Farmstead Table is really cute--much smaller than I imagined. Our group started with the popovers (which were AMAZING. The jam and butter really added to the awesomeness of them), which only comes 4 to a basket. Yikes, that's pricey at $10. We had a group of 5 so we got an extra popover. I didn't look at the bill so I don't know if we got charged an extra $2.50 for it, but even though they were amazing I cringed a bit at the price. My pork porterhouse was also stellar. Very tender and delicious. The burger looked awesome and I have to say I snuck some of the fries and they were well seasoned and crispy. Honestly, the entire meal was super enjoyable, so I guess it's worth the price tag in that sense, but this isn't a place I could see myself frequenting purely due to pricing. Happy to indulge here on occasion though!
(4)
Ramzy K.
To my surprise, Farmstead Table has yet to make the culinary headlines in the Greater Boston area, somehow avoiding the same spotlight that recently caught Sycamore. While it may lack a big-name chef or a fancy-looking menu, rest assured: Farmstead offers one of the most dependably delicious meals in Newton. Hidden in its quaint setting in the back of Newton Centre, Farmstead looks unassuming. It's atmosphere both inside and out is quiet and humble. Moreover, its menu is shy and small, offering limited options and simple combinations. It's food, though, is anything but. Farmstead offers food rich in flavor and consistent in quality, discreetly outdoing its competition. Whether for brunch, lunch, or dinner, the chefs serve up fresh food on a seasonal menu that always nails the basics: a nicely cooked fish, a few juicy meat options, and tantalizing salads. Add a talented dessert chef to top it all off, and you'll find that a full meal at Farmstead rarely disappoints. The single biggest reason for this sure success is the fresh ingredients in every dish. Using grass-fed beef for the burger, freshly-caught seafood (scallops, soft shell crab, halibut), and locally sourced vegetables whenever possible, Farmstead gives you very few reasons to gripe. Its friendly servers and willingness to accommodate are the cherry on top. Go before people start catching on. No need to rush, though; Farmstead will be around for a while.
(4)
Barbara A.
Any place that has popovers is aces in my book and I was looking forward to trying this place for a while. I stopped by one hot day and while I would have loved to have sat outside the humidity was not good. I sat in the window and really loved the space and it airy, light feel. I got an iced tea and the soup, salad, popover combo. I first want to say the meal was a lovely presentation and tasted wonderful. Clearly fresh ingredients and blended well together. That day the soup was tomato basil and the salad was a bib with blue cheese with shallots. Wonderful but the portions and the popover are small. I was expecting to pay a little more than would be expected but I think for the size that you get (soup, salad, and the popover) did not really jive with price point. The iced tea was very good but I was never offered to have another one nor did the waitress check on me once to see if I wanted anything or needed water. For example, I would loved to have ordered another popover for my soup. By the way, the popover was lovely. It was not warm but it worked well for dipping into my soup. I think that I would go back but I would rather go back for dinner and pay these prices.
(3)
Ron A.
What I expected was excellent. What I consumed was extraordinary! Simply one of the best meals I have eaten in a while. Food, Service, Atmosphere... A+
(5)
Allie M.
This place is the real deal when it comes to the whole farm to table trend. Yes, it's expensive, but you get what you pay for -- awesome food, drinks, and service. I recommend dining here during duck season. The duck breast is awesome and is only offered during season (November). Also, I almost never get dessert when I dine out, however, the smore's tart is an exception. You just have to try it.
(4)
Paul M.
Farmstead Table - Newton, MA - 5/18/2015 The staff is super friendly. You feel welcome from the moment you sit down. They're not normally open on Mondays but with all the out to towners here for graduations... The decor... A bit eclectic, kind of a nouveau farm theme with a mix of stainless and wooden chairs with wooden table tops. I'm a bread freak so bread is very important. Tonight I start with Warm Popover with house whipped butter... Start with Grilled Cauliflower Tacos... Avocado, Cole Slaw and garnished with scallions... This evenings Fish special... Baked Cod baked in a Porcine broth with Porcine Mushrooms, English Peas, Bok Choi, Spinach and Asparagus... Totally different than I normally would order but I feel really good about this! Flavorful AND healthy... What a concept... With all of this goodness I feel a strong urge to have something bad so... The Dobos Torteve... Rum Creme Anglaise, Hand-Dipped Chocolate Espresso Bean... Five layers of cake with a buttercream frosting between layers... What a great place. I feel content, nourished and not at all bloated like so many places where you leave stuffed. If you are looking for some place different, this is your place. I would definitely come back.
(5)
Dave G.
Incredibly disappointing. The food was ok but for the price you can find a ton of better restaurants in the area. Here's a quick list of absurd prices: 1. A pot of coffee was $10. The restaurant tries to make it sound special but honestly, it was very, very, very weak; ground poorly and of suspect quality; and had no effort put in. They try to play it off as something special because they serve it to you in a French Press, but really it just means that you do the work. Total cost to the restaurant was somewhere in the 25-30 cent range. 2. Popovers were $10. They were ok, but they were tiny and there were 4 of them in the basket. The jam that came with it was pretty clearly a slightly more expensive Smuckers. They also make it seem as though the popovers come with your meal, like bread at other places. 3. The burger was $18 and kind of mediocre. I sort of expected a burger at this kind of place to be around $18 but the kicker was that a slice of cheese, 1 slice of pretty 'meh' cheddar, was an extra $2. Wanna bet the block of cheese they cut it from cost around $6 and accounts for 50 meals at least? 4. Extras. My brother ordered an extra egg with his brunch and the restaurant charged him $6. When he complained, they dropped the price to $3. Even if it was a farm fresh, totally organic, "we love the chicken as if it were our child" egg there's no way an egg of any kind should cost $3. A side of bacon was $6. 5. Scrambled eggs were $13. Yikes. I might have been able to forgive the cost if the food felt like it was worth it, but honestly there wasn't anything special. I had the burger and it was just ok. The meat wasn't anything special, the bun was way too large for the burger, and the bun came piping hot which means I had to wait 5 minutes before I could even have my first bite. That first bite was just lukewarm. Another thing about the burger. The waitress claimed the burger on the menu was listed as a typo, but it said both on the menu in the restaurant and on their website that it was a "Char Grilled Wagyu 'B.L.T.' Burger" There was nothing B about the burger; no trace of bacon whatsoever, and if that was Wagyu beef I'll eat my hat. On top of the food our service was terrible. The waitress had a serious chip on her shoulder and spent most of her time coming by asking us if we were finished. Seriously avoid this place.
(1)
Elizabeth K.
Just left here after a Father's Day brunch. For the price they charge we expected better food and service. Two pots of coffee were $20. The popovers were okay but not worth $10. The $18 burger really wasn't worth it and the slice of cheddar on top was a $2 charge that I feel is exorbitant. A member of our party ordered an extra egg and they charged him $6 for it! I understand that it is supposed to be farm fresh but that would mean they buy cartons of eggs for seventy two dollars. How is an egg worth $6?! The waitress was rude and slow and rushed us. She kept coming to the table to ask if we were finished. At one point a man at another table got so fed up with his slow service he walked out with his plate! We felt nickle and dimed over every little thing and really felt it was not worth the price AT ALL. Will not be returning.
(1)
lizzie b.
I was excited to go to Farmstead Table with my mom for a fun girls day out. I enjoyed the concept and the decorations; the staff was very friendly. However, the food left something to be desired. Our favorite part of the meal was the parsnip dumplings, but put a load of butter in front of these ladies and we can't say no :) The mussels weren't very good - they were a tad spicy for mom and the sauce wasn't your typical "must lap up with remaining bread" type sauce. In fact, they don't give you bread, and we had to ask for two popovers a la carte because we didn't need the entire $10 popover basket (they came $3 each.) We were thankful that they obliged as we are suckers for popovers; but they couldn't spare any jam. The ladies next to us found something plastic in their soup. I think that this place could improve if they offered food that was more up to the level of their price tags. Perhaps let us know if the items are organic? Add fruit to flavor the water offered? Give (gasp!) free popovers or even mini-popovers to folks? End the meal with a homemade caramel or something that reads farm fresh. Overall, I think that this place with the prices and promise should have been exceptional and truly unique. It was nice to check out, but I won't be coming back unless they vastly improve the food experience.
(2)
Annette A.
Farmstead Table is a wonderful place for a date away from the crowds. The restaurant is small and cozy, with a homey vibe. The menu offers fresh, seasonal items with some pretty creative uses of fishes and vegetables. The cocktail list is small and simple, and they stock a variety of fine liquors if you want something custom. We went there to celebrate an anniversary and our server was very friendly, patient and knowledgeable. We're happy with our decision to go there and will be checking it out again someday.
(4)
Jessica G.
I love fish. I love meat. And I always have them at dinner. The food was so unique and inspiring on this menu that I ended up ordering an all vegetable meal that was so delicious and amazing that only at the end of the meal did it dawn on me that all I ate was vegetables! Try the tacos. Delish
(5)
Emily C.
Love this place! The ambiance is very cute! It's like a quaint farm dining room. The entrees were a little too salty but the appetizers and dessert were great! Popovers - a crunchy shell on the outside and soft/pillowy dough on the inside. Highly recommended! Mussels - pretty good! It was just mussels in a tomato-based sauce. The sauce had good flavor Brussel sprout tacos - very interesting..in addition to brussel sprouts, it also had avocado, parmesan, and other little vegetables. It was decent-a little too much parmesan for my taste but very unique! Broccolini - i love charred vegetables so this dish was great! It also has parmesan on it which made it a little more interesting Pork chop - i really liked the mashed sweet potato and crunchy brussel sprout side of this dish. The pork was cooked really well but it was just a little too salty for my taste Banana crepe cake - delicious! 12+ really thin layers of crepe with banana creme in between. It wasn't too sweet which was good and tasted like fresh bananas
(4)
Rob C.
There's always a sort of weird feeling in the air when people are winding down their activities before battening down the hatches for a storm. Which storm, one asks, in this glorious winter of 2015, this was the storm of 2/8-2/10, a.k.a. 'The One That Looked Small Because It Was Only 20" On Top of 3 Feet". Anyway, in the early hours of it, it was slushy but not hard to deal with, and we had no trouble making our brunch reservation to meet my parents for a semi-monthly "I'm not a horrible son" meal. Farmstead Table is definitely the sort of place the wife and i would frequent, not so much my parents. Happily, though, the brunch menu is very straightforward, with familiar sorts of things, and everybody had lots of options. The difference is, it was plainly made with great care and with good ingredients, which stand out when you're having something so simple as fried eggs and finding it amazing (careful sprinklings of seasoning didn't hurt). The omelet and the french toast were the same, simple enough to show off what goes into it. Yummy. The toast/bread is especially impressive, a 1" hunk of moist, almost cake-like, nourishing starch. The sort of thing you'd pack in your bag for a hike through Mordor, or for braving a malfunctioning T home. The service is friendly, if a little busy for a small place, and they have a good selection of breakfast drinkies. Beer for me, mimosas for the girl, lots of teas for my dad. The space is small, but comfy and simple, and clearly popular. It's within sight of the T station, and the girl and i will surely return for dinner some night. Some summer night, maybe.
(4)
jackie h.
Tasty, but over priced with small portions (think tapas) and no warning about the small portions. The tomato soup is the same as the base used for the huevos rancheros. Service was acceptable at best. I just spent $50 (on 2 petite lunch items, 2 sodas, and a soup) and am headed elsewhere to eat more because I'm still hungry! Also, if you're gluten-free, no muffins for you. Lame. There are plenty of comparable options in the area at a way better price. Tempo in Waltham comes to mind.
(2)
Lauren B.
Great place to dine. Loved the atmosphere. I had the mussels marinated in a spicy tomato sauce and the sea scallops. Both were good but not amazing. The mussels definitely had a kick of cayenne pepper. The sea scallops were much better but it was lacking flavor and it had way too much lemon juice which was overbearing with the horrisa sauce.
(4)
Ryan K.
Had a wonderful summer meal on the back deck. My wife and kids were out of town so I was flying solo and lucked out in finding a table available at 730. Fig and tomato pesto salad with straciella (sp?) mozzarella was small but an amazing combination of flavors. Swordfish with summer vegetables was also incredible, nice presentation and a huge portion of line caught fish. On of my best meals in a long time. I love Sycamore as well but decided to mix it up to sit outside, and am glad I did. Server Noreen was very attentive and even insisted on pouring me another glass of wine when a few fruit flies were attracted to my Grenache rose. Finished with berry cobbler with lemon verbena ice cream. I will be back...
(5)
Marina S.
First of all the popovers are NOT worth $10. They were NOTHING special and should be served FREE at the table. When was the last time you went to the grocery store, looked at 4 pieces of bread and thought, yes spending $10 on 4 pieces of bread is a great idea. Second, we ordered the cauliflower tacos that were supposed to come with avocado. NO avocado was in the taco and it was just ok. The main dish, the steak with mashed potatoes and asparagus was delicious and cooked the perfect medium rare which for $30 it should be perfect! When it came time to look at the dessert menu we thought we got screwed enough and opted to go to JP Licks. Overall, I would go to OTHER restaurants in the area before hesitantly returning to this one.
(2)
Kim S.
From the farm to table concept to the food to the advice, Farmstead does not disappoint. We've been Here a few times and always love it. It's worth it for the cocktails alone (though the bar is tiny). Kind and knowledgeable staff and a warm atmosphere. The food is extraordinary. Enjoy
(5)
David X.
In a sea of trendy farm-to-table millennial bearded tattooed chef wannabes, this place is the real deal. It does it so effortlessly, it makes one baffled why all these other new restaurants do it so poorly. No point in raving about the food. Everything was exceptional. Clever, surprising preparations - nothing too adventurous but always just right - with every item on the plate carefully thought and prepared perfectly. Dessert was exceptional too. This is definitely 5 stars all around. My one little quibble is the pop-overs. $10 for 4 mini-popovers. The menu describes them as popovers. No, they are mini-popovers. And they should be free. Every other 5 star (quality and price) restaurant I've been to that offers popovers, offers them free. Like a free dinner roll to accompany your $30 entree. Also, I wish they were the bigger, standard size. And if they're not going to be free, they should at least be served as accompaniments to the (amazing) soup. Just saying.
(5)
Jackie K.
Holy dessert! The smore thing was soooooo good. Everything else was solid. I had a salad because the vegetarian options were non-existent except 1 pasta dish. I wish they had more since they are concerned with the environment (presumably). My friend liked her fish (pricey though). Setting was cute and service was excellent. Would come back but would not come back hungry. I'm between 3-4 starts.
(3)
Fernando K.
Excellent brunch, great service, nice ambience. Only small point to make is the waiter forgot our coffee/drinks after we ordered, but we didn't mind too much. A little pricey.
(4)
Kathleen M.
Maybe because I live near Newburyport and Amesbury so Im spoiled with innovative fresh food so this experience was good but pricey for good. I think the popovers are delicious but at both Passport in Gloucester and Crave in Amesbury they are free! I liked my Brussels sprouts tacos and all our company loved their meals. The salmon was superbly cooked. The fries were just so so. The pork chop was enormous and juicy. My s'mores tart was not melty enough for me on the marshmallow but others seem to love it. I will try other restaurants in that area.
(3)
Shivangi S.
Came here for a casual evening drink. Ordered the sauvignon blanc and bread accompaniments. The wine was crisp and great, and all the three accompaniments served were delicious. What they lack in is their service. While serving water, the bartender spilled it all over the bar. And she just casually looked at it as if it were an everyday thing. The server stood next to me after serving what I had ordered and kept staring for almost 2 minutes until I looked at him uncomfortably. Wish there were more vegetarian options on the menu. Anything that says "farm" instantly gives me a picture of fruits and vegetables.
(3)
A L.
Food was excellent, decor was homey yet very cute/chic, ingredients seemed super fresh.
(5)
H. A.
This review is for brunch only. The food was very good-- great popovers, Bloody Marys, bacon, etc. I had the quiche and it was excellent. Hence, the 4 stars. My only complaint is with the service. Items we ordered were forgotten, or we were given Bloody Marys without the pickles, etc. We had to flag down our waiter and remind him about the items we were missing a couple times.
(4)
Mark O.
I've eaten here twice now (once for lunch and once for dinner), and both times I came away really impressed. The food isn't super-fancy, but it's not down-home cooking either (as you might suspect from the name of the place.) (The popovers were great, and I love popovers.) Definitely one I'll go back to.
(5)
Lyndsey C.
Really yummy! Huge portions and all so fresh and delicious! The cheddar sandwich was amazing, popovers were great, croissant sandwich was really yummy, and sausage was wonderful. The service was good and we really enjoyed our experience here... Really fresh food!
(4)
Michelle W.
-Popovers: light, airy, and deliciously eggy! They tasted a lot better with the whipped butter instead of the raspberry jam they serve, although the jam is delicious! -Oxtail appetizers: I wish I could eat this every day! It was so delicious! -Chicken Pou
(4)
Ronna B.
Very over- priced restaurant. Portions are tiny, including the 4 tiny popovers for $10. I love popovers and was really looking forward to these, but they were gone in two bites! While the food was tasty, it was not worth the price tag. I would not return.
(2)
Harvard P.
