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Name: Ten Tables
Address: 597 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130
Telephone: (617) 524-8810
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.31

Ten Tables

597 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130

(617) 524-8810
Store is closed

Ten Tables Menu

Appetizer

Salad Of Local Lettuces Nectarines Roasted Pistachios And Champagne Vinaigrette

White Gazpacho With Garlic Almonds & Paprika Oil

Pickled Mussels

Ten Tables' Bierwurst Sausage

Our Home Made Charcuterie
Main

Local Corn Succotash

Pan Seared Bluefish

Olive Oil Poached Hake

Chorizo Stuffed Gianonne Chicken

All Natural Hanger Steak
Tasting Menu

Four Course Chef's Tasting

Four Course Vegetarian Tasting
Dessert

Chocolate Terrine

Hazelnut Brown Butter Cake

Orange And Bay Leaf Creme Brulee Grand Marnier

Macerated Local Strawberries

Our Daily Selection Of Ice Creams

One Perfect Cheese

Pedro Romero Amontillado Sherry
Coffee And Tea

Terroir Coffee

The French Press

Espresso

Cappuccino

Mem Teas
Non-alcoholic Beverages And Mocktails

Maine Root Organic Sodas

Virgin Kk

Hibiscus Limeade

Lavender Blueberry

Maine Saffron Roots

Mock-ito

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ten Tables

Appetizer

Salad Of Local Lettuces Nectarines Roasted Pistachios And Champagne Vinaigrette [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Gazpacho With Garlic Almonds & Paprika Oil [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pickled Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ten Tables' Bierwurst Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Our Home Made Charcuterie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Main

Local Corn Succotash [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pan Seared Bluefish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Olive Oil Poached Hake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chorizo Stuffed Gianonne Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

All Natural Hanger Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tasting Menu

Four Course Chef's Tasting [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Four Course Vegetarian Tasting [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert

Chocolate Terrine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hazelnut Brown Butter Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orange And Bay Leaf Creme Brulee Grand Marnier [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Macerated Local Strawberries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Our Daily Selection Of Ice Creams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

One Perfect Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pedro Romero Amontillado Sherry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Coffee And Tea

Terroir Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The French Press [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Espresso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mem Teas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Non-alcoholic Beverages And Mocktails

Maine Root Organic Sodas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Virgin Kk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hibiscus Limeade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lavender Blueberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Maine Saffron Roots [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mock-ito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Rob F.

This review is just about the drinks. I live in JP and was looking for a good date spot here on Yelp. To be honest, the reviews here turned me off going to 10 Tables for dinner. Crowded, expensive, and rushed didn't seem like a good first date spot. We did pop in for drinks on our walk back from dinner further down Centre Street. We were asked to move down the bar about half an hour after we go there, so the crowding issue is valid. I LOVED the drinks. House specials can really go either way with the surprise factor, but we each got 2 winners. I got the Thai Basil Gimlet and then The Gaston 76. They were both great, not too bitter, not too sweet, and the herbs didn't overpower. I think one of my date's drinks was the 3:2:1, and I had a sip. Also good. The tight bar space wasn't ideal, but I'm still giving 5 stars for excellent drinks and pleasant informative bar staff.
(5)
Patty N.

Ten Tables probably has the best food in JP. I have never had a bad meal there. I lived in JP 5 years before I stopped in for dinner and I can't believe it took so long! We are very lucky to have one of the best restaurants in Boston in our neighborhood. If I am going to just stop by I try to go right when they open and sit at the bar. Otherwise I would recceomend reservations. They are always packed!
(5)
Jason H.

To preface, I've only visited the wine bar and eaten of the bar menu. Perfectly decent beer selection and incredible burger. Charcuterie plate was OK. Haven't had enough of the menu to develop and informed opinion about food. Service is attentive- if a bit overdone. Intimate and hip atmosphere, VERY small tables. Nice addition to JP's vast restaurant selection.
(4)
Michael C.

One of my favorite Boston restaurants. It's a bit outside of the city center, but its worth the short trip. I have been here several times and enjoyed all of my meals. The dinning room is small and shares its space with the kitchen, allowing you to watch the food be prepared. The menu changes fairly often and the chefs make sure to offer only the freshest and the tastiest dishes. The bar side of Ten Tables is also very nice. I have been several times for burger and beer Mondays. Their burgers are simply amazing, one of the best I've had in the Boston area. I highly recommend ten tables for any occasion.
(5)
fred f.

Absolutely love this place! took S here for his birthday. Open Table showed them as booked for the time we wanted to eat. However, on a whim, I wrote an email to the restaurant several hours before we planned to go out, asking if there was a way to fit us in. the maÃ®tre d' returned my email promptly, and offered to get us two seats at the chef's table. Chef's table was great: We had a great view of the goings on in the kitchen, and Megan, the chef working the cook station played perfect host to us, while sending out sumptuous plates to the restaurant. Our charcuterie plate was just great. My entree of scup with salsify and asparagus was just perfect. Loved everything about it, and loved S's bouillabaisse even more: savory, steamy, briny goodness! the wait staff were right there for us when we needed them, bringing wonderful mixed drinks, offering us a sample of Pimms ( which neither of us had tried), while allowing us our space to enjoy our dinner and time together as well. So the very best part?? Megan overheard our discussing S's birthday. she somehow managed to coordinate with the wait staff to bring us both desserts we had been ogling over, complete with birthday candle for S! In short, Ten Tables made our night perfect, not just with an awesome menu, but with personal attention, and a welcoming atmosphere. We'll be back, and we hope you check out Ten Tables too!
(5)
Hayley M.

Yay! Came in for a small birthday dinner. We were lucky enough to get a reservation at the bar, which did mean that we could only order off of the bar menu, but it was a fantastic experience. The wait staff is incredibly well educated in all of the ingredients and menu items. Our waitress explained the differences between bio-dynamic and organic wines and answered every question we had. We ordered the pickled octopus and pickled vegetables for appetizers. The two guys had the burger, which had a bacon aioli, caramelized onions, cheese, and a fried egg. The guys both proclaimed it to be the best burger they had ever had. Both of us girls had the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Holy crap. I broke my "never order grilled cheese at a restaurant because you can make it yourself" rule and I am really glad I did. It had green apple, locally produced cheddar cheese, and the most delicious mustard I have ever had. I asked for extra so I could debate drinking it. The tomato soup was perfectly spiced, nice and thick. I was full about three quarters of the way through but powered through. There was no way I was going to let a single bite of my meal not get eaten! Wonderful. Can't wait for next time, where I will most certainly sit in the regular dining room!
(4)
Liz E.

THE BURGER HAS BACON AIOLI. I don't really think I need to continue. But I will. The cocktails are awesome (try the pink elephant), beer is great, and food (I've only been to the bar side) is delicious. Great service- the waitress I usually have at the bar side is excellent. I'll definitely be back to eat in the dining room.
(5)
Eddie G.

Oh boy. I am going to TRY and make this quick. -Great ambience -Nice drinks I had the Pear Fizz. In fact, I had three and I highly recommend them -Lighting is nice, I don't mind dark, candlelit eateries -The food was okay. All our dishes needed seasoning. Pepper, cumin, SALT something to make them stand out -The bread was delicious but I found the olive oil that accompanies the bread rather sharp and had way too much of a grassy bite. It settled down after adding some salt to the olive oil -Servers were attentive, friendly and answered all our questions -We ordered the burger medium. We got it rare. Way too rare -The mussels were cooked in mustard and beer. Sounds good right? Uh, no. I have made better at home on a whim -The mac and cheese was gooey and came with crumbled bacon on top. Again, nothing to write home about even though in theory it sounds delicious. Sorry to say but I did not really enjoy the food. The meal was about $100 for two people including 4 drinks, a main dish and 2 apps. I will skip this place next time and go to Tres Gatos instead for flavorful tapas. Too bad.
(2)
Kevin L.

The boy's personal trainer, in reaction to my mentioning that we went to Ten Tables... PT to boy: 'You took him to the one in JP?!' PT to me: 'You made it back alive. That's a good thing.' Me: 'Huh? What's wrong with Ten Tables? I thought it was great!' PT: 'Oh, you know. JP's kind of known for being a pretty rough area. There are shootings there all the time.' Me: ... Me: 'But the food was stellar... and I thought JP was known for all the lesbians.' PT: ... ---- Shootings and women-who-love-women aside, Ten Tables was 120% worth the trip out to Jamaica Plain. It was possibly the most enjoyable meal I've had in a long while, and for an astonishingly affordable price, no less! Since everything on the menu sounded mouthwatering, we discussed with our server regarding how best to sample as great a variety as possible. Between the two of us, we ended up sharing one carnivore chef's tasting, one pescetarian chef's tasting, and cocktails aplenty. Given the tastings are presumed to vary from season to season, I won't get into the food save to say that everything was prepared exceptionally. Similarly, drink-wise, you can't go wrong, either. I was particularly fond of the beverage I started with, The Nasturtium. With Aperol, Genever, St. Germain, and lemon, it was brightly refreshing without being cloyingly sweet. This theme runs true throughout their cocktail program. Whoever's behind the wheel here has some finely honed taste I can appreciate! Ten Tables serves well as a solid choice for catching up with good friends, but truly excels as a date destination if you're really trying to impress your companion. The lively, boisterous environment, endless entertainment (in the form of an open kitchen), and amiable service all add up to a gustatory theatrical experience worth sharing.
(5)
Shannon S.

oh-em-geee! SO, SOO delicious! Made reservations and brought my parents there to celebrate mom's birthday. Our reservations were for 6, we arrived a bit early anticipating hanging by the bar and were seated immediately. I first noticed the rustic, simple yet romantic decor & atmosphere. Loved all the candles lit and the open kitchen. Our server brought by a tasting of a soup... I didn't catch what it was other than it was topped with creme fraiche. I literally would have licked my little shot glass-esqe sample glass clean if not inappropriate. Yes, it was that tasty. I ordered the potato and leek soup with the gruyere cheese. Dad ordered the panna cotta appetizer... mom opted to stick with the bread and olive oil. My soup: creamy, full of flavor and the gruyere cheese was melty and awesome. Dad's panna cotta: the accompanying salad was citrusy and full of flavor... I loved the almonds, the panna cotta was quite good too. The main course: I ordered the herb stuffed chicken -- probably my favorite of the entrees we ordered. The chicken was cooked perfectly, super tender and the portion was actually quite generous. The potatoes were GREAT, again, could have licked my plate. Dad ordered the steak, it was cooked just as he'd requested and I thought it was quite tasty... as were the accompanying parsnips (my first parsnip experience). Mom went with the swordfish and it was delightful. Had a subtle blackened taste and it too was cooked perfectly. Dessert: bread pudding for dad and the ginger cake with caramel for me. The bread pudding was ahhhmaaazzzinngggg! I could have scarfed down the whole bowl... but then there wouldn't have been room for my ginger cake. The ginger cake was also fabulous. I love ginger, it was super ginger-y. Mom doesn't like ginger so much so she wasn't a big fan... but she's a chocoholic so her vote doesn't count. I loved the ginger puree, so flavorful. I failed to mention that we also ordered two half carafes of the house red and white and both wines were quite good. They also leave a bottle of water on the table which is great because you can just keep filling your own glass up. I will be back, most likely to take part in the tasting menu.
(5)
Kelly O.

Veggie tasting menu = orgasm in my mouth. Seriously, amazing. I'm not a vegetarian by any means, but I have a real soft spot for local fresh ingredients done creatively well, and Ten Tables completely defines that. From the soup to the entree to the dessert, even the simple salad was phenomenal. My friend and I both ordered this tasting menu and we received different things so we got to try double the deliciousness (and were more than full by the end, those portions are deceptive in size because they all really do add up). The menu changes nightly based on what's fresh and what the chef feels like doing, so you could theoretically never get the same items twice, which rocks. Absolutely flawless, especially the pan fried polenta with truffles and the mushroom red wine soup... oh man, soooo good. Cocktails and coffee were scrumptious, service was fantastic, and it was so neat being able to watch the chefs work, I have so much respect for what they do. This place is perfect for a romantic or a friend date, it's a bit out of the way from public transportation but so worth it. Completely lives up to its reputation. I've been to the new Cambridge location, and it's equally as delicious (and a neat space)... try the chocolate terrine with sea salt, it's spectacular.
(5)
Christopher M.

March 14th - Steak & BJ Day! Valentine's Day for Men! So that afternoon she says to me, "Where do you want to go for your steak?" And I said, "Damnit woman, take me to Ten Tables!" She said, "Ten Tables? It's Steak & BJ Day. Don't you want to go somewhere more masculine, like Capital Grille or Abe & Louie's?" And I said, "Not masculine? Woman, you'd better watch your mouth! Just because Ten Tables is in touch with its natural/organic/biodynamic side doesn't mean they don't know how to cook a manly, mouth watering steak." She said, "Well, it's 3:00 the night of - I doubt they're going to have a table available." And I said, "It's March 14th, they damn well better have a table for me. I want my steak!" So she called, and four and a half hours later we were being seated at one of the ten coveted tables. Trust me, I counted - ten tables. But wait, what's this? People sitting up at the bar, overlooking the kitchen? The "chef's table,' it's called? "What the fuck?" I shouted. "That's Eleven Tables! How can you have a restaurant called Ten Tables when there are Eleven Tables? It makes no sense!" Okay, I didn't shout it. I thought it in my head. So I flipped through the menu and before my eyes could fixate on the steak dish, I was sideswiped by temptation - the four course prix fixe tasting menu. Hell yes! But would I be tempting Fate by ordering the tasting menu? After all, I wanted a steak, and with an unknown prix fixe menu I might not get one. But Fate was there and looking for a dance partner, and I took her for a twirl around the floor. First dance was a Selection of Accoutrements, which failed to raise my pulse or my eyebrows. What the hell is an accoutrement anyway? Regardless, things didn't get interesting until the second dance. Here's why you order from tasting menus: you eat food you'd never order off a regular menu. For the second course, I was served a Squid and Garbanzo Bean Stew. Who the hell looks at a menu and says, "Look honey, Squid and Garbanzo Bean Stew! That sounds so yummy, I HAVE to order it!" But in spite of the name, I'll be damned if that wasn't a mighty fine-tasting stew! And then for our third dance, Fate rewarded me. Hanger steak, nice and rare with a splash of salsa verde that says, "savor me" while the seared rosemary polenta screams "devour me!" Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...... And finally, there was ice cream. Ice cream. Basil ice cream. Thai Basil ice cream. Chocolate Terrine with Thai Basil Ice cream. I liked it so much, they offered me the recipe. And the next day I bought an ice cream maker. 'Cause I'm like that.
(5)
Deanna D.

The restaurant is small, cozy, and romantic. The service was solid: our server was friendly and attentive. The cocktail menu is interesting and I had the Gaston 76 which was light & refreshing. We both did the 4 course chef's tasting menu which is a great deal. They do the same menu for everyone at the table which we found to be odd. I'm into sharing and trying different menu items so I was disappointed to find out that we were both getting the same dishes. We asked the server about it when we got the first course and she let the chef know so they sent out different fish courses. Now onto the food: The Charcuterie platter was well seasoned and enjoyable.The Ocean Perch w chick peas was fresh, well cooked but lacked on flavor. The flavors were clean and simple yet a bit boring for my taste but the bf enjoyed it. The Sicilian Style Seafood was well seasoned, flavorful and very delicious. The Hanger Steak w potatoes & fiddleheads were well cooked, tender, and flavorful. We ended with the Burnt Sugar Panna Cotta (rich & sweet) & Ice Cream of the day were both decadent and scrumptious!! They were a great ending to our meal and we enjoyed every bite! Overall a nice restaurant with a small yet well executed menu. I don't think its the best restaurant in Boston but the food & service was good and I will be back.
(4)
Jessica C.

I had drafted this review a long time ago........ now finally posting... 4 1/2 stars with almost 300 reviews?? I had to try this place. To my disappointment, this is NOT a 4 1/2 star restaurant. This may be due to the fact that I got the $40 prefixe meal on Weds night (I am officially swearing off pre-fixe menus unless that is all the restaurant offers..a "tasting menu" is diff than prefix..) The restaurant itself is easy to find, and very quaint and cute. I felt like I was in a little home or something and it was packed to say the least. The service was decent, and boy am I glad we made reservations ahead of time. It got really packed, but the drinks were good... i had some sort of drink sampler with 3 mini drinks, very pretty and tasty with unique flavors..
(3)
Alex R.

Foodie heaven! I'm perfectly situated at the midpoint between their two locations and am a fan of the new Cambridge spot, but nothing beats the intimacy of the original in JP. My friend and I reserved a seat at the "chef's table," which are really just glorified bar seats, but worth it nevertheless for the views of the small front kitchen in which the Ten Tables chefs work wonders. What really stood out to me about this meal was the *texture* of the food. (Check out my pictures. Apologies for the mediocre iPhone 3G quality.) The spring vegetable salad with haricot vert, sliced radish, peas, and rich-but-not-too-rich with its creme fraiche-shallot dressing simply *felt* great when eating. The orecchiette was just perfect - the cauliflower, cockles, and moreover breadcrumbs (who would have thought something so simple can be the perfect finishing touch to a plate?) gave what would be a good but normal dish elsewhere entirely original, and the homemade orechiette was fantastically fresh. My friend had the sweet onion soup and meyer bavette steak, which looked and apparently tasted delicious. Unfortunately, we had to run before having the chance of digging into their much lauded desserts. My few complaints? Having to wait half an hour for my reservation. Don't get me wrong, I understand this is a small restaurant with a limited number of tables (10, I'm told), so these things happen, but a simple apology if not an appetizer on the house would have been a nice gesture from an establishment that occassionnally, I hate to say, suffers from snootiness. Another minor complaint is that I had intended to pick up a bunch of gift cards while at the restaurant, but the staff only had two on hand. Again, these things happen, but still another business faux pas in my opinion - I'm trying to give you guys more business! With all this said, and all the positives and negatives considered, this is a five-star establishment at the end of the day that undoubtedly deserves its spot among the top foodie destinations in the Boston area. And cheers to them for keeping their prices reasonable relative to the quality they deliver. I'm a fan of spots like Craigie on Main, but I'll skip a $70 meal there any night to get an equally good and perhaps more personalized meal at Ten Tables for $40.
(5)
John P.

Intimate. Romantic. Flavorful. Creative. Thoughtful. What's there to say that hasn't been said? Ten Tables is the real deal. Brick walls and ten literal tables are lit by candlelight. Dining space is shared with a small open kitchen. Menu is inventive and updated seasonally with fresh, local (and where available, organic) ingredients. The lady and I shared the charcuterie platter (outstanding pork pate), in addition to hanger steak and braised rabbit entrees. Inventive and playful, each dish balanced creativity (enough to broaden your pallet) while remaining adequately familiar. Deep wine list for those with Dionysian proclivities. Impressive service. Prompt and precise. In addition to our waitress, a floater monitored the ten tables (filling glasses, replacing empty bread basket, retrieving the check without a moment's hesitation). While service generally is a function of whim and luck (based on your waiter assignment), at Ten Tables, wait staff seemed systematically precise and polished. Therefore, I'm more confident than usual that this quality of service will be replicatable in future visits. Ten Tables is a pleasure. Will there be a second date? You bet.
(5)
kelli p.

This was hands down one of the best meals I've had in my 2 years in Boston. The service was excellent and the food was just lovely. A girlfriend and I sat at the Chef's Table which is practically IN the kitchen. We got to chat with the sous chef and experience the intensity of a Friday night dinner rush firsthand. If you can get that seat, I highly recommend it. It isn't always pretty but it's worth it. I had the four-course vegetarian tasting: soup, salad, entrÃ¨e and dessert. Every course was amazingly fresh and yummy. Being in the kitchen, we could see each course being prepared and could even ask questions about flavors, spices, presentation choices, etc. I can't say enough good things about Ten Tables. This was my first visit and I know I'll be back again and again.
(5)
Laz V.

Amazing time here for a small wedding recently. About 25 people. We had a fixed menu, choice of 3 apps, 3 entrees, 2 desserts. Food was really, really great. The staff was super friendly, patient and kind for a rowdy group full of love and champagne. We closed the place down, and the staff was happy to continue pouring until last minute, without a single sign of impatience. Highly recommended.
(5)
Oiyan P.

I think I ordered the wrong thing because I was underwhelmed by Ten Tables last night. Or maybe my expectations were set too high. I wanted and expected an experience that would bring me near tears. I had the 3 for $33 Wednesday night deal - appetizer+main course+dessert prix fixe. My favorite course was the complimentary amuse bouche, which was a cold carrot, ginger, and saffron soup. YUMMY. For the app, I got the charcuterie, which had a delish balsamic (?) reduction sauce, some slivers of yummy prosciutto, and a slice of their house made pate. My main course was the hanger steak, which costs $6 extra. The steak was chewy!!! I expected tender. The peppercorn crust was a bit overwhelming too. Disappointing. The dessert I got was the chocolate terrine with Thai basil ice cream and maldon salt. The ice cream was really great. the chocolate was wonderfully rich, but overwhelming. I tried the duck breast with red rice, which my dad got, and it was heavenly. So perhaps chalk the disappointing main course up to unfortunate ordering. I also tried my mom's pound cake with labne ice cream and rhubarb compote dessert, which was amazing. Service was fab! Lesson learned. This is not a steak joint!
(4)
Michelle C.

I've been all down to get down with Ten Tables for awhile now but let's be real ... it's kinda pricey, it's kinda a pain to get in, it also requires a trip to Cambridge. Oh wait, it doesn't. Because there's one in JP and I dig on JP, not to mention I can walk there (in spite of the firefights and throngs of lesbians referred to in every other post ... psh.) So, dapper companion made a reservation on Opentable and off we went ... tucking in to a bottle of red wine and a lengthy conversation about open-carry laws. If you have an aversion to people, deal with it because you're in your neighbors laps, but Ten Tables is, as a general rule, trendy and therefore full of sexy and intellectual folks that you don't mind touching awkwardly when you get up to go to the bathroom. SPEAKING of which, it's tucked in a corner and I'm fairly certain the table right next to it is within pee-splash earshot. Which brings me to the next point; I believe that this table is probably not tops in terms of preferred seating, but since there's only a handful of tables here to begin with, get yourself a reservation. Oh! The food! Right. It was pretty spectacular. We were greeted with a taste of parsnip soup (pretty tasty, although parsnips are awfully bland to be the main ingredient in a soup ... but I digress.) Rustic bread with a GOOD olive oil for dipping and then there's the food! A relatively small menu is daunting for some but literally every single dish seemed mindblowing. I ended up with the seafood stew, which featured surprises such as giant capers and golden raisins. A tomato based stew with fish-eye pasta, perfectly cooked squid and a tender piece of hake. Said companion ordered the duck breast with pork fat. Mmmm. Oh, yes, there was also a pickled octopus appetizer in there as well as a flight of ports. We stumbled home, drunk and happy. So, in short: supremely cool ambiance, hands-off but attentive servers, top-notch ingredients and great skill in the kitchen. This may be the beginning of a love affair.
(5)
Doris T.

This was my husband and mine first dinner as a married couple and I must say that the day was quite memorable. We started with a hibiscus limeade and it had a unique flavor that I had not experienced before. However, we did not like the appetizer options so we proceeded straight to entree. He had the hanger steak done medium well and loved it. I had the roasted bluefish with mixed grain salad and it was absolutely delicious! For dessert we tried the thai basil and the molasses ice-cream...Mmmmm... that was good! Since we were so impressed, we also ordered the poached hake with pesto spaghetti to take out and noticed something quite curious. Although the dishes served at the restaurant were just enough for one person, the take-out fed the both of us! I wonder if the larger portion is just part of the dish itself...oh well... but it was worth it! The pesto was one of the best I had even though my husband found it a little strong. The wait-staff there were quite polite and very knowledgeable and efficient. Overall it was a wonderful experience! The few cons about the place include the small space and crowd. But if you plan ahead and send in an online reservation, it can become an experience worth remembering. Oh and for the more bold eaters out there: I have heard good things about the chef's taster menu. For the more cautious eaters: Just ask if you are not sure and the staff will help you with the fancy food names ;)
(4)
Kelly A.

My husband told me I could pick the place I wanted to dine on my birthday this week, so I chose Ten Tables. I had never been there before but I had heard great things so we called and made the reservation. We opted for the vegetarian tasting menu, which features four courses of the chef's choice. After ordering, we were presented with an amuse bouche of cold fennel soup with chive oil, and that was really clean and tasty. The only disappointments of the night were the drinks - I ordered an iced tea (which tasted very much like chlorine) and he ordered an Allagash White (which he was a bit disappointed with, as it wasn't in "good condition"). Our first course was a roasted garlic soup with parsley cream, and that was really delicious. The flavors were bright and strong, but not overwhelming. The parsley cream was a nice complement to the soup. The second course was a beet salad, and I'm not a fan of beets, so I ate around those. There were also julienned apples, pomegranate arils, pine nuts, and chunks of blue cheese, so I had those things and pushed the beets off to the side. Clearly I can't be very critical of this dish because I didn't like its main ingredient, but I will say that the other components were good. The main course was a pasta dish that contained olives, golden raisins, and ricotta salata; it was a really interesting combination (and I was psyched to have something without beets). The olives were particularly good. When we got there, our waiter noticed that my husband had given me a card, so he asked if we were celebrating an occasion, so I told him it was my birthday. When he brought the dessert course out, my dish contained a cute birthday candle! I thought that was really nice. So my dish was the chocolate terrine with thai basil ice cream, and my husband's was the creme brulee. The terrine was really really good, moist and fudgy with a sprinkling of salt throughout; the basil ice cream surprised me, because I didn't think I'd like it. But turned out it was a yummy combination. The creme brulee wasn't unusual or anything, but it was done well. This dinner was definitely one to remember, as I enjoyed getting several little plates of fine vegetarian food. The ambience was lovely, as it was quite romantic. Ten Tables is a great place for a celebratory romantic dinner for sure.
(4)
Ishmael S.

One of the best sit down dinner experiences I've ever had. My wife and I went for a special night out, and it was perfect. The atmosphere was somewhere between trendy/casual and semi-formal. The open kitchen was really cool, and the decor was really great. The tables were a bit close together, but it didn't negatively impact the meal. The wait staff was attentive and friendly, and the food was excellent. We ordered a 4-course meal thing, which I highly recommend, since we got to try some items we wouldn't normally order. If you're looking for a good date night dinner spot, this is a perfect place for that!
(5)
Justin Y.

It is a very popular but small restaurant so it can get very loud! But other than that, great restaurant. The service was excellent. They started with an amuse bouche of some cold soup which was light but had lots of flavor. My friend ordered pan-roasted gianonne chicken which was very tender and juicy. The hanger steak with duck fat fried fingerlings was amazing though. The meat was cooked perfectly and pretty much melted in your mouth. The frisee and fiddlehead garnish was a perfect complement to the steak and gave it great taste. The portions for both main dishes were perfect and people could easily order appetizers to share without having to worry about ordering too much food.
(5)
Whitney R.

I brought a friend here for her birthday last night, and, as usual, TTs exceeded my expectations. The Wednesday menu offers a 3-course meal for $33, so I, of course, took advantage of this, along with the $15 flight of Italian wines. I started with the Beet and Goat Cheese Terrine with Arugula & Pistachios, followed by the Meyer Hanger Steak with Local Fingerling Potatoes, Collard Greens and Salsa Verde, and ended with Apple and Prune Bread Pudding with Walnut Praline Ice Cream. Amazing. All of it. Cooked perfectly, full of flavor, insert praises here. I was also lucky enough to sample other dishes, such as the Selection of house made charcuterie with toast & cornichons. We get this every time we go to TT's because it's so amazing. All pates, etc. are made in house and taste just as fresh. I could go on and on about TT's, so I'll leave it at that... for now!
(5)
Bess M.

I went back there for my 2nd anniversary with my boyfriend! We had a great time! This time we got the four course meal that included the different wines with every meal. It was great. The only thing keeping ten tables from the 5 stars is the fact that we felt a bit squished and there wasn't really a lot of room on the table for the drinks and food. We love coming to this place I'm thinking this might be a tradition for all our anniversaries!
(4)
Marilyn T.

I forgot how much I love Ten Tables. It's been a year and a half since I've been in Boston, and I had to come back. Since I was last here, they've expanded the space to have an adjacent bar area. We did the Tuesday night wine pairing, which is an incredible deal for 4 courses and 4 wine pairings. Usually, the theme revolves around a wine region, but tonight, it was for New England cheeses. The servers were very attentive and knowledgable, as usual. The salad with Cabot cheddar, egg, and granny smith apples was a nice light start. Next, the cauliflower gratin was not overly creamy yet so satisfying on a cold day. The chef was also so gracious to create a special house made paparadelle as a substitute for the lamb dish for my mom, who's a vegetarian. Finally, the walnut brown butter cake was dense, nutty, and perfect with the goat cheese ice cream (slightly tart, slightly salty, with just a hint of that familiar goat cheese taste). Arguably my absolute favorite place in Boston. Ten Tables alone makes me want to move back to Boston!
(5)
Drew C.

My fiancee and I have been to Ten Tables a few times now. It's walking distance from Harvard Square and has fantastic food. The tasting menu is especially delicious and reasonably priced. My only complaint is that noise carries. A loud table next door can put a damper on an otherwise romantic date night.
(4)
Brian D.

Monday is BEERger night at Ten Tables, where you can get their famous burger and a pint of their signature beer from Berkshire Brewing Co. at the bar for a few dollars off the normal price. I was there early, knowing how crowded that bar can get. Two hours later, my girlfriend came home to find me home and sprawled on the couch with a expression of absolute bliss plastered on my face. The beer was good, subtle and malty. The burger was excellent! Flavorful, beefy, a little messy, and covered with toppings that amplified the flavor of the meat. The Bacon Aioli was just as good as I had imagined it could be. And all-told the burger, and the Monday night special, were quite reasonably priced ($15 for a high quality burger and a good glass of beer). But the thing that did it for me most...was the soup. I loved the soup at Ten Tables so much the first time, that I had to start off with a bowl of whatever they were serving that night. It turned out to be a Turnip Veloute, and it was absolute Heaven! It was silky smooth and tasted earthy and savory and just slightly sweet all at the same time. Ten Tables has clearly earned it's place as one of my two favorite restaurants (the one for when I have a little more money to spend), as well as earned a place in my Best Burgers of Boston list!
(5)
christine c.

Came here with my mom on a rainy weeknight. We didn't have a reservation so we opted for the hightops in the bar. The bartender (he was a great server, too) got us some Pinot Noir to start (delicious! I had another glass for sure, maybe even 3...) and some bread. So good! I got the frisee and apple walnut salad off the bar menu to start. I believe it had a cider vinaigrette which was to die for. I'm still dreaming about it. And at $7 it wasn't a bad starter. Then we both got the salsa verde hanger steak with roasted potatoes. The salsa and the steak were amazing. I almost got the Moroccan swordfish (I'll have to try it next time) but I'm so glad I tried this. For dessert we had some sort of pineapple upside down cake which wasn't the best. I can't wait to go back for the swordfish and the rest of the bar menu that looked divine. I love this place!
(5)
Deb W.

Ate at 10 Tables last evening. They seated us before our reservation time, not busy as they had empty tables. Reviewed menu, ordered drinks. Ordered our meal. Still no drinks. Our server gave us bread and oil. When we asked about our drinks we were told the bartender had not made them. Received salad 1 minute after drinks arrived. Rest of evening went well. Four entrees to chose from - I got vegetarian, husband the hanger steak. Veggie meal had good flavors -different green veggies and beans on saffron rice. I felt it was expensive for what I was served +$20. I would not recommend this restaurant if you were looking for variety of choices in entrees. Restaurant is very much a couples restaurant with no one younger than 40. Next time I would try the bar side. It seemed more lively.
(4)
nomo c.

Came here for an anniversary meal and was blown away. We started with a charcuterie plate and some margarhitas. the real stuff not the icy slushy stuff. i had the steak and he had the seafood stew. I think we passed on the dessert because we ate every last bite of our app and entree. Everything melted in my mouth. The waiter was polite and knowledgable. Would definitely go again if it weren't always so crowded! Trust me, we've tried. Try to go at an off hour, either early dinner or late dinner. But its definitely worth it.
(5)
S. C.

Looking at the other reviews here, I guess we were pretty lucky to have snagged a spot in the dining room next to the kitchen--even though it was 80+ degrees inside and we were sweating uncomfortably throughout the meal. Be aware that TT does not have a full liquor license, so instead of being disappointed you should just stick with beer or wine...definitely not water because it was room temperature and they ran out of ice. I wasn't very pleased with the choice of entrees, nothing that suited my taste specifically but my friend said that the tagliatelle was the best he's had in his entire life. At some point I will give it another chance, but probably just stick to the bar side. Service was surprisingly slow for a small place--maybe that's just to add to ambiance.
(3)
Sahil G.

Dear Random Waiter, Do not ever reach across a patron's table as they are just beginning (literally first bite) their dessert and second round of drinks and give them the bill and tell them, "Whenever you're ready." Simply unacceptable. I am *almost* torn giving Ten Tables 1 star, I'd rather give it 0, but the service was absolutely NOT OK. The restaurant was not having an off night, the kitchen was not having an off night, there is simply no excuse for the poor service that we got. I went here for dinner with my GF (Kelsey A., see below), just the two of us. We had made reservations weeks in advance and showed up on time. Only had to wait a short while before getting seated. We ordered two drinks while waiting from their awesome cocktail menu. The dining room is to the right, and literally has ten tables (Why I didn't expect this, I don't know). The decorations are simple, I really enjoyed the ambiance, candles, simple pictures/paintings on the wall, and a very low volume music. Perfect! I really was very excited for our meal. We were seated at a two-top and given our menus. It's a Wednesday, so they have a 3-course Prix Fixe menu for $33. A great deal which we opted for. Shortly after being seated our drinks came over, a "KK" (ginger, passionfruit, and champagne) and a lemongrass-saffron martini. Both were delicious, very well crafted and balanced. One of the waiters came over and took our orders, we put in our choices for the prix fixe then. One waiter came over with our amuse bouche, a cantaloupe, yellow watermelon soupy thing with chive, some spice, and a drop of oil on the top. It was served in a shot glass of sorts, and I actually liked it. Kelsey did not. But it was refreshing, maybe a bit strong on the cantaloupe side, but it was good nonetheless. Our first courses came, a corn chowder with scallops and a halibut crudo with cantaloupe and grapefruit. Both were awesome. The chowder had a wonderful corn flavor with little potatoes & bacons swimming about. Then the big momma scallop, cooked to perfection, in the middle. It was such a hearty dish, and very flavorful. The halibut was delicious as well, clean and fresh, with very sweet cantaloupe. I loved both these dishes. However, right as we start digging in, one waiter motioned to another that we hadn't received our bread yet, which they promptly brought over. Not a huge deal, I don't think I would have cared or noticed either way since the apps came out fairly quickly, but it was a little awkward. Speaking of bread, it wasn't anything amazing. Cold rolls, a little too chewy and dense. But the olive oil was pretty good though. So we finish our appetizers and shortly thereafter come the entrees. They looked great, English pea and goat cheese ravioli for Kelsey, and a pork chop for me. The ravioli looked a little pasty, also, they didn't really give that much. It tasted pretty good though, but nothing to write home about. The chop, on the bone, was cooked to perfection, tender and juicy. It was topped with jalapeno butter which matched it perfectly. Accompanying the chop was a corn and bean succotash, which tasted sooooooo good. It reminded me of a campfire, just wonderful, earthy, hearty flavors. Dessert comes out and we order a second round of drinks and wait for dessert to come out. They arrive at about the same time, thre was some confusion as to what the drink I got was, but it ended up being right so no harm no foul. Kelsey got the Kristal Ballz, which was strong, sort unbalanced to begin with, but opened up and mellowed out and the ice melted. It ended up being good. I got the Pondside, a gingery brandy and mandarin soda drink. I love it, a little on the syrupy side, but great flavor combo. I enjoyed a profiterole with anise cream and a chocolate-orange sauce. The dessert was delicious, creamy, puffy, wondrous, and rich. The absinthe was a very subtle flavor and it was hard to finish it all. I honestly couldn't taste any orange at all in the chocolate, but it was all good either way. Ugh, now the terrible part. As soon as dessert and our drinks came, we were literally 1 minute into eating it, a waiter comes over, reaches across our table, and puts the check down. "Whenever you're ready." Are you kidding? It's not like we were taking our sweet-ass time to eat, there was no one waiting, and we had just begun our third course. I've had better service at an Applebees. It was so unacceptable, I'm still reeling in anger from it and at a loss for words. Nothing like finishing your third course to what would have been a great dinner, then having your bill stare at you the entire time. I don't really see any excuse to this, it wasn't an off night for anyone. Just a serious misstep. The food is good, the service is absolutely horrendous. I'm not sure I can recommend TT to any of my friends, and I know I won't be coming back.
(1)
Cha Cha W.

From the first bite to the last swallow I've only had one thought in mind...I've died and gone to the great dining room in the sky. This wonderful little gem in JP is all about organic, locally sourced produce and traditional cooking techniques that you can taste in every bite. Imagine a perfectly seasoned juicy pork chop, homey succotash and light summery gazacho salad. But then you don't have to imagine, pick up the phone and make a reservation today! I know I'll be back for more. Some important things to remember: 1). Tuesday's are wine tasting nights, this week was Spain. 2). Wednesday's are pick your favorite nights, where you get 3 courses for $29. Bring a friend or two and sample the whole menu! 3). The remaining nights you can pick the Chef's Tasting menu of 4 courses for $40. 4). There are literally 10 tables (ergo Ten Tables) so say hello to your fellow diners. They'll be curiously looking over at your food as you're eating anyways ;)
(5)
Kelsey A.

Poor Ten Tables. This would be a 4 star review based on the food, but they committed a pretty serious faux pas near the end of the meal that totally ruined the whole experience. I brought Sahil G. here for his birthday. There was no way for me to be equitable, considering he brought me to Craigie for mine...but I figured Ten Tables was a good choice nonetheless. For the most part, it was -- the food and the drinks were pretty awesome! I started with the "KK" cocktail: ginger, passionfruit, and champagne. This drink was delicious -- the passionfruit flavor was very intense, and the ginger complimented it very nicely. There was also a piece of candied ginger on the side of the glass, which I thought was a great touch. We went last night, which was a Wednesday, so we were able to get the 3 for $33 meal -- a great value (as good as Restaurant Week, and this is every Wednesday!). One of the waiters brought out a complimentary amuse bouche, which was a yellow watermelon and cantaloupe chilled soup, topped with chive, chili, and a drop of olive oil. I did not like this at all. It was interesting to be sure, but I personally did not like the flavor combo. Definitely no points off for that -- it was interesting and seasonal, and the presentation was great. I just didn't like it. For my app, I got the corn chowder with lardons and scallop. This soup was amazing -- the corn tasted so fresh, and the lardons added a great smoky flavor. And the scallop was SO GOOD. I love scallops, and this one was perfect -- cooked exactly right, with a nice sear on the outside. And I loved that it was just sitting right in the middle of the chowder, soaking up all the flavors. My entree was goat cheese ravioli with english peas and orange mint. The ravioli was nice and fresh, and I liked the goat cheese. I was not crazy about the orange notes, but for some reason it was not present throughout the entire dish, so I didn't have to suffer through it. Dessert was a lemon blueberry pastel vasco with poppyseed ice cream. The ice cream was really good, and I loved the lemon and blueberry. The cake was a little crusty (read: hard to fork through) but it was delicious. I also got a second cocktail, called the Kirstal Ballz, which was absinthe, tequila, and pomegranate on rocks. The first sip was wayyy too strong on the absinthe, but once the ice melted, this drink was actually really nice. So all in all, I would have given the food/drinks a solid 4. But there were some service issues that I absolutely cannot overlook. Some may call me nitpicky or overly harsh, and that's fine, but I believe that if you go to a restaurant of this caliber, and you pay this much for the food, you have the right to expect a certain standard of service. The service was slightly off the whole night - they didn't bring us our bread till after the apps came (after I saw a waiter remind another waiter we didn't have it yet), the drink orders got a little confused, etc. Nothing terrible, and for the most part excusable, but just a little off. Here was the big, red flag problem: we had literally JUST gotten our desserts, and a second round of drinks, and one of the waiters brought us our check. Like, WTF? Ok, I understand that the restaurant only has ten tables, but there were NOT people waiting for our table. In fact, there were two open two-tops in the dining room at this point. So why are you rushing us out of there? It is my belief -- and I thought this was the norm -- that the check does not come until you are totally finished, plates cleared and all, with your meal. We had JUST started our third course! Literally, I had taken one bite. Call me bratty or nitpicky, I don't care. This was just not okay. It sucks, because I really enjoyed the food, but bringing us the check that early just left a bad taste in my mouth (no pun intended). It made me feel rushed and unwelcome, and I do not think it is okay to feel that way in a restaurant of Ten Table's caliber. All in all, I think it's worth going here for the food, but it definitely lacks in the service area. Maybe this was an off-night, I don't know. I just really was not happy when I left the restaurant, especially considering I shelled out $130 to get rushed through my meal.
(1)
Jessica G.

I was so excited to finally make it to Ten Tables. The atmosphere alone, is something worth making a reservation for. I'm a big fan of open kitchens, and fortunately we got to sit about 10 feet away from the action, which MAKES the experience. To start we ordered the salad, nectarines, pistachios, vinaigrette dressing, which was pleasant. As entrees we had the Giannone chicken and the bluefish. Surprisingly, both were very very salty, which moved our meal away from great/5 stars to 4 stars(believe me, I'm a big fan of salt, but it was really a little much). Overall, the meal was very good, and The Boy and I would definitely like to return for a second shot.
(4)
Jasmine M.

My meal last night made me a believer in Ten Tables. They offered a three course meal for $33 and my date and I split a lot of our offerings. Let me just sum up the experience for you before I go into details on our meal: The food is interesting, bold, and delicious; the atmosphere is intimate and sophisticated, but not in a suffocating or pretentious way - I love being able to see the kitchen and the exposed brick on the walls; the waitstaff are friendly, considerate, and attentive without being overly intrusive - I never felt like I had to continue to halt my conversation because I was being interrupted constantly as I've felt at other small establishments in the city. As for the food, my favorite picks of the evening included the charcuterie plate (amazing pÃ¢tÃ© and pickled vegetables that were surprisingly refreshing); the duck breast and rice were full of flavor and a great mixture of sweet and savory; my date's entree of braised short rib was sooooo tender, juicy, and comforting and reminded us of home cooked beef stew in the best way possible; and finally, last but definitely not least, the olive oil cake with rosemary ice cream and peanut brittle was to DIE for. Seriously, I want another one RIGHT NOW. All of the desserts at this place looked so good. My date's dessert was also amazing: chocolate terrine with Thai basil ice cream. I'm such a sucker for mixing sweet and savory, and both of these desserts were some of the best I've had in a long long time. I will be coming back to this place very soon...
(5)
LeeAnn E.

Had a great meal here during the Tuesday wine night prix fixe dinner. All courses were excellent in terms of amounts and presentation. An elegant sufficiency. Great service; thoughtful and attentive. Will go back.
(5)
Shuan L.

There are nights when I feel like getting dressed to the nines and going out for a trendy dinner at the newest bustling see-and-be-seen restaurant. There are nights when I want a quiet dinner at someplace more formal and, yes, a little stuffy. And then there are those nights when I want something casual and familiar without sacrificing quality. Those are the nights when I go to Ten Tables. The best thing about Ten Tables is its lack of pretension. There's no uppity snobbishness here, only a genuine celebration of good food. Service is always excellent, with friendly servers who actually seem like they want to be there. The atmosphere - aided in large part by the small interior, wooden tables, and dim lighting - is cozy and homey. It invites you snuggle into your seat, order some wine, and savor and evening of delicious food and good company. And the food - oh my goodness, the food. The dishes are creative and, due to the restaurant's emphasis on using local produce, perfectly in season. Even the more standard fare outshines those of other restaurants - I recently had a wonderful spaghetti aglio olio e pomodoro that left the version at Via Matta in the dust. For those looking for culinary indulgence, the tasting menu is a terrific and inexpensive option, while the bar menu is also a good choice if you're looking for a lighter meal.
(5)
Eliza W.

Still the best restaurant in JP and realizing it is one of the best in Boston.
(5)
Cherie C.

One of the best meals I've had in Boston. After two unsuccessful attempts, we finally made reservations (well in advance) for a Tuesday wine dinner. They highlighted one region and served wines to match each course. Despite the fact that everyone in the room would be eating the same menu all night, the kitchen did not make the food until you sat down (except for the desserts, of course). We watched them make a delicious salad for the two of us instead of serving us from a large batch made for the night. Each course was excellent. Ingredients were based on the wines to be served and what was fresh at the market. The pork was delicious. Dessert was divine. It was exciting to see the two men in action in the kitchen, though the small size and open floor plan meant it got really hot in the dining room. The chef made sure to come say hello to each table at least once during the meal. He brought us one course and chatted briefly before returning to his duties. That was a nice touch. Service was excellent; attentive but not overwhelming. They were also understanding when we called to say we were late due to a broken-down T train. We got there in the nick of time, and they still accommodated us. Wine was great; we were especially impressed with the Sauternes served at dessert. We can't wait to go back to try the regular menu.
(5)
Brianna C.

I've used Yelp for years and never written a review. But after going to Ten Tables 8 times in the past year, I finally broke down and had to share my love of this place. This is my absolute favorite restaurant in the Boston area, and believe me, I've been to a lot of restaurants. It has a wonderful, cozy atmosphere, the service is unparalleled and the food is simply delicious. My favorite night to go there is for their Tuesday wine dinners. Four courses with wine for $42, with a different region of the world featured every week...how can you beat that?? Part of what makes this such a great restaurant is that the staff is extremely friendly, knowledgeable and EXCITED about the food and wine that they offer. I love that! And here's an example of the phenomenal service at this restaurant: my family and I made reservations for this past weekend and when we arrived, our table wasn't ready because the previous guests were still sitting there. The hostess apologized profusely and after 15min of waiting, she brought over olives and told us that the cocktail we'd ordered was on the house. After another 15min (a total of 30min waiting), we were seated. None of us was remotely upset about the wait because we were in good company and excited about the food. And honestly, it really didn't seem like that long of a wait. However, after we'd ordered, our server told us that our bottle of wine we would also be on the house!!! Unbelievable. I can't emphasize enough how much I love this place! You're doing yourself a disservice if you don't check it out.
(5)
Matthias J.

I was so looking forward to finally trying out 10T after hearing such good reviews. For the longest time I was looking to combine a reason to be in this distant neighborhood with dinner here and yesterday the stars finally aligned. While there is atmosphere, the service was excellent and the prices were reasonable, there wasn't a single dish we ordered that deserved an outstanding review. They do think creatively about their dishes, but contrary to restaurants like Craige on Main, Salts or even EVOO where the surprise of the taste buds comes with a pleasant enjoyment of the food, this was not the case here. The potato leek soup soup was bland even with the spanish pimento cookie. The rosemary cider sorbet was overly sweet while the pickled cranberry sorbet just felt wrong. Even the lavender infused cocktail required a constant mental note that the funny taste was not leftover soap. You come to places like 10T with an open mind expecting to be surprised by tastes you hadn't had before and wouldn't have come up with yourself. The problem was, in our case it was not a pleasant surprise.
(2)
Jay N.

This place is fantastic. Perfect for a romantic date. The place is small so make sure to get there early or make a reservation. I was blown away by how small the kitchen is and the short wait for food. We had the Cucumber Gazpacho with Heirloom Tomatoes & Orange Oil, Panzanella Salad and Housemade Chard & Goat Cheese Agnolotti with Local Corn Nage & Smoked Hazelnuts. The chard and cheese combo was extraordinary. I would definitely go back!
(4)
Linda H.

Had friends visiting town and we were meeting up for dinner on a Wednesday night. It was perfect timing, I thought, for my first visit to Ten Tables. The last time I had walked by, I made note of their Wednesday night prixe fixe menu, but I had yet to make it out. I was able to call only a couple hours ahead and made a reservation for 7:30pm. We arrived slightly early and the occupants of what was to be our table hadn't yet finished. We waited in a little alcolve and placed a drink order. The food was delicious. Lots of drink options, although they don't have a full bar....only infused liquors. There were a lot of unique non-alcoholic mixed drink options too, which I enjoyed. Note: they require a credit card to make a reservation and will charge you $25/person if you don't show, which is reasonable considering how few tables they have.
(5)
Laura H.

This was my first meal out after the birth of our first child and it was amazing! The space is warm and inviting; the staff equally friendly. We had a reservation at the bar and it was practically in the kitchen which was fun. The four chefs working talked to us and answered any random questions that we had about the meals that they were cooking. The food was fresh and very very good. We had a yummy signature cocktail and a bottle of wine with our meals, both exceeded expectations. I can not wait to go back for more delicious food and a comfortable atmosphere.
(5)
Nick H.

I wanted this place to be perfect so badly...but unfortunately it fell just short of it. Nonetheless, a fine dining experience, but unfortunately probably won't be back all that soon. I'd give them 3.5 if I could; luckily their perfect customer service won me over. $42 for chef's tasting menu + $24 for wine pairings per person should get you some pretty decent eats. Let's see what it bought us. First, we had to wait over half an hour past our reservation because the restaurant (if the name didn't give it away) is very small and (if the Yelp reviews didn't give it away) very popular. BUT the maitre d' gave us some complimentary champagne to pass the time. So far so good! They made sure to ask of any allergies/conditions, and were kind enough to tone down the cream for my lactose fragile digestive system. Ten points to Gryffindor. Tasting menu usually comes with four items of the chef's whim. Our servings were... - COMPLIMENTARY BREAD: Um...REALLY stale, with only olive oil as a dressing. Hello? - BONUS CHEF'S TREAT: A little shot glass of sweet potato soup with truffle oil. Yum! Back on track. - APPETIZER: Chef's charcuterie with pork pÃ¢tÃ©, freshly made whole grain mustard, prosciutto, pickled vegetables, baguette, and saba (a new one for me; grape must syrup that tastes like honeyed balsamic vinaigrette). Paired with a very nice, dry white. Not filling (charcuterie never is), but fairly scrumptious (especially that saba). - FIRST COURSE: Bourride, a light and creamy fish stew with hake (another new one for me; white fish with very light flavor and slightly tough flakes), swiss chard, a single clam, and soaked toast. Paired with a very interesting rosÃ© with a peppery finish that went perfectly with the fish. Simple, homey, delicious, and plenty of stew to go round to moisten that horrible, horrible complimentary bread. - BONUS CHEF'S TREAT: Again, to apologize for the wait, we got another surprise: a rosÃ© champagne to cleanse our palate! They really are buttering us up... - BONUS CHEF'S TREAT: As if that wasn't enough, we got ANOTHER surprise: shaved fennel salad with grapefruit and toasted pinenuts. This was absolutely amazing, and it's too bad it wasn't in our intended lineup! - SECOND COURSE: And here's where it came crashing down. Hanger steak with cauliflower and potatoes au gratin. Cauliflower was very plain and a bit raw, potatoes were excellent, but the steak...oh, the steak. Upon our first bite, we looked at each other quizzically and asked, "WHAT does this remind us of?" And we figured it out...packaged beef jerky. All they had to do to win us over was cook a normal, simple steak medium rare, and instead we got cold, rare meat with too much smoked peppercorn. The paired red wasn't so hot either. - DESSERT: Played it pretty safe here with a profiterole with banana ice cream and chocolate sauce. Would have been better warm in my opinion, but having the equivalent of a banana split was a good way to make me forget about that dreadful steak. A decent tawny port put a nice touch on the end of the night. So judge for yourself...I expected a near flawless meal, and it unfortunately disappointed. There were definitely highlights, and the ambience/customer service were phenomenal...but the food just wasn't 100% there. Try harder next time, Ten Tables! I'll definitely thank you for it!
(4)
Josh S.

