My family and I have been going to Bernard's for over a decade, and love it. Food is clean and fresh, and very good quality. The interrior of Bernard's is very clean, and maintained that way all the time. Service is great and food as well, but usually busy on the weekends. Some great dishes: Sesame Chicken, Orange Flavored Beef, Wontons in Hot Petter & Peanut Sauce, Egg & Scallion Fried Rice, Crab Ragoon, Chow Fun,
(4)
Angela L.
If you want Americanized chinese food, Bernard's is the place! My favorite dish is the Chilean sea bass, probably the best thing there!! Pretty sure it's a "must try" on their menu, and I completely agree. I also got the pea pod stems (which are always delicious at any Asian restaurant), the Peking dumplings, and a beef dish. Nothing spectacular. Pretty decent sized place. Usually pretty packed on the weekends, but service is okay? Could be better. Overall, it's good. Get the Chilean sea bass
(3)
Lizz J.
The service was incredibly slow--waited 5 minutes to be greeted at the door and 10 minutes to be offered any drink. Taking a quick look around the dining floor, no Asians were around. Hmmm, the food, indeed, was nothing to amaze a Chinese food expert like me.
(2)
Diva K.
I came here with my boyfriend for dinner, and I was surprised that I could have ordered what I wanted here at a restaurant in Chinatown, maybe even order two more other dishes, for the same price we paid here. Taste and quality of the food is the same. The reason why this place is so expensive is because it is in Chestnut Hill. Customer service was good. Overall, I had a good experience, but I wouldn't come back unless I have the President or some favorite family members visiting.
(5)
Jessica R.
I went to Bernard's tonight on a date and found the food to be delectable! The wait for a busy Saturday night around 7:30 was around 20 minutes and once we were seated and ordered, the food was served very quickly. We ordered crab Rangoon, vegetable spring rolls, general Taos chicken, Mongolian beef and salt and pepper calamari! All of it was amazing! My water glass was never empty. I always appreciate great service. We had so much food that we definitely had to get some to to go containers. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)
V L.
We ordered three dishes of deep fried crab, a stem fish, fried chicken and vegetable (bean curl). They were all very delicious. Service was excellent. Waitress changed our plates 2 times. I highly recommend everyone to Bernard's.
(5)
Danna S.
Great staff except for the hostess....doesn't even look at you when you walk in. Bar tending staff is do friendly. Food is great and nice service!
(4)
Ashley A.
Stopped in with my sister for dinner last night. I was thrilled to have gotten in right away without a reservation. The staff was very prompt and courteous. We got an order of the crab rangoon, mongolian beef, and sesame chicken. The food all came out really fast and was all very hot. My only caveat with our meal is that it seemed to be lacking in the flavor I was hoping for. My sister, however, said she really enjoyed it. Either way, I enjoyed the meal and the food tasted pretty good. I'd definitely go back to try a couple of other dishes before I make any additional judgements. Overall, great experience, and the service was excellent.
(4)
Nicole M.
Expensive for chinese food but still good. We got fried rice which tasted very fresh,average spare ribs,fried shrimp which was average and the hot and sour soup which definitely was not remarkable. The clear winner for us all was the beef noodle soup huge portion enough for three people loaded with beef and leeks. Very tasty for a chilly evening.
(3)
Kevin S.
Underwhelmed with food and overwhelmed with prices. Only when we got home did we discover why our chicken dishes seemed tough, they weren't completely cooked through. Large chunks of chicken, in a batter with a different sauce to create a different dish, but in either case weren't sufficiently cooked through. Upcharged $1.50 for a half cup serving of brown rice is a bit exhorbitant, when most restaurants serve one or the other. $40 for a $25 lunch doesn't work in my book, especially when we have to be concerned about the completeness of cooking of the food.
(3)
Michele D.
Everything was great, but the Mongolian beef. The beef didn't have any flavor, and it was supposed to be a little on the spicy side. Service wonderful, but a bit on the pricey side. Everything else, very good.
(4)
Kathryn M.
My son and I stopped in for lunch and a cocktail on Friday afternoon. We both ordered a luncheon special for $10. Both dishes came with white rice and 2 crab rangoon. I opted for Kung Pao Chicken and my son ordered Sesame Chicken. We both ordered a Mai Tai ($11). Both dishes were very light and perfect for lunch. Service was great. Plenty of parking in front of the restaurant. Easy to find: the location is in the same plaza as the Container Store, The movie theater, The Cottage Restaurant and Davios.
(4)
Steve L.
Great chinese food in the area! Gotta have the chicken chow foon and yummy lamb chops. No complaints on their service and food. Glad to see they left the mall. So enjoyable to sit at the bar and watch football and hockey. The 2 cute bartenders are on top of their game for customer service. Never had my glasss empty or always had a beer ready for me. So enjoyable to come back again and again
(5)
Chuck D.
The best Chinese food not only in all of boston but in my opinion the country. 5 stars
(5)
Meghan B.
the best Chinese food period. do yourself a favor and order the wontons in hot pepper and peanut sauce
(5)
Dan V.
Good food, good service, a little pricey. It's a little fancy, but it's worth it for the good food. Nice bar.
(4)
Yna A.
Great Asian food if you're not actually Asian. Comparable to average Chinese take out but much pricier. Weird ambiance and inconsistent service.
(3)
Amy S.
Just had lunch here on a Sunday afternoon The place was busy which really surprised me after we got our food! We ordered General Tso's chicken and vegetable udon with chicken. The udon had a few sliced onions and small tiny tiny bits of chicken The Tso'chicken was dry and tough. Both dishes lacked ANY flavor. Blah. I have better dishes at the mall's food court. I live nearby and know that I will never walk in here again. Too bad.
(2)
David B.
I have passed this place a number of times on my way to Del Friscos but never bothered to stop in. Well...that was a mistake. I've missed some great food!! This week I stopped in for a early dinner and the bar was mostly empty so I seated myself. The Bartender was friendly and attentive asking me for my cocktail selection and recommending different wine selections. I didn't want to make a big order since this was my first visit and I'm generally disappointed with most Chinese food outside of the city limits. I tried the General Tso Chicken ..fantastic. Large chunks for perfectly cooked white meat with a gentle batter topping and a sweet glaze, steamed broccoli with steamed white rice. My goodness. it was so good my mouth is watering as I type this review. I'm going back tonight.
(4)
Christen C.
I can't say too much because I only sat at the bar, but I liked this place! It's clean and nice looking, with decent service. It's your standard Chinese food, but the crab rangoons were awesome---perfectly golden brown and fried. They also have a nice wine list as well as cocktail list. My husband got a great Mai Tai. If you're looking for Chinese food that's a little nicer than the average, I think this is a good option.
(4)
Marisa G.
By far the best Chinese in the city! Worth the extra drive to Chestnut Hill. Amazing chicken and noodle dishes - combines classic and inventive, and consistently tasty.
(5)
Max G.
Best Chinese in Boston. Not truly authentic cuisine but the most delicious. Things I always order are shrimp in lobster sauce (for lunch), sizzling black bean chicken, scallop hot pot, the peanut wonton appetizer, plum sake shrimp, and the best hot and sour soup I've ever eaten! I love the waitstaff (George especially). I just wish they stayed at their old location, it was so perfect and I grew up to love that place in particular. It's all still the same luckily.
(5)
Douglas W.
A star for just OK service in a nice looking room. As for the food. No. Just no. Call me fussy, but at these prices I expect my food to taste like something. A modest portion of Mongolian beef ($18.95! and one of the cheapest things on the menu.) was described by the server as "a bit spicy", but in fact was one of the blandest things I've ever put in my mouth, hardly even tasting of beef, much less any seasoning whatsoever. My companion's General Tso's chicken was slices of chicken in a glossy brown sauce that also had no flavor at all. None. Seriously. How do they do that? Dishes came out at drastically different times and bottled beer was served room temperature. Maybe Chestnut Hill likes its Chinese food tasteless, because the place was packed. I don't. Take the same amount of money over to Cambridge and have a memorable meal at Changsho.
(1)
Jeremy K.
My toilet has a 1.28 gallon per flush feature. It's brand is Kohler. How do I know that? Well for most of the afternoon, we got to spend quite a bit of time together - some bonding time - As I was dry-heaving and throwing up into it after eating at Bernard's. While I'm not 100% convinced that it could be from eating at Bernard's, my wife wasn't feeling so hot either after we had lunch there recently. I'm still in utter shock by that fact, especially since I had been to Bernard's another time prior, many years ago, a visit which had left a memorable impression on me. And it's a shame really because this restaurant went through major renovations as part of the Chestnut Hill Mall revamp in the last few years, bringing new businesses and upgraded design and architecture to the area. They went from being a swanky-like, white tablecloth restaurant to a modern, gorgeous Asian restaurant with lots of dark woods, glass and sleek features. It's stunning inside and very tastefully decorated. I want to love this place, I really do, but my experience spent on the bathroom floor... well... not fun. But despite being in somewhat of a luxurious strip-mall and expensive area, the prices here kind of amazing. Almost Chinatown-esque and thus very affordable for the masses. Most of their appetizers around about $6-$7 and their entrees are $15-$19 for most of the menu. Not bad at all. One my most recent visit here, the wife and I split some pan-seared scallion pancakes ($5.75) which came with 3 dipping sauces and which were very tasty. Not too oily either. Then I had some chicken chow foon ($11.50) and the wife had something off of their specials menu. I washed everything down for 4 glasses of their incredibly tasty, unsweetened ice tea. It could be the best iced tea I've had, or definitely up there. Quite memorable, especially since it was fountain iced tea. Iced tea lovers? Try it out. You'll thank me later. Service was mediocre. We spent the first 20 minutes there waiting for menus, and another 15-20 minutes waiting to place our order despite the fact that the restaurant wasn't full and never having to wait for a table in the first place. So what to think of Bernard's. It's a tricky one. Maybe I should try it again? My stomach is still angry at me though and I do think that I had food poisoning from them but with that said, maybe - and hopefully - this could be a one time thing? I really want to love this place, despite the side effects from my last visit there. Their menu is a crowd-pleaser and is still of American-Chinese classics as well as more a few Japanese dishes. They have it all, from boneless spare ribs ($5.25) to crab rangoon ($5.25), to Japanese Udon ($11.50-$12.50) and fried rice ($7.50). They have Kung Pao chicken ($8.25), General Tso's Chicken ($8.25) and even Peking duck ($37). And many more dishes as well. Maybe you should stay tuned for an updated review, as I'll try and see if I can return without my stomach churning at the thought. I did love their iced tea and food after all...
(2)
Boriq P.
Great food, great service. The crab Rangoons and rice were amazing. Lobster with scallions was great. The only reason I am giving three stars is because the menu is limited and we ordered two lobsters and they let us wait til our meal to tell us there was only one. I would say try them if you are in the area.
(3)
Rebecca H.
I agree with previous posts that the food was rather bland. Not terrible, just not flavorful. Our waitress, Amy, was extremely nice I would give her 4 stars but the food only gets 3.
(3)
Erika B.
Bernards's has exceeded my expectations. I visited Bernard's with my mom and boyfriend on Valentine's Day. We decided to try a bunch of appetizers including the spareribs (bone-in), crab rangoon, egg and scallion fried rice and salt and pepper calamari. All were fantastic- especially the spicy twist on calamari! We saw two great looking seafood dishes go by and added one to our table-- the fried lobster!! Amazing! Great seasoning! The staff was friendly and accommodating. (we asked to move from the front of the restaurant to the back because of the cold draft) The drinks were strong and tasty; average price for the area.. $11 for a Cosmo and $8 for a gin and tonic. Only negative really was the size of the restaurant (granted we visited during Valentine's Day at 7pm) There were 5 8+parties in the center, 10 4tops, 12 2tops and an extremely packed bar. Our servers ended up having to reach over the table to serve our food because the table next to ours was so close. If you are sensitive to noise and space while dining, I suggest trying out Bernard's on a week night. Enjoy!!
(4)
Harvard P.
I was really sad when Bernard's closed their location at the Chestnut Hill Mall, but I think it was an overall good move for them to move next to Shake Shack. The location is beautiful, and the food, as usual, is excellent. My favorite dish is the pan fried angel hair noodles with seafood. It always hits the spot!
(4)
MA M.
Amazing food! Always have only take-outs, chicken teriyaki is the best! Fried rice is awesome, crab rangoons are delicious, everything is WOW!!!
(5)
Michael A.
We're back again and we had excellent service and delicious food. Amy, our waitress, was great and recommended a few items on the menu that were exactly what we were seeking.
(4)
Anya H.
Bernard's is great! All the staff are very kind. Me and my dad had a very nice conversation with the bartender and the owner. The food tastes sooo good! The pork dumplings and the Singapore angel hair noodles are really tasty!
(5)
Chloe H.
Bernard's use to be my favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. It's really gone down hill since moving to the new location. My vegetables were overcooked in the dishes I ordered and the sauces were gelatinous and greasy. Pretty disappointing. I would have to be pretty desperate to go back.
(2)
Joanne R.
Visited Bernard's on Sat.night and was totally impressed. We had an early reserv (6pm as that's all that was avail when I called). We were seated immediately and surprisingly the restaurant was 90% crowed at that hour. We had a chance to look over the cocktail menu, then our waitress came and took our drink order. For dinner we ordered, veg. spring roll app, shrimp w/leeks and garlic (HIGHLY RECOMMEND), orange beef and noodles with vegetables. EVERYTHING came out hot (termperature) and delicious. Another thing that had me give kudos to our waitress was that we weren't rushed. Actually I was with a friend haven't seen in a long time and was catching up, but never felt rushed. This was my first time to Bernard's but given my experience, it certainly won't be my last!!!