Came here for lunch on a Saturday and loved it! I was amazed at the quality of the meat and fish that they served. The salmon that I ordered tasted like it must have been fished that very day. The chef also prepared it medium to medium-rare, just the way that I like it. Every bite seemed to just melt in my mouth. The duck breast that they served that day was also equally well done. My favorite side was actually the popover. We enjoyed it so much we ended up getting more and even one to go. Definitely a great find in Newton Centre.
(4)
Doug K.
Went with a group of four and the experience was flawless. The service was attentive without being intrusive. Not sure what all the bad reviews are referencing as our experience was excellent. We started and split three appetizers that showcased fresh ingredients and very elegant simple preparations that were balanced and flavorful. *Fried Oysters lightly breaded and seasoned *Yellow Watermelon Salad with Goat Cheese and Hazelnuts *Fried Green Tomatoes with a sweet corn relish Dinner entrees and a mixed green salad, again, flawless. Note-When lettuce is fresh it actually has texture and flavor. It is not limp or soft. Spot on here! *New England Swordfish *Diver Scallops Both the Swordfish and Scallops were done perfectly. Grilled Swordfish was juicy, tender and seasoned again simply with bright fresh flavor. The Scallops were not over cooked, silky and delicate. Deserts were all delicious versions of seasonal favorites executed with fresh ingredients and yes, perfectly done. *Peach tart *Berry Cobbler Make the time to get out to Newton and enjoy Farmstead Table, you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Claire W.
Have always been for lunch - never for dinner. The food is excellent - it is pricey, but the flavors are so good it is a nice splurge to me. Have brought several friends here, and they have loved it also. One brought back her college-age son and friends for a treat.
(5)
Heather A.
My friend an I were excited to visit this farm to table venue, and we were not disappointed! Details are evident from the moment you enter, from the glass milk bottles with water on recycled wooden tables to the clean but welcoming decor. The charred broccoli was probably our favorite. Deliciously salty and flavorful we both were wishing for the recipe. We also shared the roasted chicken and a ravioli dish and finished with a decadent dessert. Everything was expertly prepared, beautifully presented and wonderfully filling. Can't wait to go back for next season's menu!
(5)
Gale C.
We were a party of 4 for dinner last night and had a really great meal. We ordered a variety of appetizers to start and enjoyed them all. We had the mussels (spicy and delicious!), fried oysters, layered Mediterranean dip, and the rabbit sausage. We split a basket of popovers, which should be eaten immediately while they're still warm. Entrees were nice, perfect portions. Only complain was that my lamp was overlooked, despite me being asked how I wanted it done. Was really good restaurant.
(5)
Jennifer M.
A solid 2.5. I got the grilled chicken salad. The chicken had really wonderful flavoring but it was WAY undercooked which is surprising because it was already cut and you could definitely tell it was under just by looking at it. A shame considering it was $17 for a salad. I expected much more.
(2)
Joanne R.
Visited last Friday with two friends for the first time. Amazed at how cute and cozy warm it was (on such a frigid night outside). Had an extensive cocktail/wine list, a good variety of choices for every taste/budget. Our table ordered the popovers (light and eggy delicious) (4/order) while deciding on our dinner choices. I got the pear/arugula salad which was delicious and we all ordered the grilled rainbow trout (which came with baby spinach, roasted baby beets and baby carrot. Was cooked perfectly and delicious. The portions were excellent as well. Ordered two desserts - the apple tart w/ice cream and the chestnut creme filled eclair, which we all sampled. All enjoyed our delicious dining experience and we will definitely be returning.
(4)
AB H.
I liked the cozy feel of sitting at a table in the area right when you walk in. We had a really good burger and a nice salad. We asked for for a side of greens and they explained they didn't have any, but the chef said he'd meet our request. So they gave us some baby greens on the side and brought it out with our salad. Then they said they messed up, and brought our burger with more greens and no fries. And they charged us $6 for the greens. This really annoyed me. Another annoyance is that there is a small step to enter, so they put out a metal ramp for wheelchairs, and it's clumsy to watch them. I don't see why the city didn't have them build a slight slope instead of the small step. I can see going back because the food is solid.
(3)
Fabrice B.
Located right off the Newton Centre train station, this family-friendly restaurant has many good and healthy options. I went there for brunch with my wife on Sunday morning for the first time. The decor reminded me of a clean, unpretentious house in the countryside. I tasted the Roast Lamb Sandwich and the Scrambled Egg Bowl. Both tasted very good. Portions were the right size. Prices were acceptable considering that we're in Newton. More importantly to me, knowing that the restaurant is sourcing its food locally will make me come back again. Make sure you reserve your table as sitting can be a premium for large parties.
(4)
Kevin M.
This was my third time at Farmstead Table. It has consistently great food and service. Highly recommend. Be sure to order the Pop-overs as soon as you're seated though because they go quickly- why can't they just make more??
(5)
Marek P.
Good place - but not exceptional. Fresh food, nice combinations of ingredients, interesting flavors, good service.
(4)
Kate L.
Cute casual ambiance. Parking is annoying - just go to the lot down the street. Prices are a little high, expecially wine list but worth it for the quality. The egg scramble with veggies sounds odd on the menu but is SUPER flavorful, light and healthy - DEEELISH! Popovers were so-so - needed jam or something. Grilled cheddar w/ pesto was very good, as were the fries. Great service super helpful. Make a reservation!
(4)
Grace J.
I love this place! The only reason it lost the last star is because the portions are a lil too small for me, but that's maybe just me. Or maybe it's normal portioned but I just want enormous portions of each dish? Hard to figure out, but nonetheless, DELISH. Great for lunch or dinner really, but I guess it's more of a lunch-y place. Menu is always changing, never the same whenever I go, except for some of the salads. If the spaetzle is an option, it's a must! I also really love the tomato soup, not too sweet and really great starter/side soup. Also-so fresh and everything is so darn creative and beautiful! There is no doubt that each dish is carefully thought out and cared for. Excellent place, needs more publicity. Love the design of the place, too.
(4)
Shir L.
This place looked nice and cozy, so why not try it out. Entering this place, the host wasn't very welcoming. There was a short wait but it's understandable since it was during dinner hours. The waiter was very awkward, and kept coming back even though we told him we needed more time to decide on ordering. The Bread was ok, a little dense for bread. The popover tasted better than david & burkes. The appetizers (Carpaccio and Trout) were just ok. The entrees were in fact the winners of the night. The scallop dish was terrific. One of the best scallop dishes ive had yet (second was fireplace). Everything was light yet flavorful, i'd come back whenever i'm cravings scallops, its a must try! The burger was one of the best i've had in a while, but the clear winner is the scallop entree.
(4)
Bill S.
This is an excellent restaurant. Everything we ate was prepared with obvious attention to detail. Flavored were very interesting and somewhat different and the presentation was lovely. Even the bread and butter was very good. The carrot soup was smooth and flavorful. The Irish sea trout was perfect. Bravo.
(4)
Laura B.
delicious and exactly as advertised. "farmstead table" is just that, the name is spot on. just across from T for convenient transit. would have given it a five were it not for the very tight seating.
(4)
R J.
By no means was the restaurant bad. I enjoyed the grilled chicken salad, but the amount of food was kind of disappointing for the price we paid. The chicken was delicious and the salad was lightly dressed, which is exactly how I like it. The apricot was clearly fresh and complimented the salad well, but I was not a fan of the goat cheese. Obviously, that is a personal preference. The water they served me was warm, no ice, no lemon, nothing. My sister got the fish of the day, which was halibut. It came on top of lentils and carrots, and she really enjoyed it. My other sister got the soup, popper, salad combo. The soup was gazpacho, which she did not like at all. It was a chilled soup, but the texture and taste was not very good. She enjoyed the popper and salad though. For dessert, we ordered the strawberry rhubarb cobbler and s'more tart. I must say, these were great! This is the only thing I would come back for. The s'more tart was chocolatey, warm, and just delicious. The marshmallow was good and there was a perfect amount of chocolate graham cracker. The strawberry rhubarb was my favorite. It came nice and hot over a biscuit with a nice scoop of creamy, hard vanilla ice cream. All in all, I would no go back for a lunch meal, but I would definitely go back for a dessert!! :)
(3)
Bobbi H.
I've been to the Farmstead Table three times now over the past year or year and a half. The first time I went we had a delicious duck to start. This was probably the best part of the meal. I can't remember what I had for my main, so it probably wasn't very memorable. I do remember that the person I was dinning with had rabbit, served with carrots (which I though was sort of funny) and I think he enjoyed his dish and was pleasantly surprised that they had rabbit. I went back maybe about a month later with my mom who was really looking forward to having that rabbit dish and they no longer had it. I think the biggest downer to this place is that their menu is constantly changing and that there aren't very many options. I understand that they are trying to get the freshest ingredients, but it's such a bummer when you try something you really like there and then you go back a couple weeks later and they no longer have it! They did though have the duck starter the second time I went, but it wasn't nearly as good as the first. For my main I had the scallops which were fine. Farmstead table can be a bit of a hit and miss. They are constantly changing their menu, so sometimes you go in and there are a bunch of things you would like to try and other times nothing on their relatively short menu sounds appealing. I would suggest that before you decide to go there for dinner you look at their menu beforehand and determine if their current selection is what you really want since sometimes they do have some odd options on there. Other than the food, the decor is quite cute and relaxing. The restaurant is overall pretty small and can get loud and cramped during peak dinning hours. That said, it is definitely best to make a reservation if you are looking to eat there for dinner on the weekend; otherwise, you can probably swing by during the week without a reservation. I do remember that the first time I went, we had made a reservation for three (I think it was a Saturday night), and even with the reservation we had to wait a good 15min before we were seated. Last thing, their popovers are SOOOO good! However, there are two bread options (which they don't tell you). You either get the regular bread before your meal comes out which is free, or you get popovers.The first time I went they just plopped down the regular bread. The second time I went, the waiter casually asked us if we wanted him to bring out some popovers. We said sure and he brought them out. What we didn't realize is that they charge you for the popovers (and it's something like $2-3 per popover). They make it seem like the popovers are complementary, just like the bread, but they aren't. The popovers are GREAT, it just would have felt a little more honest if they had gone about it in a different way.
(3)
Jessica B.
Farmstead Table's decor is Martha Stewart Westport, CT era chic with distressed wooden tables and lovely, rustic tableware and china. Service was impeccable. When my husband wanted to recreate one of the dishes, the chef even explained to our waitress how he prepared it, which was extremely gracious. The bread was radiated homemade goodness. The Vermont Cheese Tasting with Crostini, fruit preserves, and black walnuts was delicious and capped off my July 4th vacation from my diet. We both had a roasted eggplant dish that isn't on the online menu. I love eggplant, but for a vegetarian or vegan dish I think it cried out for a little something more, a grain like quinoa or something with a little protein. It was quite tasty though. I think the restaurant is quite nice, a good edition to Newton, although I think I like the concept a bit more than the actual execution.
(4)
Boston F.
Well done I loved it. Pluses were the food and the atmosphere. Neg was the service. Sides were great, salad was yummy, entree was killer. Had the beet salad, hummus and carrots and the pasta. Our waiter was clueless. They really need to work on this. I would still go back though.
(4)
Aria O.
Went to this restaurant for a Saturday lunch with my wife. I love this restaurant in Newton Center. John Dory fish was outstanding. staff was very knowledgeable and friendly.
(5)
lucy l.
Was really disappointed by our experience here. Service was slow and inconsistent (took a long time for us to be seated when we had a reservation). The fried clams and pickled beets were pretty good, but the rest of our food was surprisingly bad. After seeing both diners next to us send back their fish specials because they were raw in the middle, I was worried, and sure enough, my halibut was uncooked in the center. The server told me they serve all their fish "medium rare", but I'm pretty sure this doesn't account for uncooked halibut. (She was later apologetic, so maybe she noticed how egregious it was?) My husband's burger bun was dry and sort of stale, as was the underwhelming popover. Cocktails were pretty watered down. I really wanted to like this place as the atmosphere is nice, especially the back deck, but we won't be back.
(2)
Amanda K.
Love this place! Cozy atmosphere, local food, interesting flavor combinations, great service. Fantastic all around. I've eaten here three times and have had different menu items each time - all were great!
(5)
Anne R.
Delicious popovers; food is spicy, including clam chowder with highly seasoned croutons. Roast beef sandwich was served with a spicy spread. Lunch prices are high. Restaurant staff is friendly and helpful; seating is comfortable. I do not plan to return.
(2)
Lauren H.
Yum. Went for a leisurely dinner with two friends. Started with popovers, winter layer dip and brussel sprout tacos. The popovers were perfect. The tacos were delicious. The dip though won for me. I love dip. I love feta. I love toasted baguettes. I love lemon. I loved everything about this dip. The four layers were meant to be together. I had the fish special which was a pan roasted cod with a warm spinach salad with a vinaigrette, fingerling potatoes, and celery with this sauce that I believe was carrot romesco. The veggies were fantastic- not overwhelmed by the vinaigrette or overcooked. My friends had the chicken and the burger. They finished them. The desserts though- I can't even stop talking about or thinking about. We got the banana crepe cake, the Parizske Rozky and the S' more tart. We waited all day for that s'more. It was worth it. The ganache melted in your mouth. The toast on the marshmellow and smoke on the crumbs gave it that necessary fire feel to make a real s'more. The banana crepe cake was delicious but the winner there was the caramelized bananas. But whatever a parizske rozky is and and whoever made it and whatever exactly it is...whoa. I don't love fruit and dessert. I don't love hazelnut. I also don't love coconut which I think was in there. I LOVE whatever this thing was. It was almost perfect-just I had to share. Seriously though crunchy and chewy and smooth and cold and warm and sweet and savory and everything you want. I didn't even want to try it and then I was sad I had to share it.
(5)
David L.
Muy bueno. Owned and operated by a very hard-working husband-wife team, we really enjoyed our Mother's Day brunch. Very cozy atmosphere, attentive table service, and wonderful food. We thoroughly enjoyed the tomato bisque soup, crispy fried oysters, three egg omelet, French Toast, Farmer's Breakfast Plate, and egg's Benedict. Farmstead Table is a very nice addition to Newton Centre's budding restaurant scene.
(4)
John C.
A comfortable, casual restaurant with inventive food and good service. A nice wine list, too, with moderate prices. We had the daily special, a nicely cooked John Dory filet served over a ragout of spinach and mushrooms. The side order of brussel sprouts is deservedly raved about, as are the popovers. The pumpkin layer cake was a nice ending.
(4)
sarah a.
I've only gotten take out from Farmstead, so my review only reflects that end of the restaurant! My boss gets the salad with chicken - which she likes very much - from the lunch menu every few weeks or so. The toppings for the salad changes quite often, which I think is a good thing, but the salad itself is a little pricy at about $17 with the tax. I've tried it myself on several occasions and usually the salad itself is nice, but the chicken is never not overcooked and dry dry dry. Today I got a side baby field greens salad to go with the salmon I brought from home for my lunch, and maybe I'm crazy but I didn't expect a $6 side salad to only include a handful of lettuce and a side of dressing. Expensive lesson learned! I might be willing to try some of their other menu items for lunch in the future, but everything is so prohibitively expensive that I think I'll try other places nearby first.
Very nice atmosphere. Good service. Popover and salad looked good. My friends and I had the orrechiate pasta with mushroom and chicken. I asked for no salt or low salt. My friend and I got the saltiest pasta dish I have ever had in a long time. They reduced our bill,but I would rather have had a low salt or no salt pasta dish or at least be told they could not make the dish low salt. And I would have ordered something else. Terrible overly salty pasta dish.
(2)
Heidi S.
I love Farmstead. What's not to love. The staff are just lovely, the food is fresh, mostly local and well prepared and the ambiance is perfect for a low key evening out. If you haven't tried this place, definitely check it out, you won't be disappointed. They serve homemade spelt bread baked fresh daily, it's such a treat. The owner came out to make sure our meals were ok and even offered to create a dish on the spot based on some questions I had. They really care about the food and your experience. A lovely addition to Newton Centre. The only reason I subtracted a star is because I don't understand their seating policy. I have arrived a few times when there were several empty tables and was told no tables were available because they were for people who had made reservations. Twice, once alone and once with a friend, I opted for the bar which was a fine option although the tables sat empty both times I was there and were still empty when I left. Why we couldn't sit there was an enigma to me. I understand honoring people's reservations but holding a table for an hour and a half seems silly, no. Other than that, the food is great, you will love it. Just make sure to have a reservation and you'll have a wonderful time.
(4)
Jeremy W.
Newton Centre isn't the first place in mind when it comes to good food, especially for a dining experience. I went with my family here and was pleasantly surprised! We got a few appetizers which were delicious (their bread was amazing). I ordered chicken and it was fantastic and really really fresh. Like their name suggests, everything is farm to table. I don't remember exactly what I ate their, but I remember everything being really good! Slightly expensive due to farm to table, but would come back here for special occasions!
(4)
Liz B.
I had dinner here a few months ago and loved it. Came for brunch on Easter Sunday and was not as happy, but more related to service. First, I called to confirm my Open Table reservation and was told that they would not honor it because they were booked solid. Then they decided to honor it. My party of five showed up at our reservation time and the restaurant was empty. So why give me a hard time? The service was not great. They brought me coffee and never asked if I wanted cream or sugar with it. I had to ask. And wait. Overall the food was good. I thought the bread basket for the table was overpriced at $10 for three pieces of bread. I'll go back and try again...
(3)
Paul N.