I have walked by Ten Tables numerous times, often thinking it would be good to eat here. However, I am not normally one to plan ahead too far, and the place was always booked when I called to see if there were an opening at the last minute. My boyfriend and I got a gift card, so we had a reason to plan ahead...this time, three weeks in advance. The wait was worth it! As the name implies, there are 10 tables and the space is not that big, so it can be a little awkward to get to/from your table. The servers work the place nimbly, though, so once seated, it's not that bad. The drinks we ordered were good (and strong). The appetizers we ordered (Beet and Goat Cheese Terrine with Arugula & Pistachios and Broccoli and Cheddar Soup with Creme Fraiche) were delightful; the entrees (Ten Tables' Bouride: Provencal Stew with Hake, Mussels, Polenta & Kale and Pan Seared Arctic Char with Wild Rice, Brussel Sprouts & Pickled Roxbury Russet Apples) were exquisite; and the desert we ordered, Boca Negra Cake with Mint Ice Cream, was also excellent. Two hours after we arrived, we were sad that we we had finished and could not consume another delectable bite. Yum.
(5)
Kyla C.

We went here for dinner on my trip to Boston because it is one of my sister's favorite restaurants in JP. I was not disappointed. We sat in the bar and shared some food and it was all good: cheese plate, olives, roasted cauliflower and some salads. The atmosphere is dark and intimate and it was a great place to hang out for a couple of hours.
(5)
Aretha B.

EXTREMELY GOOD. The Brut Rose champagne rocked. It was dry, floral, with really small bubbles, pretty color, and paired nicely with my littleneck appetizer, which was to die for. I want to cry thinking about it. The chorizo appetizer with white beans was also extremely good. We both had the Duck for dinner and it was the best duck I've ever had. The honey gastrique and the light, garlicky swiss chard were un-freakin-believable. I only wish the portions were bigger! I just want to press rewind and do it again and again. I did eat just the perfect amount when it all came down to it. For dessert, I had this rich chocolatey thing with apricot compote and vanilla ice cream, so goooooooooood. My honey had the steamed lemon pudding with whipped mascarpone ans marmalade. I think I saw a single tear roll down his cheek because it was so sexellent. This was quite a treat for my already over-indulged palate. We will be back, OH YES, we will be back.
(5)
Emily O.

Maybe don't go on Wednesdays? I've heard nothing but good things about Ten Tables and the reviews here prove it. But most disappointingly, I cannot agree. I cannot agree that it's reasonably priced, romantic, or has top-notch service. I really, really wanted to! But not the case. Wednesday night offers three-course meals for $29 per person. That seems reasonable -- but only if you'd like to stick to the cucumber table water they offer. They were all about cucumbers the night we went. With a bottle of wine and two bottles of sparkling water, plus tip, we spent $55 per person and weren't really that full in the end. Romantic? Maybe if you come from a large family who lived in a small home. Being back to back to the next table, having to stand outside until our table was ready (because there's no room to wait inside), and having to walk through the kitchen then down sketchy stairs, then through the dishwashing area and beyond to use the bathroom were all not romantic; they were inconvenient. Service? I really don't want to knock on the service because they were cool and clearly professionals. They did everything right except: remember what we ordered the first time we said it, keep the wine at the right temperature, leave our wine glasses until we were done drinking from them. Otherwise, they were stellar. Maybe it was leftover night or we were particularly unruly. My date did break a glass as a finale to the evening (accident). But for all my hope and expectation, Ten Tables disappointed. There are at least three better restaurants for the price in this city -- that I know of.
(3)
Ken V.

Call for reservations! The place is small and reservations go quickly. I think I called a week beforehand and we didn't have a problem, but i wouldn't recommend waiting any later than that. I took my boyfriend here for our anniversary for a wine pairing dinner. The food is fantastic and the waitstaff is very friendly. No surprise that a place called "Ten Tables" is small, but I did feel cramped in the dining area, ambiance and all. The wine portions could have been better, too, considering the price. It's strange to feel like you have to nurse your wine with each course. That said, the food is the real reason to come here. It is worth the occasional splurge.
(4)
Laura B.

As yelp describes a five star rating, "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" I went to Ten Tables on a whim last Thursday night after having been meaning to go there for at least a year. My boyfriend, a friend and I had an 8:30 reservation but due to the small size of the restaurant, our table was not ready right away. No problem, we got drinks at the bar and they gave us complimentary olives while we waited. I had a Pretty Things Jack D'or... YUM. Once we got to the table, the bread was soooo good, as was the olive oil. I ordered the the Arctic Char but wasn't interested in the brussel sprouts and wild rice that came with it so I substituted the sides that came with the pork chop, the sweet potatoes and mustard greens. My fish was cooked perfectly. The skin tasted AMAZING. The sweet potatoes and mustard greens were just fabulous. I ordered the hotter hot chocolate for dessert. I did this in hopes of getting a really amazing cookie as the focus (I have seen this at many restaurants). So the fact that the cookie was tiny and nothing spectacular was only disappointing part of my meal. On a future visit, I would order a real dessert to see how they do! My boyfriend ordered the pickled mussels with carrots and toast. He liked it, I'm not into carrots. Then he had the pork chop with the same sides that I ordered. However, his came with the spicy maple butter... AMAZING. My friend ordered the rutabega soup, delicious on this cold night and then something else that I can't remember but he liked. All in all, the food was truly amazing. Another thing I have to note is how awesome the service was at Ten Tables. The bartender saw me fiddling to make change to tip him before sitting down and adding the drinks to our table tab, and he said "if it makes things any easier, we pool our tips." For him to tell me that and not make me deal with finding change, says a lot about the service at Ten Tables. On top of that, the complimentary olives for the short wait AND how flexible the server and kitchen was in letting me sub out ALL of my sides for the sides that come with the pork chop. I couldn't ask for anything more. MMM Ten Tables.
(5)
Kristina M.

Does this place really need another review? Nope, not really, but it is so fantastic that I absolutely must add my 5 stars to the bunch. I'm so glad we finally made it here! Eating here is a pleasure for all your senses - the space is beautiful, intimate and cozy, the background noises (nice music, busy kitchen sounds, and people happily chatting and eating) pleasant, and every now and then you get a whiff of delicious kitchen smells while enjoying your fabulous food (and if you choose the Chef's Table you can even watch them prepare your meal). We called ahead of time to let them know that we're vegan, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that they had prepared a special 3-course menu for us when we arrived. I cannot even remember the last time I had (if ever) a vegan 3-course meal, and every single dish was wonderful - all of them were creative and incredibly tasty. Just perfect, really (and absolutely fitting for a special occasion). Each new dish was a surprise, and turned out to be excellent. This was seriously one of the best meals I have ever had, and I left happy and content (and hoping to come back soon).
(5)
Erika M.

I love this place! My husband and I have only been once, but I always recommend this place to friends and clients. It's just flippin' delicious. They also have a great wine selection. The way to the bathroom can be scary. Steep steps. Wouldn't recommend using it if you are prego. Good luck! Eat there!
(5)
Noah R.

We had dinner at Ten Tables on a Sunday night. It's crowded and there's not too much space between tables but the atmosphere is warm and the open kitchen is engaging. We had clams for an app. They were really good! Not over cooked and the broth was amazing. The only disappointment was the crustini. They are just bland crunchy croutons shaped like a crustini and didn't work to soak up the wonderful broth. I was hoping for something a little closer to bread with a grilled crust but soft enough on the inside to soak. Soaking up that broth is the best part and luckily we had table bread which worked fine. The pasta entree was good but kind of bland. The pasta itself was delicious and you could tell it was homemade. With a bit of sauce and some seasoning it would be have been a great dish. The pork chop was very good and cooked perfectly. It came with a succotash that did not disappoint. We didn't try desert and want to go back and try the bar next time. It's a small menu to so be prepared for that. Luckily the few dishes all sounded good so we didn't have an issue with the lack of choices.
(4)
Marie C.

Best. ever. As many people have mentioned, this is a wonderful date/impress people location. I have to say that the whole experience puts it at the very top of my list of favorite meals & restaurants. A couple of things: 1. getting a reservation was not as hard as I thought it would be. The reviews here made me nervous, but I called on a Monday afternoon and was able to get a table (the chef's table!) for 2 at 7.30 on Tuesday, glorious wine night! 2. everyone working there was incredibly nice and fun. it's kind of like one long performance. 3. parking is easy and available on center street. 4. i cannot say enough about the food. and the wine! and the cheese! I'm not a very picky eater, but there are some things that I'm just not wild about (sadly, most seafood) so I was a little nervous about the whole, "This is what we're serving tonight" thing. And while I would not normally have selected pasta with duck ragu, I could have eaten the whole damn pot of it. Likewise, the 'creamy polenta' that was served with their homemade sausage. I am going to be dreaming about this polenta. If I'm ever on death row, I will ask Dan Punch (the chef) to make this polenta for my last meal. (FYI-I've looked at their menu and apparently they regularly serve "roasted polenta", what I had was "creamy polenta" so I'm guessing these are different) The whole staff was very accommodating, I could see they were making slight adjustments for different parties, some people who didn't eat sausage were served fish, stuff like that. The also served delicious creme brulee to those of us having birthday dinners! With a little candle and some WONDERFUL vanilla shortbread cookies. I cannot imagine a more perfect restaurant for my boyfriend's birthday. If you know someone who loves food, cooking, wine, france, or just likes good things, TAKE THEM HERE. I highly recommend the chef's table for anyone who enjoys cooking, my boyfriend was like a kid in a candy shop, looking into the open kitchen. One word to the wise: we were seated immediately upon our arrival (for our 7.30 reservation), and we left around 10.15. Service wasn't slow or anything, but there was probably at least 20 minutes between each course, maybe more. That was fine by me since my stomach definitely needed the downtime, but I wouldn't recommend coming here on a night when you have strict time constraints! I really can't say enough about this place. I will definitely be back, and I'll be bringing all of the people I like with me.
(5)
Jenna H.

The food at this place was amazing. I ordered the vegetarian chef's tasting, which came with 4 courses or so plus a dessert. The ciabatta bread, olive oil and sea salt that they brought us to start really kicked things off nicely. The turnip soup, fennel salad, and pasta with squash were all delicious. And the desserts. Oh the desserts! I sampled a little of what each of my friends were having, which included a grapefruit flan, a dark chocolate cake with mint ice cream, and delicious pistachio ice cream. The atmosphere was lovely and relaxing, and it was cool to see the chefs at work in the small open kitchen at the back of the dining room. The service was excellent as well. An all around great dining experience!
(5)
Amanda R.

I've heard only great things about Ten Tables and a lot of what I heard is true. The restaurant space is lovely, the servers are attentive, and the food, for the most part, is delicious. My boyfriend and I both got the vegetarian tasting menu's and over all, i'd give it 5 stars for flavor (except one of the dishes - a pasta/pea dish that had a really bitter amount of orange zest - one star). 3 stars all in all because I had to get a pizza afterwards because I was still hungry. PS i went back and ordered the single pasta dish. I would give this dish a huge 0. It was about 18 pieces of nickle sized pasta with a dried out sauce that tasted like orange rind and stale black liquorish mixed together. It literally made me sick to my stomach and I hope the owners read this because they need to understand just how bad this dish is.
(3)
Adam E.

I went here with my girlfriend for a special date night and was floored. We ate at the "chef's table" which is like bar seating, but it was so fantastic, we overlooked the kitchen and saw everything they were making. It was really evident that the chefs were skilled and put a lot of care into preparing the food. Plus they were kind of interactive with us and seemed really honored when we told them how much we loved the food. It was easily the best meal I've ever had in JP, and the signature cocktail was great too. We did the prix fixe chef's tasting menu and I highly recommend it. I can be kind of a picky eater, but everything was so delicious. Our waiter was present and charming, without any hint of overbearing waiter-tude. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. If you want to impress someone, take them to Ten Tables. But make sure you have a reservation, obviously.
(5)
Mark C.

Walked up to make a reservation today for a future date having heard so many good things about this place. Much to my horror, one of the cooks was in the doorway (not even a few steps away), smoking! My god, do I want to see that? The guy who will touch my food, prepare my food, breath on my food, having a butt? No thanks.
(1)
A. P.

Let me tell you a story about my friends Mike & Cindy. One evening, my fella and I met up with this dynamic(ly awesome) duo at JP's Ten Tables for an evening of stellar company and expensive eatin'. The company, as always, was indeed stellar: seriously goof-ball discussions on topics ranging from Pop Art to eating poop to Andrei Tarkovsky to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. And the eatin': eaten, with gusto. The chef's tasting menu that night consisted of cauliflower soup, orecchiette pasta with...uhhh...stuff on it, perfectly cooked duck breast with different stuff on it, and a sprinkling of various desserts (chocolate torte with vanilla ice cream, rice pudding, lemon pudding and olive oil cake), which we rotated hot potato-style around the table until all were good & gone. The final damage, with a bottle of wine and an apertif, was 160 clams. And here comes the punchline: the aforementioned Mike & Cindy whipped out a Ten Tables gift card and proceeded to pick up the entire check, save 9 bucks and tip (covered by me and the aforementioned fella). Ten Tables: delicious and pricey. Mike & Cindy: delicious and priceless. Caveat about TT: If you are of hearty appetite, do not come ravenous. The experience is about tasting fine foods, and not so much satiation. I recommend coming an hour or so early and scarfing down a cubano at up the street's El Oriental de Cuba beforehand. Caveat about Mike & Cindy: careful, they bite.
(4)
Lizbeth D.

The food was excellent! This was our first time and I can only think of one disappointment: The blue fin tuna crudo was not as tender as I expected. Beyond that, the meal was excellent. The arugula salad with walnut vinaigrette was very tasty, then for entrees, both the steak and pork chops were fantastic. The pork chop was easily the most tender I have had in a very long time, while the steak was simply divine. Our meal was accompanied by a bottle of Casa Solar Tempranillo and concluded with coffee. We loved the experience and will be back.
(4)
Esther L.

I love how intimate the restaurant is. The kitchen is essentially in the dining room, and you can see your food being prepared. I went with my boyfriend and I got the vegetarian pre fixe, and he got the chef's tasting menu. The portions weren't that large, but the smaller size allowed us to savor each bite. And by the end of the meal, we were both stuffed. I especially liked the dessert, because it was very original. Where else can you find black pepper ice cream that tastes that good? The couple at the table next to us ordered the same pre fixe as us, but our table got a different soup from them. Its kind of like the chef made our soup just for us, and made theirs just for them. I liked that. I definately recommend this place. Yes, make a reservation. And if they don't pick up when you call, keep calling them back. And beware that sometimes people book the whole restaurant for private functions.
(5)
Molly W.

First - you're going to need a reservation. They call it Ten Tables for a reason - and they are booked all the time... so it's not easy to get in there - especially if there's more than 2 of you. If you get in - Congratulations! You are about to have a wonderful experience! Go to their special wine nights, where they explore a variety of wines from different regions of the world - like Argentina, Bordeaux, Chile, etc But if you can't make it then, they always allow you the option of their own nightly food/wine pairings. I got the chef's vegetarian tasting menu, while the bf had the standard tasting menu - both served with a different wine with every course. Last time, I learned about biodynamic wines!! very interesting! The service is just fantastic. You leave feeling euphoric and full but not stuffed. They change the menu constantly, and really go the extra mile. They are independently owned and run - and I applaud them for their efforts. It's far and away my favorite place to eat in J.P. How 'bout that?
(5)
Anya G.

Love ten tables. Love them. For folks with allergies like me (celiac) they are super accomodating. The tuesday wine and four course meal is always great and a steal for 44 dollars. The staff is great, friendly, and easy to get to know if you become a regular. Food is well cooked and planned. If or when I leave jamaica plain, I will miss ten tables.
(5)
Q C.

I hate to give 1-star to a restaurant with such acclaim but we had such an awful experience tonight. If I get to come back, I will update my review. Tonight, we waited for over an hour in the back corner waiting for space at the bar and the waitress completely dismissed us. We even asked if the full menu was served at the bar and told her we would wait. When we finally saw two seats open, the waitress came over and told us they were "reserved". It's bar seating for goodness sake! She also claimed that she didn't know we were waiting to have dinner, even though we specifically told her multiple times that we did. Really? We did not wait in the back corner for over an hour with drinks and appetizers JUST to wait in the back for an hour with drinks and appetizers. We came here to eat.
(1)
Rob A.

Doesn't get much more pretentious and uncomfortable than this, folks. Decent drink offerings, but the food just isn't very good. Haphazard, random combinations of ingredients abound their small menu. Perhaps some people like sitting unnecessarily close to other people just for the sake of it, but not me.
(2)
Bird B.

We love this place. Its small, romantic, and every tuesday they have a wine pairing dinner. The waitstaff is very friendly and the food is orgasmic.
(5)
Francis K.

I went here for my brother's birthday. He told us it was his favorite restaurant in the greater Boston area. I haven't been to any other restaurant in Boston to refute his claim but I can say it will be tough for any other restaurant to beat ten tables. Ten Tables boasts about the fresh ingredients from local farmers. I have always said that organic farming is a lifestyle and doesn't always translate to better food. Furthermore, it wouldn't matter if the ingredients all came from an organic farm but were prepared poorly. On our night the menu included scallops -the which the scallop eaters loved, chicken -which didn't taste like chicken[1]- and a steak which I regret not getting. All my dinner companions had a salad for an appetizer which was fantastic. I decided to try -and you should also- the sausage instead. The sausage is packaged at their premises and is probably the best sausage I have ever eaten. We rounded up dessert with a very delicious upside down Banana cake. My only gripe with ten tables was they lack an extensive beer menu. I know wine is generally associated with fine dining but craft brews are making an assault on this. It isn't much of a gripe because they have quite a huge wine selection. Others here have lamented about the difficulty of the reservation process. This didn't affect me one bit and my brother assures me they were over responsive. Others have also mentioned the unfriendly service, here also I must have been lucky. Our server wasn't just attentive. You wouldn't know that there were other's in the restaurant. It felt like he was there just for us. If I am ever back in Boston. I am definitely returning here. [1] The chicken didn't taste like chicken because it would be unfair for me to lump this chicken with all the other chicken I have eaten.
(5)
C B.

One of my favorite spots! I loved Krista when she was a server at JP Seafood. Was so excited when she opened her own place. I haven't been here in a year, moved to SF. But, I went to Ten Tables for every occasion! Love the wine dinners, loved it when they did bbq, not sure if they still do. Once they had a spicey cherry soup for a dessert, oh my god. They always have very scrumptous meats. Interseting, always wonderful combinations of flavors.
(5)
Viva W.

My partner and I have been here twice, both on wine evenings and have been very happy with our experiences. We had exceptional service, wonderful food and terrific wines. On our first visit, we were escorted downstairs to the waiting room/prep area where we got to ogle their spices, reference books and knives. The staff was MORE than willing to accommodate food allergies and provided flavorful, interesting dishes. The atmosphere is intimate, non-pretentious and inviting. While most of the dishes we had were wonderful and flavorful, their cheese selections tend towards the more mundane or at least accessible and both my partner and I have had texture issues with one or two dishes per meal. Overall though, this is one of my favorite restaurants in the city.
(4)
Krista S.

I wish I were there right now, or at least waking up next to the ADORABLE waiter who took care of us last time. Everything is good. Go there asap.
(5)
Anna W.

Amazing, amazing, amazing. Between visits to Ten Tables, I forget how incredible food and the experience of eating can be. Between visits to Ten Tables, eating is for sustenance only. At Ten Tables, eating is pure pleasure. If you plan far enough ahead, you can have the best meal of your life in this restaurant. Sure, it's tiny, but that's how the quality remains so superb. If you call on a weekday afternoon and want same-day reservations, be prepared to be offered 5:30 or 10pm. Call a couple days ahead if you can. And weekends, you'd better call a week ahead at least. It's so worth it! Excellent service by prepared, knowledgeable, and friendly manager, waitstaff, and chefs. If you're a foodie or even remotely interested in cooking, sit at the Chef's Table (bar looking on to the kitchen) at least once. It's so fascinating to see how they make your meal: what's made on the spot, what's prepared ahead of time, what techniques do they have for cutting, stirring, cooking, spooning sauces, etc. So fun! The prices are more than reasonable for the quality of the food, especially if you do the prix fixe menu - . My next goal is to go on a Tuesday (hey, today's Tuesday!) when they offer four courses paired with four pours of wine for $42 per person, featuring a different region each week. And Wednesdays you can pick an appetizer, entree and a dessert for $32. Unbeatable! Oh, and I can walk there from home in 15 minutes. It really doesn't get any better than Ten Tables!
(5)
greg f.

2006 was a very strange year for me. I accidently knocked out most of my teeth, fell off my bike 9 times, met the love of my life 4 times, got married twice, divorced twice, took up and then quit smoking, learned how to play the trombone, went to my first Rave, fell into despair, then ultimate joy, then disgust, and finally fell back to normal. 10 Tables was the place I experienced all these things and more in 2006 and since. They were very patient with me and always fed me good food.
(4)
Katherine I.

Great service. Inviting, and quaint atmosphere where tea lights reflect their hue on a backdrop of grey walls. White tabletops were accented by single stem magnolias in demi glasses. Pretty. Expertly executed appetizers. Oh, but the entrees, what happened? Every dish was done until it was undone. How can I have a celebratory occasion here when your cake is stale? Come on, people. Don't neglect the first child just because you have a second on the way.
(3)
S O.

Recently went to ten tables to celebrate a very special event with a few friends. My husband is gluten free, so we assumed that we couldn't do the chef's choice full meal b/c in order to do it, everyone at the table has to do it. The chef assured us that he could make all of the courses gluten free and he did. My husband was able to have all of the delights that we all had. What a feast. Thank you Ten Tables for going beyond our expectations for a fabulous meal... from the mushroom soup all the way through the luscious dessert. We loved it.
(5)
Mark M.

Perfect for a date night or a special occasion. This quaint little joint has a delicious assortment of fresh food. Mostly vegetarian and if you can help it - sit at the bar.
(5)
Daniel T.

I had high expectations of the restaurant since everybody here is in raptuous awe of the place - "it can't be THAT good, can it?" But seeing that it was wine night and being a newly converted wine alcoholic, I couldn't resist. Wines from the languedoc region sounded mysterious, their exposure limited and so I made a reservation. And am I glad I did! Ten tables is the best meal I had in the Boston area so far. The food was skillfully made and showed a great deal of design. The pairings were meticulous e.g. the vignoier echoed the fruit notes and the slightly tart cream sauce in the salad all at once! And that was just the appetizer. The rest of the meal and wine pairing was just as adroit. The pork loin was tender and paired extremely well with the syrah/mourvedre red wine while the tart spinach pie made alot of sense with the other grenache/syrah red wine. Spectacular. I made a reservation for next Tuesday on the spot.
(5)
Layla P.

Does this place need anymore reviews? Probably not, so I'll make this short and sweet. The lobster + pasta (fresh made) was fabulous, fish stew pretty good and rice pudding with toasted pistachios - perfect. The service was solid but not overly friendly; the mood romantic and hip; I have good memories :) Definitely a place to try - see for yourself if it's worth another trek to JP. And don't think you can go without a reservation - call WAY in advance.
(4)
Pete C.

You can feel confident when ordering anything on the menu or giving yourself over to the Tuesday night Wine Dinners, secure in the knowledge that you are in the hands of the best kitchen staff in JP. I've brought significant others, co-workers, friends and acquaintances here and always heard the same thing: "This is my new favorite restaurant."
(5)
Neil K.

This was the culinary highlight of my recent trip to Boston. I went to dinner here with my friend Zachary A. (read his review to find out the details of our meal, I don't think I could describe it any better). The staff here was amazing - extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. It was really cool of them to pour us some wine (on the house) while we waited for our table. The brioche french toast with homemade vanilla bean ice cream was perhaps one of the best desserts I've ever had. The wine suggestion was spot on, and the whole meal from top to bottom was superb. I hope to return here on my next visit to Boston.
(5)
S S.

What can I say about Ten Tables that has already not been said? Like how it took for ever to get a table-1 week, there are ten tables here literally. You can watch the chef cook in front of you. Very economical if you are on a budget. I went there with my sister who is Vegan they work around your dietary restrictions. They could have done a better job with the dessert which was carmalized banana with choclate syrup...really would have prefferred a more snotty fruit, like strawberry. All in all good experience, didnt blow me away but good value for your $$
(4)
John D.

Had a great meal here not too long ago. Great variety for a small menu, terrific service, cozy ambience.
(5)
Chase W.

Orgasm. One word review. I really could end on that, but that would be too boring! I've been wanting to try Ten Tables for years now, but just haven't ever made it out to JP or had the foresight to call a week or two in advance to get a reservation (a requirement)! Now I'm really pissed at myself for not having done so earlier because I honestly believe that this is the best food I've ever had. It was simple, but intricate. Common, but fancy. Delicate, but hearty... Overall? Delicious and the best value for a 4 course meal I've ever had. EVER. The dining room is as you'd expect, small, intimate, but not crowded feeling despite the proximity to the other patrons filling the ten tables dotting the room. The kitchen dominates the decor; the sizzling, chopping, and stirring can be seen and heard from every table, which provides for an intimate foodie experience; I know that it's not a new idea, but Ten Tables just does it right... The decor overall, is simple but warm with low tones of green and grey dominating the tablecloth covered bistro tables, and the mainly candle lit room has that comfortable feel that doesn't distract from the reason your here.... The food. The night wasn't without obstacles though, the rain made getting a cab to and from impossible, so I had to drive. (sad face) meaning I couldn't get looped up on the reasonable wine list... The only short coming I can associate with Ten Tables is the lack of parking (I had to canvas the neighborhood for a few minutes) and the fact that you have to drive all the way out to JP. That said, it' worth the trip, and on a nice night you could easily make the walk over from the Orange line's green and stoneybrook stops. I wouldn't want to say the menu is limited, but I would note that it is precise; there is only a handful of options for each course... but that said, each one induced involuntary drool-factor with out any gimmicks. We opted for the chef's tasting special- 4 courses for $40 dollars. An unbelievable value- the only catch? You're menu for the night is completely in the hands of the chef; I loved not knowing what was coming out next, but I'm really concerned about what psychic powers they might be employing back there, because some how each course included one of my favorite foods... Asparagas... in a cold soup served with creme fresh. Amazing. Refreshing. salty, but interestingly creamy... Mussels. The best, I've EVER had (I order mussels 92% of the time I go out to eat. How did he know that!?) Freaky. Then steak seared to perfection in a light but spicy sauce (aragalskdhggarrrghlll)! Yeah, I'm a huge carnivore, this ones not as an amazing of a guess, everybody loves steak... but then... Dessert... Peanut butter banana chocolate mouse or something. It was a freakin party in my mouth. Fuck that, it was a RAVE in my mouth! Anyhoo, not to scare anyone, but I've decided that I'm now going to start stalking ten tables. Please don't file a restraining order on me, I just love you TT! I know we just met but, seriously. you're perfect for me! Ahhh, ok, maybe that's a little too high on the creepy scale, but seriously, I can't remember having a better meal anywhere much less Boston then last night at Ten Tables! If you haven't gone- get your ass over there NOW! (but call first for a reservation or you'll be sad!).
(5)
Laura A.

three words for you: vegetarian. tasting. menu! i had been here ages ago and didn't really like it, but i've been so curious about coming back ever since i heard about the tasting menu (4 courses for $28). my boyfriend brought me here to celebrate the end of the semester. we had to make reservations in advance - the whole "only having ten tables" thing means that almost every table was full all night which is crazy! the food was delicious! i started with a fennel soup, then i had a delicious salad with feta and cucumbers, then my entree was this toasted pasta thing with fava beans, and we had delicious cake with blackberries on top for dessert. oh, and my boyfriend had the mussels and the steak, both of which he really liked. i definitely enjoyed it and thought it was good, but a tasting menu is not a good idea when you're raveneously hungry like i was. i ate each course in like 5 bites i swear to god. and when i left i was still hungry! i didn't realize it would be such tiny, tiny amounts of food. i thought the tasting menu would be small, but substantial (like the entrees at the butcher shop, for instance). i guess that's why the price is so reasonable. the other negative is that they said to allow for 2 hours for your meal but we got there at 7 and didn't leave until 9:30!!! i was dying!! it wasn't so much that it took that long for our food, it's that our waiter wasn't really on his game and getting our old dishes. considering that i was finishing my courses in like 5 seconds it shouldn't've taken almost half an hour between receiving my salad and finally receiving my entree! i definitely liked the place a lot and i think i would go back despite the sort-of-negatives. the food tasted so fresh and flavorful. even the olive oil they gave us to dip the bread in was super good quality and olive-y.
(4)
Sarah S.

More like dining at a friend's house than in a restaurant (if that friend was an amazing chef and impeccable decorator!). Very cozy and super flattering lighting. I went with a group of five people and our waiter could not have been nicer. The chef sent over a complimentary amuse bouche of frothy cold melon soup (delicious!) and we all split a few bottles of wine and each of us ordered the vegetarian tasting menu which did not dissapoint. Each course was more lovely than the dish before and we left full of good food, good wine and good times. A great place for a date or a night out with friends!!
(5)
Bri T.

Well, it is safe to say that this is officially my new favorite restaurant in the boston area. I took my best friend here for a 23rd birthday celebration because we both LOVE good food and I had heard (and yelp told me) it was ... very good. but I am not even sure that my writing can do it justice. The meal was nothing short of AMAZING. go on Wednesday night for a tasting menu that is a taste of heaven. The chef blends unlikely, fresh (local and seasonally) ingredients that come together so so nicely. In addition, the service and the atmosphere are fantastic. And on top of all this -- a dessert of chocolate terrine with thai basil ice cream topped with salt ... woohoo !
(5)
Peter D.

A meal with terroir. If there's anything I can say that sets Ten Tables apart from the pedestrian is the intensity with which the essence of the raw materials shines through and takes the meal from good to great. This extends to the wine pairings that are truly inspired; solid in isolation, and exceptional when matched. Standouts were: octopus; tender and pure of flavor, pork terrine - house made and a wonder with the aged balsamico / rustic and vegetal white from Spain, hanger steak unlike any I've ever tasted- gamy almost lamb and a sweet pair with a Rhone style red from southern France: A very primal, and at the same time elevated experience and exceptional value with two four course tastings paired with wine for 150, all in. Only mild reservations: seafood stew lacked intensity my taste and creme brulee insufficiently calorific- more on the flan side without the pure cream decadence I prefer. Bottom line: great food and real character- it's all done with attention.
(4)
Amy H.

My husband took me here for my birthday in August. It was so romantic, and for the great food, the prices are very reasonable. Service good and atmosphere is good as well. I second all the other great comments on this place.
(5)
Rachel S.

One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. The fanciest thing I own is a $20 H&M dress and I went into Ten Tables worried that I'd be looked down on. The thought of that makes me feel silly now, as I was treated incredibly well. We sat at the chef's table and got to watch the food being prepared. I mean, there's 99 other reviews about Ten Tables up right now, but I really wanted to make a point to give this place 5 stars. 4 & a half just isn't accurate!
(5)
KoreanSoup S.

quaint and fun
(4)
Meltem D.

This was one of the most delicious meals I've ever had. The food was simple but extremely well cooked and put together. It's a little pricey but definitely worth it every once in a while. They have some cheaper deals during the weekdays so that might be a good time to go and try it out.
(5)
Diane L.

I loved it. I wish I had gone on a night that wasn't a fixed menu because the regular menu was intriguing. I will definitely return. Loved the cozy, quiet atomosphere. The perfect neighborhood bistro.
(5)
Dong S.

I had a late reservation (9:30) on Wednesday evening, arrived 15 minutes early and were seated immediately. The restaurant was still packed even at this late hour. I had the steak, medium rare, while my dinner partner had the pasta with mushrooms. My steak was prepared as suggested medium rare, and infused with plenty of flavor. We were given complimentary corn soup when my order was overcooked. I didn't have to send the dish back. The waiter informed me that my 1st steak was overcooked, and were preparing another steak in it's place. The soup was for the unintended wait. Overall an excellent experience. The service was good, the prices fair, and the food to taste. Compared to many other restaurants of the same food quality caliber, Ten Tables is a cut above. There is no pretense, and the food is priced as it should be not what it can get away with.
(5)
S. L.

Ten Tables is the best restaurant in Boston. Period. I'm moving away from Boston and this is the restaurant I'll miss most. It's unpretentious, cozy, adorable, and really consistent. Every single time we've been there, the service, the food, the ambience, has always been PERFECT. But not just perfect, consistently perfect. That is really tough to do, and I respect the restaurant for it. The food is delicious - we usually get one vegetarian prix-fixe and one non-vegetarian prix-fixe and share them, that way we get to try more of Ten Tables innovative and delicious dishes :-) The wine is awesome too. When we first moved here, there was no attached TT Wine Bar, but I think it's a really nice addition and it doesn't detract from the service, ambience, or quality of food at all. What a great place, Ten Tables, I'll miss you.
(5)
Cheryl Y.

Just ate here last night, I thought it would be nice to eat a frou-frou kind of place, because I usually don't. The wait staff was very nice and patient with us, but a little pushy. My friend wasn't feeling well and really didn't want an entree after her appetizer, and they kept trying to talk her into something for an entree until she finally just gave in. The dish size was a little small but that doesn't really bother me as usually I think dishes at most restaurants are too large. I had the steak which was very good, and my friends liked their dishes as well (chicken and skate wing). The service was also kind of slow, not sure what that was about.
(4)
Adam M.

I made a reservation about three weeks in advance here, not as bad as some of my friends who had to wait months to get in, but it was very much worth it. I don't even remember what I had (swordfish, maybe? pea soup? steak?) but literally everything I tasted was phenomenal. Because the place is so small it can get a little steamy but the service is solid, they hook you up with lots and lots of bread and for such a renowned hot spot, the prices are very reasonable. Just make sure you call way in advance and like Mr. Denis S. said up above, they will charge you if you don't show up, so make sure that you are there when you say you will be. But it really is worth the wait.
(5)
Samantha R.

Wow! I had always heard great things about this place, but Wow! Believe the hype! My boyfriend took me here for my birthday the other day and it was not a let down. We did the chef's tasting menu and it started with steak tartare. So delicious and the flavors were perfect with marmalade and marinated shallots on the side. Next was a fish dish for me and the house made sausage for Jamie. I had the monk fish stew which had a very tasty aoli. The sausage was delicious with lentils and apples. The main course was a steak, cooked to perfection with rosemary polenta done in a seared cake which I loved. For dessert I had the spice cake with apple compote on top. It was very good, but nothing compared to what Jamie had. He got the Chocolate terrine with basil ice cream ad a bit of salt which was amazing. The flavors were so delicious together that I still think about it. Basil ice cream? I never would have thought, but works beautifully!
(5)
Martha K.

Want to have the most romantic food-gasm you've ever had? Take your special lady or gentleman here, and get ready to feel sexy. My boyfriend has taken me here twice, and each time was so unbelievably tasty and romantic. Its real fancy there, and the food is in small portions, but even for two vegetarians, we were so full after the soup and main entrÃ©e, we had the dessert to go. My mouth waters when i reminisce about my ten tables meals of the past. The price is steep for two kids in their early 20's ($100 ish for two 3 course meals, and one drink each plus tip), but its perfect and special for birthdays, or anniversaries, or whatnot. They always have something vegetarian on the menu, and it is always fucking delicious.
(5)
Liz K.

I am still drooling over the Thai Basil ice cream. I am not even a huge basil fan (although I am a huge ice cream fan), but this was incredible. Other than that, I don't have much else to add that hasn't already been said. I went on a Wednesday and every course was delicious. They use incredibly fresh ingredients in creative combinations, and watching the chef do his thing was half the fun. Go here- you will not regret it.
(5)
Alexis B.

Went here for Valentine's Day. I had high expectations.... they weren't met. :( Sorry Ten Tables. I really wanted to like you. I truly did. I've thought about you for a while and it just feel short. The menu was prixe fixe for $65 a person. I had the citrus panna cotta with radicchio salad. It was ok. Maybe because I'm used to sweet panna cottas I don't know it was just strange. My boyfriend had the lobster cappellini with chantrelles. That was good but kinda flavorless. There was like no sauce or much flavor than the lobster. The entrees I got swordfish with a lemon bread salsa. The swordfish was cooked PERFECTLY. It was delicious. The "rice" is was served with was either some kind I've never had or extremely over cooked since I could barely detect it. My bf had the skirt steak. We like very rare steak and it was cooked PERFECTLY again. The cauliflower/potato gratin was out of this world. I kept stealing bites. The side of kale that came with his was so salty we couldn't eat it. Really like it burned to put it in my mouth. It was just so embarrassing that they couldn't serve a side of kale... OK dessert we both had chocolate devil's food cake. It was good. Not mind blowing but a good end. Now the worst part. We ordered coffee. It took so long to brew we finished our desserts without coffee. Than the waiter poured it and without trying to be funny THE WORST COFFEE EVER! McDonalds/7-11/Mobil/Keurig/whatever makes coffee better than this place. It was sooooo disappointing. Also we learned out lesson. We did the wine pairings. Never again. For $30 bucks we got 3 small glasses of wine each....So for a $250 meal the most memorable part being the gratin, you could say I'm disappointed... I'm all set Ten Tables. Maybe we will try you in a several months.
(2)
Greg N.

This is my favorite restaurant in Boston. Can't beat the value for the price. A great wine list, an amazing menu, perfect ambiance and incredibley friendly wait staff combine to make this one of the best in Boston.
(5)
Mark H.

I've been meaning to try this place for many years but for whatever reason haven't made the trek down to JP to check it out. It was worth the wait. Got there around 7 on a Friday assuming I'd have to wait for a table. Fortunately there was one table left in the bar area. Tight quarters but that was part of the charm. What struck me about the menu was the value - fun "new American" cuisine at reasonable prices. A four course tasting menu was only $40. We went with that. Apparently it's at the chef's whim and might include stuff from that night's menu. A charcuterie plate (whatever that is), a fish stew, a steak entree, and a pistachio semi-fredo and we were stuffed, satisfied, and the wallet wasn't too badly damaged. Well worth it for what we got. The fish stew was crazy awesome. It came in a tomato broth (almost like cioppino) but it had capers and croutons which really added a great salty flavor and occasional crunch. Service was relaxed but it worked here -- made it more of an occasion. Great stuff.
(5)
Sean R.

Everything you could ask for in a good restaurant... Great service with a staff who shares more than just a quick hello and a fake smile. Great food--gourmet but not pretentious. Excellent wine selection and food parings. A good deal--they offer great wine and food parings every week with new and enticing dishes each time. Great atmosphere and ambiance--small and cozy, the chef comes out to the tables to talk to you. Only negative is the bathroom down in the basement, but it's also nice that they don't mind you seeing the behind the scenes happenings (they have nothing to hide). We went to a California wine paring a month ago. We started with a perfectly cooked pan seared scallop with a fennel and grapefruit salsa verde. We then had a very simple but delicious roasted tomato soup. Next we had a roast leg of lamb with farro--I'm not a huge fan of lamb and I thought this was excellent. There was no gaminess to it whatsoever. The farro is a new discovery for me--a very chewy and delicious grain. Finally we ended with a cheddar, cherry jam, and candied walnut desert. This was sort of the weakest offering, but it was also great that they didn't try and overstuff us with a decadent chocolate desert or something to that nature. I have not had a better meal in Boston. I was beginning to think I would have to go to New York to get some really great food around here, so I'm glad I found this place.
(5)
Shine B.

We celebrated our anniversary at Ten Tables this week. Its was good, but I guess, based on everyone Else's feedback, i was expecting better. It was just sort of boring. I don't agree with the person who said it was like a New York restaurant. I didn't get feel like the place was very cool at all, and I thought the waitstaff were awkward. I got a green salad to start which was completely boring but healthy. I had swordfish for dinner which was great. I had this completely average, boring flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Yawn. Needless to say, I won't go back. I felt that they pushed us through our meal, brought out plates too quickly. We didn't even have time to have a toast between when they brought the wine, then shoved the salads in front of us. It was just plain rude. The swordfish was tasty though, I will give them that.
(3)
Tim G.

Great food, lame service. This rating would've been 5 stars if our service hadn't been so mediocre (and if, service-wise, Ten Tables hadn't created artificial expectations). The food was excellent--the best meal I've had in Boston, and my wife and I have been on a mission to find a truly memorable one. Everything that we ordered had some little twist that made it excellent--the tangy cider dressing on the salad, the perfectly tender yet not-at-all undercooked hake with leek fondue (?!), the tangy-sweet blueberry compote. On this score, which I suppose is the most important one, Ten Tables delivers. But let's return to the service and how annoying it was. When you make your reservation, Ten Tables makes a point of telling you (1) that you have to give a CC number and you'll be charged if you miss your reservation and (2) that your seating is limited to 2 hours. I find no. 1 a little hardcore, esp. for a place that won't have any trouble filling its tables, but fair enough. But No. 2 mightily annoys when your server makes you wait again and again, as ours did. We arrived on-time for our reservation and were hustled in the tight, dingy basement prep room with two other parties because no tables were available. (So much for the 2-hour limit, I guess.) Once we were seated, we had to wait 15 minutes for any kind of acknowledgement--no bread, no drink order, nothing. (And please understand that the place is small, hardly more than 10 tables, so this is quite a feat.) When our server did finally deign to speak with us, she abruptly instructed us that she'd need to take our entire order, drinks and dinner. Sure, we were ready after waiting, but her tone and presumption bordered on rude. And that set the vibe for the rest of the evening--ie, long periods w/o acknowledgement punctuated by "drive-by" interactions. We tend to forgive random ups and downs in service quality--maybe the server had a fight with a loved one or got upbraided by the last customer. So we'll definitely return to Ten Tables. But when we do, we hope that it will at least have ditched the little lecture about the two-hour limit or upgraded its hospitality.
(4)
Samantha B.

I was so excited to try this restaurant based on the reviews here on Yelp, but was pretty disappointed for all the hype. The food we ordered was good (not great), there were only 5 main course selections (and only one vegetarian option), and the service was sub-par. The people next to us came in an hour after us and got served their main course and desert before we even had our plates cleared. All in all, worth a try, but would not recommend or return.
(3)
Jake D.

chefs tasting menu.was great.
(4)
Nicole K.

Delicious... sit at the chef's table at the counter (for 2) and watch them cook away... yum.
(5)
Amy C.

we went there for a belated valentine's day since i was sick with the flu the day of. i would give the place a 4.5 actually. the service was quite nice. we started with the chorizo appetizer. fantastic! i had the salmon which was one of the best i ever had. my husband had the steak which he said was one of the best he ever had. i had a wonderful chocolate dessert and my husband had the olive oil cake which he enjoyed. my only two complaints were that the desserts were too small, and we had a couple of dishes that had chips in them. overall a lovely dining experience. can't wait to go back.
(4)
Brittany B.

Ten Tables is fantastic! My girlfriend and I went for dinner last night and we are still talking about the wonderful experience. We had a reservation for 8:45p on a Thursday night and were seated right away. The dining room is warm and cozy without being claustrophobic and I LOVED the open kitchen. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive without being pushy or overbearing. The place is definitely classy, but not the slightest bit pretentious, even when I couldn't pronounce what I was ordering. We were given water right away and brought bread (which was replenished consistently) with olive oil and sea salt. Our drinks arrived shortly after we ordered. I got the TT Margarita and my girlfriend ordered the KK. Perfection! We split the beet and goat cheese terrine which was by far the tastiest (and classiest) salad I have ever eaten. For the main course I ordered the handmade pasta with chestnuts, squash and sage brown butter and the only disappointment came when it was gone. My girlfriend ordered the pork chop with sweet potato puree, mustard greens and spicy maple butter. Whoa. Amazing. For dessert we split the Boca Negra Cake with Mint Ice Cream and a hotter (read: spiked) chocolate. While all elements of the dessert were fantastic, my favorite part was the sprinkling of sea salt on the ice cream. Talk about the perfect flavor combination. To sum it up- Cocktails - delicious and well mixed Appetizer - fantastic and sized to split without leaving you too full for dinner Main Course - Some of the best food we have ever tasted and perfectly portioned to leave you wanting Dessert - One of the greatest things I have ever tasted After the tip our bill came to $120. Money well spent! If you are in the JP area and looking for a fancy night out, Ten Tables is a must!
(5)
Erin G.

I was very impressed. Another restaurant where a reservation would be a good idea...they literally only have ten tables and those tables don't turn quickly. Our waiter, Krista, is also the owner...but I would have never guessed had I not been told by friends to say hello to her when we arrived. Her attitude and the atmosphere of the entire place was relaxed and comfortable and it really felt you were eating amongst friends...the type of place where you feel like you want to go hang out in the kitchen and chat with those working there because they just seem like really cool people. From what I understand, the menu is changing constantly so I imagine it will be a fun place to try again and again.
(5)
Boston S.

Good but not amazing. The place got a complinetary write-up or two and now it's always packed, which is understandable, but it seems that the possibly deserved fanfare has gotten out of hand. Ten Tables serves very fine food, and the service is equivalent to the food, but I just find the place irritating. Possibly the insipid clientele. Possibly the attitude of the owner and her staff. Can't really place it. I guess you either love the place, or like me, find it annoying.
(3)
Ika M.

The flavours weren't rich, unique, or mouthwatering; and I question the ingredients, especially the tough cut of beef and dry flavorless chicken. I love dessert and didn't think of ten tables highly enough to test them further with dessert. Rather disappointing overall given the difficulty obtaining a reservation. Nothing to merit a wow.
(3)
Laura M.

Came here on Saturday night for my birthday. We were early for our reservation and had to wait, because duh, they only have ten tables. I didn't mind, as it was a pleasant enough night to sit outside on their (rickety) bench and pass the time. Once inside, our server explained the specials of the day as the inserts describing them in our menus had disappeared. I said that I wasn't sure if I could try the chef's tasting menu because of my food allergies, and he said that if we wanted to order that, they could work something out, which I appreciated. I ultimately ended up ordering the four course vegetarian tasting, so it wasn't an issue. I was pleased to see a "NO SHELLFISH" note on our check when it came, though. Lookin' out for my needs. Elliot and I both had the fresh corn soup (sans scallop, in both cases), which was awesome. We liked the paprika oil. I was given a panzanella salad, fresh local heirloom tomatoes. The dressing was superb. My entree was the oriechiette pasta with potatoes, beans, and pesto. The pasta was amazingly tender/chewy and good, and I love pesto in general. This disappeared quickly. Elliot ordered the poached hake, which was a decadent bulgy white fillet served with tasty salsa and subtly flavored farro. Very delicate flavor in the fish, but it was perfectly cooked. My dessert was the rice pudding, which I think was the best I've ever tasted. Lots of toasty shredded coconut and pistachios kept it from seeming like sludge, which is how I think of most rice puddings, and it was just the right amount of sweet, with aromatic spices. We also shared a carafe of the house red wine, which that night was a bold Rioja. It was a 5-star food experience. I'm taking off a star because it was a warm night and they had no air conditioning, which was almost unbearable. In a small space that you share with the kitchen and nine other tables, it gets hot. I was sitting in a puddle of my own sweat after about ten minutes, and the all wine I drank didn't help. We ended up dropping $80 on dinner, but we were rushing out the door to get fresh air rather than lingering romantically in the candlelight. I'd come back in a heartbeat, but not in summer.
(4)
Keyse A.

Fantastic drink and food. Attentive and friendly staff, chill atmosphere. Romantic if that's what you are aiming for. Definitely ask the staff what wine they recommend and dishes...but, you can't go wrong here. Unless you order something you are allergic too. Making reservations in advance (couple of days) is important.
(5)
M H.

A-MAZ-ING. Honestly, I think this could be the best restaurant in Boston. Brought my wife there for her birthday on Saturday. She had the pappardelle and I had the short ribs. They were both unreal. The service was good. Attentive, but not cloying. The space is so cozy too, I love it. We'll be back. And hopefully long before her next birthday.
(5)
Rich L.

Excellent food and a cozy atmosphere. I had the 4 course tasting menu for $40. The progression was great, and the pork chop was truly transcendent. This is my favorite place for fine dining in Boston, and it stands up to some of the excellent restaurants in SF.
(4)
Kenni L.

I first came to this little place with my girlfriend upon a recommendation from a friend. It wasn't until my second visit that I felt comfortable enough to review, because there was a one year gap between my visits, I wanted to be as clear and unbiased if there was a change in the quality. To my surprise, they actually expanded the restaurant, it is now Ten Tables & TT Bar. I guess this would be a good upgrade to allow more customers, but it kind of lost that exclusiveness of only having Ten Tables. However, the food remained just as amazing as it was a year ago. On my most recent visit to TT I made a reservation on the night before, but they only had high bar tables open, but when we arrived, luckily, we were moved to a dining table next to a window. This time around, I started with the Citrus Panna Cotta Salad. The Panna Cotta was buried underneath the salad consisting of Radicchios, almonds, and covered with vinaigrette. It was a great appetizer, but the vinaigrette was slightly too overpowering, but it was still delicious. For my main course I had Meyer Hanger Steak with Roasted Parsnips, and it was amazing. I had it medium rare and it was prepared to a perfect red center without being too raw and still retain the tenderness. The steak was covered with Caramelized onion Soubise, and paired with a glass of Cabernet Franc. For dessert, my girlfriend, roommate, and his girlfriend and I took a little walk down the street to JP licks. I fell in love with dining in JP since the first time I was introduced to this place. The food was great, but the lack of variety in the menu even over a span of a year is kind of disappointing. On my second visit I was hoping to see something new and exciting, therefore, I can only give a 4 star rating.
(4)
Connie T.

My boyfriend and I celebrated our 5th anniversary at Ten Tables. We did the chef's tasting menu, which was great, but I have to say, I think the Cambridge location was better. The service at Cambridge location was much much better-- we waited nearly 25 minutes between our first and second courses, though I understand this isn't the servers' fault. While I like to eat what is at the chef's "whim," I'd like some say or some choice in something (which is how Cambridge does the tasting menu). Nonetheless, it was good though a little pork heavy. Pork pate, slices of prosciutto for the first course, sea bass for the second course, and pork chops for main entree. Desert was fabulous! Would definitely go again, but probably won't do the tasting menu.
(3)
Eric W.

Certainly the place to go in the Boston area if you're looking for an intimate experience, not with your date, but with the chef and the food. The kitchen IS the dining room, essentially, and everything on the limited menu is created before your eyes. Although as small as the name states, the space is comfortable and never feels cramped, although you may become overly familiar with some diners a table over. The menu is every-changing, taking advantage of the best ingredients available, and is certainly best for those with an adventurous pallet.
(5)
Julie A.

MY NEW FAVORITE!!!! I went tonight for the first time and had a 4 course meal and wine tasting. It was fucking phenomenal! Fennel Salad with sweet walnuts and the tastiest olives ever. It was perfectly proportioned and YUM! I don't even really like fennel too much but this was great! Then this dish of melted smooth yum yum yum (aka fontina, potato, mushroom truffle thing) came out and was making every taste bud in my mouth really happy. Then I had some gnocchi dish. I typically dislike gnocchi but this was good. I got to finish my meal with a cheese and fruit plate that was freakin' fantastic! Everything was washed down with the perfectly matched wine. The service was really really nice, attentive and cool. I was embarrassed because every time they'd come take my empty dish away and asked how it was I'd say "AWESOME!" I don't use that word too often but for some reason I was so brain dead from the good food it was all I could come up with. It was $40 per person which seemed a little steep but it's good food, really good food, fresh, and perfectly done. For 4 courses and drinks it ended up being cheaper than if I had done tapas and sangria (which I do admit I love too). They have a vegetarian tasting menu for $25 amongst other cool nights. So after thinking about it, it was actually on the cheap side! I got so caught up in the food I forgot to mention the atmosphere.... COZY. It's small and cramped, but very cozy. This place make my top five places to eat and is an absolute two thumbs up!
(5)
Whitney W.

