Double Rack of lamb and it was amazing. I think it's one of the best lambs in the city. We came here on either a Tuesday or a Wednesday, but if definitely felt like a weekend as the place was full. No complaints and I would highly recommend going here. No review on the prices as our client picked up the tab :)

Sean B.

I made a reservation for a birthday dinner for my wife and I before a show at The Lyric. I was expecting a solid (if unspectacular) French meal with confident, professional service...a comfortable, safe experience before a night out. We could not have been more disappointed. The front of house staff was abrupt and cold (we arrived at 5:26 for a 5:30 reservation) and were sent to the bar to wait for the table to "be available." The maître d' arrived before my drink hit the bar to tell us our table was available (and of course we had to settle the bar tab before moving to the table.) The food was less than we'd hoped it would be. My foie gras suffered because of a stale brioche that the sauce could not save and my halibut was unforgivably overcooked and dry in the center. My wife enjoyed the pea soup but found her pork chop Milanese dry and (again) overcooked. The deserts, on the other hand, were outstanding: crème brulée and the assiette for two. The most disappointing aspect of the evening was the service. After the FOH experience we were, eventually, met by a detached, uncomfortable waiter who seemed very inexperienced and over his head in the position. We weren't given an option for table water and had to flag him down to get sparkling water. Throughout the meal we were interrupted while in conversation but left waiting for many minutes between courses, before glasses of wine arrived, for the check, etc. After finally receiving the check I had the misfortune of watching him behave in an aggressive way in reaction to our short tip (violently throwing the check on to his station) while waiting for the rest room. Perhaps the restaurant group has its star performers focused on its newer venues in Boston, but it feels like the minor leagues at this, supposedly, high-end bistro.

David D.

This is what having Brunch is all about. I truly challege you to find better. Now if your looking for the Buffett with carving stations and omlette chef...your barking up the wrong tree. This is CLASS. The menu is fresh and offers the best of everything. The Staff are so attentive to you and any requests that it is pretty impossible not to have an excellent meal here. I actually prefer the Brunch to the Dinner Menu, but that is just me...their Dinners are extraordinary and please try them.

Anabelle D.

What can I say? Perfect! Venue, service and oh boy, the food, the best of the best. Perfect for special occasions at not so expensive price.

Anna G.

We went here for restaurant week so maybe I should give them another chance but I cannot find anything I would want to back here for. The pros: they have a great wine list and awesome carpaccio! The cons: poor service, mediocre menu and food overall. For the price of the place, there are just many better options in the city.

Jennie C.

Came in for Boston restaurant week 2013, had to book a table in the lounge because I called too late. The food was excellent: we had the white mushroom bisque, carpaccio, cornish hen, steak, lemon posset and profiteroles. The bisque was velvety and full of truffle flavor. Hen was succulent with crispy skin. Lemon posset was silky and refreshing. Why the 3 stars then? I thought it was a bit overpriced. At RW prices, it was perfect. But at their regular pricing, it seems a bit steep. Yes, portions are huge, ingredients were fresh and food well-prepared. But the food was more like upscale bistro food with a farm-to-table focus. For their regular pricing I expect food that's a lot more refined. Nonetheless, solid bistro fare for restaurant week.

Manfred S.

As good as it gets, but you pay for it. I went for a business dinner on a Sunday night. Reservation, seating and service was impeccable, yet relaxed. Excellent server! The "Maine crab ravioli with rock crab, thyme and tomato broth" appetizer was out of this world phenomenal. Pan roasted native cod was very good as the main. Despite the seafood heavy selection, we opted for red. 2009 Clos de los Siete (Mendoza) was the winner. I initially picked another (cheaper) Malbec and the waiter warned me and served me sip to try, I appreciated the advise and switched to the 2009. Later I got a glass of 2008 Bordeaux, Château Edmus, but I still liked the Clos de los Siete better. Just had an espresso so I cannot comment on the desserts (but one day I shall).

Ariel Z.

Came here with a big group during Restaurant Week '12. Everyone tried each other's dishes, such as the sea bass and what not. I can recall ordering the vanilla panna cotta for dessert, which was deliciously creamy and rich. You can even grab a glass of wine at the bar while you wait for your table. Some advice: if you are formally dressed up and don't feel like walking a long distance from the closest T stop, you might be better off taking a taxi. The restaurant seems to be in a rather deserted part of town, but the large space inside may be the reason for such a location. Regardless, a fantastic joint for a formal business/birthday dinner.

Virginia T.

Not much to add to the already rave reviews on here, but Mistral is truly a Boston gem. To save you time, please see the following key points: Come here for? Brunch, Lunch, Dinner ..you name it. Service? Impeccable. Food? Heavy, but expected of French food. Portions are ginormous. Ambiance? Sophisticated, yet cozy. Qualms? Must make reservations. In advance.

Eric M.

Mistral is a high quality French restaurant in the Back Bay. The service is excellent and the decor of the dining room matches with the upscale French style that the restaurant portrays. There are a few seats in the back corner with some views of the tall buildings in the area. Overall the food is very good and the wine list is decent. I recommend starting with the Grilled Mushroom Carpaccio; it is excellent every time. The mussels and tuna are also good choices for an appetizer. As for the main courses, they tend to be priced a bit higher than they are worth in my opinion. The Salmon is excellent and a good value, but some of the other dishes, especially the specials, are priced much higher for minimal additional value. The wine list has a similar theme. There are plenty of options available, although most of them tend to be on the higher side. You'll find several glasses in the $10 range which is par for the course, but there are few bottles under $50 on the menu. This is absolutely a top notch restaurant and the only thing keeping me from making it 5 stars is the value on some of the dishes and drinks.

Nora D.

We went to Mistral for restaurant week and really enjoyed it. At some restaurants, restaurant week doesn't seem to be a great deal, but at Mistral it really is. Getting three courses there for $38 is great, especially given that many of their appetizers are $15-20+ and their entrees are $35+. We had the chilled corn soup which was amazing, followed by the Sirloin, which was perfectly cooked. Dessert was delicious too and a nice wine list. Our only complaint is that our entree took a really long time to arrive. It may have been because they were slammed because of restaurant week. It was a long wait, but it wouldn't deter me from going back.

Jessica N.

I had a delicious meal and wonderful experience at Mistral. I took a group of clients and we tried quite a few items on the menu. Here is an outline of the food: APPETIZERS: Tuna Tartare - delicious and unique. thinly sliced, delicious Butternut Squash Tortellini - Best thing I ate ALL NIGHT! the tortellini wrapper was so thin to really let the squash shine. AMAZING Fig Prosciutto Pizza - It was fine but got outshone by some of the other apps Mussels - not what i was expecting. Nice to have them unshelled but I missed that part of the mussel experience ENTREE: I had the half duck. It was actually a little more well done then I would've liked. Mushroom risotto was tasty and kumquat balanced it well! Filet - Others in the party loved it. A few ordered medium rare and they came tooo well done and they remade the dishes quickly and were very attentive! SIDES: Brussel Sprouts tasty Lobster and Beet Risotto - This was kinda disappointing! The Risotto was too al dente and not creamy enough. DESSERTS: Chocolate Torte - ALSO AMAZING! Thin cake portion and so melty. Yumm Creme Brulee - also really well done Profiterole - Need I say more? Chocolate Sorbet - Very interesting concept! Not my fav but I still love anything chocolate Our server was also extremely helpful and as I mentioned extremely attentive! I loved the atmosphere! Tall ceilings and really cozy but not crowded. So close to 5 stars! It really should almost be there. 4.5!!

Christina G.

I had a fantastic meal at Mistral a few weeks ago. There is definitely an air of sophistication to the decor and you will enjoy the atmosphere no matter where you are seated. We sat at the bar, yet still felt like we had a fine dining experience. The menu is very impressive with lots of delicious sounding options. The steamed black mussels were incredible for an appetizer and the duck and halibut turned out to be perfect choices for entrees, though I'm sure you can't go wrong no matter what you choose. Aside from all that, service was good and so were the cocktails! A meal at Mistral can get pricey, but it is definitely worth it for a nice evening out. I can't wait to go back.

Ji-eun L.

Came here for a business dinner...sort of. Amazing. The food, every last bite was delicious with the perfect amout of flavor. Had the duck and loved it. My boss had the sole and thought it was the best. Salads to start and some tuna tartare. The service was perfection. I would say this is the best restaurant I have been to in a long time. So glad that I wasn't paying! Otherwise, this would have never been my choice!

Natasha M.

I went during RW and had a blah experience. After all the hype from multiple friends I had high expectations. The food off the RW menu was nothing spectacular, just good. Service was horrible! I had to wave down the hostess when we didn't receive spoons with our soup because our waiter was insistent on ignoring us. He is the reason I am giving 3 instead of 4 stars (food was a 4). Mistral might be good on a normal night, but don't bother coming here for RW.

Helen D.

I made reservations to take my parents to brunch at Mistral. The food is great and the space is very cute (think rural france). We absolutely loved the complimentary coffee cakes, the salmon eggs benedict with citrus, and the belgian waffle. The only residual negative remainder from this experience is that the hosts / hostesses were confused and must've messed up our reservation 3 times (which led to a delay in being seated and an overall "not-so-special" feeling, which is what you hope for from a place like Mistral). From what I've heard, this is not the first time they've botched up our reservations either. Would recommend for the ambiance - but will likely not be returning myself until we've exhausted a few other must-try brunch spots in Boston.

Berkun Z.

We went to mistral for a brunch but it was such a failure. The worst brunch experience at all. We had to wait for the food at least 1 hour... Drinks took 20minutes waited for service. We wanted to order for another french fries and waiter told us the kitchen was closed but we saw after 10 mins food was coming out for other tables. Food was not even worth the wait. Total disappointment.

Ralph O.

This is a brunch review. Food is absolutely amazing and a great value for the price! Service is impeccable and has set new standards for me: very professional, non-invasive yet warm staff including a fantastic maitre. This place has a huge line waiting to be seated and they treated us like we were their only customers. Great venue too. I can't wait to go for dinner. Only one detail that disappointed me: average (bad) coffee.

Adam P.

Incredible. From start to finish, Mistral blew my freakin' socks off. Service was stupendous. Warm & attentive without being obnoxious. They scoop the crumbs off of your table after every course... I cannot put into words the joy that this brought me. Food was even better. Every course was cooked perfectly, artfully seasoned, and plated beautifully. The ragout of duck confit, bacon, corn, mushrooms, and puff pastry was one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. Creamy, rich, salty, comforting. Unreal. Entree portions were huge (check out my pictures). The only thing I didn't care for was the panna cotta, but I can live with that (considering the rest of my meal was basically perfect). Can't wait to find an excuse to break open my piggy bank and celebrate something at Mistral.

Ash C.

It was a full house on Friday. We got our seats on time. We ordered tuna tartare and foie gras for appetizers as many recommended to try. Tuna tartare was very delicious with perfect combination of crisp salad and fresh tuna and citrus dressing. However, foie gras was a bit too salty to my taste but was good flavor. Next things we tried were a rack of lamb and prime sirloin steak (au poivre). The lamb was amazing but was a little pricy ($55). Sirloin was very big in portion and had too much sauce on it. I usually like to taste steak and sauce separate. It kind of hinders actually taste of the meat... Overall, good service and excellent food, "one of the best five restaurants in Boston" for sure.

Sophia D.

Their desserts are absolutely amazing!!! Along with their steak and mashed potatoes. I actually had a mini spasm of happiness when I saw my plate and a bigger one when I tasted it simply because of how delicious it was. The presentation of the food was very nice along with this too. The tables are close together, but it was fine for my friend and I because we made friends with the table next to us. The restaurant was very active throughout the night (great to watch classy people) and thoroughly enjoyed the great meal - especially dessert! I got the apple tart while my friend got the chocolate lava cake- we actually considered going back the other night just for dessert because it was so great! Hope to go back soon!

Ida C.

There was 0% chance we'd pass up a meal at Mistral during our recent trip to Boston. From locals and New Yorkers alike, we'd heard that it was the absolute best restaurant in Boston. Our schedule was tight, so we booked a brunch reservation on Sunday before the Red Sox game, and you better believe it was the right decision! Brunch at Mistral is laid back and extremely pleasurable. The beautiful dining room is flooded with light, there's no wait for tables and the service is friendly and attentive. We took many of our waiter's suggestions and he was spot on: 1. Donuts ($6) - if you ignore everything else on this review, DO NOT PASS UP THE DONUTS! Little jelly filled homemade munchkins dusted with enough powdered sugar to power up a little kid for an entire day of mayhem, these delectable little balls were amazingly delicious (and I don't usually even like jelly donuts!) We were informed that there would be ~6 per order, but we wound up with 8. JACKPOT! 2. Mistral Bloody Mary ($8) - with a tall slender glass and attractive greenery, this was a supremely elegant bloody mary. El Queso Grande certainly enjoyed this 3. Deviled Eggs ($4) - delicious but classic truffled deviled eggs 4. Tenderloin of Beef Benedict ($29) - with tarragon and shallot hollandaise, this was an interesting take on eggs benedict. The tenderloin was cooked medium rare and made quite a comely bite when paired with egg yolk! If you like steak and eggs, this is a great and rather upscale rendition 5. Jumbo Lump Crab & Chive Omelette ($22) - our waiter's favorite, this was delicious with a buttery sauce that seemed to get better every time I dipped my bread in it. It went from seeming somewhat bland to growing increasingly rich and decadent on my tongue! We were perfectly fueled up for a day at the ballpark. Not too full, but just right! PARTING THOUGHT: I'm definitely going back to try the late night menu and dinner!

Ana E.

i loved the food :) no complains at all, my favorite salad : poached Apple with goat cheese the best i have ever had :)

Nikki C.

Great french restaurant with a laid back vibe. Food and service was both great! I don't have a lot of experience with French wines, but our server made a perfect suggestion. We will be going back!

Ian M.

A very up/down experience, but the food made up for everything. So I found them googling reviews online/looking to try somewhere new and liked what I read so l took a chance and went there. It's a good looking, updated looking place. I'm not sure, but I think the reason I was a little disappointed was because I decided to accept the offer of a table in the front of the restaurant when I called for a reservation. I just wasn't thrilled with the service I got. Our waitress was very nice, and when she got held up(forgot us? got distracted idk?), to her credit she comped us our first round of drinks without me even saying anything. Even then, it was lots of awkward waiting and bread eating the whole night. The drinks were good/well made, but simply put the food was fantastic. I had the crab ravioli to start, it was just perfect. It came in a broth that I soaked a half a loaf of bread in. I could have just eaten more of those for dinner and called it a night. They were that good. We did halibut with lobster/asparagus risotto and beef tenderloin as our dinner. Everything was perfect, the beef was cooked just right, the fish wasn't overdone like so many places do. Like the appetizer, the main course was absolutely perfect. We devoured everything. As much as I've already written about the food, if the kitchen staff reads this - I'm sorry the desserts were the star/MVP of the night. I've been to finale roughly ten times, though that they were some of the best desserts I've ever had, but not anymore. I'd go back here over finale for the desserts we had. We did the chocolate torte and the carrot cake. If I could write a separate review just for the desserts I would. Simply put, The appetizers were very good, dinner was excellent...but the deserts... they were maybe the best deserts we had each ever had. If the managers/owners read this, I guess what I would say could've improved was service. Our server was very nice but seemed disorganized all night, and while there were empty seats near us, and no one waiting at the door, she still lagged behind a lot. Also, when we dropped the car with the valet, he told us to pay for parking with dinner, which we did. As we got to the car we were asked if we paid, and when I said I had, he asked for my receipt/ticket...for which I hadn't received one after paying...this led me to have to go back inside, track down my server and bring her outside to tell them I had paid, because she seemed like she didn't know what either myself or the valets were talking about when asked about the parking receipt/ticket. It was just kind of awkward. I'm not sure if the service wasn't as good because we opted for a table near the front of the restaurant. If I go back, I think I'll make it a point not to sit near the front, because when I got there I came to the realization that this was more of a lounge area, which is fine for me to dine it, but I got the feeling that I would've gotten better service if I had sat in the back of the restaurant, and felt like by accepting the reservation in the front, that we were treated more like an afterthought by the service side of things. All in all, some of the best food I've ever had, but the service could use some help. I'll be back just for the food alone though, it really is that good. If I could give the food 5 stars by itself I would.

Julie B.

Favorite brunch in Boston! Great ambiance and wonderful food. Service is always great, too.

Rachael H.

Ah, the perils of Restaurant Week, where the luminous tumble like falling stars... Mistral seemed to have a lot going for it, the ambiance was great, the Restaurant Week menu was enticing and varied and it had great yelp reviews... We were looking forward to our meal, but sadly, were a little disappointed by the experience. The food was definitely good and the portions were very, very generous. But I've had dinners just as good, if not better, at places like Gaslight, or many little Parisian corner bistros, to be honest. The food was worth about 4 stars in itself: The beef carpaccio was outstanding, and the salmon was an excellent piece of fish, grilled & charred to perfection, I also really enjoyed the duck confit ragout. The steak entree, was a different story. To their credit, the portion was *huge*, but the cut of the meat was subpar for a restaurant of this quality, and the requested medium rare wasn't even close. The port wine reduction was delicious, but there was merely a drizzle. The wine selection to accompany the prix-fixe menu was terrific. The red was deliciously perfect. The regular champagne selection could've used something to bridge the gap between prosecco and Louis Roederer; But our money was well-spent on a Veuve Clicquot that was served at a perfect temperature, and was a generous pour. For dessert, the profiteroles are supposed to be legendary, but they were average, at best, and the pastry was stale. Perhaps they made them en masse in advance anticipation of the restaurant week crush? It was disappointing nonetheless. We didn't finish them, and the Financier was the far-superior dessert- very tasty. The most troubling thing, was definitely the service. I get it~ Servers hate restaurant week because their tips are lessened by the cheaper prices; But wandering up to a couple, not even uttering a 'how are you, this evening' and sighing, while mumbling "what would you like" is simply dismissive- I felt as though my mere presence was a nuisance to him. We wondered if it was just him, but then, when replenishing cutlery on the table, another wordless server simply threw them down in front of us... (I know- You may think we were rude, or something, but let me assure you, I'm Canadian! I always say please, thank-you, smile & I apologize too much! The only hint we would've given that we were unhappy would be a few raised eyebrows across the table.) I will say, the gentleman who took our dessert order was lovely, and I wish he would've been with us through the evening. Maybe we were just unlucky. I think establishments occasionally miss the point of restaurant week. Yes, there are many diners who view it as an opportunity to try the big names on the cheap; however, there are just as many diners, such as we two, who view it as a restaurant's opportunity to win us over as new customers~ without us risking $300 on a disappointing dinner. We felt Mistral missed the marketing point... Or at least, the staff did. Mistral could take lessons from legendary institutions like Canoe in Toronto or Ella in Sacramento, who give the same service, same quality of meal, regardless of who you are, or when you're there; And have won us back as regular customers. 4 stars for the food. But only 1.5 for the service.

Megan M.

I really struggled with the 3 or 4 stars. I would give 3.5 if i could. I loveee the interior of this restaurant, one of the nicest in Boston. I'm not sure I will be back for a full dinner but certainly for drinks and flatbreads. We started with the mussels- which was probably the highlight due to the amazing broth it came in. They were deshelled with a wonderful piece of toast served in a heavy duty copper dish. The appetizer and Zagat ratings set my expectations to high I guess. I ordered the duck with mushroom risotto. The portion was gigantic and it was good- but nothing special. Perhaps a little dry and over cooked. It needed a more rich flavorful side. My boyfriend ordered the steak au poive which was good but totally undercooked. We didn't complain because I actually prefer it that way but he ordered it medium well and it was barely medium rare. That was served over a root vegetable medley that was very good. We finished with a creme brulee that was lovely with fresh raspberries. Service was good, nothing special. I guess if this meal cost us $125 I would have given 4 stars- but when it came out to $215- I expected a little more.

Art V.

I hosted a dinner for 4. Generally lackluster service. For a restaurant that is promoted as upscale, I was disappointed to witness all of the food being delivered by harried food runners. Started with a white pizza. It was the highlight of my dining experience. It went downhill from there- obviously. When the food runner delivered our entrees, one guest's dish was absent. 5 minutes later when our waiter appeared to ask if everything was ok, I informed him that my salmon was not hot and I also asked where my guest's entree was. He replied "They can only fit 3 dishes on a waiter tray. It should be out soon." Stupid me to have assumed that our waiter would have monitored the delivery of our food and further, made sure that all of our dishes were delivered together. He removed my salmon to be reheated; or so I thought. A few minutes later, my guest's pasta appeared. The portion was absurdly small for an entree. Actually, as an appetizer the portion would have been small. The pasta was clumped together. For something north of $20 it was an act of larceny. Another 10 minutes later I was still waiting for the return of my salmon. Mr. Good Cheer appeared and asked how we were doing. I in turn asked him how long it would be until I received my dinner. To which he replied "I'm sorry, they have to cook it, you know." A couple of minutes later a suited employee delivered my new piece of salmon and stood over me while I cut into it. Yes, Lurch, it's hot. The salmon was served over raw onions, despite there being no mention of them in the menu. We decided to have dessert and coffee elsewhere. They comped my entree.

Christina T.

Definitely has a very upscale and bustling ambiance. We came here on a Saturday night at around 8PM, and was surprised at how crowded the place was. Unfortunately, we had to wait another ~20 minutes before our table was ready despite having a reservation. Seating is less than optimal if you are placed on one of the side tables for two (the group tables in the middle seem to have much more space). We were placed very closely next to the table next to us, and the other patron was quite loud the whole evening. I could barely even hear our own waitress when she came to explain the menu to us. Despite the boisterous environment, the food was better than expected. We had the Sirloin Carpaccio and Crab Ravioli as appetizers. Both were delicious. I decided to try the Beef Tenderloin thin crust pizza (The best dish of the night-- would highly recommend) and the Halibut with risotto (not good at all, especially for the overcharged price. Risotto is dry and halibut was not flavorful). Order the pizza and then take half of it home. Dessert was profiteroles which were good, and will hit the spot if you're in the mood for ice cream.

Melissa T.

A back bay favorite for me. There are so many choices on the menu that I always wonder where to start. But I'm quickly reminded that even though I shouldn't fir political reasons, I always start with the seared Fore Gras. The tough part comes when I must choose between the lighter fare of the Dover Sole meunière or a heavier favorite like the grilled rack of lamb or the grilled beef tenderloin. All three are my favorites. The atmosphere at the restaurant is trendy and chic. Make sure you save room for dessert especially if you are a choclolate fan. Make sure to order the Dolce Vita Grilled Pizza and you will experience the sweet life!

Wale A.

Just average, had three items from the appetizer menu the crab ravioli, escargot and dick confit and found all of it average nothing memorable or justifies a return. If you r a foodie and want to cross mistral off ur list then go ahead otherwise find somewhere else to spend your money.

DJ M.

By the far one of the top restaurants in the Boston area.

Lissy R.

I wish six stars were an option! This place is elegant, swanky, and delicious. Be sure to try the grilled pizza! I ordered the pizza as my entree, and it was incredible: so thin and perfectly cooked. Their salads are also especially good. Service was impeccable. Be sure to make a reservation on a weekend. Parking on Columbus was surprisingly easy. There's valet, too. I can't wait to go back!

Isabella R.

Went last friday night to meet some friends for late night drinks and munchies. The other half said his dirty martini was in the top 3 favorites he's ever had. I stuck with some really lovely cabernet choices. We ordered everything from pizzas, escargot, lobster bisque, to caesar salads-- which we all thought were very salty, everything else was delish! Great atmosphere and we even found street parking...SCORE! Will definitely be back.

John C.

A birthday surprise from my brother brought us here on a Friday evening. The goodness started at the curb, with a friendly and outgoing valet. Upon entering, the high ceilinged, light walled space is what you'd expect from a modern fine dining establishment. It looses a little of the intimacy of an old French restaurant, but is still well appointed with light green accents, trees and a feeling of fresh clean space. Service was well paced, since the server didn't rush right over and try to take a drinks order, instead allowing us some time to chat first. Even after placing the appetizer order, it wasn't out right away, allowing us to enjoy a cocktail before the wine with the apps. This level of service continued throughout. At one point, when i was giving my brother a hard time about what grapes were in the wine he ordered, our server came to the rescue with a full knowledge of the region, as well as some info on the chateau as well. Fantastic. The food: Appetizers were amazing, with my salmon tartar a fantastic blending of tastes and textures. The Tuna tartar was a good start, but not as well done as the salmon. The fois & duck was certainly amazing as well, and would be my choice next time. Entrees were also a generous portion, and delicious. The sirloin came out past mid-rare and we had to return it, HOWEVER the manager came over and apologized, and made things right. Desserts were again generous, and my cheese platter was almost too much. No actually it was too much, less fruit bread would have been fine. The wine: The Chateau Le Confession 2010 was not cheap, but was truly an amazing vintage. Decanting brought out very dark chocolate, tobacco and fresh blueberry (yes fresh blueberry) notes. A great pairing with the steak and the lamb. Will I return? Yes, without a doubt. Even with all the great dining options in the Boston area.

Damian D.

If you're lucky enough to be in Boston on a Sunday morning, definitely DEFINITELY book a brunch at Mistral. I couldn't pick what's best: the food execution, the service, the gorgeous interior. Plus, I can't stand rating a restaurant on portion size, but the portions here are ridiculous. I've never seen such large portions in a fine dining establishment. Kinda crazy actually. Don't let the unassuming brunch menu put you off. One of the most enjoyable brunches I've ever had. Period.

Heather B.

I've been here twice now, and will make plans to go every time I'm in Boston! The food and service are both phenomenal! I have had the escargot, which is very unique, served in a Burgundy broth instead of the normal garlic butter; the fois gras, which is seared perfection; and both the duck and lamb entrees were delicious as well.

Shiqi Z.

Compare to the same price level restaurants, I feel the price is reasonable and the food is really good!

Celia Z.

I thought I was tired of brunch. The same eggs benedict, the same buttery pancakes, the same boring menu with a twist here or there - I was starting to run out of choices. And then came Mistral. Located within the South End, Mistral has an unpretentious exterior that was by no means reflected the interior and food quality. It's actually quite easy to miss, as the restaurant is located in a more low-key area outside of Copley. But true to the old aphorism "Don't judge a book by its cover", Mistral opened to a beautiful dining room flooding with light and classy decorations. Though service was a bit slow, it served no detriment to my experience - imperfections can sometimes be adorable. We decided to have an ambitious brunch. The smoked salmon pizza was served on a thin crust with perfectly whipped, airy potatoes, and while the salmon was cooked more than your traditional smoked salmon, its freshness was obvious. It was the best breakfast pizza I ever had, making my mouth water even as I write. Next came the foraged mushroom, spinach, and gruyere frittata. Served in a pan, the juicy, shitake mushrooms within the frittata danced in my mouth. The cheese and spinach were so well blended with with the eggs that they became one entity. Intertwined so well that they gave up "i" in order to form the perfect team. And finally, the duck confit on root vegetables and eggs. Though slightly greasy for my taste, the dish truly spoke to flavor. The tenderness of the duck confit, along with the smooth, starchy texture of the root vegetables and the sunny side up eggs, provided three layers of texture and a complete spectrum of flavor profile. And the best thing? Portions are large. Prices aren't too bad. You can easily get away with under $25 a person. And then you'll have enough leftovers for a second meal. Perfection with tiny imperfections. I love you Mistral.

Xiao Z.

Wow...super fancy, wear something nice, impress your GF/BF, and enjoy one of the more decadent brunches in Boston. I came here on a double date and was immediately amazed by the modern and artistic decor. The staff were incredibly professional, good-humored and catered to almost all of our requests. Our brunch was complemented with a soft, buttery yellow cake with a thick crust of brown sugar, butter, and diabetic inducing deliciousness. Our service was quite remarkable, especially for brunch. Of the four of us, we ordered the steak, two types of egg benedict, and the lab hash. I thoroughly enjoyed my eggs benedict, and the hollandaise sauce was thick and creamy, just bordering on overwhelming to addictive. The steak was ginormous and chewy (based on peer review from a fellow yelper) and the hash was also stupendous as well. I regret not getting the pancake and the french toast, seeing how many of the other customers ordered such delicious treats. Overall, great fancy experience, may be too rich for my blood, but I recommend it on a second date if you're looking to impress. Food: 4 stars Price: 4 stars Decor: 5 stars

Chris Z.

A nice place for brunch. We went on a Sunday for father's day brunch. We started with drinks - one gin drink of some sort, a strawberry rhubarb drink with champagne (winner), and some maple whiskey drink. We also ordered the cinnamon buns as an appetizer, which were really tasty... but the "bread" that they bring around is muffins, so I was getting a little full by this point (although the muffins and jam were great!). I had the ham and gruyere omelet, which probably would have been better if I was hungry - it was huge and served on top of some sort of creamy sauce... I think I'd try something different next time. My fellow diners enjoyed the BLT and salmon benedict and both really enjoyed their meals. Service and atmosphere were both great, and there was unlimited coffee - win.

D M.

I'm not a food snob. I don't watch top chef and I most certainly do not recognize famous chefs by name. I sat next to one on a flight and told him about the time I almost set my kitchen on fire, without realizing he was the sorts featured on the Food Network. That said I do recognize good food when I have it and Mistral has great food. The restaurant is gorgeous enough to have its own Pinterest board (I don't know much about that either). The rustic French themed décor has just the right amount of sophistication and elegance without coming off as snooty. It's the kind of place you are likely to run into someone from the Sox or New England Patriots, and even if you don't, the crowd at Mistral makes people watching very fun regardless. I'm usually gushing over all the designer shoes and clothes (now THAT I know) draped on the high-society crowd here. The tuna tartare is creamy perfection, maine crab ravioli is outstanding and the thin crust pizza appetizers are beautifully prepared. The lamb chops and duck confit are brilliant options you need to sample as well. Other favorites include the scotish salmon, wild mushroom risotto and yes, even their fries. Not surprisingly, Mistral has an impressive wine list. I'm partial to their selection of Burgundy and Bordeaux wines, although you can't really go wrong with any of them. Jamie Mammano who is the owner and chef here has clearly perfected the art of presenting fine dining without making it too complex. The effortless sexiness of this place makes you want to slow down and really enjoy your meal, and I think we can always use more of that.

Joy E.

Brunch was fantastic! Beautiful ambiance and service. Food was excellent - we had the Gruyere frittata, best breakfast I've ever had! And my husband had the egg white frittata, very flavorful and tasty. We had the French toast for dessert, it was light and fluffy... We finished it all!!! Delicious food... We'll be back for sure!!! Ps: I haven't been for dinner but my husband has and he ate like a king!

Nandan C.

It's one of our favorite restaurants in the city. It is a must go during the restaurant week and they won us over. We have been going here regularly to celebrate special occasions. Amazing food and service. Make reservations before getting here though as it can be busy.

Mike R.

Went with a party of 5; family and my girlfriend. The family really liked this place, easily giving it 4 stars. They liked it much more than the awful Davio's, and even more than No 9 Park. I think the large portions and relaxed atmosphere did a lot for them. The food was tasty and we were all sharing family style. My girlfriend and I liked it less than No 9 Park. The food was good, not great, and I thought No 9 Park had more finesse and high notes. I also preferred No 9 Park's smaller portions and artful presentations. Because the family loved it and we thought it was good we will take them back, but my girlfriend and I would never go to Mistral ourselves.

Mindy T.

Came here during Restaurant Week with my sisters a few weeks ago and it was amazing! Walking in, I already loved the atmosphere and ambiance. We sat at a table with a corner booth, which was comfortable.. but not so much when the table is small and you are dining with a total of 4 people. My favorite was the Salmon Tartare and Beef Carpaccio appetizers. The entrees were pretty good. I got the Panna Cotta for dessert and it was light and just the perfect amount of sweetness. Can't wait to come back again and try the rest of the menu. The only downside was that the server was always talking too close to my face and border-line creepy haha. Other than that, the service overall was great.

Jeremy K.

This review is long past due and is based on my two Restaurant Week experiences at Mistral, the most recent one being just last week. I guess waiting a while in between visits has enabled me to soak in the restaurant a bit more and really give my review more accuracy. So as I was saying, I went there twice, both times during restaurant week. The menu was unchanged the second time and I actually had the exact same meal twice. But more on the meal later, first let's talk about the wonderful decor. It is very chick, very prestigious and refined but it doesn't scream out-of-reach-luxury. It's warm and inviting and almost casual yet upscale. It's pretty neat. Upon entering you will see the bar hanging on the right, just past the lounge/seating area. The bar is very long and crowded. The seating area as well. If your table isn't ready yet you'll end up in the lounge area waiting - we did so while enjoying a nice glass of wine. Once our table ready the hostess escorted us to our dinning table and we ordered our food. I started off with the beef carpaccio, which came with thinly sliced parmesan cheese. It was absolutely amazing from the first to the last bite. For those who aren't familiar with such a dish, it is very thinly sliced, raw beef which comes drizzled with a bit of olive oil and some parmesan. You don't even need a knife. It was phenomenal. Then came the entree which was, again, more beef. I love beef. This time it was a beautiful piece of beef tenderloin, cooked to a perfect medium, and which was both tender and very flavorful. I was very impressed by the quality of the meat, especially since it's restaurant week. They didn't skimp on anything and it was fantastic. Then came time for desert. I'm a sucker for chocolate and ordered the chocolate mouse which came served in a martini glass. On my second visit there, I also had a cocktail with my dinner. I settled for something citrusy, and in this case, it was some lemon vodka gimlet with some basil. It was very tasty and poured at the table, which was a nice touch. Overall Mistral proves itself to be one of Boston's best restaurants both with the quality of the food and of the service. Everything was near flawless, from the beautiful setting that the restaurant provides to the attention to detail that they take part in. My only minor complaint would be for the poor design of the main dinning area which is too open and which is therefore loud. They should redesign the room or add something to dampen some of the noise, at the peak of service, it was very loud.

Michelle R.

Great menu, relaxing but elegant atmosphere (definitely good for a little black dress!). The server was polite, prompt and fun. We had a great time.

Jessica S.

One of the best meals I've ever had. I recently dined here with my colleagues for a business gathering. We're a lively group of eight with varied personalities, tastes, opinions, etc. We all loved Mistral. What's not to love?! Our group consisted of both newbie and veteran Mistral patrons and everyone ordered something different. We had a sampling of practically the whole menu, and wow, everything was consistently delicious. Some highlights: -The escargot was amazing and it didn't taste like I was eating a clove of garlic as it so often does elsewhere. -There's an extensive wine selection. There's lots of options to pair with your apps, entrées, desserts. -I highly recommend the halibut, sole and lamb. The halibut had a shrimp risotto that was absolutely spectacular. You can actually order it as a side dish as well. GET IT. I want some right now just thinking about it. -Even for being upscale and pricey, the portion sizes are actual entrée sizes. More bang for your buck. -Everything was cooked to absolute perfection and presented beautifully. To round it all off, this place manages not to be pretentiously fancy. The waiters don't have an attitude and are down to earth and approachable. We lingered for nearly 5 hours without any sense of being shooed out, which was great, and much appreciated. Simply, the food will blow you away. I hear the brunch is delicious, so I'll be back again soon. Experience Mistral for yourself! You won't be disappointed!

Eric F.

Mistral continues to impress and has firmly established itself even more as one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Came here with Joyce B. last week on a whim for dessert and everything was excellent from start to finish. We had the classic profiteroles and honey crisp apple croustade and both were delicious. The cocktails here are up to snuff too - gave the Clouseau a whirl once I noticed Lillet Blanc in the ingredients and was a great balance of sweetness and tartness.

Jiyea C.

I really don't have anything bad to say about this place. Service was prompt and friendly without being overbearing. Waitstaff gave us enough time to decide what we wanted and the kitchen timed our courses well so we didn't feel like we were being rushed or waiting for food. This is also the restaurant where I tried escargot for the first time. It was for our appetizer and was served in a truffle gravy that was delicious! I don't know if I will eat escargot again (TBH I think it tasted like seafood--consistency is similar to shellfish?) but definitely a good first experience because of the sauce. For entrees, we had the halibut and sirloin. I thought the shrimp risotto that came with the fish was a litle too al dente for my taste, but the flavor outweighed the unwanted crunchiness. I did not hear any complaints on the sirloin. I don't know too much about steak, but it tasted pretty good to me :) Warning: Portions are HUGE. I took half my entree home. Needless to say, we were too full for dessert. It MIGHT get a little loud if you want to enjoy a quiet, intimate dinner with your honey though. I didn't have a big issue with this because I went at 6:30 and it didn't get very noisy until the end of our meal. I like the high ceilings of this restaurant and the row of pillars that run down the middle. It's gives this place a romantic, majestic vibe. Would love to come again :) Plus for commuters: It's super accessible via the T. Orange or Green line.