Not to be overly superlative but this place is a bit underwhelming.. I'm not sure what everyone else is raving about. I get the farm to table sentiment but in what way is Chilean Sea Bass a locally sourced ingredient. Beyond that the steak was not so great. The staff are young and inexperienced. If this place is still here a year from now I'd be quite surprised. Other than the prices there is no WOW here.
(2)
Jonathan W.
A terrific farm to table restaurant in Newton Centre. The food is absolutely fresh and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. A great selection of cocktails, beer, and wine, as well as a focused menu that's approachable, yet offers fun and unique flavor. The owner is involved in all processes, from the preparation to serving to hosting, it feels like you are well cared for when you eat there and they take pride in their operation. The staff is great and the service is excellent. The owners wife is in charge of baking and does a tremendous job with the baked goods - from the bread at the start of the meal to the brioche on sandwiches, it's all a real treat. When we were leaving, we mentioned that we really enjoyed the bread (it's a smelt flour that gives the bread a nutty, sweet flavor) and they gave us some to take home. Such a kind thing to do and it shows how proud they are of their product. A great meal paired with excellent service. Farmstead Table gets five stars all the way.
(5)
Neil H.
In the first episode of Portlandia, there is this skit where two people out on a date ask the waitress all about the origins of the chicken they want to eat that night. They want to know the name of the chicken and what sort of life it lived before they feel comfortable to eat it. I felt like this was Farmstead Table--the sort of place where they can tell you every little detail about the food you're about to it. Personally, I like knowing that I'm eating healthy food that's been treated with total intention. We've been here a few times now, and every time there's been a good different something to try out. And each dish has been spot on. Recommended enthusiastically and without reservation!
(4)
Wonder W.
A really lovely addition to Newton Center and well needed. The menu for lunch was small but incredibly varied. My friend loved the burger - the fries are amazing. The chicken salad with goats cheese and walnuts was fresh and light. I doesn't have a lot of atmosphere being a smaller place but nice for casual lunch or dinner. They also had a kids menu for lunch which came in handy.
(4)
Ira H.
We visited this past Friday for a 6pm reservation. All the food in this restaurant is organic and is from a farm they know. The food is supposed to be in season. We had our 2 kids with us and the kids menu had good choices for them. My son and daughter voted 5 stars on yelp...which is a rare good mark from them... My son had pasta and daughter had a perfectly cooked juicy piece of grilled chicken. My wife and I had pumpkin bisque, and each of the 2 salads. I had the burger. The red meat here is from Montana. Best burger I've ever had! All the food was excellent. Our waitress had a rough around the edges quality but was an extremely experienced and knowledgeable server. OK. She reminded me of my mother.... For dessert we tried the "smores" cake which was a mini cake with ganache chocolate, graham crackers and home made marshmallow. Just great. When we left, the restaurant was jam packed with guests. We will return soon to try more food choices.
(5)
M C.
I had dinner once in this restaurant and really enjoyed it. I love the farm to table approach. I had the steak and it was great. Tip: call ahead and reserve a table and show up on time. They are small. They will take reservations for two. I called a couple of hours ahead on a Wed. The service and atmosphere are good but go with the focus on the food.
(4)
J C.
I was a bit disappointed with the taste of the food here considering all the good reviews here on Yelp. For starters, this is a nice cozy restaurant with a colorful farmhouse style decor. We started off with the bread and butter which would've been much better had it been warm because the crust on that thing is rather hard. For appetizers, we had the fried oysters. The first one was very good with the combination of nicely fried oyster, lettuce and mayoish sauce. However for the next two oysters, I was lucky the shell fragments and sand didn't break my teeth when I chomped into them. Moving along to the entrees I got the special fish of the day (darby or derby or something). The fish was seared nicely, the veggies were crisp and fresh however the overall dish was missing on the flavor department. The other entree I tried was the Petit Filet of Beef Tenderloin aka Ribeye, was super tender, the accompanying mash was buttery smooth and the asparagus expertly grilled but again the meat wasn't too tasty. Perhaps I am more used to my steak taste like from a steak house. The grilled cheese sandwich for kids is bland but the non kid sized steak fries that come with the sandwich were good. One oddity is that this restaurant doesn't have any dessert because our waiter just proceeded to hand us our bill once we were done with our entrees. Overall an OK restaurant. Good that its kid friendly, bad that the flavors muted.
(3)
Remco T.
Not as great as an experience as we expected. We made a reservation for 8:30PM the night before. Despite the somewhat late reservation, we still got parked in the bar area where it gets cold every time the door opens. We really hoped to be in the main restaurant. Before we took our seats at the table, we sat at the small bar next to it for a glass of wine while waiting. The wine glasses were not washed well and clearly had a lot of dish washer residue all over them. Not a pretty sight. The waiter was not really into the details. Besides, he was not overly friendly, even when I tried to crack a joke with him. The food was okay, but certainly not above average. For the money we paid, there are many more other choices in that neighborhood that can and should be considered. Certainly, 'speak up' when you go there; we didn't and we regretted our decision.
(2)
Kevin M.
Let me state: I want this place to succeed and provide another up scale foodie option for Newton Centre. It's a nice remake of the space for the former Indian restaurant. Farmstead table has a soft, minimalist cottage look and feel with nice dim lighting. It is a small, intimate space. I wasn't a fan of the corner booth we had near the host table. Too busy and there was a precariously perched napkin holder overhead. Meal was very good (Chicken and duck entrees were excellent as was my pumpkin bisque) Service was mixed Wine pours, bad VERY stingy on the wine pour. My wife and I immediately noticed it with glass #1 and it happened again with #2. As I say to my daughters: that is not nice. Not nice. I'll give it another try to see if the kinks have been worked out.
(3)
Marlene H.
Farm fresh food, simply prepared with perfect seasoning. This place in unpretentious yet serves elegant cuisine. The fried green tomatoes were tangy and delicious, topped with fresh corn and basil. Game hen was moist, with crispy skin. Michelle delivered great service and her suggestions were spot-on, especially for the berry cobbler with lemon verbena ice cream!
(4)
The Throwin S.
Good service. Fresh, well-prepared food. The braise was tender and flavorful. The fish of the day, Hake, was light, tender, and fresh. The Cornish hen was also delicious. They also do a wonderful apple crisp dessert and bread pudding.
(4)
Jamie H.
what a great addition to newton center! cozy atmosphere, excellent and attentive service, and spectacular food. my fiance and and i went for a celebratory dinner, and we couldn't have asked for more. we started with the rabbit rillettes and seared squid. the squid was light and fresh, tossed with pickled cabbage and served over greens. i loved the rabbit - it was similar to a pate and came on a toasted rye bread with cranberries and a light sauce. i definitely recommend both, but also would have loved to try other options such as the butternut squash bisque. after a fantastic start, we ordered the lamb t-bones and rib-eye steak. the lamb was absolutely fantastic. it was cooked perfectly, light pink on the inside but not at all chewy. it had a nice balsamic reduction and was served with mushrooms, kale, and squash puree. the 2-chop portion was more than enough for me, and i'm already looking forward to the leftovers. i tried my fiance's steak, and good thing i did since he finished the whole thing. it was also cooked perfectly, and he appreciated that any fat had either crisped up or been removed. the steak was served with green beans and mashed potatoes with a cabernet reduction. over the course of the meal, i had a glass of chardonnay and the pear cosmo. others have complained about the wine pours, but i disagree - it was certainly a regular glass. when i ordered the pear cosmo, the waitress affirmed that i liked a drink that was strong and sweet. i do, and it was! best drink i've had recently, but appreciated the heads up that it was sweet. for dessert we got the s'more tart (but had a hard time deciding - everything looked amazing!) it was a toasted marshmallow on top of chocolate ganache and pieces of graham cracker, on top of oreo crust. enough said... perfect ending. we had an excellent meal, and really enjoyed ourselves. the pacing was perfect. and the waitstaff was really nice. the menu changes frequently, so i can't wait to go back another time to try more dishes. it's also very reasonably priced.
(5)
Missy S.
Tried this place on a Sunday when the diner across the street had a line-- they don't do your typical brunch, but they do a mean lunch, at a very reasonable price. We only tried the brisket sandwhich -- as a nice jewish girl, I must admit-- it was great! Extremely rich, though admittedly a fatty piece of meat, great brioche bun, and a tangy slaw. The bread that they bring you to start is made in house and out of this world. Fries could have been a bit hotter, but man, this place was a nice surprise!
(4)
Diane D.
Wonderful, wonderful experience. The place is small, but the tables are properly spaced to give enough quiet space for conversation. The interior is just warm and charming. And the food was terrific. We've been to many farm-to-table restaurants, and the difference here is that the dishes - every one - is prepared with pride and love. The service (thank you, Robin) made us feel like welcome friends. Just wonderful.
(5)
Molly K.
The Newton culinary scene has a new contender. Just 6-weeks old, Farmstead Table is located right across the street from the Newton Centre T stop. The farm-to-table restaurant focuses on a fresh and clean preparation. With simple rustic decor, the restaurant is small to moderately sized and offers both lunch and dinner with an ever-changing menu. As of now, they do not have a website, but they do have a facebook page. I started with the house cured salmon lox toast with pickled shallots with dill creme fraiche & baby greens. At just $11, this appetizer was big enough for 2 to share! Although very tasty & very filling, I could have done with a bit more cracked pepper (but I do LOVE cracked pepper, so maybe that's just me!). I chose the roast free-range chicken with parsnip puree, baby vegetables, and a thyme natural jus as my entree. I like to order chicken at restaurants, as it is a standard easy protein that just asks to be revved up with imagination. In my opinion, a good restaurant is dependent on how they are able to execute the smallest and simplest things, like chicken! The parsnip puree was soft and delicious, while the vegetables remained crisp and fresh. The chicken was moist, but traditional. My dinner date had the special Eggplant Napolean which she reported was tasty. The best part of the evening was the dessert, almond cake with plum compote & vanilla ice cream. Nestled into mildly tight-corridors, we enjoyed a pleasant evening surrounded by simple farm decor of flowers and books about soil, plants, and farming techniques, reminded of the simple preparation of fresh food. Pictures and more on -- ----
(3)
Jules C.
We decided to try Farmstead Table over the Labor Day weekend, as things are generally less crowded then. We made a reservation on Open Table, which was strange because according to OT, they had no reservations between 5:45 and 8, but when we got there the place was completely empty... The atmosphere is nice, simple, and the music was somewhat bizarre but at the right volume for conversation. The food was ok but pricey for what it is. I love the concept but the flavors were a little bland and the portions were a little small for the price. Overall, we probably won't go out of our way to return.
(3)
Dana T.
This was a great find. The food and service were on the mark. I loved the locally sourced food - even the lettuce in the salad tasted better than typical. It was a combination of the fresh baby leaves and the perfect dressing. Everything was presented beautifully, too. I had the roasted chicken breast which I typically avoid at restaurants but this was worth it - perfectly cooked with a crispy skin. I'll be back.
(5)
D L.
Three of us had dinner at Farmstead Table tonight. Holy smokes who knew about the little back deck attached to the back of the restaurant!! Although all we had were Burgers they were perfectly cooked, seasoned well with crispy fries and garden fresh garnishes. As for the deck with the overhead lights and plants everywhere it felt like we visiting our favorite place in Europe!
(5)
Ryan S.
Went here again for lunch. The salad I had with chicken (Amish free range of course) was the best I have has in a long time. Also still enjoyed the popovers. They were great! Sit outside if you be the chance. It is a long table for like 20 people but they seat you all together. It is a fun casual environment and good food. I like the concept.
(5)
Elizabeth D.
Wonderful restaurant and a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. The popovers, fried oysters, and fries were incredible starters. Get the burger and game hen anytime they appear on the menu! The vibe is fresh and intimate at the same time, while the food walks the often sought after fine line between classic and contemporary. Also, as if the food didn't speak for itself, the team managing the restaurant was incredibly gracious and kind to us. I will absolutely be back.
(5)
Aja A.
While not the worst kind, we are ultimately SF food snobs who find ourselves living in New England now. So bless your heart, Farmstead Table. You make us feel at home. The food is so incredibly well made, the cocktails are fun and lovely, service is charming, the atmosphere is delightful, fresh. We love you. We should probably hurry back ASAP.
(5)
Jo T.
Great meal. Wine list is varied and fairly priced. The menu isn't long, but there's enough variety for all. I had the grass-fed rib eye, which was well-flavored and cooked correctly. We had a party of 6, and we all agreed that the food was very good and that the service was polite and attentive. Last, many thanks to Penni for accommodating a change in our reservation from 4 people to 6. We brought all 4 of our kids, and we had a great time. A great way to start a weekend, with a delicious Friday night meal out.
(5)
Amy S.
Had a wonderful meal last night--everyone loved what they ordered and we were all over the menu. My seared diver scallops were excellent, beet salad was perfectly balanced. Apple tart for dessert a crowd pleaser. Great service, nice atmosphere. Will be back for certain.
(4)
Carla P.
Well prepared, tasty food. Terrible service. The waitress was very nice and "in training.". Sadly, she was trained by a waiter completely lacking in training himself. The drink order was a train wreck, wine arrived halfway way through dinner, the steak was only slightly warm when served. I hope they can overcome the service problems and keep this restaurant going.
(2)
L S.
So good! Delicious, creative, local food. Very busy, but nice atmosphere. Cozy and inviting. The service was fine, nothing amazing, but nothing to complain about either. Highly recommended for a delicious, creative meal.
(5)
Ali G.
Great food and cozy upscale but casual atmosphere. Be prepared to spend a little more than usual, but definitely worth it. If you get desert make sure you get the s'mores! Another good dish is the fried Brussels sprouts. The staff were super friendly and accommodating
(4)
Mimi G.
One of the best meals I've had outside of Boston. Went with a group of 3 couples. Our server, John, was a delight. The food was outstanding...many had the tenderloin and raved about it. The sides...Burgundy Mushrooms and Brussel Sprouts were to die for. Don't miss the Sticky Toffee Pudding and the S'Mores torte for dessert. An excellent dining experience. We will be back!
(5)
Richard C.
Yet another case of a burger that has slowly built a positive reputation, the new-ish Farmstead Table in Newton has received pretty good grades from some local critics, with more than a few of them being impressed by the burger. The fairly priced $15 burger showcases grass-fed beef, smoked baby Swiss, New Hampshire bacon and a choice of fries or a salad. Of course, you have to be a real weirdo to opt for the salad but if that's your thing then go for it. While we chewed the fat waiting for our burgers to arrive, we tried to recall a grass-fed burger ever being exceptional. The short answer is no, at least not in these parts (I supposed anywhere for that matter) because grass-fed is simply too lean to be great. Technically the Craigie burger is locally sourced and grass-fed, but it's the addition of beef fat and a few other unique touches that separate that burger from the field. The Farmstead Table burger arrives, looking like a winner if not oddly shaped. It's very classically a pub burger in some ways, featuring a very thick and wide bun and patty with a slight softball appearance to it. The first couple of bites are interesting; the burger is well rested because the juices stay in the patty and don't spill all over the plate. It's not exactly gushing but it's not dry either. It has a funky flavor that is pleasant in the medium-rare parts but overly odd in a liver kind of way in the medium to medium-well spots. But that's grass-fed for you, at its best it's distinct if not positively funky, and at its worst it's not so enjoyable but that may just be a personal preference. Even if it was cooked perfectly all around it's too unconventional to be great and this burger is no exception. But the inconsistent cooking is a big deterrent here, and it's so tightly packed it becomes very, very tough and to the point of chewy. Even more so the burger is dense, very over-handled and it shows. Eating this burger feels and acts very heavy, this one in fact will weigh you down. Which of course is the antithesis of grass-fed burgers if you think about it; people tend to gravitate towards them because they are leaner and thus, should be lighter. The Farmstead Table burger is well-seasoned but it just doesn't add up to a quality meal. The bacon is nicely flavored; smoky and sweet it fits the bill, but the cheese is a non-factor and any potential smoke appears to be just an illusion. The bricohe-like bun is airy and soft but like most brioche buns before it, is simply too much bread even for a thick burger like this one. French Fries are on the thicker side and have a good crunch and exterior of salt, with a hollow yet creamy interior. They are efficient but unexceptional. While it is unique based on decent grass-fed beef and well prepared bacon, the meat to bun ratio and over-packing of the burger are the eventual downfall. There is a pretty solid crust on the patty, which is fairly juicy and modestly seasoned if not unevenly cooked across the board. If you're curious about the grass-fed movement it may be worth a look, even if the end product leaves a little something to be desired.
(2)
Rick B.
I had my first meal Sunday evening- it was wonderful. The bread is "homemade by the owner's wife". The servce was good (her first night to work there!). The marinated salad was really awesome- I want that recipe! (I prefer my veggies al dente!) My scallops were perfect- and we shared, so I can comment that the eggplant was also great (it could use a bit more salt, I thought). I can't wait to return!
(5)
Mary Ann H.