Ten Tables is great in its ability to provide a truly intimate dining experience with wonderful service and excellent food. They are happy to accomodate vegetarians on any given night, with notice, and the courses always compliment each other, regardless of your dining habits. I went with my mother for her birthday and French dining is her favorite thing. The waiter gave excellent advice on choosing a wine to compliment the meal, and my mom was thrilled. I have never had a bad experience with Ten Tables. It is not a cheap dinner, but if you consider all that you are getting when you dine here, what you are paying is quite reasonable.
(5)
Sue R.

Dear Ten Tables JP - First of all, I adore you. I truly love the meticulous attention to culinary and drink detail. I have been to you many times, always expounding your culinary prowess and virtues. You are one of the best of many who try to excel at their profession. I have to ask however, what's with the excessive salt and cream lately? Yeah, its everywhere, but now I can taste it and not much else. My spouse had the gnocchi with mushrooms tonight, which wasn't traditionally prepped, and it tasted like potato-cream triangles of creamy bland. Was there cream and if so, why? what happened to beautiful little potato pillows of beauty? We also had the boca negro cake which had salt on it - sure, I get the salt craze. But wow does that dessert not need it. Neither did the chocolate dessert we had a few months ago. Salt and fat does not always equal flavor, despite what the top culinary institutions say. Please do not lose your taste buds and go the way of over-hyped restaurants, glam chefs and typical fatty but not truly amazing, expensive Boston food.
(3)
boston y.

no words to explain what a great nite we had.. Best birthday dinner so far.. highly recommended !!
(5)
Stephanie P.

Simple, comfortable, divine. I adore Ten Tables for so many reasons but mostly for their basic love and understanding of food. I recently ordered the $25 vegetarian tasting menu which knocked my socks off--the highlight being an unassuming dish of mushroom farro with a perfectly cooked egg perched on top (who knew the textures and flavors would bounce around my mouth so beautifully). The flavor combinations that come out of the kitchen are thoughtful and well-executed. A favorite dessert was the chocolate terrine with a light dusting of sea salt (fantastic!). I am always in awe when I leave Ten Tables and wish more restaurants could achieve that delicate balance which consistently brings together quality, creativity, and value in one package. The wine list is also excellent and reasonably priced. Kudos!
(5)
Ian S.

Addendum: I now go to Ten Tables EVERY Friday night. Every single Friday, I'm at the chef's table. That is how good Ten Tables is. Sometimes I go twice a week to bring friends. I cannot get enough, and it gets better every time. - Damn this is good. I went to ten tables twice a few years back. It was good, but not great. Things have changed. The chef is great, and really cool. If you can sit at the bar, a 2 seater called the 'chef's table,' you get to watch him and his amazing assistant work, and they're good. The first night since my past visits, we got lucky and sat there with no reservations (which is tough, because, yes, there are 10 tables). He was solo that night, and rocked. And he still made sure to chat with us a bit. The prices are astoundingly good. 4 course paired with wine for $35 bucks? Other nights 4 course veggie tasting for $25? That is astounding. They only have a few beers, but Anchor Steam and Sierra Nevada fill my quota for good. I'm not huge on wine, but the wine I had with the pairing was great! Not a big fan of chicken, but done by this chef, hell yes! So, when i went again my steak was great, and I think it was freerange and no GMO's, which I was impressed with. Fantastic produce, and its quite comfy in there. The entire staff are really into the food and wine too, and so knowledgeable, they make you feel at home, and will give you very detailed descriptions of everything. I can't get enough of this place!
(5)
Rum T.

I went here a few years back when it just opened up. The food was great, the atmosphere a real plus -- cozy and compact. I can recommend it anytime, though it was a little pricey.
(4)
S S.

I have been nothing but impressed when dining at Ten Tables. The seasonalized menu is always delicious. The first time we went here it was my birthday and they brought us over extra champagne free of charge. The meal portions are just right and the desserts are to die for. The waitstaff is pleasant and gives you the attention you need without disturbing your meal. I would recommend Ten Tables to anyone.
(5)
Victoria W.

I wish I could give this place 10 stars!!! Ten Tables is a wonderful, romantic, candle-lit, *teeny* place with absolutely delicious food. My boyfriend and I went on a Friday night last month, and were absolutely blown away. True to its name, this establishment boasts 10 small tables and the atmosphere is incredibly cozy and romantic. The service is spectacular, as is the mouth-watering menu. I was feeling adventurous and ordered the vegetarian prix fixe menu - at the whim of the chefs as they choose my 4 courses that evening. The first course was a beet salad, and though I actually loathe beets, it was fantastic! I am a beet convert thanks to Ten Tables. I also enjoyed another meslun salad with shaved parmesan, almonds & blood oranges (yum!), succulent gnocchi with veggies & roasted chestnuts, and lastly, a decadently rich chocolate marquise. My boyfriend was also very pleased with his meal - tasty soup and an amazingly delicious chicken dish. Ten Tables was practically a religious experience - and I find it noble and wonderful and applaudable that all of their food is fresh, local, and organic. Guilt-free dining at its finest! The sole qualm - be prepared to wait, even if you make a reservation. Obviously, space is very limited, and they cannot control the length of time that their patrons linger (you can't blame them - I'd sit there forever if I could!), but we had to wait almost a half-hour to be seated. Luckily the restaurant has a good rapport with the cafe next door, so you can have a nice cup of coffee at the bakery while you wait. That said - it is absolutely worth the wait! I look forward to returning!!!
(5)
Ann C.

i now have an answer when people ask me what my favorite restaurant is. this place is small but intimate, cozy small and it's not well heated/air conditioned but diners- it's ok!! the wonderful food will totally make up for it and although you'll leave the restaurant with a greasy sweaty face- you'll also have a full, so satisfied belly to go with your greasy sweaty face. this place has an open kitchen so you know what's going on but it's also very very small and that's probably why you can see everything. they do not serve soda or hard liquor but they do have wine and iced tea. the apps are really small in portion but the dishes are well portioned and so good. please try the orrichete pasta!!!! the texture and the different tastes!!! and please make a reservation...this place literally has 10 tables.
(5)
Ben T.

Oh man my wife and I love this place. The food, the warm, friendly vibe (it's all Krista), the vino, the downstairs bathroom, the prices; it's a love-fest. It's great to have a favorite restaurant and this is ours right now, has been for about a year or so. Wish it was closer to Somerville (and maybe it will be!).
(5)
Lilia G.

Went here recently, it was amazing. Great ambiance. Would recommend to anyone.
(5)
Bruce W.

If I lived in the neighborhood, I would have it 4 stars because the food is good and reasonably priced. However, parking is a major pain making the experience 2 stars for us. Their steak sauce was outstanding but the quality of their steak was a little off (hence the low prices). Service was friendly but a bit slow.
(3)
Hilary J.

I went here for the first time last weekend. I'm a bit a slow on the uptake sometimes and didn't realize it was going to be so small. My date actually asked me if I was going to count the tables, and I didn't get it, and to myself I started counting them. Then I realized there were 10. Ummmmmmmm... yeah! SO ANYWAY... small is good. I liked it. Very cute atmosphere. I didn't do any of the ordering because come Friday night, I don't want to be making any more decisions. My date ordered a glass of wine for each of us, I can't remember if we got an appetizer, which is maybe not a good sign for them, or it could just be my dysfunctional memory. Yeah, it's probably that because the main course was delectable, so if there was an appetizer I don't doubt it was too. Steak in some sauce and this Portuguese seafood stew thing. VERY Good. Then there was dessert... and by that time I think I was so tired from the long work week that I was just coasting on autopilot. It was good! Profiteroles. Chocolate. YUM. Service was very friendly, they had this adorable little waitress. Oh and I have to mention the coffee. Thumbs up. Great place over all.
(4)
Kate B.

I'm sorry I waited so long to try this place. It really lived up to the hype. I had the vegetarian tasting menu (and I'm no vegetarian) and it was really interesting and delicious. I had no idea what we would be eating and that was ok. The space is really small, but it wasn't too noisy or cramped. I liked the small open kitchen where I could see a little bit of the cooking action. We didn't have trouble getting through, but other people have told me it can be tough to get a reservation.
(5)
Kristen H.

I had never been to Ten Tables before, but decided on a leap of faith and booked it for birthday dinner last night. I must be on God's Fave Five because it was amazing. The chef sent over these refreshing little shooters of beet(?) soup with creme fraiche which we tried to sip, but they were delicious and gone in a sec. Also, I got to watch them prepare and plate our meals since my seat faced their open kitchen. There were 8 people in my party (careful, limit is 9) and I believe between all of us we ordered the whole menu. My steak was off the chain, there was absolutely NOTHING I would change. I am not a huge fan of cheese, but the gratin of potato that accompanied it was divine. I had bites of everyone's food, and I know I would have been happy with any of the offerings. We were the last to leave, but before we did our waitress, who was incredibly attentive and charming, brought over a glass layered with coffee and sugar that looked liked sophisticated Sand Art and had a birthday candle in the center. Too perfect. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
evonne w.

seriously fantastic, spot-on food right in jp! have been 3 times for their wed night prix fix menu and each time was blown away (and i eat out a lot, all over the city). the service is really friendly--love the open kitchen...each time the chef has stopped by to see how things are going personally, which is cool. a great treat once in a while...just make a reservation (it's not as hard as people make it out to be--sometimes even the day before works).
(5)
Eve G.

Wonderful wine tasting on Tuesday nights. The price ain't bad for the tasty menu your bound to find in this small, yet intimately decorated restaurant. Just to make sure, I counted the tables, and there are in fact ten! But, they didn't count the bar as a table, and two people can sit there and eat just like those of us sitting at the "real" tables. Be warned that sometimes the waiter is a little sloppy. He dumped some kind of onion concotion all over my boyfriend, but he's a friendly lad, and makes for good conversation. Since this menu changes almost weekly, I really can't recommend any one dish. The scallops I had about a year ago were absolutely fab and so was the Pinot Noir from some winery in California that I'll never remember. Make sure to get reservations well in advance or else you'll have to eat at 9pm.
(4)
ilive t.

after trying twice in a span of a few months to get a reservation, we finally got one for the chef's table. the place was about half full when we arrived for our 7:30 reservation but every table was reserved and filled up quickly. we were very tempted by the tasting menu but my dining buddy who happens to be a math major quickly pointed out that $40 can buy a lot of dishes on the menu. we had two servers which at times caused some confusion, for instance once asked what type of water we wanted and the other once followed with the same question a few seconds later. anyway, we asked about the tasting menu anyway just to confirm that we rather order from the menu and the server said the 4 dishes may or may not be from the menu and it's entirely up to the chef. we weren't in the mood for the fish dishes or the premade cakes as dessert so instead of taking the risk we opted to order a la carte. first course we had the boudin (house special sausage) and the beet and goat cheese. we saw the sous chef pull out what we thought was some sort of raspberry cake thing with layers of purple and white but it turned out to be the beet and goat cheese. the presentation was impeccable. the beet and goat cheese had the perfect balance of sweet from the beets and caramelized onions and beets and savory from the goat cheese with and a little bit tangy from the small greens in vinagrette. i'm not a big fan of sausage but the boudin was light and fluffy and interesting worked really well with the cabbage, bacon and pear that went with it. main course we had the pasta and the steak. the pasta was extremely flavorful, maybe a little TOO flavorful like the after taste you get when a dish has msg. i don't think they use msg but the spices are definitely on the heavy side. the sausage in the pasta was a little dried for my taste but the pasta itself was made very well. i actually liked the steak much better and lucky for me my dining buddy was willing to share. the steak is served with a potato and artichoke layered thing that was absolutely delicious. the steak is seared to perfection with the outsides crispy and the inside rare and juicy. the house steaksauce was a good balance of sweet and tangy. we noticed everyone had these little short glasses of purple thing and i decided to ask our server about it. apparently he forgot to give us our amuse bouche. he quickly asked the sous chef to pour us our shots of cold beet and celery soup right as the other server handed us dessert menus. i'm not a fan of celery bit the flavor actually worked quite well with the beet soup. nothing jumped out at us for dessert which are mostly premade cakes, and since we just had the soup we weren't really in the mood for dessert. as we were getting ready to head out we saw the braised pork shank which looked amazing. we definitely want to go back to try it.
(4)
Christi B.

I wish I could say that my husband and I had a chance to experience this place...especially after all the rave reviews. Like some of the other folks here, we had made a reservation weeks in advance for his graduation, only to learn that we had been bumped due to "overbooking." When my husband tried to understand what had happened, he was treated very rudely and rushed off the phone. We joke now that we were actually shooed away! It seems like the staff have some issues to work out to be as fab as the food seems to be.
(2)
Katy G.

Make your reservation now! After walking by it for years, friends finally brought me for my birthday. Olive oil from Crete to go with our bread, a delightful Riesling, delectable salmon and, sigh, that creme brulee left me a believer. Last time I went the asparagus was so fresh I wanted to cry. The service is friendly and attentive and the open kitchen great fun. Although the bathroom is down a perilous seeming flight of stairs (although that was perhaps the Riesling's fault), it is an experience in itself and should not be missed.
(5)
Stephanie L.

I trekked all the way to JP for ten tables tuesday night wine dinner two weeks ago, and it was, in a word, awesome. i mean, dinner's not just a meal. . .it's an experience, exactly this kind of experience, where everything from the company to the wine to the food to the environment seems to naturally come together. i spent the night girl talking with some of my closest foodie friends surrounded by a couple dozen other equally eager diners. the menu was completely exotic but completely familiar at the same time. it was this totally bizarre stuff that i'd never have thought of, like celery root with pomegranate salad, but somehow gave me the feel of home-cooked, lovingly-prepared dishes. the executive chef david punch was more than willing to let my friends and i harass him at the end of our dinner, and even left us with some of his favorite boston restaurant recommendations. all and all, i can't think of a better way to spend 2.5 hours on a cold november evening in boston.
(5)
Ires D.

Haven't had a bad meal here and I trust them implicitly. There aren't many places where I'll get the chef's choice - this is one.
(5)
Pixie Y.

I love ten tables. It's a sweet little place with literally 10 tables (how cute is that!!) Ten Tables has a very intimate setting. Small tables, white table cloths, real flowers (++), candel light, attentive waiters. It's a perfect place for a special date. Ten Table offers a creative menu with explosive flavors. On a night out with a group of girls of 5 (we felt a little out of place), we order a bunch of things. Everything is very good, except our pasta wasnt cook right. There wasnt a lot in the plate, we each had a piece and made the waiter tried a piece, it was half gone. The waiter took it back to the chef. The chef seems like a perfectionist and deiceded to make another one, we can see (open kitchen) that he was being real careful the dish this time and even tried a piece before sending it over. It turn out pretty good and the watier was really patient, even tho we can see that he was spining, with many many of our little requests (White wine, no red wine, waters,whats this, whats that, take this back.. etc etc..)
(5)
Drew C.

Hands down the best dining bargain I've found anywhere in Boston. Especially the Tuesday wine dinners - last time I went, they ran out of the chicken entre and upgraded my date and I to short ribs, which were unreal. If you've never been, go now!
(5)
zachary a.

Ok, so I've lived in Beantown for a bit over a year and have been sampling freely of the finer dining destinations, but few have impressed me like Ten Tables. The elegant, small space is decorated with simple framed photos photos of everyday people, sending the message, "hey we're all people" -- and they make you feel it. The waitstaff, while really knowing their stuff, were very warm and friendly. In fact they knew the menu that I got a bit too much information about how the wine was aged (if I dun knew anything about wine I woulda finded it good and useful). When we showed up, our table wasn't ready quite yet (downside of having only 10 tables), so they let us wait in the basement and fed us wine (on the house) to appease our impatience. The food was amazing -- impeccable carrot gnocci with braised rabbit lead seamlessly into an incredibly lamb shoulder resting on a soft pile of polenta. This was followed (and crowned) by an unusual dessert option: brioche french toast with homemade vanilla bean ice cream on top.... it changed the way I think about french toast. Overall, the four of us had 3 appetizers, 4 entrees, 2 desserts and a bottle of wine for under $150, tax and tip included. it was simply the perfect evening.
(5)
Lucy J.

Ten Tables wasn't the best. The annoying thing was that they made us wait for over an hour even though we had reservations. So we ended up getting seated past nine pm in spite of an 8 pm reservation! The food was pretty yummy but i've had better. The wait was extremely annoying and by the time we got to order, they had run out of an entree and some desserts. This place has a reputation for being "oh so good" but really, having exactly ten tables doesn't make you all that cute, although this place seems to think it is. And apparently, they're too cheap to spring for a working AC because it was very warm in there and they only provided small glasses of room-temperature water seeped with some leaves. My friend had raved about it but she herself was rather shocked at the sub-standard service which can only mean that this place is inconsistent. Reservations does not a waiting table make and as a direct consequence, our menu was limited as well. Not at all impressed, guys.
(2)
Tiffany N.

My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday last month and everything about the experience here was great. It was a Thursday night, so it wasn't terribly crowded. The fact that there are only ten tables in the restaurant allows the servers to make sure everything about your meal is exactly what you want. I'm vegetarian and my boyfriend is vegan, and there was no problem finding great food! I got the vegetarian menu. Butternut squash soup, a goat cheese and beet salad, a pasta dish and an apple crisp dessert. Everything was delicious and the serving sizes were perfect. I at everything without feeling like I'd eaten too much. When we mentioned that my boyfriend was vegan they went straight to the chef in order to see what changes to the menu could be made. Since it was November, their options were a bit limited but were honest about it, and were able to serve a vegan variation of the goat cheese and beet salad and make the pasta dish without cheese, charging less than the whole vegetarian menu. It was a great, intimate, delicious dinner, a perfect place for a nice date or special night out!
(5)
Gail L.

Had dinner there last night with 3 friends...it was amazing! First, you can now book through Open Table, so no reservation issues anymore (see last review). Seated at 7:30, left around 10:30...3 hours of culinary delights! All of us ordered different apps, mains and desserts..tasted almost everything on the menu, plus the chef sent out some extras (very classy) Waiter suggested wines that were perfect. He described everything about our food as it arrived. It was one of the best meals I've ever eaten. Monday is 'burger night", the most amazing looking burgers (with fries) and a beer for $15.00 (available only at the bar side) so you can go and not worry about the cost! GO!
(5)
Jenn X.

We sat at the chef's table and it was a treat. The sous chef was engaging and was an excellent culinary guide. We very much enjoyed the intensity in the kitchen and would highly recommend sitting at the chef's table.
(5)
Kelsey M.

The food is pretty good here and a little different. The waitress we had was super nice but the service is slow. The restaurant is very "cozy" so "cozy" you feel like you're eating in NYC, which is surprising because this is Jamaica Plain. Finding a parking spot was an absolute nightmare, we spent over 20 minutes trying to find a spot.
(4)
Mary B.

This cozy restaurant is nestled near Harvard Sq. My husband and I got the encrusted salmon and the homemade pasta with butternut squash and brown butter sage sauce. When it came to the pasta, I distinctly remember us smiling after each bite. The salmon dish, though superb, got neglected that night because the pasta wooed us. Needless to say, we ordered this pasta to go! Great service, great food, and romantic ambience... though a little small!
(5)
Sami W.

The first time I set foot in this cozy restaurant with literally 10 tables, was back in 2003 to celebrate an anniversary. I remember very well that I as enjoying a nice steak when my (then) spouse and I got into a huge fight and she left the restaurant abruptly. I was torn between finishing that delicious steak or go after her. I went with the latter, but later I wished I did the former. Fast forward to 2012..... I came back recently with my (beautiful) girlfriend who suggested it. So we met up at the bar around 5:30 in the evening, the place was empty. We asked our friendly waitress to whip us 2 Martinis of her choice. She came back with this awesome orangy looking Martini that was yummy! As we were sipping on our drinks we decided to share the $35 three-course meal special on Wednesdays only. We started off with the Roasted Beet Salad which consisted of Beet of course with Baby Arugula, Apples, Creamy Goat Cheese & Walnut/Black Pepper Puree. And for our main course we got the Pan Seared Organic Scottish Salmon With Roasted Sunchokes, Baby Spinach and Lemon Bread Salsa which was to die for. Then we ended up with the Traditional Bistro Creme Caramel which was okay. What I like about this place is that they specialize in traditional cooking techniques. All pastas are handmade and all meats and sausages are made on the premises. And most importantly, they try to support the local farmers whenever possible. Highly recommended date spot!
(5)
Evan G.

I've been here a few times, most often on Wednesday nights for their 3 for $35 deal. Definitely recommended, as each course has great options (including one for veggies). I think it's best to sit on the bar side, because then not everyone has to eat from the special menu. Service has always been great and not snotty (the employees down the block at Grass Fed could stand to take a few pointers from the TT waitstaff...). One time, I had a pretty incredible entree plate of fall vegetables and grains and I-don't-know-what thrown in there. I often find that vegetarian dishes are somewhat of an afterthought, but the chef here clearly knows his way around a vegetable. If there's a dessert with thai basil ice cream, you gotta get it.
(5)
Julie M.

My favorite restaurant in JP! Last time we were there, we sat at the chef's table and the cooking crew interacted with us (not the first time this happened). I inquired about a unique looking dip and the chef plated up a little sample for us to try. He even offered to share the yogurt he uses with me and invited me back some afternoon to pick it up. I didn't care for the dessert that was part of the 4 course meal that night as it was chocolate and I do not enjoy chocolate. Yup, you read right! I don't like chocolate. The chef came over personally and offered me alternatives with detailed descriptions of each dessert choice. The food is always fantastic. The service is always above and beyond. There is a reason we keep going back again and again! Thanks, Ten Tables!
(5)
Ryan S.

Ten tables was awesome! Get there early so you get a table!
(4)
Sydney M.

Although I haven't yet been able to budget for dinner on the Ten Tables side, I can confidently say the Ten Tables has one of the best separate bars (the TT Bar) that I've been to. Definitely top 5. The cocktails are fun, and yummy, and the waitstaff are knowledgeable and extremely helpful in aiding you to make an informed drink decision. So great. The waitstaff also won't judge you or make you feel snubbed for ordering just a few drinks or appetizers instead of running up a ridiculous tab. Also great. And unique among similar types of bars. Also, the menu includes HOUSE-MADE RICOTTA CHEESE!!! Who knew that warm ricotta cheese could be so delicious?!? The dessert menu also changes seasonally, and the ice cream pairings are always spot-on. The hazelnut is to die for. The atmosphere is romantic, and cool, but impressively (and surprisingly) unpretentious. Way to go 10 Tables!
(5)
Liz E.

I can not say enough good things about Ten Tables. I have actually never ordered off the menu, just the Chef's tasting menu and the wine pairing and have NEVER been disappointed. The servers are knowledgeable and friendly and the food is amazing.
(5)
Alyssa B.

Absolutely outstanding in every way. The atmosphere is so lovely. Although small, you don't feel cramped. The dim lighting, candles, and open kitchen are all such nice touches. The bar on the other side was buzzing, full of people, but separate from the dining area. Food: phenomenal. My boyfriend and I enjoyed an appetizer, salad, entree, dessert, and coffee. All incredible. We didn't leave a bite of food uneaten. Perfect for a special occasion. Very romantic and also reasonably priced for the quality you're getting.
(5)
Christopher C.

Request a seat at the chef's table where you can watch these masters at work, and order the tasting menu. We did this last night and it was easily the best meal I've ever had. Upon being seated we were given a freshly-made juice of cucumber, mint, and pineapple; this was followed by two absolutely stunning cocktails, with a temporal profile to the flavors unlike anything I've ever had. We next had house-made bread with thin flakes of salt and olive oil. Our first course was a selection of chicken confit, pork and pickled vegetables that was simply out of this world, accompanied by crab apple ketchup (unbelievable) and homemade mustard. This was served to us by the chef himself. Second course was the chef's take on PEI mussels with a new spice the chef had just discovered - similarly delectable. Third course, my favorite, was the best chicken dish I've ever had - crispy yet juicy sherry-brined chicken with a crunchy corn relish on a bed of ground fresh peppers. They gave us an extra course, a cheese board filled with out-of-this-world cheeses, and our desert - two manna cottas with blueberries and a pepper wafer. This meal was incredible in breadth and every single dish stood out on its own; expertly-presented, delivered to us with obvious care. Every dish had something in it that I have never tasted before. I've ordered tasting menus at several restaurants, though my companion had not, and frankly I'm now afraid to order one anywhere else. It is sure to be a disappointment after the world-class treatment and mind-bending imaginative flavors Ten Tables provides.
(5)
Devin B.

From start to finish, the food, service and overall experience was excellent. Homemade ricotta was delicious, but my favorites were the lobster roll and hamburger. Burger was served with a bacon aoli and homemade steak sauce, mustard and caramelized onions on the side. Perfectly cooked! Cocktail menu was excellent too. I'm going back...a lot!
(5)
Bonnie E.

I love this place and come here bi-monthly if possible. For all the people that "wait years" to visit--stop waiting! The bar side accepts walk-ins every night, you just might have to be flexible on when you eat (I go in at 9 and never have a problem finding a seat). I had a scallop dish this summer with a buttery lemon sauce that was so amazing I couldn't help myself from almost licking the bowl. A hand-cut pasta dish with wild-foraged mushrooms yielded flavors and textures I had never experienced before. One time I had a pickeled feta here that blew my mind with the deep, pungent flavor. Desserts are always delicious and inventive. What's more, the staff is absolutely lovely. My first visit in after getting married, we were spoiled with champagne from the host. When I became pregnant and asked for water with mint and lemon, the bartender fixed me a special mocktail with these ingredients far beyond what I had asked for.
(5)
Susan R.

Love it love it love it. What else is there to say when it's all been said? Make a reservation (they will likely need a credit card to reserve a table- but with only 10 tables they have to cover their bases), plan to get at least 1 bottle of wine, pace yourself- the deserts are equally as amazing as the food. I am a picky eater (no fish, hate fat, no eggplant, etc etc) but there is ALways something on their menu that appeals to me. Aside from the food the service is great and fun. Not too stuffy, not too laid-back. This place is near perfect! GREAT date spot or to impress the in-laws.
(5)
Su-Yee L.

Delicious, solid food with great service. I was recommended this place by a fellow server when I worked at a fancy french restaurant in Boston and so, decided to go here with the bf. We ordered the 4 course tasting menu for $40 and here's what we got: Amuse bouche- shot of squash soup with butternut squash oil and fleur de sel. Rich, creamy, but a bit too salty. Charcuterie plate with pork pate with pistachios, some kind of saucisson with anise that was DELICIOUS, pickled celery root and shimeji mushroom + mustard. The pork pate was good although some more crostini would definitely have been welcome. The saucisson was amazing and I wished I got more than the few thin slices that were on the plate. Pan Seared Moroccan Spiced Swordfish with Farro, Red Kuri Squash & Citrus Coulis- Really delicious fish. Separately, the farro and squash were alright but when it was all eaten together in one bite, the flavors melded perfectly. Much more than the sum of its parts. The lemon/citrus coulis on top was a bit too much though; it came in a big mound on top of the fish which resulted in some bites being way too lemony. Meyer Hanger Steak with Local Fingerling Potatoes, Collard Greens and Salsa Verde- cooked to a delicious medium rare. I think this was my favorite dish of the night and made me think, "Why don't I eat steak more often?!" That'll have to change. Plus salsa verde (also very citrusy) was an interesting choice but a good one. Dessert: The bf got the pineapple upside down cake with pink peppercorn ice cream. The cake itself was tasty but dry but the pink peppercorn ice cream! Amazing. First, the hit of sweet creaminess on your tongue then the lingering taste of pepper. I received the Boca Negra cake which was like the creamiest, most decadent ganache in cake form. Awesome. I wasn't a big fan of the spearmint ice cream though but that may be because I'm not a big mint fan in general. Anyway, awesome meal but I'm only not giving it 5 stars because nothing truly blew me away. Really solid and delicious cooking which met my expectations but didn't exceed them.
(4)
August L.

A rare specimen in the restaurant industry - small but actually cozy, beautifully created food but very edible and enjoyable, attentive service without being cloying or pretentious. They often have special menus. On Wednesdays it is 3 courses for $35. You choose among ~ 4 or 5 appetizers, 5 entrees and 3-4 desserts. We shared two different meals for every course, and they were all delicious. Another day it is a prix fixe menu, with a meat option and a vegetarian option. VERY vegetarian friendly. This is not a place that puts some soggy grilled vegetables on plain pasta. They have a true vegetarian or vegan option for each course, and sometimes two options. The meals are creative, seasonal and wonderfully executed. AMAZING cocktails. Seriously. The Basil Gin Gimlet was devine. The wine selection is heavy on the European offerings and seems a bit overpriced. The space has a great energy without being crazy loud or frantic. The bar area has its own menu and is a great choice for a more casual evening. We've eaten there a few times and have always been impressed. Ten Tables has consistently been a wonderful restaurant, and is excellent value for the price. I would recommend it over many other 'top' choices in the Boston/Cambridge area.
(5)
Sarah C.

I think I am about to make a lot of people I know and love both very happy, and very upset. Very happy = I FINALLY went to Ten Tables! As a "foodie" (though a part of me hates that term) in Boston, all my friends are shocked when I mention I've actually never been to TT. Well, now I have. Very upset = I don't really get the hype. And here's why... Now, don't get me wrong - it's a GOOD restaurant. But from my experience, I've been to a number of restaurants in the Boston area that are similarly priced with similar goals in terms of customer experience and food quality, and they impressed me much more. I think my review will likely get dwarfed under the pile of glowing 5-star essays, but hey - I'm nothing if not honest. SERVICE Extremely hit or miss. We took our chances and tried for a walk-in table, and got lucky! We were told the small table in the back of the bar side would be ready in 5-10 minutes. 15 minutes later we saw the people leave that table. 25 minutes later we saw it get cleared and set for us. 10 minutes to turn over a table? Not so cool. Also, heads up that a reservation here simply means you will be guaranteed a table. A time? Not so much. But, that's to be expected when you're dealing with a place this small. Once we were seated the service was really pleasant and we felt well attended to...until I received the charcuterie plate that didn't include everything that was described to me when I asked. Apparently there are two on the different menus, and our waitress didn't ask me which I wanted, and defaulted to the smaller one. Whatever - very forgiveable. However, at another point we had to actually clear our own dishes off the table in order for our server to place our entrees - it was a little weird. Also, our server came and cleared our plates, then came back a few minutes later and asked if we wanted dessert menus, and once we said yes it was about another 5 minutes until we actually got them. Honestly - my take away message for this place - you are one of the most revered restaurants in the Boston area, and you rake in the dough. JUST HIRE A HOST/ESS. Having the wait staff also play host/ess creates an experience that I don't think is reflective of your goals. A few other notes - if you sit in the bar area you get the bar menu AND the regular dinner menu. I recommend this as the bar menu has some good lookin' stuff on it (lower prices, more variety), however you'll sacrifice table space. The bar area tables are LITERALLY about 2ft x 2ft, and the seats at the bar are...shall we say, cozy. FOOD They don't have regular sodas. This weekend they had 3 bottled sodas from the Maine company (lemon/lime, root beer, and something else). A little annoying, but I get it given their "high end" ideal. Started with the caprese. The tomatoes were delicious and the homemade ricotta was awesome. Then the charcuterie - see above for info on the ordering mix up, but once we had what we wanted, it really wasn't anything to write home about. Pales in comparison to Eastern Standard and many other places in the area. I wouldn't bother - very small portions of the sliced meats, and the pork with pine nuts and raisins and the chicken liver mousse were both actually quite bland. Our bread + olive oil actually came after our apps, but were excellent. The bread is the perfect consistency (though warm would have been even better) and the olive oil is awesome. There are only a few choices of entree - 5 I think. I ordered the bluefish with a spicy tomato sauce, sunchokes, and spinach. I'm not a huge fan of artichokes (not really knowing what sunchokes taste like) or spinach, but I took a shot. The dish as a whole was really great. Everything went together perfectly, and the fish had great flavor and a great crispy skin. The hangar steak, however, was a different story. It came with a salsa verde on top, and a smoked eggplant and summer squash. It also came completely drenched in oil. We were really, really confused - did they pour oil all around the plate after plating? Or does the eggplant sit in a pot of oil and it gets scooped onto the plate with it? Either way, it was honestly, really gross. Worst of all, the steak was bland. It had no flavor! We were really shocked and disappointed. Happily, however, the meal ended on a high note. The chocolate terrine with thai basil ice cream is a must if you like chocolate and exotic ice cream flavors. The chocolate was so dark and rich, with just the right touch of sugar and a center layer with crunch and saltiness. And the ice cream - oh my. I would come back just for this dish. Bottom line - I actually wouldn't recommend TT over some other places I know and love, but I'll probably go back to try a few more things on their bar menu - specifically the burger and some of their house-made pasta dishes - and definitely more desserts and a cocktail or two.
(3)
A L.

Went here for one of the wine pairing nights, and everything was amazing. The wine guy explains each wine as he pours, and a detailed description is in your menu as well. The food was phenomenal. I was hesitant about going with a pre fixe menu as I'm a picky eater, but everything was so good, from start to finish. Delicious wines, excellent service (checked on numerous times without being too invasive...the perfect balance), and great atmosphere. It was our anniversary, and I mentioned this in our open table notes, but they did not acknowledge. I can't hold it against them though, with the level of food and service. Next time we're going to check out the bar side, as they have a different, more casual menu!
(5)
Fred D.

Thank god for restaurants like Ten Tables. Staff feel like family, the menu is daring in subtle ways, the whole place is humming with careful, earnest execution and the relaxed attitude that comes with experience and excellence. Up there with Hungry Mother and a very few others as a top table in Boston. Only downside is that it gets lively, but the wine pairings on the tasting menu were so precisely on target that we soon forgot about that ! Awesome place for a romantic dinner or a small gathering of close friends.
(5)
Kristin C.

Came here for one of their Tuesday night Wine Dinners and it was just fantastic! The dinner includes 4 courses and 4 wine pairings for $44 each. Reservations are a must and the regular menu is not available on these nights. Every course included fresh ingredients and was perfectly cooked. You can really tell that a lot of thought and care goes into planning the menu here. The restaurant, as the name implies, is tiny, but feels intimate rather than crowded. Bottom line: I'd come back here in a second. Go. You won't regret it.
(5)
Callan C.

Went for dinner at Ten Tables recently and had a good experience. The food was interesting, the service friendly and the restaurant itself felt intimate and simple. There were a selection of carefully chosen mixed drinks, wines and beers. I loved my appetizer, which was house cured fish. The pickled mussels included in the selection were excellent. I continued along my seafood route with a "Caldo Verde" stew that was also tasty. It included clams, hake and kale. I would love to come back and experience the TT bar, whether a Sunday oyster special or during the week - as it seems like a different experience.
(4)
Allison J.

Service was excellent and so was the food. I was readily impressed with the "3 for $33" menu. The service was attentive and knowledgeable. The food was delish. What a great deal for dinner too. The pork chop was the winner at our table though we loved it all. Be sure to try one of the signature cocktails. Ask the server to make a recommendation. You won't be disaapointed. It's a great date spot!
(5)
Mike S.

Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. Great for a special night out, cuz it's a little pricey. But, the pre-fixed menu is always delicious from start to finish! I don't even like green beans, and I love them here! Cozy, romantic atmosphere.
(5)
Joanna S.

Went recently for a belated valentines day dinner and completely enjoyed myself. The boyfriend and I ate vegetarians and ordered the vegetarian tasting and two flights of beers. The highlight of the meal was the pasta with brown butter sage sauce and the added bonus of the shaved chestnut on top. We don't eat animal rennet cheese and they were able to accommodate that as well. We also tried their house beer, the porter. Good but not something I would order. The service was amazing. I went to the restroom and the waitress put my food back in the kitchen to keep it warm. They were also very attentive with the water and dishes. Great experience.
(4)
Kermit D.

This is my favorite restaurant. From the water they serve you to the last crumb. Everything they put out is awesome. I always have the chef's tasting. The wine pairings are excellent.
(5)
Sisi Z.

Oh Ten Tables. I wish I still lived in Boston so I could come to this gem of a restaurant. I only called the night of, but managed to grab the last reservation - 10pm - on a Friday night. Even though we were one of the last tables of the night, the service and food were impeccable. My date and I agreed, it was the tastiest pork chop we had ever tasted... juicy, tender, with just enough seasoning. I think it spoiled me so much I just look at other menus with pork chop and think, *sigh*, it doesn't compare to Ten Tables. Going to the bathroom is also an adventure in itself... don't fall down the stairs =P!
(5)
E B.

We sat in a cramped area near the kitchen & had to hear the head chef yell at the wait staff throughout the dinner. Not the vibe we were going for on my birthday! The 3-course meal was very good, but extremely small portions for the price.
(3)
Katie V.

I had a nice evening at Ten Tables, but I think it possibly had been overhyped to me. Also, I went on a Wednesday and while the $33 for 3 courses deal was just that (a deal), I wish I had gone on another night and done the chef's tasting. But anyway -- came in at 5:30 on a Wednesday. Obviously, the place is adorable. I got a charcuterie plate, the spare rib entree, and pistachio semi-freddo. My friend got the pickled mussels, the char and I believe some kind of cake. The food was all well-prepared and elegantly plated...it just wasn't fabulous like I was hoping it would be. The mussels were pretty interesting; the charcuterie was a pork pate that was pretty standard/nothing special. The spare rib was really tender, but a little overpowered by the sauce/jus. Actual flavor of the meat was kind of lost. The char was perfectly cooked, but the set was disappointing -- it involved wild rice. Call me a snob, but I don't really think wild rice belongs in fine dining (unless it's some really unbelievable exotic variety). This might as well have been Uncle Ben's. Desserts was fine, but pretty forgettable. The wine list is very obscure and our server admitted being new and pretty unfamiliar with it. The bartender helped us select a nice pinot noir. Overall, I think what you're paying for is the intimate cozy space and the exclusivity of being one of only a handful of lucky diners who were able to score a reservation. If I go back, I'll try the chef's tasting OR just sit in the bar area and order some of the less fancy fare.
(3)
Justin C.

This is such a beautiful ( flickr.com/photos/wedoitâ€¦ ), intimate, little space ( flickr.com/photos/wedoitâ€¦ ) tucked away in Jamaica Plain, just outside of Boston. Some restaurants are tiny, and they feel that way, giving you a constant sense of being cramped, and making any service feel overbearing. The designers of Ten Tables did a fantastic job of taking a miniscule space and making it still feel very romantic, from the little details on the tables ( flickr.com/photos/wedoitâ€¦ ) to the very open air environment where you can see straight into the kitchen ( flickr.com/photos/wedoitâ€¦ ). Oh, and it also helps that the food here is phenomenal, constantly keeping you distracted with great flavors and equally good drinks. The Tuesday tasting menu here is not to be missed, and at just $42 for 4 course and 4 wines, is an even better deal than what's offered at T.W. Food ( yelp.com/biz/t-w-food-caâ€¦ ) for a few bucks more. I of course booked my reservation for a Tuesday with this in mind, and was happy to find out the tasting menu for the night would focus around Italian food and wines, a common theme during my stay in Boston. The menu was very well balanced, and I even told the chef the dinner was better than my chef's tasting menu the night before at Via Matta, which he though was pretty funny as he was formerly a chef there. We started the meal with a little fennel veloute, topped with a seared scallop ( flickr.com/photos/wedoitâ€¦ ), and served with a lovely Falanghina. The veloute was flavored wonderfully, and the char on the scallop was just perfect. The Falanghina was a great pairing, with just enough acidity to balance the rich flavors in the veloute. After the first course I was really excited for what would come the rest of the evening. The "menu" they give you just gives an outline of the theme, so all the dishes are surprises when they arrive at your table. The second course was spaghetti with a puttanesca sauce (which I learned a bit of trivia from the server, this is known as the "whores' sauce" because they used to serve it in the old days to their customers) which was filled with delicious olives and capers ( flickr.com/photos/wedoitâ€¦ ). They paired it beautifully with one of my favorite wines, a Negromara, which is really difficult to find good quality in most restaurants. The wine has a really strong, smokey flavor, and went perfectly with the strong flavors in the puttanesca. This combination was simply fantastic, and my favorite of the night. The main course was very good, but once again made me question why certain ingredients gain such popularity among chefs. The dish was an expertly cooked lamb loin, served with green olives, broccoli rabe and ricotta salata ( flickr.com/photos/wedoitâ€¦ ). The lamb was decadent, and the green olives really paired well with it, but I cannot for the life of me imagine why chefs insist on using broccoli rabe in dishes. The same goes for Brussels sprouts and beets. I really don't care for the flavors of any of these, but broccoli rabe is by far at the top of that list. Thankfully, this was actually the "best" use of this ingredient I've had to date, but it was still far from enjoyable, and really hurt the dish more than it helped. The Primitivo it was paired went was another hit, with the right amount of pepper complementing the lamb nicely. Our dessert sounded very simplistic when it was presented to us, but we were reminded at how good some simple things can be. It was an olive oil cake with a housemade orange marmalata, drizzled with chocolate syrup ( flickr.com/photos/wedoitâ€¦ ), and it was far more than the sum of its parts. The richness of the cake was amazing, so dense and so moist, with just a hint of the olive oil flavor. The orange marmalata I wasn't as crazy for, as some of the pieces were a little tough and chewy, but flavor wise it still went well with the chocolate syrup and the cake, as did the wine. They chose a very nice Moscato D'Asti, which is pretty much the perfect wine to serve with any dessert if you're eating Italian. The sweetness of the wine was not too cloying, allowing you to easily go back and forth between the wine and the food. Getting a reservation here can be a bit tricky because of the size, but I highly recommend it as one of your stops in Boston, especially if you can make it to one of their food and wine pairings. It's even better if you're bringing a date, as the restaurants layout forces a certain level of closeness for communication.
(5)
Kalah A.

Loved this restaurant. If there was a sixth star bonus star, Ten Tables would get it. The food is EXCELLENT, the atmosphere is wonderful for a date or intimate meal, the service is great and the prices aren't outrageous. When I went last, we had a mixed seafood dish and a mac & cheese with mushrooms and other fun extras. Both were wonderful and had special, unique touches. Every item on the menu is very well thought out. For a date night, Ten Tables is a must!
(5)
robert o.

Ive been waiting to go here for about 7 months.It was well worth the wait. The service was top notch. The place is very intimate and cozy. The wine list was vast. The food was fantastic! I had the hanger steak. I even had saved room for dessert, the hot toffee pudding.
(5)
K P.

This tiny place is simply outstanding. So good, in fact, that I joined just to say that about them. My partner and I went in to celebrate our engagement yesterday, and will be raving about the food for a long time to come. We'd been in for one of their wine dinners in the fall, and came back this time and again figured we ought to let the experts tell us what to eat. We asked for the chefs' tasting menu, and had the sommelier pick out wines for us to taste along the way with the meal. Many thanks to the guys behind the bar and those picking out our wines for easily the best meal of our lives. How this place hasn't been chosen for serious distinction in one of the F&W or Gourmet lists is beyond me.
(5)
Nicole H.

Ten Tables has been my go to restaurant for all occasions, big or small for years and they never disappoint. Small, loud and comfy dining room, great servers and consistently excellent food. The Tuesday wine dinners are super fun if you can get in.
(5)
Jess S.

I wish I could give half a star, because I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars. Make a reservation - we went on a Monday night and there was only bar seating left, which was fine, but one of the famous "ten tables" would have been nice! We got the chef's tasting menu with wine pairings... this is at the 'chef's whim' and they don't tell you what's coming till it comes. I like that idea a lot. I don't recommend it for anyone that's a picky eater. The first course was a chicken liver pate - I think someone who likes pate would probably really enjoy this because it was done really well, but I had never had pate a hard time getting over the ick factor of chicken liver, and I didn't eat very much of it. This was paired with a riesling which was pretty good. The second course, a blackened swordfish over white beans with some kind of bread , was absolutely fabulous and I can't wait to have it again! The swordfish was perfectly seasoned and melt-in-your-mouth tender. It was paired with a light red wine (I can't remember what, exactly) but it was neat to learn from the bartender that there is nothing wrong with pairing dense fishes with a red wine. My only (tiny) critique of the swordfish was that it could have been slightly less salty. The third course, a hanger steak over parsnips, was paired with an organic red. The parsnips were awesome, the hangar steak was just okay. It really just didn't have any memorable flavor or texture. Following the swordfish, this was really something of a disappointment. But then came dessert, which was blow-your-mind good. They brought me and my date two different desserts - I got a brownie topped with basil (yes basil) ice cream, paired with a dark red port.... the flavor combination was super intense and perfect! He got a pound cake with a caramel sauce with a port that had strong caramel notes. Again, perfection. Service was great, overall we had a great experience and a good time talking to the bartender who was extremely knowledgeable about wine. If all the dishes were the caliber of the swordfish and the dessert, Ten Tables would be hands down, 5 stars. But there's a little bit of a lack of consistency there.
(3)
Rosy R.

wonderful atmosphere, very nice staff. slow service and food just NOT good
(1)
S A.

Hands down my favorite place to eat in Boston. The food is unbelievable. I don't even bother ordering anymore, I just get the tasting menu and have never been let down. I've gotten wine suggestions from the staff a few times and each has been great. The space is cozy and warm. I have nothing bad to say.
(5)
BB R.

Creative without being self-indulgent. Fresh local ingredients, adorable and attentive waitstaff, wonderful vibe. Sad that the chef moved to the Cambridge location--he had more zest.
(4)
James W.

I've been here twice, got the tasting menu both times. Some of the best food in Boston for almost half the price of some of the pricier places. Staff is helpful and friendly. Make a reservation well in advance for the weekend, this place books well in advance!
(5)
Charoline D.

I got lucky with a reservation here about a month ago, calling 2 days beforehand for an early 5:30 Saturday reservation landed me a spot for 2 at the chef's table. Sadly, I had to cancel as we had another guest join in and I needed to be able to accommodate. I feared that I may have missed my chance and that it would be difficult to get a second reservation the next time due to the noted difficulty in trying to book a table. And this past Saturday, upon wandering past the open door of Ten Tables post our breakfast at Bon Savor, Boi and I savored the tasty vapors wafting out their open door into the sidewalk and scanned the menu. Due to our building desire to eat here, I immediately called and left a message requesting a table for two for ANY PART OF THE EVENING, I got a response within 2 hours with a couple different time slots available. Maybe it was the rain....maybe I'm just amazing at acquiring tables...whichever, Stan (?) called me back and we stole a 5:30 slot. A perfect ending to a long day. "We were very tired, we were very merry-- We had gone back and forth all night on the ferry. It was bare and bright, and smelled like a stable-- But we looked into a fire, we leaned across a table, We lay on a hilltop underneath the moon; And the whistles kept blowing, and the dawn came soon." We cozied up to a table close to the window, and both chose to order the Gaston 76 (??)....a cocktail comprised of what I think was a white wine with cucumber and tarragon and ran us something like $9 each. Bread arrived with some oil, and soon after our appetizer order of mussels (sans shells), served with canneloni beans, grape tomatoes, olives, and itty croutons was placed on the table, which towards the end when all the shellfish bits were consumed, we were left with a flavorful broth in which to sop up with our bread remnants. For supper, we both ordered the hanger steak served with broccoli rabe and fingerling potatoes. I had mine rare, he had his medium rare. Quite possibly one of the best steaks I've ever had, altho a little too peppery at times (and I LOVE pepper). But very comparable to what I gobbled at Blue Room just a few months ago and for $25 it blows my mind why people bother going somewhere like Flemmings or Ruth Chris for what is presumably a good piece of meat. PlzBtch. A nicely grass fed piece of practically raw meat that disintegrated as it moved past my jowls. Chloe Carnivoriousahnussanussasaurus. Dessert arrived soon after, He with his chocolate terrine with sea salt and thai basil ice cream and I with my vanilla semifreddo with blueberry compote and pine nut brittle. Both were fantastic and perfectly portioned, much like the other courses of our meal. The terrine was rich and incredibly dense, while my semifreddo was creamy and lightly frozen, it's saltly pine nut brittle a good accompaniment to the compote. I've always sort of had this gag with friends, that when I take someone somewhere and they don't know where the bathroom is...I tell them you have to walk through the kitchen. It happened once, and we ran with it. As long as no one gets any viche sois on their shoes...no one gets hurt, right? But seriously, here you do have to walk through the kitchen and down a set of STEEP stairs. Just a note.
(5)
Carol L.

Hm, very close to 5 stars actually. This place serves up delicious quality food with incredibly decent prices. I got the chef's tasting menu - 4 courses, for $40. My friend and I sat at the "bar", with full view of the working kitchen. It was fascinating and totally enthralling watching the chefs cook! Loved it. 1st course: pate plate - nice thick slab of chunky style pate with toasted bread, whole grain mustard, pickle, and pickled shallots. If you like pate, you'll love this. i loved it :) 2nd course: baby squid stew - nicely flavored stew with garbanzo beans, onions, and at least 6 whole baby squids. Delicious! 3rd course: steak...juicy, tender, medium-rare steak. Served with chimichurra (sp?) sauce, asparagus, and potatoes 4th course: home made pound cake with honey, jam and creme fraiche. Perfect! My friend got the vegetarian tasting menu - also delicious, $28. Garlic soup (full of flavor, delicious), green bean salad (at first I thought this looked stupid, but the beans were cooked perfectly, and the sauce had so much flavor!), home made pasta with carrots and turnips (decent), closing with chocolate panna cotta and home made marmalade. Oh yea, before dessert, we had a scoop of refreshing grapefruit sorbet to cleanse our palate. The service was solid. So why 4 stars and not 5? They didn't give us an amuse bouche (everyone else got it!) and I didn't like how cramped the area was. I felt like I was gonna fall onto someone else's table. I'd still recommend this place to everyone. You gotta try it once. Fantastic food at a great price!
(4)
Becky B.

I LOVE food...and my taste in restaurants runs the gammut from Spikes hot dogs....to Craigie street bistro...so I like to think im well versed in every end of the quality vs. cost food spectrum. Ive lived in JP for 8 yrs now and have heard non-stop raving about 10 tables..used to have a somewhat different name a few years back...so I finally got my boyfriend and went in for one of their prix fix nights to check the place out. I should mention now that this was about 2 years ago..and I havent set foot in the place since. why...because it was more than just 'less than stellar' it wasnt even good!!! When the waiter came over to see how we liked our meals..id just spent the last 45min talking to my boyfriend about what was wrong with all the food...and he gave me a 'you better hold your tongue' look which i regret to this day. I had a veal ragu...which honestly tasted like canned prego sauce (no seasoning...where was the delicious veal flavor cooked in?) Id tasted my boyfriends meal as well...which was equally as bland. The only redeeming thing was the dessert...a perfect creme brulee...but honestly..it takes quite a lot to make a creme brulee I wouldnt like... so...overall...if youre looking for great food in this price bracket you can do much much better...and even if youre confined to JP..id recommend Zons 100 times over ...for a bit less money too. or I would have said Cafe D but theyve unfortunately closed.... Its really too bad..I want to have this great little nice restaurant in my neighborhood that I frequent...well frequently. but I guess it wasnt meant to be...and Id like to give them another chance..since I have friends that swear by the place...but I think ill just avoid asking those particular friends for restaurant recommendations from now on instead. oh well*
(2)
Robert S.