Josephine L.

Shortly after my initial review was posted, I was contacted by Mistral's new manager and offered a substantial (re: $150) gift certificate to come back and give Mistral another try. After debating it with my internal stubborn cow, I decided I'd give the restaurant a second chance, especially since that awful manager I had met before was no longer working there. This was the dining experience I should have had the first time. The service was superb--gracious hostess, friendly, congenial waiter, prompt and efficient bus boys. And yes, the manager did come out to greet us and talk to us throughout our meal (we'd agreed to go on a night he was in the restaurant so he could meet us personally). The wait time--gone. The timing was fast for a fine dining restaurant. Everything arrived quickly and everything was cleared away quickly. No 4-hour dinner on a weeknight. Yay! Food was as delicious as the first time but without the ridiculous wait times to taint my enjoyment. We started with the filet mignon tartare and tuna tartare, which were both exquisitely prepared. The filet mignon tartare rivals Central Kitchen's for my favorite tartare in the city. The tuna tartare was prepared with a wonderful mix of soy sauce and ginger, and was incredibly fresh. I had the East Coast Halibut and the boy had the Grilled Beef Tenderloin. We both immediately agreed that while the beef was amazingly tender for being what amounted to a huge 12+ oz cut, my halibut was the winner. How can you go wrong with truffled fish that's melt-in-your-mouth tender with real truffle shavings, mushrooms and crunchy brussel sprout leaves? It was so good the boy kept sheepishly asking if he could have more and luckily for him, I got full while there was still a significant chunk left, so he went to town on the remainders. We split the dessert special: a pear-almond cake with a full poached pear baked into the center. It was incredible. Moist and juicy, perfectly prepared. For drinks, I treated myself to a pumpkin martini that was more Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur than autumn, but still delicious.

Zach I.

Mistrel is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. I have traveled all around the world and followed reviews as to where I should eat. I hope someone will do the same and try this place. The tuna tartar was some of the best I have ever had. Fantastic place with great service. I will be back.

Casey H.

Great service and great food. I had the halibut. Also had the tuna tartare which was excellent. Good ambience too. I really like this place and will be back.

Jayme M.

Everything about Mistral was fabulous! The service was great, they do take their time. If you are in a rush and not looking to relax, drink and chat with your guest - this may not be your scene. The food is impeccable! Try the half duck! Cooked perfectly! The pizzas are amazing - the chilian oil is yummy! It can be loud with the high ceilings. Alot of business folks and larger parties. I will definitely go back next time i'm in the boston area.

David P.

MISTRAL BLACK BURGUNDY TRUFFLE MACARONI WITH MADEIRA & PARMESAN: DEE-licious. Gorgeous earthy tones (Boy do I love truffles...not the oil as some reviewers have remarked. BIG difference.) that married extremely well with the parmesan and medeira. Perfectly cooked macaroni as well. This is a must buy. DOVER SOLE MEUNIÈRE WITH LEMON & CAPERS, SAUTÉ OF SPINACH & ONIONS, FINGERLING POTATOES: Superbly cooked sole which had a wonderful and light flavor. Spinach, onions and fingerling potatoes were perfectly seasoned and sauteed. Capers were not necessary but this is a very minor point. ROAST RACK OF COLORADO LAMB, GRATIN DAUPHINOISE POTATOES, ROASTED CARROTS & HARICOTS VERTS: MMM-mmm-MMM! What a treat. This is now the best lamb I have ever had. Super thick cuts of medium rare (perfect) lamb that were moist, juicy and tender (aka melt in your mouth) with damn good simple flavor/seasoning. The potatoes were awesome as well as the carrots and haricots verts. CARROT CAKE WITH TOFFEE, PECANS & CREAM CHEESE ICE CREAM: A very good, simple dessert. The thing about this place is that they do the big and little things very well. I would come back in a heartbeat.

Nicolas L.

Went here a bit back and have been meaning to write a review. Some of the best food I have ever had in Boston is found here. The bread and butter to start the meal was wonderful, very soft and filled with flavor. I had some mushroom soup as an appetizer that was bursting with great truffle earthy flavor, making me feel all warm inside. The grilled salmon was definitely the best salmon I have ever had at a restaurant fresh, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Great decor and ambiance at this restaurant. After being seated I did have to wait for someone to come to even serve me water, I had to go up to the hostess in order to tell them about this. After this I had very attentive service, with someone I am assuming was the manager coming by to check up on my table.

Craig S.

For my sisters birthday we wanted to show her out of town friends the best of Boston after much debate we chose to go here------it did not disappoint. Tuna tartar was amazing in a ponzu soy base Game Hen was moist - better then any chicken dishes ive had in recent memory Pork chop and steak were both seasoned and cooked perfectly the fish (cod i think) with lobster risotto had a lemony fresh goodness My sisters birthday chocolate torte bust like a poached egg flowing with delicious warm choco yoak topped with cool vanilla ice cream and creme fraiche perfect contrast and flavors and yes I did try something from everyone at my table purely for Yelp perspective not at all because everything was so good. Yeah Yelp

charles s.

took my fiance here on her birthday, well stocked and beautiful place. they served us cupcakes first with vermont butter, and apple butter alongside it. deviled eggs with truffle oil was superb. she got the omelet with gruyere cheese and rosemary ham with shallot sauce, nom nom nom. i ordered the duck confit with root veggies and a side of sausage. impressive to say the least. very clean, attentive service from Joseph. the waitstaff were impeccable and fantastic. will come again!

Jeff F.

Came in here for a third time and have to really give them credit for absolutely having one of the best dinner atmospheres in Boston. Perfect for a date night, dinner with friends or even a business dinner. I kicked things off with a perfectly executed slight dirty martini. I was impressed with the Mediterranean stew app, but the pan roasted cod with paella-style risotto came up short. Really just a bland entree which was surprising. Tomato/Mozz pizza was average. The warm chocolate torte with vanilla ice cream was a strong finish to the meal. Based on my three outings, I'd recommend checking it out once, but can't say it's on my shortlist to return to. Update from October 19, 2013 visit: - Edwin's service was flawless. Genuinely memorable service. - Tuna Tartare, Tortellini app & Rack of Lamb were good, but I wouldn't highly recommend any of them - Desserts were exceptional: Macaroons, Profiteroles and the Chocolate Torte Update from October 10, 2014 visit: - Edwin still providing great service - Pork Chop special was perfect - Wild boar w/ Ricotta Gnocchi - very good - Beef Carpaccio w/ garlic aioli, arugula & parm - solid Dessert is still the strongest and most consistent part of the meal.

Isabella L.

After waiting nearly two years, I have finally arrived. This is truly one of the best places in Boston to wine and dine a lady! With that being said, I was surprised one night to be taken here. Everything was so beautiful ~ decor, service, menu, layout, cocktails etc. What makes this place so special to me was the fact that I could fantasize two different scenarios: 1. My future hot spot for me and my ladies when we have our "SATC" nights. I imagined toasting with champagne and our sexy cocktails while trying delicate appetizers and reminiscing our past love affairs and sharing diva and lady secrets. (CAN NOT WAIT to share this place one day with my divas!) 2. Sharing a long and late night dinner with my beau, where we can enjoy each other's company against the luxurious backdrop of wispy and whimsical floral arrangements. High ceilings and the overarching doorways also brings me to a place like The Secret Garden ~ a little heaven concealed by protective gates. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!

Pete R.

We came here for Brunch to celebrate my wife's mothers birthday. Quick drive into town nice and easy parked in the lot across the street. I was absolutely blown away by this place. I have eaten a lot of nice restaurants in Boston but this place was amazing. Large chic dining room with beautiful sunlight pouring in from the large bay windows. The staff is smart and attentive. The brunch wine list was good. . We had the the BLT, Ham and Gruyere Omelet, the Veggie Frittata and I had the Eggs Benedict. The portions were huge I was very impressed. French restaurants can be notorious for small portions. But these were large. The quality of the food was amazing. And a designy side not I love the copper serving dishes. I would come back for brunch all the time if I lived in Boston. And I can not wait to come back for dinner. This place is top notch!

Amy L.

AMAZING!!!!!!! :D Went here for restaurant week, but the service and food was excellent! The portions were very large (am still stuffed), and the ingredients great. The restaurant itself was very beautiful, with yellow and white everywhere (making it look very bright), the lights/pillars/windows elegantly simple. We got: the salmon tartar (very fresh and well paired), mushroom bisque (AMAZING!!!!! the flavor was just right), pork entree (very well done), salmon entree (the pork bits were wonderful), chocolate torte (love how the chocolate wasn't very sweet, which was a great pairing with the caramel underneath it and didn't make you feel tired of it halfway through), and panna cotta (pretty good though my favorite is still the cake). The bread was amazing as well (love the way the outside was the right kind of crusty - hard without being teeth-breaking, with the inside deliciously soft). The butter and other dressing offered were great together. Service was fabulous; the waiters came around to clean off bread crumbs periodically, our water was never half-empty, the three courses came leisurely but didn't make us feel restless, the utensils were taken and refreshed with every course, I could go on but this felt great! :D Overall: definite 5! (if there was a 5+ I would totally give this to Mistral. Best restaurant I have ever reviewed to far). If I had more time, I would definitely come back again! Note: I didn't use this, but I think they offer complimentary car service if you are within 2 miles of the restaurant.

Lisa I.

This is a truly special occasion restaurant. The food here is some of the best, if not the best, I've had in Boston. Their truffle mac & cheese is AMAZING. It's ridiculously expensive, but that's because it has real shaved truffles. They don't always have it on the menu, but if you see it, you have to try it if you're a truffle fan. The roasted chicken and mashed potatoes are also incredible. I've been here a couple of times during Restaurant Week also, and they do a nice job. Unlike some restaurants that are very mediocre during RW, Mistral really brings their A game and treats you well.

Brandon T.

By far one of the best dinners my gf and I have had in a long time. We arrived on time and were seated immediately. The restaurant is classy without being pretentious which is nice. The only off putting thing of the evening was the guy who showed up next to us in acid wash jeans and a skin tight black tee looking like a chach. The restaurant ended up having a special of Dover Sole that evening, which is my gf's favorite, so that really started everything off on a high point. I had the foie appetizer which at first was different with the brioche underneath, but the duck leg confit took the whole thing to another level. My date would never have tried this knowing it was duck, but I told her it was beef, and she loved it. Of course afterwards I did tell her, but by that point she didn't mind and said she was glad she tried it. Next were the entree's; the dover sole: Perfect in every way, and the beef tenderloin: one of the best perfectly cooked steaks i've had in a while. Now on to desserts.. This was the area that I knew would be the saving grace if all else failed. WE had the chocolate torte (lava cake), and the creme brulee with a glass of calvados. If you look at my last meal on earth the last two things are mentioned. Both of the desserts were again perfection. Seriously.. Couldn't ask for more from a dining experience. Just to reiterate, best night out in a long time....

Justin C.

Mistral was my first taste of Boston, and it was a really pleasant welcome to a rainy, cold city. Apparently they offer a special prix fixe menu on Sunday and Monday nights, when restaurants are typically slower, for just $35. The menu is 3 courses, and there isn't much description of the courses, so forgive me if I leave out some ingredients. Considering the prices of the regular entrees, this is a pretty sweet deal here, as they definitely do not skimp whatsoever on portions for this special menu. They did manage to lose my OpenTable reservation, but still sat me pretty much right away after walking in anyway, just no points for me, bummer. The first course was just described as duck confit, but when it came out it looked ( yelp.com/biz_photos/VH0I… ) almost like a risotto, with thick rice, duck meat, shiitakes, and shaved parmesan which was a brilliant addition to this dish. The combination worked fantastic together, even if the dish was entirely too hot to eat for about 2 minutes. There was a really generous amount of duck in this dish, and I would definitely order this again given the chance. The next course, described only as steak sirloin, was served au poivre style with pearl onions, fingerling potatoes, and swiss chard, with a really thick reduction/sauce poured over it. This was a giant piece of meat ( yelp.com/biz_photos/VH0I… ) considering the relatively cheap price, and the quality of the restaurant. The flavors were actually pretty solid too, but there was a real problem with the quality of the meat. It was just way too fatty, and I realize it's sirloin, not the best cut, but a good portion of the steak I had to discard because I just couldn't chew through it. For dessert they offered profiteroles, covered in chocolate, with a mint sauce and topped with various toasted nuts ( yelp.com/biz_photos/VH0I… ). They were a little stiff, but the flavors here were dynamite, I really loved the mint. These are probably some of the better profiteroles I've had, definitely a benefit of making them in house versus purchasing from a vendor and reselling. Overall I would say Mistral is a great restaurant choice, especially if you come on one of the nights they offer the prix fixe. I can only imagine their other appetizers and entrees live up to the same quality. This is also a very beautiful restaurant, and one that has a really nice, romantic vibe if you're looking somewhere to go for a special occaision.

Lindsay B.

When I called to make the reservation and I mentioned a gluten allergy- your hostess was very knowledgeable about what a gluten allergy was as well as what was gluten free on the menu. It is so refreshing to deal with people who know this! Our server John also knew all about the allergy and could make great suggestions for me. My boyfriend and I ordered the Half Duck as well as the Grilled Lamb Loin, both gluten free so I could sample both, and they were amazing. We couldn't stop talking about how delicious our dinners were and how impressed we were. I felt great after dinner as well! We had the sorbet trio for dessert and everything was so so great! Highly Recommend!

Nicole V.

Great service and the food was good. Tuna tartare for appetizer was so delicious that I could have ordered another and eaten that for my entree. The salmon entree was overcooked, which is disappointing since Mistral is such a nice restaurant. For dessert I had the warm chocolate torte and although it was a bit too sweet and I couldn't finish it, it would be perfect to share with someone else. Nice wine pairings and I enjoyed my cocktail. I would eat here again!

Nate Y.

The question: would the three course prix fixe menu be as good if we ordered a la carte? The answer is a resounding yes! The menu for prix fixe was actually a bit different than what was online. Thankfully the offerings were even better. Our server told us that the chef will change things slightly based on the freshest and most sustainable ingredients that they can acquire. The first course were the steak tartare and a beet salad. I am not a beet man, and I would never choose to eat beets if I had a choice, but these beets were earthy and sweet which offset the bitter greens nicely, so I did eat them. The steak tartare with toast was great. Better without the toast to get the full flavor of the raw steak with capers. Second course was the sirloin with Gruyere and a classic coq au vin. The coq au vin was true bistro dish, served in a skillet with mushrooms, bits of ham, and caramelized baby onions. It had breast, thigh, and drumstick served over egg noodles in a reduced red wine sauce. A very hearty meal. A very nice dish, but the sirloin for taste took center stage. It was a boneless sirloin that was well peppered with a Gruyere buttery sauce on top, mmmm. Served rare as asked, it was tender and juicy. The final course was the profiteroles and a goat cheese panna cotta. The panna cotta had the consistency of greek yogurt. It was interesting and good, but the profiteroles were better. A serving of three balls of vanilla ice cream wrapped in a pastry shell covered in chocolate, what's not to like? Service was excellent. Our waiter was extremely helpful, even wrote down the source of the butter used with the bread that my companion enjoyed. They provide coat check and valet parking if you can't find street parking, as well as being convenient to the T. The space is huge, but by the time we left from our early dinner the place was packed, so reservations are recommended. Yes, I'm definitely a fan.

Brooke S.

We went during RW and it was amazing! From initial drink at bar (very strong with top shelf- great for the price) to the last drop of wine we were both very pleased. A friend had recommended it and I'm so glad we went. I had the duck confit appetizer and it was one of the best things I have ever eaten. I am typically a picky eater but decided to go outside my norm and try new things and it was well worth it! My bf had the soup - served cold- which was also very good. I had the steak for my entree which was very large and cooked just the way I wanted it. It was more food than I could finish. He had the chicken entree which was also a good portion and very tasty- who knew chicken could taste that good? Dessert is my favorite and the custard I had was an excellent way to finish a meal. I would highly recommend this restaurant even at full price it would be worth it! The service was amazing as well. A terrific overall experience- we are sure to go back again.

T T.

Overall, I found Mistral to be a pretty vibrant restaurant with some good dishes and friendly service. Even though I had a 9:30 reservation, we weren't given our table until around 10 PM. To make up for the wait, they gave us two complimentary appetizer portions of the butternut squash tortellini, which were quite good. The texture of the pasta was good, and the butternut squash filling had a nicely balanced sweet and savory flavor. We ordred the beef tenderloin, mashed potato, and white truffle oil pizza and were surprised to get a very sizable portion that could easily feed a small family. The pizza was pretty good, but there was no way we could finish it. I had Cornish hen with warm pancetta, spinach salad, and a lemon sauce. The hen was moist and had good flavor, but the lemon sauce was overseasoned. I also got to try the warm mushroom risotto, which was pretty good but rich. Service was friendly but on the slower side, although we were there on a busy night.

sean g.

Food was great, space modern and cool. But a bit to shi-shi for its own good. The noise level was deafening. Not really worth the hassle.

Jon H.

Came here with Nagin and Drew for Restaurant Week 2010. We started off with a non-RW item, the mussels. I was surprised that it wasn't a bucket - in fact it was served chock full in a garlic white wine sauce with toast. Super garlicy but flavorful....but I found myself missing the fun of forking the meat out of shells. Onto the restaurant week stuff. I decided to go with the Beef Carpaccio in Black Truffle Sauce, while Nagin and Drew both went with the Caesar Salads. Since I didn't have their salads (looked pretty normal anyways), I can say the Beef Carpaccio was ridiculously amazing. The beef was sliced thin and flavorful, with a smoky finish, and the truffle sauce gave it a light salty buttery flavor. Perfectly light, perfectly portioned. For entrees, I went with the special RW of the day, the Roasted Duck served on mushroom risotto, finished with steeped cherries. Drew and Nagin went with the Steak in Port Wine sauce. Both of them thought the steak was flavorful and cooked well. I found the duck to be really well seasoned and juicy, served at a perfect temperature and glazed with the sweet sweet steeped cherries. The mushroom risotto was buttery and full of texture, with large pieces of mixed wild mushrooms. Props for de-boning the dish, I think the only piece I had to discard was the leg bone from the top side - nice quality touch. For dessert the three of us went with the chocolate mousse. FIrst taste felt like there was applesauce on the top, but as you mixed up the layers, the texture and sweetness, felt like chocolate pudding mixed with cake. Not too overly sweet, not too overly heavy, a great finish. Overall, with wine, the mussels, and the RW entrees, we got out under $150 for three people. The atmosphere was beautiful inside, food was good, service was a bit on the slow side and awk, but overall a good experience. Would definitely recommend this place, and have to return for normal offerings. Five stars for RW, Five stars for potential.

Ilya S.

The food was fantastic. I had the lamb Osso Bucco which was beyond tender and my girlfriend had the steak au poivre which was cooked perfectly. One of my favorite restaurants in the City of Boston which never disappoints.

Kelly O.

3.75 stars. For my 3rd and last Restaurant Week meal, I headed to Mistral, another place for which I held high expectations, which were somewhat met. I loved the lighting and ambiance of the dining room, it was both warm and comfortable (with lowish lighting) and cool/trendy (I liked those couches). It seemed like the tables were oddly close to one another, but we hypothesized that was just for RW and it would be a bit more spaced out during normal. The service here was outstanding, definitely the best out of the 3 RW meals. Our server was friendly, welcoming, polite, prompt, professional, and helpful, and I personally couldn't have been happier. She sort of snuck up on us (in a good way), which prompted a few jokes from our table, but I felt she played it perfectly with the right balance between barging in during our conversation and politely but meekly standing and waiting until we were done talking. Usually service doesn't much move me unless it's very bad/rude, but I definitely noticed and appreciated it here. I actually prefer this type of service over somewhere like L'Espalier which, while technically perfect, is a bit too stuffy and confusing... with our server, it was profession but with a touch of warmth. OK I realize that sounds really pretentious/ridiculous, but hey, it's my review, I can say what I want, right? 8) For a starter, I was tempted to choose the wild mushroom and truffle bisque yet again (third time in a week and a half's the charm, isn't it?), but I opted instead for the Caesar. Weak choice normally for a RW, but I gotta say, this was an excellent version, really top notch. Very pleased. Also, huge portion (I was almost full at the end of this... of course, this was also after a free Ben and Jerry's cone an hour before, whoops). For the main I got the salmon, and it was very tasty. I was expecting to be blown away, and was a bit disappointed when I wasn't. I mean, technically it was perfect, and really yummy, but there have been other salmon dishes in my life I've drooled over much more. Solid dish though, and maybe it was just my own preferences that didn't make this totally shine for me. Another huge portion. Dessert was profiteroles, which were not bad (but not amazing either). They were a bit hard as if they'd been frozen for too long, without any of the fluffiness the pastry should have IMO, but the flavor was good. I was so full I could barely take a few bites of the two huge profiteroles. Dining companions got the lemon cake thingie and raved about it, so I think I may have picked the wrong thing. So while Mistral didn't totally knock my socks off, everything was tasty and service was excellent, and I think it's a solid choice (but isn't necessarily at the top of my list).

Joseph R.

When I and the dessert queen of Jamaica Plain go oh my God over dessert you know it has to be beyond amazing. We had one of the finest meals we have ever had in Boston. This ranks up with the tasting menu from Number 9 Park. Both our dinners were perfect and the service impeccable. Thanks to all the staff of Mistral for making our anniversary dinner so special.

Heather G.

Whenever I give a nice, highly-rated restaurant a mediocre review, I am always afraid that perhaps I caught them on an off-night, or I ordered the wrong items, etc. It was because of this that I decided to come back here for RW and give it another shot (why pay full price to give a do-over to a restaurant that I didn't like the first time?). Since the RW menu seemed to be decently reflective of the normal menu, I thought this would be my chance to see what the fuss is really about. After my dining experience, I maintain my solid-2-stars because, I have most certainly experienced better food in the pack this place travels in. For the meal: Appetizer was beef carpaccio - I am no connoisseur of carpaccio, but I have had it once or twice before. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but the beef was bland. Really bland. The carpaccio texture was there but the flavor was neutral. Any flavor came from the arugula, cheese, and dressing atop the beef, and it could have well-been absent from the dish without changing the taste of the dish remotely. The items atop the beef mixed well together, though the little croutons on the dish were a distraction and added nothing more than a bit of crunch. For the entree, I ordered the sirloin with some gorgonzola sauce on top, medium rare. My first steak came out closer to medium-well, but after asking to re-do it, the replacement came out in a matter of minutes and, while it was actually more medium, it was closer to what I ordered so I just shut my trap and ate it. I thought that, being gorgonzola-based, the sauce would add some sharp bite to the steak. Not so. THe glaze was very very sweet, leading me to believe the gorgonzola was sparsely used in comparison with the other sauce componoents. Too sweet for dinner, in my opinion. Dessert was the "famous" profiteroles, which I ordered just because of their buzz on yelp. The candied pistachios that came sprinkled on the dessert were the highlight. Again, not well-versed in profiteroles - perhaps these are spot-on, but I found the bread to be very hard and flavorless, and the entire dish was difficult to cut through and eat, making me look like an idiot with the chocolate mess I created while trying to consume. Overall, the pistachios were great, the ice cream was good, the bread was very tasteless, and, while pretty to look at, the dish was not well-executed as a dessert for me. Bread comes out hot but is a bit denser than I like, however the chickpea puree it's served with is delightful. That could have been my meal and I'd be happy. On a positive note, service, as always, is AMAZING. These people get it right. from the hostess stand greeting all the way through the meal, the service is consistent, and consistently flawless. Our server (apologies, forget his name) was always there when we needed him, but was never intrusive, pushy, or gave us the feeling we were being rushed. Unfortunately, the service alone is not enough to make me go back. I gave it my two-attempts, but for the price point and class of restaurants Mistral competes with, i'd rank it lower on the list than most of its counterparts.

Ariana G.

This food was good. Great bread, fantastic apps, great desert, yummy pizza. If it was food alone, would have gone for 4 stars. However, the service was about 2 stars. Had dinner at the bar, ordered drinks, an expensive bottle of wine and had to ask for water FOUR times. I would get a fill-up and they would leave my fellow diner's glass empty. Come on, we are sitting at the BAR... where drinks are served. Do we really need to beg for water. So... Lady Bartenders, I understand that husband hunting may be more of what you are really working at - but Restaurant Managers, you may want to know that the women who are eating, drinking, and paying would like a little attention too! *** Was immediatly contacted by the Manager and he assured me he would address this issue and this is not the typical service to expect at Mistral. I wil be sure to give it another try.

Annie I.

I would eat the mushroom bisque with Parmesan crema every day if i could. Great cocktails, delicious food--the crab ravioli was one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. Go for the apps and cocktails.

Dan G.

The food was damn delicious, small, but veryyyy gooooooddddd! I liked the atmosphere a lot, although nothing really looked french, including the food. Mediterranean, yes. I got a 4 course tasting menu and holy moly was it good. I was a little disappointed becuase I wa slooking forward to the Halibut and crab which is on the online menu, but they didn't have it the night we went, but its ok! The tasting was lovely! They do warn you ahead of time that they reccomend that everyone at the table get it because if not the serving times get messed up. We had already eaten 3 courses (the tasting ended up being more like 6 courses) before the rest of our table even got their appetizers. I undestand why the time it like this, but they really should do better with that. This casued the rest of our table to watch us for 2 hours (because the service was a little slow) eat, while they sat and starved, waiting for their appetizers. One thing to note that i loved and was lke "ewwww" at first was a lemon ice cream or sorbet? Not sure which, but it was sitting in a bit of oive oil with sea salt on top and this was one of the most heavenly palate cleansers I think I have ever EVER had. The beef tenderloin with truffles on it. Absolutely amazing. Gnocchi was delicious, kind of surprised they didn't try different flvors with it, but it was pesto nonetheless. Gazpacho, compliments from the chef was awesome! The halibut with cockles, it was good, but i liked the beef more (and I never order beef) Dessert was delicious and light, an ice cream with a peach half and some crunchy cookiness! Also, i got the tuna tartare and ok, I never crave raw fish..ever. My idea of food is not sushi, but I wanted to try it and I am glad I did..it was amazing. For a monday night it sure was busy, but it added to the nice atmosphere. Ok thats all!

Nicole L.

Went to Mistral last night for my birthday and left with a distinctly "meh" feeling. We made a reservation and when we got there, we were told by the hostesses that they were running ten minutes behind and that we could wait at the bar. Kind of a snippy attitude, no apology for the wait. But whatever, we figured we'd get a nice cocktail, no big deal. The bartender looked downright annoyed with us, as if it was somehow unacceptable that we wanted a drink while waiting for our table? I don't know. It was weird. Then the manager barged by, knocked my bag off my shoulder, and kept going, no "excuse me," no acknowledgement that I was even standing there. By this point I was regretting having reserved a table. But again, not worth ruining the evening. A very tasty cocktail washed the bad taste out of my mouth. After about 25 minutes we finally got our table. The waiter was fine, but looked hassled and not all that pleased to be serving us. I guess I should say at this point that we were dressed nicely, very polite to everyone there, no reason that I could think of to be getting such an unreasonably snooty attitude from pretty much everyone we interacted with. The couple next to us looked equally uncomfortable by the time they got seated. At any rate, the service was perfectly acceptable, just not overly pleasant. The appetizers were excellent. The chilled corn soup with crab and avocado was delightful and refreshing, and the cilantro and jalepeno oil added a zingy touch. I could have made a meal of just that. My husband's carpaccio was also great. But we were both disappointed by the main courses. Tenderloin and roasted duck were both just OK. Not much seasoning, the quality of the beef was about what you'd get at a supermarket, and the horseradish mashed potatoes were bland. If this had just been some bistro I would have been happy enough with it, but I had such high expectations for Mistral and it just felt like one disappointment after another. For dessert we ordered a chocolate pot de creme. Maybe my expectations were off, but I was expecting something baked in a ramekin. This was just cold chocolate pudding with whipped cream and crumbled cookies on top. Again, not bad, but not worth the price. My overall impression is that this place doesn't live up to the hype. The space was beautifully decorated and very impressive, but to me, a restaurant of that level should have excellent service and amazing, creative food. Sadly, Mistral had neither. For a special meal out in Boston, I'd rather go to Clio.

Molly J.

The atmosphere was not as romantic as I expected. However, it's perfect going there with a girl friend after the long day. We waited for the table for about 20 minutes even though we've made a reservation. The portion of the food was big but not exquisite. For me, French food should be served in small portions with delicate decoration. I have not have this kind of experience going to a French restaurant in Boston yet.

Sean M.

Someone from our hotel recommended the Mistral, it was a great call. My wife and 2 children enjoyed it, from the cheese plate and escargot to the dessert assortment. The duck was fantastic and the tenderloin and mashed potatoe flatbread won approval from my very picky daughter. It's not cheap and the waiter had a slight attitude when he saw children but all in all very enjoyable.

Florina K.

Went there for brunch. 2 out of the 3 meals were phenomenal. The smoked salmon pizza is to die for it is the best I' ve ever had, and the wild mushroom omelette is pretty good too. They use a very good variety of mushrooms so the flavor is really great. The atmosphere of the place is great as well! The pancakes were really misleading they were described as chocolate chip filled, so I expected to endulge in chocolate with every bite. Whe they were brought out the only chocolate there was, is just SOME nutella in between the pancakes. NOTHING in the pancake itself. The waiter was very rude the whole time, and I felt like he was rude because we were younger, as he was very nice to the older couple sitting next to us. He made us wait forever to get us anything even a drink. And kept trying to suggest we get the most expensive dish on the menu; which was duck confit. Who is in the mood for duck confit so early?? That's a dinner dish! And even though we told him that we wanted something along pancake, and omlette, he kept suggesting the duck confit! Three times!! Overall I am giving the place 4 stars because of the two great dishes we had. Restaurants can't always be held responsible for their rude staff....you can only control people so much!

Jessica C.

This past May, I decided to take my fiancé to this establishment to celebrate a special event. What a great decision I made! The service itself was wonderful. We couldn't have been luckier with our waiter. He was very attentive, made excellent recommendations of food choices (of which we took). We were very pleased. The atmosphere is great for either romance, or a small group of friends or family. Sports jackets are recommended as attire (there is a sign outside of the door when first entering the restaurant). Wine selection looked wonderful (and very long), but we stuck with the champagne and limoncello that evening. If you are able to make it to dessert, kudos! The appetizer special that evening of pork belly, and our main entrees were enough for us. We apparently spoke very highly of Mistral on quite a few occasions, as my parents decided to go there in October to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. They too thoroughly enjoyed their experience.

Andrea M.

Mistral is perfect. I wish it was a secret. Atmosphere: Beautiful, cream and black décor with a subtle elegance that stills feel comfortable and relaxed. You'll want to dress up here, but it's almost out of respect, rather than duty. Service: Very attentive and professional. Our waitress was patient and seemed like an expert on everything on the menu. She accurately described the flavors to a tee, and when I didn't like one of the cocktails she recommended, she whisked it away and brought me another one. She didn't make me explain myself, she was just focused on giving us a good experience. Food: To die for. I deviated from my vegetarian ways and ordered the portk with polenta. I can still taste it. It was absolutely mouth watering, tender and perfectly seasoned. The mushroom soup started had an even consistency that didn't over-rely on cream. One of my top five restaurants in the city.

Jerry H.

Excellent food and service. I had the branzino any my wife had the duck. Both very good Also excellent Italian wine with reasonable markups. The waiter made certain we finished in time for our concert. Overall, an excellent experience as always. Also, I recommend the Sunday brunch.

Stephanie F.

Mistral's longstanding / esteemed reputation in this city speaks for itself. It is also one of the very few restaurants in this city where the cuisine matches it's elegant, approachable, and warm ambiance. When it came to finding the right place to host our wedding of 60 guests, that's also fit for foodies, there was no hesitation in trusting Mistral. Our private dining contact Lisa was knowledgeable, attentive and great to work with. She helped us through the details and even worked with me to coordinate the design of my wedding cake, which was both stunning and delicious. I'm so impressed with the level of service and execution of the night. There was absolutely no detail spared.

Elizabeth G.

Had high expectations and was not dissapointed. Service was good. Short rib app. Serloin and lamb. All were excellent. Will be back.

Vincent C.

This is probably one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. I was here for restaurant week a few weeks ago and was astounded by the quality of food, service, and ambiance. The appetizer was the best dish in my opinion. They had salmon tartare as a special on the RW menu (maybe for the day, not too sure, as it's not normally on the RW menu). This was just absolutely unbelievable; perfectly seasoned and flavored, perfect balance of texture and taste and aesthetics. It was great. I had the braised pork for the entre and loved this as well. I would not have minded if the meat was slightly more tender, but can't complain too much. The dessert was amazing as well. I ordered the panna cotta. This was a brilliant dish. Perfect sweetness (I'm not a huge fan of overly sweet desserts). It was topped with nuts rather than the typical fruits, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I had also tasted a little bit of my friends' bisque, steak, and desserts. The steak was a little too cooked for medium rare. The bisque was amazing. And I found the other two desserts to be a bit too sweet. Overall though, great experience. Anything negative I just said is just nitpicking. Great great great restaurant.

Sarah P.

Delicious, but a bit overpriced for my tastes. A perfect venue for a work dinner or special occasion because oh how you will pay. You absolutely can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Their artisan cheese plate was very tastefully done, and I would have died for the dessert which was a flaky crostada. The fish was prepared perfectly and paired with a beautiful risotto. The wine selection was impeccable, but would you expect anything less from a French restaurant?!

Jeffrey K.

This was an awesome dining experience! From the ambiance to the food this place is one of the best restaurants in Boston. A tad pricey but you get what you pay for which is unreal items on a well formulated menu and exquisite flavor profiles that leave your pallet in aw. If you're trying to impress this is the place!!

Liz P.

Isn't it wonderful when you have a perfect night out? Celebrating 10 years, my husband and I wanted to dine someplace really special, and Mistral found its way to the top of the list. The excitement and anticipation paid of in spades - the food and experience were absolutely excellent. To start, our waiter was fantastic. Very nice, personable, attentive - he made sure our needs were met and that the evening moved along smoothly. We had a lovely table in the far corner, giving us a view of the entire restaurant. The high ceiling of the long room lent an open, airy feel. The decor was simply elegant, contemporary in style. I really liked the ambience - it was easy to relax and enjoy our conversation and meal. On to the food. The Seared Foie Gras was to die for - a must-have here. The escargot, drowned in a rich red wine sauce, were heavenly, and the sirloin carpaccio was very fresh and light next to the two heavier appetizers. Perfection all around. My husband loved his Beef Tenderloin. Cooked perfectly, with a generous portion of mashed potatoes and asparagus. I opted for the Double Grilled Lamp Chop with pine nuts and currants, accompanied with whipped potato and broccoli rabe. Though a little more char than I would have liked, the meat was still very tasty and I enjoyed the meal. I'm not sure how we managed to fit dessert, but we did. We ordered the Assiette for Two, which had 4 petite portions of various desserts, all of which were delicious, sweet enough to compliment the heavy meal, but not overly so. Well done. We used the valet service (very good) and at the end of the meal, our waiter brought our valet ticket out so that they could retrieve our car, allowing us to relax inside at the table until it was ready. We were so pleased with our experience, especially for the occasion. I readily recommend Mistral to anyone looking for a fine place to dine in the city for that special night out.

Bradford J.

The first time I went to Mistral I thought the food was excellent and a memorable experience. So I decided to go again last week while I was in Boston on business. The place looked the same as I remembered, cozy, trendy, and full of people talking and laughing. The menu had similar items as the last time I came. I started off with the seared foie gras since we can't get this in Los Angeles anymore due to the ban and the crab ravioli. The foie gras was seared perfectly, and the texture was great mixing with the confit of duck and beard it sat on. The crab ravioli was good but lacked flavor, making it blend. For my main course, I ordered the whole fish (it was a bass). I thought the fish was over cooked and wasn't what I thought it would be. For the price point, very expensive I expected the crab ravioli and fish to be full of flavor. Mistral has definitely gone down hill in my books. I don't think I would come back the next around.