I'd been looking forward to eating at Farmstead Table and came away disappointed. Although we had a reservation for 7:15, our table was not ready when we arrived at 7:20. No big deal. We were escorted to a nice back patio where we sat on a lovely evening and enjoyed a glass of wine -- for nearly 30 minutes. The staff apologized several times for the wait and comped us our drinks. Appropriate and attentive. Our meals were, in a word, bland. I ordered Native Vegetables a la Barigoule, which I expected to be garbanzo beans, artichokes, some other vegetables, and lemon cooked in olive oil. The beans were nearly crunchy and did not appear to have been cooked/simmered in oil or broth. The vegetables were somewhat watery and not flavorful at all. And the portion was small -- perhaps a full cup or at most 1.5 cups. Not a good value for $21. My dinner mate had cod, which was cooked well (flaky, not dry) but had very little flavor at all. Again, bland. Our waiter was attentive but not overly so. And the hostess checked in on us half-way through the meal and let us know that she would not charge us for our patio drinks. I'd rate service higher than the food, but it wasn't good enough for us to return or recommend.
(2)
I S.
Admittedly, it was their 1st day serving lunch, perhaps with a trainee chef in the kitchen. I had the fish of the day (swordfish) with vegetables. The swordfish was well cooked but the spaghetti style vegetable was inedible - drenched in a sauce that only tasted of butter. The sauce even spoiled the green beans that was on the side. I thought the whole idea is to showcase the natural taste of fresh vegetables! Why then mask the true flavor with all that butter and grease? The server never asked if the food was ok so we didn't bother to make a fuss.
(2)
Jessica N.
I went here with a friend on a weeknight over the summer, and there was plenty of room though it is a small space overall. We sat indoors, as outdoor seating is at one of the longest picnic tables I have ever seen, which requires that you get kind of chummy with neighboring diners. We each had a great meal. I had a blueberry and blue cheese salad followed by rainbow trout and we shared the blueberry/ blackberry cobbler for dessert. I could have gone on eating, everything was super yummy, particularly the sauce of my fish dish. I may have also been slightly biased since I had been busy at work and had a miniscule lunch that day. The only thing I would have improved about the place was the service. My water was never refilled during the duration of my 2h meal. The waitress hesitated when I asked for more bread, but did provide it. I suppose the other thing is that it was a tad on the pricey side. I think salad was ~$12, and dessert was $9. I spent $50 and I didn't even order a drink. I will probably be back for the food though, and hopefully the service will be better.
(4)
Alexandra H.
We would like this restaurant to succeed as the food was delicious- On a return trip - we were delighted with the food and the pacing. I would wish that there were some options without pork or shellfish- a personal desire. All in all our meals were wonderful. And the noise level was low - to allow pleasant conversation. Tables were spaced nicely. We will come here again.
(5)
Elizabeth B.
Food was AMAZING. Our server was wonderful. Great pick for a special occasion. The seating area is small so best to make a reservation.
We ate there last night with friends and everything was fabulous! cocktails are yummy! The menu was great and had something for everyone. The steak, fish and burger were all perfect. We had a great wine and dessert too. We will be going back soon!
(5)
Melissa L.
Farmstead Table woke up my taste buds last night! Adorable space located on Union St (seats about 50 people) that was bustling at 730pm on a Saturday evening so if you're considering going, definitely book a reservation. We were seated within a reasonable time upon arrival by a friendly hostman, and immediately were greeted by our fabulous waitress, Robyn. She wasquite the character, providing excellent service during our entire experience! For starters we each had the Bosc Pear Salad, the pears were grilled and warmed on top of the arugula with the perfect amount of bleu cheese. For entree's, I had the Seafood special of the day, Seared Sea Scallops over butternut squash puree, and my husband had the Sirloin with a to die for mushroom sauce. Robyn was generous with the wine pour last night, much appreciated! Desert was amazing - a Smore Tart - that the owner/chef created from scratch, including the marshmellow! Although the menu is fairly small, it has a broad range for every diner - from poultry, seafood, steak, to the vegetarian; and it revolves apparently. Prices were reasonable even for Newton averaging between $16-28 per entree. Only qualm would be trying to find a parking spot close by on Union St on a weekend night (which we did), definitely give yourself an extra few minutes to find parking before your reservation since its limited on Union Street. Farmstead Table definitely has done things right, outstanding organic options and exceptional service!
(5)
Luciana S.
It is hard to rate and here are the reasons. Went there for a birthday celebration. Appetizers were fabulous! Rabbit terrine(amazing) and cheese plate. White wine list (by the glass) was not great but acceptable. Order a green salad (fabulous) and the gnocchi with clams and pancetta appetizer as a main course. My friend, who is allergic to fish and shellfish , order gnocchi without clams. The other order a vegetarian dish with quinoa. Everything was fine until... My friends entrees arrived ( a little late but we were having a great time). Mine took a very long time. Everyone's food was getting cold as they were waiting for me, and a woman came, apologized and "TOLD" me I will get a free dessert . Even though I wasn't asked if I wanted one - which I didn't for sure. When finally my gnocchi came, I noticed the size and the consistency and guess what? It was poorly boiled fingerling potatoes instead of gnocchi. I thought it was insulting. They could have come to me and said they were sorry but they ran out of gnocchi. They could come and said they would not charge for my dish or give me a choice BEFORE my friends got their dishes. Instead, it was the dishonest way of " perhaps she wouldn't notice" the difference between a potato and a gnocchi. Hmmm I am not american, could that be it? As luck we have it, my friend who was hosting this dinner and it is a chef and food blogger, was appalled to say the least. She stormed off to the owner/ hostess and server and let them have it! Nope, don't mess with a Sicilian. Ever. We left. I am sorry to say because this place has talent and potential. I felt robbed of a great experience .
(1)
Peter M.
I managed to grab a bite here on opening night. Glad that I did. Nice menu and beautiful design. I had a great piece of grilled fish and a nice salad. Staff was attentive. It's a concept that will do great in Newton. It's a winner.
(5)
Allie L.
I heard about Farmstead through a family friend who highly recommended it. My GF & I went Friday night & loved everything about it. The decor was simple, yet pleasing; our waiter was beyond helpful & in great spirits; & the food was delicious. We ordered the Gazpacho which was heavenly, & started off with homemade bread, which the waiter was kind enough to bring over olive oil & balsamic for dipping since he overheard us say "we love condiments." The spiked blueberry lemonade cocktail was STRONG, but delicious. The hack covered in lobster sauce was amazing, yet I wasn't blown away by the grilled eggplant dish, but the vegetarian dish changes daily! The portions were perfect size, too. We shared everything. To top it off, the cherry almost dessert was delicious, & not too sweet. I was surprised to see the bill came to $90, but it was WELL worth it! I'd go back in a heartbeat!
(5)
Judy R.
Another great meal at Farmstead. We both had to have t that fab burger this time because the last two times I ate there I went veggy (which was delicious). A special burger tonight had sharp cheddar and creamy horseradish sauce.Crispy thin french fries that accompany the burger are so perfectly seasoned that even I ( who salts everything) did not need to salt them. Always enjoy my meal there. Love the staff and I really feel there's a lot of love and attention put into each dish in the kitchen. Lovely glass of Cabernet Sauvignon along with the burger.
(5)
Adam T.
My girlfriend and I recently spent a few days dining in and around Boston and Farmstead Table in Newton was the highlight of our visit. Fresh, simple, and delicious cuisine within a charming atmosphere served by a friendly and attentive staff. Farmstead Table is not trying to reinvent the wheel, they are simply doing everything right, without being a slave to gimmicks or trends. I can only hope other restaurants follow their example of fresh, reasonable, local food made and served with love. Bravo!
Great spot for lunch. Fresh ingredients and well prepared dishes, the staff is friendly and attentive. Highly recommended!!
(4)
Louise S.
Pretty unexciting. . . Bland food, bland decor. . Looks like grandma's back porch! Super small, annoying loud man, practically in our back pocket, ruined our efforts at conversation. I would never want to share this little space with strangers, even on the T! Food was something I'd cook for myself on a Tuesday night.underdone salmon( I wouldn't do), and we weren't forewarned of the Chet's propensity to cook fish rare, an odd assortment of, perhaps, leftover potatoes, and some overdone, tough kale. Good luck!
(2)
Jess Y.
This is a cute little place in Newton - nice and clean with kitschy decor. Promptly greeted upon entering and seated by the window. We came here for lunch after hearing rave reviews from a friend, but ended up leaving less than wowed. It wasn't bad, but I wasn't floored by anything we ordered. We ordered soup (tomato bisque), the grilled cheese, small side salad, fish of the day, and the pasta. I'll say the best part of the meal was the homemade bread and the soup. The other dishes were lackluster and quite oversalted. Don't get me wrong, I love me some salt, but when it blows out my palate on the first bite, the second bite is hard to justify. I'll give it to the server, she was very patient with my family and very accommodating, but her explanation as to why the dishes were salty were awkward. Overall, I'm glad I tried it out, but I probably won't be going back anytime soon.
(3)
Eli G.
Fantastic place. Came here for a birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. Appetizers for the table were calamari, delicious rabbit terrine and mushrooms - all delicious. We also had fries, which were good, but not extraordinary. The main dishes are also good - try lamb burger. IT has a thin veneer of mint dressing, which complements the meat very well. The atmosphere is cozy and the service attentive.
(5)
D. Lynne P.
Farmstead Table is a charming intimate restaurant. My friend and I had dinner. Reviewing the creative menu, it was evident the chef took great care of what was served and how is was presented. There was an overall emphasis of using local ingredients. The homemade breads were tasty. Because we had a somewhat late dinner we shared the last popover. It was well worth the sharing. The service was excellent. The server allowed us the space and time to talk while enjoying our meal. I had the tomato soup and eggplant/ summer squash dish which was excellent. I forgot what my friend had for an appetizer. That was because I was enjoying my soup! Though, I do remember her saying that she loved it. She had the Sea Bass and said it was great. As much as we wanted to have dessert, we were too full. Next time we'll start with dessert and work our way backwards. We can't wait to come back.
(4)
Andrew Y.
We had a great meal at the Farmstead Table. The ribeye steak was incredible: flavorful and tender. I had the pollock, which was great. One minor issue was that the place had problems with our reservation (for 5 p.m.) and we had to sit at the bar, but they (more than) made up for it by throwing in the dessert.
(5)
susan p.
Farmstead Table has the right concept, and should be very successful. Unfortunately, the food and service were mediocre. The vegetables in the marinated vegetable salad were undercooked and hard. The scallop entree had 3 scallops for $23.00. The chicken entree was tasty but uninspired. On an 80 degree night, there was no air conditioning. Service was inattentive. We waited 45 minutes from the time we finished our appetizers to the time the entrees arrived. Sadly, we won't be back.
(2)
G L.
The food was good. However, it was way too noisy, the service was inattentive, the food and wine prices were high, and the selections were limited. The table next to us was a bit loud, making it very hard to hear people at our own table. We waited a long time for the initial visit by the waiter. We had to ask for water and bread . .they weren't delivered automatically. They tried giving me the wrong meal twice (each belonged to others at our table) and delivered an incorrect meal to the table next to us. We won't return.
(2)
David G.
Awesome burgers!!! Hope they keep it up.
(4)
Big S.
very good food, everything was fresh and made to order. its not as fancy as you would think in there. very crowded, great food and great service.
(5)
Amelia G.
Out tonight we were three couples; let me tell you what was good. Rabbit rillettes and baked Brie at the bar with craft cocktails mixed with local spirits, getting our table early, firm yet yielding spelt bread, burgers clams, and bread pudding. Only thing not great was that waitress didn't seem to understand the excellent but accented English of some otherwise happy diners, and kind of made us feel bad about it. Also she seemed worried we would forget to tip? Myself I have never forgotten to tip, have you? Would def go back.
(4)
Ben R.
The place elevates its whole neighborhood. The food we had (a chicken dish and a tuna steak) were excellent, vegetables tasting fresh and their flavor special, nice array of local beer, dessert (almond banana tart with ice cream) very tasteful, with a perfect degree of sweetness to it. Coffee came out with perfect temperature. I've never been to Alice Waters' famed Chez Panisse, but this place seems to push my imagination in that direction... Definitely a place to savor and tell friends about.
(5)
Lisa L.
Just came from our first visit at Farmstead Table. As others have noted, the atmosphere is cozy (although our two-top was squeezed between another table and a wall) but it's pleasant enough. I had the squash soup which was good if a little on the sweet side. For entree i had a special cod which was very good. The food and service were good but, with a mere 6 items on the dinner entree menu, i can see getting tired of the food here pretty quickly. The waitress told us the menu changes seasonally.
(4)
Robin R.
Really great restaurant. Definitely worth a try but would definitely not attempt without a reservation. There is a small but excellent menu which appeals to every palate. The food was excellent the service was perfect - attentive without being intrusive. The dessert to die for was the s'more tart for me. I do have to agree the wine pours are a little skimpy but that would not stop me from eating here often as everything else out weighs that minor complaint. I'm so happy they opened!
(5)
Shirin S.
I am a foodie. Farmstead is a place for foodies. I was really looking forward to a farm to table 'foodie' restaurant. These are the types of places I prefer to dine at and I'm willing to pay the steep prices to have a good dining experience. Sadly, I did not have a good experience at farmstead due to its poor management. The bad experience started when I ordered the lamb ragu. I was informed by my waiter that were out. Mind you, it's Saturday night at 7.30 pm, in other words, too early to run out of a regular menu item. My second choice was the parsnip soup and a popover. My soup was served (lukewarm) but not the popover. About 10 minutes later I inquired about the popover and I was told that they were out. First of all, why didn't the waiter tell me this upfront or when the meal was being served? Next, he told me he was going to inform the manager of my poor experience of trying to order 2things no longer available at 7.30 pm. Nothing. No response from the manager. The bill came and nothing was removed. I thought that it would have been a nice jesture to comp my drink or offer me dessert. Nothing. Finally I asked the host to send over the manager. As I explained the situation of attempting to order items that were no longer available, she told me she was aware and gave me some lame excuses as to why the items were not available. I told her it would have been nice, given the perceived caliber of this restaurant, to comp dessert or anything, but again, nothing. I told her I would not be returning. This restaurant could be good under a manager who understands customer service. I get treated better at bad chain restaurants,. Wake up farmstead and get a clue or else you will be out of business soon.
(2)
Richard O.
These reviewers must be family members of the owner!! My first visit was with my daughter for her birthday. Very cramped space. My wife ordered fish of the day,had to send it back, not cooked enough. Had to ask twice for lemon. I had chicken penne, pasta so under cooked as to be inedible. There is a HUGE difference between aldente and not cooked. The chicken itself was perfect, but the mushrooms and greens (kale) turned out to be MUSHROOM and GREEN (singular on both).Is there a vegetable shortage in Newton ? My daughter and her boyfriend were satisfied with their food but she asked for greens instead of french fries and got french fries nontheless.When it was time for dessert my daughter and her boyfriend ordered the smores dessert and after waiting about 15 minutes were told they were out. PS This is not the restaurant's fault but there is no parking to be found but meters, 1 Hour limit, I had to park a block and a half away and needed to go back to feed the meter, one hour ??? really. I spent $85 for lunch, won't return.
(2)
Jack K.
Meh. We were disappointed, particularly given the high praise from Yelp and the recent Globe review. In pretty much every sense. Most importantly, the food was mediocre. The server convinced me to have the ribeye steak, saying it was "out of this world." In fact, it was mediocre. Not bad, but definitely not worth raving about. My wife had the lamb, and her reaction was the same. The squash soup, however, was excellent, so I'll give that props. The atmosphere also left a lot to be desired. For some reason, we expected a romantic atmosphere, but not to be. Regular lighting, and frankly a cramped atmosphere and not in a good way. More like the server bumping into you each time she passed by. Of note as well -- we kinda felt rushed, even though the entire dinner last 75 minutes on a Friday night. Part of this was due to the watching the table next of us actually being told to leave by the server. They pleaded for "five more minutes" and the server's response was that she had "to ask [her] manager." Really?
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Shani T.
Farmstead Table is really cute--much smaller than I imagined. Our group started with the popovers (which were AMAZING. The jam and butter really added to the awesomeness of them), which only comes 4 to a basket. Yikes, that's pricey at $10. We had a group of 5 so we got an extra popover. I didn't look at the bill so I don't know if we got charged an extra $2.50 for it, but even though they were amazing I cringed a bit at the price. My pork porterhouse was also stellar. Very tender and delicious. The burger looked awesome and I have to say I snuck some of the fries and they were well seasoned and crispy. Honestly, the entire meal was super enjoyable, so I guess it's worth the price tag in that sense, but this isn't a place I could see myself frequenting purely due to pricing. Happy to indulge here on occasion though!
(4)Ramzy K.
To my surprise, Farmstead Table has yet to make the culinary headlines in the Greater Boston area, somehow avoiding the same spotlight that recently caught Sycamore. While it may lack a big-name chef or a fancy-looking menu, rest assured: Farmstead offers one of the most dependably delicious meals in Newton. Hidden in its quaint setting in the back of Newton Centre, Farmstead looks unassuming. It's atmosphere both inside and out is quiet and humble. Moreover, its menu is shy and small, offering limited options and simple combinations. It's food, though, is anything but. Farmstead offers food rich in flavor and consistent in quality, discreetly outdoing its competition. Whether for brunch, lunch, or dinner, the chefs serve up fresh food on a seasonal menu that always nails the basics: a nicely cooked fish, a few juicy meat options, and tantalizing salads. Add a talented dessert chef to top it all off, and you'll find that a full meal at Farmstead rarely disappoints. The single biggest reason for this sure success is the fresh ingredients in every dish. Using grass-fed beef for the burger, freshly-caught seafood (scallops, soft shell crab, halibut), and locally sourced vegetables whenever possible, Farmstead gives you very few reasons to gripe. Its friendly servers and willingness to accommodate are the cherry on top. Go before people start catching on. No need to rush, though; Farmstead will be around for a while.