I reserve my right to review only the unique, surprising, and truly stand out dining and service experiences. Lucky for me, those have usually been for great dives, tasty restaurants, and fantastic businesses. However, I knew this day would eventually come. Today, I write my first bad review. I went to Bernard's with my boyfriend for lunch. We were on the hunt for delicious noodle soup on a chilly afternoon and their menu looked tasty and reasonably priced. We ordered some staples - Hot and Sour soup, vegetable dumplings, and something a bit more adventurous - roasted duck and wonton noodle soup. The hot and sour soup was not hot, nor was it sour. Lukewarm and the consistency of bottled teriyaki sauce, it was unappealing. The dumplings were unremarkable, and unfortunately, also served lukewarm. The duck soup looked and smelled good at first, but upon closer inspection there was little edible duck in the bowl. The meat was mostly neck meat - with lots of fat, gristle, and bones. The more my boyfriend ate of it, the sicker he looked. About a fifth of the way through, he felt quite ill. This was bad enough to warrant a complaint. I mentioned our disappointment with the food to our waiter, who not only forgot our beverages and cutlery, but never came to check on us once. He promptly brought us the bill and said there was nothing he could do unless we complained at the front of the restaurant. When I took our complain to the next level, I received no apology, nor any words of comfort i.e. no one asked us if we'd like something different to eat. I was told that "just because you don't like it, doesn't mean that you don't pay for it." The next step would have been to yell, scream, and demand to see the manager. As my boyfriend started to look greener and more woozy, I decided to just pay and get out of there. I would definitely not recommend this establishment. If you're looking for a decent Chinese place, I've enjoyed Mandarin Gourmet in the past. It's down the road from Bernard's in Brookline.
(1)
Bill K.
Bland. I don't mind expensive Chinese, but this was Americanized Chinese. Slightly hot wasn't. Crab rangoon was nice and gooey but the amount of crab was visibly tiny and had no taste. Chicken Soong= lettuce leaves with filling were OK. Ditto Double Happiness. Only good thing was hot and sour soup. Staff were OK. Ambience: What was not even slightly OK was the noise, my wife and I couldn't hear one another over the unexpected din.
(2)
A T.
I was a big fan of the Bernard's in its prior location. I recently had dinner at the restaurant in its new address. I was disappointed, unfortunately. While the interior of the restaurant is nice, clean and upscale contemporary, the food is average and expensive in my opinion. The egg drop soup had little taste and was in a whitish broth, not the typical yellow color. A shrimp dish called a "must try" on the menu was below my expectations. The shrimp were large, good-looking, and tasty, but the rest of the dish was "meh." The server also forgot an item we ordered. Menu prices were high in my opinion for comparable Chinese food elsewhere. I felt like I was paying more for the restaurant's nice interior design and location.
(2)
Sheryl F.
This is the first I've been to their new location. Very disappointed. No longer the wonderful quality. Their hot & sour soup was pretty good. The chicken and eggplant was nothing great. Was charged $1.50 for brown rice without being told it was extra. Wouldn't hurry back......
(2)
Daniel B.
Bernard's is the best Chinese restaurant in Newton. I can't think of a close second. We particularly love the Beef with Mandarin BBQ sauce. I'd give five stars except for the noise -- the restaurant is very loud especially on Saturday nights. My ears were ringing after my last meal there. I wish they'd installed carpet and sound baffling instead of the fancy ceiling.
(4)
Jim S.
My third time dining at the new location. Four of us came for dinner this evening. The ambiance is fine, but it's a little loud. Though the temperature outside was below freezing, we were bothered by small flies circling the table throughout the meal. Our appetizers -- barbecued spare ribs, vegetable ravioli -- and egg drop soup were all fine. The wines (different chardonnays ordered by the glass) were uninteresting. I wish they would print the vintage year on the wine list. As for the entrees, the crispy Chilean sea bass was the best. Very nicely prepared. General Tso's chicken was middling. The chicken looked like solid pieces of breast meat but there are several local take-out places making a better-tasting version. The udon noodles with vegetables was the big disappointment. The noodles were overcooked and a bit slimy, with a slightly unpleasant aftertaste. At $110 before tip, I feel the meal was overpriced. Not a good value. I might have given them three stars if it weren't for the flies. As it is, next time I want Chinese I'll go elsewhere.
(2)
Timeka B.
Just wanted to add that my co workers who have ordered food there have complained about their phone etiquette. They are very rushy and it makes people uncomfortable with calling back.
(1)
Silvia V.
Went to Bernard's last Saturday, we were a big party of 8 hungry adults. The restaurant is a small family style place. But the food.... the food is to die for. We tried all kinds of things to share: salt & pepper calamari, soft shell crab, clams, fried dumplings, vegetarian spring rolls, pan seared stuffed eggplant with shrimp mousse, steamed filet of Chilean sea bass, duck moo shi, sauteed shrimp with glazed walnuts, lo mein, shrimp with avocado in plum and sake and orange flavored beef. All the dishes were lick-your-fingers good. I would like to single out the clams, both shrimp dishes, spring roll, the duck and the beef. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. Feel free to order the plum wine, it's delicious. P.S. Our server was the funniest and nicest man ever. He also has a voice of a tenor (there were two birthdays in the restaurant that night).
(5)
Lydia E.
The food is good, but I can't give them more than one star because the service is TERRIBLE. Both times I went there, the waiters were not friendly, kept bugging us every 5 minutes (it felt like they were trying to rush us) and just plain rude.
(1)
Bryce H.
Ok menu good food awful service. Had to send back dishes and spoon 4 times to receive clean dishes and spoons....
Bernard's was great! I have a cherished Chinese food restaurant in Vermont that holds a place in my heart and I have never eaten wonton soup anywhere else that compares UNTIL Bernard's!!! Super thin (not totally doughy) wontons with great filling. Everyone else was happy with their meals but silly me forgot to actually say mine when I ordered on the phone...all of their meals were great though! Lookin forward to trying more
(4)
Ken M.
I've been coming here for years, friendly staff, amazing food, chicken with black bean, shrimp with ginger and scallion, house fried rice, so good!
(5)
Delroy H.
Its definitely one of if not the best Chinese food in Boston.
(5)
Rich L.
5 stars , Service is always friend and food is very good. Steamed seabass , scallion pancake , gai soong
(5)
Veronica H.
I'm not sure why, but I keep thinking about this place. It's a very unassuming chinese restaurant and I wish I could tell you what's so great about it. The service is great and it's more upscale than your typical chinese restaurant, but not too fancy. I recommend the lo mein!
(5)
Blair H.
Bernard's was located inside the Chestnut Hill Mall for many years. It made the move to 'The Street' shopping area just a few months ago (as of this review). Before it was a relatively small dining area and had a ton of take-out business. Bernard's now has a much larger dining area along with a spacious bar. The restaurant is really nice. The bar area is very large. I honestly think they should have made the bar space smaller and added more tables for dining. I also think the TV at the bar is too small for that space. Anyways. I've dined at the restaurant and done take-out too since its reopening. Food is identical to it's previous location. Other Yelpers saying otherwise are just straight up mistaken. I think Bernard's have very good Chinese food but it's a notch below Golden Temple in Brookline. One thing that really bothers me about Bernard's is their boneless spare ribs. Personally I think they are pretty terrible. The meat is very fatty and not very tasty. It's really their only dish I straight up don't like but it's really a shame because boneless spare ribs at most Chinese restaurants are SO GOOD. Anyways, I strongly recommend Bernard's. Again, I don't think it's as good as Golden Temple, but it's still worth your time and money. A good addition to 'The Street'.
(4)
K T.
If I have my Chinese hat on, I would not go, but if I have mind set of an Americanized Chinese yea this can be a place for some fake Chinese food. Yes even 100% Chinese sometimes wants some crab rangoon which is NOT a chinese food (think about it, Chinese don't have cream cheese, why would they invented a dish with ongredient they don't have?) With their new location, the restaurant looks new and fancy. However nothing special about their food, and forget about the real chinese food too, you ain't getting it here.
(2)
Ray S.
Unfortunately since Bernards moved to their current location their service has gone down the drain. Several times we have had take-out orders messed up, and when we called to tell them about the latest one we got an argument in response. I rarely write reviews but this place has really deteriorated, living on it's reputation and the fact that there are not many good Chinese restaurants in the area. I'd strongly advise against patronizing this place.
(1)
Judith K.
Holy Cow, What disaster this place is. Sat at the bar where the bartender/server told us it was her first day! Man! It's Christmas Eve and every non-Christian in the Newton area is out for Chinese food! Place a newbie at the bar! Brilliant! We were ignored, ill served. People who sat down after us were served first. I had to beg for water, dumplings served without dipping sauce, one soup came;the other didn't. Oh, main courses! "Did you order any?" she asked. When I pulled over the manager and told him. Nothing was done. He never checked back with us to see if all was well. Which it wasn't. The food is mediocre, small portions, big prices. Please folks, I know you have a good reputation but seriously. Our first time and our last. Go to Jin's in Wellesley. You'll be happy that you did. So, will your wallet.
(1)
Elizabeth S.
Bernard's is a very nice family restaurant. We like to get many dishes and pass them around the big round table. This time around I order steamed lobster from the spa selection - very fresh. Nice food, generous portions, but the real reason I'm writing this review is for our server, Lin. I've never had such an attentive, thoughtful server! She asked us questions such as "you don't want scallions on anything, but you're ordering scallion pancakes?" (yes, that was correct). She kept our mugs full of hot tea, our bowls full of rice and our glasses full of Sapporo. We decided that she should give seminars on how to be the perfect waitress.
(4)
Javier B.
Came into this place last night and was very impressed with their food. Everything was cooked to perfection. Not very common to find this anywhere.
(5)
Nandanie S.
I just had some lunch at work ordered in from Bernard's. It tasted really good. I had a bit of everything - sesame chicken, chicken lo mein, spring rolls, calamari, e.t.c. It was very good. I work in Newton Corner, and there aren't any Chinese places to eat within walking distance. This was a good surprise :-) I gave it 4 stars because this is the first time I've had it, and for me to give it 5 stars, I'd have to come there and try their food in their restaurant to observe decor, service, and more services. Otherwise, the food was great.
(4)
Clark K.
I love Chinese food more that just about anything in the world, having said that this place doesn't hold a candle to the hole in the wall Chinese Restaurants that i frequent in the greater Boston Area and there are quite a few. Both my girlfriend and I were disappointed with our food, it was gross, and the service was mediocre at best. We won't be coming back. For a place that on the outside looks like an upscale restaurant the other people eating there were dressed like it was a McDonalds, maybe they already knew what they were getting themselves into.
(1)
Karen L.
I have been a patron for years. It used to serve me well when I suffered from shopper's fatigue at the Chestnut Hill Mall. The food owner Bernard is a courteous and friendly gentleman and when there, would always make a point to stop by. We've usually gone there for big family gatherings and were able to order a huge assortment of dishes. Although no particular dish is truly outstanding, none really disappoint. The cuisine itself deserves more than 3 stars. BUT, and it is a huge but for me, is when they suggest certain "off menu" items that they specially prepare for you. These will show up as OPEN FOOD items on your bill. Be forewarned. OPEN FOOD means open wallet. A few pieces of thinly sliced fried tofu around a mound of pickled cucumbers amounted to $40 when not one item on the menu was over $30. We've had many incidents like this happen to us over the years and each time, while swearing to not let them twist our arm into ordering off-menu-especially-prepared-for-us items, somehow in a large gathering, all you need is one curious person who finds pickles in a fan of tofu enticing or another who is tickled at being treated like VIP, and wham! Gotcha! So two stars for this distasteful practice and four stars for their cuisine.
(3)
Wendy L.
Who would think that a restaurant called Bernard's written in cursive would be a Chinese restaurant...especially when it's located at the Chestnut Hill mall??? This is exactly why I decided to walk in and see to it myself! Main differences between Bernard's and the Chinese restaurants in Chinatown: + clean and classy atmosphere + don't overdo on sauce and grease + better service (reflected on the price) - way smaller menu and less choices - smaller portions - pricier (it's in Chestnut Hill...) I think the best thing on the menu is their PEKING DUCK. It's amazing...the marinated duck with crispy skin. We've had pretty experienced servers wrap our peking duck each time and they did a fantastic job. We also got the BBQ Mandarin Beef which stood out more than other dishes but it was a little bit on the sweeter side. Other things we tried were Scallops w/ Garlic Sauce, Chicken w/ Black Bean Sauce and Scallion Pancakes. All these were mediocre at best...definitely get the same if not better food in Chinatown for less money. However, I must say that service was superb and probably the best I've had at a Chinese restaurant. If you are looking for a classier restaurant for a romantic date without the trouble of parking Bernard's might be your solution. I will only return for their Peking Duck....
I've loved it for years and love it at the new location too. Rice noodles with shrimp are my favorite! It's the only Chinese restaurant I'll go to and I don't even life in the area anymore. Service could not be friendlier.
(5)
Kai P.
I have to raise the bar a bit on this place. few months ago me and dad went to grab a bite. I got an appetizer that floored me. a eggplant with black bean sauce drizzled on it. Holy cow I now know what my last meal has to have. This alone made me want to upgrade my review.
(4)
Aboud Y.
Pretty decent Chinese but to be honest I expected alot more. Everything I tried was good but nothing standout or exceptional...and most of the time not worth the price. Not in a hurry to return.
(3)
Andy S.
Do not try this place believe the other reviews that it is not very good
(1)
Brittany T.
Not good and overpriced...go to Chinatown...greasy, fatty, gross.and VERY VERY LOUD!!! Dont go there if you expect to hear your dining partners!!!!!
(2)
Jim D.
Who would think a Chinese restaurant located in the Chestnut Hill mall would be so good? Enter Bernard's and some of the tastiest mall Chinese food you'll ever encounter. I've been ordering from here for several years now and each and every time, the food has been pretty darn good. Typical Americanized Chinese grub is saturated with heavy sauces and is often overly sweet. But that's not the case here. The sauces are lighter and the food has a good balance in flavor and seasoning. My personal favorites are the boneless spare ribs and beef with asparagus and mushrooms. Portions are quite generous! So be weary of your appetite when ordering. My only gripe is that Bernard's is easily one of the priciest Chinese restaurants in the area. I could get the same dishes in Chinatown at almost half the prices. I don't know about you, but Chinese food is not and should not be expensive given the ingredients and usual preparation. $21 for shrimp in lobster* sauce? Give me a break. For that price, they ought to throw in actual lobster! *For those who don't know, there is no lobster in lobster sauce. Go figure!
(3)
Stephanie R.
BEST CHINESE food in Boston!!!!!! Everything is fresh and healthy. They will even make old favorites that are no longer on the menu. This is our all time favorite restaurant.
(5)
Melissa M.