Tina E.

I have to be honest - I went there all three times over two different Restaurant Weeks. I was so impressed the first time, I immediately went back 2 days later. I don't usually order chicken in resturants, I am more of a fish or steak person, but their chicken is delicoius! The steak I had was also phenomenal. Portions were huge, even though it was Restaurant Week. The service was attentive, great romantic atmospher. I really like the tall ceilings and the chandeliers. By far, it's my favorite restaurant in Boston. Therefore, I am also giving my first-ever Yelp review to Mistral. 5 thumbs up, if I had 5 thumbs. :)

Donna B.

A friend of mine wrote a steamy novel in which the protagonists dine at Mistral. Since she lives in Michigan, she has never visited Mistral, but got the restaurant information from the Internet. Of course when she visited New Hampshire, a road trip was in order. We picked up my sister, (who was extremely hung over), in Peabody and forced her to spend the afternoon walking the Freedom Trail. She grew up with me, right outside of Boston, so she had seen all the tourist traps and was less than thrilled at reliving the experience of a 4th grade field trip. My friend was delighted to see firsthand the city in which her fictitious characters lived and loved. After wandering lost for awhile and racing through the windy streets with only a tourist map in hand, we finally reached our destination, the lovely and elegant Mistral on Columbus Ave. Our fabulous server, Dawn-Marie, was extra helpful. She may have felt bad for us since we were so frazzled, arriving a few minutes late after our run through the Boston streets from the Fanueil Hall area. In any case, we were soon settled into our seats and ready for wine. After a few sips of Pinot Grigio, and a confirmation that my friend's classy fictitious duo would definitely approve of the menu, we were ready to order. I like mushrooms, but I have never ordered them in a restaurant as an app, (unless they were stuffed and smothered in cheese-lol), but the locally harvested oyster mushrooms sounded fantastic- and they were! They were so meaty and flavorful, it was almost like I was eating fillet mignon. My companions were happy with their appetizers of a cheese platter and asparagus. For the main course, I ordered the crab ravioli, which was delicious. My friend and sister ordered the same dish- tortellini, which they oohhed and aahhed over. For desert, we ordered a sampler type platter of 4 mini-deserts which we enjoyed immensely. It was a fantastic night, with good company and a chance to visit a restaurant that I thought was fictitious.

Darienka H.

One of the best restaurants in Boston's Back Bay, if not the entire Boston, especially if someone else is footing the bill! I have been to Mistral multiple times for lunches and dinner as well as Restaurant Week. I did not love the menus during Restaurant Week but if your budget is limited and you want to experience this place, then by all means give it a try. On the other visits when I could order what I really liked, it was a 5-star experience from the ambience, the servers and the food. I could live just on the freshly baked bread and escargot alone. Not to mention they have my favorite French dessert wine (sautern)!! Great place to dine, especially if you want to impress someone. Well worth it.

J H.

Excellent decor, food, wine list and service. We got the caesar salad, crab raviolis, asparagus, seabass and apple crostada. The seabass was amazing, so much that I keep thinking about it 5 days later. The raviolis were perfect for a light meal. While the restaurant is a bit pricey, it's worth every penny. The only complaint I have is that it appears that they pump some sort of scent in the restaurant- at first I thought the woman sitting behind me was wearing way too much perfume, but the smell came in waves and was very apparent in the bathroom. It was overwhelming at times.

Stephen L.

Today I walked into the restaurant for some brunch. At approximately 11:30 we were asked if we made a reservation yet. Sadly I did not. I was told by the hostess there would be a two hour wait, even though the restaurant was half empty. I just called the restaurant back at 11:50 and a lady picked up . I casually asked her if they accept walk-ins, she said yes. I then asked if it was busy and if I was to come down in 10 minutes would I have to wait, she said no, there's PLENTY of tables available. I've had great experiences dining there during dinner time, but after feeling unwelcome for brunch, I highly doubt that I would ever come there again. My apologies Mistral for not dressing up like everyone else in there. I did not realize that jeans and sneakers were not accepted at an establishment like yours. Update on 10/04/11 I have spoken to two managers about this unfortunate incident and they both apologized to me. They handled themselves very professionally and I am glad that they both had to hear what I had to say. They have offered to invite me back in. I have yet to decide if I will go back. I also would like to extend me sincerest apologies to Amanda.

M I.

The first thing you notice when walking into mistral is the ambiance. It's a really nice restaurant. To start, I had a corn chowder topped with crab meat. It was delicious. My friend and I both ordered a steak. The steak was very juicy and seasoned very well. The potatoes that came with the steak were probably the best potatoes I have ever had. I haven't had the chance to visit in a while but it's definitely a place to check out if you have never visited!

Sohini M.

What a gem! The first time I went there- we were there for Restaurant Week- fantastic!! I can only say good things about this place. We went back for dinner with friends visiting from outside Boston and they were quite impressed too. Will be my go to place for all special meals

Rob K.

Brunch was okay. Waiter was pretty rude tho. Not going back at all.

Wally G.

All I have to say is "WOW"... by far one of my favorite restaurants in the city. If you're looking to go big, this is the place!

Danielle R.

The restaurant is beautiful - light & airy. The waitstaff was friendly & helpful. I tried two mixed drinks, both of which were fabulous. I didn't love my massive crab & chive omelette - initially I really enjoyed it, but I became totally overwhelmed 1/3 of the way through because there were just too many eggs. Though I don't normally eat red meat, I tried my friend's burger because it looked so tasty. It was one of the best burgers I've ever eaten - worth every penny of its $17 price tag.

Abel J.

I've always really enjoyed my experience at Mistral, and have made it a regular choice for business dining. But last night was an unmitigated disaster. Hectic and unorganized, the stage was set early when I was unable to get a cocktail at the bar, and made worse when twice during the three courses, I was served the wrong meal. Perhaps I should have taken it, though, as food was a surprising let-down: my salmon was overcooked and under seasoned, and I feel ill this morning.\r \r The real issue, however, was the service. Our waiter was rude and abrupt, interrupting conversation and rolling his eyes at questions on the menu. I finished my glass of wine before my entree arrived, and he took the glass away without asking if I'd like another. Dessert was served without asking if we'd like coffee. But the most embarrassing aspect of the evening happened as we were collecting our coats at the front of the restaurant: our waiter chased after us, loudly calling out that we'd forgotten to pay. As everyone turned to stare, we tried to talk discreetly, but he kept his voice loud. It seems that we'd left the unsigned ""guest copy"" credit card slip on top in the bill folder and though the signed receipt was underneath, he hadn't noticed before causing a scene. He scarcely even apologized as we called it to his attention. Atrocious. \r \r I pray that this was a fluke experience brought on by the stress of Restaurant Week, but I've already changed the location of my client dinner next week.

User K.

OVERRATED! I took my girlfriend there for her birthday based on the high yelp ratings and was pretty disappointed. As appetizers we had: the "mistral thin crust pizza" (half: tomato, mozzarella & oregano & half: beef tenderloin, mashed potato & white truffle oil). I'd say not bad, but I think they shouldn't add cheese on top of the mozzarella. My girlfriend loved the beef part, it's actually her favorite in Boston. The steamed black mussels with smoked tomato had a fake/weird taste of smoke and were overcooked. The roasted "whole" market fish with potatoes for $39 is worth $20. The profiteroles were not good, certainly not worth $18. Since I had only 1 bite, the waiter kindly took it off the bill. Altogether, I'd say average french restaurant!

Raj K.

Came here for dinner while I was in town for a convention. Big props for keeping my table for me. There were a few groups waiting at the hostess stand which made me nervous about having to wait, but I walked up, gave my name and we were seated immediately. Ambience - a little crowded - not uncomfortable though, kind of noisy, but you're not yelling at your date. Basically, it's hip. Service was very good. Our waiter was attentive, not overbearing, and funny in just the right amounts. Food was very good, went with the seared foie gras, and got a nice big portion. Main course was the grilled tenderloin which was done quite well. Potatoes had a hint of horseradish, but not to the point you're feeling like Puff the Magic Dragon shooting fire out of your nose. And dessert was a shared portion of the profiteroles which were also nice and not too heavy. All in all, if I actually lived in Boston, I'd definitely hit this place up again.

Flora S.

We went there for brunch and took our daughters with us. Nice atmosphere and wait service was pretty good. One of my daughters had steak and eggs. The eggs were perfectly fried, but the steak was not uniformly cooked. She had asked for it medium but it came out rare in many places. The steak was also fatty on the edges. My other daughter had milk chocolate pancakes. They were very accommodating as she wanted berries and cream instead of what was on the menu ( she did not want the accoutrements). The pancakes were huge and she said they were delicious. The house muffins were the best. My husband and I both had the smoked salmon egg Benedict: It was quite salty. We also had apple cider donuts which were interesting and crunchy. The pineapple carpaccio was very interesting and quite delicious. They were thin slices of pineapple covered in oil, salt and lime sorbet . Prices were reasonable. All in all an enjoyable brunch and we will be back...

Jonathan C.

MIstral is usually one of my favorite French restaurants in Boston (the other being L'Espalier) the food was just okay this time. I had the misfortune of ordering the Halibut and compared it to the exact same dish at L'Espalier and it fell woefully short. The drinks were good as usual and the service was good. Also was disappointed that they no longer had the soufflé which I thought was one of the best in Boston.

Kiki P.

This review is for brunch only. Mistral is now my new favorite brunch spot. I am a frequent bruncher so this is kind of a big deal. Everything about the food and experience of Sunday Brunch was perfect. I use the word perfect several times in this review and that's because I have no other words for my experience! The ambiance is rather pleasant. Mistral is a little on the fancy side for brunch but its still very casual. One side of the dining room has a row of couches which are very cozy. I could have sat there all day. Some places that have couches can be uncomfortable with the table being too high and too far away but this height and length was perfect. The food was absolutely scrumptious. I was really impressed. It is quite obvious that the quality of ingredients is very high. I tried the classic eggs benedict with smoked pork loin and hollandaise. This place has completely mastered the art of poaching an egg. These eggs were absolutely perfectly cooked, just the right amount of runny. I also tried the challah french toast. This is crusted with graham crackers and served with blackberries and cream. This french toast was certainly unique and flavorful. It was a little on the heavy side so I probably would not order it again. I like my french toast light and fluffy. Bacon: Mistral has some of the best bacon I have ever had. It is thin and crispy. Completely classic and delicious. Drinks: The bloody marys are pretty tasty as well. They are served with shaved celery, a red jalapeno, and a stem of rosemary. Such a unique take on a bloody mary! The mimosas are very pricey ($16). Parking: This was the worst part of the experience. We spend a good 30-40 minutes looking for a parking spot and were unsuccessful. We ended up parking at the Claredon street garage ($28 for 2+ hours of parking). That is a little ridiculous. I guess I will hop on the train next time. Value: Great value. The prices here are a little bit higher than your typical brunch spot...about $15 per brunch entree. However it is worth every penny. In return, you are getting what you pay for. The quality of the food certainly justifies the higher prices. I do think that the prices of the mimosas should be a little more reasonable though since there is nothing special about champagne and OJ. Maybe they could use less expensive champagne and charge $12. Overall, I had a splendid experience for Sunday Brunch at Mistral and plan on making several trips back for more.

Suzanne G.

This is review for their brunch. They have a very relaxing, upscale brunch without being too stuffy. I went with a group of 8 people and shared family style, so I got to try a lot of their dishes. Family style is the best way to brunch! The smoked salmon pizza, cinnamon buns, truffled deviled eggs, milk chocolate chip pancakes and herb and ricotta omelette were all delicious! Just be sure to make reservations because they usually fill up fast.

Kailene K.

I dined here on a Tuesday night - and be warned, any day of the week you should book a reservation. We went here on a very high recommendation from a friend and it was quite fantastic. I lived in France for awhile and missed really good escargot, so I got this and the foie gras. Of course with a couple glasses of wine. The Bordeaux is really divine. My friend got tenderloin I believe and that was mouth watering good. The potatoes were so delicious too. It was a bit loud and cramp but the service was still really good. We will definitely be returning!

Kristin W.

For any early risers near the Hynes Convention Center, there are not a ton of brunch options early on a Sunday morning. I waited until Mistral opened at 10:30 to head over and had no problem getting a table even though online reservations were full. I started with an order of the Hot Callebaut Chocolate, which was like a liquid smore, mostly due to the large toasted marshmallow. I liked the drink, but found the marshmallow to be a little too sweet. My enormous Rosemary Ham and Gruyere Omelette arrived (to my shock, doused in butter), accompanied by an giant serving of Rosemary Frites - portions and calories are anything but limited here.

Katherine M.

Service left much to be desired. Waited 45 mins for first course, never came, waiter never checked on us so we paid for our bottle of wine and left.

Joy D.

After reading the reviews, I was kind of underwhelmed with Mistral. The food was good, but we had other meals in Boston that were as good or better for less money. For example, we had seared foie gras for $12 at another restaurant, and the price at Mistral is $24. The ambiance is elegant and the service is great. If you want a "fine dining" experience, this is the place. If you just want great food without spending a fortune, look elsewhere.

Keely S.

If I could give Mistral ten stars I would! The most amazing braised truffle pizza and amazing staff! Nothing will compare to Mistral!!

Louis F.

Boston's finest by far!!! Always an amazing experience at Mistral! Food prepared beautifully,service attentive On my top 5 of Boston !!!!

B W.

I dined here last night with my friend for Dine Out Boston and had a very enjoyable experience. After finding out they were booked, the host managed to get us a table in the front of the restaurant which was awesome! I had the beef carpaccio (amaze), roasted chicken with pomme puree and root vegetables while my friend enjoyed the caesar salad and sirloin with potato lyonnaise. We both had the profiteroles for dessert. The food was absolutely delicious and so well prepared. I had been here once before for my birthday and that experience set the bar for sure! I will definitely be back :-)

Richard C.

Probably one of the best if not the best restaurant in the city...rarely is there a mistake on service or cuisine! but after all these years....unfortunately they just made a big one as far as I can see. They just added new chairs to the bar and they are the most uncomfortable chairs I have ever sat in. All hard wood tubed back...which is actually painful to sit in the chair and lean back even a little.. I had to not order and leave the bar. Mistral do yourself a favor and get new chairs. Since I am a bar eater I will wait until they are changed. Won't go back until they do. Your still the best ...so get the best chairs!!!

A M.

In my opinion Mistral is one of the best restaurants in Boston. I have gone there for both dinner as well as brunch and the dishes are in both cases delicious. I'm loyal to Tenderloin Pizza with mashed potato, caramelized onions as well as truffle oil. It's so good. The combination of ingredients sounds strange but wait until you try it and you will be coming back for more, like I do:) Tuna tartare is just perfection itself. Last time I tried mussels and my friend tried snails and both of those appetizers were delicious as well. I have ordered entrees in the past which are also good but in my opinion there appetizers are better. This is what I did last - I only ordered appetizers so I could have my most favorite dishes which I already listed above:) I guess I have a good appetite:)

Tania S.

Loved this restaurant! We stopped by for brunch before we started sightseeing. The ambiance was really well done. The tall ceilings and full height large windows makes this space quite inviting. The color choices are very eye pleasing as well. We had their red sangria and it was really good, not too strong but still flavorful. The Rosemary ham & Gruyere omelette, shallot confit was excellent! The Lyonnaise potatoes were to die for! Will go back for dinner next time we are in town!

Thuy P.

I've finally come back, and I'm glad I did. I've decided to give it 5 stars. I rarely do that, and I'm not going to lie, there is some slight hesitation. But whether it is because I hold on to my 5 stars like a newborn baby or because Mistral is actually short of 5, I'm not sure. But if it isn't 5, its pretty damn close. Alright so the food is as good as I remember. I had the halibut- which was like a delicious explosion of summer on a plate. And for dessert, the profiteroles, which were like an ice cream puff sandwich, I've never had this version before; but it was delicious. And the service is as I concluded in my first review, it was good. There were a couple of tiny problems; like having to wait for our table even though I stared at it as we waited and it was ready the whole time (now that I think about it the hosts were a little cold and aloof last time too); and not having plates when our second roll of bread came...., but it was our second roll so I understand confusion. Other than that the service was very good, inside and out, front of house and back. One more iffy tidbit, it was freezing. It was already a cold summer day, I did not need the a/c on blast. Now to counter the debbie downer stuff that took over this review, Mistral est bon! If you're thinking about it, just go.

Reem H.

Went to Mistral for dessert and coffee. We sat at the bar/lounge as we waited for our table. We had our drink order taken and within 10 minutes we were taken to our table. Our waiter wasn't too happy that we only wanted dessert for the night. (I understand considering that's their livelihood and our bill wouldn't amount to much) It was our anniversary and when our desserts came they had "Happy Anniversary" written out in chocolate on our plates. I ordered the ice cream puffs which were delicious, my husband ordered the sorbet which amazing! They had an apple cider flavored sorbet that was so good!! Great atmosphere, good desserts and from what we experienced a friendly crowd. We would definitely come back.

Hana K.

I was so excited to finally try out this chick & modern contemp American restaurant but was let down by a series of disappointments... I came here for restaurant week and ended up waiting for over 40minutes past my reservation time while I watched several large groups of people walk-in and get seated before me. Understandable if I had a large table but it was just a seat for two. They kindly offered to bring us water while we waited but that also took 20minutes of waiting... for just water. The food: Marinara Thin Crust Pizza (complementary) -- fresh, savory, and delicious. We scarfed it down within seconds... but then again, after waiting 40minutes, we would have scarfed down anything. Pork Chops -- Pork chops were way over-cooked and dry. Their summer peach and corn salsa with sherry vinaigrette did not compliment each other at all. It was too sweet and too sour at the same time. Sirloin Carpaccio -- Most people are turned off by the idea of very rare meat but this is definitely worth the try. The meat was balanced perfectly with the lemon aioli. Portions were so large (but also because we started off with the pizza,) I could barely eat my dessert. The dessert was probably the best dish amongst the 3 course meal. All in all, if it hand't been for the long wait, promises of a table opening up "soon," being neglected after 10minutes of waiting, my experience at Mistral may have been more enjoyable and lived up to the expectations.

Laura P.

We had a great dinner here about a year ago for my bf's birthday. It was surprisingly very quiet, less than half the tables were full but I think it made the evening more enjoyable and intimate. Our meals were good, we both had beef that was perfectly cooked. The waiter took a few minutes to realize we were a very casual couple, and once he figured it out he was totally down to earth and took great care of us. I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 because nothing felt over and above. I'd go back, but Boston has so many amazing restaurants that I haven't tried that I don't know how soon I'll get back here.

Elaina L.

Came here for my birthday dinner and ordered the "Whole Roasted" Duck & Wild Mushroom Risotto, Dried Wisconsin Cherry Gastrique. I found the skin to be crispy and juicy. Afterwards, I went to retrieve my coat from coat check, and waited quite a bit. Turns out, they'd lost my coat. I ended up popping into the room myself (with their permission) to look for it and finally found it after combing through shelves of different coats. Had a laugh about the experience afterwards because for half an hour of desperate searching, I honestly thought they'd lost my coat.

Thea K.

One of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Delicious, unique and well prepared.

Meredith M.

The ambiance is lovely, magical even. The food could have been a little better. The sirloin was HUGE and very fatty on the sides. Was here recently for a work party and we dined in the private room in the back. The service was great. The hen was delicious. The gingerbread cake was a little heavy for my taste. Overall a beutiful evening of dining. If you have the $$$ it's a great fancy dinner date. The restaurant and bar were packed on a Thursday evening in December.

Dennis S.

May 27th is my birthday and this one was my 45th. When we arrived the Valet ( Tony ) was quick to open my door and escorted us inside the front door quickly ( as it was raining ) with a friendly smile and manner. The people at the front were all smiles and very pleasant, we were there a little early but were still seated promptly, with the hostess pulling out the chair for my date ( noticed and greatly appreciated ) The server ( Youssef ) was right there within 1 minute and in a very friendly calm non rushed way welcomed us, and asked if he may get us something from the bar. I actually knew what bottle of wine I wanted and he was happy to take that order and suggested a bottle of sparkling pellegrino which we agreed would be perfect. Before he left he gave us an incredibly detailed synopsis of the specials for the evening, and told us his personal favorites.( well done ) He was back in approx 2 minutes presented the wine perfectly and after the taste poured a good amount into each glass. The warm chewy bread was served by a friendly but not familar back server in black who also was the master of the crumber! ( well done ) Youssef gave us about 5 minutes asked if we had any questions, to which I said well yes if you had to choose between the sirloin and the tenderloin which one would you choose and why? He said well if you are looking for a butter smooth soft texture go tenderloin, if you prefer a little more flavor profile, and texture go with the sirloin, ( I went sirloin ) My girl went for suggested Pork Milanese special. Overall we ordered the Foie Gras and duck confit with cranberry brioche, tuna tartare, and a caesar salad to start us off. I got the aforementioned sirloin Med and she the Pork with a side of the mistral fries. The apps were out in less than 15 min and they were awesome!! That Foie Gras is worth any amount of PETA grief I will be getting from my Liberal tree hugging friends lol, ( yes you know who you are ) My girls tartare was equally well executed and very fresh! The Caesar was made with white anchovies, super crisp, and very flavorful! At this point we had sipped our way through the original bottle of wine, and being as I was driving decided to go to a wine by the glass instead of risk another bottle. I asked Youssef his recommendation on the wines by the glass selection he gave me two suggestions of red one a french cab from Bordeaux and the other an American cab from Napa. I went Bordeaux! =) My accomplice went for the Napa chard, Both went perfectly with our entree's. The entrees were actually larger than expected, my sirloin was perfectly cooked to a nice pink medium with an excellent carmelization on the outside! My lady friends Pork Milanese was HUGE lol and crispy with nice roasted tomatoes and a tasty sauce the name of which escapes me at this moment. The Mistral fries were crispy but not over cooked and we enjoyed every bit of them. After finishing the entrees, Youssef came over and we were having a bit of a chat, he said so what brought you here tonight ? are you celebrating something? I sheepishly said well if you promise not to make a big deal about it ill tell you, its my 45th birthday! Wouldn't you know it, that crafty so and so quietly brought over a nice little birthday dessert sampler! =) ( again well done!! ) On the way out the front door staff was super helpful with our jackets and umbrellas and there was Tony our valet right there to help us back into our car! In closing, this experience really happened, and it was just about as perfect as I have ever encountered anywhere EVER! So go see Youssef and have yourself a great time!

Mary Y.

I usually do not write reviews and clearly Mistral does not need any more but the food and service were both so fantastic here I wouldn't feel right if I didn't. My bf and I made a foodie weekend trip to Boston. We made reservations at Mistral based on the # of reviews and rating it had on yelp. The décor was sophisticated and the lighting was perfect, not too dark where you can't see what you're eating. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful...even the busboys asked us how our experience was. For appetizer I ordered the seared foie gras with duck confit served in a brioche muffin.... It was super rich and filling but I loved every bite of it. My bf had the escargot which was good but standard, nothing extra special about it. For entrée he had the lamb chops which were cooked to PERFECTION! And as if I didn't have enough duck, I ordered the roasted half a duck with wild mushroom risotto.. oh my... the duck was cooked well and the mushroom risotto! I could eat a pot of it, just hand me a spoon please. I did a pretty good job and almost finished all the food on my plate. Even though we were totally stuffed we knew we had to try dessert since the apps & entrees were so tasty. We had their special poached pear (the cutest little pear ever) w/homemade honey ice cream (I'm not even a fan of honey and I loved it!) served with some kind of cookie/cake. The cookie/cake was pretty dry on its own but together with the pear and ice cream it was so balanced and perfect, we pretty much licked the plate. My bf was so impressed with our waiter that he tipped him almost 30%. The meal was one of the better meals we've had in a long time and very memorable. We will definitely be going back the next time we're in Boston!

Jessica C.

Pros: great ambiance for brunch, not too dressy and not too dingy. good place to come with just your sweetie or a group of food-lovers. Portions are big- a pro for the hungry. Ingredients are fresh and of quality. Cons: wait-staff this time around was quite slow. Don't like waiting a long time for food- you know when everyone ordered, conversation starts and after awhile everyone gets a bit quite wondering where the food is? The portions are too big! I don't find this a pro for myself as it doesn't allow me to order other items to try without having to waste food. We ordered: CONFIT OF DUCK & ROOT VEGETABLE HASH, FARM FRESH EGGS SUNNY SIDE UP, HAM AND EGGS, MEDJOOL DATE PANCAKES WITH PECAN TOFFEE & VANILLA WHIPPED BUTTER. All were good, but I've really had better. It's very hearty- eat-to-your hearts content. This is also the same trip to Boston where we had L'espalier as our first meal and that place just set the standard for our taste buds.

Antonio L.

So, took the missus to Mistral to celebrate a special occasion. First thing we noticed that it was crowded both with people and tables. It also was really hot inside. Great appetizers and decent entrees and dessert. We had the grilled portebello mushrooms and the tuna tartare. Our entrees were the linguine and the beef tenderloin. For dessert we had the creme brulee But for the price you would expect better service. Our server spoke with a very condescending tone and wasn't very attentive. Edit: Making a change from 2 to 3 stars because the manager took note of the review and cared enough to follow up on the review.

Shell S.

749.00$ got us two decent bottles of wine, 3 SMALL apps, 4 entrees, and 2 desserts. Oh and also Sauternes, which were the best part. That did not include tip. The experience came up short, entirely. When one sets out for an evening like this, we expect 5 star service. That is not what we got. We were rushed into ordering, and there was a solid 30 minute lapse between courses. Not only that, our server used his knee to open our 2000 Bordeaux. That should never happen. As for food, completely lacked flavor and execution. Plates were dirty, and everything needed a hint of salt and pepper, which (I believe) in a restaurant like this, should be done at time of preparation. The two stars is for the dessert. The pastry chef is spot on. Had the chocolate lava torte, best one I've had yet. Ambience is great, however the dirty glass salt shake, which you can find a local diner, really needs to go. And if you are going to charge people an arm and a leg for mediocre food (at best) you should at least offer free valet, rather then charging a fee. All around extremely disappointed and would never recommend to anyone. Completely over priced!

William P.

My girlfriend recently took us here for a celebration and overall it was great. Prices were pretty good (similar to other places in the city) We had an appetizer special which was a steak tartare and it was delicious! For the main course the beef tenderloin and double loin lamp chops both pretty good but someone ordered a burger that was not on the menu next to us and we both said we wished we had ordered that. For dessert we had the warm chocolate torte which may be the best molten style cake in Boston! Overall the appetizer and dessert were great but the main course was so so

Kir C.

Mistral's has been one of my favorite restaurants for many years. I recently had a baby and my husband and I decided to try Mistral's one early Fri night. The entire experience was amazing. We sat in their bar/lounge area- the staff brought over tables to help accommodate us. The hostess offered to seat us at a table (even though we didn't have a reservation), but the lounge was perfect. Our daughter also slept the entire time so I'm sure that helped, but overall, we had such a wonderful experience eating in their lounge area. Highly recommend!

Michelle C.

Went here with my mom for Sunday brunch. I had a duck and vegetable hash with eggs on top which was awesome. I just loved it, very flavorful and rich. My mom had the frittata with mushrooms. It was okay, mushrooms were the best part but we both love mushrooms. We just thought the hash was so much better. The atmosphere turned me off for brunch. I much prefer a nice cozy place or outdoor setting where I can people watch for brunch. This place is a bit cold but I can see that I would have liked the atmosphere more for dinner. Mimosa is way overpriced, $16 bucks for a flute.

Manpreet K.

This is an elite brunch spot! I celebrated my birthday here & Mistral was oh-so-accomodating in every aspect of my experience. My group was running late and arrived moments before the kitchen closing but we were never rushed through the process. The brunch fare was not so typical and everything I tasted was delicious! The presentation was quite appetizing as well. The espresso martini was one of the best I've had! I look forward to going back and pleasing my sweet tooth by trying some of the sugary delights on the menu.

Julie C.

Maybe it was just me or maybe it was because this was restaurant week. Made reservations for 9pm Wednesday night. Didnt think there was going to be any problems. We get there and still had to wait for a table! WTF Mistral. As bf & I are waiting, a ton of ppl left and a few ppl are seated. ugh, at this point I am kind of annoyed. Once we finally get seated, our waiter doesnt show up for 20 mins! we are thirsty gosh darnit! At this point, we knew what we were planning to eat. Our waiter had a bit of an attitude and it totally ticked us off. Not off to a good start. but as our entress started to come in, our waiter warmed up a bit and joked with us. The tartare of salmon was divine, sitting on a bed of mashed avocados. Their ceasar salad is huge. Their sirloins. I thought it was good but it got dry for me towards the end. My bf loved every nite of it. The dark chocolate moussee was awesome. Their carrot cake was even better. Our waiter for a lttle nice. The meal overall was a success despite the little miffs in the beginning. The decor is quite lovely and very romantic for couples and a great spot for groups as well. We noticed a couple having their first date and it was quite enjoyable watching their interactions. I would give Mistral another shot in the future but not anytime soon.

Nik C.

Man,....I used to LIVE here when I lived in Boston up until 2005 when I moved to NYC. It is actually one of the things that i have missed most about the 617, I was back in Boston last weekend for business, I thought " I've gotta see if Mistral, is still MISTRAL so I went for dinner this past Saturday night. The room itself is still stunning but what about the food?.The SUSHI GRADE TUNA TARTARE WITH CRISPY WONTONS, GINGER & SOY, was excellent, some of the best that i have had in years. The main course of the PAN ROASTED NATIVE HALIBUT WITH CHANTERELLE & ZUCCHINI BLOSSOM RISOTTO, SWEET SUMMER CORN, a simply stunning dish and i usually regard Halibut as a pretty boring fish. The Risotto alone is worth ordering it. . Mark the manager came over and said hello and informed me that he had checked the reservation file and it had been ten years since i had been there. As much as that blew my mind, I have to say a decade away from the place and it's like i never left!. Mistral is still one of the best things to happen to Boston for a someone who enjoys good food in an appealing atmosphere..

Maureen F.

We were out celebrating our wedding anniversary, a special place for a special night. Unfortunately the dinner and service didn't live up. The server seemed bothered by our questions on the wine list, no horseradish in the as advertised potatoes, pre-seasoned Caesar salad and very cold creme brûlée. It wasn't disastrous, my tenderloin was good, but you expect more from Mistral. We will be celebrating elsewhere next year!

Jamie G.

Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Boson. Excellent service, immaculate food, fantastic ambiance. The only tough point is the price, but if you have it and are looking to spend it, go to Mistral! Make a reservation for sure, but it is worth every second!

Anastasia L.

My husband and I made a reservation here for 2 hours prior to the symphony start. We didn't think to mention we were on a tight schedule, since the reservation was early- before the tables had all filled up. However service got so slow- especially the wait for the main course- that we ended up cutting it really close. I mention this because as one of the younger couples there- and not at a big, splashy table- we obviously received less careful attention. An older couple who were seated next to us- after we had begun eating- received special attenion from the maitre d (by which I mean a 10-minute personal conversation) and their food appeared so fast it was crazy. That aside, the service, when we got it, was just so. The food was very good, although not crazy good, and I can't speak for dessert as we ran out of time. Yes, almost 2 hours for a starter and a main course. Nice wine list, we enjoyed an excellent bottle.

Danielle F.

I had a great meal here, but compared to some of the fantastic other restaurants I went to this week, it was just "pretty good." To start, the table wasn't ready for our 9:15pm reservation, so we spent ten minutes in the bar drinking delicious but totally overpriced cocktails. The service throughout the rest of the meal was just a bit slower than we would have liked, so by the time we finished our meal it was after 11pm and the restaurant was practically cleared out. The food was all pretty tasty but not the highlight of my trip to Boston. The mushroom soup was creamy with a light, tasty mushroom flavor. The carpaccio was pretty good with some nice little dollops of mustard and arugula. The pork osso bucco was tender and delicious and the yam mash that came with it was rich, buttery, and infused with a yummy thyme flavor. Everyone else at my table loved my steak, but it didn't strike me as particularly exceptional. The profiterole was pretty good, the panna cotta was downright disappointing, and the chocolate cake was fine. The ambiance was fine, but a little trendy. The space was huge and airy with modern decor, but not cozy in any way. Perfectly fine, but not my most ideal ambiance.

Betsy A.

You can't beat this restaurant during Restaurant Week. The food is creative the flavors are on point and the staff is super polite. Off Restaurant Week it would be ridiculously pricey to get a full meal here. But hey! You pay for what you get! ;-) The only reason I take a star off is due to the waiting times. We were left waiting from course to course on upwards of 20mins or more... Which tends to break off the dining experience. Not sure if they were swamped with the 7PM crowd or if that's the normal way they operate. All in all good experience. Highly recommend it. Would go again to experience the bar area. Seemed nice. =) P.S. It's surroundings don't do justice to the beautiful ambiance you're received with once you enter the restaurant... The surroundings however are quickly forgotten once you go in. ;-)

Lena Y.

loooove. one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. a list of all the perfect things about Mistral: the beautiful decor the service the escargots the cocktails

Leslie P.

We met the kind of friends you have from childhood last night in Boston, and had a leisurely night on the town, catching up and having fun. Mistral was our second stop of the evening, for dinner, and it was superb. We'd avoided Mistral for its reputation as a scenester place, where folks went to see and be seen more than to eat. There was definitely that undercurrent in the clientele, but the food and the service far overshadowed any shallow patrons strutting their stuff. Our waiter took my crustacean allergy in stride, and was conscientious of it the entire meal, letting me know with each course after my only telling him politely about it as we were seated that he remembered and that the kitchen was keeping it in mind. I can not tell you how often I'm made to feel like a speed bump by wait staff for daring to be allergic to shrimp, crab, crawfish and lobster in New England, so this was a pleasant change. There were four of us, perfect for getting to try a bite of different things. We all enjoyed the bread brought to the table with truffled butter and a bit of French style hummus. I shared a Sirloin Carpaccio, Black Truffle Aioli, Parmesan & Toasted Brioche with my honey, and our friends each ordered their own Seared Foie Gras with Confit of Duck in Brioche, Wisconsin Dried Cherry Gastrique. I usually avoid Fois Gras as the salt can linger through the meal and affect everything else if it isn't done well, but the bite I had of theirs tells me this one was perfectly done. I enjoyed the carpaccio a bit more, though. It was very light and savory, not at all too oily as can sometimes happen with carpaccio, and the truffle added a nice smokey accent to compliment the dish. My friends enjoyed a variety of beers and martinis during the bread and appetizer course, but I stuck with a glass of 2007 Pinot Noir, Joseph Faiveley (Burgundy, France). It was a bit too light and bouncy for my taste, but over all not a bad wine - I just like my wines to have more strength. The Oregon Pinot I had at the Bristol Lounge earlier was a much bolder Pinot and a bit more toward what I like in a wine (see other review for that). Just before the main course arrived we ordered a bottle of Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir from Oregon to share, much more robust and flavorful than the French pinot I had, and a better compliment to the coming meal - able to stand up to each item we'd ordered. I ordered the Pan Roasted Cornish Game Hen, Warm Pancetta & Spinach Salad, Lemon & Rosemary, as did one of our friends. My honey ordered the Half "Whole" Roasted Duck with Wild Mushroom Risotto, Dried Cranberry Gastrique, and our other friend had Seared Prime Sirloin with Corn Whipped Potato, Golden Chanterelles, Maitre D'Hotel & Vin Cotto. The game hen was absolutely amazing, and the spinach salad was just right as a light accompaniment. Honey tried a bite of mine, but liked his duck better. I tried a bit of his duck and decided that while it was good, I prefer to have duck seared and not roasted all the way through. Everyone was happy with what they ordered, and the service, throughout was impeccable. They had some lovely after dinner cocktails, ports and brandies on offer, as well as a nice dessert list, but we opted to pass and head over to the Bristol where we could finish our night relaxing and chatting on the couches in the lounge over dessert. I have definitely put Mistral on my "must eat" list for Boston.

Matthew P.