Excellent. Had the chipotle steak and house wine. Loved everything.
(5)
Dan S.

I had a tough time deciding between 4 and 5 stars for this review, but I gave it 5 because for me, it was that good. The caveat is that you need to bring a few things with you to this restaurant: Patience, and an overall positive attitude. I'm not warning anyone away - I thought Ten Tables was fantastic - but you do need to be able to relax to enjoy it. Take a later reservation so that you can be there as the restaurant clears out, which will keep you from feeling rushed and seems to chill out the staff as well. We had a reservation for 8:30 and were seated around 8:45. It's not a comfortable restaurant to wait around in - there's about 15 square feet in which to stand, and the wait staff have to get around you to serve the other tables. The tables are a bit small and you won't have a lot of elbow room to maneuver. This might sound jerky, but this probably isn't a comfortable place for a very large person. However, the atmosphere is nice, low-lit with tea lights, and they had some sort of jazz playing at a reasonable level through the night. The waitstaff was informative and polite, although not particularly friendly at first. As the night moved on, we were the third-to-last table to leave and they became progressively nicer to interact with. At the end of the night we had a nice chat with our waitress which was definitely more our speed. On Wednesday nights they have a choose-three style menu where you pick an app, entree, and dessert for a set price. To keep this simple, our food was great, top to bottom. I ordered the scallops as an appetizer, which were cooked to perfection and set on a bed of some bacony... stuff that was quite delicious. My fiancee had some sort of beet and goat cheese layer cake (there's some froofy French name for this - I can't remember it), which was possibly even better than the scallops. For the main meal, I ordered duck - it wasn't on the menu but when we came in, a gentleman who was leaving suggested it. I'm glad they had some left from the previous evening because it was fantastic. I was warned that it was cooked medium rare (this is how I like it), but judging by texture and juice it was actually cooked medium. Still, I like good duck and this was VERY good duck. It came served on a bed of wilted greens with some fennel that was probably sauteed. The greens were mildly flavored and the fennel was amazing. The anise flavor was muted and paired brilliantly with the spices on the duck - if I could cook fennel like that I'd eat it every day. The whole thing was sprinkled with pomegranate seeds which gave it a fun sweet kick and a nice fall flavor. My fiancee had the only vegetarian option, which was basically a sausage dish over pasta without the sausage. This was a small disappointment as she would have liked to have access to other vegetarian options, but to be fair it is stated on the website that vegetarian options are limited on Wednesdays. The food was very good but not as remarkable as my dish. I had a chocolate torte/pate with flecks of salt and thai basil ice cream for dessert. Perfect. She had a vanilla custard with caramel sauce which was a bit eggy for my liking, but she loved every bite. The server suggested very good wines to go with our meals (cabernet franc for me, a tempranillo for her). At the end of the night we told her it was my birthday, and she excitedly brought me a candle to make a wish... I made the most of it and laid down a very good wish, but of course I can't tell you what it was. In summary, the atmosphere was cozy but a bit cramped. The service was slow but nice. The food was fantastic. I'll go back, absolutely... and when I do it'll again be on an 8:30 reservation.
(5)
Michael H.

Overpriced, over-hyped, overrated.
(2)
Mary R.

I couldn't have picked a better place for my 100th review, or for a special dinner last night! It was AMAZING!! The food was excellent, and since I hadn't looked at the menu for their Tuesday night Wine Dinner, even more fun because I learned what we were having as we went! Loved it!! I have to say the salad may have been my favorite course, although all 4 were really, really great. And the wine pairings were equally excellent. The service was impeccable and I loved that the Chef went around to many of the tables and chatted towards the end of the night -- made the place feel even more intimate. Even without that, I absolutely loved the atmosphere. I really can't say enough good things about this restaurant.
(5)
Matthew H.

Fantastic. In Short: Go There. You won't be disappointed. Be adventurous, let them order for you by going on a Prixe Fixe night.
(5)
Hussam B.

After reading all the stellar reviews, we decided to check this restaurant out. I wouldn't give them a 3, rather a 3.5. It was a rainy night and we were lucky to find one of the spots that they provide empty. That is definitely a plus for them, that they have some parking available. The restaurant itself is, as many have said before, a warm, cozy somewhat romantic spot, dimly lit with maybe 20-30 small tables. We decided to have three appetizers and a main. Out of the three appetizers, two were really good - the pumpkin soup and the native arugula salad. One can tell the detail and passion put into making sure that each of the ingredients is showcased. Both were perfectly seasoned. Our third appetizer was alright, baked ricotta with some quincey jam. They very kindly split our main course into two very generous portions. We ordered the hanger steak frites. The hanger steak was a bit tough, however not from being overcooked. Their hand cut fries were tasty with the jus. Finally, for dessert we had the chocolate terrine with the Thai basil ice cream. This was exceptional, not too sweet and definitely an original taste. The service was excellent, they were extremely attentive and polite although we had arrived 15minutes late and therefore 15minutes closer to closing time. Why 3.5? The fact that the hanger steak was tough was a bit disappointing. Also the bread served at the beginning was cold, and although there is not a rule for having to serve warm bread, the extra touch would have been nice. It is definitely a restaurant we would recommend to others.
(3)
Holly M.

Outstanding, intimate, personal, knowledgeable, cute, dimly lit, and really only Ten Tables! All words I would use to describe an evening at Ten Tables. We went for the Oktoberfest Beer Pairings dinner and at 42 dollars each, for 4 course, it was worth it. The food was expertly prepared and brilliantly paired with wonderfully delicious exotic beers. The cheddar beer soup was my personal fave, but the stout flavored creme anglaise was also quite amazing! I would like to come back on a regular menu evening and sample the regular fare. An amazing restaurant for special occasions or a first date!
(5)
Pito S.

I discovered this restaurant via Yelp. Very high reviews in a neighborhood that we've not gone much. It was great, we had an excellent experience. The atmosphere was nice. While the atmosphere is casual the service is impeccable and the food is delicious. We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Hana C.

A sweet, little, dark elegant restaurant in Jamaica Plain. I came here last Friday with boyfriend and had a wonderful experience. The service was great, the food wonderful and such a loverly atmosphere. We started off with shrimp and charcuterie appetizer. I've never had the charcuterie before and it had a lot of chicken liver pate I couldn't eat. The waitor upon seeing that I didn't finish it actually took off the dish off the bill even though i didn't complain (had nothing to complain about because i just didn't know it was going to be liver pate). The entree was also wonderful. I had the bluefish- very delicious and my boyfriend had the chicken. The chicken was so tender and mouthwatering. For desert we had the huckleberry peach tart. Overall, it was a lovely romantic date at the perfect little place. Would love to come here again soon!!
(5)
D P.

The food was delicious, though sometimes a little too esoteric merely for the sake of being such. I will make sure to check on the menu before I return because it was dependent on day. My wife and I didn't particularly care for anything on the menu that day, but we chose what we could, trusting the chef. It largely worked out well, but I'd have liked more variety or perhaps less exotic mixtures of ingredients.
(4)
Heather E.

Just hands'-down, my favorite restaurant. The TT folks get it right at every turn, from ambiance to service to, of course, the fantastic food. Everything comes together with (what seems to be...) effortless grace. No matter what the occasion for my visit, I have always been made to feel special, valued and truly cared for. In fact, it seems clear to me that every guest is treated as such, and that feeling is palpable in the warmth and joviality of the environment. I've been a fan for years, dining at this location for as long as it's been open, and was just recently in for a cozy Valentine's dinner. We chose the 4-course Chef's Tasting, which, aside from the Wednesday prix-fixe, is just about the best deal in town, at a mere $40 per person, plus drinks. Our four courses included a first taste of the housemade charcuterie, followed by a perfect fish course (TT always excels at fish dishes in my book, recognizing the power of a perfectly simple butter sauce), then a sizable meat course (which was perhaps just a little too sizable for its inclusion in a 4-course menu). Dessert was a taste of luscious lemon pudding cake and a morsel of rich, dense olive oil cake with candied citrus, ending on just the right note. I think what I love the most about TT is the focus and simplicity. Every flavor shines with distinction yet complements the next. By being unfussy and uncomplicated, an eagle-eye attentiveness to detail is realistically executed, both on the plate, and in the service. Danny Meyer could himself take a few pages from Krista and company's hospitality playbook. *Last notes: TT Cambridge is closer for me, and it's an enjoyable experience, but ambiance-wise, JP is where it's at. Totally loving the new bar. Grab a seat and order up some punch!
(5)
Nate Y.

My second experience at Ten Tables made me think this is the reason why you don't necessarily go on first impressions. The first time I went, about 3 years ago, I thought it was fine but nothing that impressed me to want to go again. This time around I can see coming back here again and again. I was able to get a reservation the day before only because I was seated at the chef's table. Some may find this to be a detractor but for me this made the experience much more enjoyable. You not only get to see the chefs do their magic, but with your back to the rest of the patrons you have a more intimate setting to talk with the company you have. Our meal began with a complimentary shot of melon fizz, a perfect way to start on such a humid evening. The chilled fennel soup (whose recipe was featured in the Weekly Dig) was positively delightful. The chicken foie gras was very rich and the portion was more than we could finish. The pork chop I had was pan roasted to perfection, even my companion, who normally doesn't like pork, thought it was delicious. Her pasta dish was well made with a light oil sauce. If you like chocolate, the dessert we had will put you on a chocolate high. They seems to use a very high quality chocolate and they give a good portion that's perfect for sharing, unless of course you're a chocolate whore like I can be. Looking at their wine selection, although not extensive, it appears to have some good choices within a varied price range. The service was great. They were friendly, answering all our questions from the meal choices to what the greenery arrangement they had at our table, and always had my water glass filled. Even with such a small establishment they don't hurry you to leave. Do yourself a favor and check this place out. Oh and make room for me, I'm in the neighborhood ;)
(5)
Sara S.

Came here tonight for their four-course vegetarian meal. One word- underwhelming. First course- Butternut Squash Soup with Creme Fraiche and Nutmeg. I suppose I should wonder how exciting butternut squash should be. Don't get me wrong, I love butternut squash, but my mom's no-frills soup tasted just like this. For a restaurant with such a great reputation, I expected better. Second course- Arugulla with McIntosh apples, Blue Cheese, Spiced Pecan, and Cider Vinaigrette. This was one of the better salads I've had in a while. All the flavors melded together really nicely, and the blue cheese in particular was great. A great fall salad, and the best course of the evening. Third course- Vegetarian Casoullet. Basically, a slow cooked white bean stew. Typically this is served with meat, which adds a great deal of necessary flavor. Without it, it was a little bland. It didn't seem "stewey" enough, and the bread crumbs on the top were quite dry. It was good, but I'd never order this again. Fourth course- Lets just say I went to JP Licks for frozen yogurt after Ten Tables. I was served a chocolate "cake" or sorts with thai basil ice cream and salt. I know the sweet/salty thing is "in" nowadays, and I thoroughly enjoy myself a chocolate covered pretzal or two, but this was inedible. It was SO salty that I could barely swallow my bite. Service was good, except the waiters kept knocking into tables (which broke a glass or two) as well as dropped stuff. Made for a noisy dining experience. Over, it was A-OK, but I cannot believe that this place is immensely popular and basically reservation only. You can do a LOT better for less money. Or, spend a few extra bucks and go somewhere extraordinary.
(3)
Tammie P.

Ten Tables is a teeny tiny restaurant, with really steep metal stairs that you have to descend if you want to visit the restroom in the low-ceiling basement. Nonetheless, the service and the food are excellent. We ordered the half carafe red house wine for $15 - which was a good deal, and it tasted good - along with the 4 course tasting menu for $40. You don't get to choose what you're going to have, but everything that was served was delicious. The first appetizer was hamachi with radishes and arugula. The fish was fresh and I enjoyed it by itself, but not so much with the radish because it had an overpowering taste. The radishes and arugula went well together and had a slightly lemony-sour taste. The second course was a striped sea bass with mussels and squid in a light red sauce. The sea bass was delicious, and I really liked the bread it was served on. The entree consisted of slices of pork and polenta. By the time this course appeared, I was already getting full. The pork was very tender and tasty, and one piece had some fat on it, which made it taste even better!! I couldn't finish the polenta and veggies because I wanted to save room for dessert. Dessert was a biscuit covered in mascarpone, vanilla ice cream, and a berry compote. My dining companion was served a chocolate mousse with Thai basil ice cream. I loved by dessert, and liked the other one as well, but the basil ice cream was a bit too strong for me. Overall - attentive service and delicious dishes. I will definitely pay a visit soon.
(4)
Jonathon S.

Happy Birthday to me! And thanks to the world's best wife for finding this place. Fantastic food, great service, and a blast at the chef's table. Yes, the chef's table is two bar stools, and yes it is an open kitchen, but if you're into this sort of thing, these seats are fantastic. Service was very friendly, and despite a Saturday 7:30 PM reservation, the chef and sous chef took a few minutes to chat. We started with the Roast Garlic soup with piment d'espltette and parsley cream (sublime) and the excllent house made sausage with cabbage, bacon, and bartlett pear . For entrees, we had the pork chop with potato gratin, swiss chard, and sage butter and the steak wit seared rosemary polentta winter greans and salsa verde - both cooked and seasoned to perfection. The chef's had a clear respect for their craft and for their customers. From where we sat, you could see their attention to detail. All around, the best meal we've had since moving to Boston from Manhattan over a year ago. Thank you Ten Tables.
(5)
Kim A.

My wife and I have standing reservations here once a month because it's one of the best restaurants in Boston. The food is always inventive, full of amazing flavor, and perfectly cooked. They serve a thick cut pork chop that melts in my mouth--it's tender and buttery (it literally has a dollop of melted butter on top) and so unbelievably tasty, it's my absolute favorite. We also love to order the chef's tasting menu because each course is a wonderful surprise of flavors. Not only is the food great, the ambiance is very romantic. It's small, candlelit, and tastefully decorated. The open kitchen makes for fun entertainment, too. And Stan offers the best wine recommendations in town.
(5)
Len D.

We went there to celebrate a birthday and the place was recommended by a friend as a must-try. I guess it's a "must-try" if you like paying $28 for an entree the size of a small appetizer. I had the fish stew and was a bit shocked at what was served to me: a piece of fish the size of a half-deck of cards, two (thin) slices of Italian bread no bigger then two fingers of one's hand, and three (small) clams. Wow. Holy Over-Priced Batman! They also weren't kidding about there only being ten tables, all slightly larger than a nightstand by one's bed, so if you wanted an evening of intimate conversation not to be overheard by the folks at the next table, hope you know sign language. All told, two drinks, one appetizer, two entrees, one dessert and one tea was $125 with tip. Next time we go there. . . well, there won't be a next time. Much better restaurants in the Boston area for that kind of money.
(2)
Angela H.

okay okay...I'm amending my original review, which I admit was slightly nasty. We went here last night with a reservation which we thought was for three. We'd been looking forward to it for two weeks, excited to show our New Orlean's friend one of the best restaurants in town (or at least that's what we'd heard). But when we arrived we realized there'd been a misunderstanding and they'd only set us up for two people. They did give us the option to sit three at the two-seater, but in a room already only big enough for ten tables we thought that would be a little cramped, a little uncomfortable, so we declined. I was p.o.'d as they say. But then today, Stan called. He said they wanted to take full responsibility and are sending us a gift certificate to try them again. I'm no longer p.o.'d at all. But they will have to show me some fantastic feasting to get two more stars. Thanks Stan. Sorry for the confusion. I'm looking forward to going back.
(3)
Meghan M.

This past Sunday night was a blustery, rainy one, a night that called for a cozy meal, and after a busy week and weekend, some quiet time for the hubs and me. We had a reservation at Ten Tables, and if you want to dine here, I suggest booking at least a few days in advance. Located in Jamaica Plain (with a newly opened Cambridge location), Ten Tables is teeny. It literally has ten tables, and one of them is partially blocking the front door. The small dining room leads up to a 2 person bar and then an open kitchen. How they keep a kitchen that is so small and so busy as clean as they do is beyond me. It is so completely spotless and well organized, a welcoming sight. I didn't take any photos at dinner, but if you visit Ten Tables' website, you will be able to view several lovely photo galleries. It was just not a place where I would feel comfortable taking photos, too small, too intimate, and it would have been to invasive to other diners. We were seated promptly when we arrived and brought a jug of water that was refilled several times throughout the evening. I started with a glass of Marquis de la Tour sparkling wine, which was nice but had a little bit too much of a pear aftertaste for me. Our server also brought some very fresh bread and poured a dish of fruity, new olive oil. We both decided on the vegetarian four course tasting menu. Ten Tables uses local produce from Parker Farms in conjunction with Heron Farms, and their farm deliveries are provided by Metro Pedal Power bicycles. The first course was a panzanella salad: OUR PANZANELLA SALAD : SOAKED BREAD, FARM HEIRLOOM TOMATOES, WHITE ANCHOVIES, CUCUMBER AND RED ONION This also contained fresh herbs, which gave it so much fresh flavor. The tomatoes were absolutely perfect, the way they get when summer is over, I think just to tease us that we will have to wait through a brutal winter to have such deliciousness again. The cucumber was super crunchy, a perfect contrast to the soaked, slightly soft croutons. The next course was to die for: LOCAL GREEN TOMATO SOUP WITH JASPER HILL CLOTHBOUND CHEDDAR Velvety tomato soup with large crumbles of salty homemade cheese. Being that it was such a chilly night, the soup felt warm and amazing, and definitely had that green tomato taste which I love. The third course was roasted baby brussels sprouts and braised fennel. I love fennel and brussels sprouts, but I think I would have liked something a little more substantial for this course. It was quite delicious though! I was just a lil hungry. . . And then there was dessert: We were brought two different desserts which was a nice touch. He had the upside down banana cake which was fluffy and moist and tasted like my mom's banana cake, one of our all time favorite family desserts. I wanted a whole cake's worth! I was served creme caramel with pink peppercorns and a sauce which I can not seem to remember. Holy flavor! The sweet and buttery caramel paired with the pink peppercorns made for a burst of different flavors as the creme caramel went through my mouth. The pink peppercorn was the final taste at the back of my mouth, and it was perfect. I don't know why I haven't tried this combination before, but pepper in dessert is amazing. Ten Tables is very well known and loved, and I can see why. It was delicious, the service was impeccable, and the atmosphere was cozy and comfortable yet also very special. I think we are going back for a friend's birthday next month, and I can't wait! For more reviews and recipes please check out traveleatlove.wordpress.â€¦ !
(4)
Vince T.

We arrived a few minutes early, while the previous diners were still finishing up their meal. No prob, we're escorted to their little waiting area... which happens to be downstairs, in the basement, stuffed with cook books, prep machines, dry goods, and shelves and shelves of spices. It was pretty neat. Around the time of our reservation -- 9:30 -- our table was still occupied by people talking over coffee, so Jesse, one of the two awesome servers, brought us each a generous pour of champagne while we waited. Food was outstanding, value was outstanding, service was outstanding. Not much more to add to that part -- pretty much the same stuff as what everyone else said. :) We were the last table and savoring our coffee well after midnight, and didn't feel hurried to leave at all. We stopped and chatted with the staff afterwards, and they were all around super great guys!
(5)
Erik K.

I've been here twice now. The first time I came with a friend and sat at the bar. And the second time I came with my wife and parents and did the tasting menu. Both times, I was struck by the quality of the food; ingredients and preparation and the professional, casual service. There's a rare quality to the service of being present and attentive, but not overbearing. The only things that might potentially detract from the experience, are the difficulty of getting a table on short notice and the size of the space. It can be cramped, but manages, somehow, to pull off an East-Village small-quality restaurant feel that you don't see much here in Boston.
(5)
M A.

Great bar for an intimate drink with your loved one. And great food. Worth the trip.
(3)
Shanar R.

My husband and I went to enjoy a burger and sat at a table in the bar area. I cannot even begin to explain how amazing our burgers were! My husbands first words were, "this is the most amazing burger I have ever tasted". The meat is perfectly seasoned but not overwelming. The caramelized onions were incredible. Homemade bbq sauce, slightly tangy, and homemade mustard on the side. Bacon aioli, ahhhh!!! The drinks were well made and the service was awesome! Definitely pricey, $14 for a burger...but oh, what a burger it was!
(5)
Karen K.

I've visited Ten Tables twice (say that 10 times fast) & my 3 stars are an average of the two reviews I would give - 5 stars for the first visit, 1 star for the second. First visit, a year ago, was astounding. Amazing food, stellar service. This past weekend, not so great. The food itself was fine, but it took 90 minutes to get our meals. We arrived at 6 p.m.; our entrees came at 7:30. No apology, no explanation, no offer of a replacement drink or appetizer or even more bread. People who arrived after us were finished with their meals before we were even served - and one of our servers was also the owner, so I wonder why she didn't notice. ???
(3)
Tim B.

I'm usually much more cautious about tossing around words such as "heavenly." However, this is the only way I can describe this delicious, plucky little den of dining bliss. I love eating here. An unsuccessful reservation attempt will turn my partner into an inconsolable blubbering mess. Every meal I've ever had has been delicious and creative. Ten Tables has perfected the the idea of using local and organic ingredients to produce spectacular dishes. The menu changes frequently and the passion exhibited by the chefs is abundant in everything I've tasted here. I brought a large (large for such a tiny space) group of family members in from out of town recently. The food and staff were magical and my family has not stopped talking about our dining experience months later. If you're one of those people who shy away from ordering pork when dining out because it's so rare for a restaurant to get it right, go for it here! No matter what the variation, it's always succulent and delicious. I can't think of another place to offer such an intimate and wonderful dining experience!
(5)
Scott M.

Hands down the best restaurant in Boston for the money. People on here that give this place less the four stars are out of their minds -including all would be "jaded New Yorkers" who continually have problems finding cuisine that compares to the elite status of Manhattan restaurants. (I've eaten at both Le Bernardin and Per Se) Also, the original JP location in my opinion is still the one to hit. It has such a cool and unique atmosphere that really reminds you of being in another country in some small and rustic countryside bistro. I've had almost everything on the current menu, but the Rosemary Pappardelle w/ Braised Lamb, Pea and Carrot Ragu and Parmesan Reggiano is one of the best dishes I have ever had. Also, do yourself a favor and forgo the prix fixe option and order what directly speaks to you off the menu. The wait staff is very knowledgeable and does a good job in letting you know what on the menu "kills" and what wines pair best. For desert the "Chocolate terrine w/ Thai basil ice cream and sea salt' has the absolute perfect blend of rich sweetness that dissipates perfectly into a salty nuttiness and makes for a really interesting flavor when combined with the basil ice cream. Again, I've eaten at pretty much all the top restaurants in Boston and I can honestly say that you will not find a better value then at Ten Tables in either JP or Cambridge. It doesn't get much better.
(5)
Toni S.

I love Ten Tables! It has quickly become my favorite restaurant in the area since moving here 2 years ago. I have eaten there a number of times and always enjoy myself, my meal, the service, the atmosphere and what they stand for, promote and how everyone there seems to really love what they do! The Chef is creative and takes immense joy in what he does, as you can see due to the very open kitchen--especially if you sit at the "Chef's table". I've never taken a bite of something that wasn't bursting with wonderful and unique flavors that suit each other perfectly, pretty much every time. And not to mention the aromas. As soon as you walk in the door your nose wakes up and your mouth waters. At least mine does! I love the wine list and always enjoy the suggestions and pairings they come up with, as well as descriptions such as, "this wine reminds me of walking through the woods on a crisp fall day." Um, yes please, I would really like to taste that! The staff is top notch. They work together fluidly like a well oiled machine, or a longtime married couple. However, one of the main things for me (other than the food and wine of course), is the lack of pretension. Dining out in Boston is sort of riddled with that from the service on down to the guests, and nothing will kill my appetite faster. I love how laid back this place is. I also have to specifically mention their Tuesday wine/beer tasting nights. It's a great deal for everything you get for $40-$50 per person! The last one I went to was featuring Tony Coturri's natural wines from Sonoma. Amazing wine and very interesting man, he was there and we got to meet him. Go, make a reservation, if you don't enjoy yourself, well... we probably wouldn't ever be good friends anyway. ;)
(5)
Chandra A.

Amazing. Tuesday prix fixe is the best deal running for great food in Boston.
(5)
Anita T.

Ten Tables is what the budding restaurant scene in the Boston area is all about: fresh food, creative applications, and accessible from both a price and atmosphere perspective. I've been here a couple of times, once for my husband's birthday and then again for their Tuesday wine dinner. They have an amazing vegetarian tasting menu for all those veggies out there (acutally, not so bad for us carnivores too). The service is great and they are very patient- you don't feel rushed to eat and clear out, even though its a small place. They are very good with substitutions on the tasting menus if needed. Def check this one out.
(5)
Ashley G.

This place is amazing! I'd been wanting to try it out for years, and we finally made it there in November for a celebration dinner. We sat at the counter, which was the only reservation available (I called the week of) for a Saturday night (at a 5:30 no less). This was actually a blessing, b/c you look right into the kitchen, and it was great to watch what was going on. I had the vegetarian tasting menu, which they serve every day except Wednesday, for a very reasonable $40. The menu offers some really experimental, fun flavors you wouldn't get a chance to try otherwise, and I appreciate any place that focuses on local and organic ingredients. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Kirs P.

This review is not likely to be useful, funny or cool because pretty much every thing that could be said about Ten Tables has probably already been said, but I'll repeat for those of you who either don't listen or have very thick heads: Ten Tables is phenomenal. I've had the pleasure of dining here twice- once at one of the ten tables and, more recently, at the "chef's table" which is really like sitting at a very small bar and getting a view of the kitchen. It doesn't sound fabulous with that description, but it is. I always worry about interacting with chefs at restaurants- probably because I watch too much Food Network, Top Chef, and Kitchen Nightmares. Chefs often come off as douchebag glad-handers that I want nothing to do with. Luckily David Punch, Ten Table's current head chef, is neither. He managed to hit that nice balance of being friendly and out of the way, while still cooking up a storm of food in the tiny kitchen (which is immaculate- I wish my kitchen was that clean- and it's really fun to see how a real restaurant kitchen works). I have ordered the vegetarian tasting menu both times and both times it was incredible. Inventive vegetarian food is very hard to come by in restaurants- even in (maybe especially in) fine dining establishments. So many chefs have problems with not centering a dish on some ridiculous "protein." Ten Tables transcends the traditional vegetarian option (risotto, usually) and gives those of us who don't eat animal a dining experience to really appreciate. (And meat eaters, don't worry, you are always catered to- Husband has loved every bite of his steak). Some pointers- you must have reservations- even on weeknights. Large parties are a gigantic, emphatic NO- it really is tiny. (However, you can rent the whole restaurant out- go hog wild!). If you don't live in the area have them call you a taxi because grabbing one in JP is a headache.
(5)
Steve G.

ONe of the best burgers in Boston. When you time it right you can sit in the bar. There's a good selection of draft beers and the last time we visited we had the most amazing burger. Served very uniquely on a plank.
(5)
Tom E.

"err yeah, I need a reservation for two tonight, name Tom E" "that's right - Tom E - the sausage king of Chicago" Ok, ok - it wasn't quite like that but I was warned that getting one of the ten tables for Tuesday night wine pairings was nigh-on impossible. The fact that I was duly offered one only 30 mins after I'd left my details on their system had me wondering if they weren't all scuttling around shouting: "Tom E from Yelp wants to come - get the secret Eleventh Table!" But, that illusion was shattered when I spoke to Ligaya about the night and she told me she'd had no luck with getting a table. Somehow I can't think of Tom E being more important than Lady L. So why all the fuss? Well, already Ten Tables is know beyond even New England as being an absolute godsend, a movement, a bargain and a romantic winner - but on Tuesdays it gets better when they serve out four courses with four wines for an unbelievably thrifty $40. Insanity! I was there on Rhone Valley night and was treated to a 2 and half hour session of small but delectable dishes with locked pairings introduced by the handsome young sommelier. I loved the intimate restaurant and the trip to the bathroom is a memorable part of the experience where you get to see first hand the kitchen and how it all operates so smoothly. If I'm honest I was actually a bit unhappy at points in the meal as I was hungry and keen to knock back a lot of wine, but the time between small servings of food and the small glasses of wine was long and arduous. I also had the seat by the door, so was given a view of someone's Jeep Cherokee and a blast of cold air on the side every few minutes as people cam and went. But then I woke up the next day and thought... "40 BUCKS? 40 BUCKS!... WOW." So I hope I get a chance to go back. Maybe next time to hit it up the a la carte, grab a seat on the counter by the chefs and choose my own booze in large quantities.
(4)
T D.

The experience was excellent -- a relaxed-chic atmosphere that had a lot of attention to detail. The service was excellent, and it's great to sit at the bar when you come alone, where you can watch the chefs cook. I went on Wednesday night when they have the 3-course fixed menu for $32. Overall, though, the food was just "quite nice." I had the salad, the beef, and the chocolate dessert. The beef was well cooked, but each course was a little too large, and the food was just "quite tasty" instead of excellent. I will say, though, that the basil ice cream is phenomenal -- I could have a whole dessert of that.
(4)
Manish V.

I did receive a gift certificate from TT for $50 ... to be honest they could have done better but then again they could have done a lot worse. I don't think I will ever use this though ... 12/05/08 - update I got a call from the owner of Ten Tables apologizing profusely for what had happened as well as citing the reviews and that they made another mistake by not sending us a $100 gift certificate ... yesterday I did indeed received another $50 gift certificate. In my mind this doesn't justify what they did but I will give them a try now and will change there rating to 3 stars.
(3)
Alexis M.

My favorite restaurant in Boston!! Romantic atmosphere but also good place to go with friends
(5)
Amanda L.

Wow. This little (and I DO mean little) gem is tucked away on Centre St in JP. You might miss it if you aren't looking for it. This place is definitely not for the faint of heart. True foodies would be stupid not to appreciate this place. I like no LOVE how they keep things simple. Painted brick walls and black and white photographs adorn the walls. We were very lucky to sit at the Chef's table. We got to see both (yes, only two chefs!) chefs prepare all of the goodies that were in store for us. You get a better appreciation for your food when you actually see it being made in front of you, and you realize how much the chef's really put into it. I LOVED how the chef's actually taste what they are making, and they make sure that it tastes perfect. There was one dish that one of the chef's was making that wasn't coming out just right, and he made sure that it was perfect before serving. Both servers were very attentive without being overbearing. The male server even helped me pick out a wine for my meal (I'm not really a wine person, so the fact that I finished my glass really impressed Joe). And our water glasses were always kept full. Joe and I talked about how there couldn't be more than 15 or so employees for the entire restaurant, I mean, it's just not needed right? We shared two appetizers, the Greek salad, and pork confit. I begged Joe to let us have it, since I remember how delicious it was at the Gordon's event. It was different in that it was served cold instead of warm. It tasted amazing on some toasted bread (made in a cast iron skillet and using about a pound of butter). The Greek salad had this hint of lemon, and it made all the flavors come together. Our main meals were amazing. I loved loved my shrimp and pasta dish, however, I saw the chef's making this steak meal, and I wish I had gotten that as well! What I liked what that the ingredients were very fresh, and made in small batches. Also, the meal was just perfect, and it didn't make me feel like my stomach was going to explode, even after having 2 appetizers. The dessert was holy crap good. Proliferoles, basically puff pastries, they were filled with homemade coffee ice cream and then DRENCHED in chocolate. I thought I was going to die of happiness. This is not a place that you can just walk by and say, "Hey how about we go here for dinner?" You almost always need reservations, I mean there are ONLY 10 tables!! But it's very easy to get a reservation, just make sure you get them in advance. I was really impressed by the prices. I was expecting our meal to easily reach $100 (before tip!) but it only came to $94.00 (and that is including tip). Now, that may seem like a lot, but the quality of the meal and the service far outweighs the price. A meal like this is worth every single penny. I would love to come back on Tuesday nights for their 4 course meal with 4 wine pairings, but I can only imagine what the wait is for it! One other thing, I love how small their menu is, because I always have a tough time deciding what I want to eat. I like how they change their menu every few months, so I definitely can't wait to come back to this fantastic restaurant!!
(5)
Daymeyn G.

After three years, I finally made it to Ten Tables! (Applause, cheering sound effect,..and cut) I heard of the brilliant Ten Tables from a colleague (Ian) who had spent much time in the restaurant. I'd always wanted to go, but did not have the right person to go with. So Wednesday (3 for $33 special!!!) I looked into available times for dinner where 9:30 was available via OpenTable (kinda love that site). We arrived at 9:10pm being greeted by a friendly young lady who was kind enough to offer us drink menus while we waited for our table. I chose the Lavender Fizz (Lavender vodka with a blueberry juice blend), and my mate got a Cape Codder (...seriously?). Forgetting to ask for the mix-master's name (maybe the beverage captain Hilbert) but I wanted to thank him for the relaxing drinking experience...the Lavender Fizz was the breath of fresh air I had been looking for all day....then there was the Cape Codder...anyway. This, my friends, was just the start. After receiving our drinks, we were escorted to The Chef's Table! Seriously!? I was so excited about this I could not contain myself. Peter Boyd was the man of the evening first offering us a shot that had cucumber juice (The Gaston 76 I believe). This was a great surprise. The eatery was full with patrons so we could not have random banter with the chef staff, and had interesting chat amongst ourselves (much to the amusement to the gents cooking that evening). Eve was our main server, and that woman was tops! Our first course was the Clams & Pei Mussels with Allandale Farm Spinach, and the Ten Tables' Charcuterie. The pate's in the charcuterie collection pushed me back in my seat so I could appreciate the smooth flavor of chilled forced meats over the rolls provided. The clams & mussels in a white wine sauce were done well supplying a great contrast to that of the pate'. The mains...Pan Seared Bluefish for me; Meyer Steak with Pommes Puree for my mate. I loved my dish! The bluefish was done well with a combo of wild rice and fennel to provide the perfect salty accent..thinking of it has my mouth watering, and this is unfortunate as I cannot head to JP at the mo. The steak was medium and succulent; where we were able to take in the taste of the beef as opposed to the seasoning, (some other places you need A1 to doctor that). To finish I had the Profiteroles where my mate had the Boca Negra Cake. Honestly, I hoped to see a green fairy having Absinthe cream in the pastry (jk)...this finale was a great end to our evening. The pastry brought a light buttery taste blending perfectly with the sharp flavor of Absinthe, and the Negra Cake had a full-on chocolate presence so rich my mate wanted me to finish it (I guess some folks cannot handle their chocolate). I will say although this took three years for me to do, it was well worth the wait. Phenomenal flavors, fabulous staff, and quite setting makes Ten Tables the best eatery in JP & one of the best in Boston. Next up...Ten Tables Cambridge (see you soon David).
(5)
Matthew G.

Alright so this is a a review of TT Bar ( I know right? Titty bar, TT Boy. How about we not fall in love with the first name we think of) not really Ten Tables. Ten Tables will get you laid on a date, or some type of handy if you're married. TT Bar will give you the meat sweats with their Monday Burger and Beer special. I do not doubt the rest of the menu is amazing, but the burger is so greasy and salty since it is flavored with a pastrami-type rub that after a few bites your body has a KFC immune response. I was able to get half a block away walking home before I had to shit, how about you?
(3)
Elizabeth Z.

My boyfriend and I have been to both Ten Tables locations a bunch of times, but tonight's four-course tasting menu is the best I've experienced so far. Each course was deliciously light and seasonal, and made me more excited for the next course. The sparkling wine pairings were unbelievable, and we were introduced to wines we might never have tried anywhere else. The "wine guy" -- who I believe is also the GM -- is extremely knowledgeable and friendly, as was every other staff member we encountered. The space itself is lovely and very conducive to a quiet, romantic night out! On our way out, we made a reservation for another Tuesday wine dinner in June. Highly recommend!
(5)
Tricia N.

This place is by far the best value in Boston. For the price I cannot see why anyone would want to go anywhere else....and it really has 10 tables. We ordered the pri fixe menu which was a sampling of their regular menu. Of course we also had to have the wine pairing. I was very skeptical when the 2nd wine we received was pink. The waiter assured us that the rose was delicious and a perfect match for the swordfish casoulet. Oh he was right. The service was excellent - our waiter explained to us why he chose all of the dishes to serve to us as part of the pri fixe. Awesome place, too bad reservations need to be made so far in advance. No worries, I already made my reservation for next month.
(5)
Stephanie N.

There really are ten tables here, so make a reservation! The food, however, is fantastic. The atmosphere is very romantic and the waitstaff is informative and friendly. All of their meats and sausages are made on the premises and their pastas are handmade according to their website so I had to try the sausage appetizer and the gnocchi entree. Both were absolutely delicious. All of the ingredients were fresh and seasonal, and the prices were so reasonable. i would defintiely recommend this for a special night like an anniversary, birthday, etc.!!
(5)
George W.

The tasting menu really is where it's at. They will even make a special version for my vegan girlfriend. Great, welcoming ambiance, cool and helpful staff. The food, though, is just amazing. Fresh ingredients and brilliant takes on classics. A lot of love goes into this food and lives in these walls. Perfect date spot. MAKE A RESERVATION! Ten Tables means ten tables.
(5)
Seth B.

Went here about a month ago with 3 other friends. We went to the bar side of the restaurant that has a little different of a menu than the other side. Our one friend went with the chef's tasting and by his not normal lack of commentary and look of bliss on his fave through dinner, I'll judge he was in food heaven. The other 3 of us started with the artisan cheeses and local honey board, which was absolutely divine. Before this and through out we talked with the knowledgeable bartender and paired beers/drinks with each round of food we were eating. Next one friend and I decided to split the TT burger that came with caramelized onions, farmhouse cheddar, sauce, house-made bacon and a fried egg on it. A little difficult to cut in half then eat, but cooked perfectly and completely delicious. Winding down with another drink we decided to split a dessert. Not sure if it was because at that point we were the second to last group in the place, or the chef was having a good day, but the staff came out of the kitchen with one of all 4 of the desserts on the menu!! We sat with one in front of each of us and just took a bit and passed around till they were all gone. Sugar heaven at that point. Full and satisfied, we thanked the chef and stumbled out. This should be on your must see list. More expensive, but totally worth it.
(5)
Dawn E.

Ten Tables is the bomb. The atmosphere is lovely - warm and informal. Waitstaff is friendly, well-informed and super helpful. We went on a Wednesday night, when they feature a fixed-price, three course menu for $26. The options were limited, but I still had a difficult time choosing among them. It's worth noting that there was at least one vegetarian-friendly offering in each course (but you are a carnivore, do not miss out on their house-made sausage). I don't know if it's a regular menu item, but the rice pudding with pistachios and coconut was something like my dream breakfast. I am an other-side-of-the-river snob, but I can tell that Ten Tables will repeatedly lure me back to JP. Can't wait to check out the chef's tasing menu after which I might just change my rating to five stars - the otherwise great portuguese fish stew had a very fennel-heavy broth and I automatically deduct a star for unexpected fennel.
(4)
Tina L.

Ten Tables is tucked away in Jamaica Plain, but so worth the trek! My friend and I went pretty early on a Thursday night and even though we ended up being 30 min late for our reservation, we were still seated. We didn't get to try the 4 course tasting menu (b/c of being late), but the staff still allowed us to order an appetizer, main and dessert. For the appetizer, we got the homemade chorizo. It was great - juicy, full of flavor and perfectly paired with the white, maybe cannelini, beans. For the main, I got the steak and my friend got the fisherman's stew. Both dishes were executed to perfection. My steak had an amazing crust and was flavorful and juicy. The fisherman's stew had lots of chunks of the creamiest fish (don't know what kind). Being a dessert girl, I was supremely impressed with the roobios rice pudding. The subtle flavor of the tea shone through even though the pudding had both coconut and pistachios on top. The profiteroles were great too - crispy and the chocolate sauce was amazing. Like a lot of people have said - for the quality of food here, the prices were amazing (nothing over $23) and I loved how cozy it was. MAKE A RESERVATION! I will be back for the tasting menu and maybe the wine pairing night :)
(5)
Scott Z.

This is by far one of the best restaurants in Boston! Every time I go here I leave very happy. The food is always great, the staff is always nice, and the place itself has such a nice fill. I'm looking forward to more places like this to open up in our JP neighborhood area. Headed to Canary Square tonight for the opening and am excited to see how they add up.
(5)
Eric S.

I've been once, and the food was AMAZING. The prix fixe was absolutely wonderful. It had four "real" courses (soup, appetizer, entre, dessert) and two bonus intermezzi that I didn't expect! Be advised that either the entire table must have prix fixe, or the entire table must order from the menu. However, if you go prix fixe (highly recommended) the table can be split between vegetarian and carnivore. My only complaint (-1 star) was the room temperature. On a hot summer evening, the AC just could not keep up with the open kitchen. The atmosphere is classy, but more casual than you'd think, so don't wear any more clothes than you have to if the weather's warm. ;-) Had I known this, I would have left the jacket and tie at home, sweated less, and been less distracted from the scrumptious food on my plate.
(4)
Sally C.

I broke down and made a reservation at Ten Tables to celebrate a certain happy occasion with a certain special someone. I'd heard wonderful things about the place and based on our love of wine decided to try the wine dinner (4 courses, each paired with a different pour of wine around a theme - ours was Argentinan wine). For $42 all-inclusive, it wasn't bad; however, based on all the hype this place gets, I was sorely disappointed. The wine itself was good, but nothing really leapt out at me as being outstanding. I can't really say much else about the wine. The waiter did seem to know what he was talking about, but his delivery seemed a bit ... rehearsed. The food ranged from "meh" to almost inedible. We began with a salad that would have been passable, save the excess amount of salt the chef threw on it. I had a view of the kitchen and remember thinking to myself "wow, I hope that's not salt he's dumping all over that salad." Unfortunately, it was. Second course was a baby octopus and bean stew that was actually pretty good. It's tough to properly cook octopus and they did a good job. This was by far the best course. Third course was the one I was most excited about and subsequently most disappointed by. It was a lovely cut of steak on a bed of mashed potatoes and mushrooms and was served so rare the poor thing was practically still mooing. My dinner companion was delighted by this, but being a "medium-well, please" person, I was horrified. Even more so by the fact that they didn't ask me how I wanted my steak cooked! Now, I understand that this was a set menu and we were basically at the mercy of the chef, but one would think that one would be consulted about how one wants one's steak. In retrospect, I should have sent it back and asked for it to be better cooked, but I didn't want to make a scene, so I tried to choke it down. Again, it seems the chef has some sort of love affair with salt, because both the steak and potatoes had been innundated with the stuff. The ingredients were quite fresh and the flavor of the steak could have stood on its own with very little seasoning ... this also would have allowed the flavors of the wine to sing a bit more as well. Third course was some kind of cake that had surprisingly little flavor, although maybe my tastebuds had just been numbed by all the salt. Was it a good value? Yes. Would I recommend this place to others? Probably not. Would I go back? Not if I'm the one footing the bill.
(2)
Grace F.

I will preface this review by saying that I am not a big Ten Tables person--don't want to spend a ton of $ to sample a local slice of lamb or whatevs-, but I do LOVE the "Beerger" deal, where you can get a burger and beer for $15. I also love the TT Bar in general. Love the awkward name, love the intimate seating, love how there is rarely a wait. All of the bar offerings are yummy and a deal. It is so fun to take out-of-towners here and be like, yeah, this is just a regular JP restaurant.
(5)
Ruth S.

Had the veggie tasting menu last night. $30 is a fair price to pay for pure bliss. Beet soup amuse bouche, rich potato leek soup, divine greens salad with lemony vinegarette, hearty mushroom pasta, and ravishing bread pudding. Service was excellent and they also have a bar with small plates menu. Reservation is recommended, but we drop by for a late (9:30 pm) weeknight dinner without one.
(5)
Maura M.

ten tables does it right. their service is incredible and it reminds me why i like being a part of the restaurant business to begin with. they make people feel good and welcomed and relaxed! the food is always excellent and i love the open-kitchen - it really makes the experience so much more intimate. especially so because the chef and sous chefs and cooks are totally on point , not checking their cell phones (!), focused on the food, and they appear to be very professional and courteous to each other and to the FOH staff, which makes for a lovely, steady environment. most impressively, they seem like they want to be there, which is the best atmosphere to dine in. if the people that work there don't want to be there, why would customers? everyone working there seems to be enjoying it, or at least taking pride in it. the service there sets it apart, and i have to really applaud the BOH staff for that too, as evidenced by the tone they set in the kitchen. it seems that there is a definite focus and commitment to making every guest's experience special. the servers are knowledgeable and courteous and so professional! i can't stress enough how much they focus on the guest and make it about them. being a waittress, i normally try to give the impression right away that i value the server as more than a person i play go-fetch with, you know that, i "get it," but that sort of goes out the window here. i feel like if i said that i totally "get" what waiting tables is like to a server there, s/he would get all wide-eyed and be like i know! i get it too! it's fascinating and such a pleasure! even if i have it all wrong, that's the impression they give, and that is all that matters. i really like it there. i thought initially that i couldn't take myself seriously there, since it is so impressive, but everything about it is inviting and comfortable, and they have the loveliest little touches, like remembering your face (and hopefully disregarding some of your conversation topics, ahem wine bar) and bringing out a surprise dessert on the house once you think the meal is over. just really lovely little things that go a long way. i can't wait to go back!
(5)
Alex B.

No one is going to read this because there is already a million reviews, so I'll keep it short and sweet.... I went for the tasting menu paired with wine. My beautiful date? Mom. We were able to get on the chef's table (reservation was almost two weeks in advance!) and it was worth it. The chefs really have an attention to detail, and we giggled as one chef lovingly positioned each hard-boiled egg on the salade Nicoise - carefully - moving it into position to compliment its surroundings =) The wine pairings were excellent, and the food was truly delicious. They could charge a lot more and still pack the house. Would recommend this place for a date, very cozy.
(5)
Kevin M.

pretty close to perfect!! We went on Tuesday night, when they offer a price fix 4 course menu. Each course is accompanied by the restaurant's recommendation of wine to compliment that particular course.... and, the service is impeccable!! If there is a wait (And this place is TINY) they have you wait next door at a little coffee shop, and the coffee is on the restaurant. Apparently they keep a running tab and pay the coffee shop at the end of the day!! Nice touch. Anyway, I highly recommend this place .. very creative menu. Beautiful presentation, unique ambience... and if you like desserts at all, you HAVE to try the flourless chocolate cake!
(5)
Lauren U.

We made a reservation same day, and they even agreed to create a special vegan meal for us. We arrived early, but the host allowed us to hang out downstairs in the prep-room with a glass of wine until the table was ready. Since the main area of the restaurant is tiny, it was either prep-room or sit in the car, so we were thankful for the prep-room! The meal was wonderful. The appetizer: a beautiful, rustic, well balanced cannellini bean soup with perfect crunchy croutons, dark leafy greens, and sweet grape tomatoes. The main course: rigatoni served with a roasted fennel, sweet red peppers and breadcrumbs. The dessert: full bodied and dark hot chocolate, spiced almonds, and candied orange peel. It was a perfect combination of simple yet sophisticated, comforting yet inventive. Everything was perfectly cooked, spiced, and salted. That whole meal (plus four glasses of wine) came to under $100 including a very nice tip. Very reasonable for a nice night out at a cute restaurant, especially one that not only understands what vegan means, but how to create an entire off-menu vegan meal with style, even without much warning. I adored this place, and will definitely be back.
(5)
Kim K.

First - this place is wonderful and it only doesn't get 5 stars because it is a tiny bit stuffy - but that is my opinion and I am on the young side of their clientele - I think the stuffiness factor probably plays really well with an older, wealthier crowd. That said - TT is reasonably priced for the quality of the food they serve. The atmosphere is excellent. Warm, homey, cozy, small but open. The kitchen is open to the rest of the restaurant more or less and they had lots of recipe books and it just felt like you are at someone's house more than a restaurant., in the best way possible. The dining room is softly lit- mostly with nice clean tea lights and dim pendants. The night I went to eat here the art on the walls was of foggy, ethereal landscape photography that appeared to be well framed. I loved it. I always look at the art at restaurants and though it is not a deal breaker, it is especially nice when there is actually good art on the walls (unlike Canary Square which has great architecture but distractingly mediocre art, for instance). The food was DELICIOUS. A radicchio salad with apples and pork belly. The sharp flavors balanced perfectly with the smoky pork. The rest of the meal was just as excellent as the starter and I thought the portions were perfect, even though I was full after the beet soup- but I have a small stomach. I was frustrated that I had wolfed down the salad, soup and bread and was too full to eat all of my hanger steak. The host took our coats and was all around very nice and the staff we came into contact with was all cordial, professional and decidedly not talkative but still friendly. One more thing - the music was great. I noticed it only once - it was Nina Simone, who I love, and i thought to myself "this place is pretty perfect."
(4)
Nicholas C.

I have to say one of the best roasted chicken dished I ever sunk my teeth into..without a doubt! An incredible meal, and our party had pretty much everything else available that night, and it was phenomenal! Get here as fast as you can...
(5)
Aluminum Chefs, C and T.

Ten Tables really is the definition of a hidden gem. Krista Kranyak and David Punch really have a wonderful little restaurant on their hands. I've been there a few different times (once with a bunch of food execs like myself - whom were all duly impressed) and each time has been consistently great. Beef (check out the hangar steak with bernaise) and duck dishes have been excellent, as well as any number of the first course items I've tried, including an excellent pork terrine (done right - Gaslight, are you watching?), a homemade chorizo with white beans and wonderful salad. The desserts are also excellent (try the chocolate terrine with sea salt and fresh basil ice cream). The portions are perfect, so you can enjoy all 3 courses without leaving in a wheelbarrow, and the wine selection is outstanding. Those poor kitchen guys have such little space to work with, but they pull it off nicely (although I'd like to see some gloves, fellas!). Although the restaurant is small, I never felt too crammed or rushed during my meal. The staff was gracious and polite, and the chef was exciting to watch. The bathroom was an adventure (literally, down a trap door beside the kitchen), but only added to the charm. Truly a wonderful little restaurant that will soon be competing with Boston's more elite eateries. As far as value, it's not the cheapest, but 8 blocks down Tremont, the prices would be double - so be thankful for what you've got, JP!
(5)
Michelle B.

I went to Ten Tables last week and really enjoyed the experience there. I admit I'm probably a bit biased, as I was already having a great evening celebrating a fourth anniversary with my boyfriend (who became my fiance shortly after dinner!), but the atmosphere and the food definitely added to overall great evening. We went on a Wednesday, so we got to sample their $29 'special dinner'. My starter was a bowl of perfectly cooked clams, with a garlicky tomato broth, perfect for dipping the extra crusty garlic bread that was served alongside. I've been to some restaurants where you order some sort of mussel or clam dish and you're just left to pile the empty shells on the corner of your plate, but here they thankfully provide you with a bowl for proper shell disposal. For the main course, I got the steak of the day, cooked medium - wonderfully pink in the middle - served alongside brussel sprouts and a white bean puree. Everything, including the brussel sprouts, were really tasty. The only thing I wasn't over the moon about was the dessert - I got the olive oil cake, which by itself was great, but the accompanying dark chocolate and apricot jam weren't to my tastes. The service was fine, if a bit on the slower side, although that's understandable given the close quarters and the fact that all ten tables seem to be filled at all times. Definitely a place I would go to again.
(4)
Samantha M.

I know there's over 40 reviews for this place, but I felt the need to put in my two cents. My favorite things about Ten Tables are: the ambiance; how the owner is around and serving, but not intrusive; the vegetarian dishes they serve...and, well, just about everything. I guess the only reason I just can't give in 5 stars is the lack of a waiting area of some sort. Last time I went was winter and we had to wait outside for 20 minutes, even though you need reservations to get in.
(4)
Woka W.