After an afternoon of driving around Natick to find a parking space at that god awful "collection", we found ourselves quite famished. We never did find that parking space in Natick and somehow we took a wrong turn and ended up in the very Brahmin area known as Chestnut Hill, MA. One thing was for certain. We needed food. I specifically told my fiance if he knew of any "authentic Chinese restaurants" and he did. We ended up @ the Chestnut Hill Mall -- we found an easy parking space! And went to eat lunch @ Bernard's. Interesting name for a Chinese restaurant, no? The very friendly man who was the host reminded me of the host on the Seinfeld episode -- you know the one. The good thing was, we could sit in ten to fifteen minute! Ten to fifteen minute! Yes!! The food, was a lil on the greasy side for me, I'm not gonna lie. But, the scallion pancake, was delicious. They have decent duck sauce and their pork fried rice was piping hot and tasted pretty good. I'd stick w/ apps and rice if I were you. But, you may like to go another route. The fiance got a wok-fried meat dish that tasted good, kinda hot and peppery. I liked it. They have great service too. The prices were not too crazy -- this is Chestnut Hill after all. And, they have beer and wine, again, this is Chestnut Hill. If I ever find myself in Chestnut Hill again, I might have to swing by Bernard's!
(3)
Dave G.
Some of the best Chinese cuisine in the Boston area. Definitely try their BBQ beef and black bean chicken dishes.
(4)
Rick B.
Great food. Engaging staff. Excellent experience. A big step above normal Asian cuisine.
(5)
Conny D.
Among the very best Chinese restaurants in the Boston area. Fresh ingredients, well prepared, and excellent service with good memories for returning customers. Low grease - very few deep fried items, and the spices and flavorings are always well balanced, even on a crazy busy night, a talented kitchen staff. Go and enjoy.
(4)
Jeannie H.
Maybe I hold Chinese restaurants to a higher standard because I AM Chinese or maybe the food here just isn't good. First of all, it's horribly Americanized. There is nothing authentic about this place. Secondly, the quality of food is quite poor and it's not that cheap. There is nothing "Hong Kong style" or "upscale" about this place. I love how people compare this place to a Hong Kong eatery when most people have never even been to Hong Kong or know what Cantonese cuisine even is. But then again, if this place was truly Cantonese, would Americans eating in a shopping mall bite? ATMOSPHERE - The decor isn't that nice considering it's in a fairly upscale mall. The people who run the restaurant are actually Chinese, which is a start but the food is definitely catering to Americans. SERVICE - Perfectly fine except you don't get any choice of tea, which is the weirdest thing to me considering it's a Chinese restaurant. FOOD - Shrimp dumplings (har gow) - This was so completely over steamed that the skin was a mushy mess. The filling was also too ground up and didn't have fresh shrimp. Shrimp rice roll - This was also over steamed. The rice noodle was so thick and lacked the delicacy it is supposed to have. Spicy chicken with mushrooms - I have no idea what this dish was even pretending to be. It was slices of chicken breast swimming in a tomato sauce that was like a watered down ketchup. There was nothing spicy about it. Peking ravioli - It was shaped correctly and had the right consistently but was way smaller than they're supposed to be. I can't eat here. I find the "pretend" Chinese food completely gross. At least "chop suey" places don't actually claim to be Chinese food. Maybe if I stop going to LA, NYC, and Toronto for about 10 years and all my taste buds die off and I no longer know what good Cantonese food is (except I'm a pretty decent cook and can whip up food in a minute that tastes 10 times better than this joint), then I could eat here and not gag.
(2)
S K.
Great Chinese food
(5)
Ben R.
This is the only Chinese restaurant in town where I reliably expect to end the evening happy and satisfied with the food. I especially enjoy their wonton soup, which has a very special flavor. It is also a very special place in that over the past five years that we've been going there, the personnel (managers, servers..) hardly ever changed. Great employee loyalty, which says something about the place being very well run.
(5)
fred f.
The place is CLOSED, apparently while they move to a new location! Do not go! If you call, you will get a message saying the voice mailbox is full. It does not mean they are hopping busy and can't answer the phone. It means they are closed and moving somewhere nearby in March! We drove wicked far to go to this closed restaurant. Bad on them for not leaving a message on their voice mail... but even badder on my Yelpsters: why didn't anyone put out some info about this on Yelp?
(1)
DJ R.
HELLO! Tried to go to Bernard's last night and they were CLOSED! They closed on 1/1/13 and have no message on the voice mail! Apparently they are re-opening in March in the lower part of the mall somewhere. Be forwarned.
(4)
Mark O.
In spite of the name, this is a good local Chinese restaurant. It was a bit on the pricey side, but the food was fine. (It's hard to find -- my GPS thought it was in the Chestnut Hill Mall, but it had moved a half-mile east about a year ago.)
(3)
V. T.
One of the very few times that yelp reviews give wrong perceptions about a new place I want to try. Not sure how Bernard's got its 4 stars but I think it's not even close to 2 stars. Chinese food is not my favorite but I do hold my standard pretty high! Bernard's menu is extremely basic and what I would call Americanized Chinese food. In my opinion, if I'm craving for that I would go to PF Chang instead! The fried dumplings we ordered were out of the frozen section of the whole sale store...that I know for sure! I'm kinda involved in the restaurant business and have bought those dumpling in the attempt to sell it at my cousin's restaurant. Long story short, we weren't happy with the quality of the dumplings so we decided to make our own. That's how i recognized the frozen taste at the first bite. Therefore, don't expect home made quality at this restaurant. We also ordered the shrimp paste on eggplant which looked amazing. The taste is a different story. The shrimp paste was older than Joan Rivers and had the i'm-about-to-be-bad taste. The cook did an amazing job in making the caramelized sauce to cover the bad food taste but the distinct smell was too strong to ignore. The only ok dish here was our beef stir-fried with broccoli, carrots and mushroom. It was a little salty for me though! Our server rushed us from one dish to another...as quickly as he could! With all respect, it was hard to understand what he tried to tell us! Bernard's is totally not worth for a second visit.
(1)
Kristina F.
Yes 4 Stars. There are not many good Chinese places near me and I think I finally found it. In fact i can attest that there are NO good chinese places near me. But I've been to Bernards and I think I struck the jackpot! Typically I hate lo mein, but this place does it perfectly - not oily, tasty and not slimy! Their peanut chili dumping things are like candy. Wings are finger licking good. Hot and sour soup has a sweetness that that I have never tasted before. Note: this place is always packed! So beware and enjoy. I only have done take out, so this review does not reflect their services or anything else! Just food!!
(4)
boston y.
new addition to the street in chestnut hill. Food was execellnt ,proportions were good. but the service is way too pushed and we did not like at all. We were hurried all along by our server. I think considering the location and the price ,the servie should be on the polite side. wehn asked for dessert, the server said they do not serve desserts. :x
(3)
Mendel S.
Bernard's new restaurant even better than the old version. The seating, and comfort level and decoration is a luxurious restaurant, with an exciting menu at moderate prices. The stuffed chicken wings is an a special treat. The bar seats15 to 20 with 4 or 5 additional tables to enjoy the regular menu, and the 3 60'" TV's. The location next to the new Super Deluxe Movie Theater is great, and the takeout, and order by phone option is great. Please note the correct new phone number is 617 738-3388. Bernard is usually there supervising an excellent staff. This is probably the best Chinese food east of San Francisco. ENJOY
(5)
Little B.
Lovely, great service, family owned, clean as a whistle, and such fantastic food. Worth a trip to experience Hong Kong style upscale Chinese food served by folks who care about their customers.
(5)
Patsy P.
Great asian food. All dishes fine quality and no msg. The duck is my favorite dish. The waitstaff are very pleasant. Only drawback is that it is pricey and the portions aren't very large .
(4)
Thomas A.
Walked in for dinner last night; the seating host's attitude was demeaning and was yelling "we have no tables for tonight"
(1)
Metin T.
Very authentic quick chinease food, excellent price excellent location, some of the best chinease food outside of china town.
(5)
Katy O.
Let me start by saying I've been working in the Chestnut Hill Mall for three years. With only four restaurants, it's hard to find something exciting after only *one* year. That said, Bernard's is the only place I order from for a meal. Portions are good, and the prices aren't that bad compared to the other restaurants in the mall. I highly recommend the lunch specials if you are there at lunch time (11-4:30).
(5)
Leslie S.
The Lemon Chicken is amazing. I've had it about 10 different times and it's always perfect. Yummmmmmy
(4)
Peter W.
This place has good food, service, and atmosphere; all in a mall location. They have Dim Sum here as well.
(4)
Seth T.
First time at Bernards and I discussed items on the menu with the manager before we decided to get a table. The chicken lettuce wraps had almost no flavor even though recommended by the manager. Waitress was efficient, but not really pleasant, and when I asked for the steamed rice which the menu says comes with all entrees, she balked and said that my dish came with lettuce, but then brought me the small bowl of white rice. Atmosphere was like a cheap diner. There are so many excellent Chinese restaurants in the Boston area, there is no reason to eat here.
(1)
Eileen D.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the Boston area! What's great about Bernard's is that the quality is pretty consistent. We have been coming here for family dinners for over 10 years and can not remember an off night. Recommended appetizers: Thai Style Ribs, Fried Calamari, Scallion Pancake, Fried Egg-roll with Chicken and Mushroom (ask for it, this is not on the menu) Recommended main dish: Peking Duck, Mongolian Beef, Crispy Chilean Sea Bass in Hunan Sauce, Broccoli (stir-fired with garlic), Pan Fried Angel Hair Noodles The house special fried rice is also very good.
(5)
Don M.
Anything less than five stars for this restaurant is a travesty. Simply incredible and, if you don't see it on the menu, they'll make an effort to accommodate you. Lin and George - two of the wait staff members - are beyond compare ... in any restaurant setting ... anywhere. If there's any better Chinese restaurant in New England, I don't know it (and that most definitely includes Chinatown). Does it sound like I like this place? You bet! And, I've been a satisfied customer for over 10 years.
(5)
Dennis L.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the Boston area by a longshot. I have yet to order any Americanized Chinese dishes over the years here and have been exposed to much of their food over the years. But it is a wonderful little restaurant... and it is in a mall, so parking is less of an issue. I know not the English name of the particular dish, but 'tza tzi gai' is a coconut fried chicken that you can order ahead of time that is not normally on the menu. Compared to ones you find in Chinatown, they do not pick massive hulking birds for this dish, but rather, small and lean birds that are filled with flavor. It is done exceptionally well. If there is one dish to die for here, it's the fried Chilean sea bass in Hunan sauce. It is a sweet, tangy, and ever so spicy sauce with peas drizzled over a crisp fried cut of sweet and moist sea bass. The dau miu (pea pod shoots) are done very well here, the hard parts broken away as they should. Some restaurants short-cut that step and they end up tasting wretched. Also here, they cook them with a bit of pork fat and they are much more flavorful that way. Oh, and I know not the name of the kind of fried rice, but they have a fried rice that is simply bean sprouts, egg, and scallion and without soy sauce that is flavorful and complementary to any dish you order rather than overpowering it with chunky ingredients like roast pork or shrimp. The service is good and if you set a reservation with dishes prepared, it will be piping hot and delivered to your table... in a sensible eating order and timing... starting from the moment you sit down. I'd call ahead for a reservation here for coming in general, or at least check how busy they are. They are very variable in their lines. There are very few tables that seat more than four. If your party is larger than four, definitely call it in. It is a little pricier than most Chinese restaurants, but they do not skimp and it is worth it for what I've ordered. Dishes to try: Avocado Shrimp, Dau Miu (pea pod shoots), Fried Chilean Sea Bass, "Tza Tzi Gai", Peking Duck, Shrimp Soong
(5)
Melissa A.
Bernard's is deeeeeeelish! Granted, my choices here are limited being a vegetarian, but everything I've had has been wonderful. I end up getting their steamed veggies and rice a lot for lunch -- the veggies are nice and fresh and crisp, not soggy and rubbery like some other places. I get it with their ginger sauce and spicy sauce and it is great! Their lo mein is also tasty and not too greasy. Prices aren't cheap but aren't super expensive either. You're in the Chestnut Hill Mall, afterall. This is by far my favorite place to eat in the mall! The staff here is super friendly and attentive! They are great! The atmosphere is upscale and chic -- not a cheesy Chinese restaurant by any means. Give Bernard's a try!
(4)
Sandy C.
1. There was stuff in the coke. sent it back twice and finally ordered water. 2. wanted half the order of crab rangoons because i think 8 would be too many for me and they said they would charge me $1 less for half the order. i took it home. 3. the beef teriyaki was so sweet-too chewy-couldn't even pass one bite. 4. Tso's chicken-not good 5. the pineapple sucked. atmosphere- so hectic, not relaxing, not enjoyable. done.
(1)
Justin C.
A cozy and friendly little Chinese joint tucked away on the backside of the Cesnut Hill Mall. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, and the service is terrific. Foodwise, I'd say this is essentially an upscalish take on classic American style Chinese food. They serve the standard battery of Chinese menu items you know from your local spots - General Tso's chicken, Beef Chow Fun, Crab Rangoons, Peking Raviloi, all the Lo Meins, etc - and offer some specials that a normal, cheaper place probably wouldn't have, like Thai Style BBQ Ribs. Their versions of these menu classics are elevated by discernibly high quality ingredients and a solidly grease free presentation. The Chow Fun, for example, has really good little cuts of beef mixed with flat rice noodle, sprouts, and onions in the characteristic brown sauce, but the sauce isn't too heavy or gloppy, and the dish isn't drowning in noodles as you'd see in lesser establishments.
(4)
Jonathan C.
Worst Chinese food eeeevvvveeeerrrrr!!!!! Great employees....that's about it. Sorry! Can't compete with "rice valley"
(1)
Steve G.
Consistently great!
(4)
chris l.
Best gourmet Asian food I've ever had. A little pricey but not unreasonable. Decor is plain and ordinary but very clean. I wish it was somewhere else besides the Chestnut Hill Mall.
(4)
zz Z.
The place is smaller then I unticipated and quiet plane. The food is OK. Good but in my opinion not worth the money. I excpected more. We have 7 people ordering soups and main dishes and few were just bad, 1 was VERY good , the rest were solid OK. The service was good but I don't think I would go back . For this money there are plenty of other Chinese places with better selection and quality .
(3)
R B.
With so few options in the mall, this is the best, but it's nothing special. I even have trouble picking something and I suspect I keep getting the same thing, which okay, but entirely forgettable. Not bad, mind you, but nothing I'd make a trip for. A little expensive for what it is, but consider the surroundings.
(3)
Reid F.
Best Chinese in Boston's Western suburbs, with excellent Dim Sum on Sundays.
(5)
fatty c.