I thoroughly enjoyed this place. I was taken here by surprise while on a date. When we walked in we were immediately greeted by a smiling hostess and a well decorated area. The dining area was nice and open with lots of windows and pretty décor. We were seated and promptly brought a menu. Fortunately, it was RW here so we decided to splurge on a nice bottle of wine. The food was delicious. I ordered the duck confeit. How I went my whole life without having this I will not know, but it was divine. The sides went perfectly with it and I was fully satiated. The dessert was also quite good. My date was pleased as well. It's definitely a more upscale restaurant so you will be spending a good amount. But it's worth it.

Nicole S.

Mistral is wonderful. Simple perfection would be the best way to describe it. The space is wonderful, I believe the building had been a bicycle factory. It is a large open space with high ceilings, great accents and a terrific bar for drinks or dining they also have a fabulous private room. Sunday Brunch: Best in the city!!!! If you haven't had brunch here you have to try it. Brunch begins with complimentary light and flakey cinnamon rolls and all menu options are accompanied by complimentary family style home fries for the table. To be honest as many times as I have gone all I ever had are the omelets, words cannot describe how amazing they are. The Omelets are huge, they come in an oval cast iron dish and are seasoned to perfection. My favorite is the ricotta and herb. Dinner: I find that often times restaurants like Mistral serve meals that wouldn't satisfy a two year olds appetite, but Mistrals portions are perfect. They have huge burgers, crispy pizza and more refined options as well. One of the last times I was there I had a sweet pea and ricotta tortellini and I haven't stopped thinking about them since. This is a must try!

Blake B.

Amazing atmosphere, and delicious food. DO NOT miss out on this amazing cuisine. Yes, it is pricy, but it is SO well worth it! The service was awesome too!

Catherine P.

Came here last night for dinner, 15 minutes late for the reservation. The rest of my party (2 of 3) didn't arrive until 45 minutes later due to horrendous traffic, and the restaurant was perfectly accommodating. That was the end of the fabulous service. Dinner was SO SLOW. We felt like we were left hanging for each course to come. We were so hungry and frustrated with the slowness of the meal. The food was excellent, however. I had the chopped romaine with feta and kalamata olives which was delicious. As was the halibut and the autumn vegetable roti. My brother had the chocolate torte which was essentially a lava cake - delish! It was a treat to go out and have a delicious meal, but it was overpriced. Halibut at nearly $40? Come on. Add slow service? Not worth it. Glad we tried it but won't be going back. Another note: don't wear jeans to this place. I did, with casual flats, and immediately felt underdressed.

Dylan S.

Came here for a private reception. The service and food were just outstanding. We had Caesar salad, game hen, steak, and amazing desserts. All incredible.

Elle C.

This is a great spot to take someone from out of town to show them a swankly Boston brunch place (especially your snobby friends). Apparently a "Mistral" is a Spanish wind... so maybe this place is really called "Noreaster" and the joke is on us. I went for brunch at 10:30 am with 5 other girlfriends. We all got breakfast and 4 got coffee, and one fruit/greek yogurt appetizer. We split the bill and it came to $28 each. My meal was $14 so I would have got a cup of coffee if I'd know we were splitting, but such is life. The staff was nice and professional, and I enjoyed a slight sense of humor with my breakfast. They also get away with serving their food on iron skillets while coming off classy instead of rustic. A member of our party commented that it would have a been a nice place to hold a small wedding. I liked the exposed brick, but I always cringe at painted brick because of how hard it is to get off! Our table got french toast, pancakes, and eggs. I personally got the fritta with goat cheese, eggs, tomatoes, and basil. I could have used more tomatoes, but since they were used as garnish on my girlfriends plate, I was able to get 2 more. The butter had honey in it and we enjoyed that with the toast and the muffins. They also give the table a serving of potatoes, that we barely touched. We could have split the meals, but frankly, no one shares at brunch. I'll be back, but I'm getting a cocktail next time! They looked amazing as they were being brought to other tables as the place filled up closer to 11 am. Or at least a cup of coffee...

Abhijit G.

I will admit that I am neither a Frenchie nor a French food aficionado....so take this with a grain of salt. Did not really like the location where they are based....nothing going on...also didn't appreciate that the 3 doormen/valets didn't help my wife out of the cab although they were 2 feet away and goofing around like a bunch of high school kids. The place was very elegant...but nothing to drop your jaw about. We were offered a table near some sort of server enclave and requested another table (specifically pointing to one). We were led to a different (worse) table not of our choice. So we preferred to go back to our original one. The thing that bummed me was that the one we requested was never occupied throughout our meal. So go figure.. Anyways, everything after this point was good. Our server was very nice and attentive without being intrusive. The 2 gorgeous models whose job was basically to ramp-walk around the restaurant did their bit in setting the tone for the place. The food was excellent...so was the wine. Enjoyable experience overall. Oops...almost forgot... the Foie Gras was heavenly...i dream about it sometime :)

Steph F.

Restaurant week special

Nicole P.

I came here Sunday morning for a fancy brunch with my father. I made reservations for 10:30 am, but we had to wait a bit while everyone finished setting up. Our server was attentive, and once the restaurant was ready, we were seated and settled quickly with a latte for me and a coffee for my father. I was impressed that his coffee came with steamed milk, but he takes his coffee black so it was wasted. Good to know though, so you can skip the latte and get coffee with steamed milk. I ordered the grapefruit gratin appetizer for us to share. It was delightful. The grapefruit was ripe and refreshing (a little tart, but in a good way) and it came with brown sugar in this fabulous sauce that was a perfect complement to the fruit's bitterness. It almost seemed a bit custardy. Our main courses came almost immediately after, and I felt a bit rushed and bloated when all was said and done. I got the frittata with winter foraged mushrooms. It was pretty tasty, but it was big enough to feed two and a half people easily. I was expecting modest portions as it's a French restaurant, so that made the dish seem even more massive. My father had the eggs benedict which looked pretty standard; it didn't wow him, but he thought it was definitely good. That came with potatoes listed as 'to share' and they weren't kidding. If I go again, I will be sure to split everything because the portions are obscene. The ambiance was classy and not too stuffy, wait staff friendly albeit reserved, and the food had delicious flavors, but I was very surprised that we had to wait and the courses were poorly paced. They have an amazing looking brunch menu though, so I will most likely return with someone who wants to share!

Kenji O.

I came here on a business trip with about 10 people. Perfect for business dining entertainment. The atmosphere of the restaurant is lively, enough to carry on several table conversations at once without being noisy or disturbing to others. I'd imagine it would also make a nice atmosphere on a date or dinner with a significant other as the decor is very nice. The food overall was excellent. I started with the Crab Ravioli for myself and a couple of pizzas for the table. The Ravioli was very refreshing served in a tomato broth. I think the pizza was a hit for the table. It was thin crust. We ordered two split in half with each type. Though simple, I personally liked the Tomato, Mozzarella pizza which complimented my ravioli and starter chardonnay quite nicely. For an entree I had the Halibut. I think of the food on the night, this was probably the one item that was not at the same level as the other things I had. Mine was slighly overcooked which made it a tad dry to be paired with the rock shrimp risotto. The flavoring of the risotto was very nice however. To finish it off, I had the warm banana almond bread pudding. Though I was thoroughly full, I finished it all and needed an evening walk afterwards! All in all, I'd rate it a 3.5 because of the Halibut, but gave the restaurant the benefit of the doubt and rounded up due to the overall dish.

Christopher M.

Just got back from dinner at Mistral. I don't necessarily have anything bad to say about the restaurant, but I can't help but feel unsatisfied with my dining experience. Call me cheap, but if I'm going to spend $200 on dinner for two, (that's without ordering a bottle of wine) I want to walk away feeling really good about the experience. That just didn't happen. First impression - valet parking was $15, plus the valet clearly expected a tip. I expect valet parking at an upscale restaurant to be complimentary (in which case I tip generously). Second impression - the service, while not flawed, was pretty bland. The waitress was knowledgeable and was able to answer our questions to our satisfaction, but seemed to be lacking in the personality department (as was the hostess). Third impression - food was decent, but not terribly memorable. I had the salmon tartare (special) as an appetizer, the soft shell crab, and shared the crème brulee for desert. The salmon itself was quite good, but it was supposed to be served over avocado salad. I was expecting big chunks of fresh avocados, but what I got was guacamole, and it wasn't very good guacamole at that (tasted exactly like the kind you get at the Stop & Shop deli). The soft shell crab didn't taste very fresh, and again, it was served over the guacamole. The crème brulee was decent, but nothing to write home about. On a positive note, the portions were quite big, which was a very pleasant surprise (I generally expect small portions at French-inspired restaurants). I also got great feedback from my date regarding the escargot. There was no drink menu, which was a bit of a pet peeve of mine. The wine menu was very respectable in size and had a great selection of Burgundy wines, but very few from Bordeaux. In conclusion, I'm glad I went, but given the choices in Boston, I probably won't be going back again.

D.j. K.

Great ambiance, great service. The food was good, but not great. I had higher expectations on the steak, as it was not cooked medium rare. The wine selection was impressive. I would give it another go and try something else this time.

Alena K.

AMAZING. I have never had food with SO MUCH FLAVOR. Me and my boyfriend went there last night for my birthday, and wow, I was blown away. I have been to hundreds of top restaurants around the world, and this place is officially my favorite restaurant. They conveniently split everything we ordered, including the appetizers, which is something i'v never encountered anywhere, and its something we really appreciated. The mussels are absolutely to die for, like, incredible. The ravioli, they only give you four, but WOW, who knew ravioli could be so magical. The lamb, I dont even know what to say, its like your taste buds are having an orgasm. Basically, I don't think I could ever enjoy food anywhere else after having a taste of Mistral, its not even fair. xo Alena

Marcus C.

We had an excellent meal at Mistral, which apparently has taken a less-stuffy turn since I was last here about a decade ago. To start, I had the off-menu truffle macaroni, which wasn't truffle mac & cheese, like I expected, but was very tasty. And the pork milanese was stellar! I loved the dish it came in and especially appreciated the restaurant trying to health it up with some vegetables.

Pauleena M.

Food was absolutely delicious! The only thing I did not like was the fact that my friend and I had just gotten out of school hence we were in jeans. Do not wear jeans unless you want to feel really underdressed. I mean, don't get me wrong we were dressed casually 'hip' but I felt as though we weren't treated fairly ONLY by the front staff not our waiter, he was fabulous. I hope they learn to put their stereotypes off to the side and treat people equally.

I'm a self declared foodie, i have a grudge against italian food as i feel that it has been homogenised into bland boring stoogey food. This is why im a firm proponet of French food, im always looking for a good classic french bistro where ever i am. The Mistral Bistro is an extremely high end. the restaurant is a beautiful area of high ceilings and magnificent furniture and layout. My girlfriend had the duck on a bed of risotto, which was one of the best dishes she had ever had, whilst i had the steak au povire which was the size of a Buick and infitintly more tasty. All im going to say about price is that this is not somewhere you go often. The food justifies any price

Jen L.

I feel I must preface this review by stating that I seldom give five star reviews. I have written almost 200 reviews and have given out only a handful of 5 stars. So this is well earned - or at least I think so. A coworker and friend of mine had been urging me to try Mistral's Sunday and Monday night $35 prix fixe for MONTHS. I kept resisting for some reason and don't really have a very good excuse as to why. My BFF Nathan I. came to town and noticed that the Mistral prix fixe special was still active and insisted that we try it. Twist my arm, honey! On our way to the restaurant, we got caught in a sudden downpour and we arrived way too early for our reservation, soaking wet, and decidedly un-fabulous. The manager PJ and hostess seriously could not have been cooler about it. They were happy to take us whenever, but instead we decided to sit at the bar and have a martini or two and dry off. So the bartender was this fabulous blond chick who made me one of the top 5 Grey Goose Dirty Martinis I have ever had in my life. No joke. She was also super nice and even pointed out the hooks under the bar where I could store my beloved Gucci purse. God bless! After having a cocktail (or two in my friend's case), we were seated in this great corner booth with an incredible view of the restaurant. It felt very New York and I even let Nathan give the waitress his camera to snap a pic of us, even though I never do that .... The food was incredibly good value. We ordered exactly the same thing because we can be dysfunctional like that :) We started with the salmon rillettes, which was served with a touch of creme fraiche and a few small pieces of toast. Yum! The crispy bread was a great complement to the creamy salmon. For an entree we had the steak (I forget which cut, I think they change it up), which was served on top of a potato, spinach, and onion hash. The steak was huge and cooked to a perfect medium rare, so I decided immediately to just dive right in and didn't look back. Yep - cleaned my plate. By the time dessert came, I was pretty stuffed. I was only able to eat one of my profiteroles without passing out. At the end of the meal, PJ the manager came by to make sure that everything was served to our satisfaction. He seemed genuinely interested in our dining experience and wanted us back for return business. Oh, I WILL be back.

Francesca V.

Mistral is a beautiful restaurant with amazing food. We went there on a Thursday night for a dinner date. We started with the chilled corn soup, which is light and refreshing. The boy had the cornish hen which he states is the best chicken he ever had. I had the yummy tenderloin of beef. For dessert, we had the chocolate torte. I'm a lover of all things chocolate so no complaints from me. The only negative thing I have to say is that the restaurant is kind of noisy-there's not a lot of separation between tables and it's sometimes hard to hear conversation at your own table. Overall, great food and will definitely be going back when I return to Boston.

Mike G.

easily one of the most handsome dining rooms in the city. and the RW menu certainly beats any à la carte french fare available in the area(save for hamersley's). taste highlights: the carpaccio was buttery but bland. both the caesar salad & salmon with lentilles du puy classic. the ample grilled sirloin expertly cooked 'a point'. all went well with a moderately priced chilean red. and mousse au chocolat w/ amaretto cookie scored over the (tough)profiteroles. service throughout the very busy night was impeccable. in toto, RW menu is good value for money. mostly well executed french standards if short on creativity.

Amanda Q.

My experience at Mistral was fantastic -- I will definitely be dining there again. I went here for Restaurant Week with two friends on a Friday for dinner. The place is gorgeous -- high ceilings, huge windows, tasteful decor. Between the three of us we had the beef carpaccio for our appetizer; the pork and the sirloin steak for dinner; and the vanilla panna cotta, profiteroles, and chocolate cake for dessert. The carpaccio? So delicious. All three of us ordered it because it just sounded delectable, and none of us were disappointed in the slightest. I had the ever so tender pork with beautifully done mashed potatoes. The steak, I was told, was perfectly cooked. Our desserts were fantastic -- my panna cotta was to die for, and the other desserts were quite good as well. Our waiter was personable, attentive, and extremely helpful. He picked out a wine for us that worked very well and checked in at all the right times. By the end of the meal, upon asking if there were anything more he could do for us, I asked if he could request the front of house to call us a cab (we were on a fairly tight schedule at this point). He came back with one better -- they had a personal driver that would take us to our destination, compliments of the restaurant. Great atmosphere, fantastic service, and perfectly impressive food. What more could a girl ask for?

Janet P.

What a great disappointment! With all the lovely restaurants with good food and beautiful interiors in Boston p articularly in Back Bay and the South End, Mistral can be easily missed! The waiter was supercilious and definitely chose not to be accommodating! Having been to Mistral many times in the past, the food was a great disappointment! Steak was large, but tough and grainy! The salmon was salty and. Fishy, the presentaion was lovely. Caesar salad seemed To have left Caesar out. The carpaccio appetizer was delicious and beautifully plated. We were rushed, too. To spend that Kind of money and be in an out in under an honor is a world's record. And that was with one course not arriving and then hurriedly given to us. Never Again...even if we are invited As a guest! Skip it!

Nathan I.

I was thumbing through a Boston magazine at Jen L.'s apartment that was highlighting restaurants, and I suddenly noticed two words that have been like a beacon of salvation for restaurants in this recession--prix fixe. And highlighted in a box was Mistral, which apparently offered a rather tempting $35 prix fixe menu on Sundays and Mondays. Just our luck--we made reservations for Sunday. As a bonus, this would be Jen's first time there as well, so we'd both have a completely clean slate to work with when it came to assessing the place. In what can only be described as the Bataan Death March, we trudged from Beacon Hill to Mistral in an unexpected downpour, sans umbrellas ('Really Nathan, it's not that far'....I still love you Jen!). I made my grand entrance into the restaurant in an Andrew Marc coat with a now-matted down rabbit fur collar and a thoroughly soaked Versace shirt. On a scale of fabulousness, I looked one step below a drowned sewer rat and one step above Ke$ha, after a dip in the pool. The manager and the hostess kind of giggled (thankfully with us, not at us) when they saw how wet we were. After using every paper towel in the men's room to dry off, I joined Jen at the bar. After our first drink order, I took a good look around. The one thought I kept having about the atmosphere was how much it reminded me of someone's home. The space was reminiscent of a large home that had been outfitted with a bar, a whole lot of tables, and a harem of attractive waiters. It was both inviting and warm, while modern and chic. The bartender was a pretty rad blonde chick who could chat you up without losing her focus on making you a smart cocktail. I could tell there was a genuine good rapport between her and some regulars at the other end of the bar; you know, the people right past the two cute straight guys I wanted served straight up instead of this damned martini. Eventually our table was ready. I normally don't comment on the bread, but the white bean paste that came alongside the butter was something I hadn't had in a while. Then came the odd part. Jen and I had both already chosen the exact same menu items at home from the online menu, but I didn't count on us getting the sirloin done the same (medium rare). It was kind of a dysfunctional Will-and-Grace moment but it was amusing, and we made the waitress' job that much easier. First course was the smoked salmon rillettes, which was served with a touch of creme fraiche and a few small pieces of toast. It was an excellent way to rev up the palette. Next came two mammoth pieces of sirloin Gorgonzola with potato, spinach, and onion hash. Wow. THIS is where fine dining meets great value. The steak was absolutely superb and done exactly medium rare. It should come as no surprise I polished it off, but to see Jen's plate completely empty at the end too...well, let's just say I don't know where she put it. But it was that good! For dessert, our choice were the profiteroles, and I learned that Jen was quite the connoisseur of them in the past as well. I was expecting one on a plate, but each of us got three honking profiteroles doused in wonderful chocolate syrup. Jen could only eat one, but somehow I ate all three. Once again...value AND quality. At the end of the meal, PJ the manager came by to make sure that everything was served to our satisfaction. He seemed genuinely interested in our dining experience and wanted us back for return business. I have a feeling Jen will be back (lucky!) This restaurant is hot, Hot, HOT! Hence the five-stars. When I got my jacket back from the coat check, I was informed the collar was still wet. So glamorous, right? My last memory before slipping into a martini-rillette-sirloin gorgonzola-profiterole coma was the valet guy calling us a cab to take us to a drag show... God, I love seeing Jen in Boston.

Jacqueline C.

This is the gold standard. Truly. It is. Even if your meal or experience is not fall over awesome, this would STILL be a five star establishment. Had dinner there on Friday night. Probably the 10-12th time I've eaten there - and just as impressed as ever. I started off dinner with a glass of prosecco and then let my friend order blindly for me since I have a bad habit of always getting the same thing. I always get the tuna appetizer and either the sole or the duck for dinner. I have never, ever been disappointed with that choice! So on Friday I tried the crispy fois gras and the lamb chops. The appetizer was fall-out-of-your-seat delicious. The lamb chops were only "ok" but everything that came with is was amazing. My friend had the tuna and the daily fish special, which was black cod and it was absolutely scrumptious. Add a chocolate, melting oozy dessert to the night and it was absolutely the best meal I've had since I was there last time. The service is absolutely top notch. Our reservation was for 6pm but we sat late and probably sat longer than we should have as the restaurant got busy but never once got the evil or rushed out. The server was not in our faces and everything was as it should be at a fine dining establishment - folded napkins, served from the right, regular crumb sweeping, etc. At the end of the night I was even lucky enough to score the complimentary car service. Fabulousness.

Ann G.

Just ate at Mistral for Restaurant Week. I ordered the mushroom bisque, salmon entree, and the chocolate cake for dessert. My boyfriend got the carpaccio, steak entree, and the profiteroles for dessert. To start, the ambiance inside the restaurant is lovely - good level of light, nice chairs, lovely photos of what I presume is Provence. The waiter was attentive and nice - we shared a laugh. The food was good but not amazing. The bisque was very nice - smooth, creamy, with a lovely mushroom flavor. I have to preface that I'm not really into fish but people keep telling me to try fish at a nice restaurant so I went with the salmon. I didn't like it but not because of the chef! The lentils on the side were delicious. The chocolate cake was good and the vanilla bean ice cream was great. My favorite dish was actually my boyfriend's steak. It was cooked perfectly and was really tender and delicious. Four stars for lovely decorations, good service, and good food.

John X.

Here for Restaurant week, and didn't leave disappointed. Well, maybe just a tad bit. It's fairly easy to miss this place while walking, due to a nondescript sign and its location. However, the minute you walked in, you're amazed at the interior. Vaulted ceilings, plush chains, great decorations, and if you time it just right, the setting sun illuminating the room... That was pretty much the highlight of the dinner though... Service was great, as expected from a restaurant of its caliber. I started with the beef carpaccio, which was good, and the tuna tartare, which was devoured in seconds. I had the pork Osso Bucco, and my friend had the Chicken... The Osso Bucco was tender, flavorful, and had great accompaniments, but I still think I prefer some well cooked carnitas at some of the mexican places I've been to. The chicken however, was a bit dry, and didn't really impress me pass what the local rotisserie could whip up. Dessert was good, the panna cotta had a hint of vanilla and was delicious. The something something I got (cream puff with vanilla in the middle, pistachio and chocolate on top) was alright, something about the pistachios threw me off... All in all, a decent dinner, but not the best I had.

Olivia L.

Yes, 2 stars. That's my final answer. The service was impeccable, except near the end when our waiter (who had really done a good job until then) offered to get us cabs, but then told us to ask the valet, who didn't get the message, and then it started to pour. On the food itself, I sampled the foie appetizer (the first bite was amazing, but it didn't hold up to continued eating, perhaps because the glaze got into everything), the pizza (extremely thin crust, but didn't stay crispy for long), and the rack of lamb (which I requested medium, which came out medium rare -- close 'nuff -- but just didn't taste like lamb -- more like veal). For dessert, they had pavlova on the menu, and I LOVE PAVLOVA...but it was not to be. Their merangue was too hard (think of an egg-white frisbee), the lemon curd too sweet, and the berries too cold. I have made much better pavlova myself, and had much better pavlova at other places.

Joyce L.

I went to Mistral a few days ago while in Boston on a business trip. Customer service is great and ambience very nice - great place to impress the folks, date night, etc. from that standpoint. The hostess was very gracious and helpful in directing me to the restaurant, and didn't bat an eye when I showed up, unfortunately and embarrassingly, in a mildly horrifying mish mash of (clean) workout clothes, warehouse gear, and bag lady. The waiter was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, and felt like a pretty elegant experience. For food/drink, I had a glass of 2008 cabernet sauvignon from somewhere or other, the seared foie gras on brioche with duck confit in it, and the Maine crab ravioli. Wine - not bad, and at $9/glass was decently priced for an upscale place like this. The first taste was nice and smooth, although the rest of it, when paired with my food later, seemed a tiny bit bitter. But hey, I'll be the first to admit that I'm a plebeian when it comes to wine, plus after the first few sips I found myself in an incredibly good mood, so I'm not complaining. Foie gras - I'm not a huge fan of the texture in general, but I could tell this was good. The duck confit was delicious and the brioche a bit of a yawn. The entire dish was drenched in a pretty thick, savoury sauce which kind of overwhelmed the whole dish - might have been better served with more light/tart elements to offset the meats, slightly sweet but strongly savory and thick sauce. Ah, but the ravioli - DELICIOUS! I wish I had ordered two of it! (one of those upscale dishes that features four raviolis about two inches across... oh well, less to gym tomorrow I guess). It's served in this thyme-tomato broth, and the whole thing is a great medley of textures and flavours - tiny bit of tartness from tomato chunks, herby quality from thyme, just slightly past al dente cooked-ness from pasta, just enough savory flavour & texture from crab... I seriously wanted to lick the plate, but I thought I was already pushing it with the aforementioned garb. I'm a fan of the decor/ambience, customer service, and the ravioli. I'd probably go again and try some of the other stuff... given lack of wow'd reactions across all food, not a five star, but probably too good for a three star. I guess for the price and ambience, I was expecting something closer to Megu or Maze in NYC (love!), but double checked and those restaurants are noticeably more expensive (although NYC is more expensive...). 4 stars is fine.

Khiem T.

A fantastic experience. Our three course dinners were terrific. My beef carpaccio was done perfectly, all the flavors really cured the rawness of the beef. The lamb entree was huge! I could only finished half of it and it was cooked perfectly, though I wish for a little sauce on the side. Desserts were fantastic as well. As for the interiors, who wouldn't love a vibrant lively ambiance! It's not quiet, it's not so dark, it's fun and yet very romantic. The service was excellent, very friendly and the daily specicals were very unique apart from the menu. If you want a fun time, this is it. It was a nice surprise for me, how vibrant and upbeat the place was, and how big the portions were.

Ann T.

Elegant, yet comfortable restaurant with wonderful food and service. We started with complimentary warm, cinnamon crumb muffins that were light and accompanied by apple butter. We followed this with an order of beignets with a pear compote; yum. I then had duck confit with root vegetable hash and sunny side up eggs which was delicious. I would love to try this restaurant for dinner since the menu looks great.

Layla P.

First they started us off with some unexpected warm delicious cinnamon roll type treats but without all the icing - yum! We tried the Cinnamon French Toast with Armagnac Raisins and Crème Fraiche - it was quite good and I loved that they served it with an entire bottle of warm maple syrup - no skimping there. Some friends thought the alcohol soaked raisins were a little much for the morning but honestly I liked it, I thought it plumped them up a little and made them more a cross between a grape and a raisin in texture. We also tried the Egg Whites, Oven-Cured Tomato, Vermont Creamery Goat Cheese & Basil Frittata which was flavorful and fresh and I prefered it to the Winter Foraged Mushroom, Spinach & Gruyere Frittata which was not as memorable. Service was good - if you try to make a reservation on opentable and find them full, give the place a call, you will probably be able to get in easily (even for Easter brunch like us!).

Tammie P.

Favorites - Maine crab ravioli, seared foie gras and duck confit.

Justin C.

Very good upscale place, though the food takes a bit to come out. It's dimly lit, making for a very sexy ambience, but the bar chatter was lively and the dining room doesn't feel overly formal. We had a good time and enjoyed it. Foodwise, my dishes were all home runs: foie gras & chicken live mousse tortellini, Halibut with Maine lobster risotto, and profiteroles. The pasta was the star, exorbitantly rich and succulent. The foie flavor didn't overwhelm, and the delicate pasta gave way to a real smooth, creamy filling where I tasted the liver and foie in balance. The sauce was tasty, too - some kind of a stock reduction, I'd surmise. The halibut was nicely seared, moist and tasty, and came on a bed of risotto which constantly revealed little treasure nuggets of lobster. The profiteroles were just showstopping - a tad gluttonous even, oh my, oh my. David was our server and he did a great job, flexing a full and exhaustive knowledge of the menu, the ingredients of all dishes (a member of our party has a gluten allergy), and the wine list. Ask for him when you go and you really should go. It would be a five star were it not for a few day after tummy aches. Can't win 'em all.

Kathleen L.

Finally came with out-of-town friends. ACCOLADES - Excellent service (from entering to departure) and very knowledgeable staff. - Started with huge portion of arugula salad (one portion is adequate for two - would have been nice to know this, though). - Tuna Tartar a wonderful treat - Tenderloin (perfectly grilled). - Sides: polenta (must-have) and garlic-mashed potatoes with mushrooms (yummy). Note: the side dishes are VERY large and could easily feed 3. (Again, why not advise of portion size) DISAPOINTMENTS - Chocolate sorbet tasted like frozen cocoa powder. - Dress code is a joke. Boston eateries can be so casual, so we were expecting a little "effort" in the attire worn by nearly all the customers. Definitely felt "out of place" wearing a cocktail dress & coat/tie when everyone else is in polo shirts and khaki's. Don't advertise yourself as an upscale, "dressy" place, when anyone can walk in dressed like Tommy Bahama.

Bob E.

Can't think of a single thing wrong with the place. Both the food and service was incredible. Would recommend to anyone. Only caution is the price, but well worth it.

Rebecca M.

My husband took me here for our anniversary. I had heard so much about it, and the concierge at the Liberty (where we stayed, and which I also reviewed) said it was his favorite restaurant in the city. I was expecting to have my socks blown off. Everyting started out very well, we were seated on time, and the restaurant was about 85% full, so it was lively, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. My husand and I talked that it looked like a lot of the patrons knew each other. People were stopping at other tables to talk, and leaning behind them to talk to other guests. It took a long time for our server to come take our order though. I was actually a little surprised at just HOW long they let us sit there with our menus closed. Our appetizer came out very quickly, and was excellent. The bread was also outstanding. They cleared our plates, and we waited. And waited. And waited. Finally they took our meal order. And we waited. And we waited. By now I'm thinking "if we don't know everyone here, do we just get served last???" Finally, our server came and apologized that the cook had somehow missed our order and they would get it right out to us. After another 10 minutes, our entrees came. I had the tenderloin, with horseradish mashed potatoes, and it was outstanding. Truly excellent. And my plate sat in front of me for what felt like WAY too long. It was at least 15 minutes after we were clearly done before someone came to take our plates. By the time they came to ask about dessert I almost screamed out "no! I'm falling asleep!", and they brought us the check. Of course, this dinner was quite pricey, and the food was well worth it. The service however, was deplorable. I actually could hear the music cycle get through almost a full second round before we got out of there. When we went to leave the restaurant, they had a car waiting for us. Apparently they offer car service from their 4 restaurants within the city, and our server made sure there was one waiting for us. If the food had not been so insanely excellent, I would have given Mistral 1 or 2 stars. The car helped (especially waiting for us), but they do offer that service to everyone.

J V.

My absolute favorite restaurant. Good service, excellent food, drinks, atmosphere--- When I want to dress up and go out for a nice dinner this is usually my first choice.

Heather S.

Fantastic. Mistral is one of those places that has been in for years, and will be in for years to come for this reason: Not only is its decor and ambiance timeless, but the food is consistanty phenominal. Yes, this is a pricey restaurant but never once have I left here and not gone on to tell others about how amazing my meal was. Other South End eateries come and go, but Mistral is absolutely my stand-by for a great higher-end meal. Personal favorites: Skillet roasted prime sirloin (in the top 5 steaks I've ever had, and I'm a well traveled steak girl, so trust me), the horseradish whipped potatoes and their dirty vodka martini. All perfectly executed, every time. Sublime.

Crystal S.

I came here the other week, hoping my experience was better than the first time I had gone to Mistral. And it was. The service was great. Food. AMAZING. By far the BEST Foie Gras I have had in Boston yet. Duck Confit stuffed in brioche with my Foie Gras??!! Absoute heaven. My Dover Sole was cooked to perfection, and my date's tenderloin was mouth watering. Unfortunately, the desserts here are really lacking... The first time I was here I had the profiteroles and they were just not good, very bland, nothing special. I had the bread pudding the second time around, which was also not very exciting. I would have given 5 stars otherwise. I also came for brunch on Sunday. You must order a warm cinnamon bun. My french toast was decadent. Mistral does Duck Confit just right...and in hash form. I don't think I would want to order another dish becasue that one is so perfect. Do yourself a favor and eat here. I think this may become my favortie restaurant in Boston.

Elle J.

I went to Mistral for the first time for Sunday brunch. I have not stopped talking about my experience since! The food was outstanding. The service was excellent. The ambiance is modern chic, yet cosy, with high ceilings, and large bay windows. We stayed for over two hours. The portions are huge. We took half home and that was dinner. They serve a great mimosa. I love the complementary muffin and roasted potatoes and red onions with the main meal. We ordered the herb and ricotta omelet and the mushroom, spinach and gruyere frittata. Delicious!! We had the pineapple carpaccio, olive oil, sea salt and lime sorbet for dessert.. that was Wow!! I can't wait to go back! Oh and they make an excellent cappuccino.. expensive at $5.50.. but with the overall experience it is worth it.

Hardik R.

Good french food. Has some options for vegetarians as well. Excellent service.

Kaitlyn H.

Miserable service. Too many people running around and freaking out on a Saturday night. No one greeted us at the door, our table wasn't ready for our reservation time, we were ignored at the bar, then told we had to get out of the bar seats because someone had just phoned in a reservation. Our waiter was snarky and condescending. My cod and lobster dish was completely overcooked and destroyed. The tuna tartar is a salt bomb. Don't buy the hype, this place SUCKS. Best part was the valet parking.

Tara B.

One of the best meals of my LIFE was at Mistral... a former office holiday dinner in the wine room. But that is not what this review is about. This review is about the best meal of the day.... BRUNCH. Now, I consider myself to be a brunch aficionado. I've indulged in this fantastic midday ritual at a sizable number of places in and around Boston. So please hear me when I say this. MISTRAL. Is. Boston's. Best. Brunch. You may doubt me. This is fine. But let me count the ways: 1. Brunch is a great way to enjoy 5-star restaurant without 5-star prices. Gotta say, I feel pretty money walking into this joint. 2. Mistral has variety and depth to their brunch menu. Boston brunch spots seem to do the same tired dishes.... over.... and over.... I never ever want another Gran Marnier French Toast. It's a snoozefest! Last time I went, the table ordered: Classic Eggs Benedict with pork loin & Burgundy truffle; prime sirloin burger with gruyere, duxelles & rosemary frites; spaghettini with poached duck egg & shaved ham; and my dish: jumbo lump crab & chive omelet. On prior occasions we've had belgian waffle with banana rum compote & maple ice cream; and my favorite, the winter foraged mushroom, spinach & gruyere fritatta. Basically what I'm getting at is the food is thoughtful, original, and there's more than one option for each brunch category: sweet, egg, lunch. 3. Okay, so the menu is varied. It wouldn't matter a lick if the food sucked. But it doesn't. It's brilliant and beautiful, like a star on a clear summer night. Okay... maybe I like this place too much. But hear me out! The dishes are composed to enhance each ingredient's best qualities. And something as simple and throwaway as oven-roasted cherry tomato garnish MAKES ME WANT TO TAKE ALL THE CHERRY TOMATOES IN ALL OF THE CONTINENT AND ROAST THEM AND EAT THEM. Ahem. Sorry about that. What was I saying? Oh right, the food is delicious. 4. The service is attentive, helpful, not rushed. Service you expect at a fine dining establishment. Though I suppose there are still a few places out there who may snub my ragtag crew of tattooed, Chuck Taylored, big furry hat wearing peeps, Mistral is not one of them. 5. Big awesome point for being RIGHT OUTSIDE Back Bay station, so that when it's 3 degrees, it's but a short sprint to the warm enclave of delicious.

Lauren D.

I've been to Mistral about 5 times over the last 4 years and I haven't been disappointed yet. Some highlights: - The Food: if available, please get the dover sole (mmmmmm), the gnocchi and lobster appetizer (they're pretty generous on the lobster), and the strawberry rhubarb tarte (absolutely heaven). - The Service: my last trip there was this past Saturday during the water emergency. My water glass was refilled with FREE bottled water every 3 minutes. I was impressed. - Atmosphere: for the quality of food and service, Mistral is surprisingly not stuffy. You can't go wrong with Mistral.

Ariana D.

Still 5 stars 2 years later... both the food and the service hold up. Still one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. The mashed potato, beef tenderloin and truffle oil pizza is not to be missed and our swordfish entree was outstanding. As always, we ended with a mint chip profiterole rounding out a fantastic evening. So happy as always when leaving such a wonderful meal.

Cami F.

I came here for restaurant week and was not very impressed. The food was good but options limited, and the service was incredibly slow. It took too long to get our drinks. When one of my friends wrote a comment saying that she was a little disappointed, instead of simply apologizing our waiter confronted us asking who had written the bad review. Not the best service.

john d.