I have been to Ten Tables several times and have found that this is a fabulous place to eat. The menu is ever evolving, though short, but everything they serve is guaranteed tasty. My girlfriend and I always order the prefix option, each course served with a tailored to taste glass of wine. Whoever does the wine selection should get a huge pat on the back. The waiters have always been extremely helpful in educating you on the type of wine, where it comes from, and what is unique about that particular glass. The restaurant itself is very small and crowded. Which at times can be loud and non intimate. I think this is easily overlooked whilst enjoying amazing food and drink at a very reasonable price. Cheers!
(5)
Carrie M.

Excellent food! Small place, but that really adds to it. You can see each of your dishes being prepared, which I really enjoy. I've gone their twice for the vegetarian tasting, such a great deal. You get so much food for $25. Plus, I love that it gets me to try things I may not have ordered otherwise. They also tend to serve a variety of dishes during the tasting, so if you go with others you may all be eating something different for the same course. This worked out great for dessert, as we pushed ours into the center of the table and shared them all! I highly recommend checking this place out, just be sure you have reservations!
(5)
Elias C.

The 4 course meal with wine for $35 is like Crazy Eddie's Super Discount Gourmet Bargains For You. That's about all they got going for them though - the gimmick of only having ten tables exists to cover up the place is like the old SNL skit of the world's most exclusive nightclub, in a closet and only has one seat. That skit wasn't really funny, and neither is the un-iced water or the waitstaff that borders on philosophy major-level self importance. "Chef's table"? Ninja please, you can see through this excuse to essentially seat four more people in the kitchen like gramma's underpants. But oh, the bargain. Edit: the place has grown on me like an overfed shih tzu. +1
(4)
Emily M.

I've eaten at Ten Tables more times than I can count (yes, probably more than ten). I have adored and savored every meal. I decided to put my 5 star review up because it is a place that I know will always hold a special place in my heart. I had oral surgery last week and can't eat solid foods. What's the one thing I have craved at all hours, all week long? Been appearing in all of my dreams, causing my pillow to be soaked with drool when I wake? The greek salad from Ten Tables with the crunchy morsels of pita and luscious, plump feta! Luv u 4eva + alwayz T.T.
(5)
Rosie Z.

A great restaurant with very reasonable price. Went there on a Wednesday and it turned out that they have the $33 prix fixe for Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Service was very good. The highlight was the gnocci, it was slightly burnt and cripsy on the outside, and really soft and cheesy inside. My friend ordered the skate wing, not a big fan of the extremely chewy texture but the red rice that came with it was superb. Everything was excellently prepared. The quality/price ratio is definitely top on the list. It is a little out of the way but not too far from the Green street T stop.
(5)
Alex R.

Great stuff. We went there last night to celebrate this one time when we totally did it, and we had a lovely time. Entrees are pretty much exactly $20 and they have a great deal for vegetarians - a $25 four-course tasting menu. Except watch out because if you're not a vegetarian you still have to order four courses or else you'll be just sitting there watching your wife eat, which would be weird, so your meal is now about $42 and she'll be all "Look at you wasting money because you eat meat, I'm so superior, la la la." But if you're both vegetarian, you can be cheap dirty hippies together and not my friends. I was all psyched to eat a bunny, because everyone knows a food's goodness is directly correlated to its cuteness (which is why I'm not allowed to babysit for my niece) and someone on Yelp said there would be bunnies, but Ten Tables changes its menu pretty often and this time I had to make do with boring old cow. But it was tasty cow. It was probably wicked cute back when it wasn't being eaten by me. My hippie wife had some homemade gnocchi that was really impressive, and also a salad made with fennel because that's what you get when you're a vegetarian: fennel. Lame. But even that was inventive, at least. Ten Tables puts an inventive twist on pretty much everything. Service was perfect: there when you need them, gone when you don't, just how I like it. They have a bunch of weekly specials - a four-course pris fixe meal with wine pairings for $35 per person on Tuesdays, for example - that are a screaming great deal. I do wish I could Yelp specific people so that I could give a scathing one-star review to the drunk cow shrieking at the top of her lungs behind us, though. Why would you scream as loud as you can in a restaurant? Okay, she was drunk, I get it, but we were drunk too - at least, by the end we were - and we weren't screaming. Like the name implies, this is a tiny-ass restaurant with only ten tables, which means one drunken yuppie whore can have a mild impact on your evening. I'm sure this is rare, though. We're considering moving to JP, and the fact that Ten Tables exists makes that thought considerably more attractive.
(5)
jj t.

New York and San Francisco are filled to the brim with restaurants like this: small, dark, unassuming, and expensive. But in Boston we basically have only Ten Tables. I'm not sure why that is considering how much better Ten Tables is compared to every restaurant in it's price category. Because of its size, the cooks can concentrate on the food, the waiters can concentrate on the customers, and you can have one of the better meals around. Another thing that is nice, even though the place is small, it doesn't feel like the other customers are sitting on your lap. Very rarely there is a large group, which does tend to spoil the atmosphere a bit The fish and vegetarian selection are excellent, I would call ahead if you are a vegan.
(5)
C H.

This place has GREAT food! I loved the chef's tasting menu. What a great choice!
(4)
Casey B.

Big things certainly do come in small packages... this place was amazing! Ten tables, really does only have ten tables, so i would recommend a reservation. Go any day but Tuesday or Wednesday because they don't serve the 4 course vegetarian thing then, and oh my god it was amazing. Really, a great dinner for such a reasonable price! Yummy puree soup, salad, gnocchi and coconut rice pudding all for $25 The serve meat and fish as well so don't worry boys! It was the type of place i can go and eat a huge meal and walk away not feeling gross because the food is all organic and made in a tiny kitchen right behind you. The bathroom i must say was all the way in the basement and pretty dingy but i didn't let that bother me because the meal really was superb... just hold it in until you get home folks!!
(5)
Hubert H.

I went here for a friend's birthday and was really impressed with the 4-course set menu. First off, we were served a potato leek soup (I actually don't remember the leeks) with a dollop of blue cheese in the center; clean taste, lovely texture. Next we were served 2 appetizers of 1) brot with red cabbage and 2) clams in a tomato broth with fennel, and two other ingredients. (I don't remember what the other two ingredients were. Absolutely delicate and delicious. I even ate the broth as if it were a soup, so delicious! The main course consisted of steak tidbits with salsa verde and another sauce on the side (I can't remember what these sauces are! If you go there be sure to bring a notebook with you!!!). Very chewy, soft, beef textures that melt in your mouth, and I don't even like steak that much, which means it's really good. We were then given a sorbet as a palate cleanser, after which we were served a dessert assortment including olive oil cake, a pudding, a chocolate dip, etc. One of the dishes included a sweet thyme sauce which we thought was really creative. Absolutely one of the best 'fancy restaurants' in the Boston area!
(5)
Sarah G.

"Holy crap!" was all I could think as we tasted every course - the food rendered me completely ineloquent. My new favorite restaurant I've been to in Boston and quite possibly anywhere ever. Mmm, wow. 4 of us went for the wine pairing menu and I was the lone vegetarian, which actually worked out in my favor. The mixed green salad I got looked pretty standard but was heaven in disguise. I don't even think there was any dressing on it - the greens + herbs spoke for themselves and have left me hunting for chervil at every farmer's market in town (if you see any, please let me know!). Everything else = amazing. Came out to $50 each for 4 courses + 4 glasses of wine + tip. Go!
(5)
Bhuvana H.

I went here a few years ago with the hubby for my birthday and absolutely loved it. As other reviewers have noted, there are literally 10 tables in here, which makes for a very intimate, romantic, and cozy feel. The open kitchen does dominate the room; I find it amazing to watch master chefs creating extremely good food. I can't remember exactly what we had, but I remember it was all really good. On my veggie prix fixe, I think there was a really good salad, a wonderful mushroom fettucine, and a delectable bread pudding at the end. I think the hubby had some duck confit, which he salivated over and savored when it arrived. We liked the food here so much that we followed the chef - Tim Wiechmann - to his new restaurant.
(5)
Doris K.

Fine dining for a reasonable price! Currently they are having four course meals with wine pairings for different regions around the world on Tuesdays. I went for the Loire Valley tasting and it was amazing! The meal started with a light mixed green salad with a citrus mint vinaigrette then on to the wolf fish stew - light and not overpowering. Next was the pork topped with jelly served on a type of barley and then we finished with valance cheese with apricots. For $40 dollars why have you not tried this place? Restrooms: Or should I say restroom? There is only one restroom for the whole place. Yes, I know it's small but still. It is around the kitchen then back up down the stairs and then you walk through all their supplies. It was decent. Nothing spectacular.
(4)
Al N.

Holy crap! How could I not have been here before? The room is small, mostly candlelit, and tasteful; a very romantic spot, if occasionally noisy because of the exhaust fan in the open kitchen. The service was friendly, attentive, and helpful. We got the chef's tasting menu at $40/person and it was a bargain. Appetizers of a redleaf salad and grilled bread with tapenade and a salt cod and garlic spread: great. Fish course of grilled swordfish over bulghur with a chipotle sauce: great again. Meat course of grilled skirt steak (an underrated cut that can be a little tough but has tons of flavor) with roasted potatoes and onions. I LOVE how they didn't even ask how we wanted the steak cooked--they just cooked it how it SHOULD be cooked: slightly charred on the outside and bloody on the inside. Awesome. Pre-dessert was a white grape sorbet, which was very fresh and tasty, then came a rice pudding with yucca, coconut and ginger, and an apple crisp with homemade vanilla ice cream. The pudding was fantastic--barely sweet--and the crisp was very sweet with a high-quality cinnamon that tasted like rich peoples' Xmas. The concept of the restaurant seems to me to be Tuscan-ish. That is, the emphasis is on the flavors of the high-quality ingredients and the preparations are simple but executed with care. This was an amazing deal at $40 per person (without drinks). This would be a great place to impress a new girlfriend, guys. Thank me later.
(5)
Jordan G.

Returned to Ten Tables JP for a second date last night and was pleased to see that it continues to surprise and impress. I was delighted to see a small expansion that accommodates spur-of-the-moment trips. We each had the $40 4-course tasting menu which included pate, skate wing, hanger steak and divine dessert. Between the closeness of the tables and the noise of the kitchen, conversation can be slightly challenging, but it also makes for a romantic atmosphere, akin to my favorite manhattan restaurants.
(5)
Thomas B.

Fantastic little place with friendly, curteous staff, and a menu to die for. Definitely pricey.. but definitely worth it for special occasions.
(5)
Doan Q.

I absolutely loved Ten Tables. I went on a Tuesday for the wine and dinner theme night with the boy. We got Portuguese night and it was fantastic. I loved the fact that the kitchen looked like someone's apartment kitchen and it was open. It was a very intimate feel. I highly recommend making a reservation since this place is very small. I just hope this place keeps doing what it's doing and doesn't become a crazy hyped up restaurant with lines outside the door and out of the world prices. It's perfect as it is.
(4)
Amanda S.

After a six-year love affair with JP, I still had not been to the much talked about Ten Tables until my boyfriend surprised me with a reservation for my birthday earlier this week. We sat on the new TT Bar side of the restaurant, which is very similar in decor to the regular dining area. Small, dark, and intimate with exposed brick and lots of candles. We were there on Wednesday, which meant there was a three-course special for $33 per person- a great option, but we ended up ordering some appetizers- he had pickled octopus (which I couldn't bring myself to try, so I can't say much about that), and one of the cheese boards- amazing. We got three different cheeses, served with bread, almonds, soaked cherries, and honey. All of the flavors mixed so well and we left no traces of any of it! For dinner I had the grilled cheese (it was a really cheese-filled night for me) with mustard & granny smith apple, served with a homemade tomato soup. Loved every bite. For the quality of the food, I thought the prices were very fair. I most definitely will not wait another six-years before I pay Ten Tables another visit!
(5)
Yb W.

Ten Tables is located in one of Boston's more bohemian neighborhoods, Jamaica Plain. As promised by its name, the restaurant has exactly ten tables. There are two additional seats at a counter in front of an open kitchen with direct views of the chefs at work. The restaurant exudes cozy and warm modernity and can get noisy when full. We opted for the chef tasting menu for two, which included four courses of the chefs' choosing from the main menu. As a teaser, we were served a shot glass of wild mushroom soup, foraged by our waiter himself, no less. The appetizer that followed consisted of a juicy and perfectly seasoned pork sausage with spicy lentils. The lentils were tender but still had some bite. Our fish course was a Morrocan spiced swordfish with squash and faro risotto: another hit with big flavors. And our main course was a hanger steak served with Brussel sprouts sautÃ©ed with bacon. The steak was rubbed with peppercorns, and cooked medium rare--perfect (any more done would have been criminal). We finished the meal with a decadent caramelized banana upside down cake (a must have!) and pear crÃ¨me brulee. Overall, the food was superb and unpretentious, and the portions were generous for the price--I foresee myself as a regular here!
(5)
CC S.

My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary and the overrall experience was far from forgettable. I wish they have this place in California. Hidden in the midst of Jamaica Plains, this restaurant deserves to be Zagat-rated. You know that a restaurant serves quality food when the portions are small and the filet minon melts on your tongue. Everything is made from scratch in the open kitchen. Excellent menu of French and Italian wines. *TIP* I recommend making reservations around 6 p.m. - 7 p.m, otherwise the tables get extremely busy and you get less personalized service. We luckily arrived when only 2 other tables were full so all of the attention was on us. Our waiter literally asked us after each course, "How is the clam soup?" "How is the...?" (I can't remember what the 2nd dish was.) "How is the steak?" "How is the dessert?" But I don't think people who came after us were given the same personalized service. That's the only irony about this restaurant. It only has Ten Tables but one server.
(5)
Nate C.

Once upon a time there was Perdix. Perdix was incredible. Then Tim Partridge abandoned his devoted flock in JP and decamped for upscale Tremont Street, and has not been heard from since. We of little faith were scared and lonely, but then - out of the ashes - came Ten Tables. At first it was good. Then really good. Then ... who was that Tim guy anyway? My god is it good. There aren't a lot of restaurants like this in Boston. You can sit at the tiny little bar and walk the chefs cook. Heck, if you want to crane your neck you can pretty much watch them cook from anywhere. Night in night out the service and food are consistently good. Apart from the occasional glitch with a table not turning over promptly and reservations being a bit delayed, every time I come here I am impressed.
(5)
Mark S.

I'll preface this with I don't know anything about wine and if I sound like moron please forgive because I am a novice. I attended a Tuesday tasting at Ten tables last night which is 4 courses with 4 paired wines for the dishes. It was a Greek themed dinner. Well, it's a salad, soup, entree, and dessert. The portions aren't huge so its not like you are stuffed at the end but it is filling. You have clean content feeling. First off, the bread was amazing. It was a crusty rustic wheaty italian sort of thing served with olive oil for dipping. Good stuff. We had a romaine salad with cucumber and feta. It was light and the feta was creamy yet firm. Everything was super high quality. That went with a white wine that I can not pronounce the name of that was similar to a Chardonnay. Next we had a "fishermans" soup with aioli. I was expecting something chunky but it was smooth puree that mixed well with the smoky tasting aioli. I wasn't crazy about the wine. It was a red and it was quite acidic and fruity but with the soup it seemed to be neutralized so I started to enjoy it. The Entree was braised lamb on top of cous cous with golden raisins. This was a show stopper. Oh my goodness. The meat was very tender and there was no "gamey" flavor. The cous cous was light and the sweetness of the raisins coupled with the sea salt that gave a bit of a crunch. The wine was of the same varital as the soup but had a much smoother oakier flavor. The dessert was a vanilla bean custard not that dissimilar to a creme brulee. The chef was more than happy to explain the difference. There was brulee topped on the custard but it wasn't as firm as a creme brulee and seemed to have more of rich creamier flavor. There was also a piece of honey cake with a light creme. It was nice but on the drier side. The dessert wine was nice a little too sweet for my liking but the bouquet was wonderful, like apricots. So, with that being said go have a wonderful night of dining and don't worry about cracking bad jokes, the waiter (who really knew his stuff) will laugh anyway. :)
(5)
Jen and Tim S.

I made a reservation 3 weeks before the night I was going to dinner here. One week before the reservation an employee called me to tell me that they can't honor the reservation now because they booked an employee holiday party for that night. If they treat their customers with so little respect as to plan a holiday party on a day that reservations exist (instead of planning something enough ahead that you don't disrupt anyone's plans) and offer nothing other than a simple "I'm sorry" for ruining a special birthday dinner, I can't imagine that any quality of food would take away the sour taste in my mouth.
(1)
Kim L.

Yes, there are only ten tables in this place. As such, it's a REALLY GOOD IDEA to call ahead and make a reservation. And, it's also a really good idea to leave as detailed a message as possible (name, # in party, and preferred date/time). And, lastly, if you happen to get caught playing phone tag with them, always follow up. I know, I know. It sounds like an ordeal to eat here. But let me tell you: it's well worth it. The food: local, fresh, organic. The wine selection: impeccable. The vegetarian tasting menu: always delicious, no matter then ingredients (and often with different desserts, should more than one person get it). The setting: intimate, romantic, cozy...the perfect date place. I say this: start early and make sure your rezzie's in place. Then go and enjoy it. Because you will. Bottom line: Well worth the (minimal) hassle. WELL worth it.
(5)
Ashley J.

Not much to add to the praise that hasn't already been said. We had the tasting menu as well and it was all amazing. Single best meal I have ever had in a restaurant. We did it with the wine pairings and they were all perfectly matched with the course. The service was perfect and the waiter was even sweet enough to write down all the wines for me because I liked them that much even though he was busy. Definitely worth the price. Make a reservation, they had to turn away 5 couples in the 2 hours we were there and I heard the waiter saying he feels awful because it happens constantly and it is so awkward. They also gave us a special candle when they heard it was our anniversary. I thought that was a sweet touch.
(5)
Kelly L.

This place was fabulous! The food was excellent. My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary. We showed up early for our reservations and they sat us right away. It was the perfect place - small and lit just right to be romantic but able to see what you are eating. For an appetizer we order the charcuterie plate which was fois gras, a first for me and it was tasty. We also ordered a bottle of wine - the wine list was good with wine in all ranges of tastes and prices. I had the skate wing with an incredible side, of what I think was spinach and maybe bulgar in a fabulous port reduction. Here's the clincher, the fish was so good, my boyfriend said he would order it and he doesn't even eat fish. He order the potato gnocchi with peas and carrots, it was fantastic too. The gnocchi wasn't overwhelmingly dense, they were almost light. Both were priced reasonably. Dessert was scrumptious! We had hazelnut cake and chocolate mousse, both to die for. The hazelnut cake was light and airy and there was no chocolate on the plate which I liked since that is how hazelnut is commonly served. The chocolate mousse was light and rich - very decadent. I can't wait to here again. I highly recommend Ten Tables to everyone.
(5)
Bob V.

Awesome. This is one of the few places where no matter what day or what time of the season the food is great. The pricing is fantastic and the service is great. You need to go to this restaurant; everything about it is fantastic. The portions are just right, the style is fantastic, the presentation is awesome. Go go to this restaurant.
(5)
Kendra S.

The place to take your out-of-town parents. The place to meet a friend that you haven't seen for a long, long time. The place to take a date when you're about to escalate your relationship to the next level. Ten Tables is what South End eateries aspire to be in original fare and ambience, but never seem to come close to in kind, knowledgable service. Ahem, KIND, KNOWLEDGABLE SERVICE. Did you hear that, South End? Krista Kranyak is the talented and down-to-earth proprietor of this establishment. It is this sensibility that seems to diffuse throughout the small and charming restaurant. The menu is always changing and always deliciously full of surprises. I always learn a lot from a visit to Ten Tables, which is to say that I am not intimidated to ask questions of the wait staff who are always approachable and pleased to answer my questions in a way that is not "more culinary than thou." I have never felt rushed out the door here. A visit at the Chef's Table is an experience and a lesson that you can keep a creative kitchen and you can also keep a clean one, too. Take a risk and go with one of the tasting menus. And of course, save room for dessert which come in petit but well-appointed portions.
(5)
Greg S.

We lucked out to get a reservation for 4 on a Friday night with little notice. As soon as two of us got there, we were seated without having to wait for the other 2. By the time our 2 friends arrived we had pretty much decided that we would be leaving. Being a vegetarian I was excited about the tasting menu, but the rest of the menu (different than what was on their website that day) didn't appeal to the rest of the gang. The waiter hovered and was fairly annoying pretty quickly. I slipped out to see if there was a table in another restaurant nearby and my friends stopped him from opening the bottle of wine. I missed the exchange between them, but it seemed that we had ruined his night by not keeping a table for a meal that we didn't want served by a person who seemed to not want us there to begin with.
(2)
Jess L.

Bravo .............Bravissimo! Perfecto! Magnisimo!
(5)
Greg M.

This place lives up to the hype. I could go on and on about this place, but I feel like other reviews have covered most of it. That said: It's so comforting when you walk into a place and know that whatever you order is going to be fantastic, as long as you don't detest certain foods. Even with some of my favorite places, deep down I'm not so confident that they can make anything to perfection or maybe when the food gets served I'll regret my order. I doubt this would happen here. There are great deals on Tuesday and Wednesday nights: Tues: $35 for four courses and four glasses of wine for tasting. (They choose the menu and wine. Like I said, you're in good hands. Everything will be good.) Wed: $25 for an appetizer, entree, and dessert. You pick. The cook was friendly and was happy to explain the difference between creme brulee and the vanilla bean custard we had. The waiter was knowledgeable when it came to the food and wine, friendly, and laughed at my friend's stupid jokes. Also, they didn't hurry us at all. If anything, the food took a little too long between courses. But with such a nice atmosphere, you'll be more than happy to sit for a couple hours and have a dining experience.
(5)
Ana Z.

Simply amazing... I think most of important points are covered in the reviews and that's why I've chosen this place for a romantic dinner on my Bday! Thank you, yelpers! They serve a special "wine dinner" menu on Tuesdays alternating different regions of the world. 4 courses paired with 4 wines for $42! What a deal! We got Spain and oh wow! Those wines were great. Food was even better. I felt like I was a judge on Top Chef. The flavors were amazing and original. I would not think to match tomatoes with orange zest but it tastes great. Duck was cooked to perfection. I wish they replaced cheese with desert but I guess deserts and desert wine don't go that well together. Service is perfect. I would definitely be back.
(5)
Dianna B.

Pros: Has a great intimate interior, inlcuding a few select seats at the bar, overlooking the kitchen. With prix fixe options on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, you get great value for your dollar and can try something new and unusual. Cons: The food tends to be a little off from my perspective -- just falling short of its potential. It's good, but not amazingly good. Also, the waiters can be a little too cloying and chit-chatty for my preferences.
(3)
j e.

Absolutely fantastic. Cute little place, very warm and cozy. General manager helped serve tables and was very knowledgeable. Had the 4 course dinner with wine pairings and was a total bargain for the quality of food. Highly recommend.
(5)
N S.

One of the best restaurants in boston and suprisingly affordable. There's so many reviews here, so I'll contribute what I can. The Tuesday wine dinners (4 course prix fixe meal + wine pairings) is a steal at $42. It would be a steal at $60 in fact. The food is thoughtfully prepared (likely due to the fact that the small staff can focus on the ten tables instead of serving a larger restaurant!) Another tip: Try to snag the Chef's Table. It's the bar looking area in the back of the restaurant where you can see the dishes being prepared and chat with the super-friendly chefs and staff.
(5)
christine f.

One of my new favorites, for incredible inventive food and reasonable prices to boot. Loved the 4 course wine dinner with excellent vino, great food, great company from Chef Punch behind the bar (in the spotless kitchen), and a nice relaxing atmosphere. Service was fun, friendly, and attentive. Will be back, probably again on a Tuesday evening for the regional wine pairing dinner.
(5)
Blair H.

Minus one point for opening another restaurant. Please be careful not to lose your charm! That's why we love 10 tables!
(4)
David D.

I really like this place. A friend brought me here for my birthday, and it was probably one of the best dining experiences I've had in the past year. The food was exceptional; the courses complemented one another perfectly... I just don't know how I ended up with pork, when I clearly asked for chicken. I ate it, it was great! but if we weren't in a hurry, I really would have waited for the chicken, instead. And for everything you are getting, the price is quite reasonable. I would trade my children for their Cr(`+)eme Brule, if I had children.
(4)
John C.

went to ten tables last night with my gf, made reservations for 8:45pm. we got there a few ticks before 8:40. and the place was PACKED. not an open seat. we were asked if we wanted something to drink in the meantime, both said sure but were not given a menu until 10 minutes later. we were sat at 9:05pm. really? make reservations at 8:45 and get seated 20 minutes later? i'm glad i hit traffic for once. it was so packed because wednesday nights are 3 for 33 specials. (cut due to character limit) within minutes of sitting we received two shots of soup, some garlic soup finished with some olive oil. my gf enjoyed it, i thought it was a nice palate touch to start with. drinks: THAI BASIL GIMLET Homemade Thai Basil Lime Juice with Gin - i enjoyed my drink, i love gin and i was interested to see how it went with basil.. i was very happy with it... gf wasn't a fan. PRICKLY PEAR MARTINI Smoked Spicy Pear with Vodka - neither of us liked this drink.. i didn't know what it was, so i was not expecting spicy, she didn't realize how spicy it was... it had way more of a bite than she had expected. appetizer: Beet and Goat Cheese Terrine with Arugula & Pistachios - mmmmmm, i love beets paired with good cheese.. what a delectable dish! the arugula was nice and fresh and overall went well with the pistachios, my only complaint was that there was too much acid in the salad dressing. it stung, this dish could have been twice as good if the arugula was replaced with something else.. i'm thinking maybe golden beets with pistachio and some pistachio puree, but hey, i ain't no chef, just a snob. Pickled Mussels with Frisee, Radishes and Toast - this dish was ok, the pickled mussels were interesting, but mussels were not meant to be pickled, imo. this was a 2 star dish for me. gf agreed. entre: before i start, i had high expectations, this is where a restaurant shines. Pan Seared Arctic Char with Wild Rice, Brussel Sprouts and Pickled Roxbury Russet Apples - i'm happy to say that this dish was deceptively delicate. at first bite it was bland, the wild rice was, well just wild rice. the artic car: if you take a salmon and mate it with a trout you get an artic char pretty much. skin of a trout, body of a salmon. a pretty nice combo if you ask me. at first bite it was, well, salmon. pair it up with the rice and it changes, don't ask me how, but it does, it was just different (maybe my snobbishness is making shit up, idk) add the picked apples and it takes this dish to a new level, a level that i actually liked. the brussell sprouts were done well, not mushy, just good. all in all i liked this dish more and more as i ate. (this was gf's dish btw, ha ha) *Meyer Hanger Steak with Local Fingerling Potatoes, Collard Greens and Salsa Verde - if you follow my reviews (yeah right, followers? ha ha, i just fell off my horse and it hurt) you'll know that i'm not a fan of ordering steak, but this caught my eye. i've never had hanger steak before and i'm a sucker for local veggies. this dish was another dish that i liked more and more as i ate it. and i like it even more now that i'm writing about it the next day. at first bite my gf and i both did not like the steak. the chef had a heavy hand with seasoning... if the steak had a tad less seasoning it would have been fantastic. the potatoes were delish and well, i waited on the collard greens until later. mistake! they were so good, big big big fan. pair them with the steak and it takes away a little of the over seasoning. still, this was a mans dish, heavy seasoning, nice slice of protein, great starch. i should have ordered a beer to go with this, that was my bad. all in all, it was one of the better steak dishes i've had, not the best, but not bad either. dessert: lets start by saying i'm not a crazy dessert guy, i order it because i'm a fatass and well, it just wouldn't be right if i didn't. what's the point of masturbating if you don't climax right? Boca Negra Cake with Mint Ice Cream - this was AWESOME. i'm not even a big fan of chocolate, but the mint ice cream kicked ass and the cake was heavenly. GET THIS. Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Pink Peppercorn Ice Cream - this was also very very good, the ice cream had zero flavor, but who cares, the cake kicked ass. conclusion: the service here was excellent, the waiter realized that my gf only had one sip of her drink, refunded it and replaced it with a dessert wine that was not too sweet. at regular price i would have rated 3.5 stars, but at 3 for 33 it got 4 stars fo sho. (the final tab came out funky, but eh, whatever, i'm too lazy to figure out where 5 random bucks came from) i'm definitely a fan of tt, i'll try the cambridge location next. i expected a grand slam, but instead TT hit a line drive single, stole second with dessert and moved to 3rd with an error.
(4)
patrick w.

I went here for an anniversary dinner and was very pleased. The food was excellent and thoughtfully prepared. The wine suggested to accompany the meal was great. The general space and ambiance is very cosy and comfortable. My only complaint (and the reason why I give 4 not 5 stars) was to do with the service. This was a special dinner which I wanted to eat slowly and enjoy with my wife, so I was a little annoyed that the food was brought out so fast. We ordered a pre-meal cocktail, and told the waiter we were going to order a bottle of wine, and so I was quite annoyed that our first course was rushed out to our table as we started drinking and before we could order the wine for the meal. This was probably because we had ordered a set menu, but couldn't things have been slowed down a little? It wasn't a busy night due to a snow storm -- so there was no second sitting to worry about -- and the first course and cocktail didn't go together, so rather than relax, talk and just gradually move into the meal we were forced to either ditch our drinks or let our first course go cold. It was just unnecessary. That, plus a somewhat condescending attitude on the part of the waiter (the constant use of the word "sir" just grated and didn't come across as sincere - I don't like the feeling of being talked down to by the wait staff) brought down what could have been a truly five-star experience. Anyway these are minor complaints, and probably only stand out in my mind because the food and general atmosphere were so perfect.
(4)
Dara C.

I had the pleasure of dining at Ten Tables after repeated attempts to get a reservation. I need to go back immediately. I want to make it a regular haunt. I got very full and happy there. First of all, the space is so charming, it kills me. Yes, yes, ten tables, etc. Also, I love the openness of the kitchen ... I love seeing people cook my food, I love loud noises, it's a damn restaurant and if you don't want to hear cooking noises, then get delivery. I love how the bathroom is tucked downstairs behind the dry-storage. I love how homey and tiny and dim and intimate it is. There is no pretense in the decor. Hearts it. I went with two close friends after meeting for some drinks, and we all had the chef's tasting (two regular, one vegetarian.) We were early for our 9:30 reservation so we had a couple glasses of wine and some tasty nuts. So tasty, in fact, that though one of our companions was allergic to nuts, he kept on sneaking them and trying to justify why injecting him with an EpiPen would soon be worth it. We were seated at a cute table on time, and immediately served good bread with olive oil and sea salt. Fantastic; I hate butter, loved this. We must have gotten about three bread baskets throughout our meal which we kept slathering in the (fresh) olive oil. Ohhhh God. More wine, and apparently, it's a fallacy that bread absorbs alcohol well ... Dara's face is starting to get warm, and she drops a piece of bread on her lap, oily side down ... (Now is a good time to mention that the service was impeccable, though I must admit, our table knew the server well. Still, every table was served promptly, warmly, and with attention to detail. Everyone in that restaurant looked thrilled to be dining there and its palpable.) Now the food ... ohhhh, the food ... we all started with a smooth, perfectly-spiced butternut squash soup with just the right amount of creme fraiche. I would like to carry a travel mug of that soup every day to work. So well done and matched well with the wine our companion had chosen. Next was a pasta with parmesan, sausage, and fennel ... not only did I enjoy sausage (a first!) but I also enjoyed fennel (which I have previously considered a botanical abortion.) It, too, was delightful, and a perfect portion. More wine. Dara is getting sloppy by glass four/five. Next course was baramundi (omglovesbaramundiftw!!!!1one) with broccoli and potatoes and something else (cauliflower?) This was my favorite course by far. The fish was so tender and mild and a little salty, the broccoli a wonderful little accompaniment. I was in heaven. I sampled a bit of my friend's swordfish, which was good but not as good as mine, and my veg. friend's beet-and-goat-cheese, which was also delicious. All good. Oh, what's that? More wine? A red? Fantastic, I'll have a glass. This was followed by Meyer beef, which I would enjoy more if I were a habitual red-meat-eater. I couldn't eat too much of it (how people routinely eat 6-8 oz of steak in a single sitting, I will never understand.) The house-made steak sauce was a little sweet, but maybe it's supposed to be. Dara doesn't eat meat. What Dara does enjoy is wine. We three finish the red. Ohhhh hey, more wine, this time a quite-sweet dessert white. Then another glass of dessert wine, God knows what it was ... I had to close one eye at this point to see my fantastic dessert, which was chocolate something with the most amazing Thai basil ice cream that I would like to eat every day, although we all swapped dessert plates more than once to sample each other's (bourgeois at other restaurants, acceptable here.) Our bill was unbelievably unridiculous, for three chef's tastings, multiple glasses/bottles of wine, tax, and tip. Food that perfectly-cooked, that honest, should not be so cheap. Service was also worth at least twice what we paid, and though I would be disappointed if Ten Tables raised their prices, I would also support that decision. It was all unreal, a gem, unpretentious and obviously run by people who love serving fantastic food.
(5)
Andrew T.

Damn near perfection. As intimate as the name implies, Ten Tables is a small spot off of the beaten path, oozing with personality, charm, and ambiance. A tiny open kitchen feeding into a tiny dining room with...you guessed it, ten tables, the low light and painted brick interior is cozy and friendly. The service was dead on, and the food was spectacular. Only in season and perfectly fresh ingredients are put into the hand selected, and ever changing menu...and it is all done wonderfully. We went to Ten Tables with some out of town friends from NYC who were thoroughly impressed by the meal, as were some other friends from Boston, who never knew Ten Tables even existed. A smashing success for our group dinner out.
(5)
Andrew S.

Really really good food. I highly recommend the tasting menu and ask for the wine pairings, which is a bargain at only 20 dollars for 4 wines!
(5)
S. M. S.

Quite charming and quite good. Nice looking crowd and very attentive service. I felt like I was in Portland for dinner (that's good).
(5)
Joyce H.

Delicious and creative food choices! Very good service, we had reservations at 7 however we had to wait 10 mins for our table to clear (which is understandable because the restaurant is so small) and they served us a complimentary glass of champagne. My favorite part was the dessert, Chocolate terrine with thai basil ice cream & sea salt, absolutely heavenly!
(5)
Saleh A.

"Waited for years to go to this restaurant" my sister said i'm just sad to say that it wasn't that great beautiful interior absolutely normal dishes Average appetizers
(3)
Tara W.

Seated immediately with our resee. Reminded me of my fav restaurant in providence. Small quaint atmosphere great staff. Love the tiny open kitchen. I don't know how they do it. We had the tasting menu. Deliciousness. Perfect timing between tastes. The fish was cooked perfectly with the skin on. Amazing. Perfect evening for parents of two that don't get out much anymore. Ahh the good ole days.
(5)
Aaron H.

We just had our dinner at this restaurant like 10 minutes ago, and I can't feel my tongue right now. Too much salt!!! The waiters were very friendly but the good itself was just not enjoyable... We had onion soup and clams as starters. The soup was alright and the clams were fresh. However, the sauce for the clams was just too much vinegar in it. The duck leg and hanger steak as dinner were just another disappointment. Steak was ok, but definitely not great. Duck has salt all over and made my tongue numb... Definitely won't pay another visit.
(2)
Kevin H.

KIller food. Just do it. Make reservations.
(5)
Sameer N.

Hey old man, I agree with you on that one. FIrst off, I have an immense respect for people who work with their hands (coming from a blue collar background until I started working working for a Hedge Fund). I used to roof over the summer and boy I know what it's like with those aches and pains. You seem like an older gentleman and the elderly should get some respect. Either way, here's my take on the situation: My great uncle wrote a book of anecdotes on living life in the fast lane in the roaring 40's. He's old as dirt now and it's been his passion to relate these tales orally. I encouraged him to write them down and he went into a studio and recorded a Spoken Word album instead. He received a letter in the mail saying his album was climbing the charts, his name is Shartar Chirkut (look him up), either way.. he took the letter to with us to dinner at Ten Tables and all hell broke loose. It turns out the letter was sent to the wrong person, he was supposed to receive a BILL for production. The waitress was kind enough to bring an extra chair to the table for my great uncle. LIKE YOU SAID, it was actually FRIGID, a steel chair that managed to put his bum to sleep. He complained of prickly feelings in his cheeks. He also complained of numbness in his arms. After getting home he passed out from being "overly tired" and his "back was hurting", the arches in the chairs had mangled his arthritis and he was in hellish pain. It wasn't worth the butternut squash soup that was cold and bitter just like the farewell to success my uncle had just endured. Buy some new chairs. I'm dying to go back there with a younger crowd. To all my fans, sorry for the serious review. It had to be done,
(1)
Dr. K.

Just recently moving to JP and reading all those nice reviews about Ten Tables, I was very exited about our dinner. The decor is excellent. The fact that kitchen and dining area being together gives the restaurant a unique homey and cozy feeling. We started our dinner with moules marinieres. It was average. My wife had the hangar steak. It was a bit too chewy for me. I tried the Purtugese Stew. It was pretty good. The food overall missed my expectations. Overall, it was a 3.5 star experience for me. But I will definitely come back TT and try again their spring/summer menu. Hopefully, I will have a better experience.
(4)
Katie W.

I cannot say enough how much I love this place. We've eaten at 10 Tables a number of times now and I just love it more and more each time. Last night: - potato and celery salad with truffle oil and delicious Manchego cheese (I could have eaten four, it was so addictive) - seared scallop with heirloom tomato in a bellini broth (the scallop was cooked perfectly and literally melted in the mouth, the tomato was fresh and salty) - spiced chicken (curry-ish and crispy and delicious) with a Moroccan spinach side with raisins (dark green and perfectly complementing) - dense chocolate cake with sea salt and creme anglaise (put everyone over the edge: absurdly delicious) The wine tasting menu on Tuesday is a bargain and it totally delicious. Dishes I thought I'd hate (steak tartare? fennel soup?) always prove me wrong. I don't think there's a better restaurant (especially for the price) anywhere in or around the city, honestly. Their menu is always changing and showcasing the best in local and organic foods, and the waitstaff is charming and knowledgeable. The chef is a pleasure to watch. I'll continue to go again and again, it's just that special.
(5)
Casey J.

Had a wonderful experience at Ten Tables (with just a small "but")! It was a cold night (aren't they all these days) but stepping into TT was immediately comforting and relaxing with dim lighting and a small cozily romantic dining room. We had a reservation and were seated immediately at a table next to the open kitchen. I love watching chefs so was happy to be close to the action. First the drinks. Of course we want them but its a big decision. Red, white, what are we eating, cocktails first? So when the waitress comes and we sputter and waiver trying to pick the right thing and negotiate among ourselves it's instantly obvious that we've annoyed her. Arms crossed, lips pursed, eyebrows raised. And it's so soon in our relationship! We order a bottle of malbec quickly to please her and end up ordering the cocktails when she comes back. I've been a server for plenty of years, I understand, but please mask your disgust. My two companions and I decided on the 4 course chef's tasting. Onnnne of us had a really hard time letting go of the Hanger Steak (everyone at the table must get the tasting and the courses are chef's whim) so we prefaced our order of the chef's tastings with a side note, "we wouldn't mind terribly if it just so happened that a beautiful rare piece of steak should land on our plates at some point. maybe". Subtle? Absolutely. Two minutes later the chef calls the order out to his team "3 tastings, they love steak" and then, in the open kitchen 5 ft from us, the scowl and "puh". Again, it's fine, we deserved it, but in an Open kitchen, really? Annd the food. I call myself a foodie, and I am certainly obsessed with great restaurants and food but at the end of the day, I'm fairly certain I've got less tastebuds than the average joe so don't look to me for eloquent descriptions of the dishes. That said, Yum. The first course came out, a lobster corn bisque. Very heavy but the lobster flavor was Very strong and a great velvety texture. This is the only course I didn't finish, more due to pacing for 4 courses but also wasn't a favorite. Course two was the pan seared char. The fish and rice have conservative smooth flavors but the pickled apples were unique and added a bit of kick to the dish and the brussel sprouts were just plain good (preface- I'm a sucker for brussel sprouts). All came together really nicely. Told myself I wouldn't shouldn't couldn't finish it all but really couldn't stop. Course three was... steak! Our steak-o-saur dining buddy was thrilled and surprisingly so was I. Hanger steak done very rare with potato and cauliflower gratin and red wine glazed cipollini onions. I loved how the very manly piece of meat was turned into a delicate dish with deep warm distinct but complimenting flavors. I seldom eat steak but would absolutely order this again. Dessert wasn't chocolate (decided it wasn't worth the risk of saying we are steak And chocolate loving souls) but it was a rather delicious upside down pineapple cake. I couldn't tell what the icecream was supposed to be, a bit light on flavor and I think the cake would have been great warm but regardless of nitpicking it was very good. Not order again worthy but a solid experience. Completely happy and full on our way out we risk a quick convo with the pastry chef whose station was closest to us in the kitchen. "Thanks so much for the pineapple dessert but we'll really have to come back for the chocolate cake, it looks amazing!" (there's a chance it comes out a bit more awkward, no matter, friendly awkwardness is no crime). We got a 2 sec. look that screams "as though i give a flying turkey what you think" then she turned her back without a response and we leave, mouths open in amazement. It's an OPEN kitchen and you're 3 feet away! Give us a smile and nod if you don't feel like talking and we would have been happy. So that makes 3 uncomfortable experiences with the staff. They did their job perfectly, don't get me wrong, but there was a distinctly cold unwelcoming vibe to it all. Conclusion- A definite GO! Go for the food, it's awesome, get the 4 course tasting for $40, its an amazing value and experience of their ability, and get your warm tingly feeling from a drink and new flavors because you aren't going to make any friends while you're there.
(4)
Jen P.

Went to Ten Tables for the first time last weekend and it was excellent. Some yelpers have commented that the food wasn't anything special, but I thought it was fantastic. We had the chef's tasting menu, which was $40 for four courses, plus an amuse-bouche and a cheese course as well. So essentially $40 for six courses - not Burger King prices but extremely reasonable if you're looking for a really nice dinner out. The first course was a creamy soup with a scallop in it, and it was luxurious. Then we had salmon with salmon roe, fingerling potatoes, and cucumber (I believe this is listed on the regular menu as well), followed by braised short rib with carrot and potato. The braised short rib was some of the best meat I've ever tasted - the waiter mentioned that they start cooking it at 8AM and let it simmer for 10 hours, but whatever it is, it was amazing. For dessert we had apricot cake with ginger-citrus glaze (this was the only part of the meal that was not fantastic, but I'm not a huge citrus person). So delicious! We will definitely go back. . .
(5)
Fiddos J.

I've passed by TT many times and have always wanted to go in - but it always looked like a very special place and I could never find the right "occasion". Anyways I went in on Friday evening finally, and I was not disappointed. The ambiance is excellent - just like the kind of little bistros you'd in France - dark, the hubbub of muted conversation floating above good jazz, an open kitchen where you can watch the pros at work - carefully crafting every plate. The service is top notch - very efficient and convivial, but not annoyingly chatty or over familiar. They give your space. My only complaint - and not a serious one - is the burger buns are too crusty - they make for a very messy - albeit incredibly delicious burger.
(5)
Mark R.

Ten Tables is exactly that, 10 tables, but what they lack in space they make up for in great value for your money. That doesn't mean they are cheap or put in a lower class. In fact, our meals were superb and that is exactly the point. Eat the same food with the same artistry anywhere else in Boston and expect to pay quite a bit more. The Blue Fish with Squid was perfect, and the Duck was divine. The wait staff did their job adequately (hardly noticeable until you need them). There was a decent wine list and beers on tap (The beer surprised me, but kind of a welcome surprise). The only problem came from the small size. To even fit 10 tables they have to cram them in. This makes the noise level a little louder than you might expect. You can watch the chefs in the kitchen, but that adds to the noise level. Also since the tables are so close you can get into a conversation competition. Because of the small size the wait staff had to really maneuver which was a little distracting. All of that is forgivable given that it was an outstanding night, and I plan on going again. One thing to keep in mind is that each evening they have different deals. We went on a Thursday and it was 4 courses for $40 a head. Not a bad deal, but the one that caught my eye was Wed there is $30 3 course meal. Now that is an impossible deal to beat.
(4)
Jeff M.

Wow, what a great experience and meal. The original location is much better than the Cambridge location. If you factor in the price, I only rate on whats on the plate, Ten Tables would get five stars. The meal here is undervalued. What kept the food from being in five star territory is that it failed to show extraordinary technique or inspiration. I'd happily go back. The small dimly light dining room makes for a nice date spot.
(4)
Jessica M.

My new wife and I had our wedding reception here and it was over the top amazing!!! Best customer service any where. They focused on details and prioritized our needs. Great deal. They welcomed our famines and were so patient. The food was ridiculously good. The management should be so thankful to staff for making this place great.
(5)
Andrew S.

I went to ten tables this past weekend to have a nice dinner with my girlfriend. The staff was polite, the cocktails were excellent, and what I liked the most was the food had complex textures and tastes yet it was not overwhelming. A gem of Jamaica Plain, I highly recommend a visit.
(5)
Bruce L.

Had the 4-course Chef's tasting menu. The third course/main entree was decent, but the rest were quite poor. They had no flavor and it seems the restaurant was lacking in quality ingredients at the time, as they did not taste fresh and used the pre-meal bread (which was mediocre) in two of the courses! The second course with clams in broth was too salty, which overshadowed all other flavors. This definitively gave a bad image to Chef's tasting menu. Instead of showcasing the best the Chef had to offer using fresh seasonal ingredients, it gave the impression that it was what the Chef was able to haphazardly salvage using poor and leftover ingredients.
(1)
Vegan Couple T.

We used to really like Ten Tables and actually went there the night we got engaged. On the positive side, their drinks are very good (but overpriced) and the staff (e.g., Joe, Stan, Jessica, Sean, Peter) are super nice and accommodating. However, the place just doesn't have good vegan options for us. There hasn't been a single vegan entree on the menu the last several times we were there. We can walk 5-10 minutes in either direction and get vegan fare just as good and 1/3 the price. It's too bad because the atmosphere is very lovely. The seemingly meatier Ten Tables and their other new adjacent burger place "Grass Fed" makes it no longer a vegan friendly environment for us.
(2)
blake j.

This is one of my all time favorite places! The food, the service, and the ambiance are not to be rivaled in Boston.
(5)
Ash B.

Great food and atmosphere. I went on a Tuesday and they were having a special event, four courses each paired with a different wine. The only reason I give them 4 stars instead of 5 is the dessert was really odd. It was a 'chocolate soup' which was essentially a bowl of chocolate sauce.
(4)
Senior H.

I don't know what everybody is raving about. Maybe there just aren't enough options in JP? Maybe it was just an off night. Regardless, I am about to upset some people. The ambiance is stylish and candle-lit and the place was packed. Things looked promising. We all did the chef's tasting menu at $40 a head. Don't do this. It is really more of a four course prix fixe. The first course, charcuterie, included a velvety smooth mousse pÃ¢tÃ© and an overly very sweet pÃ¢tÃ© de compagne that nobody finished. I love pÃ¢tÃ©, and this was the best dish, perhaps because the chef didn't make it. The second course was supposed to be seared skate. It was an obscenity. All of our portions were like leather on one side and slimy meat jelly elsewhere. Were they simply forgotten in the skillet or did they actually serve fried snot? Our third course was a roasted loin of lamb. At one time it was clearly a beautiful piece of meat, but the medallions were so irregularly cut that it seemed as if the chef was blindfolded and slapped by a chimpanzee while he cut them. Thin on some ends thick on others, some bites were overcooked, some near-raw, and some bites were perfect. Great flavor. Good recipe. Bad execution. The dessert was forgettable, and I have. You can get drinks and four courses elsewhere for MUCH less than Ten Tables, and I think you should.
(1)
Katelyn M.

Oh my goodness -- this placed lived up to these reviews! I will never forget my date at Ten Tables. Went for the chefs menu with wine pairings on a Tuesday night. Loved everything (with one minor hiccup, which was a meyer lemon accent/sauce that just overpowered the otherwise delicious dish). However, I'm giving this 5 stars because the sommelier was INCREDIBLE. I enjoyed hearing him explain about the wines (it was Wild West night) - and all of them paired wonderfully with the food. They did a great job picking wines that really brought out the flavor of the dishes and vice versa. What a treat! I can't wait to go back and check out their new wine bar next door. Looks like they have a great menu of their own...and I heard through the grapevine you can order off their restaurant menu, too. A must-go in JP.
(5)
Steve S.

So I finally ventured to the highly touted Ten Tables There really is much to like about this place. The setting is intimate as the title would suggest with roughly ten tables with an open kitchen in the back. They recently added a new bar in the front with a few seats First the service was excellent. Waitress was attentive without being suffocating. She suggested a delightful Trebiano wine, which was fantastic. Place has an overall great vibe The apps were flavorful as well. Salad was light, the potato and leek soup was among the tastiest in memory. Biggest surprise was the sausage. They cure their own, and you really taste the difference(kind of makes you wonder about the other stuff) Bread pudding with raisin, carmel ice cream and cinnamon once again did not disappoint and neither did the chocolate cake HOWEVER, I ordered the salmon, and it was touted as the best in the city..yet it was undercooked...This is common as this fish seems to have a narrow window for flavor. You are a minute away from either under/overcooking. I found my friends chicken to be slightly undercooked as well Did I like this place and will I return...yes. Was this a truly memorable encounter...not really Lets hope it was an off night
(3)
Gradon T.

You know a restaurant cares about service when, in the midst of seasonally crummy weather, it lets its customers wait for their table downstairs in the prep kitchen. That's what happened when my girlfriend and I visited Ten Tables. We were a bit early for our reservation, and the previous party hadn't left yet, so they offered us what space was available. It was the first gesture of an amazing night. The waitstaff were both friendly and professional. We opted for the 4-course tasting with wine paring - no fretting about what to get, or what goes with what - and we weren't disappointed. Delicious, creative, and seasonally correct. Holy cow this was good food. And the wine, a perfect complement to the food. We sat pretty much square in the middle of the small dining area, so we got to see the looks on everyone's faces as they ate, and their looks reflected what we felt. Great job, Ten Tables. We'll be back.
(5)
K M.

After all of the hype, I had very high expectations for my dinner at Ten Tables and they were all met. We arrived early and after reading about how small the bar area was, I was a little worried that we wouldn't be able to hang out while waiting for our table. The guy at the reception immediately calmed my fears by letting us sit at one of the bar tables where a reservation was coming in later while we waited. The bartender was friendly and informative and my cocktail (the Lavender Fizz) was great. I also had a Kristal Ballz, which despite it's stripper name title was even better and more interesting than the Lavender Fizz (not to mention strong). Our meal was perfect. The dining room was both intimate and comfortable. We had the Merguez sausage and the Charcuterie, both of which were delicious. The foie-gras was better on its own than on the toast they provide because you can better appreciate the taste. For entrees, I got the hanger steak and my two companions had the Moroccan Spiced Swordfish and the chicken stuffed with chorizo sausage. We all tried each others dishes and all insisted that our meal was the best, which is a great situation considering the potential for food envy. We finished with the Peach Cobbler and coffee, both of which were well prepared and a fabulous end to the meal. While it wasn't a cheap night out, we did get the full experience with cocktails, two bottles of wine, and three courses. Overall, it was definitely a five star experience: one of the best meals I've had in a long time with the service and ambiance to match.
(5)
Dan J.