I used to come here from time to time when I felt like spending a little extra to get better quality without the hassle of going to Chinatown. But since I discovered Joyful Garden in Brighton, I hardly visit here anymore. So the other day, due to schedule conflict, I had decided to visit this place again for dinner. But boy, certainly time has changed. I ordered several familiar dishes and none of them were the same as before. I walked out the restaurant disappointed and probably won't come back again.
(2)
Sarah P.
This place IS as good as it gets.
(5)
David P.
First off, you will pay far more for Chinese food here than almost anywhere else. A group of us ordered and shared 5 dishes plus appetizers. Everything was OK, some of it was pretty good. It's definitely better than your greasy Chinese food places and the Polynesian lounge joints - but it's less flavorful than what I'm used to. Flavors seemed toned down so as not to offend or overwhelm the Bloomingdale's crowd. Service was pleasant and attentive without being overbearing. If Bernard's were a bargain, I might give it 4 stars. For the price conscious, I'd give it 2 stars. With standard dishes like General Gao's going for 15.95 and more interesting dishes for 18.95 and 19.95 - - the food should be something special..
(3)
Steak T.
The beef and chicken are likely made with processed meat. The sauces don't taste fresh. Add to that, the meals are on average $17+. 4 stars? I've lost faith in yelp
(1)
Ryan N.
Best Chinese food in metro Boston. Full stop.
(5)
Tiffany D.
This place is delicious. It's like a chinese restaurant smack dab in the middle of a very.. nonchinese looking restaurant! It's super chic and the food is very chinatownish.. but just a bit more on the pricey side. The dim sum is pretty good but when I go there I prefer to order a nice big bowl of the wonton noodle soup with duck & pork. Absolutely delicious!!!!
(4)
Joseph G.
The foods decent enough for American-Chinese fast food. A little grease with a touch of MSG. I hate the fact that it's in the country's highest grossing mall by square footage, at least that's what my dad used to tell me in the ninety's, so that means your meal comes with a little more $ that you would expect. Our waiter was efficient and professional. Although, my limit for beer is usually greater than 1 bottle. The guy never bothered bring my second beer I ordered at the end of apps, so I stuck with H2O for the rest of the meal. The host/owner was every so chatty with the regulars, however my party of 6 didn't even get the standard, "So how was your meal?" Maybe next time I'll wear my Armani Tux to get noticed.
(3)
mariam p.
This is mine and my family's go to place for Chinese food. Their crispy orange beef is to die for and their hot and sour soup always hits the spot. They have a great selection on their lunch menu as well and its definitely more affordable. The one thing that always amazes me is how impeccable and fast their service is. The owners are usually always at the restaurant to make sure everything is going right and they are all really nice. I have been going here for years. i highly recommend it for lunch for those who are wallet conscious. For those who want to splurge a bit and take that special person out for a nice meal, dinner would be better, It is a small place but they do try to accommodate as fast as possible and i like how cozy and quaint it is.
(5)
Alan T.
This is among the best places to get Chinese food in suburban Boston, though you do pay for the quality. We typically order the same thing everytime, so I can't tell you about the rest of the menu, though it is large. Except on Saturday nights, one does not need to wait too long to get a table even without a reservation. Service is snappy and friendly. We always order (and love!) 2 orders of the vegetable spring rolls, an order of sesame chicken, an order of vegetable angel hair pasta, and sometimes won ton soup. It's a great combination - and enough to feed 3 people. all of the food is cooked to order, meaning that the vegetables are crisp, everything is served piping hot. The meat and poultry served is of a high quality
(4)
E.N. Z.
High end Chinese restaurant. In that range, this is the best. Food is great especially if you know what to order. Their twin lobster is better than some of the restaurants in Chinatown. Peking Duck is probably even better than NYC Chinatown. Chef Chan's duck is from Long Island, a supplier of more than 20 years. I don't know where Bernaard's got their duck, but it was the right kind, not fatty at all, cooked just right!! The fish dishes are divine, perfectly cooked, extremely tender. Order these, you will love this place. Service is top notch.
(5)
K C.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant it's located in the Chestnut Hill Mall. The Chinese food is fresh. (not greasy like other places) The waitstaff are very nice. This place is more then reasonable not exspensive. It's so Yummmmy!!!
(5)
davy f.
We used to eat here frequently, then got out of the habit. Friends from out of town didn't like Thai and wanted Chinese, so off we went. Food was OK, but nothing special. Service was a little haphazard. Beer is generally pretty good with Chinese food, but the only two choices were Tsingtao and Coors Light. We all had Tsingtao, which was served way warm, even warmer than in a pub. One swallow does not a Spring make, but this was disappointing. When I commented to the owner (or at least the guy who came around and asked if everything was ok) I got a shrug and little more. We'll be back, but maybe not soon.
(2)
Naomi P.
Everything I ate at Bernard's tasted fresh and light - even the fried dishes! I am usually suspect of the quality of ingredients used at Chinese restaurants, but after my first few bites I knew there was nothing fear at Bernard's. I really liked that the restaurant has a "spa" menu, which offers slimmed down entrees with vegetables. The peking ravioli (which looked like small potstickers) were perfect bite-sized morsels to get the appetite going. The sea bass had a light sauce that didn't overpower the flavor of the fish. (I will admit that the bass was a little overcooked for my taste, but still worth ordering again). I just couldn't keep my hands off the noodles. They had such a nice texture and flavor. My dad who pretty much despises pasta in any form even asked for seconds. The chicken with onion, which was off menu was my table's favorite. BTW - the place has an upscale decor, but is very kid friendly.
(4)
Ed P.
i must say that Bernard's is the only Chinese i eat from now on. the menu selection is exotic and tastefully prepared. the reason some1 said that it lacks flavour must be because they don't use msg. the waitstaff is very friendly and very attentive to detail. try the watercrest, the beancurd dishes and don't forget the dim sum on sundays! Bernard's gets 2 thumbs up.
(5)
Greg H.
this place was disappointing. we only went cuz of the lofty yelp rating, which is usually reliable. but i have to disagree with the yelpers this time on bernard's. the only good thing about this place is that the food's not as greasy as most other chinese places. but, in exchange, what you get is very bland food. also the portions are small. how often do you come out of a chinese restaurant still feeling hungry? i was hungry after finishing my lunch combo. and my wife, who has petite appetite and usually never touches carb, actually had to dig into some of her white rice! lunch combos are all in the $8.50-$12 range, so slightly pricier than usual... understandable given its chestnut hill mall location. rather stingy portion of entree, with a side of rice and an appetizer (it was a crab rangoon the day we went). no soup, no fried rice option. the ginger and scallion cod dish only had two small pieces of cod, along with some veggies. the ambiance, while clean, is still that of a typical chinese place and definitely not on par with places like pf chang or even le's pho across the street. in fact, i'd choose pf over bernard's anytime. much more flavor and better ambiance at pf.
(3)
jules t.
i never have to eat here again.
(2)
Ryan B.
Great, fresh Chines food. Only three types of beers available (Amstel Light, Heineken, Tsingtao) but they did have a decent Wine list. While the Chestnut Hill Mall is not your average mall I still prefer dining at establishments not connected to malls. But shopping can sure make you hungry!!!! The management of Bernard's is extremely attentive and makes every attempt to personally get to know all of the regulars.
(4)
Kya F.
If you have a hankering for Chinese food, but you're NOT in the mood for greasy food, head to Bernard's at the Chestnut Hill Mall. Theirs is the healthiest tasting Chinese I've ever had. The vegetables are so fresh. Nothing feels oily. The Chilean Sea Bass melts in your mouth.
(5)
T L.
this has to be one of my favorite restaurants in all of boston. No one does chinese like these guys, god damn is this place good. it is located in the chestnut hill mall, so if there is a wait then i you can wander around till meal time. The place is actually pretty small, so not many seats and everyone has to sit pretty close to each other. the concept is a chic upscale type of chinese, which seems less greasy and just tastes better. you have to start the meal off with the won ton soup, its freggin great, the broth is clear , but very flavorul, and hand made wontons are good. some of restaurant favorite are: pan seared angel hair with beef, its crispy noodles topped with the brownish sauce and bok choy, and good size portion (i almost always get this); roasted duck in a wonton noodle soup, not much duck but this is incredible, with these thick noodles, served in a big bowl; beef with fresh basil with hot pepper sauce was a waiter recommendation that was super tasty; the sauteed shrimp with glazed walnuts were jumbo, perfectly cooked shrimp goodness (actually all the shrimp dishes are good); i havent had this but someone at the next table had the chillian sea bass and i couldnt help but stare at them the entire meal wishing i got the same thing, so next time hopefully. parking is sometimes a bitch and they only have one stall bathrooms, so defintely no time for numbers 2s or you will create a line, that will be embarassing given the small restaurant, my suggestion would be to hit up the bloomingdales bathroom which is cleaner, huge and upscale. 8.5 out of 10
(5)
Bill Y.
I'll admit that I am picky, picky, picky when it comes to Chinese food. I've a recollection of a great little place in Northern Jersey called Shanghai Jazz that will stand forever as THE Chinese restaurant.......Then I walked into Bernards. From the friendly greeting and prompt seating, to the sometimes just a tad brusk wait staff to the absolute bliss of every item I've ever ordered on the menu this place is five stars. In an unlikely location in a shopping mall and not very big, it remains a place that offer this cuisine as good as it gets. I really can't single out any dish (others on this site have done a fine and fair job) over another. Please accept my promise that you will not, you cannot be let down by Bernards. Finally, the servings are always large enough to provide a nice lunch the following day. The only downside is that it is too darned far from where I live to eat there three times a week.
(5)
Erin W.
My husband and I were shopping at the Chestnut Hill Mall around dinnertime, and since we'd heard such great things about Bernard's, we decided to pick some up to-go. The menu had both the traditional items like lo mein, but then also some really fresh and interesting sounding dishes, such as shrimp and avocado in plum and sake sauce, which I ended up ordering (and which was delicious). We also got vegetable chow foon, which was incredible and very fresh (they even packed extra veggies into a separate container for us), and crab rangoon, which was the best I've had in a really long time. Yes, it's pricey, but it's also one of the tastiest and freshest Chinese places I've found in the area.
(5)
Anne C.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant and I've been going there for the last 8 years. My cousin and my family go there about once every 6 weeks. It's chinese food with a modern twist, and the dishes are very creative. I haven't had a disappointed meal there. The waitstaff are great, and they'll tell you what the specials are and what they recommend (or what's fresh and yummy today). Their lobster dish is excellent, and sometimes you could get fresh scallops (with the shell) steamed in blackbean with ginger and scallions. They also serve a la carte dim sum for lunch on the weekends (although not for holiday or mother's day weekend) and noodle soups, etc. After the meal, we always have a egg custard with tapioca (served warm) and it's not too sweet, but just a nice ending to a satisfying chinese meal. The restaurant is small and on the upscale side with prices of dishes ranging from $14 - $30, but it's well worth it. It's always crowded because the food is just great and it's small. It's part of the Chestnut Hill Mall (so highly recommend reservations for bigger parties). Nothing like having a great meal follow by some great shopping at Bloomies.
(5)
Esther L.
Authentic Chinese food, and the restaurant has got tasteful decor. Its inside the mall, so its a nice place to go for a lunch or dinner break. The prices are more expensive than Chinatown, but the food is good. I like their wonton soup.
(4)
Rico B.
OK food but pricey. Nothing much else I can say, since it didn't give me any memorable experience. Suggestion: try the fish fillet in brown sauce.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Anastasia H.
I went to Bernard's a lot back in high school (when it was still in the chestnut hill mall) and it was delicious every time. It's one of those places that you go to and never have bad service or a bad meal. Everytime I would go it was 5 star service! Bernard's is now located past Chestnut Hill Mall at "The Street" Shopping Mall. This place is a hidden gem! I would say it is one of the nicest Chinese Food restaurants in the area by far! What we get when we go here? Starter: Crab Rangoon (6) $5.95 Comes with the spicy mustard sauce and duck sauce I believe. Hands down top 2 best crab rangoons I have ever had! Hot & Sour Soup $3.75 Very good not too overpowering of flavors but always a favorite between my boyfriend and I. Entrée: Orange Flavored Beef $17.95 You have to like oranges/ orange flavoring to eat this it hits your mouth with orange flavoring! So delicious comes with a side of white rice. We also got a scorpion bowl for two to share and it was amazing! I recommend this place to anyone walking around the mall shopping or for a special occasion dinner with family or friends. We went for our 3 year anniversary and it was amazing! The service is always top notch! Not asking every second how things are (which annoys me) but making sure to keep there distance and come up to you when your glass is empty and just politely check in. I just keep craving Bernard's the more I write so I'm going to stop. 5 star Service, Food, Atmosphere, Staff! Thank you for always making my experience at Bernard's such a enjoyable one!
(5)Steph R.
My family and I have been going to Bernard's for over a decade, and love it. Food is clean and fresh, and very good quality. The interrior of Bernard's is very clean, and maintained that way all the time. Service is great and food as well, but usually busy on the weekends. Some great dishes: Sesame Chicken, Orange Flavored Beef, Wontons in Hot Petter & Peanut Sauce, Egg & Scallion Fried Rice, Crab Ragoon, Chow Fun,
(4)Angela L.
If you want Americanized chinese food, Bernard's is the place! My favorite dish is the Chilean sea bass, probably the best thing there!! Pretty sure it's a "must try" on their menu, and I completely agree. I also got the pea pod stems (which are always delicious at any Asian restaurant), the Peking dumplings, and a beef dish. Nothing spectacular. Pretty decent sized place. Usually pretty packed on the weekends, but service is okay? Could be better. Overall, it's good. Get the Chilean sea bass
(3)Lizz J.
The service was incredibly slow--waited 5 minutes to be greeted at the door and 10 minutes to be offered any drink. Taking a quick look around the dining floor, no Asians were around. Hmmm, the food, indeed, was nothing to amaze a Chinese food expert like me.
(2)Diva K.
I came here with my boyfriend for dinner, and I was surprised that I could have ordered what I wanted here at a restaurant in Chinatown, maybe even order two more other dishes, for the same price we paid here. Taste and quality of the food is the same. The reason why this place is so expensive is because it is in Chestnut Hill. Customer service was good. Overall, I had a good experience, but I wouldn't come back unless I have the President or some favorite family members visiting.
(5)Jessica R.