I went to Mistrals on a Saturday Night based on a gift certificate that someone had given me. I didn't expect it to be one of the top restaurants in Boston, but what a nice surprise and enjoyable evening. Let me get a couple of the "cons" out of the way, before I get to the "pros". ;-) Cons: Pricey! Pricey Pricey! I wasn't expecting these kind of prices! Is this up there with the most expensive restaurants in Boston? (I think L'espalier has that distinction!) We were 2 couples...each of us had 1 drink....and each couple split a desert. The final bill was $267.00. (We had a gift certificate to make a dent in that.) Reservations. Resrvations are serious business here. We tried to get a 7:30 Saturday night to accomodate the rest of our evening plans...but they said they didnt have anything available. I pleaded..."could you please just squeeze us in?". They couldn't. We eventually took 5:30. The place was full all night! Every table! Make resevations early! The place isn't that big. Draft! Don't take a table near the front door on a cold night...or else every time someone opens the door you will get a cold chill up your spine! Loud...with the place full...it got a little loud. It was hard to have an intimate conversation across the table, unless you SPOKE UP! ;-) Pros: (I am not a fine dining connoisseur, but I'll give my impressions.) Interesting a delicious menu! I had wanted to have Soule Meuniere since I saw the Julie & Julia movie. Even though they didn't de-bone it right in front of me...it was DELICIOUS! Heavenly! Perfecto! The Frois Gras was interesting and tasty (is it served elsewhere the same way?) Grilled Asparagus was grilled perfect...and the horseradish mashed potatoes were great. Funky decorum, but not button down like the Ritz or the Oak Room, or Lochobers. Very polite and professional waitress, my dining guests were commenting on some of the "hot" waiters. ;-) I was surprised at the size of the portions that we were given. I know, I know, cheap restaurants try to impres with large portions, and 'fine dining' restaurants give you tiny portions...but I got more than I typically would expect at a place like this. Nice! A very classy place that while you (or I!) might not be able to afford all the time...a perfect place for a special night! I don't think you can go wrong here.

Laura D.

This is a brunch review. My husband and I came here for brunch on Valentine's day and had the best brunch experience we have ever had. The restaurant was beautiful and bright, we got a great seat, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. On to the food. Everyone gets a muffin to start- delicious. I got the cocoa powder pancakes and my husband got the french toast with raisins. The pancakes were fluffy and chocolatey, and the french toast was thick and decadent. Both meals were delicious. Not to mention that we were both stuffed when we left, and we weren't expecting that. We can't wait to go back to Mistral for our next special occasion.

Christina T.

I went here with 2 friends for restaurant week. We had 9:30pm reservations, but we didn't get seated until 10pm. We had a few drinks at the bar while waiting and each drink was $12-$15 a piece. Dinner was fantastic. I had the sirloin and it was to die for!! Soo much food, I couldn't finish it all. I didn't love my dessert. I had the cream puffs with ice-cream. It was ok, but I could have made it just as good if I ate at home. I loved the ambiance with the large windows and tasteful decor. Our waiter was very nice and very formal. Made us feel comfortable.

Saba N.

I went to Mistral for restaurant week. I like the atmosphere a lot, it is an open dining room with modern décor. The waitstaff was friendly and for a Wednesday it was packed (again, restaurant week). I totally loved the vibe... it was casual dressy and a lot of young people... but I hear in general it's more of a stuffier/older crowd. So I'm not sure I'd come back for a regular meal.... Unless I was with work or my parents. The corn soup was definitely the winning app and the Steak looked delicious. The portions are HUGE! I picked the salmon and thought it was good, but not spectacular. Both desserts are tasty, so you really can't go wrong! A must do for restaurant week if you can grab a reservation in time.

Jessica D.

I went here for brunch a few weeks ago and it was awesome! The wait staff were very friendly and attentive without being annoying. I loved that everyone got their own mini coffee cake to start. The portions were big (not too big) and fairly priced. I had the sunny side up eggs with duck over a root vegetable hash - it was delicious! I would definitely go back again when I'm in the mood for a nicer brunch.

Jeannie H.

Interestingly, this is my 9th round of restaurant week having faithfully dined at a new place every season; however, this is the first time a restaurant won me over with it's restaurant week menu. I've found that many places end up serving mediocre dishes with bland flavours in order to the appeal to the masses. Though nothing is earth shattering here, everything was done well and with care. ATMOSPHERE - Meh. I'm not a big fan of giant dining rooms. It was noisy and impersonal. SERVICE - There was a serious lag between the entree and dessert but the waiter was sincerely apologetic. That was enough for me. FOOD - The bread wasn't great and needed some gluten but I appreciate the effort. Chilled Summer Corn Soup with Avocado and Jumbo Lump Crab, Jalapeno oil - This soup was delicious! It was packed with sweet corn flavour and slightly chilled. There isn't a single thing I would change in this dish. Sirloin Carpaccio Truffle Aioli, Parmesan, Brioche Crouton - This was as expected but well executed. I think it could have used more truffle flavour. Skillet roasted Sirloin with "Pommes de Terre Lyonnaise", Crumbled English Stilton and Port Wine - This was perfectly medium rare, sweet from the Port, and had some kick from the Stilton. It was a hearty dish. The portion size was also extremely generous. Pan Roasted Statler Chicken Breast, White Button Mushroom and Summer Truffle Risottto, Fine Herb Butter Broth - I wasn't a fan of the risotto and am not sure it really should have been called a risotto. It was rice in a pool of broth. The chicken itself was unremarkable. Dark Chocolate Mousse - This was a very simple dessert but rich and packed with chocolate flavour. Warm Peach and Almond Tarte, Vanilla Ice Cream, Basil Syrup - Another simple but delicious dessert. The tarte was a flakey pastry shell, which I thought it made the dessert much lighter than a doughy pie crust. I appreciated that dessert wasn't a throwaway item, which happens often during restaurant week. All the dishes were simple but flavourful. I would not hesitate coming back.

Laura G.

Amazing. Worth every penny. Get the Maine Crab Ravololi and the lamb. I cannot wait to go back.

C A.

All the 5 star reviews are completely true. If you are looking for a magical evening out, Mistral is the place. They have so many great dishes, it's hard to single out just one, BUT the tuna tar tar made my eyes roll back in my head. They also have a really nice back room called the salon where they host small parties- I was recently there for a small wedding it was a perfect setting: beautiful ambiance, great music and a wonderful intimate feeling that isn't always to achieve in such a fancy restaurant.

erik s.

4-1/2 Stars: Several years ago we dined at Mistral and our overall experience was very poor. Tonight I am writing to convey the news that I am a convert. Our dinner, the service and ambiance were perfect. Truth be told, I am only holding back 1/2 star because nothing can be truly perfect. Go, enjoy--Mistral is great!

Alec K.

Excellent venue, service and menu. This restaurant serves great food with great service. I tried their duck, my kids had the lamb, and my wife had the halibut. All was top notch. They get you a cab when done. Perfect!

Reptile A.

Incredibly delicious food!

johnny r.

Absolutely fabulous experience! The service was impeccable and the food was amazing. The bread was delicious. We started with the special salmon tartare which was delectable. I had the beef tenderloin and my gf had the cod, some of the best dishes we've ever had. Couldn't have asked for a better dining experience. It's tough to find a perfect service and food combination in boston, but happy to say we've found it in Mistral!!!

Sarah B.

We went here for our anniversary last year and it was incredible! The tuna tartare appetizer was to DIE for! The staff was so accommodating and wonderful! They even split the tuna appetizer into 2 separate dishes for us to enjoy as we were sharing it! Our entrees were fabulous as well! Our dessert was the sampler and every bite was better than the last! They even put a chocolate "Happy Anniversary" on our plate! We enjoyed a bottle of wine that we had when we got engaged and they gave us the wine label to take home with us! I would highly recommend Mistral over someplace like No. 9 Park.

Linh V.

Mistral is certainly one of my favorite restaurants in Boston! I have been here three times and Mistral has never failed to disappoint!!! Many people are often concerned that coming to a "fine-dining" restaurant can feel a little stuffy/out-of-place but rest assured that Mistral has none of that! Au contraire, the ambience was warm, welcoming, friendly and very vibrant! You definitely don't have to whisper or hold your glasses with your pinky up or anything. The restaurant also has a bar area with some amazing cocktails so if you don't feel like having a full meal, you can always head to the bar for some late night bar bites and drinks. ALSO, a couple, whom I met on a ferry to Salem, has told me that two of their friends have met their significant others right here at the Mistral bar. HAHA. So the bar might have certain inexplicable power of love, just fyi, the single ladies/ gentlemen out there. (for photos, please visit: underthebostonsky.wordpr… ) For appetizers, we had beef sirloin carpaccio, black truffle aioli, parmesan and toasted ciabatta, and Mistral Caesar salad. The carpaccio was divine! The beef was so tender and smooth like butter! My friend said that it was the best caesar salad she had ever tasted so... thumbs up for the delicious apps! For entrees, I had the Pan roasted 12oz sirloin, "Potato lyonnaise", Port Wine Reduction, English stilton Butter, while my friend went for Grilled Faroe Island Salmon with Beluga Lentils, Housemade Bacon, Cider Mustard Glaze; and Cornish Game Hen with Spinach Tomato and Corn Salad. Our table suddenly got super quiet because we were all busy eating the food! The sirloin was a medium rare perfection, though it was a little too aggressively spiced in my opinion. They could tone down a notch on the salt, but then again, I like to use less salt while cooking so it might be perfectly seasoned for other people. My friends all love their entrees as well! For desserts, we went for Meyer lemon posset with French Butter cookies and raspberries and Classic profiteroles with milk chocolate ice cream, dark chocolate sauce and hazelnut croquant. Texture, degree of sweetness, flavor combination were just right and it was definitely a satisfying finish to an excellent meal! Good job, Mistral! I would definitely give you a 4.5 and will return soon one day!

F.D. L.

One of the best brunches we have ever eaten. And THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE EVER, with a homemade toasted marshmallow. We loved everything and it was the little touches that really distinguish the place. The milk is served warm for the coffee which I really appreciate as your coffee stays much warmer if the milk isn't cold. And they serve the maple syrup also warmed, also the way to go. Everyone gets a tasty muffin to start. I had the choc chip pancakes with a carmelized banana and nutella. a-maz-ing. I was full for hours. And the atmosphere is really nice, I felt underdressed in jeans.

Rae R.

REASON FOR VISIT: A friend's going away dinner. He wanted to have the seared fois gras one last time before he moved away. THE AMBIANCE: Upscale. White table cloths. Impeccable and attentive service. THE FOOD: Unfortunately, I wasn't very hungry, so I ordered only an appetizer, the butternut squash ravioli in a brown butter sauce. Wow! Phenomenal! Light, tender pockets, and I could not get enough of the sauce. This is the butternut squash ravioli from which to compare others. After this experience, I kept ordering the butternut squash ravioli at other restaurants only to be completely disappointed every single time. My dinner companions raved about the fois gras. Apparently they think it's the best in Boston. BOTTOM LINE: Mistral is fine dining...at its finest.

Claudia H.

Mistral is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Mistral's atmosphere is very elegant and refreshing and the service is excellent. The restaurant mainly serves French-inspired cuising and the food is outstanding. My personal favorites include the Seared Foie Gras, the Maine Crab Ravioli, Grilled Tenderloin of Beef, and Skillet Seared Prime Sirloin Au Poivre. Desserts are also quite tasty - I especially like their sorbet and ice cream. Mistral also has a private dining room that is a very festive venue for larger gatherings such as company events. While Mistral is quite expensive, the experience is definitely worth the price. A five star experience in my book!

Jean S.

Love it! Can't say enough about it! The chilled corn soup is outstanding and the service is second to none. Superb restaurant cannot wait to return!

Michael B.

Went here a few years ago during Resturant Week. Had a huge steak that was delicious. The carpaccio was great as were the profiteroles. I remember the bread being amazing. Honestly, I wish I'd written this review back when I'd gone. It was the same week I went to the Butcher Shop and Mistral was 1000x better.

Meena T.

I went there for dinner a few weeks ago and it was a nice evening. The service took longer than usual. It was a work dinner that was supposed to be 1.5 hours, but ended up taking 2.5 hours which was a disappointment. The food was great and ambiance was perfect for a work dinner. I started with the foie gras which was delicious. I also had the lamb which was cooked perfectly and a nicely sized portion. The lamb was not gamey which was nice. This is either a special occasion restaurant or work dinner location though. Its loud and really absorbs its identity as a bistro so if you are looking for a romantic dinner spot this might be a stretch.

Lauren K.

Went here tonight for Summer Restaurant Week 2010. The corn soup with avocado and crab was amazing to start. I got the Salmon which was very good. I wouldn't say that it is the best/ most interesting salmon I've ever had, but it was good. I also tried the Sirloin and that was very tasty. The best part of the entrees was the portion size. The steak itself was very big and was served with potatoes and caramelized onions. Both dessert options, the chocolate mouse and he peach/apricot tarte were delicious. The mouse was creamy and tarte was very buttery and was perfect with a little vanilla ice cream. I would definitely recommend Mistral for RW2010.. the atmosphere is nice, the service was great and the food isn't a tease. Bon Apetit!

Don J.

Myself and the boss were in Boston for a week and Mistral was the best restaurant we ate in over our holiday in Boston. Decor was smart and contemporary but still comfortable and a relaxing environment. We arrived early and got a drink at the bar and the mrs ordered a glass of champagne that seemed a bit flat. She said this to our bartender who immediately opened a new bottle of champagne and poured her a new glass. A small issue that was handled very well by the bartender. When seated out server was very knowledgeable about the menu and was attentive throughout our meal. We started with the Maine Crab Ravioli and the Short Rib and Foie Gras tortellini. Both were amazing and are the main reason why this is a 5 star review. I could have drunk a gallon of the sauce that the tortellini came with. It was the most amazing sauce I have ever tasted and I would have ordered it instead of wine if I would have been allowed to. The pasta that the Ravioli was made with was the tastiest pasta I have ever had. I have never had pasta like this in Italy and it was amazing. The Maine Crab came with a very tasty broth but it was so fresh that it really enhanced the dish. Best starters I have ever had in a restaurant. I ordered the rack of Lamb for my main course and the boss ordered the Beef tenderloin. Both portions were huge and we were under pressure to finish our tasty main courses. My Lamb came with Dauphinoise potatoes which I felt didn't really add anything to the dish but they weren't bad either. The red wine reduction was again excellent so whoever makes their sauces knows what he/she is doing. We ordered a side of mushroom risotto with truffles and I ate this instead of the potatoes that came with my lamb. The boss' Beef tenderloin was really good and the horseradish potatoes took basic mashed potato to a new level. We were completely full at this point but after how good our other courses were we decided to share a dessert. The Profiteroles were simple but very tasty and a nice way to finish off the meal with coffee. The only small criticism I have of Mistral is that I feel there bread could be better but this was an amazing meal that fully deserves 5 stars.

Nikki B.

Sunday brunch was magnifique! I ordered the smoked salmon benedict with roast asparagus in a citrus hollandaise, and it was wonderfully different. Thick and creamy CITRUS hollandaise? Oxymoron-ish, but it worked. The restaurant itself is french classic with a modern spin, and full of windows. After reading what other yelpers have written about the jelly donuts, I must return and try them immediately.

Ashla D.

Uhhhhh, my new favorite restaurant in ALL of Boston. Yes--it was that good. Service: Excellent! Food: Excellent!!!! Decor: Meh-a little hotel restaurant-ish. Ambiance: Warm, cozy, romantic and lovely. Started off with cocktails at the bar. I highly recommend the pumpkin martini. The bartender sold me on it when she said they make the pumpkin syrup/puree fresh in house. It was delicious! Bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. Upon being sat, my table discussed starting with the mashed potato, sirloin pizza as a few people recommended it to them. And if you think what I thought, you would be strongly opposed to such a pizza. Oh no--this pizza was unbelievably good. I then had the Steak "Au Poire" (sp?) and it was cooked perfectly. Juicy, tender, flavored perfectly. And our waiter was really friendly and attentive. Wasn't stuffy in the least bit. We had a few questions about the menu and he was happy and excited to tell us about them. I think his name was Paul? He had dreads :) If only Moo could make a steak this good ;)

Danny F.

It's alright. A very busy RW Sunday night, but food preparation still showed care despite the rush. My dinner partner and I both started with the chilled corn soup, which has crab and avocado in it. Normally not a fan of chilled soups, but this was delicious. Next up, I had salmon. Normally not a fan of salmon either, but this one was cooked perfectly. I loved the mustard glaze that was limited to pretty much just the skin. Also loved the sauce, which had corn, peas (?) and "real" cubes of bacon (as opposed to bits or strips). The other entree we had was the chicken, which was tender, but bland. Dessert was a very, very traditional fruit tart, like one you would find in a bakery in France, and also the Belgian dark chocolate mousse, which was very rich with only a touch of bitterness. I like my mousses a little more airy, but this was satisfyingly delicious. Did I have a m-orgasm? No. Was it worth the RW prix fixe? Yes. Would I come back and pay regular prices? Probably not.

Khai L.

It has probably been a year or two since the last time I have been to Mistral, but their food left an impression. Not creative, but it's just good food. Mistral is one of the reliable restaurants in Boston for a nice evening out.

A N.

Wait staff is very exceptional. loved that the menu had something for everyone, and though i did not order, their pizzas looked delic. i got the lamb. it was very tasty, and def try their white asparagus salad. The tortellini was to die for. I will def be back!

Kristina F.

Food is great here - I had a lovely grilled veal dish with fresh veggies. And started with these light crab raviolis. I wasn't loving the decor tho. I felt like I was in Miami in the 80's or something. Also felt like my waiter was snootty. I was also very drunk, loud and probably slight onboxious, so I don't blame him for being snootty with me. Pricey...I got a round of tequila shots and it was very expensive. Then again, Mistral isn't your typical "shot" type of place. But the food...well prepared, well served and delicious.

joanne l.

And so - let the restaurant week games begin! I have been to many (at least 10 restaurant week dinners throughout the past years, and mistral makes my top 2 list!). Decor: Was expecting to be intimidated, but am happy to say that the inside of the restaurant was warm & welcoming. Unlike many other french restaurants - it was refreshing to have slightly brighter lights and an open-air room feeling. Food: Chose to opt for some off-menu specials. For the appetizer - went with the mozzarella salad + heirloom tomatoes. Overall mistral's version of a caprese salad. It was delicious & extremely fresh. I am partial to this combination and can never resist. For my entre - again I went on the off beaten path and ordered the grilled swordfish. I was not disappointed with the swordfish + quinoa (with eggplant) + heirloom tomatoes combination. All the flavors meshed so well together. Desert was also excellent. I chose for the tart w/ice cream combo - and could have licked the plate if I hadn't been so darn full from dinner! PORTION sizes were huge and was overall very impressed with this restaurant week menu. Future endeavor(s): hope so.. though probably only via restaurant week as i believe it costs mucho $$$.

Josh K.

Dinner here was great. Appetizer: crab ravioli. soft and tender, with a buttery sauce. Entrees: Beef Tenderloin with horseradish mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes were surprisingly good, and complemented the beef well. The beef was cooked well, medium-rare, and came in a delicious sauce. Cornish game hen with potatoes, french fries, and buttery spinach. The game hen was very well cooked, soft and juicy, with a buttery, tangy, flavorful sauce. Dessert: a Chocolate Torte with vanilla ice cream. Very similar to the Molten Chocolate Cake at Finale. Also had apple pie, which was quite good. Tasty, though standard for good restaurants. Ambience: pleasant, we liked the beautiful lamps. Sophisticated but not stuffy. Our waitress did a good job of recommending wines to complement our food. The car service is a nice bonus, too, we used it for the ride home.

Bethany B.

I've been to Mistral twice, once for brunch and once for dinner during Restaurant Week. I have to say that the food and cocktails on both occasions were absolutely delicious. The space is beautiful and creates a great ambiance. My one complaint is the speed. The waiters were perfectly nice, but it definitely took awhile for the food, i guess it fits right in with the French theme. Don't come here starving or you'll most likely pass out. Definitely a great spot for a date or intimate conversations with friends. I highly recommend the rosemary fries!

Lana I.

This place is cute. I just wet for rest. Week with a friend. Really nice atmosphere. Definitely dressy. The place was very busy even when we left just before 11 on a Tuesday. I can't complain about the food except for the steak I ordered. It was a bit on the dry side. Our waiter was kind of weird too. Is he Nice/rude? Make up your mind. All in all this place was cute. Parking sucks though. I might go back.

Jaime M.

I had my fathers 60th birthday party here in April 2009. We had reserved the private room in the back and worked with Lisa, the events coordinator. The private room is LOVELY and ELEGANT. We had a small(ish) size party here (about 15) and the room did not feel 'empty'. On the other hand, you could easily have 50 people in the room and not feel 'cramped'-- its really perfect. Food was AWESOME.. we got to select the items we wanted on the menu (Chicken, Salmon and Steak for entrees). Everyone's dish was perfectly cooked, nice and hot and unanimously delicious. The pastry chef had also made a chocolate mousse cake for the occasion which was absolutely one of the most memorable birthday cakes I've ever tasted. Service was definitely outstanding. Things went without a hitch. Lisa, the events coordinator was professional, hospitable and really went above and beyond to make sure everything went well. I will definitely be back to Mistral!!

Jay-Tee L.

My husband and I went there for date night a couple of weekends ago and had overall, a wonderful experience. The restaurant had the sort of formality that you'd expect for a nice high-end restaurant in Boston but not too stuffy either. We had the ribs, the froi gras, the mussels and the beet salad - it was all wonderful. The services was also great - water always filled and the bread was nice and warm. Overall, a very positive dining experience and would recommend it for any special occasion.

Derek B.

Impressed by the good reviews, my wife and I decided to try this restaurant while on vacation in Boston. While the website said "fine dining," the atmosphere is more like a hip night club than a fine restaurant. While every guy was wearing a collared shirt, there was only one gentleman wearing a jacket, and several wearing jeans. There were more than a few ladies wearing flip flops. Once seated (about 10 minutes after our reservation time), we quickly decided on the risotto as an appetizer, and I ordered the tomato and mozzarella pizza, while my wife ordered the beef tenderloin (medium). We were anxious to try the risotto after all of the good reviews, but soon after it came, we were severely underwhelmed. While it wasn't "bad," there was nothing special about it. Mistral charged $12 for it. Next up were the main courses. The pizza came on a very hot metal serving tray, and was 6 slices, enough for two people. It was tasty, but again nothing special. This is the kind of thing you can make at home with similar results. My wife's beef tenderloin came well done, though she ordered medium. Against our better judgement, we opted not to send it back. The garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus were the highlights of the dish, which they seemed to know, since they covered up the $30+ meat with them. For dessert we went for the crème brûlée. Although we had to wait because our waiter disappeared for about 10 minutes. We suddenly had a new waiter who did not introduce himself as such, and was apparently operating in super slo-mo. After we got the dessert, which was the only appealing thing on the noticeably unimaginative dessert menu, we finished and waited another 10+ minutes to have the opportunity to ask for the cheque. This place is very expensive considering what you get in return; I don't think I will be returning here.

Kathy Y.

I went here for my early birthday dinner on a Monday Night where they offered a Prix Fixe Menu. Let me tell you it was impressive for a prix fixe. Normally for those and restaurant week, I am not impressed. The atmosphere was great. Pretty busy for a Monday night with corporate america making deals - my kind of place! Prior to coming here, my friends recommeded their Pizza. So I just had to have it on top of my prix fix. We walked in early evening, it was a pleasant greeting. The waiter was so nice and greeted us and said that he understood we were celebrating something special, so it made it a little better. I guess my cousin had called ahead of time to let them know it was my birthday. We started off with a bottle of Red Wine, 2006 Morellino di Scansano 'Marleto', Bruni (Sangiovese, Merlot) (Tuscany), this was an excellent choice from the research done by my cousin. This wine was crisp and smooth. Not as full bodied as I am use to, but it was good. We shared the pizza: Beef Tenderloin, Mashed Potato & White Truffle Oil It was heavenly. We each had 1 slice, not wanting to ruin our appetite for the rest of the food. We had to refrain ourselves from eating another slice. So we packed the remaning to have for dinner the next night, which was still great reheated if you toast it up! Prix Fixe - We both started with the Arugula Salad I think it was a little to acidic for my taste, but other than that presentation was good, and everything was fresh. We both had Steak Au Poivre cooked medium rare. This was excellent. Cooked perfectly, the steak was so tender and the flavors were all there. Presentation was good, i was able to finish it all! Dessert: I had the Profiteroles, came with 3. They brought this out to me with Happy Birthday written in Chocolate Syrup and a candle, it was such a cute surprise. The presentation was great for this, but it was hard to eat because the chocolate was harden in the pastry, ice cream in it melted quickly. But not too bad, wasn't too rich, i normally can't eat too sweet. My cousin had the sorbet. this was a bit sweet to me, but that's how sorbet suppose to be. Came with 3 scoops. Good amount and colorful presentation. Overall Mistral was a an outstanding experience. The service was great, waiter was so attentive, Food and Wine was excellent. I would def. recommend this to others.

Keith M.

The food was outstanding. I started with the Foi Gras. It was served with Duck Confit in a Broiche bun. My God it was good. I then had the Doversole. It was excellent. My only suggestion here is to have it served next to the vegetable NOT on top. That takes some of the flavor away. The ambience is superb. My only issue was the woman next to me with overpowering perfume. My sinuses started to block, which deprived me of some of the flavors of the food.The Chocolate molton cake was excellent. My partner's a pastry chef & was quite impressed with the dessert, as well. We do plan to return.We see that the Doversole has been replaced with "King Salmon" as of late. I like Salmon,but love the Sole.

Smar T.

I know restaurant week isn't always the most accurate representation of a restaurant. The crowds are large, the menu limited, and often the vibe is hectic. Still, I think its inexcusable for the food to not be up to the same standards as the rest of the year. Mistral is beautiful. There's no denying that. Very nice atmosphere for a romantic date. But the food wasn't anything special. And given their non-RW prices, I'd have to say not worth it. Appetizers were fine. Nothing wrong with them. But is "fine" sufficient for a place like Mistral?? I had the mushroom bisque. It was very good, not too much truffle oil, some nice chunks of shroomies, tasty if a bit salty. But it wasn't spectacular and it wasn't something I'd come back for or recommend to someone else. Same goes for the carpaccio and the caesar (luckily I was with a generous group, so we all got to taste a little of everything!) Then came the entrees. My salmon was fine. Cooked nicely and a fresh piece of fish. But the lentils and veg underneath were overly salted (and I LOVE me some salt, so it's got to be heavy for me to find it too much...) The beef was cooked well but there was nary any blue cheese to be found, and although a verrrrrry large portion, the meat itself wasn't tender. My tablemates had ordered the gamut, so I tasted it med-rare, med, and med-well. All were tough. Even desert was disappointing. The mousse was supposed to be "bruleed" but wasn't. It wasn't as fluffy as it could have been and was served too warm. The profiteroles tasted a bit like freezer (and both the puff pasty AND the chocolate sauce were too salty! What is up w this place and the salt?!) The lemon cake and curd were tasty, but the ratio of curd to cake wasn't right. Our server was MIA most of the evening and we had to ask more than once for our water to be filled. Valet parking was only $15. Less than nearby lots. After driving around for a spot for a half hour, it definitely made our evening more enjoyable. It was a lovely evening with friends, and the food was good. But I agree with the adage "you get what you pay for" and had we paid full price, I'd likely be writing a much more negative review. It wasn't great, and I won't be rushing back again, restaurant week or not.

S. M. S.

Really great brunch with attentive service and a nice crowd. Surprisingly not expensive, loud or pretentious (like my previous impression of Mistral). TRY THE BURGER!!!!

Ron H.

One of the best restaurants in Boston. Their service is excellent, and the food even better. For those of you who fear that this place is expensive, fear not as the price is worth it. You would think that this type of establishment will warrant a stop at a fast food joint. Let's face it - when you think of expensive restaurants, you also think of small/regular portions. This is not the case with Mistral. While it may be a little pricey, the portions are plentiful (similar/close to Cheesecake Factory's). They also have an extensive wine list, and would be perfect for a special occasion or corporate event. For those of you on a limited budget, try out Mistral for Restaurant Week or during the prix fixe menu days which I believe they offer twice a week on Sundays and Mondays. Keep in mind that service isn't as good during those popular times, but still above average for Boston. My only complaint is that there seems to be a disconnect with the vibe. It has the menu of a fine formal establishment, but the decor and vibe of a chic bar. Other than that, Mistral is a great restaurant that you should try out.

Jason K.

Before I even talk about my feelings on the restaurant, you have to know one thing... I'm typically not one into fine dining and I'm truly a big eater. This was the first meal I've had in a very long time where I wanted to actually savor every bite taken!!! The food was amazing, the ambiance was cool and chic. The service was great: the waitstaff was friendly and attentive. Everything I had was outstanding, but the most impressive was the basil citrus gimlet. I had never had a drink with basil in it and it was amazing! I can't wait to go back!!!

Kaitlyn J.

Love it here. Great for brunch! Good selection of wines and drinks. Good dinner menu as well. Good atmosphere. Classy bar and waitstaff. Great service.

Michelle F.

I've been honored to dine here twice (so far). First time around, we scored a great table by the front window; awesome! My second occasion (date!) we sat at the bar, had drinks, and as a practical woman, I suggested that we split everything; two appetizers, two entrée's and two desserts; that way I get to try a half dozen menu items! As other Yelper's have written, there is not ever a bad meal or entrée here. Everything I've tried on both occasions has been outstanding! Mistral is a class act through and through. Romantic ambiance, décor is where casual Mediterranean meets mildly industrial and one of the places in Boston to bring a first date or special occasion celebration. Packed house on weekend nights and I can taste why. I love this place and will come again!!

Terry C.

I was lucky enough to be taken here through the work budget. hehe There were three of us and we made reservations for 6:30. Two of us arrived a little early and we headed over to the bar. They had a good wine-by-the-glass list and some interesting cocktails. I opted for the cranberry mojito because i love cranberry...and mojitos. however, the drink was a bit too tart for my liking. When our entire party arrived, the hostess came over to lead us to the table. The service was good and my food was delicious. In my opinion, their portions are fairly big for fine dining. I shared the tuna tartare appetizer and it was heavenly...ohhhh...i so wished they had it as an entree. The tuna was fresh and served in a delicious sauce with shredded crispy wonton skin on top. HmmMmm...For an entree, I ordered the duck with risotto. The duck was cooked perfectly and the meat was very tender. For dessert, we shared a profiterole and that was nothing to write home about. I would definitely go back.

stephanie c.

Beautiful restaurant...and I rarely use that to describe a restaurant. It was cozy, classy, fancy, and yet not over the top. Elegant decor. The service was top notch-which you would expect from an expensive restaurant. Our waiter was attentive, yet left me and my date alone to enjoy our evening on our own time. Extensive wine list and good choice of wine by the glass. Now comes the food. Started with the tuna tartare and salad. Tuna tartare was excellent. Fresh, tasty, and the sauce complimented the tuna well enough to bring out its natural flavors while not overpowering it. I had the sea bass special which was excellent. Portions were big, 4 jumbo shrimp, cooked in a cilantro lime broth. Perfect, moist, flavorful. My date had the sole which was also very good, but the sea bass was my favorite. Dessert-chocolate torte was heavenly. Gooey chocolate on the inside of a warm crusty exterior. I couldn't stop eating it. A perfect ending to the dinner, especially with a great bottle of red wine. Overall-great experience. Of course this place is pretty darn pricey...so come here for a special occasion. Or let someone take you out on a date :) I would definitely come back. It's one of the classiest restaurants Ive been to in Boston.

TheBiggestJuiciestPiece a.

I'v'e only been here for brunch, but every single time it has been amazing! The fresh cinammon roll pastries they have when you first sit down are perfect, they're always warm and have just the right amount of sweetness. My favorite dishes for brunch are the duck confit with eggs dish and the eggs benedict. They always come out right as they're ready, taste amazing, and everything is always done with a smile. the brunch is always full of energetic people and the restaurant has a lot of light. definitely worth rolling out of bed on a sunday morning. There is really nothing i can complain about here, for once. -Andres

David B.

Came here for restaurant week and left pleasantly surprised! I have walked past this place about a million times and should have stopped in the first time. For the appetizer I had the Sirloin Carpaccio, Black Truffle Aioli, Parmesan & Toasted Brioche. Each bite was light and full of flavor. My entree was the Beef Sirloin with potatoes and onions. This was by far the biggest piece of meat I have ever received for restaurant week. (They should get five stars just because of this!) The meat was cooked adequately but it wasn't the highlight of the meal. For dessert I got the dark Belgium chocolate mousse. It lived up to it's name. The chocolate was very rich and dense. The service here was awesome. Everyone was friendly and very prompt with bringing out food and cleaning off the table. The service was definitely five stars.

Bryan R.

PROS Beautiful ballroom feel with high ceilings, packed with (mostly) well-dressed restaurant folk. Good bread, great drinks. The Bière d'Eté was a refreshing pilsner glass full of Harpoon IPA, ginger liqeur and blueberries. Solid. The raspberry mojito, I'm informed, was also very good. I took the advice of another yelper and skipped the duck + risotto entree and instead ordered just the wild mushroom risotto as an appetizer and it was fantastic. Just get it. You could even order it for your main course and be happy. I rate this restaurant a *good* 3 stars. CONS The experience kind of took a nose dive after the great start. Our waiter, already a bit reclusive, went AWOL for 20 minutes at a time.. Now, he was very good in person and quite likable - but he was also painfully inattentive. The last white glove across the face was after we'd finished our main plates. We sat for 10 minutes, the food was cleared by a busboy, we sat another 10 minutes while our waiter fawned over two larger parties nearby, our waiter skipped by and dropped off desert menus, we waited another 10 minutes and even once we realized we just wanted to get the check and get of there we couldn't get him to stop while he rushed past our table. Then, about 5 feet from us, he grabbed another waitress and told her to take over the table and get our dessert orders. She cleared plates off the vacant table next to us first then came and asked if we wanted anything. Our waiter never came back to say he was sorry and it was pretty disappointing. We just paid the bill quickly and left. TIPS There are a few nice rounded corner booth tables which are nice for couples (not first dates). Some have square tables and some have smaller round tables. You might request one of these if you'd prefer it. If you're in a large party, there's a great spot in the back left corner. It's table 133 if you'd like to ask for it.

Leah R.

Superb ambiance, attentive yet unobtrusive service, fabulous food. I ate here during dinner after work, with 5 other colleagues. We all had a great encounter. Every single course was terrific. Extremely recommend! On the high side but extremely worth the value.

Todd O.

I've never been so happy with my dinner order. I took my (then) love interest and she was so enthusiastic about the meal she agreed to make our relationship official! My view may be tainted, but I can say for sure this is one of the best places I've eaten at. It has been a while, so I don't recall the details, but overall I was very impressed. Service was perfect. We never went without wine and the server was otherwise very attentive. We went a bit dressed up, but nothing crazy; her:dress, me: nice jeans/button down. I'd probably rethink anything less though.

Alinna C.

Shockingly, despite a quarter of a century in the city, I never managed to make it to Mistral -- I didn't know what I was missing! Had a fantastic Sunday brunch with a few friends, while I was visiting, and I'd have to say that pretty much everything worked out well. Great service, great food: our waiter knew his food and he knew it well, even recommending adding a bit of goat's cheese to an already indulgent mushroom and gruyere omelette (divine) and the eggs benedict was again pretty close to perfect. My only complaint was that I couldn't fit more food in my stomach! The atmosphere was also appealing, posh but relaxed. There was even a gang of girls having what looked like a sorority reunion in their hoodies and pajamas. However, there was no snobbery from the staff, just good humor and excellent service. Brunch was a particularly nice way of getting familiar with the restaurant; will definitely be back.

Jennie C.

I had a dinner here with a date awhile ago, and we were seated together towards the back. The interior is gorgeous and breath-taking. A must if you want to score points with the romance. Service was excellent and the food was great. I had the foie gras/rhubarb cake to start and the duck leg as the entree. Both were delicious. The only downside was that there wasn't a large selection of entrees as I hoped there were to be...that or either not in the mood for most of their things and settled for the duck. I came here in the early evening, which was nice since it wasn't as crowded, but by the time we were done, the place was filling in. Highly recommended.

Julia H.

Two words: YUM-O!!! Try their duck confit - it is to die for. I've had many duck confits and Mistral does a great job. Also, try their strawberry caipirinha...wish it came with unlimited refills... Pricey but worth it.

Banafsheh P.

The corner bar seat has my name on it! Great venue, great food, great people watching ... make sure to say hi to Erica behind the bar (a friend of mine).

Sacha M.