So, I finally went to Ten Tables. It was quite the experience. There were highs, but there were some lows too. The highs included the pan-roasted pork loin on a bed of sweet potato puree with DEEE-licious collard greens and apple butter. The collards were the best collards ever. And, my friend loved her scallops. The complementary shot glass of potato leek soup was flavorful and smooth and a pleasant surprise. My dessert was the chocolate terrine. The combo of chocolate, Thai basil ice cream, and sea salt was perfection. Her Meyer lemon tart was also pretty wonderful. I had a great drink from the bar too--the Lavender Fizz. For the most part, I loved the food and the service was also pretty wonderful. I was surprised that we weren't rushed to leave after we finished. The lows? Our appetizers, the pork pate and the squash soup. The pate was not great (neither the flavor nor the consistency). The soup was okay, but the texture of pork belly was a little disturbing. I have never eaten braised pork belly before and I didn't expect it to be that fatty (I guess that's pretty ridiculous--it is pork belly!!). It had great flavor, but a wad of gelatinous fat in my mouth is anathema to me. The ice-cold dinner rolls were a little strange; they were very tasty, but they were literally just out of the refrigerator. The lowest low was not flavor-related. It was watching the sous chef (line chef?) use the same spoon to taste multiple dishes. Yuck! I am sure this happens all the time, but we generally don't see it. This, however, is an open kitchen. I would think the staff would be hyper-aware of this situation. (The chef didn't do it, just the sous/line chef.) I am sorry, but dropping the spoon in small container of water after every use and then picking it out again is unsanitary. (Imagine the nasty slurry that is in that container!) Use a new spoon each time you taste! The food was (mostly) great if somewhat expensive, but I am hesitant about going back because of one unsanitary spoon.
(3)
Ro P.

Lives us to the hype. Great atmosphere and even better food. Easy parking, friendly staff.
(5)
Tessa C.

Came here finally for a dinner with my bf and a friend visiting from out of town. Nice cute neighborhood restaurant. Decor isn't super fancy and yes, it is a bit cramped. They do have some bar seating which is cool for a couple - you can watch the kitchen work while your dining. Surprisingly affordable, we had the tasting menu and had a wonderful meal for $40 each not including drinks. The first amuse bouche was a shot glass of cold potato leek soup. First course: butternut squash soup. creamy and delish. Second course: mussels in saffron broth with braised spinach and a hint of orange zest. really unusual combo of ingredients, but very nicely done. Third course: duck confit with roasted baby veggies. : ( blech....the confit was so salty. it tasted like a salt lick. i couldn't finish it. Second amuse bouche: Goat cheese with roasted hazelnuts and honey. Good solid flavors. Fourth course: Chocolate mousse with banana ice cream. Perfect creaminess and a good way to end the meal. We should have complained about the duck confit - but for $40 bucks - it's hard to complain when only one course is a failure.
(4)
May W.

Delicious tasting menu! The service was also impeccable and I really felt like it was a special evening with my friends. I had the wine pairing and it was a perfect complement to the meal. Definitely recommending their tasting menu. They also provide a vegetarian menu so everyone can participate!
(5)
R G.

this review is for the Ten Tables Bar, rather than the full service restaurant. I came with my boyfriend, and the hostess seemed confused by our presence. did we have a reservation? no, we were hoping to eat at the bar. oh, let me see what I can do.... can we sit there? uh, no... hold on. oh, some people came in after us with a reservation? yes, by all means ignore us for several minutes while you, still confused, attend to them though their table isn't ready. she wasn't rude, per se, but she just seemed overwhelmed by two whole groups of people and the prospect of finding two people seats in the bar section (it just require clearing a table). eventually we were seated. it was at a very awkward, very long, narrow table against a wall. it would have been fine if it was a good 18 inches shorter, but my bf and I had to significantly speak up to hear each other given the distance between us. we each ordered a 'flight of three' cocktails. they are brought one at a time and the bartender was great at watching us and knowing when to send the next one without rushing us. some were better than others, but it's a great way to sample the menu without getting trashed. we were hoping that we would each get a different three so we could exchange sips (I know other people have) but I understand why they'd make them the same. I had the burger it was very rich. very delicious, but very, very rich. if I were them, I'd lose the brioche bun. who needs that extra butteriness competing with the bacon aioli, cheese, and caramelized onions? mine was also very rare. I ordered it medium rare, but it was definitely rare bordering just undercooked. I think if the restaurant wasn't as dark and I couldn't ignore the rareness before my eyes, I would have felt obligated to send it back. as it was, my stomach was a little upset the next morning... might not have been the burger, but...... I feel like my review has really focused on the negative, and I didn't really intend that to be the case. I didn't walk away displeased with my meal or experience, those were just the notable occurrences. I'll go back some day, and I'd encourage others to give it try, but I'm not in a great hurry.
(3)
Denise M.

I was pretty excited to finally get the opportunity to try out this talk of the town restaurant. The good: the setting was intimate and friendly, the waitstaff very attentitive and the drinks were delicous. The not so good: the prices arent' justified by the small portions, the undercooked pasta and the oversalted seafood. We ordered a couple of appetizers, an entree and a dessert each and still left with unsatisfied appetites.
(2)
Nicole P.

Came to Ten Tables last night for my birthday, and I'm already looking for a reason to go back. I can't believe I've lived in JP for nearly 6 years and haven't been here. The service was superb. They had a reasonably priced Barbera, which is one of my favorite food wines. My chicken dish was good, but the best part was the potatoes. I know it sounds a little silly, but I've never had more delicious potatoes. I kept talking about them, and my father accused me of being drunk. He got a steak dish, and it was pretty tasty, too! I thought the side was the best part of his dish, too. Those parsnips! I think I have a root vegetable problem. We got the chocolate terrine and bread pudding for dessert. The chocolate terrine and our panna cotta salad (appetizer) were my least favorite things we ordered. They both had a lot of different flavors going on and were by no means bad, but they were not something I'd order again. The bread pudding though--oh! So good! Fresh, moist bread pudding; big, plump, juicy golden raisins; and homemade caramel ice cream. This is the stuff that dreams are made of--delicious! This is a great place to have a special night (or make a special night by going!). I thought the prices were reasonable for the quality, the service was great, and the atmosphere is very chic. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Jared M.

My wife and I have not been over to Ten Tables in JP in quite some time; the birth of a new baby tends to affect your social life a bit! Last night we were able to sneak over to the restaurant where we were once regulars and simply walk in and find 2 seats at the bar. Hooray! We were both surprised and excited. We were instantly greeted by the manager, Stan, and sat down and enjoyed a sparkling wine. We started things off with a very fresh blood orange and radicchio salad with little surprises of caramel crisps within. The entrees were also divine...accompanied by the perfect glass of wine, expertly recommended by Stan! We finished with a perfect Pumpkin Creme Brulee and tasty Bread Pudding, both of which were made on the premises. Overall a wonderful dining experience which reminded me of what initial kept me coming back here in the first place. An intimate setting, a very knowledgeable and welcoming staff, expertly crafted food, all woven together with absolutely no pretention. Thank you Stan, Sean, bartender (whose name escapes me), and of course Krista for a truly wonderful evening!!
(5)
Danielle M.

I met a friend at a neighborhood I dont frequent enough- Jamaica Plain. I decided to venture out to the Forest Hills T stop and met my friend not far from JP Center- and there we found Ten Tables. And Im sure glad we did. The place is dark, cozy, and romantic in both the dining room and bar area.The front room is brick-walled with a small, wrap-around bar and a few high-tops. The dining room has 10 tables (literally) and a semi-exposed kitchen that manages to keep the noise-level surprisingly low- a nice change from the racket that usually accompanies the open-kitchen concept. My friend and I sat at the bar because there was a reserved wine dinner going on in the dining room- and we were really happy to enjoy the bar bites menu, while making an acquaintance with our neighboring bar customers and the friendly bartender. For drinks, my friend ordered the Lavender Fizz ( organic lavender fizz with blueberry spritzer) She liked it, sucked it down, and ordered another one. I ordered the Kristal Ballz- with absinthe, tequila , and pomegranate- and did so partly because I was curious about absinthe. Yes, it was quite strong and obviously served in low volume, but it gave the cocktail the right kick. Yum. I thought the drink was nicely crafted, and I after doing a little more perusing of the drink menu, I was thoroughly impressed by the creative mixology of this seemingly-simple neighborhood bistro. I was even more impressed when we were served! Both entrees came on wooden planks that were so aesthetically fitting with the rustic decor of the bar area. I must say, it takes some talent to make a burger look as beautiful as it did coming out, and it was one of the most mouth-watering burgers I have ever seen and tasted. You must get the burger! Topped with farmhouse cheddar, bacon aioli, and A1 sauce. Paired with potato salad and pickles ( I am cursing the calories, but find solace in the fact that we split it) ...it was simply sinful. We decided to split the burger and the antipasti plate- which was also delicious and lighter- with mushrooms, roasted peppers artichokes, homemade tzaziki and hummus, and pita chips. I'd go back again by myself next time and just order the antipasti plate- it was certainly enough for a flavorful and fresh light meal. Ten Tables just became a fave. The cocktails were tasty and strong, the food was nice to look at and fabulous to eat, and the atmosphere was wonderful - a laid back crowd, each party having conversations over drinks and bites. Great place to go for a date or catching up with a friend or two. Not so great for group dining, as it is a small place, but there are plenty of other places to go for that type of dining occasion. Cant wait to try the Cambridge Ten Tables, but the JP location, I'll be sure to frequent again soon.
(4)
Sandy H.

Scrumptious food with great service. I've heard so much about Ten Tables so I came in with high expectations. The four course tasting menu was excellent and I lucked out with a last minute reservation for the chef's table on a Saturday night. I just love watching all these men cook for me and it's amazing what comes out of their tiny kitchen. =) I saw some yummy looking dishes being made for the bar and decided to come back to try it a few weeks later. The TT Bar food was really good. We ordered the farmer's plate (excellent) and the burger (solid, but really way too salty). The burger was juicy and cooked to medium-well perfection.
(4)
Bethany F.

One of the best restaurants I've ever been to! From the extraordinary service to the unique flavor combinations, this place is the best date location ever! My only regret is that I didn't try the cactus puree margarita, but the Taste of Italy wine selection was still a perfect pairing choice too. What did I love most? The simple, non-pretentious restaurant decor...the sweet waitresses who always seemed to be there when we needed them...the incredible pate appetizer plate...being able to watch the chefs cook in the semi-open kitchen that was 5 feet from us? I really can't pick just one. My boyfriend put it succinctly that Ten Tables was "put together but not pretentious." And this is why we loved it. Go. Now. Splurge a little (for about $60 each, it's an affordable splurge too).
(5)
Angelina C.

I thought I'd won a major prize when I secured a dinner reservation for four in the dining room for Mother's Day. I was excited at the prospect of a three-course prix fixe where my parents could try so many of the flavors that TT has to offer. And, mostly, I was right. Our overall experience reflected on supurb preparation, attentive service and eating for pleasure -- my dad said it was the most epicurean meal he'd had. But I could have gone without a few glitches that punctuated our evening: a mixed-up order and sauteed spinach that hadn't been thoroughly washed. Gritty, even. I can't be harsh, though, as everything still tasted pretty darn delicious. And a prix fixe menu is what it is -- not the most creative, but still beyond expectations excellent. TT, I need to give you another chance: I'll be back, probably at the bar to savor a burger with bacon -- yep -- bacon aoli.
(4)
Tony B.

Great cocktails. Delicious food. Good seasonal wine flights. If you don't have a reservation, you can find a table in the bar area.
(4)
Rachel G.

Already an avid fan of their Cambridge location, I was excited to hear that Ten Tables recently rolled out a bar and a bar menu. I checked it out a week ago at the prodding of my sister, and if I still lived in the area, I'd love to return often--it's a great way to experience Ten Tables' amazing menu without shelling out the $25+ per entree. The drink selections were inventive (I drank something yummy with Lillet and cucumber), but what's stayed with me is the food. If you order anything at the bar, get the mezze: tahini, caponata, pickled veggies, and pita in generous display.
(4)
Tan G.

I learned about Ten Tables from Yelp and a segment that Rachel Ray did on the place. What a fantastic little gem in JP!! It is so unique, unlike any other "fancy" restaurant I have been too. There is no dress code and the staff is friendly. However I call it "fancy" because I do think that many people visit for a special occasion like birthday, anniversary etc. We went to celebrate with my family. It was me, my husband and two little girls. My eldest daughter is curious about what a chef does, so I thought it would be fun for her to be able to watch the action in the kitchen. Since the space is small and the kitchen is open at the back we were able to see them prepare our own unique food. We did the chef's tasting menu for $40 which included dessert. It was great. We each got different items so we all tasted off each other's plates. The waitstaff made this occassion very special for us and took the time to explain the menu. Since our kids our old enough to appreciate the food, it was fun to see their faces as they tried each exciting dish. We were stuffed by the end of all the dishes. The desserts were just impossibly good. They served me a hot chocolate (european style which tastes just like melted chocolate). The youngest daughter got a lemon tart which was the best i have ever tasted, no joke. My other daughter got an elegant spongecake served warm with a drizzle of choco sauce and crem fresh. Hubby had something different which he gobbled up in less than a minute flat:) Can't wait to go back for another special dinner occasion. Although we had a great experience with our kids, I probably would not recommend this place for very young tots as the space is limited and younger tots may get bored and there is no "kids menu". The aura of the place is very ecclectic and mature and soothing. To give you an idea on time, we had a reservation at 5:30pm (people were already dining when we arrived) and we finished at about 7:30pm. I'll try to post the pic we got with the chefs..... Please visit this place and make a reservation. It's so much fun and every dish is brilliant!
(5)
Toyoko O.

The atmosphere and service were great, but I thought the food was overrated and and overpriced. I had a vegan tasting menu, which was OK but nothing noteworthy. Also, sitting near the kitchen we saw the chef squirting food into his mouth directly from the container that was used to dress the food being served to the customers--yuck! How in the world did this place get to be such a big deal?
(3)
Nicole R.

Despite the 3 stars, I really did like it. The 3 stars are mostly as compared to the Cambridge location, which was really much better in my opinion. Oddly, for atmosphere I vote JP, but for food it's Cambridge all the way. Open kitchen here is awesome, and the size is cute. Good date place. Heads up if you have to go to the bathroom, those stairs are perilous. I'm veg so my review is limited to those items, and considering I went on the Wed prix fixe night, even more abbreviated. Started with wilted leek salad, which was actually lovely considering how simple it was. Butter braised (I assume) leeks lined the bottom of the salad, which was mostly made of frisee, candied walnuts, and slivered green apples. There might have been cheese, but I don't think so. The dressing was light and quite good, but it's composition escapes me. I usually dislike dressing, but this was not overdone and complimented the salad really well. I did try a spoonful of my boyfriend's cauliflower veloute, which was quite good. Hopefully not made with chicken broth, but what's done is done. Entree was limited to one choice, truffled mac & cheese with wild mushrooms and sprinkled with breadcrumbs of some sort for crunch. I appreciated their sparing use of truffle--this is too frequently overdone. Also, they were good with the amount of cheese (comparatively minimal). However, I don't really like mac & cheese in general, so I was disappointed that this was my only option. Could have used a lot more seasoning, was pretty unimpressive. I missed the delicious Kabocha squash agnoletti I had in Cambridge. I could eat that all year. Dessert was alright--Creme Caramel with pears. Sauce was actually quite good, but the Creme Caramel itself was sort of eh. I left most of it. My friend ordered the fabulous chocolate terrine--if you go here for one thing, make it the chocolate terrine with basil ice cream. I swear I want to bathe in that ice cream. Had it in Cambridge, so i wanted to try something new but definitely made the wrong choice. Boyfriend got the banana upside down cake which was fantastic in a really homemade kind of way. Perfect banana taste, not artificial or overly sweet. Good texture on the cake as well. Amazing prices for the quantity of food, and despite my somewhat uninteresting options, I'm definitely going back. I really like Ten Tables, I just wish they'd give me some more room to breathe in my meat-free world.
(3)
Cecilia L.

Ten Tables's formula is simple and unbeatable: local and seasonal ingredients prepared with flair in a rustic setting at reasonable prices. I went six months ago, so some of what I ate isn't available now, but every dish this place serves is fresh, innovative and delightful. The homemade sausage is lovely, but bf called my squid with garbanzo beans and arugula the best appetizer he'd ever had. It would never occur to me to pair squid and beans, but on my tongue they were so obviously meant for one another. The lamb ragout with pecorino on the tail of the squid was too much salt in the mouth, so I wouldn't pair those two dishes again, but the pork chop entree was simply heavenly. Chocolate terrine with sea salt and thai basil ice cream is a revelation. The food here is so simply prepared, yet flavors expertly manipulated. The people here are awesome, and the value is incredible. Three courses for $32, four-course tasting menus paired with wine for $42. You can easily pay twice as much for food of this quality. Truly tiny, gotta tiptoe your way around pots and pans in the basement kitchen to use the loo.
(5)
Samantha H.

Truly one of the very best dinners I've had in our fair city. My husband and I have a tradition of celebrating our wedding anniversary at Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain. I have never EVER been disappointed by the food or service at Ten Tables, the incredible experience we had on this past Saturday night, thanks to Jesse & Peter (the headwaiter and chef, respectively) stratospherically launched our opinion Ten Tables food & staff - and we honestly didn't think we could think any higher of the restaurant. We had 9:30 rezzers and managed to have the good fortune to score seats at the Chef's Table. The husb & I both spied the bluefish entree, although everything else did look & sound specatuclar. The Bluefish menu description really sang to us both, so we conducted some sincere, albeit humorous, negotiations. In the midst of the Bluefish discussion, which was now nearing an intensity level similar to that of the Oslo Accords, we opted for the Chef's Tasting Menu. After conferring with Chef Peter, he assured us that he would be able to incorporate a Bluefish course for the both of us, and some the Ã¼ber-fresh corn soup that made my knees buckle when I caught sight of it on the menu. What subsequently transpired, was SPECTACULAR food & service, First Course ~ Corn Soup with Jalapeno & Dill (unbelievably good & fresh - yes, swoon) ~Boudin Blanc with Garbanzo beans (a meal, in and of itself, one of the husb's favs FOREVER) Second Course ~Homemade pasta with about 3-4 different types of mushrooms (foraged THAT DAY, mind you), shaved parm reggiano, some lemon juice (I think), herbs and some truffle oil.....oy, SO INCREDIBLE. Third Course ~The BLUEFISH!!! Pan-seared and accompanied by fresh tomato& eggplant caponata, with a dollop of cucumber yogurt, served on top on squash puree. COOKED PEREFECTLY. It was absolute HEAVEN. DON'T FEAR BLUEFISH, PEOPLE! It's truly one of the most flavorful fish out there and one of the few on menus today that isn't in danger of overfishing. Fourth Course aka When I hit the Wall ~The pork chop was ABSURDLY tender and delish, however at that point, I was so full that if I ate one more bite, the zipper on the side of my top was going to burst and would run the very real risk of both, A)impaling someone in the head with my flying metal zipper fob and B) accidentally exposing my upper half to unsuspecting nearby diners. So I opted to take that course home to be savoured the next day....for everyone's benefit. Last course At this point my eyes were crossed because I was so unbelievably full and had officially entered into a spiritual realm of culinary satiation, but the two dessert presented to us were gorgeous so I had to try one bite of dessert. ~ I tasted the chocolate terrine with sea salt and thai basil ice cream and was BLOWN away. It was incredibly creative, yet simple & beautifully executed. The wine was quite good and wonderfully priced. It was Quattro Mani: Tokai from Slovenia and it went perfectly with the incredible abbondanza we enjoyed. Thanks again, Peter & Jesse!! It was our best anniversary yet! ~S&L~
(5)
Lindsay L.

Holy deliciousness on a stick, this place is great. It has become one of my two Boston area splurge locations -- you know, the "hmmm, where should we go for a special occasion if we remember to call in advance?" It's on the short list. Here's why: The food is A+ From the handmade gnocchi with roasted cauliflower and carrots to the Moroccan-style lamb with chimichurri sauce, right down to the amazing presspot coffee and the chocolate torte with thai basil ice cream, this is where I go for food that is reliably delicious and creative. The service is A+ I loved their olive oil and wine selection so much that the staff wrote it all down for me and told me where I could get it. Also worth noting: I have some food allergies, and their servers have always taken good care of me, even though I always order the vegetarian four course mystery meal. I tell them what I have to deal with for food restraints, and they adjust as needed with no complaints. The atmosphere and presentation are A+ OK, so it's a little squeezed, but at a place called "Ten Tables," you expect that. It lends to intimacy. And the prices are not bad at all! ...especially considering the quality of the food and the careful preparation. Where else can you get a four course vegetarian surprise for $29 and have it actually taste like something amazing? It's one of the few places around where both my meat-eating manfriend and my vegetarian self feel well-taken care of and well-fed.
(5)
Nicole K.

Easily one of the best meals I've ever eaten. We somehow got a last minute reservation for a Friday night at at the chef's table. We spent the evening watching and interacting with the chefs while they hustled around the kitchen. The restaurant was slammed, but the quality didn't slip and my dinner was solid top to bottom. I ordered the vegetarian tasting menu, every course of which was an unexpected combination of flavors that worked surprisingly well. Their cocktails are also infused with the same successful creativity. Bottom line, the chefs who work here must really love food - it comes through in every dish. If I'm ever in Boston again, I will definitely be eating at least one meal here.
(5)
Adam K.

Ask for "Chief's Special" !!!! You have to try it all. That was delicious! Thank you guys.
(5)
Nick N.

Preface: I'm kind of cheap. Any time I spend more than $30 a person at a restaurant, no matter how good the food was, I still feel a little bit of regret. But not here. Restaurant Week can kiss my ass. For a fancy mid-week dinner, the $32 3-course meal every Wednesday cannot be beat. Recommending a specific dish would be pointless, not just because the menu changes seasonally, but because everything is amazing. They only have 2 beers on tap, but, no surprise, they're usually both good. Last time I came, it was Alligash White and a BBC selection. If you're having dinner for two and don't mind not sitting across from your date, try to reserve the Chef's Table (the bar overlooking the kitchen). My only other advice, if you need to use the bathroom, ask where it is first. I opened the back alley door, the downstairs office door, and the freezer door before finally finding the porcelain pot.
(5)
Leslie S.

Went here for a friend's birthday dinner. Four of us had a 9:30pm reservation on a Wednesday night. The menu was 3 for $33 dollars (not sure if that's every wednesday....). This is a great deal seeing as how the entree's are over 20 dollars anyway (although you don't have to order this way). Meal: They started us out with a complimentary 'shot' of some sort of carrot puree with some chives on top. It was followed with bread/olive oil. Both good. Appetizer: Parsnip soup with crispy duck prosciutto served warm. Delicious. Entree: (my friend and I went halfsies on two) 1. Hanger steak with roasted parsnips , caramelized onion soubise and salsa verde. This was delicious and the meat was cooked exactly as i had asked for (medium rare). The sauce it came with was so good. 2. the pan roasted pork chop with a mustardy spaetzle, carrots, and ramp butter. this was PERFECT. the pork was awesome! i've never had spaetzle and it was YUM. dessert: poundcake with homemade ice cream and rhubarb. (the dessert my friend ordered, they ran out of the peanut brittle, so they brought a complimentary dessert of some sort of pistachio semi-freddo) both these were absolutely perfect and delicious! Also had a nice cup of coffee after the meal. I usually don't take my coffee black, but this coffee was so nice it didn't require anything else! The food definitely gets a 5 star rating! The service gets a 5 star rating, too!! They were all extremely friendly and didn't mind that our table was the very last to clear out, even after they had started cleaning up. I already want to go back here!
(5)
Adam D.

OK, on my second visit to TT, I was disappointed. Again, I ordered the steak. It was an underwhelming cut of skirt steak, not nearly tender enough, with a sauce that was overly acidic. My wife's pasta was awful. Mint and pasta just don't work, at least not in that dish. So, I'll go once more, but I'm nervous. I really want this place to do well. My first review: I love this place. It doesn't get any better at this price. I would eat here every day if I could. GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO if you are even considering it.
(3)
Japhia L.

this place is fantastic! MY BF took me here for my birthday, and we sat at the chefs table (reserve this in advance) we were able to watch all the food being prepared, what an art! The food and atmosphere are amazing! this place is small so be sure to get a reservation
(5)
Hillary M.

Ten Tables has 11 tables. Oh, no, wait, they have 10. Ha. They squeeze 'em in the space and it is surprisingly cozy. It helps that they'll take your coat. I love that they have that curtain thing at the front door in winter to deal with the nasty breeze that chills all the patrons when people come in and out. Definitely adds to the cozy atmosphere. I came here with the in-laws and was immensely preggers. We did the fixed price course thing (tasting menu?) and it was FANTASTIC. I loved the planned menu. The fish soup was outstanding, as was the amuse bouche of beet soup. They were very sweet to bring me a dessert that didn't involve raw food and they had several tasty options in the non-alcoholic drink department so I didn't feel like the big loser out to dinner when everyone else ordered pretty cocktails. I was surprised at how reasonably priced everything was considering the quality. Service was great and watching the cooks work was really neat. The bathroom deserves mention - I'd almost say you should go just to check out how a place overrides ADA law to stick a bathroom in the very back corner of a basement with the furnace in the same room. It was surreal hauling my big self down those narrow stairs to get to the bathroom, but worth it to check out the basement kitchen (also where they store the coats and wine).
(4)
Vera K.

Only been once for a romantic dinner, was as delicious as it gets! Got to sit chef side.
(5)
Rachel D.

LOVED IT. My fiancee and I went here to celebrate our recent engagement. The only reservation I could get on Saturday was 5:30 p.m. So I took it. Probably could equally have just shown up at 5:30, but meh. Place was empty when we got there. He ordered a beer, I ordered the Lavender Fizz. Very tasty. We were sent complimentary melon/sparkling wine soup shots topped with chive, chili, a little olive oil. I liked it - he was more ambivalent. We threw ourselves on the mercy of the tasting menu. with wine pairings for each course. It was fab. First course was the charcuterie. There was this cured venison that knocked my socks off. Pork pate was very nice too. Served with a white that was much like a Riesling, but wasn't one. Second course was the cavatelli alla puttanesca with Allandale farm tomatoes, white anchovies, orange zest, and bread crumbs. Served with a red described as "jammy and earthy" by the waiter. Nice pairing. Did not expect to enjoy orange in my pasta as much as I did. Main was the Meyer hanger steak with roasted new potatoes, Enterprise Farm patty pan squash, and pepper jam. Served with a nice Syrah. And holy crap, the steak was GREAT. I'm not normally a steak fan. Don't like the chewiness. But this was cooked perfectly (rare), and melted in my mouth. Squash added a nice mild crunch. Potatoes were cooked just right. Dessert was, for me, the boca negra cake with peppermint ice cream. DELISH. However, after all the rich food I would have preferred my fiancee's peach crisp with vanilla ice cream. Forget what the wine pairings were - for him it was a white and for me a red. Somewhere in there I had the lemongrass saffron martini, which was nicely crafted and impressed me more than the lavender fizz. The service did go downhill as the evening wore on, though our waiter was almost TOO attentive at the beginning. Another waitress began to chip in as the place filled up. Did feel a little rushed toward the end. So minus one star. All in all, a great meal with the great man who will soon be my husband. I could have cried with joy, I was so happy. Can't wait to come up with an excuse to go back and sit at the open kitchen.
(4)
Anna W.

What can I write about Ten Tables that hasn't already been said? Honestly, this was one of the BEST dining experiences in my life. From the minute I walked through the door, until the minute I walked out of them, this place was nothing short of perfection. The boy and I were able to get a late dinner reservation on a Friday night. We got there on time, but no tables were open yet (after all, there are only ten of them!). The server told us it would be about five minutes, and gave us each a small glass of white wine to enjoy while we waited (seriously, how many places do that??). There is no waiting area in the restaurant, so we felt a little weird standing by the door while diners around us enjoyed their meals, but it was much too cold to go wait outside, so we huddled close together and waited out our five minutes. When a seat opened up, we were seated immediately. The restaurant is small, but quaint and cozy. The kitchen is in open view, and the staff is small, but attentive. We got a carafe of water as well as some bread immediately after we sat down. We also got a small shot glass of soup - some sort of turnip soup that was absolutely delicious. After quickly perusing the menu, we decided to go with the four-course tasting menu. In order to get the tasting menu, everyone at your table must order the same. It is sort of a "surprise me" menu. You have no idea what you will get, and the offerings change daily. The boy is allergic to most shellfish, so we told our waiter that, and he was more than accommodating with our request. He also suggested some wines and beers to accompany our meal, which is awesome for a wine novice like myself. All I had to tell him was that I liked sweet white wines and was generally a fan of Riesling and he recommended a wine that ended up being amazing and the perfect accompaniment to my meal. Our food came out at a good pace, and as each dish was presented to us, we were told what it was and what was it in. We started off with handmade sausage on a bed of lentils, then Char with roasted potatoes and baby carrots, then some sort of chicken dish (don't remember the name of it, but ohmygod was it amazing), then a palette cleanser of sherbert, and finally slices of banana nut cake. I am salivating all over my keyboard right now as I think back at our meal! This place really is as good as it gets -- I can't rave about it enough. I am sure I will be back on a regular basis to try out more of their tasting menu! Ten Tables = Perfection!
(5)
Melissa D.

PLEASE SEND MY COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF! I was and am so excited to experience Ten Tables for the first time and they did not disappoint. I was beaming with delight from one of the 10 tables. Very intimate and a staff about 4 people to pour water, wine, switch out plates and be there at your service. We had the chef's 4 course tasting menu and I was wary at first but I trusted him, after seeing past reviews here. The open kitchen was so calm with 2 chefs working their magic. First course was a fresh taste of raw halibut, thinly sliced that was spiced up with arugula and radish - what a delight. Then we had a soup filled with a hearty piece of fish, squid, and mussels with a nice creamy broth and topped with some type of hollandaise sauce. Our entree was steak with crispy patatas bravas. Steak was nicely seared and cooked medium rare. We ended it with a chocolate and mint ice cream. With a chef tasting at $40 and excellent, unique selection of wine bottles at a cheap price, you can't beat this in Boston. It took us a couple of weeks to book a table on a friday night but it's worth it. Please support local businesses, especially ones who can make your experience as best as they can.
(5)
Kate E.

I had high expectations and they were disappointed. It's so dark you need a flashlight to look at the menu, which I guess is a rational approach to how tight space is, but my steak entree was presented in layers and it took me half the meal to find the greens because they were under the steak and I couldn't see them. The food was OK, but not what I was hoping for and expecting--my entree was overwhelmed by garlic. The menu is also very short, which is challenging for hubby and me due to lactose intolerance. I wouldn't have minded that if the food had been as good as reported. In short, nothing special. Not all that pricey though.
(2)
Jack K.

We had an early dinner at the bar. Per a recommendation, I had the burger. I can say without reservation that it was among the best burgers I had ever had. For drinks, I had the thai gimlet, which was also excellent. I've been to Grass Fed a few times, and while I like the burgers there, Ten Tables far exceeds Grass Fed, both in terms of product and atmosphere.
(5)
David Q.

The tasting menu was amazing, and the prices were very reasonable compared to other boston area restaurants. The service was incredibly attentive. We would definitly come back.
(5)
Lena N.

My date suggested this restaurant because she's always wanted to try it. And whoa! This restaurant blew my pants off, which made my date very happy with her restaurant choice. Atmosphere: Very cozy. I love the intimate feel of this place and the exposed brick wall is a plus. Drinks: They have a really good wine list without it being an overwhelming number of wines to choose from. Our bartender also really knew his wines. My date & I both really enjoyed the wine he recommended us. Although I had wine, their cocktail list were very creative and enticing. Service: Attentive without being annoying. Food: Awesome! Because we couldn't decide on just one thing on the menu, we both got the tasting menu. I got the regular one while she got the vegan one. I forgot what my date had because I was making out with my food the whole time. But she really enjoyed her meal so I think it's worth ordering! My appetizer was pate, which was simple but delicious. The second course was salmon with spinach and other things. The salmon was flaky and the skin was crispy. Cooked to perfection. My third course was the short ribs on a bed of polenta. The short ribs melted in my mouth and was so flavorful. The polenta was also perfectly seasoned and not overbearingly buttery. For dessert, it was bread pudding with butterscotch ice cream on top. I was ecstatic about this because I love bread pudding with a passion. The bread pudding was not too sweet and not soggy. The ice cream was a nice touch too. Definitely a high quality bread pudding. Overall: I was definitely smiling after this meal. Everyone in Boston should definitely visit this place. =] I would eat here way more often if I were not on a graduate student budget (read: negative income).
(5)
Anoni M.

This meal would have cost $100+ in Chicago, without wine, too. My buddy and I ate here twice in one week (since I'm not from Boston). The second time we were able to score the bar seats with the view to the kitchen - totally worth it. Read the other reviews regarding the food, I can't add anymore. One thing i will say is that the chef, Sean/Shawn/Shaun is quite deft with bringing out flavors in the vegetables and herbs. If you're a foodie like me (dinner conversation consists of talking about the food you are currently eating, wish you could eat, reminiscing about good food you ate, or creating combination of dishes from the past into a better more awesome dish), bar seating is the place to be. The chefs as long as they're not busy are quite engaging and surprisingly receptive to your opinions (at least mine and my friend's). Go to the Wednesday prix fixe. There can't be a better deal for the quality of food.
(5)
C S.

My favorite restaurant in Mass! I love this place, its nothing but excellent. In fact, I am afraid to tell you how great it is, because I am afraid I wont be able to get a reservation after ;) The 10 TABLES IN Jamaica Plain, has everything! Nice atmosphere, nice wine, nice cheeses, nice food, and amazing staff!!! You feel you are worth a million, when you get there. The service is over the top, always nice, respectful, and they will go out of their way, in order for you to have an unforgettable experience. The place is so intimate, it only has 10 tables, isn't that cool? They also have a bar next to the restaurant. The kitchen is on the open, and the place itself its' magical. They are versatile with their food, every week something new, interesting...an entrÃ©e from France, maybe from Spain, may be from Greece...It keeps regulars coming back!! I love it!!!
(5)
AB H.

I really do love Ten Tables. I had a fabulous tarragon mixed drink: cool and refreshing. We started with cold spicy tomato soup, which was the low part of the meal; it was bland and spicy at the same time. The also had the beet and goat cheese terrine which was delicious! I loved the pistachios sprinkled on the salad. We had the chorizo-stuffed chicken; the put the sausage under the skin of the chicken and the cool it- perfection. The evening was topped off with their flourless chocolate cake and homemade mint ice cream. The cake had sea salt sprinkles... sooo good. We had pretty good service; they could be a tiny friendlier. Note: They now have a wheelchair accessible bathroom, but the path to the bathroom is super narrow because of tables and bar stools - boooo.
(5)
Kathy Y.

We came here for Wednesday's Pick your Favorite 3 - (pretty much a prix fix) Pick your Appetizer, Entree, Dessert. This is a nice, small, quiet place. Hence the name Ten Tables. Not a good place for kids and groups. They only take Visa/Master Card. We had their house wine (cabaranet/shiraz), it was good, medium bodied. They first brought out a shooter sample of a cream based soup. That was very flavorful. The texture was all there and the display was great. Appetizer - My cousin had: WARM RADICCHIO AND ENDIVE SALAD WITH BLOOD ORANGE, CANDIED WALNUTS AND SHERRY VINAIGRETTE **I sampled a little bit of this and it was great. Everything was fresh and nicely displayed. I had: HOUSE-MADE BIERWURST WITH RED WINE BRAISED CABBAGE. This was very good, the cabbage was different from your normal cabbage, had alot of flavor and was crispy fresh! For the Entrees we both had: ALL NATURAL MEYER HANGER STEAK WITH GIGANTE BEANS, ARTICHOKES, MARROW BONE AND CAPER-PARSLEY SALAD **We both thought this was very tender and well cooked. The bone marrow is pretty much for display, unless if you like the fattiness that comes out of the bone. Capers, can't go wrong, always full of flavor. Beans - mushy (the way beans suppose to be - they weren't bad and i am not that big of a fan of beans). Artichoke - literally one in there. For the Dessert, we both had: CHOCOLATE TERRINE WITH THAI BASIL ICE CREAM AND SEA SALT **This had quite a different taste to it, but it was a good taste. The chocolate wasn't insanely rich, so the ice cream and terrine mix went perfectly. All the flavors were there in the dishes and came together very well. It really satisfied my pallette and didn't break my wallet. Because it was the Wednesday night special, the Hanger Steak is an additonal $6. But it was worth it. It is still worth to get more bang for your buck. I would recommend this to others and I strongly recommend that reservations be made.
(4)
Aislinn H.

I cannot explain my love for this place. My gentleman friend and I went back for our anniversary(this time with reservations) and we had a lovely time. Sure, there was lots of wine and free champagne(this by the way is the way to my heart) and the food was, as always, amazing. But what I'm really updating you on is this service. The service is EXCELLENT. We had the same server as last time, which was a solid 6ish months ago, and he not only remembered our occupations, taste in wine and other such information, but he remembered my name and it's correct pronunciation! Now, having grown up with such an unusual name I got used to various butcherings of its pronunciation, for those not in the know it is Ash-linn. This particular server happened to know an Aislinn in his youth and managed to connect my face and the name 6 months and thousands of happy diners later. I nearly fainted with joy.
(5)
Meg T.

I went to Ten Tables on my last night in Boston with my boyfriend, and the experience was SO good that I think we'll be permanent fixtures when I move there next year. We arrived in the midst of Boston's first snow of the year (on October 18th!) and were taken immediately down to the "waiting room", which is actually their prep kitchen. The place is so tiny (really... it's just ten tables) that this was the only spot we could fit. We loved it, though -- our waitstaff was so polite and funny and gracious and thoughtful that even the prep kitchen seemed charming and romantic. We were quickly seated at our table, and ordered the Chef's tasting menu with wine pairings so we wouldn't have to make our own choices from the menu. I believe the tasting menu was $40ish, and the wine pairings were about $23 more on top of that. From the first dish, we were in love. The food was delicious, creative, well-presented and made from seasonal ingredients, and the wine pairings were perfectly suited to the flavours on each plate. I can't think of many things more lovely than sitting with my guy, eating fantastic food in an intimate, candlelit setting while the snow blew by on a chilly night. Highly, highly recommended. A DEAL in Boston, where dining out is rarely reasonably priced.
(5)
B D.

There's the irritating insistence of the serving staff on explaining at length every single ingredient in your dish as it's slowly placed in front of you because naturally, you have forgotten what you ordered in the time that has passed. Even if you've been coming once a week for 4-5 weeks and ordered the same dish, you still get told that your organic walnut and local cranberry salad with cage-free arugula topped with organic locally sourced cruelty-free bluecheese dressing from Chartreuse the Cheesemaker, in a Maine-grown pine bowl milled in a union, working-wage mill, served to you by Ash who has a bachelors in modern art from Brown and PhD in political science from Reed, who lives 3 blocks down the street in a commu....JESUS CHRIST WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST PUT MY SALAD DOWN ON THE TABLE SO I CAN EAT IT. You can show up for your reservation and wait for 15 minutes for "your" table to come available...all the while, being constantly in the way of the staff despite being pressed against the door. The "mocktails" are a ripoff at $5 for a tiny glass mostly full of ice, with some juice and a sprig of mint. The real cocktails are all well over $10 for a tiny, tiny glass...
(2)
Karam S.

So this needs an explanation... On paper this should have my favorite meal while I was in Boston, some said "a foodie's dream." Few tables (ten to be exact), kitchen intertwined with the dining room, quirky sophisticated funny waiters, fresh local ingredients... but I was brought back to that perfect term coined by the Simpsons. The meal was MEH. Mind you I had expectations. And if anyone has read my reviews, expectations are usually a bad thing no matter what they're for. The hip dÃ©cor, intimate seating, small portions all passed the test, but the food itself just lacked a solid execution. We got a great Amuse bouche of pureed tomato, water, salt, olive oil, and herbs which led me to believe the entrees would be just as refreshing and inventive. I got the cod, which was cooked nicely, but really didn't blow me out of the water with flavor, and my friend got the duck which was obviously over cooked but decent because of the sweet sauce and onions. On paper everything sounded good, but again, the meal was just not executed well. Dessert was also in-consistent. My friend got the biscuit dessert which was small, but extremely tasty, probably the best part of the entire meal. Fresh strawberries, really moist thin biscuits, just overall a really nice dessert. My chocolate terrine with basil ice cream on the other hand was a complete let down. It was too cold, too dense, and flavorless and the ice cream had the faintest hint of basil in it, basically tasted like vanilla, but was actually better when I added a little sea salt to it. The reason I give it a three star is because for the prices and build up, I want inventive, radically simple, or just plane good food. On a slight positive note, the cocktails were good (I can't even expand on it, I feel so...blah.)
(3)
Kelly S.

Solid, go about every 6 weeks, has never disappointed. I like the new bar a lot. Most recent dish was pickled mussels - could have eaten a bucket full of 'em. Try to make a wine dinner. Consistent performer in Boston - a town of overrated, uneven options.
(4)
denis s.

Scale 1 = poor, 5 = outstanding CUSTOMER SERVICE: 2 -- They would have gotten a 4, but when you make a reservation they take your credit card and charge you $15 if you don't show up. Way to get off on the right foot. FOOD: 3. People in JP rave about this place but we did not have that same experience. AMBIANCE: 2. Do not go to this place in the winter. Every time the door opens you'll see your breath. VALUE: 2. Expensive.
(2)
Evan G.

I looked around on some articles for a nice romantic place to go and I found Ten Tables and decided after reading reviews and what not that this one was a winner. Though I must say I'm glad that I read the reviews ahead of time. One thing you have to be prepared for is parking, there will be NOWHERE to park. I'm glad I left early because me being 15 minutes early for my reservation turned into me being on time for my reservation after having to go back and forth a couple times on the street. If you are planning on going here, make a reservation. I made mine a day in advance and I still couldn't get a seat in the main dining room, I was at a table on the bar side against the wall, and the table was probably 3 feet from the nearest barstool. And this was on a weeknight. I'm still fine with all of this because I read ahead of time, and I was pretty prepared for all of this. It's a very intimate place, and the service was great. They were out of the bottle of Malbec that I wanted, but the waiter was good enough to recommend something else that I thought was very good. Had the tasting menu and everything was delicious. Small portions, but that's what you're going to get with upscale dining. Arctic Char was good, not really the type of fish that I prefer, but I still recognize that it was cooked very well and had alot of flavor. Pork Chop was phenomenal, over a butternut squash puree. Desert was good as well, liked that we got 2 different deserts so we could share. Also had a port wine flight which was great. I'd go back, but I'd like to experience the main dining room, because this place is like a closet. Again, I expected that considering the place is CALLED Ten Tables, they literally have 10 tables in the dining room. Just make sure you make a reservation, and stick to it.
(4)
Gail C.

LOVE this place. I haven't been to Ten Tables since they extended (can't wait to see it) but I have dined here several times over the last few years and it has never failed to impress and send me on my way with a comfortably full tummy and a smile on my face. The atmosphere is cozy, intimate and subtly romantic. The menu, though on the small side, is always delicate perfection with elegant and reasonably priced food. The service is fast and really friendly. Love the drinks menu too. Ten Tables is consistently a treat and a gem in JP!
(5)
Minerva P.

Wonderful birthday celebration for Annelise! The food was fabulous as was the company! We will be back next year !
(5)
Amanda G.

4.5 stars is more like it. Ten Tables Cambridge is a must-try because the food is delicious, the service is top-notch, and the experience is unlike most places in the Boston area. The highlights: -- The tasting menu. A fairly priced experience you won't get most places full of gourmet surprises based on seasonable ingredients. -- The food! Really everything was delicious - I'm not a big meat eater so I wasn't *in love* with some of the offerings but that doesn't meant every bit of the meal wasn't special, tasty and presented beautifully. My favorites -- and this will change based on when you go -- were the blue fish pate appetizer, the butternut squash soup (to die for) and the white fish in broth which was cooked to perfection. My main was probably my least favorite - chicken & pork sausage in mashed potatoes - not because it wasn't delicious but because it was literally a giant sausage and I felt slightly accosted (my boyfriend's favorite part of the meal). -- The service. Spot-on, five star service and they'll make adjustments to the tasting menu if you have certain diet restrictions which is fab. The only downside and 1/2 star dock -- it was 100 degrees in the restaurant despite the cold weather outside. The place is pretty small - nice, though - and the kitchen isn't closed as far as I can tell so it got steamy. My thighs were sticking to my seat and my boyfriend was concerned he'd sweat through his shirt. Also, they have a small amount of parking available but we didn't know that so we had to hike from Harvard Square to get there. Lastly, dress nice. This place isn't fancy by any means but nicer/more romantic than we'd expected based on other Yelp reviews. Definitely a unique, wonderful experience I'm sure to try again!
(4)
Jenny B.

3.5 stars, would come back again and hope for a better main course - bread rolls were cold. after getting the awesome bread at mistral this was a disappointment - got chef's mystery tasting menu, wish they would tell us what they were serving - basil soup- good - mussel and clam broth: too salty - pork- ok, the polenta was good - panna cotta with cherries good, but the brownie with basil ice cream was just ok. -
(3)
Allison B.

Realistically, a 4.5. We came for the special wine pairing dinner, which at $42, is quite reasonable. I have to admit I was initially disappointed to see that the first course was a greek salad - so standard. But I was pleasantly surprised, and have no qualms about saying it was the best greek salad I've ever had. As cheesy as it may sound, I found their unique additions - sliced radishes? something crunchy? - truly inspiring, and made me want to experiment with my ho-hum salad making. The second course brought green garlic soup for me, as a pescetarian, and chicken and red miso soup for the bf. It was delicious, and the accompanying bread was superhearty (a personal weakness, and much appreciated). The main dish - salmon atop grilled asparagus for me - was good, but fairly par for the course. The bf thoroughly enjoyed his dish of sausage and fingerling potatoes. And finally, a pound cake with blueberries and cream rounded out the meal. Refreshing, but I might've preferred the vanilla creme brulee and pistachio shortbread on their standard menu. The sommelier deserves his own shout-out, as he was fabulous. I especially enjoyed learning about graziano wine - after a semester abroad in Spain I figured I'd tried every wine from Rioja, but he set me straight :) So why the 1/2 star deduction? I get that we went on a special night with a fixed menu, and I get that the courses were probably picked specifically to match the wine selection, but the bf and I both agreed that we would have like some degree of choice in our courses. Who's to say that just because he's a carnivore, he wouldn't have chosen the green garlic soup over the chicken?
(4)
B. L.

I'm so lucky that Ten Tables is in my neighborhood- this place will forever be a favorite. Where else can you go to get a 4-course vegetarian tasting menu for $32? I have come here a number of times with dates or family- it is intimate and the food quality is outstanding. The tasting menus definitely deliver bang for your buck. I am gluten free and have also come here with a vegan date; if you specify your food restrictions in your reservation they will definitely serve you a top notch meal. Although they serve up great meat-focused dishes, their vegetarian tasting menu doesn't miss a beat, and it's significantly cheaper ($32 vs $42). So if you're looking for a budget-friendly way to have a great food experience, I recommend going that route. Last time I ate here I have to admit that I enjoyed tasting all my dates veg dishes better than my carnivore ones- surprising for this meat lover!
(5)
Diana L.

UPDATE: 08/20/2007 After relocating to Boston and eating at a bunch of other $$$ restaurants around town (i.e. Sandrine's, Atlantic Fish Co, Grotto, etc.), I'm taking away a point from Ten Tables. For the price, you could easily go somewhere else for better food and friendlier service. ******************** Definitely one of the better restaurants we dined at on our trip to Boston. They started us off with a cucumber puree amuse bouche and some bread with olive oil. Good stuff. T ordered the housemade chorizo with gigantic white beans. The beans weren't so gigantic (fyi). But they were TASTY. Their soft texture and light, clean flavor were the perfect complement to the spiced, robust chorizo. We also had the grilled fish with romesco and farro, which was pretty good, and the salad, which was decent, and the steak, which was cooked perfectly at medium rare on the inside, but tough and dry on the outside. Sad. But 4 stars anyway, for the chorizo and the fish. I'd go back for those two dishes alone.
(3)
Amica M.

I have to admit that the food is usually pretty good. It's just that the restaurant is small and cramped, and the owners or managers are inflexible. On the restaurant side, you are constantly getting jostled by the wait staff and people coming and going. Don't even think of having a private conversation. Oddly, the bar side has more privacy. I called for reservations and whoever answered was just difficult. Why? Don't they want business? Then they made me give them my credit card number. In Jamaica Plain? Really? They were planning to charge me $50 if I no-showed. I've been there several times and have never no-showed on a reservation in my life. When we arrived, we got a table in the midst of all the traffic. We ordered wine and cocktails. We were ordering entrees and appetizers when one of my companions wanted to order a couple of favorite appetizers from the bar menu. We were all ordering entrees from the restaurant menu as well. Do you think they would accommodate that? The answer is no. As my friend says, "No hospitality heart". There are other places with good food that want my business and take joy in pleasing their customers. I choose to support those places.
(2)
Patrick J.

I was expecting Ten Tables to be insanely good. You know, eye popping, body shivering taste experiences that make you want to run around "whoop-whooping" like Moe or Curly. Alas, I was not driven to feats of madness by the food of 10 Tables. I simply sat there and enjoyed myself. How boring. First off, Ten Tables is not great for four people. It's clearly a two person dining experience. We got sat at the only remaining four person table right next to the door. Not the best place, especially during the dead of winter. I could give a complete rundown of what was ordered, but I won't bore you. Everything was at a consistent quality level, good but not insane. It's a good restaurant, there's no doubt. A ten in fact. But I'm still looking for that Boston restaurant that's an eleven. There's got to be one.
(4)
Alan S.

Fancy restaurant taste for very reasonable price. Went on a Tuesday night a few weeks ago for a special tasting menu and wine paring special. $44 for four course tasting menu AND wine. Or $35 for four course tasting menu without (for me since I don't drink). What a deal. Started with the salad of roasted beets, arugula, goat cheese, and candied walnuts. Course two was a kale and potato stew with shrimp and aioli. Course 3 was a steak with roasted vegetables, and the dessert was a gingerbread cake with orange creme anglaise. The food was all delicious and fresh. Love the atmosphere with the open kitchen but love the bar area much more. A little darker and more romantic. While the service was prompt and friendly my only complaint on the weekly wine dinner was that there was no explanation from the wait staff on what they were serving and why it paired with the wine. I thought that was the whole point of having the special wine dinner.
(5)
Ina C.

Ten Tables is now synonymous to the best Valentine's Day ever. Where to begin?? I had a whole paragraph describing the decor and ambiance, but deleted it. Just know this: It is near perfection. I see why this place succeeded Grotto as Best of Boston's Most Romantic (affordable). Get ready to drool... From the V-Day 3-course prix-fixe menu, he ordered the lobster chowder, cavetelli pasta and lemon something. I ordered the tagliatelle, duck and lemon something. APPETIZERS: The lobster chowder, complete with huge chunks of lobster and potato, was creamy, full of flavor, and nothing even close to ordinary. The tagliatelle appetizer was remarkably unique, with firm, fresh peas, richly flavored mushrooms and a crunchy something-or-other that made the texture of this dish unforgettable. ENTREES: The duck was like nothing I'd had before. It reminded me of the tenderest lamb chop, seasoned in a way that I'd never expect a duck to taste. The impressive thing about the cavatelli was that the pasta was definitely homemade and was extremely fresh! DESSERT: The lemon something. It was like a lemon ice cream (or custard?) with a blueberry compote and some candied nuts (definitely more "candied" than "nuts" - the way I like it!). The interaction of all the sweet, sour, crunchy and soft made for a really nice ending to our meal. There's very little I could've asked for to make this experience any better. This place IS all that!
(5)
Tracy P.