I went to Bernard's tonight on a date and found the food to be delectable! The wait for a busy Saturday night around 7:30 was around 20 minutes and once we were seated and ordered, the food was served very quickly. We ordered crab Rangoon, vegetable spring rolls, general Taos chicken, Mongolian beef and salt and pepper calamari! All of it was amazing! My water glass was never empty. I always appreciate great service. We had so much food that we definitely had to get some to to go containers. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)V L.
We ordered three dishes of deep fried crab, a stem fish, fried chicken and vegetable (bean curl). They were all very delicious. Service was excellent. Waitress changed our plates 2 times. I highly recommend everyone to Bernard's.
(5)Danna S.
Great staff except for the hostess....doesn't even look at you when you walk in. Bar tending staff is do friendly. Food is great and nice service!
(4)Ashley A.
Stopped in with my sister for dinner last night. I was thrilled to have gotten in right away without a reservation. The staff was very prompt and courteous. We got an order of the crab rangoon, mongolian beef, and sesame chicken. The food all came out really fast and was all very hot. My only caveat with our meal is that it seemed to be lacking in the flavor I was hoping for. My sister, however, said she really enjoyed it. Either way, I enjoyed the meal and the food tasted pretty good. I'd definitely go back to try a couple of other dishes before I make any additional judgements. Overall, great experience, and the service was excellent.
(4)Nicole M.
Expensive for chinese food but still good. We got fried rice which tasted very fresh,average spare ribs,fried shrimp which was average and the hot and sour soup which definitely was not remarkable. The clear winner for us all was the beef noodle soup huge portion enough for three people loaded with beef and leeks. Very tasty for a chilly evening.
(3)Kevin S.
Underwhelmed with food and overwhelmed with prices. Only when we got home did we discover why our chicken dishes seemed tough, they weren't completely cooked through. Large chunks of chicken, in a batter with a different sauce to create a different dish, but in either case weren't sufficiently cooked through. Upcharged $1.50 for a half cup serving of brown rice is a bit exhorbitant, when most restaurants serve one or the other. $40 for a $25 lunch doesn't work in my book, especially when we have to be concerned about the completeness of cooking of the food.
(3)Michele D.
Everything was great, but the Mongolian beef. The beef didn't have any flavor, and it was supposed to be a little on the spicy side. Service wonderful, but a bit on the pricey side. Everything else, very good.
(4)Kathryn M.
My son and I stopped in for lunch and a cocktail on Friday afternoon. We both ordered a luncheon special for $10. Both dishes came with white rice and 2 crab rangoon. I opted for Kung Pao Chicken and my son ordered Sesame Chicken. We both ordered a Mai Tai ($11). Both dishes were very light and perfect for lunch. Service was great. Plenty of parking in front of the restaurant. Easy to find: the location is in the same plaza as the Container Store, The movie theater, The Cottage Restaurant and Davios.
(4)Steve L.
Great chinese food in the area! Gotta have the chicken chow foon and yummy lamb chops. No complaints on their service and food. Glad to see they left the mall. So enjoyable to sit at the bar and watch football and hockey. The 2 cute bartenders are on top of their game for customer service. Never had my glasss empty or always had a beer ready for me. So enjoyable to come back again and again
(5)Chuck D.
The best Chinese food not only in all of boston but in my opinion the country. 5 stars
(5)Meghan B.
the best Chinese food period. do yourself a favor and order the wontons in hot pepper and peanut sauce
(5)Dan V.
Good food, good service, a little pricey. It's a little fancy, but it's worth it for the good food. Nice bar.
(4)Yna A.
Great Asian food if you're not actually Asian. Comparable to average Chinese take out but much pricier. Weird ambiance and inconsistent service.
(3)Amy S.
Just had lunch here on a Sunday afternoon The place was busy which really surprised me after we got our food! We ordered General Tso's chicken and vegetable udon with chicken. The udon had a few sliced onions and small tiny tiny bits of chicken The Tso'chicken was dry and tough. Both dishes lacked ANY flavor. Blah. I have better dishes at the mall's food court. I live nearby and know that I will never walk in here again. Too bad.
(2)David B.
I have passed this place a number of times on my way to Del Friscos but never bothered to stop in. Well...that was a mistake. I've missed some great food!! This week I stopped in for a early dinner and the bar was mostly empty so I seated myself. The Bartender was friendly and attentive asking me for my cocktail selection and recommending different wine selections. I didn't want to make a big order since this was my first visit and I'm generally disappointed with most Chinese food outside of the city limits. I tried the General Tso Chicken ..fantastic. Large chunks for perfectly cooked white meat with a gentle batter topping and a sweet glaze, steamed broccoli with steamed white rice. My goodness. it was so good my mouth is watering as I type this review. I'm going back tonight.
(4)Christen C.
I can't say too much because I only sat at the bar, but I liked this place! It's clean and nice looking, with decent service. It's your standard Chinese food, but the crab rangoons were awesome---perfectly golden brown and fried. They also have a nice wine list as well as cocktail list. My husband got a great Mai Tai. If you're looking for Chinese food that's a little nicer than the average, I think this is a good option.
(4)Marisa G.
By far the best Chinese in the city! Worth the extra drive to Chestnut Hill. Amazing chicken and noodle dishes - combines classic and inventive, and consistently tasty.
(5)Max G.
Best Chinese in Boston. Not truly authentic cuisine but the most delicious. Things I always order are shrimp in lobster sauce (for lunch), sizzling black bean chicken, scallop hot pot, the peanut wonton appetizer, plum sake shrimp, and the best hot and sour soup I've ever eaten! I love the waitstaff (George especially). I just wish they stayed at their old location, it was so perfect and I grew up to love that place in particular. It's all still the same luckily.
(5)Douglas W.
A star for just OK service in a nice looking room. As for the food. No. Just no. Call me fussy, but at these prices I expect my food to taste like something. A modest portion of Mongolian beef ($18.95! and one of the cheapest things on the menu.) was described by the server as "a bit spicy", but in fact was one of the blandest things I've ever put in my mouth, hardly even tasting of beef, much less any seasoning whatsoever. My companion's General Tso's chicken was slices of chicken in a glossy brown sauce that also had no flavor at all. None. Seriously. How do they do that? Dishes came out at drastically different times and bottled beer was served room temperature. Maybe Chestnut Hill likes its Chinese food tasteless, because the place was packed. I don't. Take the same amount of money over to Cambridge and have a memorable meal at Changsho.
(1)Jeremy K.
My toilet has a 1.28 gallon per flush feature. It's brand is Kohler. How do I know that? Well for most of the afternoon, we got to spend quite a bit of time together - some bonding time - As I was dry-heaving and throwing up into it after eating at Bernard's. While I'm not 100% convinced that it could be from eating at Bernard's, my wife wasn't feeling so hot either after we had lunch there recently. I'm still in utter shock by that fact, especially since I had been to Bernard's another time prior, many years ago, a visit which had left a memorable impression on me. And it's a shame really because this restaurant went through major renovations as part of the Chestnut Hill Mall revamp in the last few years, bringing new businesses and upgraded design and architecture to the area. They went from being a swanky-like, white tablecloth restaurant to a modern, gorgeous Asian restaurant with lots of dark woods, glass and sleek features. It's stunning inside and very tastefully decorated. I want to love this place, I really do, but my experience spent on the bathroom floor... well... not fun. But despite being in somewhat of a luxurious strip-mall and expensive area, the prices here kind of amazing. Almost Chinatown-esque and thus very affordable for the masses. Most of their appetizers around about $6-$7 and their entrees are $15-$19 for most of the menu. Not bad at all. One my most recent visit here, the wife and I split some pan-seared scallion pancakes ($5.75) which came with 3 dipping sauces and which were very tasty. Not too oily either. Then I had some chicken chow foon ($11.50) and the wife had something off of their specials menu. I washed everything down for 4 glasses of their incredibly tasty, unsweetened ice tea. It could be the best iced tea I've had, or definitely up there. Quite memorable, especially since it was fountain iced tea. Iced tea lovers? Try it out. You'll thank me later. Service was mediocre. We spent the first 20 minutes there waiting for menus, and another 15-20 minutes waiting to place our order despite the fact that the restaurant wasn't full and never having to wait for a table in the first place. So what to think of Bernard's. It's a tricky one. Maybe I should try it again? My stomach is still angry at me though and I do think that I had food poisoning from them but with that said, maybe - and hopefully - this could be a one time thing? I really want to love this place, despite the side effects from my last visit there. Their menu is a crowd-pleaser and is still of American-Chinese classics as well as more a few Japanese dishes. They have it all, from boneless spare ribs ($5.25) to crab rangoon ($5.25), to Japanese Udon ($11.50-$12.50) and fried rice ($7.50). They have Kung Pao chicken ($8.25), General Tso's Chicken ($8.25) and even Peking duck ($37). And many more dishes as well. Maybe you should stay tuned for an updated review, as I'll try and see if I can return without my stomach churning at the thought. I did love their iced tea and food after all...
(2)Boriq P.
Great food, great service. The crab Rangoons and rice were amazing. Lobster with scallions was great. The only reason I am giving three stars is because the menu is limited and we ordered two lobsters and they let us wait til our meal to tell us there was only one. I would say try them if you are in the area.
(3)Rebecca H.
I agree with previous posts that the food was rather bland. Not terrible, just not flavorful. Our waitress, Amy, was extremely nice I would give her 4 stars but the food only gets 3.
(3)Erika B.
Bernards's has exceeded my expectations. I visited Bernard's with my mom and boyfriend on Valentine's Day. We decided to try a bunch of appetizers including the spareribs (bone-in), crab rangoon, egg and scallion fried rice and salt and pepper calamari. All were fantastic- especially the spicy twist on calamari! We saw two great looking seafood dishes go by and added one to our table-- the fried lobster!! Amazing! Great seasoning! The staff was friendly and accommodating. (we asked to move from the front of the restaurant to the back because of the cold draft) The drinks were strong and tasty; average price for the area.. $11 for a Cosmo and $8 for a gin and tonic. Only negative really was the size of the restaurant (granted we visited during Valentine's Day at 7pm) There were 5 8+parties in the center, 10 4tops, 12 2tops and an extremely packed bar. Our servers ended up having to reach over the table to serve our food because the table next to ours was so close. If you are sensitive to noise and space while dining, I suggest trying out Bernard's on a week night. Enjoy!!
(4)Harvard P.
I was really sad when Bernard's closed their location at the Chestnut Hill Mall, but I think it was an overall good move for them to move next to Shake Shack. The location is beautiful, and the food, as usual, is excellent. My favorite dish is the pan fried angel hair noodles with seafood. It always hits the spot!
(4)MA M.
Amazing food! Always have only take-outs, chicken teriyaki is the best! Fried rice is awesome, crab rangoons are delicious, everything is WOW!!!
(5)Michael A.
We're back again and we had excellent service and delicious food. Amy, our waitress, was great and recommended a few items on the menu that were exactly what we were seeking.
(4)Anya H.
Bernard's is great! All the staff are very kind. Me and my dad had a very nice conversation with the bartender and the owner. The food tastes sooo good! The pork dumplings and the Singapore angel hair noodles are really tasty!
(5)Chloe H.
Bernard's use to be my favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. It's really gone down hill since moving to the new location. My vegetables were overcooked in the dishes I ordered and the sauces were gelatinous and greasy. Pretty disappointing. I would have to be pretty desperate to go back.
(2)Joanne R.
Visited Bernard's on Sat.night and was totally impressed. We had an early reserv (6pm as that's all that was avail when I called). We were seated immediately and surprisingly the restaurant was 90% crowed at that hour. We had a chance to look over the cocktail menu, then our waitress came and took our drink order. For dinner we ordered, veg. spring roll app, shrimp w/leeks and garlic (HIGHLY RECOMMEND), orange beef and noodles with vegetables. EVERYTHING came out hot (termperature) and delicious. Another thing that had me give kudos to our waitress was that we weren't rushed. Actually I was with a friend haven't seen in a long time and was catching up, but never felt rushed. This was my first time to Bernard's but given my experience, it certainly won't be my last!!!
(4)Anthony C.
My family decided to give Bernard's a try for a pre-Father's day outing. I was extremely disappointed in the service, and the food itself was "ok". I find that with good service, even poor food can be forgiven, but poor service can ruin the food, and when the food is just "ok", that it's not worth trying again. We ordered about $150 worth of food consisting of several entrees and several appetizers for 5 people since we like to sample a lot of different things when we try a new restaurant. The food came out quite quickly and that was good. We tried a special of the day, a soft shell crab, and took the waitress's offer to cut up the crab for everyone. This is where things started to get interesting. After cutting up the crab, she started placing the pieces on each person's plate. On the way to the mother-in-law's plate, the waitress DROPS the crab on the table and says "oops, sorry", then tries to pick it up. drops it again on the table, and then finally picks it up and puts it on her plate anyways. What the hell ??????? For an "upscale" Chinese restaurant, it was unbelievable sight. No offer to fire a new dish, and just walked off. They didn't even bother to wipe up the mess of crumbs and other crap that they dropped on the table. For those of us who did get an untainted crab, it was overly salted. In fact, everything we ate seemed to be overly salted except for the "dou miao" which was decent. As the dinner service went on, more and more patrons came in and it felt like we were out of place as everyone seemed to be over 60 years old. Is that why they overly salt everything? I know your taste buds tend to go as you get older but seriously.. We only saw one group of Asians, which were also definitely over 60 years old. I guess that's a bad sign, no Asian people at an Asian restaurant, but we showed up too early to realize it. We were hungry and powered through the meals, drinking lots of water and eating white rice to deal with the salt. A young waiter was very attentive and frantically ran around refilling water at our table and others. Although the promptness was appreciated, he splashed water all over the table because he was in such a rush. Not quite sure what that was about. That same crap your pants urgency led to an even worse experience than being served crab dropped on the table. As the young waiter picked up our plates at the end of the meal, he tried to carry four plates at once on one arm, piling it on one at a time. As he put on his last plate on his arm, he proceeds to drop the chopsticks that were on the plate on my fiancé!!!! "oh sorry" My fiancé felt bad because he seemed new and picked them up off the floor and gave them to him. He puts it on the top plate and drops them again on her! What the hell ??????? I just wanted to leave at that point. Thanks Bernards for topping off a great evening by then serving canned fruit in a dirty bowl at the end of our meal. One of the lame toothpicks even had a black mold spot on it. The only thing funny and memorable about this place was the fortune cookie that I got. It said "expensive" - gui. LOL!!! Bernard's, for those that like being served super salty food just dropped on the table by your waiter, getting water spilled on you, getting your own eating utensils dropped on you as they clear up, and then finishing your meal with complimentary canned fruit and fortune cookies. In consensus with other reviewers, 0 stars for service, 1-2 stars for food.