I finally had the pleasure of dining at Mistral, and it was everything I thought it would be and...well that's it...it was everything I thought it would be. I have no complaints; the ambiance, the service, and all three courses were spot on. Perhaps it's because I had anticipated this visit for so long that nothing really surprised me, and our meals tasted just as I imagined they would. Herein lies the yelp paradox. So maybe my visit didn't warrant that oft-stated, "and more," but I assure you that an evening at Mistral is truly a special experience, and when the opportunity arises, you bet I'll be trying their brunch. With bells on. ASAP. I think Mistral may be the most aesthetically pleasing restaurant I've been to in Boston. It's comfortably sleek with a well thought out juxtaposition of rustic and contemporary elements (seen in the décor, the paintings that creatively partition the bar from the dining area, and even in the dishes and stoneware) that really reflects its mission and menu. To start, the bread is fantastic, but the presentation of an entire boule just might be damaging to the psyche. You WILL finish it and its accompanying purée and after reflecting you WILL say, "wow, we just ate an entire loaf of bread," but I digress. Typically, I shy away from a pasta course , but the Maine Rock Crab Ravioli was truly a work of art, as other reviews have suggested. The pasta is almost paper thin, enveloping sweet, succulent crab meat that tasted amazingly pure. The thyme and tomato broth is just buttery and herbaceous enough to complement the ravioli while allowing the sweetness of the star ingredient to shine. I'm not sure why the waiter took away the bowl while I was finishing. Didn't he know I had devious plans for that broth involving a soup spoon and my mouth? The actual soup of the evening, the Heirloom Squash Bisque celebrated fall at its best. It was almost a playful dish, and I was a little jealous that I didn't get to rip through this buttery (albeit a bit doughy), sea salt encrusted puff pastry hat to reveal a maple crème fraîche-topped puddle of piping hot goodness. Each main dish was delightful. The halibut looked a bit plain, but this meaty and generously portioned slab of fish shined in its natural state, perched a top a very light risotto which certainly didn't skimp on the crab. The Cornish Game Hen was also a winner. The skin was crisp and the meat was moist (hallelujah, not another wiggly-skinned dry chicken), and the lemon and rosemary gave it that bright, but homey Tuscan charm. The bed of spinach with pieces of pancetta interwoven provided a nice bite and was far from an afterthought like it often is. I went with our friendly waiter's recommendation and chose the Rack of Colorado lamb for myself over the beef tenderloin and was surely glad that I did. The two giant mustard encrusted chops were cooked to a perfect medium rare. I thought the pool of red wine reduction may have been too vast, but then I tasted it and wished that like the lamb, I too could take a swim in its rich, crimson goodness. My only qualm was that the delicious and surprisingly light celery root gratin was screaming for mercy, as all of the other meal components crushing it. Something as delicate as this should have been plated differently. But fear not, I salvaged every morsel. Dessert was satisfying, but perhaps the least inspiring course. Well, let me preface this by saying I NEVER order a warm chocolate torte. The tiny bit-o-food snob in me thinks it's a cop-out. But on this occasion, I wanted chocolate and when a girl needs chocolate what satisfies that craving more than the sensuous flow of warm molten fudge. It did fulfill that duty on this evening, but it wasn't dark enough for my taste, and although it featured that contrast of the crusty outside shell with the melting center, the ooze overwhelmed the cake and it was more like eating a hot fudge sundae. Innuendo aside, had they not touted a pastry chef on the menu I would argue that this cake was not made in-house. The custard part of the crème brulée lacked in vanilla flavor and the cookie served on top was a soggy accessory, but the crust was one of the best I've had. Apparently some people can burn sugar better than others because this had the deepest caramel, and I appreciated the borderline bitter taste similar to that you get when you let homemade caramel get dangerously past the amber stage. All in all, it was a night to remember. I would rather have an expected, yet delicious feast than a daring disaster any time.

Neha Y.

Mistral succeeds in achieving that much coveted, but rarely achieved, balance between being lavishly fabulous but fantastically unpretentious. The staff and service is seamless, polite and attentive without being overwhelming - which leaves you to enjoy the food and the company. The braised rabbit tortellini and seared foie gras was the type of flavor that is the right start to a meal - lingered in your mouth in a way that left you relishing your last bite but light enough that left you craving more. The tenderloin that followed was in a word... perfection. And as if after that indulgence I had room for more - I caved for the creme brulee, which with a thicker crust than most, I highly reccommend.

Champagne C.

Second try for this place. Food is consistently good...a couple of the apps are in need of recipe adjustments (potato "pizza" wedges very bland-tasted like soggy cardboard and the asparagus tips on tiny toast (not the official name) had an off flavor). Swordfish entree was beautifully seasoned. The reduction glaze was delicious..Cesar salad was dressed but bland. Once again, service was disappointing. Friendly, polite but timing was poor and bar service was moderately unspectacular. The atmosphere and decorating are lovely.

Linda T.

Mistral has a very sentimental place in my heart. I first came here with a great friend who is a super foodie. He works there and thought that I should have the fine dinning experience. I have been hooked since. The roasted duck with mushroom risotto and cherry glaze is amazing. The fois gras is amazing too. I have had many fabulous moments at Mistral but dinning in the main dinning room and at the bar. My recommendation is the bar. The bartenders are a whole lot of fun and the nicest in town. I recently moved to Houston and prior to moving here I spent a month dinning at Mistral. Could not have enough and knew for a fact that it would be a long time before I could revisit the wonders of the Mistral duck again. The crowd at the bar is always great and to be honest the month of November is the most memorable experience of my life. This place rocks. If you live in Boston or even if you don't it is a magical place. Don't miss it.

Sonia C.

I love this restaurant! My husband and I visited Mistral for a late night romantic dinner in early February. The service is great and food is wonderful. We went for a range of appetizers over entrees and were very pleased-- I would recommend the seared foie gras with confit of duck and the classic escargots, burgundy style. We were a bit underwhelmed with the highly recommended Mistral fries, but overall, this restaurant is still a 5 in my book. Definitely planning on visiting Mistral again!

Bryan T.

Full reviews, with photos: restaurantbrat.com It is generally exceedingly rare to discover good cuisine in a setting like Mistral's - a sleek den for both the fashion and the financier set. Thumping electronic lounge beats pervade the air, and the bar dishes out artful cocktails to gaggles of leggy young professionals in miniskirts and stilettos. Oversized sofas, massive rusted metal wall sculptures, gothic (yet modern) chandeliers - Jamie Mammano's Provençal-inspired gem is a Temple of Hip, a swath of earth-tones and warmth. The dining room is just as lively, littered with red-faced pinstripes guffawing with a loud backslapping sort of bravado--a band of brothers belonging more to the Canali set than the Cavalli--their platinum concubines sitting flirtatiously astride. An energetic buzz permeates the scene. Mistral, at first glance, feels more South Beach than South End. For starters, try the Seared Foie Gras with Confit of Duck, a minerally, livery throwback to a time when foie gras was simply animal offal to be savored and not an activist's wet dream. An entire lobe of liver (measuring a full seven inches across) is balanced atop a hollowed out brioche cylinder, the latter filled to the brim with pulled duck meat. An architectural marvel. It is a magnificent dish, both to look at and to taste, and the creamy liver is the perfect foil to the tender, flavorful shards of preserved duck. The brioche does a good job of sopping up the salty juices from the inevitable carnage on the plate, what with bits of jelly-like foie gras, a canard explosion when the bread container is breached and a generous splash of cherry gastrique to top it all off. Maine Crab Ravioli is similarly good, if not otherworldly. The seafood used here is fresh and sweet, tasting of summer and the sea, and the pasta dumplings lie in a shallow pool of tomato broth, pleasantly astringent with a hint of thyme. My only complaint: the ravioli themselves. To begin with, four piddly little pieces of ravioli constitute the entire dish, and further, each piece is a little less crab, a little more pasta. If you are reading this, my wee ravioli friends, I know you'll be able to take this criticism on the chin, for you are thick-skinned as they come. Good thing you taste nice. Mistral's selection of main courses are hearty, buttery and the majority would feed a family on their own. Despite the ostensibly Manhattan atmosphere you are confronted with here, the portions are decidedly Middle American diner. One wonders how the Size 0's that flock here are capable of putting even the slightest of dents in one of Mistral's supersized entrees. The Half Whole-Roasted Duck arrived majestically on a sizzling-hot plate the size of a road sign; the skin oven-roasted to a delightful crisp, the meat pulling away from the bone with the gentlest of tugs, the mountain of wild mushroom risotto moist and nutty. And after half the plate, a quick breather was needed. My stomach lurching, I had a sip of my wine, took a number of deep breaths, and toweled off the beads of sweat gathering on my brow - I felt like Adam Richman in Man v. Food. Only (thankfully), I had the option of the doggy bag. If you are feeling in the mood for a greater degree of punishment, try the Red Wine Braised Beef Shortribs. A luscious, hearty French heart attack that is presented to you earnestly by your busboy on what appears to be a medieval skillet the size of a Viking's shield. The shot ribs are cooked to a tender succulence, and textural contrast is provided by crispy buttermilk onion rings and chunky mirepoix (in this case: carrots, onions, celery) which melt in your mouth with a sweet, comforting evanescence. A dollop of butter whipped potatoes is great as icing on each forkful of stringy beef, and just as good alone - unfortunately the bed of starch is just a little too rich to finish in entirety. I commend the brave diner who has room for dessert after such a vicious carbohydrate and protein attack. I certainly have not been able to muster the requisite second wind, and always leave with bags of leftovers. Mistral is a very good restaurant, but at times relies a little too much on in-your-face displays of magnitude and overtly cloying richness to blitzkrieg its clientele into submission. That being said, the cuisine here is incredibly tasty and reminds me of a time when fine dining did not necessarily mean bite-sized portions fit for a squirrel, freeze-dried and put through a molecular centrifuge before being folded up like origami and served on a stick. Comfortable, hearty fare should always maintain its relevance in the restaurant scene. And as I found myself sitting amidst dramatic white drapes, basking in the merriment of a convivial crowd and the warm orange aura of Mistral's dining room, it was not lost on me that such authentic food could indeed co-exist in a sea of douchebags and breast implants. I loved it.

Gerhard V.

What a great experience. The food was incredible, the service excellent and the restaurant limo brought us back to the hotel after this delightful dinner. Can not wait to be back to enjoy the Foie Gras and the Sole.

Michelle H.

I think the reviews on Yelp built up my expectations a little too high. I came here for Restaurant Week with my sister hoping for a rich and succulant meal - everything French food is supposed to be. For the most part, I was able to enjoy that. The bread that came out while we were ordering was amazing (need to find that bakery - we overheard the waitress telling the people next to us where it was from but we forgot on the long drive home...). I had the mushroom soup which was tasty but easily made at home with a stick blender - although I will say that I love that they had little mushrooms in the soup so that there was something to chew. That was a nice change or pace. For the next course I had the pork 'osso bucco' and my sister had the steak. Sooooo much meat. I had expected it for her meal (stated that it was a 12 oz steak) but not so much for mine. I should have brought half the meat home. Especially after eating up all my mushroom and polenta with the first half of the pork. It needed those components for a smooth and moist meal. I think there was plenty of mushroom but definitely not enough polenta. Next time there will be a doggy bag. Still, I'm confused by the willingness to offer a huge portion of meat but be skimpy on polenta. Its corn and cream and a little bit of cheese. My sister enjoyed her meal. I tried a piece of the steak and it was nice and moist. For dessert we had the chocolate cake (which my sister enjoyed very much) and the Meyer Lemon pot de creme. Yum. A nice light dessert to finish off the meal. Would I go back? For restaurant week and restaurant week only. The meal was tasty but it didn't seem to meet expectations even though it should have. Side note: The staff inside are amazing - polite, discreet, always perfect with timing a visit to refill a water glass or knowing when to bring the food out. The valets...yeah, they ignored us on the way in. Not my favorite first impression.

Yb W.

Mistral is an upscale restaurant with service to match. The interior is elegant and bathed in light from massive floor to ceiling windows. I thought that the appetizers were great, but that the main courses and desserts were only ok. We started with the main crab ravioli and a hamachi crudo, the special of the day. The fish was smartly plated and unquestionable fresh. For our mains, we had roasted duck and veal milanese. Because the portion sizes were very large and the ingredients, very rich, we barely touched our entrees. We did go ahead and try the chocolate torte with sauce anglaise for dessert. This was good, but not spectacular. I think the food quality is undeniably excellent, but the preparations are too rich and a little dated for my personal tastes.

Klim M.

When i go to Boston next, I am definitely going to pay a visit to Mistral Bistro. I went with some colleagues and wanted to try their prix fix menu. The mushroom risotto with tuna tartare was excellent.. the food really tasted great but the portions were small and I am big on quantity. When I have dinner, I like to stuff myself till food comes up to my throat.. classless I know.. but NEVERTHELESS,! I love this place.

Lisa D.

I DREAMT OF THE MEAL DAYS AFTER COMING HERE FOR RW. OH THE SALMON TARTAR upon a mound of mashed avocado in a plate of yuzu? I'm guessing. MY PERFECTLY MOIST CHICKEN in "pomme puree" (how could you not love mash potatoes however they want to call it.) The portions of the entree were huge compared to my expectations for a fancy restaurant. Ashley could not even finish half her steak which happened to be a nice medium rare. I love when the meat is pink. Everything was simple, flavorful, and delicious. I wished my stomach was big enough so that I could have consumed every bit. The chocolate mouse was the perfect way to end my meal. It was semi-sweet, slightly bitter, with fresh whip cream to balance out the bitterness. And there was a little chocolate cookie coin on top of that dollop of whip cream that was divine. I wanted 20 more of that 3-bite cookie. You can tell they pay attention to every detail of the food that comes out from their kitchen. The service was very attentive even though the host/server could have been warmer, but who am I to complain as long as they seat me, treat me with respect, and are the means to pleasing my tummy. =] I'm anticipating coming here for either my birthday, the bf's bday or our anniversary dinner.

Kelly W.

Great food. Everything we ordered was wonderful, but the flatbread and the dover sole especially stood out as fantastic options.

Elizabeth M.

My husband, friend and I visited Mistral for the first time last week, and man was it good! We made a reservation and were seated immediately, the staff were very professional and really let you take your time figuring out what you wanted. We started with some great cocktails, and ordered four of the appetizers to share. The tuna tartare was phenomenal. For someone who doesn't typically enjoy this dish, I have so say it was amazing. Perfect consistency and flavor. The escargot were also amazing, not too big and perfect flavoring. We also ordered the beef carpaccio and a nice salad which were very good. As for the entrees, we had the duck breast, filet and sole. All were fantastic, and came with great sides. Dessert was amazing as well. We have already reserved out Valentine's Day dinner at Mistral. Having visited the majority of Boston's fine restaurants, Mistral easily makes my top three favorite!

Jason B.

Best wine list in boston... And the lamb?!?!?! Fuh-Ged-Aboud-It!!!!

george k.

Very enjoyable meal. It's a pleasant atmosphere with touches of sophistication. Food is tasty and not extraordinary, in a good way and so is the service. Four star if it weren't for the prices.

Arestia R.

After hearing for months that Mistral was the best restaurant in town, my roommates and I snagged a 9pm reservation for Restaurant Week. I loved the ambiance as soon as we walked in - soft lighting, rustic pieces on the wall and a comfortable layout. We got there a little early, so my friend and I went to the bar for a cocktail, only as soon as we ordered, the table was ready! Our hostess said not to worry and that she would bring out drinks over, which was nice. Theeeeeen we proceeded to wait...and wait...and wait. Dude, get us a bottle of wine, stat! I don't mind having a leisurely dinner, but we need us some drinks! Finally our waiter came over and my friend Vanessa started to ask him what Mistral meant (it's a kind of weed), but when she had a follow up question, he walked away. In fact, all the waiters seemed to be hurrying around without paying much attention to their clients. I don't know, I guess I like to feel like I know whose serving me. Still, I know waiting staff gets crazed/huffy during Restaurant Week, so I'm trying to not hold it against them. We got some bread - cold (is it always cold?) The salmon tartare on avocado was divine and the caesar salad while huge, was nothing special. My steak was good, but again, nothing special. As for my carrot cake, a little dry for my taste. Perhaps my expectations were too high. Still, I've had better food elsewhere even for their regularly priced menu and better service. I'll probably return, though, just because I'm curious to see what it's like when it's not Restaurant Week.

John L.

we used to live around the corner, so lucky for us, this was one of our neighborhood spots. both food and service are tops...the room is amazing as well. craving the pizza, escargot, tartar, and rack or lamb right now. one minor quibble; i hadn't had the linguine in a few years...i remember them using a different/better actual pasta in the past.

Aaron T.

This is the closest to god I've ever come. And I don't believe on god.

Glen F.

An awesome physical experience where intimacy is possible even in a crowded room. The food was really well done...interesting menu choices, excellent preparation and presentation. The service was bad news. Too many large groups created confusion and delays for our little table. It was a buzz-kill to the max. And the hostess said they often have large groups... Disappointing.

Joyce B.

definitely did not expect to walk into a high-end restaurant, but since we were only here for desserts, it was quite affordable. i have to say that i am quite biased towards desserts, but this place definitely have amazing dessert dishes that you should try, if you have the late night munchies. it's worth your $ especially if you share. 1) classic profiteroles: it's literally like a chocolate-coated cream puffs with ice cream and nuts. the dish looked very mouthwatering before we dug and tasted as good as they looked 2) honey crisp apple croustade: everything literally melts in your mouth when you bite into it and you're just having an eating experience as you dive into not just the taste, but also the texture

Kat T.

I had high expectations for this place because I am greatly impressed with its sister restaurants (Teatro and Sorrelina). But I was very disappointed when my friends and I decided to try this place out on restaurant week. My steak was overcooked even though I asked for medium. The service was not the best. Our waiter didn't seem too pleased to serve us.. not sure why, we weren't loud or rude.

Keith O.

I have never had a bad meal at Mistral. I almost always sit at the bar alone or with my wife unless it is a special occasion. The bartenders have gone downhill a little lately but the food is just as good. The tenderloin pizza is a great choice and remember to leave some room for dessert.

Andrew T.

Went for the brunch which was delicious! I got the mushroom risotto while the beignets and smoked salmon eggs benedict was well received. By far my favorite brunch place, even more than any of the ones in San Francisco!

Meems L.

APPETIZERS Portobello Mushrooms Carpaccio: The mushrooms were sliced thinly and presented on a large dinner plate with arugula, roasted peppers, cheese, and large dousing of balsamic vinegar. The mushrooms were delicious, but the balsamic vinegar was overwhelming. I'm glad to have tried it but I wouldn't order it again for 2 people--it's large enough to share amongst 4 people. Maine Crab Ravioli with Rock Crab: Wow, this was my favorite dish. Four generously sized ravioli, stuffed with crab, floated in a large soup bowl with delicious tomato broth that was yellow colored. The raviolis were mildly sweet but the slightly tangy broth was a perfect complement. I wanted to lick the plate afterwards and I kind of resented the fact that I had to share two of the raviolis with my husband. I could have easily eaten eight of them and ordered nothing else, and been extremely happy with my meal. Foie Gras with Confit of Duck in Brioche: My husband loved this dish as he's a huge fan of foie gras. This dish is very sweet as it has dried cherry gastrique that gets soaked into the brioche. The duck was solid but not succulent, so not the best I've ever had. ENTREES Red Wine Braised Shortribs: This came out in a reasonably sized portion with succulent, melt off the bone shortribs sitting on a bed of butter whipped potatoes with giant mirepoix carrots on the side. My husband enjoyed the shortribs but he admitted that he enjoyed the appetizers more because after a while his taste buds got tired of just the shortribs. So I would recommend splitting this dish with a second person and ordering an extra appetizer. Not worth $42 unless you love shortribs. Half Whole Roasted Duck: Wow. I didn't read the menu carefully and was surprised they brought out a giant portion of duck. It literally was half a duck, and a very large duck at that. So I recommend splitting this amongst 2-3 people. This is certainly 4 times the meat you will get served at other restaurants (and no wonder they charge $37). I'm a little obsessed with duck. I've gone to many Asian and French restaurants in multiple US cities to sample duck. I've even gone to London and Paris and...yes, had lots of duck. First of all, Mistral cooked the duck skin to light, crispy perfection. The wild mushroom risotto was delicious and I was delighted to sample many different types of mushrooms in every bite. The Kumquat gastrique was a great complement, making the dish taste more like orange duck. Kumquat is usually tart and sourish, but it was the right the amount of sweet in this dish. As for the duck itself, it was moist, but not the most flavorful duck I've ever had. Without the risotto and gastique, the duck would have been bordering on bland, but in this case I think mild duck with the strong side flavors worked. Good duck, but I wouldn't order this dish again. DESSERT Assiette for two: Ooh, yum. At $18, it came with four tasting sample desserts. The small creme brulee was solid, but not different from other good ones I've had elsewhere. The large profiterole could have been a dessert dish by itself as it had vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and a hardened chocolate shell with pistachios. It was very well executed profiterole (better than L'espalier), but I am normally not a fan of profiteroles. But the pot du creme au chocolate was amazingly rich. My favorite was the berries with champagne sabayon though. An assortment of fresh blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries were presented in a delicious pocket wafer containing the airy sabayon, which was a light yellow sauce probably containing beaten egg yolks. You can definitely taste the alcohol. This was my favorite and the most unique of the desserts. I thought the portions were right for two people, but I think you can easily share it with four people. ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE Mistral is a beautiful high ceiling-restaurant with interesting hanging art. But I found the plasma TV at the bar detracted from the sophisticated atmosphere. The roomy lounge area has a very nice design, Our waiter was super friendly and nice, and he was all smiles as he could see we were enjoying our meal. He was definitely one of the more personable and memorable waiters I've had. The other staff member bussing our table was also efficient, professional, and not at all obtrusive. OVERALL IMPRESSION I thought best parts of my meal were the appetizers & desserts. I could easily ordered several appetizers (which are very large) and split one entree (which are very large) with a second person. Most entrees were in the upper 30s and low 40s in price. I think the shortribs at $42 was overpriced, but the duck at $37 was correctly priced as the portion was enough to feed 2-3 people. I would come back again, but the entrees did not blow me away this first time. But even with this experience, I could easily say this is definitely in my top 10 memorable restaurant experien

Nicole P.

I took a date here the other night and it was a great experience; I will definitely go back. The atmosphere is comfortable- the lighting was good and the decor was modern. To be honest I can't give much more detail because I was kind of absorbed at looking at my date, lol. The service was great- our server was personable and professional. He had clearly tasted all of the dishes and could speak about them honestly. He recommended a great bottle of wine (Flowers-pinot noir- awesome). It was also nice that people weren't bothering us all through dinner but yet we didn't feel ignored. Only one bad point was we were told we could go next door for drinks and get the car up until 1:00 am (valet) but when we came back at 12:00 am the place was closed! Turns out the car was just down the street at the Park Hotel so no big deal. On to the good stuff- the food was great! I agree with another reviewer that the appetizers may be better then the entrees. We shared the rabbit/butternut squash ravioli app. and honestly if I wasn't on a date I would have licked the bowl. I would like to go back and try the tuna tartar too. I had the beef tenderloin for my entree which was really good- just hard to compare after the rabbit... My date seemed pleased with the beef sirloin. For dessert the choclate molten cake was delish but chocolate molten cake is always damn good. Everything put together I loved this place! Yeah it's a little pricey but whatever- if you're gonna go out for a great meal then it's worth it.

H L.

The one star rating is based purely on a one time corporate event, which took place recently. It started off very well but it went downhill. We had a cocktail party in the private room, which went over the allotted time. When the group decided to order food, the waitstaff, including the manager, REFUSED to serve the group. They felt we were "overserved". Let me lay it down this way: yes, we drank our share; yes, we stayed over our time; and yes, we did not do a full sit-down dinner (only passed hors d'oeuvres). However, the group was not rowdy; the group did not bother any other guests, and the bar tab was being paid. While I understand the liability issue, it was completely rude and SNOBBY of them to blatantly refuse to serve us. This was my first time at Mistral and I can't tell you how much this experience has changed my desire to EVER come here or recommend this place. The crazy thing is that I was not even with the remaining group when this all happened. Everyone was talking about it the next day and how terrible we were treated. Isn't the service industry about service???? Even if they felt we were "overserved", wouldn't you try to be pleasant? Seems like a clear case of "we don't need you because everyone else gives us 5 stars..." Maybe they can throw up a lot of smoke with their fancy food but if what I experienced was the real Mistral...it is ugly. No thanks!

Elena K.

Recently vacationed in Boston, chose Mistral as our splurge dinner. Starters were foie gras and tuna tartare, pretty tasty...mains were pretty bad. Rack of lamb was not rendered properly, it was very fatty and unappetizing... Half duck...was extremely dry and well just not anything special. To add insult, there was an hour plus wait between apps and main. Desserts were okay.

Paul D.

One of the best restaurants in Boston. Went here recently for my birthday, and every aspect of the meal from the appetizers and mains, to the desert and service were on point. Had a wood fired pizza and muscles appetizer that was to die for. Piece of delicious sea bass over a bed of risotto for a main, and chocolate tort for desert. Excuisite. I have been here many other times as well, both for drinks and several corporate events - and Mistral never disappoints. Unless you are a high priced lawyer or using your company expense account, Mistral is a few times a year kind of place. But you can be sure that when you go there, you will have a evening to remember.

Shawn D.

Great brunch place, visited on July 4th weekend. They start you off with some mouth-watering coffee cake on the house. If that does not whet your appetite, the cinnamon buns should do the trick, but be sure you can stomach them (and order them first, they take longer to prepare). I had the jumbo lump crab and chive omelette, it was gigantic! My friend had the foraged mushroom frittata, I tried a bit, the mushrooms were a great accompaniment to the flavors. Overall highly recommended, great value for brunch if you find yourself in Boston.

Lila S.

Holy freaking 5 Stars What hasn't been said? Well I suppose I should say that I only had items from the dinner menu and that because I was driving, I didn't try any of the delicious looking cocktails. After my experience tonight, I most certainly will be back for brunch as well as drinks. First off - this place is fitting to the neighborhood. Elegant though not terribly snooty. The designer of this place went with the most relaxing colors on the color wheel to create a extremely tailback French countryside feel to the entire place. Lots of Creamy beige, dull pistachio greens, light browns and did I say cream? Super romantic and very soothing. Excellent date/anniversary location. The service we has as a table of 7was very good. Our waiter didn't skip a beat when we asked for suggestions or had specific questions and changes about menu items. Extremely friendly and knowledgeable. He was also notably attentive, without being a pest. That scored about a thousand service points in my book. The Hostess was not super friendly but very professional. The appetizers alone were phenomenal, which was a pleasant precursor for what was about to come with our mains. I got to see the French authenticity start here when we had the onion soup and mussels. The tomato based broth for the mussels was very delicate, but combined with the ultra fresh shellfish, it was out of this world. One can fill up on the onion soup alone, it is such a large portion, and the guereyre cheese is baked on with a delightful crust that could make angels cry. Tuna tar tare is also an excellent choice. its served with a crazy amazing soy based sauce, and again, very very fresh. The sirloin carpaccio was a new experience for me, and if you have never tried raw beef served this way, I suggest you begin with Mistral. Served traditionally with shaved Parm, who couldn't love it? There were Caesar salads also served at the table, that looked good, but nothing out of the ordinary, if you are not feeling so adventurous. I really could go on for days about the most delicious beef tenderloin that Ive ever had... (that's right better than Ruth Chris folks) and it had to be all based upon freshness. Though I don't have days to do so, I will just say that it is not a choice you will regret and comes with a side of horseradish mashed potatoes and perfectly cooked asparagus. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food and service you are getting here, but if you can get sides included in the main, then why not huh? My mother enjoyed a veal scallopini dish that she could barely find words to describe; served in the pan it was cooked in, and very aromatic. My father, who is the most scrupulous of all restaurants or any establishment really, had no complaints, but rather raved about the Soul fillet served with spinach and fingerling potatoes. Perfectly cooked and intensely flavorful without losing the integrity of the fish. After a bite, I was almost jealous! The veal dish my mother had came with an over sized portion of polenta, that was shared by all of us, because it was soo rich no one human could eat it alone, never mind as an accompaniment to another meal. It was far better than any attempt at GOOD polenta Ive ever seen. For dessert I had a very light tasting creme brulee... if you are used to yours having 4 pounds of sugar in it, don't get it here. Its very delicate and creamy with lots of fresh vanilla bean. You will need an after dinner coffee, which I might add was also of good quality to remind you that reality is outside the doors of Mistral, but the meal you just ate will be stuck on replay in your head till you have it again. Please go and love it up.

Emily S.

Came here for restaurant week. I thought the decor was nice but overdone. Take away half of the "rustic" embellishments and fake trees, and then the urban sleekness of the place shows through its natural architectural elements. But as is I don't think the streamlinedness of parts of the restaurant blended quite right with the rustic accents. The light fixtures were perfect. I loved how they dealt with the windows but felt it wasn't quite right for the restaurant. Service was great, absolutely no complaints there. Plus - hot busboys :D So I'm sitting there wondering why this place, boasting a modern French fare, charged considerably higher prices than Aquitaine (which I love). The wines were comparably priced, though fewer were French, and it didn't have the, well...pomp, one might expect. Then I tried the food. Oh. Well that explains it. I had the prix fixe menu for restaurant week, so that's all I can go on, but I had a tomato mozzarella salad to die for. I know, it's sliced tomato and sliced mozzarella in balsamic vinaigrette. Pretty standard. How can one place somehow do better at this than other places? Well, I don't know how, but this tomato and mozzarella salad blew all other tomato and mozzarella salads out of the running. I don't know if it's the tomatos they chose, are the particular sweetness of that specific mozzarella cheese they used, or how they seemed to pepper and infuse the balsamic with basil, but it was superb. My friend had a chilled corn soup with jalapeno oil (and hidden avocado slice!) that was inspired. It tasted like the peppers but wasn't remotely spicy. I was expecting it to taste like a congealed cream corn mass but it was actually quite excellent. On to the main course. I can't tell you how my friend's chicken was because I hate chicken and wouldn't try it, but the risotto it came with was quite decent. I wouldn't rave about it, but quite decent. My hangar steak was cooked perfectly. I wouldn't have expected such an...unsexy seeming meat to be that tender and delicious but they got it perfect. On the other hand, it came with pommes frites which were a real disappointment. Not only were they not remotely French, but they resembled a nest of those shoestring potato chip fry things I used to eat out of a can in elementary school. Mistral redeemed itself, however, with the chocolate mousse desert. Oh. My. God. It was like eating chocolate dark matter a thousand times the weight of the sun - and I liked it. Oh boy did I like it. So much chocolately flavor condensed into such tiny bites....There was also a blueberry cobler thing available but PEH! Who in their right minds would order something like that? All in all, I had a lovely experience at Mistral. The thing is, nothing about it struck me as special in comparison to other relatively expensive, nicer, special occasion restaurants, so I don't really see why it's priced the way it is. I still like Aquitaine better.

Jonathan R.

One of the best restaurants in the city from top to bottom. Hostess, waiters, and bartenders are all extremely nice and provide impeccable service. When we were unable to make our eight o clock reservation, they were able to push us back to nine with no hesitation. Appetizers and all four meals were amazing and the portions were surprisingly large. Deserts were big enough to split and matched up to the quality of the meal. Cant say enough good things about Mistral. I look forward to our next visit!

Sara C.

Friendly and accommodating waitstaff -- while they didn't typically serve blue cheese stuffed olives, the happily provided them for my martini. I went here on a Friday night for drinks and an appetizer; the atmosphere is chic and there's a small cozy lounge area. As an app, we had the maine lobster gnocci, which was spectacular! Tad pricey but worth it IMO.

Sugar J.

Fabulous and Oh La La I love this place so much I have been there 5 times for brunch and dinner already. Every visit I try something new and am never disappointed. Their menu is so good all around I cannot begin to recommend one dish in particular ! Just go. You will not be disappointed. Everything is perfecto. The decor is luscious. Superb elegance surrounds you. Also, natch, very very high-end service and I absolutely love their style of cooking. You will have the most lovely experience ! Dinner and the symphony or just a nice later night stroll, this gem is one of my favorites! C'est Magnifique !

Helen J.

Excellent food, but in my experience the service can sometimes be a bit hit or miss.

Joe T.

Profiteroles. Nothing more need be said.

Meredith K.

Mistral I love you so.... I wish I could afford to eat here once a week. It's that good. We have eaten here several times - the last being my birthday which happen to fall during restaurant week. It was a Sunday night and completely packed the entire time we were there (7:30pm-~10pm) - which I hoped was a good sign for our economy. Anyway, because of it being restaurant week and that our waiter's other table was a party of at least 20 our service was a little slow. However, friendly service and completely amazing food & wine makes speed less of an issue. We did not order off the restaurant week menu so I don't know how the choices were (they looked decent). The pan seared foie gras is to die for and they make the most perfect creme brulee.

Matt R.

I knew this would be good food, but I have to admit I was a bit nervous about the fact that it was restaurant week. In general I've had bad experiences with "Restaurant Weeks", especially in New York. Quite often what you receive are miniscule portions instead of the 'bargain' you expected, but I digress. I did take the risk of ordering off of the special menu, had the carpaccio for an app, the salmon for the main, and chocolate mousse for dessert. The app and main were phenomenal, and while I'm not a huge fan of lentils they were the absolute star of the salmon dish. The flavor of those lentils was simply inspiring. The chocolate mousse was un-extraordinary. Wasn't bad mind you, just not up to the same level as the rest of the food. Also tried the steak (good, but not great), and the carrot cake dessert (good). Ambience and service struck a nice balance that would leave the semi-casually dressed and those in formal-wear equally comfortable. Not something that's easy to do. All in all a great experience, and what turned out to be a great value. Note that they stated they are permanently having special prix fixe nights now (there are SOME benefits to the bad economy). I just don't recall the two days of the week that they are occurring.

Joshua C.

Caveat: I came here during Restaurant Week, so the prices weren't as eye-gouging as normal. That being said, the food was fabulous! I had the tuna avocado tartare and it was to die for. Fresh tasting. I took one bite and was hooked. I only wish there were more of it! The entrees were good, but nothing spectacular. I had the sirloin, which had a wonderful sauce next to it. My only gripe is that there wasn't enough of the sauce! It was sweet and helped to balance out the salty steak. Dessert was tasty, but I'm not a huge fan of carrot cake (which I got), so I can't say too much about it. Overall, a great experience. Parking is terrible, so beware! I would take the T. The Back Bay Station is a block away. Service was so-so. It may have been the fact that it was Restaurant Week and the place was super packed, I don't know. Nice ambiance. Music was kinda strange though. Didn't quite fit the food and the elegance of the room.

Deepa C.

One of the perks of my job is the group dinners we go on when authors come to town. So far, we have hit up No. 9 Park, Via Matta and now Mistral. Hate me. This place was all that I expected it to be. We had a fantastic waiter, the food was served in a timely manner; we really had no complaints. The food itself was delicious. Beet salads and crab raviolis and asparagus to start and then almost all of us had fish for dinner (two had the beef). The presentaion, flavors and preparation were all amazing. I was full after eating about half my dish but just couldn't stop eating that shrimp risotto under my haddock. Superb. Dessert and coffee were no less amazing. We had a few wine aficionados at the table and they chose EXTREMELY wisely. If you don't know much about wine, don't worry, all you need is that list and our waiter - he knew what was what. The price is steep, but you get what you pay for. The only downside is that it can get noisy.

Chase W.