I am so glad about the new wine bar addition to the original location! You can stop in and try for a seat at the bar or you can call ahead to reserve a high top table. The last time I went with friends I called on a Thursday and was able to secure a high top for three people for dinner Friday night at 7:30. Not bad, concerning Friday at 7:30 is a prime time dining slot. The food is still just as amazing, and even better now that on the wine bar side you can choose from the full Ten Tables menu or the Ten Tables Bar menu. The burger is just insanely good, and the antipasto board is inspired yummie-ness. The drinks are actually quite varied considering the limitations of their beer, wine & cordials license. I actually recommend trying the wine flight. It varies and it never lets you down. The only reason I didn't give the full five stars is because the bar chairs are so tightly packed that they are literally inches apart. I don't mind because the service and food make up for the tight quarters, but for guests who haven't experienced the restaurant yet the proximity of other diners can be off putting at the start. However, with out fail once the service begins and the food arrives fellow diners blend into the background and all that's left is a symphony of taste and service.
(4)
Caitlin B.

I'm obsessed with this restaurant. Everything I've eaten and drank here has been phenomenal. So many combinations of flavors that I've never tried. We tried the tasting menu with wine pairings the first time going and then have had delicious things on the bar side twice. My personal favorite was the papardelle with rabbit and the TT burger. Literally the best burger I've ever had. only cons: - small, there was no place to stand when we were waiting to be seated and kept having to shuffle around for anyone walking by. but it definitely played into the romantic ambience once we were seated - our waitress (restaurant side) was kind of snooty, didn't smile much or seem to care about us. but both times on the bar side our waiter was lovely
(5)
Benjamin E.

I live in the neighborhood and cannot wait to return. Just stopped in for some drinks and bar bites and was wowed by their food. Started with the Charcuterie: Amazing. Difficult to remember all the pieces, but they had a pate on there that I could have eaten pounds of. They had in-house chorizo on there which could have been drier (I've been to enough chorizo festivals in Portugal to know) but definitely had potential. There was something akin to a duck confit which was also great. Had the olives: delicious, standard. The mussels: PEI mussels steamed in beer and finished with whole grain mustard. These were phenominal, though I heard they weren't on the menu as of recently. The two croutons at the bottom of the bowl were heaven. Potato leek soup: with local ham (which was this dish's highlight) was not leeky enough for my taste. Overall wowed by the food. Bar staff was very friendly and attentive and kept our water glasses full (we were very thirsty). We had the priviledge of sitting next to the sous-chef (there with a friend on his day off) who talked to us about the dishes and was clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about their food.
(4)
Marietta A.

I went here based on a recommendation from a friend, for an anniversary dinner. The food was sooooo very good. A little salty, but not so bad that I couldn't appreciate the work that went into it. I had the spring onion soup, which was so wonderful to start with, and made for a very happy belly. The only reason I'm giving Ten Tables 4 stars instead of 5, is because of the first impression. The hostess, while I understand was very busy, was less then personable when we arrived for our reservation. Not a great first impression. Luckily our waiter was so fantastic and friendly. I will definitely go back and will recommend this restaurant to friends.
(4)
Megan S.

Does Ten Tables need another 5 star review? YES! It's that good. Impeccable service. Cool ambiance. Coletrane playing in the background. And of course, the food. Make a reservation, because with only 10 tables, its often crowded, and there's no where to wait. Word is they're opening a wine bar next door, though.
(5)
Sharon C.

I'm sorry, but I don't think Ten Tables lives up to the hype. My boyfriend and I came here for the second time tonight. I wasn't amazed. I'm a very picky eater I have to admit, but I enjoy good food I swear. Last time we got octopus salad for an app, and the rest is a blur.. Wasn't memorable enough I guess. But I thought it was just a fluke so we came back. Tonight I got the sausage app (housemade sausage btw), and trout for my main. Boyfriend got the cured fish/salmon mousse app with the chicken entree. It wasn't amazing. Maybe we should have ordered something else? Either way there's only a choice of 5 apps and 5 main courses. I understand their menu changes constantly so there's always a next time...but I just wasn't wowed -- neither times we went. The place looks gorgeous. The wait staff is fab. The food came out quick. Drinks were good. I think I'm going to a agree with my 3 star people on this one and say it's overrated.
(3)
Rune W.

Having visited their second location (in Cambridge, at the former site of Tony Maws' since-relocated Craigie Street Bistro) first, I had lofty expectations for the flagship. I'll confess to a modicum of disappointment, initially, at their recent expansion. More of 'Aw, shucks' that I couldn't appreciate the much-ballyhooed teeny-tiny sweetness that previous reviewers and commenters had noted fondly. The dining area, however, is unchanged and the expansion amounts -- basically -- to a bar with a few extra seats. You can still sit at a window seat for two and be close enough to the completely open kitchen to hear that satisfying sizzle of your meat meeting a well-used copper pan. The decor is simple and classic and it's very much a romantic sort of joint. Not the sort of venue for a night wit-yo-boys or a family with young septuplets. But I digress ... The vibe and the service are both excellent but the true draw is the food. Milady and myself experienced -- from an ever-rotating menu known for capitalizing on local and seasonal produce -- the evening's charcuterie (a delightful pork pate with shallots and golden raisins, served alongside stone-ground mustard, miniature pickles and toast), the pork tenderloin (served on a bed of sweet potato puree and collard greens) and a bourride featuring monkfish, clams and the most wonderful (and indescribable) aioli-based Provencal sauce. All were wonderful and are -- if they happen to be available on your next visit -- highly recommended. Forgoing TT's signature dessert -- a chocolate terrine with Thai basil ice cream -- we adventured to a cake topped with pine nuts and served with a quince sauce and goat cheese ice cream. The cake itself was bland and boring (one of two small knocks on the evening ... the other being a disappointing and overly tanniny syrah/cabernet blend) but its accompaniments were novel and delicious. If you haven't discovered Ten Tables yet, it's high time to catch wise. In every way, it's one of the finest dining experiences in the Boston area. But here's the real question, Yelpers: How does the original location compare to that satellite across the river? For me, first is best.
(5)
Ashley W.

I'll admit I have plenty of room to be biased here: I am in the food industry (and the Ten Tables in Cambridge is in the old location of the restaurant where I work) and I am from JP. But I remember when TT opened and how much we lauded it then. Then I moved away and lived in Chicago and New York and Oakland, only returning in the middle of this past winter. In my absence, Ten Tables added a bar area with bar seating and tables. As fab as the restaurant is, my jam is kinda in the bar. Try the beerger Mondays and get a massive, perfectly cooked burger with slaw and a beer for $15. Or go for terrines and wine flight: such a reasonably priced way to indulge. And of course the dining room menu is available there, so you can do your 3 course meal barside if you'd like.
(5)
Laura M.

LOVE. Everything is fresh, delicious, and flavorful. The German wurst and red cabbage were the real deal, meanwhile the fish and seafood stew was equally delicious with perfect crusty bread. Although the sampler is a bit more $, it's very reasonable for the quality and diversity of food they give you, along with tiny tasters of delicious things all throughout the meal. Aside from great food, the service is A+ with helpful and friendly staff. One of my favorite restaurants in Boston, and is clearly busy for a reason.
(5)
Richard C.

In the ultimate too much of a good thing can ruin a burger scenario, Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain fires on all cylinders. Unless of course you subscribe to the theory that the burger is flawed, seriously flawed regardless, it won't make much of a difference. I secretly love places like this though, in that underground, hidden burger destination that no one is aware of, this is not the typical spot for a burger, kind of in that Craigie mold without it actually being any good. But that's kind of a major difference. It would have been superb if it were actually superb, but don't be fooled by the atmosphere, the intimacy, or the cheffy tricks they try to pull. This burger is done-in by a dreadful bun that is about five times the size of the patty itself, and far too many components that all get muddled together. Bacon aioli and A-10 Sauce sound great, and on their own they taste great, but when you pile them onto an already monstrous burger with caramelized onions, cheese and lettuce, it's too much to handle. Literally.The beef tastes a little odd, not bad, just not the beef flavor I'm used to, but maybe that's what Humanely Raised beef is supposed to taste like. To me, it tasted more porky than beefy, in that meatloaf kind of way. But it is nice and salty, formed loose, it is at least a well crafted and well cooked burger, but the flavor profiles just don't work. A fried egg, which I can never resist, is cooked perfectly and brings the richness I need, but then again it's one aggressive flavor after another. French Fries do not come with this burger, no sir, you get good old fashioned potato salad. It's a perfectly acceptable potato salad, but it's ordinary at that, and doesn't seem to justify or match the over-the-top approach taken by the burger it accompanies. The presentation, atmosphere and menu all sound great on paper, but when it comes time to deliver, Ten Tables falls short. The burger is just not burger-ish enough, the bun is far too big, and while the bacon aioli and A-10 sauce taste good on their own, it never comes together as a complete burger package. Chalk this up to another moderately priced restaurant trying too hard to achieve something that should be so simple.
(2)
Cece K.

Friendly servers and chefs who provide a fun and personal experience. Not only is the environment cozy, but the food is amazing a fresh. The menu has many creative meals, so I would recommend the chef's 4-course tasting option so that you get to experience a variety. Cocktails were also tasty. The bartender's whim allows you to experience three smaller versions of their normal menu. Perfect place to bring out-of-town visitors, to celebrate a special occasion, or go on a date. Truly is a local gem! Should be experienced before leaving Boston!!
(5)
Jason L.

This is a 3.5 star rating. Came here for the tasting menu on a Wednesday, and tried every dish. --Appetizers-- Cauliflower Veloute - good Stuffed Squid - not sure what it was stuffed with, but this had amazing flavor. went great with the black rice. Merguez sausage with spicy lentils - great smoky flavor, but not overwhelming. lentils (although not spicy) were terrific, and probably the best part. --Entrees-- Mac and cheese - eh. nothing about this dish stood out. pretty bland in my opinion. Steak with brussels - flavored well, but steak was tough. Had one piece where i almost considered spitting into my napkin, but muscled through it. Accompanying bacon/brussels were good. However, halfway through I noticed the ridiculous oil/grease that it was soaked in had begun to pool on my plate, which was a bit unappetizing. Did not finish the plate. Artic char with potatoes - if they were going for really simple/clean flavors, then yep they nailed it. Otherwise, I was underwhelmed. The potatoes were flavorless. Black truffle stuffed chicken - great combination of flavors, very tasty. Easily the best entree of the night, but mainly because the rest were average at best. --Dessert:-- Chocolate terrine - every review raves about this unique combination of basil ice cream. worth a trip just to try this dessert. Banana cake - great homemade taste Creme caramel - fine Overall, I was quite disappointed with the entrees. To me, a restaurant's centerpiece course should be its feature, and I was just underwhelmed. Not impressed with 3/4 entrees. Appetizers/dessert made up for it and keep this a 4 star rating. Portions are big, great for the price. Open kitchen is a plus, small couples-like atmosphere. Watch out to not fall down the stairs when going to the bathroom, or hitting your head on the ceiling. Food (7/10) Presentation (3/5) Decor (4/5) Service (5/5) Value (5/5)
(3)
Z D.

Sweet. Way to help me celebrate my birthday, Ten Tables. You f***ing suck. After charging us three times for our meal, service was mere empty smiles and pleasantries. All we got was some technical jargon from the waiter could barely explain it himself that, no, we wouldn't be totally F@%#ED by overdraft fees. Did I mention we drove all the way back in the snow to sort it out? Yeah, so, all we could get was a shady promise a half-assed apology and TONS of disappointment from this place. You have to understand that we were being as polite and quiet as humanly possible so as not to ruin the dinners of the patrons remaining at the establishment ... while we tried to sort the whole waiter-running-our-cards-up-into-overdraft-mode-Âthing. Today we call the bank and yeah, the waiter ran the card 5 times, thus overdrawing the bf's account and messing him up for the week. HMMM, no wonder the card was rejected, Sir Waiter the Bold and Dumb. "Merchant Error" the bank said. GEE, thanks Ten Tables. We got the chef's table. I couldn't relax because one of them looked pissed off for some reason. I felt it was a burden on him for us to be there since he kept rolling his eyes and huffing passive aggressively. It's like helloo, the reason why we got the chef's table was to spectate steller cooking, not your skills in huffing and being pissed off. The other chef was really nice and laid back. In their defense the food was fantastic. Too bad it was ruined by bad attitudes and pure incompetence. It's my birthday and I can bitch if I want to.
(1)
Natasha M.

I ordered the pan seared blue fish and it was seared to perfection. My boyfriend ordered a linguine dish with radish (to my surprise). He did enjoy his plate but definitely enjoyed mine more and begged to trade. Nope! Our server was really attentive and even brought us some cucumber soup to sample. I hate cucumbers, but it was actually delicious! We also ordered the house rose. I didn't love it, but it wasn't terrible. We were seated next to the AC wall unit and it kept dripping on me :( so I guess you should avoid wall tables.
(4)
Sonia N.

I've come here before for the entire dining experience and remembered leaving confused about the ratings. A year later, I decided to give it a second try but only for their desserts and a round of drinks and unfortunately, I left not very impressed yet again. We ordered their version of the tiramisu and please be warned, it looks and tastes nothing like one. The bartender noted that they like to do things differently there. I'd agree that it's a great concept but it still needs to taste like a dessert, right? Instead, we ate two hard ladyfingers with bland cream cheese. We also ordered their olive oil cake with hazelnut ice cream which wasn't as bad as the tiramisu but that doesn't mean I'd ever order it again. A good try to make a cake differently but I think here, maybe sticking more with traditional preparation for their desserts would be a step in the right direction.
(2)
Mike R.

Another reviewer said it best, "A gem of Jamaica Plain, I highly recommend a visit." I could not agree any more. You will find an attentive staff that knows their wines and knows their foods. We had a lovely amuse-bouche to start, and perfectly done entrees. I wish I could have sampled more of the menu. The fish was cooked perfectly and had an excellent balance of flavors. I hope to go back next time I'm in the area if only to try the tasting menus.
(4)
Young P.

Besides the fact that this place is very pricey, I really enjoyed my time at Ten Tables. We didn't make reservations so we had to sit at the bar which wasn't a problem at all. The bartender was extremely polite and nice. I ordered the burger which was pretty good. It wasn't like "out of this world" good or anything, but I was happy with the food. I asked for medium rare but it looked more like rare so I would recommend to ask them to cook the meat a level higher than you would normally want it. My fiance ordered the mac&cheese and it was really good. It's a very intimate place and I think it would be a great place for romantic dinner night.
(4)
Lauren B.

My love letter to Ten Tables, seven years overdue....The first time we went to Ten Tables was for our 5 year anniversary, tonight we went back for our 12th anniversary. We have been many times and always been impressed. Service is great, very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and wines. Tonight were fortunate enough to sit at the two chef's table seat and watch all the magic happen. We started with the charcuterie and the soft shell crab. The crab was perfect with a beautiful salad of flowers and herbs in light vinaigrette and the charcuterie was a great mix of textures and flavors including patty pan squash pickled with cinnamon. Yum! The seafood stew and mushroom risotto were equally as impressive finished off with a pine nut blondie brownie and chocolate pudding. If you are looking for amazing, creative food this is your place.
(5)
Bryan E.

I used to live around the corner from 10 tables and loved the place. This was 10 years ago. Tonight I had the chance to return for the first time in a decade. It is great when a place exceeds the memory. The food was great - we did the omnivore and vegetarian tasting menus and enjoyed every dish. The place added a bar and doubled in size yet the kitchen/chef are still able to turn out amazing dishes with subtle flavors and great local ingredients. I hope to be back again, hopefully in less than a decade. I will certainly come every time I venture out of the Pacific NW and come to Boston.
(5)
Suzanne C.

As a recent transplant to JP, my first nice dinner out was at TT for my birthday. I have been keeping my eye on this place ever since I started a new job in Cambridge a few months ago. Between the four of us, we almost managed to sample a large portion of the menu and left wanting to come back and try the rest. Comrade cocktails were amazing, great wine selection...delicious soft shell crab app (often a dish I find hard for restaurants to nail), mussels, mushrooms...fantastic steak dish peppered with a little heat and ton of flavor...seared bluefish...pork chops. Everything was a hit! Will certainly be back soon...nice to have a winner in my pocket for entertaining visiting friends!
(5)
Adrienne C.

At the end of dinner I felt like I had suffered through a culinary school student's senior practicum. The kitchen uses interesting ingredients with beautiful presentation, but they are trying too hard to be edgy -- the flavors and textures often just don't work. My husband and I tried both the vegetarian and omnivore tasting menus. A seafood stew had a strange eggplant dumpling that didn't complement the other flavors, a root vegetable dish was undercooked and had halloumi cheese accents that didn't really fit, there were some gratuitous dabs of oddball sauces that would have been fun but clashed with various dishes' main flavors, and one of the desserts was just plain terrible. There were a few high notes (the wild mushroom risotto, the bluefish salad) and the staff were lovely, but overall the menu just underperformed. When restaurants push the envelope and it works, it's so much fun. This place is the other side of the foodie coin.
(2)
Rob R.

Walked in here on a cold, and breezy winter night. The reception, however, was warm. It wasn't clear to me whether we had one server or two, but they were both quite attentive. The food was delicious in a "what-an-unusual-flavor" way. The smoked fish appetizer: chamomile infused. The duck: coffee and marmalade. The steak: allspice. The place is very dimly lit, to the point where you can't see the food that well. It was cold by the windows, but they had space heaters. This was not enough to lose a star. Bring a scarf. Good spot for an anniversary or a date.
(5)
Lady D.

Great experience here!
(5)
Chad G.

Ten Tables Parking: You're going to have to try to find a spot up along Center Street allow for some time to circle around the block a few times. You may have to walk a little bit Decor / ambience: Small, low lit, cozy, tables close together. Nice view of the kitchen which is a very tight operation in a small space. It's like the cooking right in the dining room with you. I found this to be really cool. As soon as we sat down the chef sent out a couple of shot glasses of a cauliflower purÃ©e soup with a drizzle of smoked Paprika oil on top. I thought it was a nice way to welcome us in. Greeting: Somebody was right there to greet us as we walked in. We were a few minutes early for a reservation but she got us out right away. Very nice feeling walking into this place. You certainly don't feel like a number when you enter here Menu mix: Creative with a nice selection, it's not a huge menu but it offers a lot and a wide range of flavors. Does the water taste of bleach? Probably the best tasting tapwater I've ever had. I swear this was filtered water but no hints of bleach whatsoever. It kills me when I go to will find restaurant and I go to drink the water and it taste like Clorox. Drink pour: I was quite happy with the wine pours. I had a fantastic bourbon drink there as well called a 3.2.1. And it was simply wonderful. This was a well-crafted cocktail. They have a great menu of well thought out concoctions. The drink menu is an adventure all it it's own. Food quality: There is strong culinary talents and passion in this kitchen. There's a big emphasis on local ingredients and I found the food to be particularly fresh tasting. The presentations were wonderful. Service: I think this is a team service sort of environment because we were constantly being attended to by various folks. All of which were extremely friendly, had strong knowledge in the menu and gave us great recommendations when we requested them. Value: You looking at about 200 bucks with tip and that includes two maybe three craft cocktails two glasses of wine to appetizers to entrÃ©es and splitting a dessert. I think for the quality of the food the ambience and the service that this was a fair price Bathrooms: I didn't use the bathroom but from what I'm told my wife said it's rather a squeeze to get into but proportionate to the size of this restaurant. Would I return? I would absolutely return in fact I plan on bringing one of my shifts with me to sit at the chefs bar which overlooks the small kitchen operation. I love seeing that action and it just would make my meal that much more enjoyable to see all of the orchestration. Any restaurant that offers a table like this where they can see the kitchen up close is always very attractive to me Comments / tips: They offer a chef and bar tasting menu and it's basically the chef and bartenders whim. The gentleman that were sitting to the right of us opted to do this and it looked like they were having a great time. Each course was paired off with a different beverage wine beer or cocktail. It sounded like a fun culinary ride and I might do that next time. These are the types of craftsman that you can feel comfortable with what they sent to the table. If you're picky fussy eater then you're not going to want to do this. If you're a culinary adventure or then this may be the meal program for you.
(4)
Judy N.

This place NEVER disappoints. Sat at the chef's table and talked to cooking staff all night. It was our anniversary. The chef told us about bone-marrow ice cream to which I drooled! It wasn't on the menu and for present they stuck candles in 2 bowls with the ice cream and surprised us. Delish!!! Yes, try it if you ever get the chance. Did the tasting menu with wine pairings. Every dish was presented well and yummy. Ten Tables is worth every penny. Service is always top notch.
(5)
Hayley B.

I just ate at 10 tables with my boyfriend, paid $117 for the meal with tip, had 4 courses, and am still hungry. That was the worst thought out menu I have ever tasted. And extremely overpriced. We decided to go with the tasting menu. I will admit we didn't ask what was on the tasting menu but everyone raves about it and it is not described on the menu. What we got first was fish paste, a pickled apricot, chicken liver, and crackers so hard my jaw hurt. It was disgusting! The second course was bluefish which was just decent. I would give a 7/10. We then had the pork which was probably the worst part about the meal. So much meat and not a good flavor or anything special. We then had "desert" which I'm pretty sure was a cucumber ice cream of the strangest consistency, a tomato ???, and another painfully hard cracker. A chocolate bar from cvs would have tasted better. To top it all off, I was sandwiched in between the big fan and the AC the whole meal. It was freezing. All in all, I wish I had spent this much money at Oleana and will not be returning.
(1)
Jasmine M.

Ten Tables has been one of my "go-to" restaurants for over 8 years. Their food is local, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The service is attentive. The Monday beer special on the bar side features one of the juiciest/tastiest burgers, but their prix fixe dinner options is a rare steal. GO THERE. or don't-- more for me!
(5)
Dave P.

I was skeptical after reading some bad reviews on Yelp. I didn't want to have any expectation going in. And I'm glad I did. Made a reservation for a Tuesday night's wine pairing dinner. For $49/person, you get a four course meal with a glass of wine for each course. The service was attentive and overall great. The space is pretty cramped and it was a cool night so all of us were feeling a little chilly but otherwise it felt cozy. Let's talk about their food. Our meals were, pork loin app, truffle vinigrette kale salad with poached egg, steak, and a dessert that I can't even pronounce nor type. But they were all fantastic. It was delicious, perfectly cooked, complex flavors and orgasmic. Yes, it's pricey. With tip and an extra ordering of beer our bill for the two was around $135. Some reviewers have said the portions were too small. I thought they were perfect. We didn't feel like we overate and we didn't feel like there wasn't enough food. It was just right. I rarely give out 5 stars on Yelp but this place truly deserves it. We're coming back.
(5)
Andrew R.

A solid 4. Let's set the scene. Wine dinner on Tuesday. A tasting menu of 4 courses paired with 4 wines. Each week a different region. This one was Alsace/Germany/Austria. You can guess the wines but you'd be wrong. I'd never heard of most of them except for the pinot noir. All good but on the sweeter side. The reds were my favorite. The focus seemed to be more on the wine and less on the food. At $49 for the wine dinner compared to $48 for the regular tasting menu any other day of the week, I have to think that the food is less creative/exotic/expensive than normal. So it seemed with our menu that the food, while good, wasn't mind-blowingly good. 1st course: chicken terrine with gruyere mustard and savoy cabbage. Delicious. Never had terrine before, and it was almost like an unblended pate. The star for me was the gruyere mustard, which was really more mustard gruyere. Cheesey with a kick of mustard/horseradish. 2nd: mushroom hash with blueberries cooked in duck fat. Sounds odd, but it was very good. The mushrooms were the best part of the entire meal, though they were few and far between. Potatoes dominate, and they're almost odd next to the other rich flavors. Blueberries in duck fat is a win. 3rd: Austrian meatloaf with creamed carrot puree and crispy onion rings. Not a typical meatloaf at all, and if this is how they do it in Austria I may have to move there. I believe it was chicken liver, among probably other meats. Good, but not mind-blowing. 4th: Grapefruit and lavender cake with grapefruit curd and blueberry coulis. Dessert was disappointing. The cake tasted neither of grapefruit nor lavender. It was too rich and dense for this meal. It was like a pound cake trying hard to be better than pound cake. At least the curd tasted like grapefruit. Wholly unexciting and I would have expected much more from them here. All in all, it's a good restaurant. Tasting menus are fun, but if you are only going to do one because they cost a bundle, do Craigie on Main.
(4)
Addie M.

Went there tonight with my fiancÃ© and it was our first visit. Jenn was our server and she was a gem! I'm a particularly picky eater, and I like fast prompt service. She was awesome. We both did the short rib stuffed burgers with black truffle vermont cheddar and garlic aioli.. and they were delish- first burger I've ever had where I didn't need to pile on mustard and ketchup. Creative and tasty! Before our burgers we ordered oysters on the half shell. the flavor was incred. We were happy with our short visit and we'll be back :)
(4)
Cositas I.

Such a wonderful date spot! The food is fresh, tasty and sourced from New England farms. I recommend the vegetarian tasting menu if you're feeling extra healthy - the dishes are creative and include a wide variety of veggies. The atmosphere is elegant without being pretentious, making it ideal for dates or a nice dinner out with a friend. You can read more about my thoughts on Ten Tables here: cositasilove.wordpress.câ€¦
(4)
Meg K.

Hands down my favorite restaurant in Boston. I've been lucky enough to have the tasting menu at the JP and the Cambridge locations maybe a dozen times over the past few years, and I have never been disappointed in a dish. (For what it's worth, I don't find any difference in the food quality or service between the two locations.) The JP location has been running an excellent Tuesday night wine dinner special: 4 courses with 4 wine pairings for $49/pp. You need to make reservations well in advance because they often fill up. You can check out the theme for the evening on their website. The wine nights feature a special set dinner menu. It's a bit like the tasting menu, in that you can't find out what will be featured in advance-- but unlike the tasting menu, you can find out what your meal will be when you sit down. I'm not a wine expert, but last night's wine pairings (Cabernet Franc theme) were particularly awesome. It's nice that they print out a list of the wines and the little back story, and the sommelier comes around to each table to introduce the next wine pairing. Again, he's super nice, and it's not intimidating to come to one of these events knowing nothing about wine. I love the cozy space and the excellent food. If you can pick one restaurant in Boston to try, this is it.
(5)
Kaitlyn K.

Went to Ten Tables to celebrate our three year anniversary and was not disappointed! The restaurant is intimate and cozy with a rustic charm. One side is the original restaurant with small tables ideal for date night or a night out with a small group, this is not a place for large parties. The other side is a bar which serves creative and innovative cocktails and a bar menu, and caters to a more casual vibe. We sat, however, at the Chef's Table, which served a wonderful insight into the kitchen, definitely the best seat in the house! The kitchen staff all work cohesively in order to create aesthetically pleasing and mouth watering dishes. Chef Eric is a breath of fresh air to the culinary world of Boston. He is friendly, down to earth, and always eager to answer questions, even when the kitchen became busy with a late night dinner crowd. His passion for food is apparent throughout his menu, which meshes different cultures and flavors in order to create his own distinctive taste that always leaves you wanting more. The food is locally sourced and fresh, and almost all ingredients are from farms in New England and chosen with sustainability in mind. Each ingredient is hand picked by the Ten Tables team and the menu changes frequently as local produce becomes in season.
(5)
James M.

Great mellow vibes for a casual Thursday night, awesome service and great food. Spring Fling Thursday's are a delight! Thank You Ten Tables!
(5)
Felicity N.

Putting in an update from my previous review. Again, had one of the BEST meals of my life at ten tables. Chef Eric is such an artist. My husband and I just ate here for their Tuesday night 4 course good and wine pairing. Every single dish was thoughtful, provoking, and delicious. The wine was exceptional and the pairings were genius. The service here is also amazing, they are kind, prompt and really care about your experience. In my option, BEST RESTAURANT IN BOSTON. Thank you ten tables, you always exceed expectations.
(5)
Carol W.

We had a meal at Ten Tables last night. My husband opted for the Omnivore Tasting , which meant I had to also order from the Tasting menu, and so I did, as the chef allowed a Vegetarian Tasting at the table , but not the Dinner menu. I can understand why, and was happy to try the four course meatless offerings, so I did. There was a mushroom steak, carrot soup, sweet potato something or other, and a cake and ice cream for dessert. The cold soup was perfectly prepared , and I thought the mushroom tasty as well, but the layered sweet potato contained some very strong spices, and the accompanying greens were salty. I would have liked to have had a choice among desserts, not have to settle for cake and ice cream. The bread was quite mundane and served in large chunks along with olive oil. I think my tablemate was disappointed in the appetizer of boar pate , which was pink like Spam, but seemed ok with mussel and scallop appetizer. His pork loin entree was excellent , and he felt the same about dessert, but left his sugared hazelnuts on the plate. Service was speedy as we had tickets to a show. It was good, but not keen on seeking it out for next time, as we are not that adventurous with weird foods. No Bombay Sapphire .
(4)
Chase S.

I can't stop going back! Ten Tables is such a nice, intimate local experience. Their weekly/nightly specials are all enticing -- the burger and beer Mondays basically allow a free beer! Don't skimp out on the bar area--thought a little tight for us giants, their bar menu often holds a lot of treasures and still includes the full menu. No cuisine underwhelms here -- they do it all -- with whatever local foods they find from week to week or season to season. Service is good and staff are friendly. They are very knowledgable about their wines, pairings, and food but oddly it can be a little annoying getting the details of certain dishes, i.e. "wild mushrooms" or "goat and cow cheeses". Their clientele is sophisticated enough that it's reasonable to list the names of cheeses, farms, and types of mushrooms -- we can take it! Plus, it's sometimes an "assortment" of certain vegetables, cheeses, or charcuterie that you have to press to specific/check what they have in stock for the day and you'd actually get. While I love mixing it up and being exposed to new foods, a lot of people have preferences and especially if it'll swing whether or not someone orders a cheese plate or charcuterie plate, they should at least list what they have for the day. If it's a plate full of cheddar and manchego, it's not for me; if its a stinky washed rind cheese from vermont and some stilton from england, yes please! A pet peeve complaint--but should show how great the place is if that's the only thing I can critique.
(5)
Antoinette R.

The food was really great but very overpriced. The service left some to be desired, I get the place has limited seating but it is impolite to clear plates when we haven't finished eating and/or without asking. The ambiance is lovely but when the bill came, we were a bit stunned because it didn't feel so worth it. I'd take a pass on this place if there were other options.
(3)
Ashley H.

I adore ten tables! We go here often and always have a great experience. The food is always delicious. I recommend trying the chef's tasting with the wine pairing and the wine dinners. The staff is very knowledgeable about the wine and food. You can't go wrong here. Check out the bar area too!
(5)
Ethel M.

We went for the Sunday Supper and were absolutely obsessed with this place from the first bite of my appetizer which was a salad, dressed with BACON vinaigrette. Yeah, BACON, take that salad! There were these pickled tomatoes on it too that were not too sour and kind of crunchy/crispy. It was the perfect detail. The gentleman had the hangar steak and fries which were good but then of course they were they were steak and fries but I got the tempura soft shell crab and its 2 days later and I'm still thinking about it. Finally dessert, I got the chocolate option which was unsurprisingly amazing but there was this sea salt ice cream on it that gave it the most sweet/ savory and he had the goat cheese pistachio cake. Normally we always joke that cheesecake is what you get when you didn't like your dinner but thats definitely not the situation here. The whole place is decorated well in this hip underground fashion and though it is separated from most businesses in Cambridge to me it is definitely worth the hike. I saw a sign on the bar that said Monday to Thursday they have $1 Tapas which I can only imagine would be life changing. There's another location in JP that would be closer and I will probably try but I don't know I liked the staff and pretty much everything here so it may be worth the ride.
(5)
Mike C.

The setting is fantastic. Centre street has a great vibe and there isn't a bad seat in the house. On the dining side I sat with my face to the window and enjoyed watching the hustle and bustle. The service was absolutely exceptional. Two waiters shared our table and they were equally informative/ attentive. They even offered to decant our wine after helping with the selection... it was a cab-sauv that was a little musty, so I'm glad they had the decanters handy. I had the pork tenderloin with polenta fries... divine. Will definitely be coming back.
(5)
John T.

OVERRATED!! This place is overrated and overpriced. I'm from NYC and this place is just a wanna-be cultural crapfest. The ambience is nice and the service is pretty good but the food is very mediocre, which wouldn't be bad if they weren't charging $30-40 per entree. The kitchen just tries too hard and puts out plates that look nice BUT taste like cardboard (or worse). I've been here about 5-6 times over the past few years and the food has NEVER impressed me....and the place is always packed--which just affirms my belief that either people have no taste for good food or they are superficial and shallow and come here just because people consider it "hip"....either way, save your money and help refine your palate by skipping this place....
(2)
Ann G.

Ten Tables was an absolutely delicious meal. We all ordered the four course tasting menu and every dish was delicate, beautifully presented, and the right portion size. Highly recommended for a beautiful meal in a great neighborhood. My only complaint and the only reason I gave the restaurant four stars is our table. We were wedged in a corner right next to the entrance to the kitchen and the crashes and bangs coming from the food preparation were almost unbearably loud. Next time I will request a table near the window or in the bar area.
(4)
Emily T.

Finally made it to Ten Tables in Cambridge last night. Went with some coworkers for an early dinner. The ambiance was really great - seems like it would be a great date spot!
(4)
Ruth R.

I don't get it!!! After living in JP for years and hearing wonderful things about Ten Tables my husband, and I along with another couple finally got a reservation. It's a charming busy little restaurant with an open kitchen right in the heart of JP. We were psyched for this great dining experience, but our enthusiasm started to wane when we looked at the very limited menu. I have never had this happen to me before that between the appetizers and main courses there was nothing that appealed to me and the same for one of my friends. Just to clarify the four of us have traveled around the world, eaten in all types of restaurants and tried all types of food, so our pallets go beyond the plain and simple foods. First, the positives...our waiter was very helpful and attentive, the atmosphere was lively and perfect for couples, and it's always fun to be able to watch the kitchen at work. The Chef sends a tiny complimentary glass of cold soup that was undistinguishable. One of us ordered the mushroom risotto that was good. Next my friend wasn't too hungry and decided to get the bluefish appetizer which was very thinly sliced marinated bluefish that was so salty she had to send it back. My husband ordered the clam stew that came with sliced cucumbers (??), looked like an appetizer and was unimpressive. I had pork chop that was a large chop plopped on a plate with about 6 VERY tiny pieces of potato and not many more tiny slices of carrots. The potatoes were good, but the pork was way too salty and the carrots although they had a flowery description were carrots. Sadly desert was no better. I believe they may change their menu on different nights and also have a bar menu that might be better which would explain all the rave reviews because hard as we could try ....2 stars .
(2)
Denise M.

It actually should be named Ten Small Tables. :) The atmosphere is fun, festive, active, crowded and loud. The decore was nice, very upscale. The menu and food were good. I had the paprika rubbed steak with hash and it was good. The table was given a fresh turnip salad served on a chinese soup spoon for a complimentary first course. Then olives and bread were brought to the table. A very nice touch!! The menu is ecletic so if you are looking for traditional American cuisine this is not the place. The dishes have a flare and options that are not something one sees every day. We went on a Saturday night and the maximum number of people they could seat at that time was four. So this is not a group venue, look elsewhere. This was a destination for us and I'm glad I came.
(4)
Roopa S.

I have a huge appreciation for two things with restaurants: restaurants that have a purely vegetarian tasting menu, and restaurants that have a cutesy angle or story to them. This spot had both. The vegetarian tasting menu ($39 per person) was delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed all courses except for the course that included a soup (but that's just because I'm really not a fan of soups in general). I wish we could have previewed what was on the vegetarian tasting menu before buying into it, but the overall experience was still pretty magical. The pasta main course dish was some of the best pasta I've ever had-- so fresh and pesto-y and light-- and I love that the place was so small yet felt rich in culture. Would definitely recommend this spot to others looking for a unique dining experience.
(4)
Christina R.

Perfect atmosphere, great service, amazing food, fun drinks! New favorite. Recommend the duck!
(5)
Carlos R.

Had an amazing dinner, hands down the best restaurant in Jamaica Plain. Wonderful service, the food is really to die for!
(5)
Samuel F.

Went here for their Tuesday wine dinner to celebrate a birthday, and it was a very good meal. Four courses: A swiss chard and pine nut tart served with a pinot blanc (quite good, but not terribly striking), choucroute garnie served with a Riesling (the best dish in my opinion, the flavors and textures of the meat and saurkraut really stood out), schnitzel with spaetzle served with a pinot noir (excellent, but I think I may like less fancy versions of the dish better, the spaetzle were very delicate and uniform), and a seed cake with cheese served with a muscat (I requested that they substitute the blue cheese for something else, since blue cheese often disagrees with me, so they served mine with an aged cheddar which was excellent and went very well with the wine and cake). The food was all very good and the wines were really excellent. Probably my favorite selection was the pinot blanc and the most striking pairing was the Riesling (which went well with the strong sour and savory flavors of the rich sausage and sauerkraut). The service was great, and I enjoyed the introduction given for each of the wine selections. The place was a bit uncomfortably crowded, but on the other hand I'm glad I was able to get reservations. Still, it was a bit awkward waiting to be seated, I felt that I was obstructing the entrance and uncomfortably close to the personal space of the other diners. I don't think they took unreasonably long to seat us, but I still think there were some things that could have been done to mitigate that discomfort, perhaps offering to put aside bags and umbrellas right away? At any rate, the wine dinner was a fun experience, and I'll probably return. Their cocktail selections looked very interesting, and they seem to have some interesting food on the bar menu as well.
(4)
Solid S.

Mmmm pretty tasty!
(5)
Aaron G.

Man.... Where do I start? Bread with no butter? Limited wine list, you have to buy what they've opened already. Food portions were good but are very small and I left hungry. The service was tad bit intrusive. The lighting and ambiance was great! $120 for two people and we had only 2 drinks...I won't be going back to ten tables.
(2)
Tom H.

Ten Tables and Tres Gatos are #1 and #1a (in no particular order) of all restaurants in JP. If your are not planning on being all sugary and shmoopy-ing it up with your date, sit at the bar and chat up the bartenders. They are cool.
(5)
Michael R.

Ten Tables is my absolute favorite restaurant in Boston. It is an idyllic gem that is equal parts neighborhood hideaway, Michelin stardom, and cocktail paradise. With Chef Eric's inspired cuisine (seriously, horseradish sorbet in the middle of a salad? And sooo good?!?), Stan's amazing wine prowess, and Joe's otherworldly cocktails combine with stellar service to make for a dining experience that should make L'Espalier blush. In all seriousness, if you have not gone for their $45-ish Tuesday night wine dinners, then you are missing out. Four courses and four spectacular wines for that price? Amazing. And unrivaled in Boston. But it is an amazing experience any night of the week! The dining room is charming and lovely, but reserve in advance. I personally prefer the bar side, which offers the full menu plus some bar side treats.
(5)
Drew M.

If you've never been to charming Jamaica Plain, just outside of Boston, you should go. When you get there, you should dine at Ten Tab. It's basically a farm to table, local restaurant with a unique ambient atmosphere. The people are extremely friendly and the service is on point. Thy never missed a beat. The burgers are phenomenal, but I will tell you, the smash hit was the bambouche! We ordered a cheese plate and they were gracious enough to accompany it with mushroom pate upon our request. At any rate, this bambouche I speak of is a liquid cheese that is simply mouth watering. Totally incredible! Words cannot describe. Go try it for yourself!
(4)
Kuong L.

My friends raved about Ten Tables as being one of the best restaurants in the JP area. We had to make reservations in advance, even for a Monday evening. There is no question that the quality of the food served at Ten Tables lives up to their reputation. The steak and fish dishes that we ordered were exceptional and cooked to a point where the flavor of the meats truly were enhanced by the ingredients and flavors they chose to infuse into the meats. You can easily finish a dish and feel completely satisfied and not heavy. The appetizers are light appetizers. Would recommend the ones that are an assortment of various things so that you can try different things. If you're hungry, I would not recommend sharing an appetizer since there isn't much to share. The one criticism I have of Ten Tables was that the beer I ordered was not usually as cold as beer is served. It wasn't chilled and I'm not sure if this was purposeful or a mistake. I was a bit disappointed but I think the quality of the food easily made up for that.
(5)
F A.

Had the tasting menu for a nice night out. Outstanding. Everything was delicious, and I would never have ordered any of it. Highly recommend. It's a very distinctive culinary experience!
(5)
Dianna B.

I have heard fabulous things about this restaurant and was dying to try it since we moved to the area two years ago. Our server was fantastic, however, the food was less than desired...lacking in flavor . Most importantly my husband ordered the hangar steak medium and it came out rare. We sent it back and it came out rare again, then sent it back on last time and still rare. We shared my pasta and he ordered take out from somewhere else. I will credit them with doing the right thing - they only charged is for our drinks and not the food. That is the reason I gave two stars, otherwise it would have been one.
(2)
Sarah F.

We have been to Ten Tables in the past, and the dining experience has always been good (typically what I would rate as a four) so I felt confident booking a table when picking a restaurant for our out of town guest. We were shocked at the quality of menu choices and dishes served though - especially relative to past meals. First the menu choices - nothing was really appealing among the (six?) main course choices which included blue fish (really?) hangar steak (maybe if you are up for a lot of red meat), chicken (blah), muscles and pollock, and a vegetarian dish with wild mushrooms, blue cheese, arugula and beet puree. We saw a good looking burger being prepared in the kitchen (which we were practically sitting in) and asked where that was on the menu - and were told that was only served on the bar side of the restaurant three feet away. What??? Why on earth would the whole menu not be available to every table, especially in such a small restaurant? My sister and I both ordered the vegetarian dish as the only thing on the menu that sounded like it could potentially be a great dish. I love inventive vegetable dishes! But there was nothing bringing these flavors together. It was dry, and earthy - not in a good way, and the bleu cheese was overpowering. You couldn't even pick out the beet puree flavor. I feel like whoever came up with this mix of ingredients didn't bother tasting the dish to see if it worked. My husband got the muscles and pollock served in broth. It seemed like there was no seasoning to this dish. The broth was just salty fishy water - completely lacking flavor. I'm not giving a one star because we had good meals in the past at Ten Tables, but I'm wondering if expansion is killing the quality.
(2)
Anik M.

We love their seasonal menu on the bar side. We often coming hoping to try the burger but always get side tracked by the different menu. I often order the bartender whims which are always delicious. Someday we'll try to burger.
(4)
Katherine C.

No question, amazing place to eat. Drinks and food are inspired, the service is great. Its a place you want to keep coming back to and you will want to recommend.
(5)
Brian L.

Since there are only about 10 normal tables, you probably need a reservation. We came for a Saturday evening date night. The menu was slightly different than what was online -- probably because they change it up often, but it would have been nice to have it reflected on the website (looking at it a week later, it seems to be updated now). I ordered the hanger steak with farro and spicy cherry tomato salad, and she got the hake and shellfish stew. Brags (+): The spicy cherry tomato salad was awesome, and is even worth mentioning before the steak. There was a good amount of heat, and the flavor of the warm, melty tomatoes really complemented the steak. My medium rare steak was also nice and red (yay for not overcooking!). Great service, plus two items compliments of the chef, which are always appreciated (potato/leek soup I think and a mixed berry sorbet). Beats (-): It was a little too dim for my taste, but I guess that's for ambiance's sake. Also, for a pretty nice restaurant the paper menus on a clipboard seemed a little out of place. Variance (~): They leave water refills on the tables, so you can get your own water, but it takes up some of the precious table space. I didn't have much of the stew so I can't comment on that, but I definitely thought the steak I got was great!
(5)
P'raka ..

First off - the wait staff here is excellent. We had made a reservation and our table wasn't ready when we arrived so they offered us a seat in the bar area and gave us champagne and olives to snack on while we waited for a table be available. The wait wasn't long at all. As soon as we were seated we got "shots" of a very tasty soup. So far so good. I got the non-veg tasting menu and loved it! Started with the Charcuterie, followed by arctic char ontop of orzo and kale. Then got hanger steak with some greens (maybe broccoli rabe). For desert - a scoop of delicious ice cream alongside some so-so polenta/fruit cake thing. My vegan dining companion fared ok. His tasting menu consisted of celery soup (excellent), followed by a salad. The salad is where is went down hill - I got an awesome fish, orzo and kale dish while he got iceburg lettuce with applesauce. There just was no comparison. His main entree was a rice dish which, while tasty, was lacking a protein such as edamame, tofu or seitan to round it out. For dessert he had a scoop of sorbet (awesome) and some weird crackers. I love that they accommodate vegans, but I don't know if I'd come back with a vegan. Perfect for non-veg folks though!
(4)
Stephen H.

Went on Wednesday, 3 course for 38; (getting steak added 6$) Very small, dimly lit place, only 2 or 4 person tables. Good date spot, intimate setting. Drink menu had some really interesting cocktails, I got the Yankee doodle or something, and infused bourbon cocktail, was good and strong. They brought out a complimentary carrot slaw on a spoon that was tasty. The bread roll was so-so. I got the poached salmon app, was quite good, the jelly was an interesting contrast and I enjoy it. My date got the soup (garlic and something), it was good, not too salty, flavorful and rich. For entree I got the papria hangar steak with an onion potatoe hash thing in a red wine jous. Was very good, cooked a perfect medium rare. Portion size was nice. The jous was very tasty as well. Date got some sort of wheat berry fritter, it wasnt all that great, but it was atleast interesting. For dessert we got a special spanish cheese, and a mapel custard. Both were good, although we were struggling to finish. Its not a cheap place and its a limited menu (4 entree choices), but the menu is very interesting, and the ingredients are of the utmost quality. Your guaranteed to have something delicious you haven't had before. A good special occasion place. Im interested in trying the bar menu, as the cocktails were quite enjoyable.
(4)
Wasim Q.

This review is for the $38 3-course prix fixe Wednesdays. It was fine, a fair deal (would have been $42 a la carte), but the food is nothing too special. I suppose I'm a victim of all the hype, which had me coming in with ridiculously high expectations. The quality and complicatedness and execution of the dishes was right where it should be at this price point. Entrees were fairly simple but tasty: pan seared mahi + thin fried baby potatoes + bed of celery root puree = a decent tasteful entree, but not one that blows your mind or pushes creativity. Parsnip soup appetizer was also just fine, but not done up with garnishes and oils that take it to the next level (like with the version at Hungry Mother). Bread is a little on the cold and stale side but the olive oil is great: really flavorful and has a bit of a spicy kick at the end (tastes like the $30/bottle kind you find at Zingerman's). Desserts were ok: olive cake is nothing special (tastes like a healthy, fresher Entenmann's pound cake), and chocolate terrine is like a .5" think slab of chocolate ganache with "thai basil" ice cream and cacao nibs on top. I say "thai basil" with sarcastic air quotes because it tasted a lot like vanilla. Similarly, the rosemary ice cream that comes with the olive cake is more appropriately called "rosemary". Decor is cozy/homey: well worn wood floors and open kitchen and dim lights. Cool to see from the open kitchen that a lean staff of 3 cooks are preparing the food for the whole restaurant. Despite the prix fix deal on Wednesdays, we got same day reservations and there were still plenty of open tables at around 8:30pm. I would come back one more time to see how they do the 4-course tasting menu for $42. I think that is mainly what this place is known for and is probably where the chefs do a little more creative stuff. The $4 savings on Wednesdays isn't worth it.
(3)
Ali W.

There are two Ten Table locations, and my friend suggested the Jamaica Plains one, so we ended up here. The address is actually 597-599 Centre St., which is the address for two connecting houses. It used to house only ten tables, but after the expansion, the restaurant can now accommodate a few more tables and a bar. We ordered: * Asparagus Soup with Porcini Panna Cotta and Fine Herb Oil * Braised Octopus with Garbanzo Beans and Romesco Sauce * Ten Tables Bourride: Stew of Hake, Littleneck Clams, Swiss Chard, and Toast * Peppercorn-Rubbed Hanger Steak with Horseradish Cream and Grilled Frisee * Plate of Cookies with Milk Jam Everything was delicious! My favorite was the hanger steak, with its nice crispy and salty crust. I am a huge steak snob and the hanger steak here is now one of my favorites. A close second favorite would be the braised octopus -- the flavors of the beans and Romesco sauce melded nicely with the octopus. There is also a prix-fixe menu option, but the chef would choose the items, and well, I am too opinionated to let someone else choose for me!
(5)
Suzette S.

I'm really lucky. Ten Tables is my neighborhood restaurant. I stop in to eat if I see an empty spot when I'm walking by; not always possible. Things I know for sure, the food is always excellent, the staff envelops you in kindness. The combination always makes a great end to my day. This is a special place with a talented chef and knowledgeable servers. I always eat at the bar and can discuss the wine choices in a very helpful way. I'm really lucky.
(5)
Kelsey C.

Amidst the eager cries of "But you MUST go to Ten Tables if you're a foodie!" and "OMG it's sooooo good!", that followed me through four whole years in Boston, I think built Ten Tables up so much that I may have been disappointed no matter what I got. The Spring Vegetable Terrine was the color of iodine, and when combined with a gelatinous crÃ¨me fraiche and a nondescript pile of arugula, this dish fell flat. Then the Braised Octopus was mealy and so soaked in vinegar that I couldn't chew and breathe at the same time. After abysmal appetizers, the Ten Tables Bourride didn't do much better. A French stew-turned-spinach-egg-drop-soup minus the msg except someone dropped a delicious, flaky chunk of cusk in the middle. Then came a turning point. The Hanger Steak was salt and peppered to perfection, and I've rarely found a steak this perfect. The Goat Cheese Panna Cotta with sweet rhubarb compote tasted about as close to the panna cotta I had in a tiny restaurant in a nameless town of Tuscany as anything perfect could really come. Then we finished with a phenomenal Chocolate Terrine, and I couldn't believe that the same restaurant of the miserable vegetable terrine could finish with something like this. The sea salt sprinkles provided the perfect contrast to rich chocolate, and the sweet n' savory Thai basil ice cream brought it all together. I'll never regret eating at Ten Tables after this amazing end. If I had come four years ago, I may have dubbed it the best meal of my life, with a caveat for the terrible terrine. And despite failing to wow me, I wouldn't let my somewhat lukewarm review stop you from going. Just try not to build it up too much - Ten Tables may be a JP legend, but take what you've heard with a grain of sea salt and make sure you taste the chocolate terrine.
(4)
Erik S.

I sat on the "Bar Side" but have yet to eat in the dining room. I liked that you had a choice between the barfood an dining room menus there. Despite getting a burger, I did not feel that the experience was any less or the food any less well prepared. They went great lengths to combine unique flavors in what is typically seen as a gourmand meal. Still not the BEST I've ever had, so I felt I couldn't give TT that one extra star. I loved the atmosphere. It was quiet and the dim lighting and candles made for a great mood for date night! Many, many other coupes there as well. Be careful though, in such close quarters the staff and patrons can easily eavesdrop on a conversation. The bartender was a real gent and he kept me entertained with good conversation until my date arrived!
(4)
stephanie c.