(4)Barbara A.
Any place that has popovers is aces in my book and I was looking forward to trying this place for a while. I stopped by one hot day and while I would have loved to have sat outside the humidity was not good. I sat in the window and really loved the space and it airy, light feel. I got an iced tea and the soup, salad, popover combo. I first want to say the meal was a lovely presentation and tasted wonderful. Clearly fresh ingredients and blended well together. That day the soup was tomato basil and the salad was a bib with blue cheese with shallots. Wonderful but the portions and the popover are small. I was expecting to pay a little more than would be expected but I think for the size that you get (soup, salad, and the popover) did not really jive with price point. The iced tea was very good but I was never offered to have another one nor did the waitress check on me once to see if I wanted anything or needed water. For example, I would loved to have ordered another popover for my soup. By the way, the popover was lovely. It was not warm but it worked well for dipping into my soup. I think that I would go back but I would rather go back for dinner and pay these prices.
(3)Ron A.
What I expected was excellent. What I consumed was extraordinary! Simply one of the best meals I have eaten in a while. Food, Service, Atmosphere... A+
(5)Allie M.
This place is the real deal when it comes to the whole farm to table trend. Yes, it's expensive, but you get what you pay for -- awesome food, drinks, and service. I recommend dining here during duck season. The duck breast is awesome and is only offered during season (November). Also, I almost never get dessert when I dine out, however, the smore's tart is an exception. You just have to try it.
(4)Paul M.
Farmstead Table - Newton, MA - 5/18/2015 The staff is super friendly. You feel welcome from the moment you sit down. They're not normally open on Mondays but with all the out to towners here for graduations... The decor... A bit eclectic, kind of a nouveau farm theme with a mix of stainless and wooden chairs with wooden table tops. I'm a bread freak so bread is very important. Tonight I start with Warm Popover with house whipped butter... Start with Grilled Cauliflower Tacos... Avocado, Cole Slaw and garnished with scallions... This evenings Fish special... Baked Cod baked in a Porcine broth with Porcine Mushrooms, English Peas, Bok Choi, Spinach and Asparagus... Totally different than I normally would order but I feel really good about this! Flavorful AND healthy... What a concept... With all of this goodness I feel a strong urge to have something bad so... The Dobos Torteve... Rum Creme Anglaise, Hand-Dipped Chocolate Espresso Bean... Five layers of cake with a buttercream frosting between layers... What a great place. I feel content, nourished and not at all bloated like so many places where you leave stuffed. If you are looking for some place different, this is your place. I would definitely come back.
(5)Dave G.
Incredibly disappointing. The food was ok but for the price you can find a ton of better restaurants in the area. Here's a quick list of absurd prices: 1. A pot of coffee was $10. The restaurant tries to make it sound special but honestly, it was very, very, very weak; ground poorly and of suspect quality; and had no effort put in. They try to play it off as something special because they serve it to you in a French Press, but really it just means that you do the work. Total cost to the restaurant was somewhere in the 25-30 cent range. 2. Popovers were $10. They were ok, but they were tiny and there were 4 of them in the basket. The jam that came with it was pretty clearly a slightly more expensive Smuckers. They also make it seem as though the popovers come with your meal, like bread at other places. 3. The burger was $18 and kind of mediocre. I sort of expected a burger at this kind of place to be around $18 but the kicker was that a slice of cheese, 1 slice of pretty 'meh' cheddar, was an extra $2. Wanna bet the block of cheese they cut it from cost around $6 and accounts for 50 meals at least? 4. Extras. My brother ordered an extra egg with his brunch and the restaurant charged him $6. When he complained, they dropped the price to $3. Even if it was a farm fresh, totally organic, "we love the chicken as if it were our child" egg there's no way an egg of any kind should cost $3. A side of bacon was $6. 5. Scrambled eggs were $13. Yikes. I might have been able to forgive the cost if the food felt like it was worth it, but honestly there wasn't anything special. I had the burger and it was just ok. The meat wasn't anything special, the bun was way too large for the burger, and the bun came piping hot which means I had to wait 5 minutes before I could even have my first bite. That first bite was just lukewarm. Another thing about the burger. The waitress claimed the burger on the menu was listed as a typo, but it said both on the menu in the restaurant and on their website that it was a "Char Grilled Wagyu 'B.L.T.' Burger" There was nothing B about the burger; no trace of bacon whatsoever, and if that was Wagyu beef I'll eat my hat. On top of the food our service was terrible. The waitress had a serious chip on her shoulder and spent most of her time coming by asking us if we were finished. Seriously avoid this place.
(1)Elizabeth K.
Just left here after a Father's Day brunch. For the price they charge we expected better food and service. Two pots of coffee were $20. The popovers were okay but not worth $10. The $18 burger really wasn't worth it and the slice of cheddar on top was a $2 charge that I feel is exorbitant. A member of our party ordered an extra egg and they charged him $6 for it! I understand that it is supposed to be farm fresh but that would mean they buy cartons of eggs for seventy two dollars. How is an egg worth $6?! The waitress was rude and slow and rushed us. She kept coming to the table to ask if we were finished. At one point a man at another table got so fed up with his slow service he walked out with his plate! We felt nickle and dimed over every little thing and really felt it was not worth the price AT ALL. Will not be returning.
(1)lizzie b.
I was excited to go to Farmstead Table with my mom for a fun girls day out. I enjoyed the concept and the decorations; the staff was very friendly. However, the food left something to be desired. Our favorite part of the meal was the parsnip dumplings, but put a load of butter in front of these ladies and we can't say no :) The mussels weren't very good - they were a tad spicy for mom and the sauce wasn't your typical "must lap up with remaining bread" type sauce. In fact, they don't give you bread, and we had to ask for two popovers a la carte because we didn't need the entire $10 popover basket (they came $3 each.) We were thankful that they obliged as we are suckers for popovers; but they couldn't spare any jam. The ladies next to us found something plastic in their soup. I think that this place could improve if they offered food that was more up to the level of their price tags. Perhaps let us know if the items are organic? Add fruit to flavor the water offered? Give (gasp!) free popovers or even mini-popovers to folks? End the meal with a homemade caramel or something that reads farm fresh. Overall, I think that this place with the prices and promise should have been exceptional and truly unique. It was nice to check out, but I won't be coming back unless they vastly improve the food experience.
(2)Annette A.
Farmstead Table is a wonderful place for a date away from the crowds. The restaurant is small and cozy, with a homey vibe. The menu offers fresh, seasonal items with some pretty creative uses of fishes and vegetables. The cocktail list is small and simple, and they stock a variety of fine liquors if you want something custom. We went there to celebrate an anniversary and our server was very friendly, patient and knowledgeable. We're happy with our decision to go there and will be checking it out again someday.
(4)Jessica G.
I love fish. I love meat. And I always have them at dinner. The food was so unique and inspiring on this menu that I ended up ordering an all vegetable meal that was so delicious and amazing that only at the end of the meal did it dawn on me that all I ate was vegetables! Try the tacos. Delish
(5)Emily C.
Love this place! The ambiance is very cute! It's like a quaint farm dining room. The entrees were a little too salty but the appetizers and dessert were great! Popovers - a crunchy shell on the outside and soft/pillowy dough on the inside. Highly recommended! Mussels - pretty good! It was just mussels in a tomato-based sauce. The sauce had good flavor Brussel sprout tacos - very interesting..in addition to brussel sprouts, it also had avocado, parmesan, and other little vegetables. It was decent-a little too much parmesan for my taste but very unique! Broccolini - i love charred vegetables so this dish was great! It also has parmesan on it which made it a little more interesting Pork chop - i really liked the mashed sweet potato and crunchy brussel sprout side of this dish. The pork was cooked really well but it was just a little too salty for my taste Banana crepe cake - delicious! 12+ really thin layers of crepe with banana creme in between. It wasn't too sweet which was good and tasted like fresh bananas
(4)Rob C.
There's always a sort of weird feeling in the air when people are winding down their activities before battening down the hatches for a storm. Which storm, one asks, in this glorious winter of 2015, this was the storm of 2/8-2/10, a.k.a. 'The One That Looked Small Because It Was Only 20" On Top of 3 Feet". Anyway, in the early hours of it, it was slushy but not hard to deal with, and we had no trouble making our brunch reservation to meet my parents for a semi-monthly "I'm not a horrible son" meal. Farmstead Table is definitely the sort of place the wife and i would frequent, not so much my parents. Happily, though, the brunch menu is very straightforward, with familiar sorts of things, and everybody had lots of options. The difference is, it was plainly made with great care and with good ingredients, which stand out when you're having something so simple as fried eggs and finding it amazing (careful sprinklings of seasoning didn't hurt). The omelet and the french toast were the same, simple enough to show off what goes into it. Yummy. The toast/bread is especially impressive, a 1" hunk of moist, almost cake-like, nourishing starch. The sort of thing you'd pack in your bag for a hike through Mordor, or for braving a malfunctioning T home. The service is friendly, if a little busy for a small place, and they have a good selection of breakfast drinkies. Beer for me, mimosas for the girl, lots of teas for my dad. The space is small, but comfy and simple, and clearly popular. It's within sight of the T station, and the girl and i will surely return for dinner some night. Some summer night, maybe.
(4)jackie h.
Tasty, but over priced with small portions (think tapas) and no warning about the small portions. The tomato soup is the same as the base used for the huevos rancheros. Service was acceptable at best. I just spent $50 (on 2 petite lunch items, 2 sodas, and a soup) and am headed elsewhere to eat more because I'm still hungry! Also, if you're gluten-free, no muffins for you. Lame. There are plenty of comparable options in the area at a way better price. Tempo in Waltham comes to mind.
(2)Lauren B.
Great place to dine. Loved the atmosphere. I had the mussels marinated in a spicy tomato sauce and the sea scallops. Both were good but not amazing. The mussels definitely had a kick of cayenne pepper. The sea scallops were much better but it was lacking flavor and it had way too much lemon juice which was overbearing with the horrisa sauce.
(4)Ryan K.
Had a wonderful summer meal on the back deck. My wife and kids were out of town so I was flying solo and lucked out in finding a table available at 730. Fig and tomato pesto salad with straciella (sp?) mozzarella was small but an amazing combination of flavors. Swordfish with summer vegetables was also incredible, nice presentation and a huge portion of line caught fish. On of my best meals in a long time. I love Sycamore as well but decided to mix it up to sit outside, and am glad I did. Server Noreen was very attentive and even insisted on pouring me another glass of wine when a few fruit flies were attracted to my Grenache rose. Finished with berry cobbler with lemon verbena ice cream. I will be back...
(5)Marina S.
First of all the popovers are NOT worth $10. They were NOTHING special and should be served FREE at the table. When was the last time you went to the grocery store, looked at 4 pieces of bread and thought, yes spending $10 on 4 pieces of bread is a great idea. Second, we ordered the cauliflower tacos that were supposed to come with avocado. NO avocado was in the taco and it was just ok. The main dish, the steak with mashed potatoes and asparagus was delicious and cooked the perfect medium rare which for $30 it should be perfect! When it came time to look at the dessert menu we thought we got screwed enough and opted to go to JP Licks. Overall, I would go to OTHER restaurants in the area before hesitantly returning to this one.
(2)Kim S.
From the farm to table concept to the food to the advice, Farmstead does not disappoint. We've been Here a few times and always love it. It's worth it for the cocktails alone (though the bar is tiny). Kind and knowledgeable staff and a warm atmosphere. The food is extraordinary. Enjoy
(5)David X.
In a sea of trendy farm-to-table millennial bearded tattooed chef wannabes, this place is the real deal. It does it so effortlessly, it makes one baffled why all these other new restaurants do it so poorly. No point in raving about the food. Everything was exceptional. Clever, surprising preparations - nothing too adventurous but always just right - with every item on the plate carefully thought and prepared perfectly. Dessert was exceptional too. This is definitely 5 stars all around. My one little quibble is the pop-overs. $10 for 4 mini-popovers. The menu describes them as popovers. No, they are mini-popovers. And they should be free. Every other 5 star (quality and price) restaurant I've been to that offers popovers, offers them free. Like a free dinner roll to accompany your $30 entree. Also, I wish they were the bigger, standard size. And if they're not going to be free, they should at least be served as accompaniments to the (amazing) soup. Just saying.
(5)Jackie K.
Holy dessert! The smore thing was soooooo good. Everything else was solid. I had a salad because the vegetarian options were non-existent except 1 pasta dish. I wish they had more since they are concerned with the environment (presumably). My friend liked her fish (pricey though). Setting was cute and service was excellent. Would come back but would not come back hungry. I'm between 3-4 starts.
(3)Fernando K.
Excellent brunch, great service, nice ambience. Only small point to make is the waiter forgot our coffee/drinks after we ordered, but we didn't mind too much. A little pricey.
(4)Kathleen M.
Maybe because I live near Newburyport and Amesbury so Im spoiled with innovative fresh food so this experience was good but pricey for good. I think the popovers are delicious but at both Passport in Gloucester and Crave in Amesbury they are free! I liked my Brussels sprouts tacos and all our company loved their meals. The salmon was superbly cooked. The fries were just so so. The pork chop was enormous and juicy. My s'mores tart was not melty enough for me on the marshmallow but others seem to love it. I will try other restaurants in that area.
(3)Shivangi S.
Came here for a casual evening drink. Ordered the sauvignon blanc and bread accompaniments. The wine was crisp and great, and all the three accompaniments served were delicious. What they lack in is their service. While serving water, the bartender spilled it all over the bar. And she just casually looked at it as if it were an everyday thing. The server stood next to me after serving what I had ordered and kept staring for almost 2 minutes until I looked at him uncomfortably. Wish there were more vegetarian options on the menu. Anything that says "farm" instantly gives me a picture of fruits and vegetables.
(3)A L.
Food was excellent, decor was homey yet very cute/chic, ingredients seemed super fresh.
(5)H. A.
This review is for brunch only. The food was very good-- great popovers, Bloody Marys, bacon, etc. I had the quiche and it was excellent. Hence, the 4 stars. My only complaint is with the service. Items we ordered were forgotten, or we were given Bloody Marys without the pickles, etc. We had to flag down our waiter and remind him about the items we were missing a couple times.
(4)Mark O.
I've eaten here twice now (once for lunch and once for dinner), and both times I came away really impressed. The food isn't super-fancy, but it's not down-home cooking either (as you might suspect from the name of the place.) (The popovers were great, and I love popovers.) Definitely one I'll go back to.
(5)Lyndsey C.
Really yummy! Huge portions and all so fresh and delicious! The cheddar sandwich was amazing, popovers were great, croissant sandwich was really yummy, and sausage was wonderful. The service was good and we really enjoyed our experience here... Really fresh food!
(4)Michelle W.
-Popovers: light, airy, and deliciously eggy! They tasted a lot better with the whipped butter instead of the raspberry jam they serve, although the jam is delicious! -Oxtail appetizers: I wish I could eat this every day! It was so delicious! -Chicken Pou
(4)Ronna B.
Very over- priced restaurant. Portions are tiny, including the 4 tiny popovers for $10. I love popovers and was really looking forward to these, but they were gone in two bites! While the food was tasty, it was not worth the price tag. I would not return.
(2)Harvard P.
Came here for lunch on a Saturday and loved it! I was amazed at the quality of the meat and fish that they served. The salmon that I ordered tasted like it must have been fished that very day. The chef also prepared it medium to medium-rare, just the way that I like it. Every bite seemed to just melt in my mouth. The duck breast that they served that day was also equally well done. My favorite side was actually the popover. We enjoyed it so much we ended up getting more and even one to go. Definitely a great find in Newton Centre.
(4)Doug K.
Went with a group of four and the experience was flawless. The service was attentive without being intrusive. Not sure what all the bad reviews are referencing as our experience was excellent. We started and split three appetizers that showcased fresh ingredients and very elegant simple preparations that were balanced and flavorful. *Fried Oysters lightly breaded and seasoned *Yellow Watermelon Salad with Goat Cheese and Hazelnuts *Fried Green Tomatoes with a sweet corn relish Dinner entrees and a mixed green salad, again, flawless. Note-When lettuce is fresh it actually has texture and flavor. It is not limp or soft. Spot on here! *New England Swordfish *Diver Scallops Both the Swordfish and Scallops were done perfectly. Grilled Swordfish was juicy, tender and seasoned again simply with bright fresh flavor. The Scallops were not over cooked, silky and delicate. Deserts were all delicious versions of seasonal favorites executed with fresh ingredients and yes, perfectly done. *Peach tart *Berry Cobbler Make the time to get out to Newton and enjoy Farmstead Table, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Claire W.
Have always been for lunch - never for dinner. The food is excellent - it is pricey, but the flavors are so good it is a nice splurge to me. Have brought several friends here, and they have loved it also. One brought back her college-age son and friends for a treat.
(5)Heather A.
My friend an I were excited to visit this farm to table venue, and we were not disappointed! Details are evident from the moment you enter, from the glass milk bottles with water on recycled wooden tables to the clean but welcoming decor. The charred broccoli was probably our favorite. Deliciously salty and flavorful we both were wishing for the recipe. We also shared the roasted chicken and a ravioli dish and finished with a decadent dessert. Everything was expertly prepared, beautifully presented and wonderfully filling. Can't wait to go back for next season's menu!