Having doubts about any restaurant with Ferrari's parked out front, I had yet to dine at Mistral for fear of an over-priced, undervalued dining experience. Don't get me wrong, I love Italian cars and dream of owning my own some day, but I fear any establishment that evokes a feeling that it's be more important to be seen, than to actually be excellent. Mistral accomplishes the sense of the previous, but continues to exist and thrive because of the latter. The service, dining room, and fare is nearly unmatched in Boston, and I'm sorry that I was put off and had not eaten here years earlier. The dining room is crisp and enveloping, but not overwhelmingly pretentious. If anything it felt a bit casual for the price tag associated, but by no means not low budget. Think expensive Brooks Brothers chino's a apposed to Old Navy khakis, if that makes any sense... They look the same from a distance, but once you've got both legs in them, there's a big difference. Mistral invokes an out door bistro feel by pairing the indoor shrubbery and evergreens adorning the corridors with an airy and bright ambiance generated by the ambient paint palate and sweeping windows reaching nearly from floor to ceiling. Everything is crisp, classy, but comfortable. And on to the coup de grace--- the menu. As a disclaimer, I do not generally enjoy French Fare as much as their other European brethren, but Mistral made me forget about all that nonsense. After first enjoying the (second) best mussel h'ours devours (Ten Tables, still has the best, FYI) we moved on to the main course... at $44 decided to enjoy the lamb entree while my lovely and beautiful assistant decided to stick with her old-standbye, the Tenderloin Truffle Oil Pizza. I know, I thought it sounded wierd too, but intriguing and after tasting it, I know why it's her old standbye... In short, it's freakin fantastic, all-be-it a bit off color for what you'd expect at an establishment like this. The delicious food paired with the extremely personable and attentive service left us wanting more, and we would have had dessert, but we just couldnt' imagine eating anythin more as we couldnt' finish the large portions that we had already had presented to us. Just to note the type of service we encountered, when the table next to us tipped over due to an over indulgent patron, ahem, leaning on it, we were quickly approached by the host and manager asking us if we'd accept a glass of wine and dessert on the house to alleviate any bad memories that were beyond their control... To be honest, I thought it was really funny watching a leathery 60 year old neaveau riche debutant/lush spilling $200 worth of wine on herself. To me, it just doesn't get any better than that... Final thoughts: Mistral is one of the best in town, but bring a credit card (preferrably someone else's) and your first born, cuz it's far from reasonably priced. That said, the old addage here is true; you get what you pay for...

Snowmade S.

The first time I came to this place was a college student during restaurant week. It was so exciting to be getting a great deal on food and having fancy cocktails at this fabulous place! I still remember the delicious taste of the thin-crust pizza! I've been here a few times since, and every time the food is a gift to my taste buds! From appetizers to dessert, every bite is sensational! It's a great place for groups and romantic dates!

Tim S.

Came here based on the yelp reviews... not impressed. At all. The only thing outstanding was the service, everything else was awful. Tables are *crammed* together - you are literally sitting right on top of the tables around you. We had a starter of the veal carpaccio - this was ok, not bad, and not great. My main was the duck - quite possibly the first time I've been served duck that was dry. How is it even possibly to over cook duck?!? And it was slapped on top of a cement block of risotto. Risotto should gently ooze across the plate - this stuff was like glue. And to top it off, it was very sloppily plated - if I was being nice, I might say "rustic". If the price was cut in half, then it would be acceptable. But at the fine dining prices Mistral charges, I expect a fine dining presentation. It was kind of disappointing to see the place sooo packed - seriously, I kept thinking throughout the meal, there's so much better food available in Boston, why in the hell are all these people here eating this crap at these ridiculous prices? Please don't go. This place needs to be put out business and replaced with something good.

Helene J.

I love Mistral. It is by far my favorite restaraunt in Boston. The food is delicious, the decor is impecible and the staff is more than friendly. I have been coming here since I was in college and could barely afford the bar menu yet I have never felt an exclusionary toe like so many South End restaraunts. They are alwasy acomodating and always try to comp you if you waited for your table or if an order was placed incorrectly. I highly recomend the mussels in tomato garlic sauce appetizer, the Duck Entree and the Creme Brule for dessert.

Hana C.

I cam here for my 23rd birthday. The food was great- esp the appetizers foie gras and tuna tartar. The only thing I didn't really like was our waitor. He really wasn't all that friendly and didn't really care for us. And I asked him to take some pictures for us. He said he would be back but didn't even come back for us so we asked another waitor who was happy to do it for us. I don't know if we were just unlucky and got a crappy waitor but the other waitors seemed to be nice. I wish I knew my waitor's name but he is Black and has long hair. Other than the poor service by our waitor, I liked everything else. The food was great and the decor was nice. I will definitely come back next time, but would like a different waitor!

Shannon S.

LOVED Mistral....ambiance, food, decore, everything was top notch! Best horseradish mashed potatoes I've ever had, my husband and I went for our one year anniversary and cannot wait to go back!

Julia R.

Incredibly dissapointing. The food is good, but in comparison to other places in boston, not worth the price. The atmosphere is strange have upscale resto, have bar with sports playing. You can watch the bball game while you eat a $35 entree, so if that's your flavor, go! Kind of seems like a place where people from the suburbs come when they want an evening in the city. The lounge would be worth coming back to if you were close to Back Bay and HAD to have a $13 cocktail, but i would not go back to the restaurant.

Karlis B.

Drool: that's my one-word wrap up of this place. If I was forced to add another word: Purr, because Mistral is fancy/cozy perfectly defined. If I had to write a Yelp review, however, I would say this.... 5 stars,without hesitation or qualifiers. The atmosphere is inviting and open: exposed brick, unfinished wood accents, little bushes surrounding the bar and images of European landscapes make you feel at home. Mistral made it clear to me what rubbed me the wrong way about Sorrelina--Sorrelina was just cold and uninviting. For a person who doesn't get a chance to eat at the top restaurants in the city often, I felt extremely comfortable at Mistral. Now I gotta dedicate a paragraph to our server. This man was a mix of Denzel Washington, Danny Glover and that guy on the Allstate commercials telling me to put my life in his "good hands." Dude was suave. In fact, he could have told me shampoo was the special and I would have eaten it. He was helpful and attentive and personable throughout the meal. And he was rocking dreadlocks the way a person should. SERVICE earned this place the 5th star. Now for the FOOD. I've been on a beet salad kick because it has been popping up as the salad special at a lot of places. But from the moment I walked into Mistral, I was ready to live it up. Hence, crab ravioli. The broth was light and full of umami flavor--a nice departure for your typical tomato sauce. The crab was actual lump meat instead of a over-processed mush and the actual flavor of the meat came through beautifully. We also had 2 pizzas for the table. I tried the white cheese pizza with whipped ricotta, hot peppers, sea salt and arugula. The ricotta was almost unidentifiable because it was creamier than the stuff you get in tub at Shaw's. And at the insistence of my co-diners, I tried the mussels. There had to be bacon in the broth because that's usually the case, when I eat something and am filled with delight. Also, these mussels are already out of their shells, so "not wanting to get messy" is no excuse to not try them. For dinner, I had halibut with lobster and asparagus rissotto. The halibut was a hefty, lush portion cooked literally to perfection. The risotto was lighter than I normally expect when getting risotto, but as I think back on it, I wasn't disappointed. I think a heavier base in the risotto would have overpowered the fish, lobster and asparagus. I've been eating more fish lately because, well summer is coming up and I wants to look good and not feel bloated. But I did get to try the the duck with it crackly crispy skin. And that would have been the perfect dish to blow my healthy eating kick. Fabulous. For dessert, I was all about the strawberry rhubarb tart. I hadn't had it since I was a kid, so I had big hopes. And this delivered. When describing it to Brendan, I told him that it was the first time in a while that I knew my dessert wasn't frozen before. (Now that could be wrong, and if it is don't tell me.) But this tasted like someone put the time and effort to make my tart and not just thaw it. I was just wowed by the place. I save expensive restaurants for Restaurant Week or a special occasion (that I'll save up for). Mistral, you have made it to the top of my list of restaurants I will save up for. Thank you.

Simone C.

Worth every penny. It was a fabulous, decadent evening of delicious, complex food! The best I have had in Boston.

Sara S.

Went to Mistral on Tuesday night for a celebratory dinner with a friend. We knew before we got there we were going to go all out- drinks, wine, appetizers, main courses, and desserts... so my review is pretty comprehensive. I was expecting Mistral to be a little more "refined" and formal. I didn't think it was going to be slightly hip and trendy. While there were quite a few people in suits, ties, and dresses, there were also a number of children and teenagers running around, wearing jeans. Not expecting that. Our waitress was nice, but slow. I understand that at formal dining restaraunts, the meal is really an experience and they slow the service down to savor the experience. However, I really don't think this was the case with this woman. Don't get me wrong, she was super nice and answered all my questions like she had the meal descriptions written on the back of her hand. Perhaps they were understaffed. I started with the Grapefruit Martini. Honesty, I've had much better at Kingston Station in Downtown Crossing. We split two appetizers. First, the Maine Crab Ravioli. SO SO good. Four plump raviolis absolutly filled with fresh crab. The sauce was decadent. Secondly, we had the Steamed Black Mussels. I was pleasently suprised they were without their shell. They were quite large and the sauce they were in was also amazing... perhaps dipping the toasts in the sauce was better than the mussels themselves. For my main course, I had the Black Bass. Apparently, Black Bass is only in season for a few weeks out of the year. It was very, very good, but incredibly salty. I love salty food, but the entire dish was VERY salty. For someone who doesn't have a high tolerance for salty food, they would have sent it back. I enjoyed it, though... but I did mention it to the waitress. We ordered a side of the Mistral fries, expecting them to be like Met Fries (with truffle oil, parmesean cheese, lightly fried, with a nice dipping sauce). Not at all... typical fries. Really dissapointed. My friend had the Roasted Duck with Peaches and Cornbread. I didn't try it, but he said it was good. Not great, but good. For dessert, I had the Peach Tart (apparently peaches are big right now). It was AWESOME. My friend had the Warm Chocolate Tort... also amazing. It was ooey and gooey on the inside, just the way I like it. All in all, I enjoyed Mistral, but it wasn't as good as I expected.

Lisa C.

I'd really give this place a 4.5, but not because I had anything from their regular menu. I came here for an event and the food and service were delicious. I find that it's sometimes hard to judge restaurants from their private dining menus because they are usually pretty much the same - always a steak, some sort of chicken and a fish. As far as steaks go, the one I had here was pretty good - in the 4.5 star range. Probably the only other steak I've had that was better was at either Smith & Wollensky or Peter Luger's but let's be honest, it's pretty hard to screw up a good cut of steak unless you overcook it. I really liked the vibe here - cool but not so cool that it alienates the rest of us.

Alias M.

Not bad, actually its on the good to very good continuum (and not better mainly because of the unevenness of the dishes). We were here in a fairly large group (14 or so people). Here is a quick rundown of what I tasted: APPETIZERS: (1) "sushi grade" tuna tartare - I have a problem with the description, would they otherwise serve "chicken of the sea" grade tuna? Idk I found this a bit, dare I say it, provincial...Was it to justify the $19 price? In all fairness, it was good but no better than any other "upscale" restaurant anywhere that serves tuna tartare. Pfffftt! (2) White bean soup - now THAT was terrific. Bravo! (3) Portobello mushroom carpaccio - those are knife skills at work in a good way (or maybe a mandolin was used?)...w/e it was very good. (4) Fig Pizza - someone RAVED about this and alas, I got to taste it...and it was alright. A bit salty truthfully. MAIN: (1) Cod w/ asparagus risotto - delicious! I love cod, however I think thats key to loving this dish b/c others who tasted it weren't as enamored with it. My gnocchi however was dense...not rich, just dense, which was a shame because the flavor was otherwise very good. (2) Rack of Lamb - outstanding!! Best dish I tasted that evening. DESSERT: Warm chocolate torte - very good, but I was so stuffed i couldn't really enjoy it, this may also be in small part due to the sauce anglaise, which I found too sweet, not a welcome addition to the dessert. SERVICE: Exceptional. I thought this was a good, solid meal. I would have been more impressed had it not been so pricey (but I wasn't paying so why do I care?); and while I believe the food deserved 3 1/2 stars, I bumped them up to 4 stars because they accommodated a large party very smoothly.

A N.

I kid you not, the macaroni and cheese (with truffle sauce) is literally (not figuratively) the absolute best thing I have ever tasted in my entire life. Seriously. We're talkin' multiple tastebud orgasms. It may be a 45 dollar appetizer...but it is completely worth every penny.

Dan L.

We made reservation with another couple for restaurant week, we had heard good things and Mistral did not disappoint. I got the steak, my wife the chicken, both were excellent. The atmosphere is very nice and service was knowledgeable and attentive, but not intrusive. I would certainly entertain coming back to Mistral for a special occasion.

R W.

Mistral is definitely michelin star quality in Boston; if they were to rate restaurants in Boston, i'd say that this place could receive a single star. every part of my experience was impressive. the bread and butter, which are key at a restaurant like this, were great. it seems like they have a fantastic pastry kitchen in the back (dessert was also a sign of that). the apps and mains were done without any complaints. the proteins were cooked perfectly. the tastes and textures were well balanced and delicious. there's nothing too exotic/interesting about the food, but i actually like things kept simple. the ingredients are impeccable. the integrity of the ingredients shine through. I really enjoyed the food. btw, they have the most attractive hostesses. Legit runway girls working the front of the restaurant; this can't be a bad thing.

Anna B.

Went to Mistral last night for their "Restaurant Week" special menu. The food was incredible! I ordered the Carpaccio, the chicken and the carrot cake, my friend got the asparagus, salmon and mousse. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals and had a great experience. One thing that I loved about our waitress was that she told me that she'd eaten at this restaurant before working here. I love when restaurant staff can put their personal experience into their recommendations, it makes my own time at a restaurant that much more enjoyable. Since we did the restaurant week special, our meals came to $33.00 per person, and we each got a $7.00 glass of Pinot. Regular entree prices range anywhere from $22 - $45 and wine by the glass is between $7 and $12. It's fancy food at fancy prices, but I couldn't get enough of this place and would definitely eat here again.

David L.

Excellent. Took a group of colleagues here. Great service and very good food.

Meghan H.

After my last Mistral experience, the manager contacted me, spoke with my waiter for that evening, and urged me to come back and try again. I was hesitant, but we decided to go back to celebrate my boyfriend's survival of finals. Very glad we returned. This time, the service quality matched the food quality, and the food quality was once again wonderful. Our waiter was solicitous but not smothering; our wine glasses were kept full. He checked in with us just the right amount, such that if something were wrong we could have expressed that but not so much that we felt hawked. Not that there was anything wrong during the course of the meal. The food at Mistral is so good that my adjective vocabulary shrinks and I just want to go "mmmmm". We split the white pizza for an appetizer; the hot peppers combined with ricotta and arugula were a very different combination and offset quite well. For our main courses, I had the Veal Milanese and he got the Halibut with Rock Shrimp. I didn't try his dish for once - was having too much fun with mine - but he ate himself silly and said it was amazing. As for my veal - so good. The meat was breaded just the right amount and cooked perfectly. The accompanying mushrooms and prosciutto were great complements, although whatever they did with the sage in the dish was really remarkable and tied it all together nicely. It also came with parmesan polenta, which was an appropriate and delicious side. Because we both so thoroughly enjoyed our dinners, we didn't have much room for dessert, so we just split the blood orange sorbet, which happened to be the perfect dessert for people who haven't really left room for dessert. It was quite refreshing - smooth without being inappropriately creamy. After our take two, I absolutely recommend Mistral to anyone, particularly for a special occasion of some sort.

Brian C.

I had the four course wine pairing. The dishes included: gazpacho with avocado ice cream (amuse bouche), gnocchi, halibut, beef tenderloin, and peach melba dessert. Every dish was created perfectly, down to details such as the few grains of coarse salt in the ice cream and lemon sorbet palate cleanser. The service was professional and the wine pairings were excellent. The espresso should have tasted better for this caliber of establishment.

Shannon S.

My mom and I chose this place when my parents were in town early for my epic wedding weekend. So, Russ and I and my parents looking lovely as always, met here. It's a close walk from Arlington T-stop (plus) tons of cabs frequent the area (plus) and the Yelp reviews led me to believe that this restaurant would be incredible. These great reviews nail it on the head. This restaurant is beautiful, busy, exciting and best of all delicious. I had the duck with mushroom risotto, the portions were heaping and the duck was some of the best I've ever had. Our server was helpful and constantly refilling our water and tending to our table without seeming overwhelming. The only problem is at first, we were at a larger size table for the four of us and at 8pm it was a bit loud and noisy making it hard for the four of us to hear each other. I noticed our table was more of a table for 5 or 6 instead of four, so perhaps if we were at a smaller table it would have been easier to hear. However, after 30 minutes, the place cleared out a bit and it was much easier to talk to one another without shouting. I tried a bit of everyone's food and it was all incredible. The space is huge -- very warehouse like, but comfortable and inviting. Try not to go to crazy with the appetizers because the portions were gigantic, total quality for the splurge price. I would definately go back for a date, with work people, or just for fantastic food. Having been to Sorellina, their sister restaurant, I can say Minstral is definately the favorite child. Brilliant.

sunny n.

Fantastic!...The best lamb ive had in a long time.. The Dover Sole is simply superb....a very fine wine selection from various continents....chic indeed....romantic setting..high end.....French Mediterranean Flair...in the heart of Back Bay.... great experience!!!!

Amber A.

Amazing service and desserts. Nice wine list and urban decor. I went with a girlfriend and we split an entree, appetizer and dessert and they happily brought us separate portions which were just the right size. The bread is awesome, too. Definitely a bit of a splurge, but worth it in moderation.

Michael T.

Jamie Mammano is a god and Mistral is a cathedral/temple...everything about this place is great. Nothing about the exterior screams out, "Look at me...I'm one of the best restaurants in the world!" Everything is just perfectly planned understatements, but when you walk in, you feel like you need to take your shoes off, keep your head bowed and your voice low. You are in the presence of food nirvana! It is all about the food here and the food is all about French comfort via Provence. Because of this, there is plenty of fish and seafood and everything is roasted, braised, or grilled and come on, everything tastes better when it's grilled! I'm a huge fan of the Seared Foie Gras and the Tuna Tartare, but def. not together...believe me, not together! Les flicitations et vous remercient a Monsieur Mammano! I've never been disappointed!

Steve N.

everything done here is done very well. pricey, but so worth it. cheap out (relatively speaking) at the bar with a few apps or, seriously, a pizza. the scene that is nice to be seen in.

Ann C.

parking is fairly simple to find, but valet is available. always make a reservation!!! i went on a friday afternoon at 5 and the place started flooding with hungry hooligans. there is also a back room for small size functions and such. the menu changes frequently. great food and good size portions! try to be seated in the back- has a more chic, elegant feeling. the bar gets busy at night. don't forget to ask about the special.

Anna B.

Good food and good service. I gave it 3 stars only because for the price you can do better in the South End/Back Bay. A cool thing is that they have a car - one of my guests had a sore leg and they drove him back to the office so he didn't have to take a cab (nothing against cabs except that the ones I get are PSYCHO). And they give you your wine labels which I thought was a nice touch.

Nan T.

The atmosphere and food are absolutely delicious. The service was terrific. The only downside was how long we had to wait for a table - even though we had a reservation. But they did make it up to us with some of the most unique and delicious flat bread pizza. Parking is a bit of a pain but they have valet for $15.00. A really nice restaurant!

Simone P.

The food here lives up to the hype and the price! Not only is it perfectly cooked - but the sauces that accompany the entrees work well and just bring out the wonderful flavors of the ingredients. This is a really, really good french restaurant that has captured what it means to serve gourmet food. I went to Mistral when they were doing the promotional pre-fixe of 33 dollars on a Sunday or Monday - but regardless of the fact that I came in not paying full price for entrees, the food was expertly cooked and the dining experience overall was fantastic. Although my white asparagus truffle salad was wayyyy smaller than I imagined - it had a nice freshness and the truffle oil brought out the natural flavor of the vegetable. My main entree was an expertly cooked fish on a bed of spring risotto and my dessert was a simple, delicious serving of profiteroles. Would I come back here? Yes. Did I enjoy my meal regardless of the promo rate? Yes. Do I think you should go too? Yes.

Lompie F.

Still the best of Boston but verryyyyyyyyyyy espensive. The beef pizza, lamb and dover sole are outstanding.They should really have some more reasonably priced wines.A lot of what they have got is way overpriced for what it is. Will always go back no matter comes to Boston who pretends to usurp them. Keep it up.

Nick B.

The food and service is excellent. I am not sure about the other reviewers who said the food was decent, or you could do better. I think this is the best of the best. A little on pricey side, but you pay for what you get.

Eric M.

I know I should like this restaurant. Everyone says Mistral is fantastic. Zagat gives it a gazillion points. A hotel concierge once told me that Mistral is a "must" when in Boston. But after my visit on Saturday I just cannot agree. The service was very good -- better than most. But the food was, frankly, ordinary. The roast duck was good, but not great. My wife ordered the Dover sole -- and sent it back. The replacement (halibut) was overcooked and only moderately flavorful. Similarly, the wine was boring. For $100 I want something a little special, but the sub-$200 options didn't hold a candle to what you can get elsewhere in Boston (e.g., Les Zygomates). Generally, I found Mistral unambitious and unimaginitive; a repeat visit is unlikely.

Y Z.

love this place!! i come here for birthday, Velantine's day, anniversary, or even casual dates. the price is reasonable, absolutely great taste, great service, not so convinient for parking tho. have to have the duck everytime i go there, lamb rack is great too. highly recommanded.

Val M.

My husband and I went last night --- thanks to my employers who gave me a gift certificate -- and loved Mistral. Our waiter, Jose F., was perfect - recommendations for the cocktails, appetizers, entrees and dessert. We were not disappointed. We had the tuna tartare and the crab raviolis for appetizers. The broth for the raviolis was sooo good we were sopping it up with the bread! We had the scallop special and the veal millinaise (sp?) for our entrees. Again - delicious. The corn polenta was amazing. We ordered the wild mushrooms with thyme as an extra - not only were they yummy, but the order was so big we took most of it home. Mushroom omelets for breakfast this morning! My husband had an after-dinner port and I had the chocolate almond torte with marscapone ice cream for dessert. My mouth is watering now just thinking about our meal!!! We loved to eat out, and aren't afraid to spend $ on a good meal, and will definitely go back to Mistral.

The Jazz Master M.

The food is great, and the staff is congenial. Restaurants in this price range usually come with more haughtiness, but this place manages to be upscale while being laidback. One of my favorite features of Mistral is the cushioned booth seating.

Bob H.

Food, service and decor were all very good, short of excellent. Make sure you are hungry because the portions were much larger than we expected. Hamersley's would still be my first choice for a south end restaurant.

Ebrahim B.

Food is absolutely amazing. the pizza is great, the tuna tar tar is better. the rack of lamb is good but depends on your taste I guess. Romantic restraunt but rather large so it gets loud sometimes. Pretty easy to get a table.

seana m.

Only for the high-end with money or plastic to spend. Always packed. Greta wood and wine selction. Back room for devine private parties. I love the filet and the pizza. The atmosphere is wonderful. The place is spotless and the there is a constant vibe. If you drive valet.

Ned R.

I agree with people here who say they "felt like they should like this restaurant", but didn't. Everything in the meal just missed the mark a little bit, especially for the price. A cocktail we ordered was awful...really awful..undrinkable (and believe me..I'll drink anything for a buzz). All of our food and drinks were served pretty much at once. This is ok at Friendly's..not at $100/head restaurant). The music was instrusive and the fake Provencal decor, and IKEA -like posters reminded me of a Franco/Swedish style Bertucci's. Our waiter kept asking in a deep, put on voice "is everything to your liking, sir?". I felt like saying "are you seriously speaking that way?" Um, I'm not an old man eating at the Harvard Club in 1890. I ordered onion soup ( overpowered by the red wine) and a steak (with pan sauce made from burnt pan drippings - very bitter)...and mashed potatoes (overpowered by horseradish - LOTS of horseradish, maybe wasabi?). Granted, I should have just gone to a chain restaurant for that sort of food, but I had hoped for something really special, given this restaurant's reputation. I'll try it again - perhaps on prix fixe night. Perhaps their non-traditional fare really is what people are talking about. I should add that everyone was very polite and friendly, even having to put up with the pretentious sounding waiter.

Cindy C.

Beautiful restaurant with an unbelievable tuna tartar that is to die for. Always consistent and sure to please.

RonAnderson ..

Expensive but extremely good food, in a very chic and hip dining room. I had the special--a grilled halibut over a delicious sauce that included onions, shrimp, and fingerling potatoes. Not quite convinced that it was worth what they charged, but then again, it was probably the best fish dish I've ever had.

Beth R.

I went to Mistral this weekend for the first time with a girlfriend. So impressed. First of all, they have a car service and will pick you up and take you home if you are within 2 miles. When we go there, it was packed! I will say that it is a pretty loud restaurant and once we were seated, it is pretty close quarters (but typical for a city place). We started with the fois gras and tuna tartar appetizers, and they were excellent and HUGE. Really, nearly the size of a full meal for each. However, my friend and I dispatched them with no difficulty (her first fois gras, and she is now a fan!). For entrees, I had the Dover sole and my friend had the short ribs. Again, delicious and huge. My only disappointment was that I could not eat every yummy bite and that I had no good way to bring it home. We continued the extravagance with the chocolate lava cake and the souffle. We should have just done the souffle, which was amazing. The lava cake was ok, but nothing that I haven't had anywhere else. The service was a little slow, but again, they were packed, and when he did show up he was quite friendly and helpful. All in all, a great experience and I will be back.

vinny o.

Last night i decided to go here for a special occasion,i was going to mooo which is also affiliated to mistral but thought this would suite us better.Ive dined here before and loved it but never wrote something about it and last night just confirmed it! I had Tuna tartare for my app which tasted like they just caught the tuna and my friend had the shortrib dumplings which i also tried and was equally as delicious! For our entrees i had Shortribs over mashed potatoes and yams and my friend had the beef tenderloin which was cooked to perfection of medium,sooo good on both.We also had dessert apple crisp with warm caramel and vanilla ice cream and a chocolate dessert,which you can tell were made in house.Service was a little slow in the begining of the night but then it got better as the night went on,i noticed he had a section with a large party and they seemed very needy,but as i said he got better as the night went on.This place is awesome in every way ambiance,quality,and most of all very professional.Its a little pricey so have your wallet handy but to me its worth it,cant wait to go back!

Paul M.

The best French restaurant I've been to in Boston. Small building with great atmosphere that is still quiet enough to maintain normal conversation with excellent food. Will go back.

z s.

I LOVEDDDD the food at Mistral! Make sure to make reservations on the weekends, the place gets packed.

Gourmet G.

The very moneyed Back Bay set is drawn to this large and loud, mostly taupe-on-taupe room, which manages to be romantic despite its ample size, probably due to the spectacular New American fare cuisine, which can set hearts aflutter. Starting with a small pizza is an almost mandatory tradition here, but I'm not talking about your ordinary pepperoni or mushroom variety. I mean mashed potatoes, prosciutto, and white truffle oil, which combine in an orgasmic burst of flavors, the toppings spread on a thin perfect crust. Follow that with confit of duck and foie gras in brioche with tart dried cherries. I can still taste the noisettes of veal with chanterelles and Armagnac. A lighter bistro menu is available at the bar if your primary goal to is meet and greet, see and be seen. So expensive that, depending on your credit limit, you may need two cards to pay the bill.

David H.

Mistral is definitely a place to be scene. Many beautiful people and elegant surroundings. I have eatten at Mistral over thirty times and can tell you when Jamie Mammano is cooking the food it is five stars but when he isn't it can range from three to four stars. The bar here is very long and fairly comfortable; the dining room has banquets along the wall combined with loose seating. It has a feel of a french countryside bistro. The menu is broad and at the bar you can usually chose one of three excellent thin crust pizzas. My favorites on the menu are the portobello carpaccio, foie gras, the duck, the rack of lamb, and the tenderloin. The wine list is ample to chose from.The service staff is professional and they favor their regulars or VIP's. Parking is difficult unless you valet or self park parking lot near the Fire Station (corner of Columbus and Berkley) It is very good for special occasions, a date, business dinner. Keep mind this is pretty trendy place and expensive about $100.00 a person.

Kallie H.

Very good food and service. Portions are a bit small but there is no shortage of eye candy. I have eaten here many times with many friends and it is always very reliable.

Kally Z.

I have loved Mistral for years, and just recently went there to sit and eat in the lounge. I think the service was very poor, even though you are sitting in the table in the lounge, it does not mean the service should be lacking. You are still paying the same prices. The Blood Orange Martini was awful, even the server asked and agreed it was a terrible drink , they really shouldn't be saying that, I put it to the side, and was just going to pay for it and go with a glass of wine. The tuna tartar which is my favorite dish, was not just not good. I believe the tuna should be cut with a knife, it shouldn't be mushy which makes me believe it came right out of a food processor, and nothing on the side except, crunchy noodles, that were stale, and at $19.00 come on should be better. I will try it again, for the scene, and hope they could revamp the menu, and not get so comfortable because they have a great reputation.

Scott B.

the food is always pretty good but i feel like i just got kicked by a mule in the nuts after eating there price wise - i mean poser population aside, the prices are just not worth it - i mean we are not in beverly hills where i paid 30 dollars for an ice cream sunday - story for another day. i am usually never a complainer about paying for a good meal but this shit is just REDIC - if you can sit at the bar and have a few drinks and an appetizer before going out you will still be over charged but at least you will be able to still put your children through college someday

Ame k.

for a top restaurant i expect good service and good food, but i am not impress with the food at all.

Tammy N.

i actually ate here twice in one night. yes, it's true. i had a dinner meeting at 5:30 then found myself back for a late night meal at 10pm. the food was DIVINE both times. Long story why i had two dinners in one night but short story as to why i ate both meals at Mistral. When something is this good, why try to find something better? The decor is phenomenal too. The service meets the food in the 5 star category. So i ate (this will give you an idea what a pig I am) at my first dinner a wonderful endive, stilton, cranberry, walnut salad that put all others to shame. then i had the halibut with shrimp, asparagus, and lemon risotto. each aspect of this dish was perfect as in my mouth is watering just thinking about it right now. Second dinner included crab ravioli in a tomato broth and an arugula salad with goat cheese to start...i did share everything on the second dinner's menu with my husband. then we had the mushroom risotto which was as delicious as my lemon risotto. we wanted so badly to have dessert but in between the two dinners i had a giant latte and this delicious cookie which was greeting me at my hotel when i arrived. i can't wait to go back!

Tracey B.

I have been a fan of Mistral for 10 years. Everytime I walk in the door I still think it is just as beautiful as the first day I was introduced to it. They take great care in dealing with everything in the most impeccable and professional manner I have seen in a long time. If more restaurants took a leaf out of their book I believe they would keep their staff and loyalty as Mistral has managed to do for 12 years. The food never fails to live up to it's reputation. I love the Tuna Tartar with crispy wontons and ginger soy. The Dover Sole is a legendary menu item and the Lamb is to die for. But... if you feel like going out for after work drinks and sitting at the bar or the lounge, head over and have one of their pizzas (Beef Tenderloin) and check out their lengthy wine list. I don't know how they make those pizzas but they are one of a kind. All the servers are very knowledgable and will be able to pick out just the right wine you are looking for. I like Mistral as a casual spot. No need to make it a big event... go and make it your local. You can even order take out and pick it up. Yummmmmm.

Jack B.

The interiors were striking, with conical evergreens used as a divider between the bar and the dining area. Service was extremely attentive without being hover-y; water glasses were always full and drink orders were completed rapidly. The beef carpaccio was delicious - garnished with a breathtaking and earthy truffle aioli, broad flakes of parmesan cheese and greens. The duck was a generous portion - an entire half duck - and the side dish of crisp corn and fava beans balanced it out nicely. The whimsical garnish of a caramelized peach provided sweetness to complement the rich meat. Profiteroles for dessert were stuffed with vanilla ice cream and garnished with chocolate sauce and pistachio clusters. With a cappuccino, this dessert was the perfect finish to a superb meal.

Chew E.

Had an early dinner last night for Restaurant Week. I had arrived early and had a seat at the bar. They were not even open yet but Alejandro (forgive me for potentially butchering the spelling) made me feel very welcome and made a great Negroni. Actually, now that I think of it, service was flawless all evening. My date and I sat soon after. Other reviews have commented on the noise level and tables being too close. It appeared as if I was going to agree, but to be honest it really didn't bother us. Appetizers: The asparagus and the capaccio were spot on, and we also shared the tuna tartare as a supplement. THE BEST TUNA TARTARE IN BOSTON!!! Wine: Mistral also has a great half bottle wine selection, something I LOVE. Half bottles allow you to experience a better wine without committing to a full two glasses per person (assuming there is a party of two). Too few places have a good selection. Entrees: We shared the salmon and the steak. Steak was a bit overcooked, but the flavors were brilliant. And the portions were sizeable, especially for an inexpensive Restaurant Week menu. Desserts: The carrot cake was very delicious. Not going to lie about the chocolate, though. Kinda boring. I mean, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't that great, especially after an amazing savory portion of our dinner. Overall, I would highly recommend Mistral to anyone who hasn't been. Dining out is supposed to be relaxing. I felt entirely relaxed all evening. Was it the best meal I've had in Boston. No. But really good food with impeccable service is what I look for in a restaurant. Mistral was able to provide me with that. Well done. I'll be back again soon.

Valeska O.

Mistral is one of my favorites restaurant in Boston. Tuna Tartar is a MUST try. It's very expensive, but worth it every penny.

AB H.

I like this place. The tuna tar tare was not so great - really salty, but the beef carpaccio was delicious. The salad with raisins was OK, and the foie gras with duck confit was very good - although the brioche it was served upon was just ok - - too soggy. The warm chocolate cake was good - but have you tasted a bad one lately? Very good service.

Ismet G.

The seared foie gras sitting on a cotton soft melting bread packed inside it with duck meat was just fantastic. I followed with the rack of lamb which was very well cooked, with a mustard like sauce around the lamb. The meat was delicious and juicy but not extremely greasy, which I liked. My wife had the carpaccio as an appetizer, which she and I found extremely good in contrast to some other reviews. Her halibut with lobster was very well cooked, the fish was moist and not overcooked. As to desserts, we shared a creme brulee, which was good and delicious, but we were not fascinated with this choice. Some other deserts could be better, but the list of options did not give us that impression. The ambience is romantic with moderate decorations, but for instance I had found Sorellina more like a posh place with dim lights etc. The service at Mistral was perfect, definitely not pushy, not sticky, but the waiter keeps his eyes on you without letting you feel him. He was prompt and always on time, there was no rushing at all. Once you pay, however, he was extremely fast to get back to you, which is something I like, as I am often in the mood to leave and don't feel like waiting for my credit card for too long. I was also happy that they did not try to squeeze in so many tables, although you have people around you, you don't feel like people at the other tables will hear all you are talking about . This place was the best we have ever tried so far (see my reviews). Would definitely be back again. 2 appetizers, 2 main dishes, 2 glasses of wine, one dessert cost about $160.

Roxanne C.

I really wanted to love Mistral's Restaurant Week offering, but sadly I did not. It was good, but nothing spectacular or even extraordinary. However, I'm giving it 4 stars because I've visited Mistral outside of Restaurant Week and had a phenomenal dining experience, but they're losing a star for their RW performance. My beau and I started with the corn/crab soup and the carpaccio, both were superb (if only the other courses followed suit). For our mains, we had the salmon and the sirloin. The salmon was fine, not spectacular, but not awesome either. The sirloin was a HUGE disappointment. We requested medium-rare and even verified that it would actually be medium rare (warm red center) and the server assured us that it would be a proper medium rare. Alas, the sirloin arrives and it's barely a medium, probably somewhere between medium and medium-well (ick!). We ended up not finishing the steak (and took it to-go... it has yet to be eaten, and we should probably throw it out before it stinks up the fridge now that I think about it). The chocolate mousse was good... but more of a cross between mousse and pudding as opposed to pure mousse. The angel-food cake was better with the sauce. All in all, I'd pass on this one for RW.

Jim G.

A great atmosphere plays second fiddle to the food - which has been prepared to perfection each time I have visited. Also, I have to agree with Susan A's comment about the Sparkling Mojito - suck it down!

Korri Leigh C.

Sexiest restaurant in Boston. I bet their bathrooms see MAJOR action. Oh yeah, the food is ridiculous.

Brendan W.