(1)Rachel N.
I reserve my right to review only the unique, surprising, and truly stand out dining and service experiences. Lucky for me, those have usually been for great dives, tasty restaurants, and fantastic businesses. However, I knew this day would eventually come. Today, I write my first bad review. I went to Bernard's with my boyfriend for lunch. We were on the hunt for delicious noodle soup on a chilly afternoon and their menu looked tasty and reasonably priced. We ordered some staples - Hot and Sour soup, vegetable dumplings, and something a bit more adventurous - roasted duck and wonton noodle soup. The hot and sour soup was not hot, nor was it sour. Lukewarm and the consistency of bottled teriyaki sauce, it was unappealing. The dumplings were unremarkable, and unfortunately, also served lukewarm. The duck soup looked and smelled good at first, but upon closer inspection there was little edible duck in the bowl. The meat was mostly neck meat - with lots of fat, gristle, and bones. The more my boyfriend ate of it, the sicker he looked. About a fifth of the way through, he felt quite ill. This was bad enough to warrant a complaint. I mentioned our disappointment with the food to our waiter, who not only forgot our beverages and cutlery, but never came to check on us once. He promptly brought us the bill and said there was nothing he could do unless we complained at the front of the restaurant. When I took our complain to the next level, I received no apology, nor any words of comfort i.e. no one asked us if we'd like something different to eat. I was told that "just because you don't like it, doesn't mean that you don't pay for it." The next step would have been to yell, scream, and demand to see the manager. As my boyfriend started to look greener and more woozy, I decided to just pay and get out of there. I would definitely not recommend this establishment. If you're looking for a decent Chinese place, I've enjoyed Mandarin Gourmet in the past. It's down the road from Bernard's in Brookline.
(1)Bill K.
Bland. I don't mind expensive Chinese, but this was Americanized Chinese. Slightly hot wasn't. Crab rangoon was nice and gooey but the amount of crab was visibly tiny and had no taste. Chicken Soong= lettuce leaves with filling were OK. Ditto Double Happiness. Only good thing was hot and sour soup. Staff were OK. Ambience: What was not even slightly OK was the noise, my wife and I couldn't hear one another over the unexpected din.
(2)A T.
I was a big fan of the Bernard's in its prior location. I recently had dinner at the restaurant in its new address. I was disappointed, unfortunately. While the interior of the restaurant is nice, clean and upscale contemporary, the food is average and expensive in my opinion. The egg drop soup had little taste and was in a whitish broth, not the typical yellow color. A shrimp dish called a "must try" on the menu was below my expectations. The shrimp were large, good-looking, and tasty, but the rest of the dish was "meh." The server also forgot an item we ordered. Menu prices were high in my opinion for comparable Chinese food elsewhere. I felt like I was paying more for the restaurant's nice interior design and location.
(2)Sheryl F.
This is the first I've been to their new location. Very disappointed. No longer the wonderful quality. Their hot & sour soup was pretty good. The chicken and eggplant was nothing great. Was charged $1.50 for brown rice without being told it was extra. Wouldn't hurry back......
(2)Daniel B.
Bernard's is the best Chinese restaurant in Newton. I can't think of a close second. We particularly love the Beef with Mandarin BBQ sauce. I'd give five stars except for the noise -- the restaurant is very loud especially on Saturday nights. My ears were ringing after my last meal there. I wish they'd installed carpet and sound baffling instead of the fancy ceiling.
(4)Jim S.
My third time dining at the new location. Four of us came for dinner this evening. The ambiance is fine, but it's a little loud. Though the temperature outside was below freezing, we were bothered by small flies circling the table throughout the meal. Our appetizers -- barbecued spare ribs, vegetable ravioli -- and egg drop soup were all fine. The wines (different chardonnays ordered by the glass) were uninteresting. I wish they would print the vintage year on the wine list. As for the entrees, the crispy Chilean sea bass was the best. Very nicely prepared. General Tso's chicken was middling. The chicken looked like solid pieces of breast meat but there are several local take-out places making a better-tasting version. The udon noodles with vegetables was the big disappointment. The noodles were overcooked and a bit slimy, with a slightly unpleasant aftertaste. At $110 before tip, I feel the meal was overpriced. Not a good value. I might have given them three stars if it weren't for the flies. As it is, next time I want Chinese I'll go elsewhere.
(2)Timeka B.
Just wanted to add that my co workers who have ordered food there have complained about their phone etiquette. They are very rushy and it makes people uncomfortable with calling back.
(1)Silvia V.
Went to Bernard's last Saturday, we were a big party of 8 hungry adults. The restaurant is a small family style place. But the food.... the food is to die for. We tried all kinds of things to share: salt & pepper calamari, soft shell crab, clams, fried dumplings, vegetarian spring rolls, pan seared stuffed eggplant with shrimp mousse, steamed filet of Chilean sea bass, duck moo shi, sauteed shrimp with glazed walnuts, lo mein, shrimp with avocado in plum and sake and orange flavored beef. All the dishes were lick-your-fingers good. I would like to single out the clams, both shrimp dishes, spring roll, the duck and the beef. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. Feel free to order the plum wine, it's delicious. P.S. Our server was the funniest and nicest man ever. He also has a voice of a tenor (there were two birthdays in the restaurant that night).
(5)Lydia E.
The food is good, but I can't give them more than one star because the service is TERRIBLE. Both times I went there, the waiters were not friendly, kept bugging us every 5 minutes (it felt like they were trying to rush us) and just plain rude.
(1)Bryce H.
Ok menu good food awful service. Had to send back dishes and spoon 4 times to receive clean dishes and spoons....
(3)Andrew R.
Please note that restaurant location/ address is different from Yelp listing. They are at 55 Bolyston Street now in a new or renovated small shopping area. Three of us from out of town and craving Chinese food. All dishes were hot and tasty. Generous amount of lobster meat in the shell served with ginger and scallions. Mongolian beef, fried rice with pork,and sautéed string beans all hit the spot. Restaurant very crowded on a Thursday night. Somewhat noisy but not unbearable. Waiter was friendly and attentive. I thought pricing was reasonable given quality,portion size,and location. Overall, Bernard's hit the spot for our food craving.
(4)Becca C.
Bernard's was great! I have a cherished Chinese food restaurant in Vermont that holds a place in my heart and I have never eaten wonton soup anywhere else that compares UNTIL Bernard's!!! Super thin (not totally doughy) wontons with great filling. Everyone else was happy with their meals but silly me forgot to actually say mine when I ordered on the phone...all of their meals were great though! Lookin forward to trying more
(4)Ken M.
I've been coming here for years, friendly staff, amazing food, chicken with black bean, shrimp with ginger and scallion, house fried rice, so good!
(5)Delroy H.
Its definitely one of if not the best Chinese food in Boston.
(5)Rich L.
5 stars , Service is always friend and food is very good. Steamed seabass , scallion pancake , gai soong
(5)Veronica H.
I'm not sure why, but I keep thinking about this place. It's a very unassuming chinese restaurant and I wish I could tell you what's so great about it. The service is great and it's more upscale than your typical chinese restaurant, but not too fancy. I recommend the lo mein!
(5)Blair H.
Bernard's was located inside the Chestnut Hill Mall for many years. It made the move to 'The Street' shopping area just a few months ago (as of this review). Before it was a relatively small dining area and had a ton of take-out business. Bernard's now has a much larger dining area along with a spacious bar. The restaurant is really nice. The bar area is very large. I honestly think they should have made the bar space smaller and added more tables for dining. I also think the TV at the bar is too small for that space. Anyways. I've dined at the restaurant and done take-out too since its reopening. Food is identical to it's previous location. Other Yelpers saying otherwise are just straight up mistaken. I think Bernard's have very good Chinese food but it's a notch below Golden Temple in Brookline. One thing that really bothers me about Bernard's is their boneless spare ribs. Personally I think they are pretty terrible. The meat is very fatty and not very tasty. It's really their only dish I straight up don't like but it's really a shame because boneless spare ribs at most Chinese restaurants are SO GOOD. Anyways, I strongly recommend Bernard's. Again, I don't think it's as good as Golden Temple, but it's still worth your time and money. A good addition to 'The Street'.
(4)K T.
If I have my Chinese hat on, I would not go, but if I have mind set of an Americanized Chinese yea this can be a place for some fake Chinese food. Yes even 100% Chinese sometimes wants some crab rangoon which is NOT a chinese food (think about it, Chinese don't have cream cheese, why would they invented a dish with ongredient they don't have?) With their new location, the restaurant looks new and fancy. However nothing special about their food, and forget about the real chinese food too, you ain't getting it here.
(2)Ray S.
Unfortunately since Bernards moved to their current location their service has gone down the drain. Several times we have had take-out orders messed up, and when we called to tell them about the latest one we got an argument in response. I rarely write reviews but this place has really deteriorated, living on it's reputation and the fact that there are not many good Chinese restaurants in the area. I'd strongly advise against patronizing this place.
(1)Judith K.
Holy Cow, What disaster this place is. Sat at the bar where the bartender/server told us it was her first day! Man! It's Christmas Eve and every non-Christian in the Newton area is out for Chinese food! Place a newbie at the bar! Brilliant! We were ignored, ill served. People who sat down after us were served first. I had to beg for water, dumplings served without dipping sauce, one soup came;the other didn't. Oh, main courses! "Did you order any?" she asked. When I pulled over the manager and told him. Nothing was done. He never checked back with us to see if all was well. Which it wasn't. The food is mediocre, small portions, big prices. Please folks, I know you have a good reputation but seriously. Our first time and our last. Go to Jin's in Wellesley. You'll be happy that you did. So, will your wallet.
(1)Elizabeth S.
Bernard's is a very nice family restaurant. We like to get many dishes and pass them around the big round table. This time around I order steamed lobster from the spa selection - very fresh. Nice food, generous portions, but the real reason I'm writing this review is for our server, Lin. I've never had such an attentive, thoughtful server! She asked us questions such as "you don't want scallions on anything, but you're ordering scallion pancakes?" (yes, that was correct). She kept our mugs full of hot tea, our bowls full of rice and our glasses full of Sapporo. We decided that she should give seminars on how to be the perfect waitress.
(4)Javier B.
Came into this place last night and was very impressed with their food. Everything was cooked to perfection. Not very common to find this anywhere.
(5)Nandanie S.
I just had some lunch at work ordered in from Bernard's. It tasted really good. I had a bit of everything - sesame chicken, chicken lo mein, spring rolls, calamari, e.t.c. It was very good. I work in Newton Corner, and there aren't any Chinese places to eat within walking distance. This was a good surprise :-) I gave it 4 stars because this is the first time I've had it, and for me to give it 5 stars, I'd have to come there and try their food in their restaurant to observe decor, service, and more services. Otherwise, the food was great.
(4)Clark K.
I love Chinese food more that just about anything in the world, having said that this place doesn't hold a candle to the hole in the wall Chinese Restaurants that i frequent in the greater Boston Area and there are quite a few. Both my girlfriend and I were disappointed with our food, it was gross, and the service was mediocre at best. We won't be coming back. For a place that on the outside looks like an upscale restaurant the other people eating there were dressed like it was a McDonalds, maybe they already knew what they were getting themselves into.
(1)Karen L.
I have been a patron for years. It used to serve me well when I suffered from shopper's fatigue at the Chestnut Hill Mall. The food owner Bernard is a courteous and friendly gentleman and when there, would always make a point to stop by. We've usually gone there for big family gatherings and were able to order a huge assortment of dishes. Although no particular dish is truly outstanding, none really disappoint. The cuisine itself deserves more than 3 stars. BUT, and it is a huge but for me, is when they suggest certain "off menu" items that they specially prepare for you. These will show up as OPEN FOOD items on your bill. Be forewarned. OPEN FOOD means open wallet. A few pieces of thinly sliced fried tofu around a mound of pickled cucumbers amounted to $40 when not one item on the menu was over $30. We've had many incidents like this happen to us over the years and each time, while swearing to not let them twist our arm into ordering off-menu-especially-prepared-for-us items, somehow in a large gathering, all you need is one curious person who finds pickles in a fan of tofu enticing or another who is tickled at being treated like VIP, and wham! Gotcha! So two stars for this distasteful practice and four stars for their cuisine.
(3)Wendy L.
Who would think that a restaurant called Bernard's written in cursive would be a Chinese restaurant...especially when it's located at the Chestnut Hill mall??? This is exactly why I decided to walk in and see to it myself! Main differences between Bernard's and the Chinese restaurants in Chinatown: + clean and classy atmosphere + don't overdo on sauce and grease + better service (reflected on the price) - way smaller menu and less choices - smaller portions - pricier (it's in Chestnut Hill...) I think the best thing on the menu is their PEKING DUCK. It's amazing...the marinated duck with crispy skin. We've had pretty experienced servers wrap our peking duck each time and they did a fantastic job. We also got the BBQ Mandarin Beef which stood out more than other dishes but it was a little bit on the sweeter side. Other things we tried were Scallops w/ Garlic Sauce, Chicken w/ Black Bean Sauce and Scallion Pancakes. All these were mediocre at best...definitely get the same if not better food in Chinatown for less money. However, I must say that service was superb and probably the best I've had at a Chinese restaurant. If you are looking for a classier restaurant for a romantic date without the trouble of parking Bernard's might be your solution. I will only return for their Peking Duck....
(3)Jamie F.
4.5 stars Bernard's is definitely a hidden gem. We arrived at 9:00PM on a Friday (after a long day of shopping) and were seated right away (it closes at 10:00PM); all but 2 tables was occupied. The waiters/waitresses were friendly, attentive, and spoke Canto! Our group of 4 ordered (family-style): - Lettuce wraps ... ridiculously good (see photo). I'm craving for it right now. It's a $15 entrée for only 4 though :( - Mongolian beef ... garnished with chinese shrimp-flavored chips & scallions; very flavorful & saucy, which went great with the white rice that you have to order separately. - Thai-braised BBQ spare ribs ...cooked perfectly - the meat didn't exactly fall off the bone, but wasn't completely stuck on it either; sweet & sour fans would love this - Crispy Chicken with Lemon Sauce... a perfect hint of lemon zest; not sour at all, and actually kind of sweet. The only problem was the white rice - the texture was kind of hard. Maybe they gave us the bottom of the pot since it was late? Rice isn't very hard to make... Also, the small, intimate tables didn't provide much for family-style eating, but it was manageable. Everything was delicious and not greasy like Chinese food from Chinatown. And also, much, much cleaner, given the fact that Bernard's is located in the Chestnut Hill Mall. We were full, very satisfied from our food, and had just enough room for dessert later at night elsewhere. I also loved that the manager personally came to check in with each table. Although Bernard's sounds like a P.F. Chang, it is far from that because it is very authentic indeed. I would definitely come back again - the price is SO worth it!