I came here with my gfs for a Tuesday Night Wine Night special pairing-4 wines with 4 tasting dishes. Everything was superb!! It was my first time at Ten Tables-cute cozy atmosphere. Decent street parking. The service was impeccable-truly a team atmosphere as everyone was helpful and friendly, not just our main server. We went for a Western France wine night and all the wines were superb. The pour was incredibly generous-pretty much a full glass each time and each wine very different than the previous one. Food tasting was also incredibly delicious bringing out each unique flavor of the wine. We started with a salad with fluffy goat cheese an peppercorn, a dish with rabbit sausage (also surprisingly light and flavorful), duck belly, and finished with a generous portion of cheese and honey walnut cake. Quality-every part of this experience and such an incredible deal!! Will definitely do this again!
(5)
Melanie M.

Came here on a Wednesday night without reservations and managed to get seated right away. They were having a $35 three course menu, not a bad price overall. For my appetizer I got a turnip soup and even though it doesn't sound that appetizing, I really enjoyed it. My entree was a mahi mahi. It was nothing special and the fish was a little overcooked. The flavor was okay, but I felt like it was a dish I could've gotten at any restaurant. For dessert I had a banana bread pudding, again I've had better. I liked it, but didn't love it. The bananas were too overwhelming and were served in big chunks. I liked the atmosphere of the place, it's called ten tables for a reason. My vegetarian husband had a good amount of options. I also like that you can see the kitchen and watch your food being prepared. The service was good, but not memorable. I'll probably never go back because it's a little bit of a hike from where I live, but glad I gave it a try.
(3)
Olivia C.

$15 Monday Beerger Day-Good Deal!! You get a draft beer, and an organic, free-range burger with everything on it (tomato, onion, and bacon-mayo) carmelized onions & home-made chips. Had the local Pilsner-it was good. The burger was pretty perfect (like Grass Fed a couple of doors down-lol-wonder if it's sourced/priced similarly.) Now I draw a line at bacon on the burger-but the sauce (which contained bacon) broke my own rule-Delish! I am trying to make my way into the occasional Nice restaurant dining (not easy to do as a newly single person/graduate student!) We had a roommate meeting here, and though most of us were tired and boring lol, I enjoyed my food. Came here specifically for my vegetarian/somewhat vegan friend because I heard they have great options-she wasn't impressed. I wonder where the good veg. places are? Note: The Vegetarian Taster has to be shared with a groupI Us other two had our heart set on meat for a rare night out. I am excited about the desserts, like my previous time here, my party had no interest in sweets. I'll be back sometime with a special guest who likes to eat and converse and we'll make a fancy little feast out of it! Planning ahead with reservations of course!
(4)
Steve L.

Very happy to be a Ten Tables guinea pig, if guinea pigs were carnivorous. To my surprise, I was able to snag a pre-Valentine's OpenTable table on a day-and-a-half notice (Feb 14 seems to have been booked solid far in advance). Pleased to learn that they'd be serving the Valentine's prix fixe for $55, twenty dollars less than on the big day - perhaps the discount was for being the willing victims for the dress rehearsal. Many dishes were all good, but all paled to the broiled halibut, which was perhaps the second-best fish dish I've ever had (second to the whole broiled bass at Street and Co of Portland, ME). A golden savory crispy crust covered moist and firm - but not swordfish firm - halibut flesh, all swimming in an excellently balanced citrus sauce. Plate also came with garbanzo mash and clams, but these were an afterthought to the fish. Other notable dishes include the pate and pickled mussel (pickled mussel?!?) appetizer. A novel combination of savory and tart, this dish successfully appetized, as opposed to being simply a small dish. Skirt steak (successfully served rare), was just okay, as it was oversalted to the point that the intrinsic beef flavor was a bit obscured. Try the Mossberry Mule (cocktail). With the addition of cranberry syrup and rum, this drink succeeded not so much as a Moscow Mule, but rather a playful variation on the Dark and Stormy, which is certainly a more interesting base drink. Prix fixe Wednesdays are cheaper the rest of the year.
(4)
Ryan C.

I took my boyfriend here the other night for his 30th birthday. Through open table I requested that we sit at the chef's table (was tipped off to this by some friends of ours). It's a hightop table that faces into the kitchen where you can chat with the cooks, sample a few tasty bites and have an overall different experience. The wait staff was extremely friendly, courteous and downright awesome. I have a gluten allergy and the staff knew exactly what to do and how to handle things. They were amazing. While the restaurant does not have a separate gluten free menu they know what is safe and how to tweak other dishes, within reason. This place has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, it's definitely a little pricey but the meals are delicious. I had the seared mallard duck over wild rice with Brussel sprouts topped off with a cranberry reduction sauce. SO FRIGGING GOOD! My partner got the pappardella pasta with egg corn squash and seared pork belly. Wicked yummy (even though I wasn't allowed to taste it). At the end of the meal, the kitchen made a nice little sugared /salted glass happy birthday plate for my boyfriend and I, paired with a French desert wine. This was all compliments of the house. The dining experience was unique and fun. It was intimate and carefree. While the price is more on the steep side, I will reserve ten-tables as one of my "special occasion" restaurants. I'm looking forward to returning. Thank you Ten Tables for helping my celebrate my boyfriends 30th birthday :-)
(5)
Hope C.

I had no expectations of this place because it was recommended and planned by friends who live in the area. Sometimes not reading reviews or not knowing what to expect can really drive an experience in the right direction - wonderful things are sometimes MORE wonderful when you're not expecting them! The dining room is intimate. Alright, it's cramped. But there was a very welcoming and zen-like tea light vibe that smoothed over any feelings of discomfort. Our meal was perfectly paced. Full of good wine. The bread was a highlight for sure - fresh baked smothered in real butter and ideally salted. I chose a vegetarian dish that consisted of simmered lentils and beans in a curious mix of sweet and hot spices that honestly I cannot adequately describe, but was the most delicious vegetarian sludge I've had in all my life. You could almost call it Ethiopian or Moroccan - some wonderful exotic mix of the two. The night was a beautiful one filled with wonderful company and delectable food. I can't remember the dessert exactly, but I do remember that it was something that delighted and impressed me - cream puffs with ice cream or something in this manner. Ten tables is the best restaurant I've been to in Boston....not snobby, not overdone, plated beautifully and perfectly paced.
(5)
Will M.

Just had dinner here Saturday night with my fiance for her birthday. We were both looking forward to Ten Tables - we had a great dinner at this location a couple years ago, and have been to the Cambridge location several times in the interim. Unfortunately, both our meals were disappointing. She had seared bluefish and I had poached pollock. They were both very bland pieces of protein with uninteresting accompaniments. The bluefish especially - it came with a pile of wild rice and large cauliflower and broccoli florets. It tasted and looked like health food that I might cook up after the gym. Its really too bad, Ten Tables used to shine in this department. The bluefish did have some beets that were tasty, but not nearly enough to save it. I wish I had had the chef taste our dishes, maybe they missed a station on the line? Three stars because they can make great food here - but the food this time definitely did not live up to the money or expectation. We won't be back.
(3)
Jon P.

We had the pleasure of having a dining experience at Ten Table while we visited Boston last week. Having made the reservation months in advance because we knew we would be in town for a conference, the meal and dining experience far exceeded our wildest expectations. Not only was the food outstanding but eh service was unbelievable. From the moment we arrived and were brought to our table the entire experience was outstanding. Watching the kitchen and dinning staff do their thing and deliver such outstanding service and out of this world food. The tasting menu and the wine pairings were phenomenal. When everything was finished and the table cleared I mentioned to the chef how impressed I was with the level of team work and support the staff had. Watching her in the kitchen was terrific. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TEN TABLES!
(5)
Megan L.

I had the tasting menu with the wine pairings. The pairings were spot on. Tasting menu was mixed. I loved the variety, but it wasn't necessary overly delicious (considering the price). I sat at the chef's table and was a single diner. Usually, a staff is much more interactive, this place was cold. There were some bright spots: anything pickled is a must and dessert was outstanding.
(3)
Ann S.

Very disappointed. This place was great when we went 6 or 7 years ago. Very cold seats next to the window despite a portable heater right next to us. Mahi mahi was delicious but a very small meal. Duck was served extremely rare and not very tasty. Paid $11 for a "cocktail" with gin and found out after they don't have a full liquor license so it contained diluted (they say "infused") gin. Why not be more forthcoming that it is not a full bar? Service only mediocre. Despite only 10 tables has lost that feel of getting special attention.
(2)
Hillary C.

Ten tables is always a place where I take guests - the menu is unique and the cocktails and wine list Is very good. The staff is very knowledgable and it's one of the best places to go in jp!
(4)
Rosemary T.

Had a fantastic meal here - so delicious, and the restaurant itself is quaint, quiet and intimate - a great place for a date. A bit pricey, but I think the amount of expert preparation (which the waitress explained!) that went into the meal made it worth the price. A+ for quality and deliciousness!
(5)
S C.

Our daughter has been living in Boston for 3 years, and I've wanted to go to Ten Tables for all that time, but it never worked out. She is moving, so I decided on my last night in Boston that I was going to Ten Tables with her. What a treat! I've been to many great restaurants, and this is among them. It was cozy and friendly and the food was superb. We enjoyed the tasting menu, which was wonderful. We started with a little taste treat from the chef....shredded carrots with a lovely light dressing. Then charcuterie. Lamb terrine, mushroom pate, meats, mustard, pickles...so good. I would never, ever choose to order fish as my meal, but part of the tasting menu was haddock. Delicious! My daughter and I agreed it was our favorite of all the 'tastes'. That is saying quite a lot from someone whose Dad was a butcher - so fish was not on the family repertoire - at all! It was perfectly cooked and presented with interesting accompaniments. Next, hangar steak....melt in your mouth good, perfectly cooked, with sweet potato garnish. Lovely. Last but not least a lovely ricotta cake with lemon curd. Yum. We also had the wine pairings with dinner. How wonderful to have someone else choose the best wines to pair with our food. We appreciated that the general manager/beverage director stopped by our table to talk about the wines. Our waiter was very knowledgeable, as well. All of the wines were explained and each and every one of them was perfect for the food pairings Ten Tables was worth the wait! I'm only sorry we did not get here sooner, so we could have visited more often. If you want a terrific, inventive meal in a relaxed atmosphere with no pretense, this is the place for you. Thanks for a lovely meal!
(5)
Beth E.

The menu is creative and constantly changing to align to what is in season. The food is always fresh and flavorful. The Tuesday night pairings are always fun and creative. The restaurant is true to its name - very small and cozy.
(5)
Stephen S.

Came to Ten Tables for their tasting menu and was extremely impressed by the experience. The beer menu is small but focused with a lot of thought going into each of the offerings. I was curious in the Saison Renaud they had from Mystic brewing but unfortunately the keg tapped right before I got their (they had a little itty bitty tasting size glass they brought me, but couldn't offer me anything more). I ended up with a porter from Boston own's Trillium which was exceptional as well. We went with the tasting menu which had a good selection of creative choices, as a fan of bread pudding I always love to see someone serve up a savory version and thought pairing their apricot bread pudding with a kale salad was a great way to start.
(4)
Kate M.

Absolutely outstanding food, and drinks, and service. I've been several times and have to say that the special menus are my favorite (I recently enjoyed the Loire Valley wine-paired 4-course night and it was spectacularly good). The fact that this place is a mere 10 minutes walk from my home makes me ridiculously happy. Love love love. Easily in my top 3 places in Boston. Easily.
(5)
Rebecca M.

Went here recently for a celebratory dinner. The service was excellent, but a bit overly-attentive. I got a Champs Elysse cocktail- which I have never had before- which was very refreshing and tasty. It was a Wednesday, so I took advantage of the 3 for $38 deal which includes an appetizer, entree, and desert. I have no idea what my appetizer was- I ordered it because there were mushrooms involved, but what came out was akin to flan/ a thick foam with a squirting of green sauce and a large cracker. These all had fancy names, but their flavor doesn't warrant my caring enough to look them up. The entree was a wonderfully cooked pork chop- something I would never routinely order, but there were so few entree selections and you needed to pay $6 more for the steak, so I decided to be adventurous. It came with a lemon herb butter on top that made it taste oddly like seafood- however it was the best pork preparation I have ever eaten, so that's not really a complaint. The potato and green bean accompaniments were quite good, but nothing I would really go out of my way for. I had the panda cotta desert which was appropriately flavored with nice texture. My husband had the steak- which was well cooked and nicely flavored. It came with ferns and parsnips in a beef and wine reduction, which were nice and definitely different. All in all, the appetizer was a fail for me- but everything was well cooked with some very different ingredients. If you are looking to expand your palate with some interesting new ingredients and favors, check it out. We may be going back for drinks and burgers (only served at the bar- I've heard they are quite good), but for our next foray into fine dining I suspect we will be going elsewhere. Just not to my taste.
(3)
Inci K.

I'm so happy and proud that Jamaica Plain has this very fine and special occasion dining establishment in the neighborhood. The food is always amazing - most recently I had a seared sea bass dish - which was just heavenly and melted in your mouth. For appetizer I had an heirloom tomato/mixed greens type salad - very light - what an appetizer should be. The dessert was chocolate'y cake and coffee ice cream - the cake was almost too much (we'd had another birthday cake that same night as well) but the coffee ice cream was terrific. I'd love to go there more often. Just need to catch some more of those Tuesday night fixed price menus!
(4)
stefanie n.

One of the better restaurants in Boston without any of the pretension and without the ridiculous price tag. Pate was amazing but entrees were a little bland.
(4)
Kristina F.

Delicious. I've been here twice before and this time came for the prie fixe. I was thoroughly impressed! I was happy with the menu and had no problem picking my dishes. Steak was well seasoned, beet salad was savory. My husband had the squid salad and that was great. But the dessert was heaven. Puff pastry with banana ice cream and chocolate!!! The meal was amazing. Servers were awesome but kitchen was a bit slow. Nice wine too. It would have been 5 stars if not for the slow kitchen. But I had great conversation and had a lovely date night. Reservations are a must.
(4)
paula z.

I am so sad to report on our experience at Ten Tables last night. Perhaps I just made poor choices, but I was VERY disappointed by the experience. I ordered the steamed clams with chorizo appetizer. It was so salty that I couldn't even taste anything other than salt in the broth and consumed an entire bottle of water afterwards. The bluefish entree was something of an improvement because the fish was wonderful, moist and perfectly prepared. The accompanying shaved summer squash with basil could have done with less basil and a little bit of parboiling of the squash before shaving it into slices. We skipped dessert...something I have never done on my birthday before! the only reason I give the experience even 3 stars is because I tasted my husband's pasta and it was delicious. That is why I say I might have made poor choices. But my over all impression is this: Ten Tables seems to have succumbed to the newly popular notion that if ingredients are fresh it doesn't matter where you stick them or even how you combine them. The basil on the squash salad was over done...and I like fresh basil...but within reason. The overly salted clam broth (even if it was sea salt) was really awful. My experience cooking with sea salt is that it is still SALT! It should be applied with a much more judicious hand as it is very powerful and can result in overkill very easily. The kitchen seemed to me to be careless and perhaps resting on its laurels. I want to love TT again, and would encourage them to please look at their recipes more carefully to regain their former greatness. And yes, they did remove the clams from our bill... which was sweet...but still...
(3)
Juliana C.

I stayed away from Ten Tables for nearly two years, due to the misapprehension that it was too rich for my blood. It took a comped four-course tasting for me to check out the menu and realize just how wrong I was -- did you know you can snag beer and a burger for $15 on Mondays? Or artisanal mac and cheese plus a glass of wine for $14 on Thursdays? Well, knowing is half the battle -- get your ass in there already! Any place with wine flights automatically wins my admiration, but when you add an intricately plated assortment of charcuterie items like house-pickled vegetables, innovative sorbet flavors like tarragon chartreuse and the best damn sea salt in five counties, the sum equals me becoming a regular, stat. Ten Tables is tiny. Unoccupied spots are at a premium, especially at the bar. Acknowledge and accept this, sip some wine and admire the flickering candlelight as you wait; they'll have you seated and smiling in no time.
(5)
Jen P.

AMAZING! I found this place on Yelp and the it definitely lives up to the great reviews. I won't rewrite what everyone else said, but my husband and I went last night to celebrate our first anniversary. It was a Tuesday, so we had the 4-course meal with wine pairings. The food and wine were both great! We are joking about going every Tuesday (although I'm not sure if the wine thing is every Tuesday or just the first Tuesday of the month - their website says both things, so I'm not sure which is right). At any rate, we'll definitely go again! It was full the whole time we were there.
(5)
Lynette M.

Get the duck or the chicken!
(5)
Jessica L.

I was so excited to try this place after all the fanfare I have heard about it, but for me, Ten Tables didn't live up to the hype. We ordered the charcuterie appetizer platter, and it was not what we expected (even though the waitress gave a detailed explanation). It appeared to be four slices of some type of soppressata, but they were almost translucent and the size of dimes; ie, really hard to get any sense of taste since they were so tiny. There was also a dab of mustard on the platter, a smear of a "variation of balsamic vinegar" (ie, balsamic reduction.... um, okay), a couple marinated veggies, and then a hunk of pate/liver mousse. This last item was plentiful, and it was tasty but wasn't anything special. The bread was supposedly from Iggy's, but it wasn't warm at all, and some of the rolls were slightly burned. However, the olive oil was good. The Basil Thai Gimlet was excellent, and the BBC Porter was fantastic as well. For mains, we ordered the Agnolotti and the Skirt Steak rubbed in adobo. The Agnolotti was fine but nothing very complex or memorable. The Skirt Steak was also good, but the adobo flavoring wasn't as satisfying as other options such as chimchurri or other marinades/rubs. The lackluster meal caused us to skip out on dessert and just go down the street for ice cream instead. Maybe our expectations were too high? I just expected better from a restaurant with such a focused menu and local ingredients.
(4)
Kat O.

I ate here with my dad and brother, who are both restauranteurs and appreciate service, food, booze, and ambiance. Ten Tables knocked it out of the park. The menu was interesting and had plenty of appealing options, the cocktail menu was superb, and our service was great and timely. The place is small (Ten Tables, duh) but cozy and buzzing with good city energy. So glad I finally got to try it!
(5)
Laura A.

Perhaps our expectations were too high? After wanting to try Ten Tables for more than a year, we finally made it out to JP to celebrate my husband's birthday. It was solid, but we were not wowed. We started with drinks, which were absolutely delicious - I highly recommend the hibiscus limeade mocktail. Next, we tried the charcuterie, which included not one, not two, but three pates. Don't get me wrong, I love a good pate, but this seemed like overkill and we longed for more variety. For our main courses, my husband ordered seared sea scallops with crispy polenta, sea beans, roasted corn & garlic scape nage - it was rich and delicious, exactly the kind of dish we hoped to enjoy at Ten Tables. I ordered the all-natural hanger steak with olive oil smashed potatoes, green beans & cherry tomato/pepper relish - the steak was good, but super salty, while the smashed potatoes and cherry tomato/pepper relish were outstanding. In fact, the smashed potatoes were probably the best thing we tasted the whole evening. The desserts looked like they had great potential (chocolate terrine with sea salt & thai basil ice cream - yum!), but we had birthday cake waiting at home. Ten Tables will kindly allow guests to bring their own birthday cakes, but there is a $4 per person fee and we opted to continue the celebration at home. I would be remiss if I did not mention that this is an adorable date-night restaurant. It's cozy, intimate, and I love the warmth that a restaurant gives when you can see the chefs carefully crafting your meal.
(3)
Anastasia L.

Ate there a week ago. I live in the neighborhood and hadn't been there since the new chef started. Lively atmosphere as always. Waiting line as always. FrIendly, helpful staff too but my main course (sherry brine chicken) was so lousy that I hardly ate any of it. The wait staff and kitchen didn't seem to notice when it went back practically untouched and I did not have the time to reorder. This place is always crowded to the max and looking at all the other reviews maybe I caught the chef on a bad night.
(2)
Aaron W.

Had a less stellar, but still quite nice dining experience here last week. The seat I was in was in quite a tight space which made it hard to relax and enjoy. Cocktails were wonderful. Waitress was pleasant and helpful. Food was very good, but didn't wow us as it had on the first visit. Still looking forward to my next trip back.
(4)
Anna S.

If you go to one fancy restaurant this year, make it ten tables. I flipping love this place. Farm to table, vegan options, and the most delicious food. Sitting at the bar is lovely (though a little fancy and still as expensive) for just a drink and an appetizer. Though where they really shine are the chefs tastings. Each bite is am amazing piece of heaven. The atmosphere is not pretentious, very comfortable, but high quality. I could not say enough good things about this place.
(5)
Brian C.

It is a bit cramped in here. There really are literally 10 tables. The decor and ambience was good. The food was good but not spectacular. The service was efficient.
(4)
Fred W.

I've been to Ten Tables about ten times in the last ten years (or whenever they opened). It was always our "special occasion" place. Recently went back for the first time since they doubled the size and sat at one of the bar tables. The food was still great, but the bar area is too overcrowded and uncomfortable to drop $180 on dinner for 2. They have these deuce tables opposite the bar that are about 24" wide and 48" long. Good luck hearing your companion over the noise! "Hellooo dowwwnn there..." They are clearly doing a bang-up business these days and deserve it. But just shows that it's hard to turn 10 tables into 20 without losing something. All in all, feel like the magic is gone here. Order off the bar menu if you're at the bar. If you want a pleasant dinner make a reservation in the restaurant side.
(3)
Erin S.

The lovely staff at the JP Ten Tables surprised both my husband (whose birthday it was) and me with some delightful birthday dessert -- huge shout-out to them for making that happen. I had noted it in my Open Table reservation but completely forgot to say anything when we were actually at dinner -- but they made it happen anyway! Awesome service, and such a nice cap to a delicious dinner. Also, I could give a whole separate five stars for their delicious vegetarian entree (quinoa cakes) -- any time a restaurant serves me a veggie entree that's NOT pasta, I'm automatically happier than happy. On top of their creativity, the dish was quite delicious! Highly recommended.
(5)
Tiffany M.

Had a lovely experience at Ten Tables. Went on a Friday without a reservation and had no trouble getting a small table in the bar area. The service was delightful, helpful without being obtrusive. We started with the Italian sausage, which was *really* good. It was served over perfectly cooked beans. For my entree, I had the pan seared bluefish over shaved squash. It was tasty, with the most perfectly crusted skin. The squash was light and citrusy, served cool. It was the perfect summer dish. I docked one star because my bread, albeit fresh baked, was burnt on top. I also didn't enjoy my Summer Smash cocktail, perhaps because the ginger beer was a little too strong. Though everyone raves about the cocktails, I had a hard time picking one out that sounded tasty. I have NO problem returning to try some more, though ;) All in all, I was happy to finally try Ten Tables. I will return, since they have some great weekly specials!
(4)
Alisa K.

Here's the rule: to get 5 stars, you have to either blow me away or completely surprise me. Ten Tables was solid but the Wednesday three-course menu did neither of the above. The amazing: The beginning and end of the meal were the highlights. To start, the cheddar granny-smith apple gem lettuce salad was pretty darn good. Crumbled cheddar was an unexpected but awesome choice. To end, the chocolate terrine was pretty darn good. It had a nice consistency between mousse and ganache and was garnished with sea salt and Thai basil ice cream topped with cocoa nibs. The nibs and sea salt really made the dish. My only complaint was that you couldn't really taste the Thai basil. Otherwise, the service was quite good. Though they had multiple servers, each was very friendly, attentive, prompt, and accommodating. The solid: The mahi was quite good - nice crispy texture on the outside, good flavor. The accompanying celery root puree and baby potatoes were a bit bland though. Decent vegetarian selection - 2 of 5 appetizers, 1 of 4 entrees were vegetarian. The vegetarian entree was solid - it showed thought and creativity and wasn't just one of those lame token vegetarian dishes that some places have. The gratin portion of the vegetarian entree was pretty good. It was well-crafted (with leeks, red onions) and accompanied by lots of vegetarian goodness. Unfortunately, however, the said vegetarian goodness (baby spinach and mushrooms) was a bit disappointing.. Which brings me to the next section. The needs improvement: The mushrooms. Mushrooms can be amazing when done right but these tasted like pizza-topping mushrooms. They could have used some texture and flavor. Or a pizza underneath them. The bottom line: Solid foot, decent value, good service but no surprises or blow aways. I had the Wednesday $38 three course menu so I would definitely come back to try the tasting menu (awesome that they have a vegetarian one!).
(4)
Jeremy K.

This restaurant is an incredible local gem that elevates the industry standards for Jamaica Plain. Locally sourced, very fresh ingredients and continuously updated menus are a staple of both of their locations and have helped bring it success, notoriety and praise from many food-lovers alike. While you can't exactly walk into the establishment without a reservation, we had one and were promptly seated upon walking in - I noticed the chalk drink menu opposite the bar, above a few high tables. The place is very cozy and inviting, although a bit dark. It has a great, small, romantic feel to it; it's very intimate and the tables are few; thus the name. This makes for an even better atmosphere as the noise level is kept under control making for a much more satisfying experience. As the hostess was checking our reservation, one cocktail stood out as I peeped at the blackboard: the "JP Jam" which featured some strawberry puree and some Key Lime rum. It was smooth and delicious, especially since the strawberries were in season at the time I ordered the drink. As the cocktail arrived at the candle-lit table, we were glancing at our menus and finally made up our mind. They offer a $33, three-course menu and I settled for their charcuterie plate to start. While the various components of the plate change constantly, on that night, the plate featured some duck prosciutto, some pork pÃ¢tÃ© and some chicken liver mouse). It came with some toast and each was very good - each of them had very different textures and they contrasted very well with one another, making for one of the best charcuterie plates I've had in a while. And the portions weren't skimped either. As the entrÃ©e, I had their chorizo-stuffed chicken, which came with a side of risotto. Again, the chicken was well seasoned, perfectly cooked, moist and very flavorful. The chorizo pieces transported right to Spain and my palate was treated to a symphony of flavors. The chicken worked well with the spicy edge of the chorizo sausage and the risotto was a clever side that paired well with the dish. Although feeling rather full, I obliged and decided to try their peach pound cake-like patisserie, which was served with some poppy seed ice cream. The cake wasn't too rich and the poppy seed ice cream was a very original surprise and worked well with the peach. The chef has clearly put a lot of thought into the menu and the dishes work very well with one another - not just the flavors, but the contrasts, the pairings. It's a very smart menu and is also rather affordable for the price. Dinner for two, including drinks will often run at under $100 which is remarkable considering the quality of the meal that you'll have. As far as the staff is concerned, our waiter was extremely friendly and full of advice. He even made a few tweaks to some of our orders to accommodate our preferences, including the fact that I mentioned that I wasn't a huge chicken liver mouse fan and he made that component of the charcuterie plate smaller while increasing the size of the other two. A very nice gesture on his part. He was un-obstructive and very attentive. This is a must-visit apartment to anyone in Boston looking for a relaxed atmosphere and a wonderful meal. Just make sure that you have a reservation and that you get there early if you're driving in as parking in JP can be challenging. I look forward to going back in the near future.
(5)
Rita K.

Absolutely wonderful. Cozy, amazing food, incredible wine selection. Always a fantastic meal and such warm environment. What a gem.
(5)
Josephine L.

Ten Tables epitomizes New England cuisine. This is what anyone passing through the region must try at least once. Cheap? Not exactly. Chic? Not always. Fresh? Most definitely. Delicious? Always. The boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we did the simple yet filling 4-course tasting menu. We were greeted with shots of hot parsnip soup with sea salt and chili, and on an overcast 50-degree day, it was absolutely perfect. First course was a charcuterie plate with chicken liver pate, mushrooms, carrots and housemade mustard. Even non-fans of ground-up innards can enjoy this. See boyfriend for proof. Second course was seared ocean some-kind-of-fish with orange vinaigrette, chick peas and a simple vegetable ragout. The light sauce was absolutely delicious. Just a simple, savory flavor like a well-done chicken stock. The vegetables were crunchy yet perfectly cooked and the fish was melt-in-your-mouth tender. Third course was a seared duck breast with rice and shiitake mushrooms. Again, this dish epitomizes Ten Table's simple, flavorful and hearty cuisine prepared with just the right amount of elegant presentation. Dessert was two-fold: I got a chocolate terrine with Thai basil ice-cream and a glowing candle and the boy got a pistachio semi-freddo with orange pieces. Both were fantastic, but I just could not get over the perfect pairing of salty basil ice-cream and sweet chocolate terrine. It was absolute heaven for the palate. The service was very "village raises the child". No consistent waiter/waitress yet water carafes were never left empty and empty dishes were cleared away immediately. The restaurant won't win points for fancy interior decorating and hardly exudes a romantic ambience, but unless you plan to propose there, it really won't matter. And praise for the cocktail list: So few places really try to go above and beyond with their drink menus, offering cocktails that are one-of-a-kind unique, amazingly creative and filled with ingredients (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that you would never in a million years think to pair but somehow work. In that elite class (Tier 1) of cocktail places live such establishments as Craigie on Main, and now, Ten Tables JP. The Emerald Necklace was just fantastic.
(5)
Phil H.

This place is fantastic. 5 star food and service at a reasonable price. I'm always impressed by the food and can't wait to return. This place is a gem that brings people from far and wide into the wonderful community that is JP.
(5)
R S.

Another small restaurant that if you are lucky to get a table in the main dining room, you will NOT be disappointed! The first time we came in was during a massive snow storm last year, we were very lucky to sit at the chef's table. What a treat?! We got to see everything being prepared and they even gave us some special treatment ;-) The next few times we returned, the menu kept changing and the food was impeccable. The one thing that always stayed the same is the Thai Basil ice cream.... I am drooling just thinking about it! If you can, try the braised rabbit pasta. The bar menu is different from the main dining room and if you sit in the main dining room you can't get the mac and cheese from the bar menu. No matter what, the food is amazing!
(5)
Finn D.

I took my girlfriend out for her birthday the other night to this little JP gem. I have been wanting to go here for quite some time, both at the recommendation of friends and quite frankly the reputation alone. To that end i would say i walked through the door with high expectations for both food and ambiance. For an appetizer we shared a charcuterie plate that offered pickled root vegetables, an assortment of smoked meats and a pork pate with cranberries that was the highlight of the dish. Accompanied by homemade mustard and relishes it was a wonderful opening to the meal, albeit the portions on the smaller side especially for sharing, each component of the dish had distinct flavors and was very tasteful. From there we moved onto the main course where my girlfriend had the Pan Seared Trout with Buckwheat, Broccoli & Caramelized Onion Butter, and I had the Adobo Rubbed All Natural Hanger Steak with Cipollini Onions, Crushed Creamer Potatoes & Braising Greens. Her meal was far and away the better of the two, full of flavor with a crispy sear and juicy pieces of fish i was very impressed. The steak was slightly undercooked and as a result didn't crust fully leaving it slightly less flavorful than i would have liked, but most certainly an above average cut of meat and dish on the whole. For dessert we had the Indian pudding with fig ice cream, which was a first rate end to the meal. A fantastic combination of flavors and temperatures it was just the right way to cap of a delicious meal. We shared a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc throughout the meal, it was reasonably priced, and the wine selection itself was comprehensive enough to ensure that even the most particular of people will find something that catches their eye. Lastly, the service was a bit below par for a restaurant with a small number of tables, and at a time that was not overly busy. We were greeted and sat by one waitress who in turn took our appetizer and wine order, but for the rest of the meal, she and another waitress alternated refilling our water, checking in on the meal and taking subsequent orders. Although not entirely unusual, this approach only highlighted the poor mood and apathetic nature of one of the two. That said, it was in no way enough to ruin a wonderful meal and evening. I would confidently recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for either an intimate or small party dinner, above a party of 6 this is not the place to go.
(4)
Paul L.

After driving by over and over, we finally caved and came here for dinner with some out of town friends. I can now say that I was completely underwhelmed by this place. We had read about the vegetarian tasting menu, which excited us, but when upon arrival we learned that it did not exist on Wednesday nights. Instead we had a 3 dish pre fixed menu, which didn't do much to satisfy the vegetarians at our table. The high points were the appetizers - the Vichyssoise Soup had a nice spice to it with a little kick even. The salad with blueberries was a good start. When the entrees came, the summer Vegetable Ragout with Saffron Basmati and Gremolata was not very seasoned and underwhelming as a whole. The rice looked like it was out of a box. The bluefish was okay, completely overshadowed by the amazing potatoes (though there were only four of them on the plate) and the mustard greens, which were too bitter to get through. I was planning on it being expensive, but I was also planning on it being worth the money we paid. At least I can cross it off the list now.
(2)
Nick S.

Have been looking to go to the original Ten Tables for a while now, and it didn't disappoint. Had a reservation at 7:30 at the Chef's Table, which is pretty much a counter directly looking into the tiny kitchen where the chef and two sous chefs made the meals for the entire restaurant. It was interesting to watch them make the beautiful dishes in such a confined space, and even more when one of them would get agitated at something they had done. Got to hear how they call out orders, and how they alter dishes for special requests (no gluten, different first plate for chef's tasting, etc.). Cocktails were tasty, although not very strong (and tons of ice). We did the 4 course chef's tasting; everything on there was from the menu, so there wasn't anything unexpected. Each dish was executed perfectly, and tasted delicious. No crazy or unprecedented flavors here, just solidly executed food. First course was a charcuterie (pork pate, smoked lamb, house pickles, whole grain mustard, and some type of sweet reduction). Similar to other charcuterie plates I've had; still loved it. Second course was pan seared Bluefish with salt roasted fingerling potatoes, wilted mustard greens & fennel relish. Fish had crispy skin, and the potatoes were tasty. I thought the star on this dish was the fennel relish. Without this, it would have been a pretty monotonous plate. My favorite was the third course; adobo rubbed hanger steak with farro & braised kale. Damn this was good. Perfectly cooked medium-rare steak with an awesome adobo rub, and ridiculously good farro. Luckily got to finish my girlfriend's steak as she was getting full :) Dessert was rosemary olive oil cake with pinenut brittle and lavender ice cream. Good dessert, and a nice way to finish off the meal. All in all, a very good meal that stood up to my expectations of Ten Tables. Nothing out of the ordinary, but delicious all the same. Only anomaly was the stale bread.
(5)
Susanne E.

Ten Tables was recommended to us before we even moved to Boston. We were not disappointed when we took some family members to the bar side. Delicious burger and cheese tray. The server was a little unclear about which cheeses were unpasteurized (I was pregnant at the time) but all's well that ends with cheese, you know? We had a reservation for this occasion and since they took a while to seat us they gave some free olives. My favorite. My husband and I went here again with a gift card for our 1 year anniversary and absolutely loved it. I would like to sit next to the kitchen next time, but all in all the food is always incredible. It is one of the only places we will eat meat. I'd probably only go to the fancy side for a special date. Maybe we'll make it an anniversary tradition.
(5)
Logan J.

this place is one of my all around favorite places to eat in the boston area. i save it for special occasions, but every time that i return, i leave very happy. since it was established, its grown a little bit, but it hasnt taken away for the intimacy of having a meal here. its a very romantic place to eat and they have a great selection of food and drinks. i recommend the tasting menu, which ive had a few different times. they change it seasonally, and ive never been disappointed with any of the courses. i highly recommend it to any friends looking for a place to celebrate special occasions or a place to have a romantic meal.
(5)
Liz B.

If possible, I'd give Ten Tables 3.5 stars. I find it so interesting that people give this place such high marks. It certainly deserves good marks, but five stars? I took my husband for dinner and while we had a very good meal, it wasn't five stars! There are five main course choices - last night a vegetarian pasta option, two fish, a beef and a pork. If you don't care for their fish choices and don't want pork or beef, it is a tough menu. I ended up with the beef and it was excellent, my husband had a fish dish that he liked. My dessert was lemon cake with cucumber sorbet. I think the quality of the food is overshadowed by things like cucumber sorbet which might sound interesting, but why do I have to have "interesting" with my meal? Why can't you just offer a high quality vanilla ice cream? I think the servers were very nice and helpful, and I think the prices were actually fair. Again, the quality of the food was great - just not sure this was a five star experience. The bar side looked fun, and I saw a burger that I would probably have died for, so maybe that is what we should have tried... Well, as a different reviewer wrote, now I can cross it off the list...
(3)
Kim L.

I really love it here. The place is definitely small (ten tables, duh) but I actually enjoy sitting at the chef's table. Sometimes they will give you something small they whip up in the kitchen. The food is very fresh and tasty without being overpowering. High recommended!
(5)
Conor S.

Great date spot. High quality food (try the steak), high class cocktails, and a cozy, romantic environment.
(4)
Nick R.

I have been to Ten Tables more than Ten times and I'll keep going...great food, great service, reduced space but always a good food experience - can't wrong with anything on their menu!
(5)
Das E.

Exquisite. The highest level of service you're likely to find anywhere in Boston, superb wine list, phenomenal cuisine. One of the most quality dining experiences I've had in New England. Highly recommended. Do make a reservation.
(5)
Paul B.

My favorite restaurant in boston -- discovered it for myself when I lived in DC, actually. From special occasions (my brother took me there for my bday a few years ago... sat in chef's table -- what a unique experience) to great date nights, this place doesn't disappoint. Whatever I write is going to fall short. One of only a handful of 'must-try' restaurants in Boston. The tasting menu options are superior -- even the vegetarian option is great. My GF regular references their salty caramel ice cream as her favorite dessert of all time. I'm a fat-kid with a legendary sweet tooth and I have to agree. Start to finish, top to bottom, this place is 5-stars. You'll drop about $50 a head, but you'll know where that money went.
(5)
J R.

Delicious and pricey! Even though the portion was acceptable-- I still had a snack when I returned home. The waitress were pretty but pushy. Drink, drink, drink, drink. Order, order, order, order. Refill, refill, refill, refill. I definitely felt a bit rushed to enjoy a pricey meal. I do get it-- ten tables. It's about quantity and turnover to keep up with the margins.
(3)
Caitlin D.

Come for dessert - save your pennies and order your meal somewhere else! Since we moved to JP 6 months ago, everyone has raved about Ten Tables. Since it's a pretty pricey place, we decided to wait until a special occasion (1st wedding anniversary) to attend. I was a bit put off by the fact that, when I called to make a reservation for a Monday evening at 7pm, the recording directed me to make my reservation on Open Table because they don't have a person available to take reservations over the phone. Being that I have an Open Table account this wasn't a huge deal, just annoying. I put in the Open Table reservation that it was our 1st wedding anniversary dinner not expecting anything except for some acknowledgement, which unfortunately did not occur. Then, on Open Table, you have to provide your credit card number and agree that, if you do not cancel your reservation before 4pm the day of your reservation, you will be charged a fee of $25 per person. I get that the place is small and that you have to have a full house when you literally only have 10 tables, but really $25pp? What is this a doctor's office? Because of the hype about this place being a "nice" restaurant, my husband and I got dressed up for the occasion. We walked in and immediately we couldn't quite figure out the place. The waitstaff were dressed in black collared shirts with jeans and there was loud music playing...yet the whole place is candle lit and the tables were set formally. It seemed like they are struggling with an identity crisis. My husband and I both ordered the Hanger Steak with three bean salad (buyer beware - menu online is not the same as the menu in house.) It was very flavorful, but for $29 each, they could have provided a better cut of steak. Definitely not worth the price. If you are craving dessert, this is the place to go! We ordered the Chocolate Terrine with Sea Salt and Thai Basil Ice Cream which was a delightful combination of sweet and salty delicious-ness! To sum it all up, I won't say I was disappointed, but I certainly wasn't as impressed as others. I've had much better food for a fraction of the cost. We won't be going back anytime soon, unless it's for dessert!
(3)
J. Elizabeth B.

We arrived on time for our reservation, but it took no more than 15-20 minutes to seat us and the manager was apologetic and offered us a complimentary drink while we waited. Pleasantly surprised that this caliber of service still exists. The server we had was attentive, but not hovering, and the food was scrumptious. Tonight was my first experience at Ten Tables and before leaving I made another reservation for next week.
(4)
Celeste M.

I had wanted to go to this restaurant for many years before my boyfriend let me know that he'd made a reservation for our anniversary. It was such a wonderful experience, including their seamless assent to switching a cheese and a a vegetable for me. I would have totally expected such a high class place to insist on no substitutions, and it was a welcome surprise that they were so flexible. We've always wanted to go for Beergur Monday which is such a cute marketing tactic that I wish I drank beer. But then Grass Fed opened so I didn't have to force it. Overall, Ten Tables is surprisingly warm and cozy for a beautiful, fancy, and gourmet type restaurant. The waitresses were so nice that I was sure they knew that my guy was going to propose, which he did during a walk around Jamaica Pond right after dinner. Romantic, good food, cozy. This is the place to bring someone you like like or even love.
(5)
Victoria J.

A big fan of the ambience & look of the place. Loved the open kitchen & the warmth that emanated from it as well as watching the chefs do their work!! Had the Thai Basil Martini that was wonderful - love me some basil in my booze! Got an octopus starter, which was good, but not mind blowing. Followed with the steak, which was good & executed wonderfully, but again, not mind blowing. Service was prompt & attentive. This is the kind of place that JP locals go crazy about - "mind-blowing" being the reoccurring theme. I was very excited to try finally, as I had heard so many amazing things, but I wasn't "wowed" the way that I had expected. I would definitely go back & try Ten Tables again, but my first encounter here wasn't "mind-blowing."
(3)
Steve G.

I had an amazing dinner at Ten Tables on a Tuesday night that included 4 courses with wine pairings. Everything was delicious and the service was perfect. The restaurant anchors Centre street in JP. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
(5)
Heather G.

Aside from Hungry Mother, this was basically the most-talked-about restaurant I vehemently resisted for many years. Why? No real reason beyond the fact that when I see frou-frou menus that charge a lot for a meal, i automatically assume that the food is mediocre for the price, i will be disappointed, and furthermore, all those people who swear by the place have no idea what they're talking about. Yeah. Pretty bad, right? My therapist and I are working on it. And maybe after a major breakthrough, I'll be able to love U2 or DMB as well. Maybe. But back to the review. So I was convinced I would be disappointed and thus never went. Plus, this is not the most accessible place to get to via public transit. Cue a dinner invitation accompanied by an offer to drive. OK then, i guess I have no more excuses to not visit this place, yeah? So I got myself all gussied-up, put on my finest Forever 21 polka dot dress, and embarked on what I assumed would be an underwhelming meal that some poor sucker has to foot the bill for. So, you know where this is going. I was so wrong. First off, the little high-top table we were seated at by the bar was in the darkest and most adorable little corner of the darkest and most adorable little restaurant I've seen in a long time. You can barely read the menus it's so dark in here. The table was tucked away to offer privacy in what is otherwise a crowded little space. But that's the beauty of this place - it's so small and so cramped, but for some reason, each table seems like its own little island away from civilization. How do they do that? So right away, with the cozy, dark, intimate setting, I cannot imagine anyone having a bad meal here, even if they served me a plate of Saltines covered in Peter Pan and called it dinner. I am not sure what's up with their liquor license but i think it has something to do with only serving the hard stuff if it's been infused with someone? Don't quote me because I am not positive, but I think it was along those lines. Because of that, I found the cocktails overly sweet and fussy, so going back I would hold myself to choosing from their surprisingly awesome draft beer selection. On wednesdays, apparently, they offer a 3-course meal for $35. I normally stay away from these at any value, because i don't care at all for dessert and, thus, the 3-course price is not a great value. However, at Ten Tables, they offered to let me switch my dessert choice for a second appetizer choice! Who even does that!? That is some of the best service I've ever seen - not everyone loves dessert, OK!? Why punish those of us who don't like the 3rd course, Pre Fixe Meal Gods?! SO, with this new offer on the table, I ordered the 3-course pre fixe and my date ordered a burger. The burger was rich, thick, greasy, well-cooked (rare-ish) and delicious. Not ideal for a sloppy eater on a date, because the risk is high you'll smear grease all over the side of your cheek and then attempt to lick it off with your own tongue. Very sexy. For my three courses, I had: Charcuterie - duck prosciutto and two other cured meats, pickled veg, grain mustard, and a pork terrine with celery. This was a very light board with provisions for just a few pre-dinner nibbles between the two of us. Panzanella salad - the bread in the panzanella was more reminiscent of croutons than of the traditional crusty bread chunks found in this salad. However, it was simply tossed with ripe, in-season heirloom tomatoes, which were so juicy and flavorful that I completely forgot I was eating a bowl of croutons and tomato. Pork loin with quinoa and veggies - The pork came out overcooked and dry, but the quinoa was tossed with roasted veg and had a strong (but nice) taste of some sort of balsamic reduction. As separate dishes, the three courses were just OK. As a deal for $35 (including the nice offer to substitute out a dessert), this was a really great meal and a very nice deal. As I said before, they could basically serve me carrot sticks and a tub of trader joe's hummus while seated in the bar area here and I'd still think this place was great, because it just drips romance. My guess is that, if you're here on a night out with a fabulous dinner companion, you'll barely remember the food anyway.
(4)
Molly S.

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we sampled the mini adventurous experience of a chef's table right in the restaurant. What a fun and exciting experience! We got to see all the action of dinner service as it was happening, watched our food being plated, and got very personal service by the Sous Chefs, General Manager, and our waitress. We ordered the 4-course chef's tasting menu and the wine pairings. It was a pricey night but very reasonable for what we got. Other restaurants will charge at least twice what we paid which included personal service, a view into the kitchen, and absolutely delicious food. Be sure to sample their charcuterie plate, excellent wines, and inventive deserts. Never had I tried duck prosciutto or Rosemary Ice Cream with Olive Oil cake. These are just some of the mouth-watering examples of a wonderful night that truly was a feast for all the senses.
(5)
Delroy H.

The food was not as good as I expected it to be however I would go back just for the atmosphere.
(4)
Rich H.

I recently celebrated my fiance's birthday at Ten Tables and we had the opportunity to sit at the Chef's Table. From the moment we sat down, it was a fantastic experience. The waiter/manager, James, was more than accommodating and made the whole evening amazing. We were able to talk with the chef's all night and it was so cool to see them work on all dishes that were going out. As always, the food was incredible but the staff went above and beyond to make it a special night. I can't say enough good things about this place and if you haven't done the Chef's Table there, I highly suggest it!
(5)
James T.

I've been here numerous times over the last year with my girlfriend for romantic dates and have been happy every time we have left. The dining room side offers an elegant touch, and has a great open kitchen. Its so much more fun if you also get the chefs table (book way ahead). The tasting menu was fantastic on our anniversary, I got flank steak with salsa verde and she had bluefish. All in season and local veggies were great, and paired according to season with the proteins. Steak is offered year round in various forms. However, if you are looking for a more fun chique atmosphere, sit on the bar side. PROTIP: DINING ROOM MENU IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE BAR, AND NOT VISE VERSA. So you can book a table on the bar side easier and the atmosphere is fun. The service is impeccable every time. The bar bites menu is great and saves some money too. Last time I got the mussels, steamed in beer, mustard seed, and house made bacon, they were perfect! These were tender, and extremely fresh. Even the simple wedge salad was great that my girlfriend got. And now onto the burger... Words can't explain how good this thing is. Brioche bun, perfect meet and seasoning, a fried egg, Vermont cheddar, lettuce tomato, caramelized onions and bacon aioli... its pure genius. The egg adds a smooth texture like mayo that is mouth watering. It is definitely an undertaking and you will make a mess, but that is what a burger should be, I was even encouraged by the bartender to "just go with it" my first time ordering. My girlfriend had the BLT which is a new addition, and wow. The homemade mayo was delicious and the bacon was super crunchy with satisfying fresh lettuce and tomatoes on homage bread. Wash all these down with the ten tables Berkshire brew and you're golden. Consistently pleased here and miss living nearby. The key to remember her is they take simple dishes and make them better. By using the best ingredients made from scratch and with a great presentation and service.
(5)
J B.

Went here back in April after a wedding for a late dinner. The place was still packed full of people at the late hour. We got a cozy table for two. The tables were close together almost like European seating. We had great service- great food and the best part it was only blocks away from my sisters. If we are in Boston again I would check this place out to sample more food.
(5)
Sara M.

A friend wanted to "try out" having a dog, so I got the night off from Peppy and decided to spend it dining here with my sweetie. We managed to get a tiny tucked-away table on the bar side, which is a plus because you can order from both menus. We started with a glass of champagne, the sausage special, and the roasted cauliflower. The sausage was delicious, smoky and in a tiny skillet. The Cauliflower was great, albeit a little salty as it is served atop of golden raisins, pine nuts and capers. We also had a carafe of the house white, which is - surprise! - draft! It is a steel-casked chardonnay, very light and crisp Then we shared the papardelle with rabbit and brussel sprouts. We mentioned we were sharing (we share everything we eat, so we don't mind sharing a plate) and they pre-portioned it into two bowls for us, which was very thoughtful. We also enjoyed a carafe of the house red, also delicious We rounded out the evening with the chocolate terrine with basil ice cream. Chocolate is often too rich for me to eat after a big meal, but the basil cut the richness and we polished it off in no time. An espresso and a sambuca were a perfect pairing. Overall, dinner was well paced, the service impeccable, and relaxed. I love coming here for special nights and look forward to another reason to return
(5)
David C.

With the possible exception of Giacomo's in the North End, I've never been to a restaurant whose decor tainted my experience so much as Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain. The main dining room is absolutely tiny, and my mother and I were packed in like sardines. We were seated in plain view of the dishwasher in the kitchen, and when I say dishwasher, I mean a human, not a machine. Watching him toil over every dish that came his way was heartbreaking. I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to have that going on behind the scenes. TT also takes "mood lighting" to a whole new level. When you can't even see the dishes that the kitchen has painstakingly prepared in front of you, it really detracts from the experience. And the food, save for my chewy steak, was good--that's the hardest part. I would have enjoyed our meal (the four course tasting menu) so much more had I been able to see it. If I ever go back to Ten Tables, it will definitely be when the sun is up, and I'll request a table with a little more breathing room. I don't want to sound like a cranky pants, so I will end this review on a positive note. The highlight of the night for me was definitely the Portuguese Fish Stew, a hearty concoction of hake, clams (actually clam, singular), potatoes, escarole, leeks, and saffron rouille that got better with every bite. If only I could have seen it!
(3)
Arthur H.

All and all food is good a bit pricey and the setting is alright. If I could I would give this place a 3.5 I went back and forth between 3 and 4. Pros service was good, great wine selection and you can watch them cook your food. Cons limited selections only 5 dinner plates and a no potatoes, rice or pasta available as a side
(3)
Catherine B.

Like a lot of reviewers I had waited for years to dine at Ten Tables. It was a solid meal but unremarkable. The service was good, the food fresh and cooked well but nothing is rush back for. Now that I've checked it off my list I probably won't go again.
(3)
Kim K.

All of the reviews exact how awesome Ten Tables is so I probably don't need to go on ad nauseum. A few distinct things though: - They only advertise the stout as the beer they have on draft. I asked if they might have anything else that was local aside from the stout. The waiter tells me they have something in the basement called "Pork Slap" which is pale ale in a can from NY, and did I want it. Um, YES I DO. It was delicious. He even brought the can up to show me because it's so hilarious (see picture). - Their accommodation to vegetarian items was amicable and pleasant. They offered to swap that lamb ragu in the cavatelli dish to a meat free alternative. Score! Also, it was delicious. - The interior is marvelous. Quiant, intimate, and personal. The open and visible kitchen kept me staring all night. - If you order dessert, do yourself a favor and get the chocolate terrine with thai basil ice cream. So different you have to try it. (See picture).
(5)
Lala I.

loved the ambience. food was above average.
(4)

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Address : 597 Centre St
Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130
Phone (617) 524-8810
Website https://tentables.net/#jp
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:30 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Ten Tables

597 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130

Ten Tables Menu

Appetizer

Main

Tasting Menu

Dessert

Coffee And Tea

Non-alcoholic Beverages And Mocktails

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ten Tables

Appetizer

Main

Tasting Menu

Dessert

Coffee And Tea

Non-alcoholic Beverages And Mocktails

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