Mistral is my favorite restaurant in Boston. For those of you complaining about the noise level, too bad. That is the atmosphere and if you don't like it then go to a more intimate setting, but that is not a reason to rate the restaurant so poorly. I come here all the time, and only once have we had a bad meal. And the meal wasn't even bad, they had just overcooked the lamb quite a bit, and we sent it back and they got a fresh one out to us perfectly cooked in no time and took it off of our bill. It is pricy, but so worth it. The appetizers are my favorite. MUST HAVES: Crab Ravioli, there is nothing like it. Truffled mac and cheese when they have it (usually changes w/ seasons, and is also very expensive due to the truffles.), Foie Gras w/ Duck confit and Brioche it is phenominal. RECOMMENDATIONS: Tuna tartar is spot on, Escargots are always a great choice, and the Mussels are great. All their Pizzas seem to be good, I have only had 2 (White pizza and Beef Tenderloin) but I would like to try the others as they sound fantastic. I usually don't experiment much with the entrees when I go primarily because I love their Filet. I have never had them over/under cook it (Ordered Med/Rare) and it comes with horseraddish whipped potatoes that are phenominal. HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Lamb is always good. It does change a bit now and then by changing the cut of lamb/sauce/sides accompanying it, but it is always good. Dover Sole is excellent. Shortrib Tortellini, a little rich for my taste to eat an entire serving of, but I do enjoy a couple bites of it. Highly recommend it, I sometimes just go and eat appetizers, because they are definitely my favorite part of the restaurant.

Daniel H.

The other reviews are correct. This place is chic and packed. Good place for entertaining: great drinks, good food, great service. I went during restaurant week and I'll be back again.

Jamie G.

This place might just possibly be my new favorite place for brunch. It was absolutely incredible. I love that they are making brunch like an actual meal. When you are seated, you are served a warm cinnamon muffin with caramel butter (like bread and butter), they have a list of great appetizers, we had the truffle deviled eggs (delicious... but of course anything with truffle oil is amazing), and then for our "main course", I had the duck confit with root vegetable hash with eggs with a slice of challah (to DIE for!), and he had the challah french toast with graham crust and poached pears and chantilly cream. Also delicious. and our meal came with a side of potatoes... seasoned perfectly. They have a great list of virgin and alcoholic breakfast-ish cocktails. I had the sangria and he had a cocktail with hendricks and prosecco. The price was high, but for the atmosphere, taste, and service, it was all very worth it.

Joanne R.

Met some friends here for drinks last night and place was hopping for a cold Wednesday night! Great atmosphere, comfortable but yet top scale. If you look around you think you may be in NYC rather than in Boston Good martini selection...which always scores *'s with me!!! While we didn't stay for dinner (had a few apps in the bar area), I also highly recommend dining here as their menu always has a wonderful selection and the dining room is comfortable and condusive to good conversation and romance!!

Ian S.

I went to Mistral last night for a work event and had probably one of the best dishes I've eaten in the Boston area. If you are going to Mistral in the near future, look for the special appetizer of potato gnocchi with shaved Burgundy truffles and Maine lobster in cream sauce. Whenever I order something like this, I'm always wary of the discrepancy between the server's description and the reality. The dish lived up to all its hype. My plate was overloaded with lumps of sweet lobster meat. In fact, there was more lobster than there was gnocchi in the dish, which I found surprisingly generous. The gnocchi were definitely the best that I've had in the city, pillowy and melt-in-your-mouth and perfectly paired with the cream sauce. The shaved truffle wrapped up the whole package with its fragrant, woody flavor. I was sad when they took my bowl away. So the evening got off to a heavenly start, but unfortunately my entree - half roasted duck with wild mushroom risotto and cherry gastrique - was less overwhelming. The risotto was more like arborio kernels mixed into wilted greens and various mushrooms that had been cooked to a point where they didn't have much flavor. The duck was flavorful but had a mushy texture from the roasting. I would have preferred pan-seared breast for a firmer texture to provide more contrast with the risotto. My dining companions all raved about their entrees - crusted Colorado lamb chops, black Angus sirloin, Dover sole Meuniere, and pizza Magherita. I was particularly impressed when the server brought an additional chop each for my colleagues who had ordered the lamb; he explained that the chef felt bad that their original plates had been "too small." I'm admittedly a size queen when it comes to portions at fancy restaurants, but even I thought that their plates had been just fine! Dessert redeemed the evening: I had the ice cream assortment that featured a refreshing mint concoction mixed with chocolate shavings. It was a light and very sophisticated spin on the mint chocolate chip ice cream I'm used to buying from the grocery store. Service, of course, was flawless: efficient and friendly, the staff had just the right amount of theatricality in how they swept up the crumbs from our tablecloth to make us feel like royalty. This said, I would never go to Mistral if I had to foot my own bill or unless it was Restaurant Week. Or if I won the Powerball. But hey, there's a price to pay for (near) perfection.

Rob D.

How, exactly, did I miss this place throughout the years? A friend of mine was talking about it for a long time - and so we finally went there last night. Excellent wine list, food was great (duck on a bed of mushroom risotto, in case you're keeping track), and nice laid back tuscan-esque sort of decor. And the people watching? Bahahah... that was a riot. (I suppose I was being "people watched" back, so fair is fair....)

tony t.

This place was excellent. We treated ourselves to a nice night out of dinner with a fine bottle of wine. This is not cheap, but well worth the money if you fancy spoiling yourself. Food was excellent and the ambiance was perfect, with a great buzz about the restaurant and bar area....

MC S.

what a fabulous dining experience. There seared halibut over risotto w asparagus spears was awesome. Great staff. A great treat and a wonderful place for a date

Heather R.

This place is fantastic for a nice dinner.

Em B.

I was here for restaurant week. The wait staff are excellent. The chilled corn soup was good but I would have preferred it warm. The sirloin steak was cooked perfectly, I had asked for medium rare and most places mess it up but not Mistral. The chocolate dessert was nothing to write home about. but the fruit tarte was good. Will definitely visit again.

Ariela M.

This is my new favorite restaurant in Boston. Everything is exceptional, from the service, to the food, the atmosphere (and the average price). We got there a few minutes early and went to the bar, and the cocktails were amazing. I got some type of martini (unfortunately can't remember the name) with muddled raspberries, and it was wonderful. The bread before dinner was fabulous - and they were not stingy about bringing more when we finished the first one, like they are at some other restaurants. For my entree I got the steak, which was cooked perfectly (I like it well done, which it was, and still juicy - difficult combination). The mashed potatoes served in the actual potato shell were tasty and also presented very well. I got polenta as a side, and this was probably the most amazing polenta I've ever tasted - even though I was stuffed I kept going back for more :) Dessert was good, not quite up to par with the rest of the experience, but still tasty. Throughout the meal, our servers were very attentive and polite. The average clientele in the restaurant was probably a bit older (late 30s-50s) and certainly a LOT richer than we were, but we were still treated respectfully, which is very important. Great experience, I'd go back in a second! I went because I'd been to Sorrelina and that was great, and after this experience I tried Teatro (also good) and I'll now be trying Mooo (despite the name) because it's owned by the same people.

Jonathan F.

Great food, great wine but a little pricey. Went last night with my wife and had a fantastic dinner. We started with the tuna tartar and escargot, both excellent although the escargot wasn't the nice butter and garlic version I'm used to. Next salmon and short ribs both excellent as well. The tenderloin was fall of the bone melt in your mouth tender. The salmon was par for the course but not a stand out. We finished up by sharing a creme brulee and a glass of 10 year old port. The service was top notch, very attentive and my water glass was always full. All told with tip it was around $180. Definitely will repeat.

Chris W.

I enjoyed the cosmopolitan atmosphere. The martinis were spectacular the ambiance reminded me of the Ritz in Key Bizcayne. The staff impeccable. This is the dream version of Boston. Sexy, Lovely, Cultered. Bravo!!

Faye Z.

The is place is just simply amazing! Great location, valet parking avaliable for special occasions, street parking spots are also easy to find. The food is very good, I took my mom there for mother's day and we had way too much food just because they were delicious! Our waitress and the bus boys were always around even it was very busy. The roasted half duck was crispy from outside and juicy inside. They are prob not a super fancy high end dining place but it's definitly good enough for a nice weekend going out. The wine list is good because they offer wines in all different levels. I would definitely go back again!

June N.

We went to the restaurant on Monday bcs we had heard rave reviews, and they had an interesting $35 Prix Fixe menu on Sun/Mon as advertised on their website. I booked via opentable, and did not confirm that the menu was available (my mistake). When we arrived, we were told that the prix fixe was not available that night. However, the waiter was considerate and offered the menu to us anyway. Still, you could tell they were not pleased by this, and the dinner was off to an unpleasant start. Both our appetizers were very good - caesar salad, steak tartare. The salad was creamy without being heavy, and the steak tartare had a delectable sweet balsamic? sauce, with a sprinkling of arugula and shaved parmesan cheese. For the entree, we had steak au poivre and the duck. Both were enormous in size - and an equally huge disappointment. The steak was medium when I had asked for rare, and it was extremely tough. I finished a third of it before deciding to take it home for my dog. The half duck had an excellent skin, honeyed and crisp, but the meat was dry and stringy. We both have had much better meat at comparable restaurants (Grill 23, Davio's, etc.). I thought perhaps they had given us inferior pieces because we asked for the prix fixe. If they wanted to scrimp, I would have preferred smaller and better cuts, rather than a huge slab of bad meat. For the price point of this restaurant, it was inexcusable. All in all we were very disappointed, and would not go here again. FYI - the restaurant is a bit hard to find because it is not well lit outside. Also, the decor is airy and pleasant faux-Provence (it tries a little too hard, IMHO). On a Monday, the restaurant was almost empty, so it was very quiet.

Ben W.

We ate at Mistal on new year's eve after reading the reviews here and we were not disappointed. We went in expecting a top dining experience and they definitely delivered. The food was delicious (everyone finished everything they ordered), and the atmosphere was great (not too noisy and nicely decorated). The waiter was a little long-winded, but it wasn't a big deal. This is an expensive restaurant, but compared to restaurants of the same quality this is a bargain. Ordering three courses and two bottles of wine it only came to $70 a person. Highly recommend!

Sean G.

I've been to Mistral 3 times, the most recent one was a couple of weeks ago and I have yet to be disapointed with anything. The food and service is always outstanding, and their vodka martinis aren't bad either.

Maura D.

I have to three star this joint....went for a friends bday dinner. Fun to dress up but the place is seriously overpriced and the wait staff totally uninformed. First we were told the pizza would make a great app hmmmmmm actually it would be dinner for three! WAY to big for a app Second , the Waiter never came back to refill our water glasses or made sure someone else refilled them....not that we could fine him to even ASK for more water and Third: Seriously? 60 bucks for a piece of fish? I could've gotten 6 pizzas for that. Apparantly I am NOT a fancy pants type of girl. Bring on the papa ginos and dunkin donuts!

Larry C.

I was debating between 2 stars and 3 stars - 2 stars is "Meh. I've experienced better." 3 stars is "A-OK". So, 2 stars is more reflective of the experience. I was debating between going to Mistral or Sorrelina for a special occasion this past Sunday night. Given the reviews here on Yelp, I decided to go with Mistral. Overall, the experience was good, but just somewhat underwhelming. It certainly wasn't a bad experience, just not at the same caliber food-wise as you'd get at some of of the best restaurants in Boston. For appetizers, we had the escargot and the flat bread pizza. The escargot was probably the best part of the meal. The flat bread pizza was a generous portion but taste wise was neither here nor there. Sometimes pizza at a fine dining establishment can be great which is why I ordered it, but this wasn't anything special. For entrees we had duck and rib. Both were good, but not spectacular. Generous portions for sure. Maybe that's the telling description of the evening - generous portions, good but not great taste. We had the chocolate cake for dessert which was actually quite good. The wait staff was very responsive. From a service perspective, I thought they did a great job. Net net, maybe I caught them on a bad day over a quiet weekend over the holidays. But, it was just an average experience. It's not quite at the experience level of L'espalier. It's not quite at the food level of Oleana. It was good, just not great.

Morgan W.

I took my wife to dinner at Mistral for her birthday. I work in the neighborhood, and I'd been wanting to try it forever. Anyway, the food was really wonderful. Absolutely loved both the seared foie gras and the dry aged steak. (Honestly, I think I might have dreamed about the foie gras a few days later.) Our waiter, Justin, was really nice and very helpful without being intrusive. For food alone (as well as service), I'd give them a five, but the atmosphere was a little too slick for me. Just a personal thing.

Susan A.

Go here with your boss. Take a client here. I would highly recommend the Sparkling Mojito. It really is the best mojito you will ever suck down... and that is just it... you will suck it down so fast that you'll have to get another one. Honestly, I have to go back here and eat and review again to confirm if this is worth four or five stars food-wise. I'm not a huge lamb eater and perhaps made the wrong choice. Excellent service.

Wayne J.

Probably the best dinner out I've had in Boston in the fine dining category. Food-outstanding, flavorful, rich, and satisfying portions. Service-outstanding, no detail was neglected, we were well taken care of, and everyone was friendly. Ambiance-great place for a date or out with friends. Highly recommended!

Sweta B.

Definitely the best meal I have eaten out....just everything that I ate in this place stimulated my taste buds like never before...its Portobello Mushroom and Tuna Tartare are just out of the world...and if you have sweet tooth dont miss the Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich...overall it will be a memorable experience for you...

Marilyn T.

A friend and I came in on a Monday night and had a seat at the bar, which was pretty empty at 6pm, but it quickly filled up, while the dining room was about half full. The bartender seemed a bit overwhelmed, as he ran back and forth for drink and food orders, but he made sure to stop and introduce himself by name and ask for our names, which was a nice touch. The ambiance is cool and classy without being stuffy. It's sophisticated but still modern. There's music playing loudly enough to avoid awkward silences, and there's a good amount of conversation, though I wouldn't call it lively. We started with a pinot grigio and riesling, which were a little under $10 each. There's a good number of wines by the glass and cocktails, but I decided to save my appetite for the food. We were started with complimentary warm bread that came with butter and some other spread that I didn't try. My friend got the Sunday/Monday 3 course special, which was $35 for pate with Pate Campagne, Raie Meuniere (seared skate wing), and creme brulee. The skate wing was a large portion, and it was nicely crisped on the outsides while retaining a good firmness to the texture. It absorbed the flavors well without being too saucy. The spinach was a bit salty, but it was ok with the skate. There are also fingerling potatoes and giant capers accompanying it. The creme brulee was pretty deep and creamy with a nice hint of burnt sugar, and it was topped with a crispy phyllo-like cup and fresh raspberries. It's one of the better creme brulees I've had in a while. I ordered a couple of items from their small plates menu, which is new in the bar and lounge area. I started with a seared scallop, which was rested on a bed of white beans and chunky bacon. There was a piece of smoked tomato, which was tangy and sweet, and I wish there was more of it. I'm not a huge fan of white beans, and there were a lot.. they weren't mushy, but I just chose to avoid the beans. The scallop was seared and seasoned well, but it wasn't amazing unless combined with the bacon and tomato. It's a single scallop for $6, which isn't bad, considering most entree sized portions only include 3 or 4 scallops nowadays. I also had the lamb osso bucco over polenta. The lamb wasn't too gamey, and it was tender and falling off the bone. The reduction enhanced the creamy and smooth poltenta well, and it tasted almost like well strained mashed potatoes. My final small plate was the duck confit and mushroom risotto. There's a good amount of duck in it, and the parmigiano reggiano that tops it really finishes the dish well. Texture-wise, it wasn't as creamy and sticky as I like my risotto, but the flavor was good. It comes in a cute little copper pot, which helps it retain its temperature. I'd been wanting to try Mistral for a while, and I was not disappointed. It's nice that there are menu options that now make it more affordable. It'd be a nice place for a date. We were able to linger at the bar for a while without feeling rushed, and the check wasn't brought to us until we asked for it. Overall, a very nice dining experience with solid food that is now slightly more affordable.

andrew w.

Height of expensive mediocrity. Expensive lousy wine list

Seafoodie R.

Went back again! had the crab ravioli and tuna tartare to start again, superb. My date had the Atlantic Halibut with Chanterelles, Spring veggie ragout and Lobster Vin Blanc, this is one of the best fish dishes I've had anywhere in the city. I ordered the Soft-shelled crabs which were ok, I prefer them sauteed and not fried. The food, atmosphere and the overall experience at Mistral makes it one of the best plates in Boston. Old Review: Went back to Mistral for another mind blowing experience! sit at the bar and try the Tuna Tartare appetizer (they'll split up the app for two people if you want to share), it is unquestionably the best tartare app I've had anywhere! the crab ravioli app was perfectly aldente in a light buttery seafood broth with minced tomatos, absolutely delicious. The Steak & mashed potatoe pizza is good, drizzled with truffle oil. Is pricey but worth every cent!

Jackie B.

Had the most wonderful dinner on Friday. The food was absolutely amazing and our bartender, Erica, was outstanding. I will definitely go back. I highly recommend the pizza! Just went you think pizza can't be made any better! The tuna tartar was so fresh.

Kevin M.

This was my second time here. Both times the Seared Foie Gras was incredible. Large portion, seared perfectly. The Brioche stuffed with duck confit and sitting in a Wisconson dried cherry gastrique was perfect. I'm aware that some people do not like soggy bread, so this may not be for everyone, but the layers of flavor were perfect. I also had their chilled corn soup with Maine Loster, Avocado and Jalapeno oil. This was a perfect soup. Since this is the end of summer, this seemed to be summer all rolled into one. Each bite reminded me of the summer time flavors. The soup was smooth and creamy and perfectly sweet. The entree of Scottish Salmon was cooked perfectly, but lacked any special qualities, although the Corn and Chantrelle Ragout that it sat on was very tasty. I found the pancetta to be a bit tough and felt a little out of place, almost as if it had been added to the dish later.

Phantom D.

Dined here Tuesday night with a friend. We ordered the restaurant week menu in addition to the foie gras/duck confit app for our meal. We had asked for the foie gra app in between the first and second courses of the rest. week menu. Our dinner came and our foie gra never did. When we brought it up to our server he had obviously forgotten. The only thing I didn't really like was our waiter. He was unwelcoming and cold. A few of the other servers who had dropped off our food that night seemed pleasant and nice. Coming home that night I read some of the past reviews and noticed that another yelper had the same waiter with the same experience. Aside from the service that night the aesthetics, food and wine were great. I will be back, but will request a different waiter and hope for everything I order the second time around.

Evan G.

We visited Mistral during restaurant week (Aug 2009) and expected a better experience than what was delivered. The prix fixe menu had several middle of the road options - salmon or steak - but nothing that stood out. The service was very rushed and at times we felt like we were passing through a restaurant factory. Prior to dinner we waited (more than 20 minutes) for our reserved table so we headed to the lounge for a glass of wine. The bartenders were neither attentive nor friendly. It seemed that the bar was filled with their regulars/friends and they couldn't be bothered with taking our order. If the staff feel that serving restaurant week customers is beneath them then perhaps they should take that week off or not participate in restaurant week.

Jennifer L.

Mistral is a nice restaurant with a cool vibe. We enjoyed a good dinner. It's a safe choice for entertaining guests.

Pablo S.

This is a really nice place !! the decor is very warm and the service is great, the food is amazing and the desserts are out of this world! great for big occasions, we really had a great dinner and very Delicious drinks at the bar !!! well worth it.

Brian K.

I always enjoy coming here and some of my best memories of Boston are filled with images of this place. the decor is cool and always lots of hip people eating here or at the bar. food is outstanding. Stop in you will be happy you did.

Max K.

this place just doesn't miss a beat. howie brought me back for round 2 and i wasn't disappointed. i was thinking of going with the salmon but then i saw the pork osso bocco next to our table and there was no way, I wasn't ordering it, in fact almost our whole table did...sorry rabbi! It was to die for and fortunately since the shank was so large, I had plenty of leftovers to double down on this tasty treat. Mistral is also the KING of polenta. I had it the last time i was there and this time they had another interpretation. It was a slam dunk...of NBA JAM's proportions. Not to skip around but the mushroom bisque was not for nothing. This stud had all kinds of crazy mushrooms, think whole foods, done in a rich creamy soup that featured truffle oil. now now now. The desert was also done swimmingly. and the chocolate cake was moist. I highly recommend trying there chamomile tea as its the only way to sooth your stomach after all the tasteyness going on on their RW menu, in addition to it being one of the best i've had. this restaurant is truely a treat to come to during RW, as they don't skimp and deliver amazing service. Be sure not to miss this place, unless its the res I want!

Julie T.

One of the best places I've been to in a while. Everything was fantastic. I have nothing bad to say about this place and probably never will. Kind of a splurge, but really kind of worth it as you'll never have a strange encounter with hair in your food or waiting for hours.

Kim S.

Mistral is one of the best fine dining establishments Boston has to offer. The setting is cozy and romantic, the service on point, and the food remarkable. To start, we had the seared foie gras with duck confit, and while I am not truly a fan of foie gras, I could admire the taste. It melted in your mouth, and the duck was delicious. I loved the cherries that were mixed in, providing a tart flavor that contrasted with the foie gras. We also has the tuna tartare, which in general is one of my favorite appetizers. The tartare at Mistral was no exception. The crispy wontons complimented the delicate texture of the tuna, and it was admittedly hard not to devour the whole dish myself. For dinner, I had the salmon with potato hash. The salmon had a mild, but enjoyable flavor, and the fish was tender. The warm chocolate torte capped off the meal that way that dessert should. The vanilla ice cream melted with the rich and chocolaty cake is a chocolate lover's dream. The dessert can probably be replicated pretty easily, but was delicious nonetheless. The food is expensive, but expectedly so. It's also worth it if you have the cash. Mistral is great for smaller parties and intimate gatherings.

Carrie B.

They have the best service, and the best tuna tar tar i have ever had! I went there on my Birthday and ever since, I wanna go every weekend, although that would be a dream, it's impossible. I try to go atleast every month. I love it there

Ian S.

You know those women who are pushing 50 and still dress like Paris Hilton? You see them all the time on Newbury street, because they all have lots of money and think they're down with the latest fashions? Mistral is chock full of them. Its really rather disturbing. I don't really know what to make of this joint. It's billed to be as good at L'espalier, but at least L'espalier embraces what it is, as do the clientele (old rich stuffy folk who don't actually talk to each other at dinner). I walked into Mistral on Christmas eve, with mom and wife in tow. I expected grace. I got a hostess flashing enough cleavage to make Dolly Parton jealous. My ears burned with bad euro-club music a la 33 restaurant (please view that review). And just plain noise! Mistral has very high ceilings, which makes the insipid banter of its clientele booming. I did like the decor, I will say, though it was rather contrived. I will say that our server was excellent, knowledgeable and upbeat, though I wish I had seen more of him. The food was absolutely fantastic. Escargots in a sumptuous garlic butter sauce. Creamy and succulent steak tartare (though it could have used a bit more flavor). An impressively artistic salad with Parmesan crisps standing in little piles of goat cheese, separating the salad into 5 sections. And for dinner, the rack of lamb, which just melted in the mouth, and was probably the Best lamb I've ever had (which is saying something, because I love lamb, and eat it a lot!). My mom had the Dover sole, which was uninspiring, to be honest, and my wife had the ONE (ONLY ONE) vegetarian dinner option, a sorrelina pasta in a garlic sauce with tomatoes. Lovely, though not really impressive. And the wine, was delicious. So, all in all, the food itself was excellent. Though, again, not on par with L'espalier, as most claim. L'espalier is full swing in the art of cuisine, and every dish a sculpture worthy of a museum. Mistral was just an excellent restaurant (food only), but not an experience in gastronomy as I had hoped.

Anne C.

I came here on a Monday night (and it's my second time here) and the place was busy, but there was still seats available. The service was great, and our waitress made some great recommendations. I had the 1/2 roasted duck with the risotto and it was huge - I brought 1/2 of it back, as my cousin with the short ribs dish. We also had the fois gras appetizer to start and it was yummy. We also ended the night with the apple tart with vanilla ice-cream which was good, but nothing that was to die for. The fire alarm went off right after our appetizer for about 15 minutes and we didn't have to evacuate as it was a false alarm. The waitress and mgr. came by and apologize a few times, but what would've been better would be a round of drinks or free dessert. I would definitely come back here again, but for special occasions, as this place is pricey.

L L.

Eh, it was okay, but the pretentious hostesses and server couldn't be erased by the beautifully-designed space and gracious manager who shared his glasses with us. I must say, too, the bussers were very nice...but...There is nothing worse for an experienced upscale diner to be trying to glean any hint of humanity from a snooty waiter or hostess. As my partner noted, "when their faces drop the instant after you are greeted, seated, or served, it's an easily discernible sign of disingenuous and pretentious service." blech. Aside from a delicious beet salad and glorious gazpacho, blech! I hated it.

Lulu C.

Still the best. Went to Mistral for a friend's wedding reception on Saturday. It was perfection. The service is arguably the best in Boston and the food and drinks were SUPERB.

Bird B.

hands down the best food we've ever eaten anywhere. ever. seriously.. we're speechless. you must try the sirloin and truffled mashed potato pizza appetizer but beware... its big enough for a two person entree. ok maybe we arent speechless... in addition the waitstaff was magical. they were very attentive without being obtrusive.

J C.

I enjoyed an amazing birthday dinner here and the dinner exceeded my expectations. I had the tuna appetizer which was spectacular as well as the scallops. My boyfriend also said his duck was wonderful. The atmosphere was very trendy and romantic at the same time and the service was amazing. We live in the north end and the complimentary car service gave the overall experience a very nice touch! I hope to come again soon.

Emily S.

This place is delicious...just make sure someone else is footing the bill else you could go into serious debt.

Miz M.

Amazingly good - food, service, atmosphere, drinks - LOVE it there.

MICHELLE C.

this is now my favorite restaurant in Boston. drop dead serious this time. i know after reviewing all my other reviews, every place is my favorite. dam what can i say, i've been eating good lately:) i love this place. the atmosphere is so nice- very romantic and comfortable. The tables are huge- and the seating is so comfortable with comfy pillows. definately a place for an anniversary or if you are going to propose. this is truley a great place. the only other place for that type of event- i would also recommend L'espalier for a proposal or benchmark anniversary place! they offer a car service and coat check , which are both complimentary. the service is phenomenal! they wouldn't even accept tips which is pretty impressive. the food is by far the best! the mashed potatoes were to die for! i left telling me boyfriend over and over again how unbelievable this place was. i got the beef tendorlion which was perfect. the aspargaus was cooked just right. for desert i had the homeade ice cream. oh my god! orgasmic! i had tried the sister restaurant sorellini about a month prior- and had great reviews for it. however, mistral beats it by far in my book. mistral is a more intimate and cozy atmosphere. where sorellini is more trendy- i can't wait to go back to mistral!

Mrs. Y.

I have been to Mistral a few times but have not yet been compelled to write a review until today! I went with a friend last night, sat at the bar and had some of THE best food ever. I started out with a Clouseau, which is a grapefruit martini. De. Lish. After neatly creating a place setting in front of each of us, the bartender set us up with a fresh loaf of bread, accompanied by butter and garlic herb bean spread. Our first dish was the squash blossoms. One bite and I was in heaven. The crispy blossoms were fried and served over dollops of creamy ricotta cheese with honey and mint around the outside. SO GOOD! Our second dish was the "white" pizza which is a mix of cheeses, arugula, hot peppers and sea salt. I had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc along with the pizza. Perfectly paired. The service was great. Atmosphere is beautiful...modern classic. We both left feeling happy and full! It's a bit pricey but well worth it. Mistral is a MUST!

Pinchy G.

This place is well worth the money! The service is phenomenal and the food is quite possibly the best I've had thus far. I have to stress that our waiter was awesome. The place was jam packed and we never once felt like something was out of order. I'll surely be back.

Kiki F.

Went out with a very large group of 9 people, and the restaurant was very accommodating. Our table was large and round, perfect for space and conversation. Service was great. The waiter was very quick and attentive--very aware of drinks and questions. He also had helpful suggestions when we all were trying to decide on our meals. Food was great. I personally had the crab ravioli, which I was not a big fan of, but I also had the duck which was delicious, and everyone else in my party simply loved all of their meals. The tuna tartare was particularly popular, as was the duck, scallops, foie gras. Of course, the building and ambiance were also lovely, and my group had a wonderful evening.

Diane D.

Allow me to preface my remarks by stating that I dined at Mistral for a project celebration dinner, hence my budget was seemingly unlimited! Those seeking fine dining may not necessarily be in this situation, and given what the bill came to I definitely recommend saving this restaurant for an extra-special occasion, say when you get a raise! However, thanks to some food and wine-loving executives, I can compare so many things on the menu. I'm going to have to say that you cannot skip an appetizer here. Even if you get only one (which yes, is awfully small portion-wise), get SOMETHING because they are all good! I'm having trouble even picking a favorite to recommend, ah but yes, it has to be the Truffled Macaroni and Cheese. You're probably picturing some Krafts right now and thinking why would I pay $15 for that... but trust me, it is not orange, and it is amazing. Other app faves were the crab ravioli and tuna tar-tare. If you're gonna go all-out and go to one of Boston's best restaurants, go all-out on your meal too. I got the Tenderloin dish and it was delectable... but looking around me, the lamb and short ribs which were also popular orders certainly didn't look like they were any less tasty. You should still have room for dessert. If you don't, make room! Split something. Whatever you have to do to try at least one thing on this dessert menu. I'm not saying its an original dessert menu, because its not. But again, giving the samplings from around my table, there is not a bad thing off the menu. At the very least, it is prepared and presented well, is a generous sized dessert, and is so heavenly. I'm biased toward the vanilla creme brulee myself! The service also was excellent. But then again we were clearly going to be one of the biggest bills at night, so I'm not sure what kinds of service the other tables were getting. I'm thinking it was pretty good...there wasn't a dissatisfied looking face in this place. If you have the budget, make Mistral #1 on your list next time!

Sam S.

VERY pricey and chic, but mmmhm a must for the wine and dine can't say i have ever eaten anything here that doesnt deserve 4 stars. all the dishes are delightful and tasty. great wine list as well...it's waitstaff at places like this that teach me how to improve my palett. HA

John W.

This restaurant is amazing. I proposed to my girlfriend at this place last month and the service was absolutely perfect. The general manager, Mark, was beyond helpful and ensured that everything went smoothly. I went back last week to eat at the bar and still feel the same way about the service and quality of food. Definitely my new favorite restaurant.

J S.

Fabulous. After hearing from friends how amazing this place was, we decided to go for Restaurant Week (a good way to try out an expensive place). A big concern for RW is many restaurants do not put their best foot forward, focusing more on turning the tables and dishes that are sub par due to the high volume. That could not have been farther from the case here. From the minute we walked in we were greeted, seated and attended to by a very friendly waitstaff. The food was DELICIOUS and the portions were incredible, making their typical prices totally justified. The ambience was great too, very trendy and a seemingly great date or special occassion type place. I am definately going back, regardless of the priceyness...it is totally worth it.

Michelle K.

Best meal I've ever eaten! Oh, Mistral. How I love thee. Let me count the ways...in order of deliciousness and importance: 1. The horseradish-whipped potatoes that came with my beef tenderloin were so good that I would rate them higher than the dessert -- and that's coming from a girl with a severe sweet tooth! - because I was so pleasantly surprised by the exquisite flavor. The horseradish was subtle but gave a delightful little kick at the end of every forkful of the creamy potatoes. I thought Emeril was whispering BAM in my ear every time I swallowed. It's also available as a side dish, and I can't recommend them enough. Do not fear the horseradish, people...it's not just for matzah sandwiches at Passover. 2. The Maine crab ravioli, which my boyfriend got for his appetizer. The crab was so sweet and the sauce was light and tasty and the pasta was homemade and the perfect aldente texture. So good. 3. The desserts, which go together for number three. Dude, I was SO full by the time they came round but I ate way past capacity anyways just so they wouldn't go to waste. A gooey warm chocolate torte and creme brulee. Now, I've eaten a ton of creme brulee in my days, as it is my favorite dessert, but this had a very commendable thick burnt sugar top, and an accompaniment of three fruity purees: strawberry, peach, mango. Perfect ends to a perfect meal. 4. Our entrees were tasty too, just not as earthshattering. I'd still happily recommend the beef tenderloin (so tender) or the rack of lamb. 5. This place has a slight buzz of chatter going, which I think is a pro and not a con. I don't like how some pricier restaurants have that stuffy feel, when you are compelled to talk in low tones and suppress your laughs and sit up straight and not have any fun. For comparison, I felt more comfortable here than at Sorellina, which is owned by the same company. 6. Getting dressed up for dinner out is great fun. Don't you feel good when you look good? Well, everyone here is doing their best to look good. And trust me, the food will make you feel good even if your outfit doesn't. FYI, men: jackets are not required...and I saw a guy rocking jeans (with a button down, tucked in and w/ a belt.) but the sign by the door says Proper Dress Required so plan accordingly. Splurge away. Totally worth it!

Alissa B.

Good food Great service, Could have been better but I have high standards for food. If you like french food and have some money check it out. The only unfortunate thing is that I feel like you can get food that is just as good for a fraction of the price. That is what you get when you go out to eat downtown though. There wine selection is fantastic, once again a little pricey for the bottles they have as you can get them at similar establishments for 40 bucks less, but your paying for the place as well I suppose. Definitely a place worth checking out.

Kamilla Q.

If any resturant was just hype based on the owners name it would be mistral. I had the worst dining experaince here. Not only did my waiter completely neglect our table for a group of scanitly clad 40 yr olds, but the menu is over priced for food i can get elsewhere in the neighbourhood for less. While the decoir is soothing i also think it's a little out of date. I would never reccomend mistral to a friend it's a waste of money

Amanda S.

My expectations of Mistral were high, albeit restrained somewhat due to the fact that my broke self would be dining on the Restaurant Week menu. The restaurant itself is beautiful, as was the restroom (these things are important to a gal). The meal was excellent, but not as astounding as I had imagined. I started with the carpaccio; my "date" had the gazpacho with crab. Both dishes were light and delicious, particularly the gazpacho, which was the perfect cure from the sweaty nastiness that we brought with us to the restaurant. Both of our entrees were less than stellar, sadly. The sirloin my friend ordered had a nice sear to the outside, but was otherwise overcooked (so not the medium rare that was ordered). The portion of duck I was served was gigantic, but somewhat overcooked. The mushroom risotto it was served with, however, was divine. I'm still dreaming about it a week later. Dessert was tasty but not extremely memorable: chocolate mousse for me and something else for my husband (not remembering what it was). Their superb wine list earned them some extra points. People watching is prime here. I wasn't blown away by my meal, but was pleased overall.

Natalie T.

Place was amazing! I went for a family dinner on a Friday night and we had reservations, which I would recommend. The service was fine, not out of this world like many are saying. Although I managed to have 2 Pomegranate Martinis, I should have just ordered wine. They bring out nice, warm bread with a garlic spread and butter. The spread was so delicious! I ordered the Sirloin Carpaccio for an appetizer to split with my boyfriend. It was split and brought out on 2 separate plates, which was convenient. It was superb! Meat is perfectly thin and melts in your mouth. I enjoyed the slivers of hard parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper. I had the Grilled Beef Tenderloin cooked medium-rare for my entree. Again, perfect. The asparagus that came with it was not exactly great but that was easy to look over considering the quality of everything else. The portions are also very satisfying, I boxed most of mine up and ate it the next day.

Caroline W.

We went for Restaurant Week and unlike some other restaurants I've tried during this week in the past, the service was impeccable, the food was delish and ample and the overall experience was a pleasure. Justin, our server was the best. I will definitely go back.

Mostafa E.

Brilliant - definitely my favorite place in Boston!

Jamie N.

Okay, I can absolutely say I am a food snob. But I would actually say food/restaurants is kind of a hobby. I can slum it with the best of them, but I do love high-end restaurants. Mistral is actually my favorite place in Boston. If for one thing alone, it is the beef tenderloin pizza with mashed potatoes and white truffle oil (mmmmm, white truffles....). If I had to eat something everyday for a week, this would be it. Mistral also has the best tuna tartare I have ever tried, and I'm not even a fan of tartare. As for the rest of the menu, I've tried so many things and haven't gone wrong with anything. Amazing cod dish, great steaks, yummy pasta...love the side dishes as well. Pair a port wine with the chocolate torte for dessert...sooo good. They also have the best sorbet! I'm a huge sorbet fan :) And of course great wine and champagne. This is also a place for a good scene-I've been there when Patriots have been eating dinner. What makes Mistral nice is that you can come for a full on meal or just for some great appetizers or dessert. Plus, they have a driver who can pick you up or bring you home-guys, how pimp would you be doing that on a date?! Mmmmm, Mistral....