(5)Gale C.
We were a party of 4 for dinner last night and had a really great meal. We ordered a variety of appetizers to start and enjoyed them all. We had the mussels (spicy and delicious!), fried oysters, layered Mediterranean dip, and the rabbit sausage. We split a basket of popovers, which should be eaten immediately while they're still warm. Entrees were nice, perfect portions. Only complain was that my lamp was overlooked, despite me being asked how I wanted it done. Was really good restaurant.
(5)Jennifer M.
A solid 2.5. I got the grilled chicken salad. The chicken had really wonderful flavoring but it was WAY undercooked which is surprising because it was already cut and you could definitely tell it was under just by looking at it. A shame considering it was $17 for a salad. I expected much more.
(2)Joanne R.
Visited last Friday with two friends for the first time. Amazed at how cute and cozy warm it was (on such a frigid night outside). Had an extensive cocktail/wine list, a good variety of choices for every taste/budget. Our table ordered the popovers (light and eggy delicious) (4/order) while deciding on our dinner choices. I got the pear/arugula salad which was delicious and we all ordered the grilled rainbow trout (which came with baby spinach, roasted baby beets and baby carrot. Was cooked perfectly and delicious. The portions were excellent as well. Ordered two desserts - the apple tart w/ice cream and the chestnut creme filled eclair, which we all sampled. All enjoyed our delicious dining experience and we will definitely be returning.
(4)AB H.
I liked the cozy feel of sitting at a table in the area right when you walk in. We had a really good burger and a nice salad. We asked for for a side of greens and they explained they didn't have any, but the chef said he'd meet our request. So they gave us some baby greens on the side and brought it out with our salad. Then they said they messed up, and brought our burger with more greens and no fries. And they charged us $6 for the greens. This really annoyed me. Another annoyance is that there is a small step to enter, so they put out a metal ramp for wheelchairs, and it's clumsy to watch them. I don't see why the city didn't have them build a slight slope instead of the small step. I can see going back because the food is solid.
(3)Fabrice B.
Located right off the Newton Centre train station, this family-friendly restaurant has many good and healthy options. I went there for brunch with my wife on Sunday morning for the first time. The decor reminded me of a clean, unpretentious house in the countryside. I tasted the Roast Lamb Sandwich and the Scrambled Egg Bowl. Both tasted very good. Portions were the right size. Prices were acceptable considering that we're in Newton. More importantly to me, knowing that the restaurant is sourcing its food locally will make me come back again. Make sure you reserve your table as sitting can be a premium for large parties.
(4)Kevin M.
This was my third time at Farmstead Table. It has consistently great food and service. Highly recommend. Be sure to order the Pop-overs as soon as you're seated though because they go quickly- why can't they just make more??
(5)Marek P.
Good place - but not exceptional. Fresh food, nice combinations of ingredients, interesting flavors, good service.
(4)Kate L.
Cute casual ambiance. Parking is annoying - just go to the lot down the street. Prices are a little high, expecially wine list but worth it for the quality. The egg scramble with veggies sounds odd on the menu but is SUPER flavorful, light and healthy - DEEELISH! Popovers were so-so - needed jam or something. Grilled cheddar w/ pesto was very good, as were the fries. Great service super helpful. Make a reservation!
(4)Grace J.
I love this place! The only reason it lost the last star is because the portions are a lil too small for me, but that's maybe just me. Or maybe it's normal portioned but I just want enormous portions of each dish? Hard to figure out, but nonetheless, DELISH. Great for lunch or dinner really, but I guess it's more of a lunch-y place. Menu is always changing, never the same whenever I go, except for some of the salads. If the spaetzle is an option, it's a must! I also really love the tomato soup, not too sweet and really great starter/side soup. Also-so fresh and everything is so darn creative and beautiful! There is no doubt that each dish is carefully thought out and cared for. Excellent place, needs more publicity. Love the design of the place, too.
(4)Shir L.
This place looked nice and cozy, so why not try it out. Entering this place, the host wasn't very welcoming. There was a short wait but it's understandable since it was during dinner hours. The waiter was very awkward, and kept coming back even though we told him we needed more time to decide on ordering. The Bread was ok, a little dense for bread. The popover tasted better than david & burkes. The appetizers (Carpaccio and Trout) were just ok. The entrees were in fact the winners of the night. The scallop dish was terrific. One of the best scallop dishes ive had yet (second was fireplace). Everything was light yet flavorful, i'd come back whenever i'm cravings scallops, its a must try! The burger was one of the best i've had in a while, but the clear winner is the scallop entree.
(4)Bill S.
This is an excellent restaurant. Everything we ate was prepared with obvious attention to detail. Flavored were very interesting and somewhat different and the presentation was lovely. Even the bread and butter was very good. The carrot soup was smooth and flavorful. The Irish sea trout was perfect. Bravo.
(4)Laura B.
delicious and exactly as advertised. "farmstead table" is just that, the name is spot on. just across from T for convenient transit. would have given it a five were it not for the very tight seating.
(4)R J.
By no means was the restaurant bad. I enjoyed the grilled chicken salad, but the amount of food was kind of disappointing for the price we paid. The chicken was delicious and the salad was lightly dressed, which is exactly how I like it. The apricot was clearly fresh and complimented the salad well, but I was not a fan of the goat cheese. Obviously, that is a personal preference. The water they served me was warm, no ice, no lemon, nothing. My sister got the fish of the day, which was halibut. It came on top of lentils and carrots, and she really enjoyed it. My other sister got the soup, popper, salad combo. The soup was gazpacho, which she did not like at all. It was a chilled soup, but the texture and taste was not very good. She enjoyed the popper and salad though. For dessert, we ordered the strawberry rhubarb cobbler and s'more tart. I must say, these were great! This is the only thing I would come back for. The s'more tart was chocolatey, warm, and just delicious. The marshmallow was good and there was a perfect amount of chocolate graham cracker. The strawberry rhubarb was my favorite. It came nice and hot over a biscuit with a nice scoop of creamy, hard vanilla ice cream. All in all, I would no go back for a lunch meal, but I would definitely go back for a dessert!! :)
(3)Bobbi H.
I've been to the Farmstead Table three times now over the past year or year and a half. The first time I went we had a delicious duck to start. This was probably the best part of the meal. I can't remember what I had for my main, so it probably wasn't very memorable. I do remember that the person I was dinning with had rabbit, served with carrots (which I though was sort of funny) and I think he enjoyed his dish and was pleasantly surprised that they had rabbit. I went back maybe about a month later with my mom who was really looking forward to having that rabbit dish and they no longer had it. I think the biggest downer to this place is that their menu is constantly changing and that there aren't very many options. I understand that they are trying to get the freshest ingredients, but it's such a bummer when you try something you really like there and then you go back a couple weeks later and they no longer have it! They did though have the duck starter the second time I went, but it wasn't nearly as good as the first. For my main I had the scallops which were fine. Farmstead table can be a bit of a hit and miss. They are constantly changing their menu, so sometimes you go in and there are a bunch of things you would like to try and other times nothing on their relatively short menu sounds appealing. I would suggest that before you decide to go there for dinner you look at their menu beforehand and determine if their current selection is what you really want since sometimes they do have some odd options on there. Other than the food, the decor is quite cute and relaxing. The restaurant is overall pretty small and can get loud and cramped during peak dinning hours. That said, it is definitely best to make a reservation if you are looking to eat there for dinner on the weekend; otherwise, you can probably swing by during the week without a reservation. I do remember that the first time I went, we had made a reservation for three (I think it was a Saturday night), and even with the reservation we had to wait a good 15min before we were seated. Last thing, their popovers are SOOOO good! However, there are two bread options (which they don't tell you). You either get the regular bread before your meal comes out which is free, or you get popovers.The first time I went they just plopped down the regular bread. The second time I went, the waiter casually asked us if we wanted him to bring out some popovers. We said sure and he brought them out. What we didn't realize is that they charge you for the popovers (and it's something like $2-3 per popover). They make it seem like the popovers are complementary, just like the bread, but they aren't. The popovers are GREAT, it just would have felt a little more honest if they had gone about it in a different way.
(3)Jessica B.
Farmstead Table's decor is Martha Stewart Westport, CT era chic with distressed wooden tables and lovely, rustic tableware and china. Service was impeccable. When my husband wanted to recreate one of the dishes, the chef even explained to our waitress how he prepared it, which was extremely gracious. The bread was radiated homemade goodness. The Vermont Cheese Tasting with Crostini, fruit preserves, and black walnuts was delicious and capped off my July 4th vacation from my diet. We both had a roasted eggplant dish that isn't on the online menu. I love eggplant, but for a vegetarian or vegan dish I think it cried out for a little something more, a grain like quinoa or something with a little protein. It was quite tasty though. I think the restaurant is quite nice, a good edition to Newton, although I think I like the concept a bit more than the actual execution.
(4)Boston F.
Well done I loved it. Pluses were the food and the atmosphere. Neg was the service. Sides were great, salad was yummy, entree was killer. Had the beet salad, hummus and carrots and the pasta. Our waiter was clueless. They really need to work on this. I would still go back though.
(4)Aria O.
Went to this restaurant for a Saturday lunch with my wife. I love this restaurant in Newton Center. John Dory fish was outstanding. staff was very knowledgeable and friendly.
(5)lucy l.
Was really disappointed by our experience here. Service was slow and inconsistent (took a long time for us to be seated when we had a reservation). The fried clams and pickled beets were pretty good, but the rest of our food was surprisingly bad. After seeing both diners next to us send back their fish specials because they were raw in the middle, I was worried, and sure enough, my halibut was uncooked in the center. The server told me they serve all their fish "medium rare", but I'm pretty sure this doesn't account for uncooked halibut. (She was later apologetic, so maybe she noticed how egregious it was?) My husband's burger bun was dry and sort of stale, as was the underwhelming popover. Cocktails were pretty watered down. I really wanted to like this place as the atmosphere is nice, especially the back deck, but we won't be back.
(2)Amanda K.
Love this place! Cozy atmosphere, local food, interesting flavor combinations, great service. Fantastic all around. I've eaten here three times and have had different menu items each time - all were great!
(5)Anne R.
Delicious popovers; food is spicy, including clam chowder with highly seasoned croutons. Roast beef sandwich was served with a spicy spread. Lunch prices are high. Restaurant staff is friendly and helpful; seating is comfortable. I do not plan to return.
(2)Lauren H.
Yum. Went for a leisurely dinner with two friends. Started with popovers, winter layer dip and brussel sprout tacos. The popovers were perfect. The tacos were delicious. The dip though won for me. I love dip. I love feta. I love toasted baguettes. I love lemon. I loved everything about this dip. The four layers were meant to be together. I had the fish special which was a pan roasted cod with a warm spinach salad with a vinaigrette, fingerling potatoes, and celery with this sauce that I believe was carrot romesco. The veggies were fantastic- not overwhelmed by the vinaigrette or overcooked. My friends had the chicken and the burger. They finished them. The desserts though- I can't even stop talking about or thinking about. We got the banana crepe cake, the Parizske Rozky and the S' more tart. We waited all day for that s'more. It was worth it. The ganache melted in your mouth. The toast on the marshmellow and smoke on the crumbs gave it that necessary fire feel to make a real s'more. The banana crepe cake was delicious but the winner there was the caramelized bananas. But whatever a parizske rozky is and and whoever made it and whatever exactly it is...whoa. I don't love fruit and dessert. I don't love hazelnut. I also don't love coconut which I think was in there. I LOVE whatever this thing was. It was almost perfect-just I had to share. Seriously though crunchy and chewy and smooth and cold and warm and sweet and savory and everything you want. I didn't even want to try it and then I was sad I had to share it.
(5)David L.
Muy bueno. Owned and operated by a very hard-working husband-wife team, we really enjoyed our Mother's Day brunch. Very cozy atmosphere, attentive table service, and wonderful food. We thoroughly enjoyed the tomato bisque soup, crispy fried oysters, three egg omelet, French Toast, Farmer's Breakfast Plate, and egg's Benedict. Farmstead Table is a very nice addition to Newton Centre's budding restaurant scene.
(4)John C.
A comfortable, casual restaurant with inventive food and good service. A nice wine list, too, with moderate prices. We had the daily special, a nicely cooked John Dory filet served over a ragout of spinach and mushrooms. The side order of brussel sprouts is deservedly raved about, as are the popovers. The pumpkin layer cake was a nice ending.
(4)sarah a.
I've only gotten take out from Farmstead, so my review only reflects that end of the restaurant! My boss gets the salad with chicken - which she likes very much - from the lunch menu every few weeks or so. The toppings for the salad changes quite often, which I think is a good thing, but the salad itself is a little pricy at about $17 with the tax. I've tried it myself on several occasions and usually the salad itself is nice, but the chicken is never not overcooked and dry dry dry. Today I got a side baby field greens salad to go with the salmon I brought from home for my lunch, and maybe I'm crazy but I didn't expect a $6 side salad to only include a handful of lettuce and a side of dressing. Expensive lesson learned! I might be willing to try some of their other menu items for lunch in the future, but everything is so prohibitively expensive that I think I'll try other places nearby first.
(2)Anna B.
The food was good and presented well, the ambience was cozy, and the place was clean and easily accessible. Stand out dishes were the popovers, the frito misto, the tacos, the rhubarb pie, and the bread pudding. The mushroom tagliatelle and the torte kave were decent. All together it was lots of food for two people, and with a glass of wine each and tip, it came out to $130. Our main issue was with our cranky waiter. He kept insisting that we order the surf & turf in addition to our three apps and entrée. When I asked if I could order an app as my entrée, his response was : "Fine. Do whatever you want". I couldn't tell if we had a communication issue, or if he was being extremely rude because we were resisting his attempts to needlessly inflate our check / his tip. He didn't offer us bread - which we declined since we'd ordered four dishes already - until our entrees arrived. He also suggested that we order four desserts (for two people). I wanted to love this restaurant, but unless the service improves, I don't think we'll be returning.
(3)Cynthia Y.
Very nice atmosphere. Good service. Popover and salad looked good. My friends and I had the orrechiate pasta with mushroom and chicken. I asked for no salt or low salt. My friend and I got the saltiest pasta dish I have ever had in a long time. They reduced our bill,but I would rather have had a low salt or no salt pasta dish or at least be told they could not make the dish low salt. And I would have ordered something else. Terrible overly salty pasta dish.
(2)Heidi S.
I love Farmstead. What's not to love. The staff are just lovely, the food is fresh, mostly local and well prepared and the ambiance is perfect for a low key evening out. If you haven't tried this place, definitely check it out, you won't be disappointed. They serve homemade spelt bread baked fresh daily, it's such a treat. The owner came out to make sure our meals were ok and even offered to create a dish on the spot based on some questions I had. They really care about the food and your experience. A lovely addition to Newton Centre. The only reason I subtracted a star is because I don't understand their seating policy. I have arrived a few times when there were several empty tables and was told no tables were available because they were for people who had made reservations. Twice, once alone and once with a friend, I opted for the bar which was a fine option although the tables sat empty both times I was there and were still empty when I left. Why we couldn't sit there was an enigma to me. I understand honoring people's reservations but holding a table for an hour and a half seems silly, no. Other than that, the food is great, you will love it. Just make sure to have a reservation and you'll have a wonderful time.
(4)Jeremy W.
Newton Centre isn't the first place in mind when it comes to good food, especially for a dining experience. I went with my family here and was pleasantly surprised! We got a few appetizers which were delicious (their bread was amazing). I ordered chicken and it was fantastic and really really fresh. Like their name suggests, everything is farm to table. I don't remember exactly what I ate their, but I remember everything being really good! Slightly expensive due to farm to table, but would come back here for special occasions!
(4)Liz B.
I had dinner here a few months ago and loved it. Came for brunch on Easter Sunday and was not as happy, but more related to service. First, I called to confirm my Open Table reservation and was told that they would not honor it because they were booked solid. Then they decided to honor it. My party of five showed up at our reservation time and the restaurant was empty. So why give me a hard time? The service was not great. They brought me coffee and never asked if I wanted cream or sugar with it. I had to ask. And wait. Overall the food was good. I thought the bread basket for the table was overpriced at $10 for three pieces of bread. I'll go back and try again...
(3)Paul N.
Not to be overly superlative but this place is a bit underwhelming.. I'm not sure what everyone else is raving about. I get the farm to table sentiment but in what way is Chilean Sea Bass a locally sourced ingredient. Beyond that the steak was not so great. The staff are young and inexperienced. If this place is still here a year from now I'd be quite surprised. Other than the prices there is no WOW here.
(2)Jonathan W.
A terrific farm to table restaurant in Newton Centre. The food is absolutely fresh and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. A great selection of cocktails, beer, and wine, as well as a focused menu that's approachable, yet offers fun and unique flavor. The owner is involved in all processes, from the preparation to serving to hosting, it feels like you are well cared for when you eat there and they take pride in their operation. The staff is great and the service is excellent. The owners wife is in charge of baking and does a tremendous job with the baked goods - from the bread at the start of the meal to the brioche on sandwiches, it's all a real treat. When we were leaving, we mentioned that we really enjoyed the bread (it's a smelt flour that gives the bread a nutty, sweet flavor) and they gave us some to take home. Such a kind thing to do and it shows how proud they are of their product. A great meal paired with excellent service. Farmstead Table gets five stars all the way.