(5)Juliet L.
I've loved it for years and love it at the new location too. Rice noodles with shrimp are my favorite! It's the only Chinese restaurant I'll go to and I don't even life in the area anymore. Service could not be friendlier.
(5)Kai P.
I have to raise the bar a bit on this place. few months ago me and dad went to grab a bite. I got an appetizer that floored me. a eggplant with black bean sauce drizzled on it. Holy cow I now know what my last meal has to have. This alone made me want to upgrade my review.
(4)Aboud Y.
Pretty decent Chinese but to be honest I expected alot more. Everything I tried was good but nothing standout or exceptional...and most of the time not worth the price. Not in a hurry to return.
(3)Andy S.
Do not try this place believe the other reviews that it is not very good
(1)Brittany T.
Not good and overpriced...go to Chinatown...greasy, fatty, gross.and VERY VERY LOUD!!! Dont go there if you expect to hear your dining partners!!!!!
(2)Jim D.
Who would think a Chinese restaurant located in the Chestnut Hill mall would be so good? Enter Bernard's and some of the tastiest mall Chinese food you'll ever encounter. I've been ordering from here for several years now and each and every time, the food has been pretty darn good. Typical Americanized Chinese grub is saturated with heavy sauces and is often overly sweet. But that's not the case here. The sauces are lighter and the food has a good balance in flavor and seasoning. My personal favorites are the boneless spare ribs and beef with asparagus and mushrooms. Portions are quite generous! So be weary of your appetite when ordering. My only gripe is that Bernard's is easily one of the priciest Chinese restaurants in the area. I could get the same dishes in Chinatown at almost half the prices. I don't know about you, but Chinese food is not and should not be expensive given the ingredients and usual preparation. $21 for shrimp in lobster* sauce? Give me a break. For that price, they ought to throw in actual lobster! *For those who don't know, there is no lobster in lobster sauce. Go figure!
(3)Stephanie R.
BEST CHINESE food in Boston!!!!!! Everything is fresh and healthy. They will even make old favorites that are no longer on the menu. This is our all time favorite restaurant.
(5)Melissa M.
After an afternoon of driving around Natick to find a parking space at that god awful "collection", we found ourselves quite famished. We never did find that parking space in Natick and somehow we took a wrong turn and ended up in the very Brahmin area known as Chestnut Hill, MA. One thing was for certain. We needed food. I specifically told my fiance if he knew of any "authentic Chinese restaurants" and he did. We ended up @ the Chestnut Hill Mall -- we found an easy parking space! And went to eat lunch @ Bernard's. Interesting name for a Chinese restaurant, no? The very friendly man who was the host reminded me of the host on the Seinfeld episode -- you know the one. The good thing was, we could sit in ten to fifteen minute! Ten to fifteen minute! Yes!! The food, was a lil on the greasy side for me, I'm not gonna lie. But, the scallion pancake, was delicious. They have decent duck sauce and their pork fried rice was piping hot and tasted pretty good. I'd stick w/ apps and rice if I were you. But, you may like to go another route. The fiance got a wok-fried meat dish that tasted good, kinda hot and peppery. I liked it. They have great service too. The prices were not too crazy -- this is Chestnut Hill after all. And, they have beer and wine, again, this is Chestnut Hill. If I ever find myself in Chestnut Hill again, I might have to swing by Bernard's!
(3)Dave G.
Some of the best Chinese cuisine in the Boston area. Definitely try their BBQ beef and black bean chicken dishes.
(4)Rick B.
Great food. Engaging staff. Excellent experience. A big step above normal Asian cuisine.
(5)Conny D.
Among the very best Chinese restaurants in the Boston area. Fresh ingredients, well prepared, and excellent service with good memories for returning customers. Low grease - very few deep fried items, and the spices and flavorings are always well balanced, even on a crazy busy night, a talented kitchen staff. Go and enjoy.
(4)Jeannie H.
Maybe I hold Chinese restaurants to a higher standard because I AM Chinese or maybe the food here just isn't good. First of all, it's horribly Americanized. There is nothing authentic about this place. Secondly, the quality of food is quite poor and it's not that cheap. There is nothing "Hong Kong style" or "upscale" about this place. I love how people compare this place to a Hong Kong eatery when most people have never even been to Hong Kong or know what Cantonese cuisine even is. But then again, if this place was truly Cantonese, would Americans eating in a shopping mall bite? ATMOSPHERE - The decor isn't that nice considering it's in a fairly upscale mall. The people who run the restaurant are actually Chinese, which is a start but the food is definitely catering to Americans. SERVICE - Perfectly fine except you don't get any choice of tea, which is the weirdest thing to me considering it's a Chinese restaurant. FOOD - Shrimp dumplings (har gow) - This was so completely over steamed that the skin was a mushy mess. The filling was also too ground up and didn't have fresh shrimp. Shrimp rice roll - This was also over steamed. The rice noodle was so thick and lacked the delicacy it is supposed to have. Spicy chicken with mushrooms - I have no idea what this dish was even pretending to be. It was slices of chicken breast swimming in a tomato sauce that was like a watered down ketchup. There was nothing spicy about it. Peking ravioli - It was shaped correctly and had the right consistently but was way smaller than they're supposed to be. I can't eat here. I find the "pretend" Chinese food completely gross. At least "chop suey" places don't actually claim to be Chinese food. Maybe if I stop going to LA, NYC, and Toronto for about 10 years and all my taste buds die off and I no longer know what good Cantonese food is (except I'm a pretty decent cook and can whip up food in a minute that tastes 10 times better than this joint), then I could eat here and not gag.
(2)S K.
Great Chinese food
(5)Ben R.
This is the only Chinese restaurant in town where I reliably expect to end the evening happy and satisfied with the food. I especially enjoy their wonton soup, which has a very special flavor. It is also a very special place in that over the past five years that we've been going there, the personnel (managers, servers..) hardly ever changed. Great employee loyalty, which says something about the place being very well run.
(5)fred f.
The place is CLOSED, apparently while they move to a new location! Do not go! If you call, you will get a message saying the voice mailbox is full. It does not mean they are hopping busy and can't answer the phone. It means they are closed and moving somewhere nearby in March! We drove wicked far to go to this closed restaurant. Bad on them for not leaving a message on their voice mail... but even badder on my Yelpsters: why didn't anyone put out some info about this on Yelp?
(1)DJ R.
HELLO! Tried to go to Bernard's last night and they were CLOSED! They closed on 1/1/13 and have no message on the voice mail! Apparently they are re-opening in March in the lower part of the mall somewhere. Be forwarned.
(4)Mark O.
In spite of the name, this is a good local Chinese restaurant. It was a bit on the pricey side, but the food was fine. (It's hard to find -- my GPS thought it was in the Chestnut Hill Mall, but it had moved a half-mile east about a year ago.)
(3)V. T.
One of the very few times that yelp reviews give wrong perceptions about a new place I want to try. Not sure how Bernard's got its 4 stars but I think it's not even close to 2 stars. Chinese food is not my favorite but I do hold my standard pretty high! Bernard's menu is extremely basic and what I would call Americanized Chinese food. In my opinion, if I'm craving for that I would go to PF Chang instead! The fried dumplings we ordered were out of the frozen section of the whole sale store...that I know for sure! I'm kinda involved in the restaurant business and have bought those dumpling in the attempt to sell it at my cousin's restaurant. Long story short, we weren't happy with the quality of the dumplings so we decided to make our own. That's how i recognized the frozen taste at the first bite. Therefore, don't expect home made quality at this restaurant. We also ordered the shrimp paste on eggplant which looked amazing. The taste is a different story. The shrimp paste was older than Joan Rivers and had the i'm-about-to-be-bad taste. The cook did an amazing job in making the caramelized sauce to cover the bad food taste but the distinct smell was too strong to ignore. The only ok dish here was our beef stir-fried with broccoli, carrots and mushroom. It was a little salty for me though! Our server rushed us from one dish to another...as quickly as he could! With all respect, it was hard to understand what he tried to tell us! Bernard's is totally not worth for a second visit.
(1)Kristina F.
Yes 4 Stars. There are not many good Chinese places near me and I think I finally found it. In fact i can attest that there are NO good chinese places near me. But I've been to Bernards and I think I struck the jackpot! Typically I hate lo mein, but this place does it perfectly - not oily, tasty and not slimy! Their peanut chili dumping things are like candy. Wings are finger licking good. Hot and sour soup has a sweetness that that I have never tasted before. Note: this place is always packed! So beware and enjoy. I only have done take out, so this review does not reflect their services or anything else! Just food!!
(4)boston y.
new addition to the street in chestnut hill. Food was execellnt ,proportions were good. but the service is way too pushed and we did not like at all. We were hurried all along by our server. I think considering the location and the price ,the servie should be on the polite side. wehn asked for dessert, the server said they do not serve desserts. :x
(3)Mendel S.
Bernard's new restaurant even better than the old version. The seating, and comfort level and decoration is a luxurious restaurant, with an exciting menu at moderate prices. The stuffed chicken wings is an a special treat. The bar seats15 to 20 with 4 or 5 additional tables to enjoy the regular menu, and the 3 60'" TV's. The location next to the new Super Deluxe Movie Theater is great, and the takeout, and order by phone option is great. Please note the correct new phone number is 617 738-3388. Bernard is usually there supervising an excellent staff. This is probably the best Chinese food east of San Francisco. ENJOY
(5)Little B.
Lovely, great service, family owned, clean as a whistle, and such fantastic food. Worth a trip to experience Hong Kong style upscale Chinese food served by folks who care about their customers.
(5)Patsy P.
Great asian food. All dishes fine quality and no msg. The duck is my favorite dish. The waitstaff are very pleasant. Only drawback is that it is pricey and the portions aren't very large .
(4)Thomas A.
Walked in for dinner last night; the seating host's attitude was demeaning and was yelling "we have no tables for tonight"
(1)Metin T.
Very authentic quick chinease food, excellent price excellent location, some of the best chinease food outside of china town.
(5)Katy O.
Let me start by saying I've been working in the Chestnut Hill Mall for three years. With only four restaurants, it's hard to find something exciting after only *one* year. That said, Bernard's is the only place I order from for a meal. Portions are good, and the prices aren't that bad compared to the other restaurants in the mall. I highly recommend the lunch specials if you are there at lunch time (11-4:30).
(5)Leslie S.
The Lemon Chicken is amazing. I've had it about 10 different times and it's always perfect. Yummmmmmy
(4)Peter W.
This place has good food, service, and atmosphere; all in a mall location. They have Dim Sum here as well.
(4)Seth T.
First time at Bernards and I discussed items on the menu with the manager before we decided to get a table. The chicken lettuce wraps had almost no flavor even though recommended by the manager. Waitress was efficient, but not really pleasant, and when I asked for the steamed rice which the menu says comes with all entrees, she balked and said that my dish came with lettuce, but then brought me the small bowl of white rice. Atmosphere was like a cheap diner. There are so many excellent Chinese restaurants in the Boston area, there is no reason to eat here.
(1)Eileen D.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the Boston area! What's great about Bernard's is that the quality is pretty consistent. We have been coming here for family dinners for over 10 years and can not remember an off night. Recommended appetizers: Thai Style Ribs, Fried Calamari, Scallion Pancake, Fried Egg-roll with Chicken and Mushroom (ask for it, this is not on the menu) Recommended main dish: Peking Duck, Mongolian Beef, Crispy Chilean Sea Bass in Hunan Sauce, Broccoli (stir-fired with garlic), Pan Fried Angel Hair Noodles The house special fried rice is also very good.
(5)Don M.
Anything less than five stars for this restaurant is a travesty. Simply incredible and, if you don't see it on the menu, they'll make an effort to accommodate you. Lin and George - two of the wait staff members - are beyond compare ... in any restaurant setting ... anywhere. If there's any better Chinese restaurant in New England, I don't know it (and that most definitely includes Chinatown). Does it sound like I like this place? You bet! And, I've been a satisfied customer for over 10 years.
(5)Dennis L.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the Boston area by a longshot. I have yet to order any Americanized Chinese dishes over the years here and have been exposed to much of their food over the years. But it is a wonderful little restaurant... and it is in a mall, so parking is less of an issue. I know not the English name of the particular dish, but 'tza tzi gai' is a coconut fried chicken that you can order ahead of time that is not normally on the menu. Compared to ones you find in Chinatown, they do not pick massive hulking birds for this dish, but rather, small and lean birds that are filled with flavor. It is done exceptionally well. If there is one dish to die for here, it's the fried Chilean sea bass in Hunan sauce. It is a sweet, tangy, and ever so spicy sauce with peas drizzled over a crisp fried cut of sweet and moist sea bass. The dau miu (pea pod shoots) are done very well here, the hard parts broken away as they should. Some restaurants short-cut that step and they end up tasting wretched. Also here, they cook them with a bit of pork fat and they are much more flavorful that way. Oh, and I know not the name of the kind of fried rice, but they have a fried rice that is simply bean sprouts, egg, and scallion and without soy sauce that is flavorful and complementary to any dish you order rather than overpowering it with chunky ingredients like roast pork or shrimp. The service is good and if you set a reservation with dishes prepared, it will be piping hot and delivered to your table... in a sensible eating order and timing... starting from the moment you sit down. I'd call ahead for a reservation here for coming in general, or at least check how busy they are. They are very variable in their lines. There are very few tables that seat more than four. If your party is larger than four, definitely call it in. It is a little pricier than most Chinese restaurants, but they do not skimp and it is worth it for what I've ordered. Dishes to try: Avocado Shrimp, Dau Miu (pea pod shoots), Fried Chilean Sea Bass, "Tza Tzi Gai", Peking Duck, Shrimp Soong
(5)Melissa A.