(5)Neil H.
In the first episode of Portlandia, there is this skit where two people out on a date ask the waitress all about the origins of the chicken they want to eat that night. They want to know the name of the chicken and what sort of life it lived before they feel comfortable to eat it. I felt like this was Farmstead Table--the sort of place where they can tell you every little detail about the food you're about to it. Personally, I like knowing that I'm eating healthy food that's been treated with total intention. We've been here a few times now, and every time there's been a good different something to try out. And each dish has been spot on. Recommended enthusiastically and without reservation!
(4)Wonder W.
A really lovely addition to Newton Center and well needed. The menu for lunch was small but incredibly varied. My friend loved the burger - the fries are amazing. The chicken salad with goats cheese and walnuts was fresh and light. I doesn't have a lot of atmosphere being a smaller place but nice for casual lunch or dinner. They also had a kids menu for lunch which came in handy.
(4)Ira H.
We visited this past Friday for a 6pm reservation. All the food in this restaurant is organic and is from a farm they know. The food is supposed to be in season. We had our 2 kids with us and the kids menu had good choices for them. My son and daughter voted 5 stars on yelp...which is a rare good mark from them... My son had pasta and daughter had a perfectly cooked juicy piece of grilled chicken. My wife and I had pumpkin bisque, and each of the 2 salads. I had the burger. The red meat here is from Montana. Best burger I've ever had! All the food was excellent. Our waitress had a rough around the edges quality but was an extremely experienced and knowledgeable server. OK. She reminded me of my mother.... For dessert we tried the "smores" cake which was a mini cake with ganache chocolate, graham crackers and home made marshmallow. Just great. When we left, the restaurant was jam packed with guests. We will return soon to try more food choices.
(5)M C.
I had dinner once in this restaurant and really enjoyed it. I love the farm to table approach. I had the steak and it was great. Tip: call ahead and reserve a table and show up on time. They are small. They will take reservations for two. I called a couple of hours ahead on a Wed. The service and atmosphere are good but go with the focus on the food.
(4)J C.
I was a bit disappointed with the taste of the food here considering all the good reviews here on Yelp. For starters, this is a nice cozy restaurant with a colorful farmhouse style decor. We started off with the bread and butter which would've been much better had it been warm because the crust on that thing is rather hard. For appetizers, we had the fried oysters. The first one was very good with the combination of nicely fried oyster, lettuce and mayoish sauce. However for the next two oysters, I was lucky the shell fragments and sand didn't break my teeth when I chomped into them. Moving along to the entrees I got the special fish of the day (darby or derby or something). The fish was seared nicely, the veggies were crisp and fresh however the overall dish was missing on the flavor department. The other entree I tried was the Petit Filet of Beef Tenderloin aka Ribeye, was super tender, the accompanying mash was buttery smooth and the asparagus expertly grilled but again the meat wasn't too tasty. Perhaps I am more used to my steak taste like from a steak house. The grilled cheese sandwich for kids is bland but the non kid sized steak fries that come with the sandwich were good. One oddity is that this restaurant doesn't have any dessert because our waiter just proceeded to hand us our bill once we were done with our entrees. Overall an OK restaurant. Good that its kid friendly, bad that the flavors muted.
(3)Remco T.
Not as great as an experience as we expected. We made a reservation for 8:30PM the night before. Despite the somewhat late reservation, we still got parked in the bar area where it gets cold every time the door opens. We really hoped to be in the main restaurant. Before we took our seats at the table, we sat at the small bar next to it for a glass of wine while waiting. The wine glasses were not washed well and clearly had a lot of dish washer residue all over them. Not a pretty sight. The waiter was not really into the details. Besides, he was not overly friendly, even when I tried to crack a joke with him. The food was okay, but certainly not above average. For the money we paid, there are many more other choices in that neighborhood that can and should be considered. Certainly, 'speak up' when you go there; we didn't and we regretted our decision.
(2)Kevin M.
Let me state: I want this place to succeed and provide another up scale foodie option for Newton Centre. It's a nice remake of the space for the former Indian restaurant. Farmstead table has a soft, minimalist cottage look and feel with nice dim lighting. It is a small, intimate space. I wasn't a fan of the corner booth we had near the host table. Too busy and there was a precariously perched napkin holder overhead. Meal was very good (Chicken and duck entrees were excellent as was my pumpkin bisque) Service was mixed Wine pours, bad VERY stingy on the wine pour. My wife and I immediately noticed it with glass #1 and it happened again with #2. As I say to my daughters: that is not nice. Not nice. I'll give it another try to see if the kinks have been worked out.
(3)Marlene H.
Farm fresh food, simply prepared with perfect seasoning. This place in unpretentious yet serves elegant cuisine. The fried green tomatoes were tangy and delicious, topped with fresh corn and basil. Game hen was moist, with crispy skin. Michelle delivered great service and her suggestions were spot-on, especially for the berry cobbler with lemon verbena ice cream!
(4)The Throwin S.
Good service. Fresh, well-prepared food. The braise was tender and flavorful. The fish of the day, Hake, was light, tender, and fresh. The Cornish hen was also delicious. They also do a wonderful apple crisp dessert and bread pudding.
(4)Jamie H.
what a great addition to newton center! cozy atmosphere, excellent and attentive service, and spectacular food. my fiance and and i went for a celebratory dinner, and we couldn't have asked for more. we started with the rabbit rillettes and seared squid. the squid was light and fresh, tossed with pickled cabbage and served over greens. i loved the rabbit - it was similar to a pate and came on a toasted rye bread with cranberries and a light sauce. i definitely recommend both, but also would have loved to try other options such as the butternut squash bisque. after a fantastic start, we ordered the lamb t-bones and rib-eye steak. the lamb was absolutely fantastic. it was cooked perfectly, light pink on the inside but not at all chewy. it had a nice balsamic reduction and was served with mushrooms, kale, and squash puree. the 2-chop portion was more than enough for me, and i'm already looking forward to the leftovers. i tried my fiance's steak, and good thing i did since he finished the whole thing. it was also cooked perfectly, and he appreciated that any fat had either crisped up or been removed. the steak was served with green beans and mashed potatoes with a cabernet reduction. over the course of the meal, i had a glass of chardonnay and the pear cosmo. others have complained about the wine pours, but i disagree - it was certainly a regular glass. when i ordered the pear cosmo, the waitress affirmed that i liked a drink that was strong and sweet. i do, and it was! best drink i've had recently, but appreciated the heads up that it was sweet. for dessert we got the s'more tart (but had a hard time deciding - everything looked amazing!) it was a toasted marshmallow on top of chocolate ganache and pieces of graham cracker, on top of oreo crust. enough said... perfect ending. we had an excellent meal, and really enjoyed ourselves. the pacing was perfect. and the waitstaff was really nice. the menu changes frequently, so i can't wait to go back another time to try more dishes. it's also very reasonably priced.
(5)Missy S.
Tried this place on a Sunday when the diner across the street had a line-- they don't do your typical brunch, but they do a mean lunch, at a very reasonable price. We only tried the brisket sandwhich -- as a nice jewish girl, I must admit-- it was great! Extremely rich, though admittedly a fatty piece of meat, great brioche bun, and a tangy slaw. The bread that they bring you to start is made in house and out of this world. Fries could have been a bit hotter, but man, this place was a nice surprise!
(4)Diane D.
Wonderful, wonderful experience. The place is small, but the tables are properly spaced to give enough quiet space for conversation. The interior is just warm and charming. And the food was terrific. We've been to many farm-to-table restaurants, and the difference here is that the dishes - every one - is prepared with pride and love. The service (thank you, Robin) made us feel like welcome friends. Just wonderful.
(5)Molly K.
The Newton culinary scene has a new contender. Just 6-weeks old, Farmstead Table is located right across the street from the Newton Centre T stop. The farm-to-table restaurant focuses on a fresh and clean preparation. With simple rustic decor, the restaurant is small to moderately sized and offers both lunch and dinner with an ever-changing menu. As of now, they do not have a website, but they do have a facebook page. I started with the house cured salmon lox toast with pickled shallots with dill creme fraiche & baby greens. At just $11, this appetizer was big enough for 2 to share! Although very tasty & very filling, I could have done with a bit more cracked pepper (but I do LOVE cracked pepper, so maybe that's just me!). I chose the roast free-range chicken with parsnip puree, baby vegetables, and a thyme natural jus as my entree. I like to order chicken at restaurants, as it is a standard easy protein that just asks to be revved up with imagination. In my opinion, a good restaurant is dependent on how they are able to execute the smallest and simplest things, like chicken! The parsnip puree was soft and delicious, while the vegetables remained crisp and fresh. The chicken was moist, but traditional. My dinner date had the special Eggplant Napolean which she reported was tasty. The best part of the evening was the dessert, almond cake with plum compote & vanilla ice cream. Nestled into mildly tight-corridors, we enjoyed a pleasant evening surrounded by simple farm decor of flowers and books about soil, plants, and farming techniques, reminded of the simple preparation of fresh food. Pictures and more on -- ----
(3)Jules C.
We decided to try Farmstead Table over the Labor Day weekend, as things are generally less crowded then. We made a reservation on Open Table, which was strange because according to OT, they had no reservations between 5:45 and 8, but when we got there the place was completely empty... The atmosphere is nice, simple, and the music was somewhat bizarre but at the right volume for conversation. The food was ok but pricey for what it is. I love the concept but the flavors were a little bland and the portions were a little small for the price. Overall, we probably won't go out of our way to return.
(3)Dana T.
This was a great find. The food and service were on the mark. I loved the locally sourced food - even the lettuce in the salad tasted better than typical. It was a combination of the fresh baby leaves and the perfect dressing. Everything was presented beautifully, too. I had the roasted chicken breast which I typically avoid at restaurants but this was worth it - perfectly cooked with a crispy skin. I'll be back.
(5)D L.
Three of us had dinner at Farmstead Table tonight. Holy smokes who knew about the little back deck attached to the back of the restaurant!! Although all we had were Burgers they were perfectly cooked, seasoned well with crispy fries and garden fresh garnishes. As for the deck with the overhead lights and plants everywhere it felt like we visiting our favorite place in Europe!
(5)Ryan S.
Went here again for lunch. The salad I had with chicken (Amish free range of course) was the best I have has in a long time. Also still enjoyed the popovers. They were great! Sit outside if you be the chance. It is a long table for like 20 people but they seat you all together. It is a fun casual environment and good food. I like the concept.
(5)Elizabeth D.
Wonderful restaurant and a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. The popovers, fried oysters, and fries were incredible starters. Get the burger and game hen anytime they appear on the menu! The vibe is fresh and intimate at the same time, while the food walks the often sought after fine line between classic and contemporary. Also, as if the food didn't speak for itself, the team managing the restaurant was incredibly gracious and kind to us. I will absolutely be back.
(5)Aja A.
While not the worst kind, we are ultimately SF food snobs who find ourselves living in New England now. So bless your heart, Farmstead Table. You make us feel at home. The food is so incredibly well made, the cocktails are fun and lovely, service is charming, the atmosphere is delightful, fresh. We love you. We should probably hurry back ASAP.
(5)Jo T.
Great meal. Wine list is varied and fairly priced. The menu isn't long, but there's enough variety for all. I had the grass-fed rib eye, which was well-flavored and cooked correctly. We had a party of 6, and we all agreed that the food was very good and that the service was polite and attentive. Last, many thanks to Penni for accommodating a change in our reservation from 4 people to 6. We brought all 4 of our kids, and we had a great time. A great way to start a weekend, with a delicious Friday night meal out.
(5)Amy S.
Had a wonderful meal last night--everyone loved what they ordered and we were all over the menu. My seared diver scallops were excellent, beet salad was perfectly balanced. Apple tart for dessert a crowd pleaser. Great service, nice atmosphere. Will be back for certain.
(4)Carla P.
Well prepared, tasty food. Terrible service. The waitress was very nice and "in training.". Sadly, she was trained by a waiter completely lacking in training himself. The drink order was a train wreck, wine arrived halfway way through dinner, the steak was only slightly warm when served. I hope they can overcome the service problems and keep this restaurant going.
(2)L S.
So good! Delicious, creative, local food. Very busy, but nice atmosphere. Cozy and inviting. The service was fine, nothing amazing, but nothing to complain about either. Highly recommended for a delicious, creative meal.
(5)Ali G.
Great food and cozy upscale but casual atmosphere. Be prepared to spend a little more than usual, but definitely worth it. If you get desert make sure you get the s'mores! Another good dish is the fried Brussels sprouts. The staff were super friendly and accommodating
(4)Mimi G.
One of the best meals I've had outside of Boston. Went with a group of 3 couples. Our server, John, was a delight. The food was outstanding...many had the tenderloin and raved about it. The sides...Burgundy Mushrooms and Brussel Sprouts were to die for. Don't miss the Sticky Toffee Pudding and the S'Mores torte for dessert. An excellent dining experience. We will be back!
(5)Richard C.
Yet another case of a burger that has slowly built a positive reputation, the new-ish Farmstead Table in Newton has received pretty good grades from some local critics, with more than a few of them being impressed by the burger. The fairly priced $15 burger showcases grass-fed beef, smoked baby Swiss, New Hampshire bacon and a choice of fries or a salad. Of course, you have to be a real weirdo to opt for the salad but if that's your thing then go for it. While we chewed the fat waiting for our burgers to arrive, we tried to recall a grass-fed burger ever being exceptional. The short answer is no, at least not in these parts (I supposed anywhere for that matter) because grass-fed is simply too lean to be great. Technically the Craigie burger is locally sourced and grass-fed, but it's the addition of beef fat and a few other unique touches that separate that burger from the field. The Farmstead Table burger arrives, looking like a winner if not oddly shaped. It's very classically a pub burger in some ways, featuring a very thick and wide bun and patty with a slight softball appearance to it. The first couple of bites are interesting; the burger is well rested because the juices stay in the patty and don't spill all over the plate. It's not exactly gushing but it's not dry either. It has a funky flavor that is pleasant in the medium-rare parts but overly odd in a liver kind of way in the medium to medium-well spots. But that's grass-fed for you, at its best it's distinct if not positively funky, and at its worst it's not so enjoyable but that may just be a personal preference. Even if it was cooked perfectly all around it's too unconventional to be great and this burger is no exception. But the inconsistent cooking is a big deterrent here, and it's so tightly packed it becomes very, very tough and to the point of chewy. Even more so the burger is dense, very over-handled and it shows. Eating this burger feels and acts very heavy, this one in fact will weigh you down. Which of course is the antithesis of grass-fed burgers if you think about it; people tend to gravitate towards them because they are leaner and thus, should be lighter. The Farmstead Table burger is well-seasoned but it just doesn't add up to a quality meal. The bacon is nicely flavored; smoky and sweet it fits the bill, but the cheese is a non-factor and any potential smoke appears to be just an illusion. The bricohe-like bun is airy and soft but like most brioche buns before it, is simply too much bread even for a thick burger like this one. French Fries are on the thicker side and have a good crunch and exterior of salt, with a hollow yet creamy interior. They are efficient but unexceptional. While it is unique based on decent grass-fed beef and well prepared bacon, the meat to bun ratio and over-packing of the burger are the eventual downfall. There is a pretty solid crust on the patty, which is fairly juicy and modestly seasoned if not unevenly cooked across the board. If you're curious about the grass-fed movement it may be worth a look, even if the end product leaves a little something to be desired.
(2)Rick B.
I had my first meal Sunday evening- it was wonderful. The bread is "homemade by the owner's wife". The servce was good (her first night to work there!). The marinated salad was really awesome- I want that recipe! (I prefer my veggies al dente!) My scallops were perfect- and we shared, so I can comment that the eggplant was also great (it could use a bit more salt, I thought). I can't wait to return!
(5)Mary Ann H.
I'd been looking forward to eating at Farmstead Table and came away disappointed. Although we had a reservation for 7:15, our table was not ready when we arrived at 7:20. No big deal. We were escorted to a nice back patio where we sat on a lovely evening and enjoyed a glass of wine -- for nearly 30 minutes. The staff apologized several times for the wait and comped us our drinks. Appropriate and attentive. Our meals were, in a word, bland. I ordered Native Vegetables a la Barigoule, which I expected to be garbanzo beans, artichokes, some other vegetables, and lemon cooked in olive oil. The beans were nearly crunchy and did not appear to have been cooked/simmered in oil or broth. The vegetables were somewhat watery and not flavorful at all. And the portion was small -- perhaps a full cup or at most 1.5 cups. Not a good value for $21. My dinner mate had cod, which was cooked well (flaky, not dry) but had very little flavor at all. Again, bland. Our waiter was attentive but not overly so. And the hostess checked in on us half-way through the meal and let us know that she would not charge us for our patio drinks. I'd rate service higher than the food, but it wasn't good enough for us to return or recommend.
(2)I S.
Admittedly, it was their 1st day serving lunch, perhaps with a trainee chef in the kitchen. I had the fish of the day (swordfish) with vegetables. The swordfish was well cooked but the spaghetti style vegetable was inedible - drenched in a sauce that only tasted of butter. The sauce even spoiled the green beans that was on the side. I thought the whole idea is to showcase the natural taste of fresh vegetables! Why then mask the true flavor with all that butter and grease? The server never asked if the food was ok so we didn't bother to make a fuss.
(2)Jessica N.
I went here with a friend on a weeknight over the summer, and there was plenty of room though it is a small space overall. We sat indoors, as outdoor seating is at one of the longest picnic tables I have ever seen, which requires that you get kind of chummy with neighboring diners. We each had a great meal. I had a blueberry and blue cheese salad followed by rainbow trout and we shared the blueberry/ blackberry cobbler for dessert. I could have gone on eating, everything was super yummy, particularly the sauce of my fish dish. I may have also been slightly biased since I had been busy at work and had a miniscule lunch that day. The only thing I would have improved about the place was the service. My water was never refilled during the duration of my 2h meal. The waitress hesitated when I asked for more bread, but did provide it. I suppose the other thing is that it was a tad on the pricey side. I think salad was ~$12, and dessert was $9. I spent $50 and I didn't even order a drink. I will probably be back for the food though, and hopefully the service will be better.
(4)Alexandra H.
We would like this restaurant to succeed as the food was delicious- On a return trip - we were delighted with the food and the pacing. I would wish that there were some options without pork or shellfish- a personal desire. All in all our meals were wonderful. And the noise level was low - to allow pleasant conversation. Tables were spaced nicely. We will come here again.
(5)Elizabeth B.
Food was AMAZING. Our server was wonderful. Great pick for a special occasion. The seating area is small so best to make a reservation.
(5)Elizabeth C.
We dined here this evening. We were only able to get a 6:00 PM reservation. To be fair, due to rush hour traffic, we were 12 - 15 minutes late for our party of 4 reservation. We apologized upon arriving to the hostess, the restaurant was nearly empty and she said it was not a problem. We were meeting dear friends of ours and had hear good things about this new restaurant. When we arrived, our male waiter was attentive and knowledgable, asking us right away if we would like a drink while we waited for the other couple we were dining with to arrive (less than 5 minutes later). We waited a decent amount of time to receive our drink order. But the time we had our drinks, most other tables sat around the same time had first courses and bread. The couple seated to the right of us was allowed to conduct a cell phone conversation for about 10 minutes. Decently low in volume but still lacking in etiquette and it was never addressed. We ordered our first courses and entrées. Service was fairly fluid. Drinks were not promptly refilled though and empty glasses remained for longer than they should have. One glass of wine ended up having a fruit fly in it and the staff was very nice about it and apologized, replace and informed us that they took it off the bill. The food was good other than the paste entrée which was too many flavors and ingredients combined into a dish (with the pasta there was what appeared to be a potato purée or celery purée underneath and the mushrooms which made up the rest of the dish were just okay) . After dishes were cleared we were asked if we were all set. We had to ask to see a dessert menu which was provided. We ordered a dessert to share and a night cap. What truly appalled us was when the hostess who had seated us came up and as we were mid-bite told us that there was a four too waiting 20 minutes for our table and if we could settle up as soon as possible they would appreciate it. We were so appalled that we informed our waiter who had really been great and was clearly working hard with many tables to cover. We live in Back Bay and dine out routinely both locally and far away. Service is so important to us as is basic etiquette. We had barely finished our meal and had spent a decent sum and we were being ushered out. We were polite enough to follow the directive given to us, and leave to get a nightcap around the corner. We happened to share the unfortunate end to the night with the bartender at the establishment nearby and he was equally horrified. We had not overstayed our time at the table - we were barely at 2 hours. While I understand the space is small, the restaurant needs to build in sufficient time for guests to properly complete their meal and without prompting to leave. But not for this incident with the hostess we would have returned soon. I can't say that we will now. The situation was just handled so poorly. Hopefully this will be helpful to ownership and management in correcting a wrong.
(2)Kristin C.
We ate there last night with friends and everything was fabulous! cocktails are yummy! The menu was great and had something for everyone. The steak, fish and burger were all perfect. We had a great wine and dessert too. We will be going back soon!
(5)Melissa L.
Farmstead Table woke up my taste buds last night! Adorable space located on Union St (seats about 50 people) that was bustling at 730pm on a Saturday evening so if you're considering going, definitely book a reservation. We were seated within a reasonable time upon arrival by a friendly hostman, and immediately were greeted by our fabulous waitress, Robyn. She wasquite the character, providing excellent service during our entire experience! For starters we each had the Bosc Pear Salad, the pears were grilled and warmed on top of the arugula with the perfect amount of bleu cheese. For entree's, I had the Seafood special of the day, Seared Sea Scallops over butternut squash puree, and my husband had the Sirloin with a to die for mushroom sauce. Robyn was generous with the wine pour last night, much appreciated! Desert was amazing - a Smore Tart - that the owner/chef created from scratch, including the marshmellow! Although the menu is fairly small, it has a broad range for every diner - from poultry, seafood, steak, to the vegetarian; and it revolves apparently. Prices were reasonable even for Newton averaging between $16-28 per entree. Only qualm would be trying to find a parking spot close by on Union St on a weekend night (which we did), definitely give yourself an extra few minutes to find parking before your reservation since its limited on Union Street. Farmstead Table definitely has done things right, outstanding organic options and exceptional service!
(5)Luciana S.
It is hard to rate and here are the reasons. Went there for a birthday celebration. Appetizers were fabulous! Rabbit terrine(amazing) and cheese plate. White wine list (by the glass) was not great but acceptable. Order a green salad (fabulous) and the gnocchi with clams and pancetta appetizer as a main course. My friend, who is allergic to fish and shellfish , order gnocchi without clams. The other order a vegetarian dish with quinoa. Everything was fine until... My friends entrees arrived ( a little late but we were having a great time). Mine took a very long time. Everyone's food was getting cold as they were waiting for me, and a woman came, apologized and "TOLD" me I will get a free dessert . Even though I wasn't asked if I wanted one - which I didn't for sure. When finally my gnocchi came, I noticed the size and the consistency and guess what? It was poorly boiled fingerling potatoes instead of gnocchi. I thought it was insulting. They could have come to me and said they were sorry but they ran out of gnocchi. They could come and said they would not charge for my dish or give me a choice BEFORE my friends got their dishes. Instead, it was the dishonest way of " perhaps she wouldn't notice" the difference between a potato and a gnocchi. Hmmm I am not american, could that be it? As luck we have it, my friend who was hosting this dinner and it is a chef and food blogger, was appalled to say the least. She stormed off to the owner/ hostess and server and let them have it! Nope, don't mess with a Sicilian. Ever. We left. I am sorry to say because this place has talent and potential. I felt robbed of a great experience .
(1)Peter M.
I managed to grab a bite here on opening night. Glad that I did. Nice menu and beautiful design. I had a great piece of grilled fish and a nice salad. Staff was attentive. It's a concept that will do great in Newton. It's a winner.
(5)Allie L.
I heard about Farmstead through a family friend who highly recommended it. My GF & I went Friday night & loved everything about it. The decor was simple, yet pleasing; our waiter was beyond helpful & in great spirits; & the food was delicious. We ordered the Gazpacho which was heavenly, & started off with homemade bread, which the waiter was kind enough to bring over olive oil & balsamic for dipping since he overheard us say "we love condiments." The spiked blueberry lemonade cocktail was STRONG, but delicious. The hack covered in lobster sauce was amazing, yet I wasn't blown away by the grilled eggplant dish, but the vegetarian dish changes daily! The portions were perfect size, too. We shared everything. To top it off, the cherry almost dessert was delicious, & not too sweet. I was surprised to see the bill came to $90, but it was WELL worth it! I'd go back in a heartbeat!
(5)Judy R.
Another great meal at Farmstead. We both had to have t that fab burger this time because the last two times I ate there I went veggy (which was delicious). A special burger tonight had sharp cheddar and creamy horseradish sauce.Crispy thin french fries that accompany the burger are so perfectly seasoned that even I ( who salts everything) did not need to salt them. Always enjoy my meal there. Love the staff and I really feel there's a lot of love and attention put into each dish in the kitchen. Lovely glass of Cabernet Sauvignon along with the burger.
(5)Adam T.
My girlfriend and I recently spent a few days dining in and around Boston and Farmstead Table in Newton was the highlight of our visit. Fresh, simple, and delicious cuisine within a charming atmosphere served by a friendly and attentive staff. Farmstead Table is not trying to reinvent the wheel, they are simply doing everything right, without being a slave to gimmicks or trends. I can only hope other restaurants follow their example of fresh, reasonable, local food made and served with love. Bravo!
(5)Amelia M.
We tried Farmstead Table on a weeknight and it was pleasantly full but not overly crowded. I easily made a reservation but it's a small restaurant and I'm sure it's harder on the weekends. The decor is a cross between rustic and modern, and it contributes to a warm, cozy atmosphere. Our waitress (Robin?) was very attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable of the menu. We both very much enjoyed our entrées (Roasted Chicken and the Fish of the Day) but the best part was the bread pudding we had for dessert. It was INCREDIBLE, definitely one of the best desserts I've had in a long while. Overall, a great experience and we will happily return.
(4)Laura L.
Great spot for lunch. Fresh ingredients and well prepared dishes, the staff is friendly and attentive. Highly recommended!!
(4)Louise S.
Pretty unexciting. . . Bland food, bland decor. . Looks like grandma's back porch! Super small, annoying loud man, practically in our back pocket, ruined our efforts at conversation. I would never want to share this little space with strangers, even on the T! Food was something I'd cook for myself on a Tuesday night.underdone salmon( I wouldn't do), and we weren't forewarned of the Chet's propensity to cook fish rare, an odd assortment of, perhaps, leftover potatoes, and some overdone, tough kale. Good luck!
(2)Jess Y.
This is a cute little place in Newton - nice and clean with kitschy decor. Promptly greeted upon entering and seated by the window. We came here for lunch after hearing rave reviews from a friend, but ended up leaving less than wowed. It wasn't bad, but I wasn't floored by anything we ordered. We ordered soup (tomato bisque), the grilled cheese, small side salad, fish of the day, and the pasta. I'll say the best part of the meal was the homemade bread and the soup. The other dishes were lackluster and quite oversalted. Don't get me wrong, I love me some salt, but when it blows out my palate on the first bite, the second bite is hard to justify. I'll give it to the server, she was very patient with my family and very accommodating, but her explanation as to why the dishes were salty were awkward. Overall, I'm glad I tried it out, but I probably won't be going back anytime soon.
(3)Eli G.
Fantastic place. Came here for a birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. Appetizers for the table were calamari, delicious rabbit terrine and mushrooms - all delicious. We also had fries, which were good, but not extraordinary. The main dishes are also good - try lamb burger. IT has a thin veneer of mint dressing, which complements the meat very well. The atmosphere is cozy and the service attentive.
(5)D. Lynne P.
Farmstead Table is a charming intimate restaurant. My friend and I had dinner. Reviewing the creative menu, it was evident the chef took great care of what was served and how is was presented. There was an overall emphasis of using local ingredients. The homemade breads were tasty. Because we had a somewhat late dinner we shared the last popover. It was well worth the sharing. The service was excellent. The server allowed us the space and time to talk while enjoying our meal. I had the tomato soup and eggplant/ summer squash dish which was excellent. I forgot what my friend had for an appetizer. That was because I was enjoying my soup! Though, I do remember her saying that she loved it. She had the Sea Bass and said it was great. As much as we wanted to have dessert, we were too full. Next time we'll start with dessert and work our way backwards. We can't wait to come back.
(4)Andrew Y.
We had a great meal at the Farmstead Table. The ribeye steak was incredible: flavorful and tender. I had the pollock, which was great. One minor issue was that the place had problems with our reservation (for 5 p.m.) and we had to sit at the bar, but they (more than) made up for it by throwing in the dessert.
(5)susan p.
Farmstead Table has the right concept, and should be very successful. Unfortunately, the food and service were mediocre. The vegetables in the marinated vegetable salad were undercooked and hard. The scallop entree had 3 scallops for $23.00. The chicken entree was tasty but uninspired. On an 80 degree night, there was no air conditioning. Service was inattentive. We waited 45 minutes from the time we finished our appetizers to the time the entrees arrived. Sadly, we won't be back.
(2)G L.
The food was good. However, it was way too noisy, the service was inattentive, the food and wine prices were high, and the selections were limited. The table next to us was a bit loud, making it very hard to hear people at our own table. We waited a long time for the initial visit by the waiter. We had to ask for water and bread . .they weren't delivered automatically. They tried giving me the wrong meal twice (each belonged to others at our table) and delivered an incorrect meal to the table next to us. We won't return.
(2)David G.
Awesome burgers!!! Hope they keep it up.
(4)Big S.
very good food, everything was fresh and made to order. its not as fancy as you would think in there. very crowded, great food and great service.
(5)Amelia G.
Out tonight we were three couples; let me tell you what was good. Rabbit rillettes and baked Brie at the bar with craft cocktails mixed with local spirits, getting our table early, firm yet yielding spelt bread, burgers clams, and bread pudding. Only thing not great was that waitress didn't seem to understand the excellent but accented English of some otherwise happy diners, and kind of made us feel bad about it. Also she seemed worried we would forget to tip? Myself I have never forgotten to tip, have you? Would def go back.
(4)Ben R.
The place elevates its whole neighborhood. The food we had (a chicken dish and a tuna steak) were excellent, vegetables tasting fresh and their flavor special, nice array of local beer, dessert (almond banana tart with ice cream) very tasteful, with a perfect degree of sweetness to it. Coffee came out with perfect temperature. I've never been to Alice Waters' famed Chez Panisse, but this place seems to push my imagination in that direction... Definitely a place to savor and tell friends about.
(5)Lisa L.
Just came from our first visit at Farmstead Table. As others have noted, the atmosphere is cozy (although our two-top was squeezed between another table and a wall) but it's pleasant enough. I had the squash soup which was good if a little on the sweet side. For entree i had a special cod which was very good. The food and service were good but, with a mere 6 items on the dinner entree menu, i can see getting tired of the food here pretty quickly. The waitress told us the menu changes seasonally.
(4)Robin R.
Really great restaurant. Definitely worth a try but would definitely not attempt without a reservation. There is a small but excellent menu which appeals to every palate. The food was excellent the service was perfect - attentive without being intrusive. The dessert to die for was the s'more tart for me. I do have to agree the wine pours are a little skimpy but that would not stop me from eating here often as everything else out weighs that minor complaint. I'm so happy they opened!
(5)Shirin S.
I am a foodie. Farmstead is a place for foodies. I was really looking forward to a farm to table 'foodie' restaurant. These are the types of places I prefer to dine at and I'm willing to pay the steep prices to have a good dining experience. Sadly, I did not have a good experience at farmstead due to its poor management. The bad experience started when I ordered the lamb ragu. I was informed by my waiter that were out. Mind you, it's Saturday night at 7.30 pm, in other words, too early to run out of a regular menu item. My second choice was the parsnip soup and a popover. My soup was served (lukewarm) but not the popover. About 10 minutes later I inquired about the popover and I was told that they were out. First of all, why didn't the waiter tell me this upfront or when the meal was being served? Next, he told me he was going to inform the manager of my poor experience of trying to order 2things no longer available at 7.30 pm. Nothing. No response from the manager. The bill came and nothing was removed. I thought that it would have been a nice jesture to comp my drink or offer me dessert. Nothing. Finally I asked the host to send over the manager. As I explained the situation of attempting to order items that were no longer available, she told me she was aware and gave me some lame excuses as to why the items were not available. I told her it would have been nice, given the perceived caliber of this restaurant, to comp dessert or anything, but again, nothing. I told her I would not be returning. This restaurant could be good under a manager who understands customer service. I get treated better at bad chain restaurants,. Wake up farmstead and get a clue or else you will be out of business soon.
(2)Richard O.
These reviewers must be family members of the owner!! My first visit was with my daughter for her birthday. Very cramped space. My wife ordered fish of the day,had to send it back, not cooked enough. Had to ask twice for lemon. I had chicken penne, pasta so under cooked as to be inedible. There is a HUGE difference between aldente and not cooked. The chicken itself was perfect, but the mushrooms and greens (kale) turned out to be MUSHROOM and GREEN (singular on both).Is there a vegetable shortage in Newton ? My daughter and her boyfriend were satisfied with their food but she asked for greens instead of french fries and got french fries nontheless.When it was time for dessert my daughter and her boyfriend ordered the smores dessert and after waiting about 15 minutes were told they were out. PS This is not the restaurant's fault but there is no parking to be found but meters, 1 Hour limit, I had to park a block and a half away and needed to go back to feed the meter, one hour ??? really. I spent $85 for lunch, won't return.
(2)Jack K.
Meh. We were disappointed, particularly given the high praise from Yelp and the recent Globe review. In pretty much every sense. Most importantly, the food was mediocre. The server convinced me to have the ribeye steak, saying it was "out of this world." In fact, it was mediocre. Not bad, but definitely not worth raving about. My wife had the lamb, and her reaction was the same. The squash soup, however, was excellent, so I'll give that props. The atmosphere also left a lot to be desired. For some reason, we expected a romantic atmosphere, but not to be. Regular lighting, and frankly a cramped atmosphere and not in a good way. More like the server bumping into you each time she passed by. Of note as well -- we kinda felt rushed, even though the entire dinner last 75 minutes on a Friday night. Part of this was due to the watching the table next of us actually being told to leave by the server. They pleaded for "five more minutes" and the server's response was that she had "to ask [her] manager." Really?
(3)