Bernard's is deeeeeeelish! Granted, my choices here are limited being a vegetarian, but everything I've had has been wonderful. I end up getting their steamed veggies and rice a lot for lunch -- the veggies are nice and fresh and crisp, not soggy and rubbery like some other places. I get it with their ginger sauce and spicy sauce and it is great! Their lo mein is also tasty and not too greasy. Prices aren't cheap but aren't super expensive either. You're in the Chestnut Hill Mall, afterall. This is by far my favorite place to eat in the mall! The staff here is super friendly and attentive! They are great! The atmosphere is upscale and chic -- not a cheesy Chinese restaurant by any means. Give Bernard's a try!
(4)Sandy C.
1. There was stuff in the coke. sent it back twice and finally ordered water. 2. wanted half the order of crab rangoons because i think 8 would be too many for me and they said they would charge me $1 less for half the order. i took it home. 3. the beef teriyaki was so sweet-too chewy-couldn't even pass one bite. 4. Tso's chicken-not good 5. the pineapple sucked. atmosphere- so hectic, not relaxing, not enjoyable. done.
(1)Justin C.
A cozy and friendly little Chinese joint tucked away on the backside of the Cesnut Hill Mall. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, and the service is terrific. Foodwise, I'd say this is essentially an upscalish take on classic American style Chinese food. They serve the standard battery of Chinese menu items you know from your local spots - General Tso's chicken, Beef Chow Fun, Crab Rangoons, Peking Raviloi, all the Lo Meins, etc - and offer some specials that a normal, cheaper place probably wouldn't have, like Thai Style BBQ Ribs. Their versions of these menu classics are elevated by discernibly high quality ingredients and a solidly grease free presentation. The Chow Fun, for example, has really good little cuts of beef mixed with flat rice noodle, sprouts, and onions in the characteristic brown sauce, but the sauce isn't too heavy or gloppy, and the dish isn't drowning in noodles as you'd see in lesser establishments.
(4)Jonathan C.
Worst Chinese food eeeevvvveeeerrrrr!!!!! Great employees....that's about it. Sorry! Can't compete with "rice valley"
(1)Steve G.
Consistently great!
(4)chris l.
Best gourmet Asian food I've ever had. A little pricey but not unreasonable. Decor is plain and ordinary but very clean. I wish it was somewhere else besides the Chestnut Hill Mall.
(4)zz Z.
The place is smaller then I unticipated and quiet plane. The food is OK. Good but in my opinion not worth the money. I excpected more. We have 7 people ordering soups and main dishes and few were just bad, 1 was VERY good , the rest were solid OK. The service was good but I don't think I would go back . For this money there are plenty of other Chinese places with better selection and quality .
(3)R B.
With so few options in the mall, this is the best, but it's nothing special. I even have trouble picking something and I suspect I keep getting the same thing, which okay, but entirely forgettable. Not bad, mind you, but nothing I'd make a trip for. A little expensive for what it is, but consider the surroundings.
(3)Reid F.
Best Chinese in Boston's Western suburbs, with excellent Dim Sum on Sundays.
(5)fatty c.
I used to come here from time to time when I felt like spending a little extra to get better quality without the hassle of going to Chinatown. But since I discovered Joyful Garden in Brighton, I hardly visit here anymore. So the other day, due to schedule conflict, I had decided to visit this place again for dinner. But boy, certainly time has changed. I ordered several familiar dishes and none of them were the same as before. I walked out the restaurant disappointed and probably won't come back again.
(2)Sarah P.
This place IS as good as it gets.
(5)David P.
First off, you will pay far more for Chinese food here than almost anywhere else. A group of us ordered and shared 5 dishes plus appetizers. Everything was OK, some of it was pretty good. It's definitely better than your greasy Chinese food places and the Polynesian lounge joints - but it's less flavorful than what I'm used to. Flavors seemed toned down so as not to offend or overwhelm the Bloomingdale's crowd. Service was pleasant and attentive without being overbearing. If Bernard's were a bargain, I might give it 4 stars. For the price conscious, I'd give it 2 stars. With standard dishes like General Gao's going for 15.95 and more interesting dishes for 18.95 and 19.95 - - the food should be something special..
(3)Steak T.
The beef and chicken are likely made with processed meat. The sauces don't taste fresh. Add to that, the meals are on average $17+. 4 stars? I've lost faith in yelp
(1)Ryan N.
Best Chinese food in metro Boston. Full stop.
(5)Tiffany D.
This place is delicious. It's like a chinese restaurant smack dab in the middle of a very.. nonchinese looking restaurant! It's super chic and the food is very chinatownish.. but just a bit more on the pricey side. The dim sum is pretty good but when I go there I prefer to order a nice big bowl of the wonton noodle soup with duck & pork. Absolutely delicious!!!!
(4)Joseph G.
The foods decent enough for American-Chinese fast food. A little grease with a touch of MSG. I hate the fact that it's in the country's highest grossing mall by square footage, at least that's what my dad used to tell me in the ninety's, so that means your meal comes with a little more $ that you would expect. Our waiter was efficient and professional. Although, my limit for beer is usually greater than 1 bottle. The guy never bothered bring my second beer I ordered at the end of apps, so I stuck with H2O for the rest of the meal. The host/owner was every so chatty with the regulars, however my party of 6 didn't even get the standard, "So how was your meal?" Maybe next time I'll wear my Armani Tux to get noticed.
(3)mariam p.
This is mine and my family's go to place for Chinese food. Their crispy orange beef is to die for and their hot and sour soup always hits the spot. They have a great selection on their lunch menu as well and its definitely more affordable. The one thing that always amazes me is how impeccable and fast their service is. The owners are usually always at the restaurant to make sure everything is going right and they are all really nice. I have been going here for years. i highly recommend it for lunch for those who are wallet conscious. For those who want to splurge a bit and take that special person out for a nice meal, dinner would be better, It is a small place but they do try to accommodate as fast as possible and i like how cozy and quaint it is.
(5)Alan T.
This is among the best places to get Chinese food in suburban Boston, though you do pay for the quality. We typically order the same thing everytime, so I can't tell you about the rest of the menu, though it is large. Except on Saturday nights, one does not need to wait too long to get a table even without a reservation. Service is snappy and friendly. We always order (and love!) 2 orders of the vegetable spring rolls, an order of sesame chicken, an order of vegetable angel hair pasta, and sometimes won ton soup. It's a great combination - and enough to feed 3 people. all of the food is cooked to order, meaning that the vegetables are crisp, everything is served piping hot. The meat and poultry served is of a high quality
(4)E.N. Z.
High end Chinese restaurant. In that range, this is the best. Food is great especially if you know what to order. Their twin lobster is better than some of the restaurants in Chinatown. Peking Duck is probably even better than NYC Chinatown. Chef Chan's duck is from Long Island, a supplier of more than 20 years. I don't know where Bernaard's got their duck, but it was the right kind, not fatty at all, cooked just right!! The fish dishes are divine, perfectly cooked, extremely tender. Order these, you will love this place. Service is top notch.
(5)K C.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant it's located in the Chestnut Hill Mall. The Chinese food is fresh. (not greasy like other places) The waitstaff are very nice. This place is more then reasonable not exspensive. It's so Yummmmy!!!
(5)davy f.
We used to eat here frequently, then got out of the habit. Friends from out of town didn't like Thai and wanted Chinese, so off we went. Food was OK, but nothing special. Service was a little haphazard. Beer is generally pretty good with Chinese food, but the only two choices were Tsingtao and Coors Light. We all had Tsingtao, which was served way warm, even warmer than in a pub. One swallow does not a Spring make, but this was disappointing. When I commented to the owner (or at least the guy who came around and asked if everything was ok) I got a shrug and little more. We'll be back, but maybe not soon.
(2)Naomi P.
Everything I ate at Bernard's tasted fresh and light - even the fried dishes! I am usually suspect of the quality of ingredients used at Chinese restaurants, but after my first few bites I knew there was nothing fear at Bernard's. I really liked that the restaurant has a "spa" menu, which offers slimmed down entrees with vegetables. The peking ravioli (which looked like small potstickers) were perfect bite-sized morsels to get the appetite going. The sea bass had a light sauce that didn't overpower the flavor of the fish. (I will admit that the bass was a little overcooked for my taste, but still worth ordering again). I just couldn't keep my hands off the noodles. They had such a nice texture and flavor. My dad who pretty much despises pasta in any form even asked for seconds. The chicken with onion, which was off menu was my table's favorite. BTW - the place has an upscale decor, but is very kid friendly.
(4)Ed P.
i must say that Bernard's is the only Chinese i eat from now on. the menu selection is exotic and tastefully prepared. the reason some1 said that it lacks flavour must be because they don't use msg. the waitstaff is very friendly and very attentive to detail. try the watercrest, the beancurd dishes and don't forget the dim sum on sundays! Bernard's gets 2 thumbs up.
(5)Greg H.
this place was disappointing. we only went cuz of the lofty yelp rating, which is usually reliable. but i have to disagree with the yelpers this time on bernard's. the only good thing about this place is that the food's not as greasy as most other chinese places. but, in exchange, what you get is very bland food. also the portions are small. how often do you come out of a chinese restaurant still feeling hungry? i was hungry after finishing my lunch combo. and my wife, who has petite appetite and usually never touches carb, actually had to dig into some of her white rice! lunch combos are all in the $8.50-$12 range, so slightly pricier than usual... understandable given its chestnut hill mall location. rather stingy portion of entree, with a side of rice and an appetizer (it was a crab rangoon the day we went). no soup, no fried rice option. the ginger and scallion cod dish only had two small pieces of cod, along with some veggies. the ambiance, while clean, is still that of a typical chinese place and definitely not on par with places like pf chang or even le's pho across the street. in fact, i'd choose pf over bernard's anytime. much more flavor and better ambiance at pf.
(3)jules t.
i never have to eat here again.
(2)Ryan B.
Great, fresh Chines food. Only three types of beers available (Amstel Light, Heineken, Tsingtao) but they did have a decent Wine list. While the Chestnut Hill Mall is not your average mall I still prefer dining at establishments not connected to malls. But shopping can sure make you hungry!!!! The management of Bernard's is extremely attentive and makes every attempt to personally get to know all of the regulars.
(4)Kya F.
If you have a hankering for Chinese food, but you're NOT in the mood for greasy food, head to Bernard's at the Chestnut Hill Mall. Theirs is the healthiest tasting Chinese I've ever had. The vegetables are so fresh. Nothing feels oily. The Chilean Sea Bass melts in your mouth.
(5)T L.
this has to be one of my favorite restaurants in all of boston. No one does chinese like these guys, god damn is this place good. it is located in the chestnut hill mall, so if there is a wait then i you can wander around till meal time. The place is actually pretty small, so not many seats and everyone has to sit pretty close to each other. the concept is a chic upscale type of chinese, which seems less greasy and just tastes better. you have to start the meal off with the won ton soup, its freggin great, the broth is clear , but very flavorul, and hand made wontons are good. some of restaurant favorite are: pan seared angel hair with beef, its crispy noodles topped with the brownish sauce and bok choy, and good size portion (i almost always get this); roasted duck in a wonton noodle soup, not much duck but this is incredible, with these thick noodles, served in a big bowl; beef with fresh basil with hot pepper sauce was a waiter recommendation that was super tasty; the sauteed shrimp with glazed walnuts were jumbo, perfectly cooked shrimp goodness (actually all the shrimp dishes are good); i havent had this but someone at the next table had the chillian sea bass and i couldnt help but stare at them the entire meal wishing i got the same thing, so next time hopefully. parking is sometimes a bitch and they only have one stall bathrooms, so defintely no time for numbers 2s or you will create a line, that will be embarassing given the small restaurant, my suggestion would be to hit up the bloomingdales bathroom which is cleaner, huge and upscale. 8.5 out of 10
(5)Bill Y.
I'll admit that I am picky, picky, picky when it comes to Chinese food. I've a recollection of a great little place in Northern Jersey called Shanghai Jazz that will stand forever as THE Chinese restaurant.......Then I walked into Bernards. From the friendly greeting and prompt seating, to the sometimes just a tad brusk wait staff to the absolute bliss of every item I've ever ordered on the menu this place is five stars. In an unlikely location in a shopping mall and not very big, it remains a place that offer this cuisine as good as it gets. I really can't single out any dish (others on this site have done a fine and fair job) over another. Please accept my promise that you will not, you cannot be let down by Bernards. Finally, the servings are always large enough to provide a nice lunch the following day. The only downside is that it is too darned far from where I live to eat there three times a week.
(5)Erin W.
My husband and I were shopping at the Chestnut Hill Mall around dinnertime, and since we'd heard such great things about Bernard's, we decided to pick some up to-go. The menu had both the traditional items like lo mein, but then also some really fresh and interesting sounding dishes, such as shrimp and avocado in plum and sake sauce, which I ended up ordering (and which was delicious). We also got vegetable chow foon, which was incredible and very fresh (they even packed extra veggies into a separate container for us), and crab rangoon, which was the best I've had in a really long time. Yes, it's pricey, but it's also one of the tastiest and freshest Chinese places I've found in the area.
(5)Anne C.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant and I've been going there for the last 8 years. My cousin and my family go there about once every 6 weeks. It's chinese food with a modern twist, and the dishes are very creative. I haven't had a disappointed meal there. The waitstaff are great, and they'll tell you what the specials are and what they recommend (or what's fresh and yummy today). Their lobster dish is excellent, and sometimes you could get fresh scallops (with the shell) steamed in blackbean with ginger and scallions. They also serve a la carte dim sum for lunch on the weekends (although not for holiday or mother's day weekend) and noodle soups, etc. After the meal, we always have a egg custard with tapioca (served warm) and it's not too sweet, but just a nice ending to a satisfying chinese meal. The restaurant is small and on the upscale side with prices of dishes ranging from $14 - $30, but it's well worth it. It's always crowded because the food is just great and it's small. It's part of the Chestnut Hill Mall (so highly recommend reservations for bigger parties). Nothing like having a great meal follow by some great shopping at Bloomies.
(5)Esther L.
Authentic Chinese food, and the restaurant has got tasteful decor. Its inside the mall, so its a nice place to go for a lunch or dinner break. The prices are more expensive than Chinatown, but the food is good. I like their wonton soup.
(4)Rico B.
OK food but pricey. Nothing much else I can say, since it didn't give me any memorable experience. Suggestion: try the fish fillet in brown sauce.
(3)