Mistral, reviewed by Sara Rosenberg

Best of Boston? Try Best of America by Sara Rosenberg

            The atmosphere in Mistral is one of both comfort and elegance, with the light beige, grey, and green tones.  The ambiance is warm and welcoming, with small candles lit around the restaurant, and paintings of landscapes placed neatly here and there. 

            The feel of the restaurant is, however, not what we came for.  While the environment was certainly inviting, the food took precedence in our minds and grumbling stomachs.  The meal started out with a round of appetizers: mushroom Carpaccio, lamb’s lettuce salad, lobster gnocchi, and Maine crab ravioli.  The clear winner around the table was the lobster gnocchi, and several people took the remainders of their bread to sop up the remaining sauce.  The flavor was slightly sweet, and very hearty, which was perfect with the cold weather outside.

            The next course, the entrees, consisted of beef tenderloin, short ribs, pan roasted halibut, hen, duck, and a smoked salmon.  The table agreed that the two beef dishes were the winners; the meat on the short ribs falls apart without the use of a knife, while the beef tenderloin practically melts in your mouth.  The sauces that accompanied each possessed a hearty flavor, keeping with the warm feeling of the gnocchi.  The entrée course as well as the appetizers were exquisite, to say the least.

            Moving on to dessert, the group ordered the six main desserts offered on the Mistral menu—which proved to be a very good choice!  The desserts consisted of crème brulee, a chocolate torte, apple pie, chocolate pizza with mascarpone cheese, carrot cake, and profiteroles.  The group could not decide which dessert was best—they were simply all the best!  The dessert that disappeared the fastest, however, was the chocolate torte; sweet, creamy, and warm with vanilla ice cream on the side.  Within seconds only the chocolate decoration on the plate remained, and all six diners had huge smiles on their faces.

            Mistral is the best restaurant I have ever been to, and I cannot wait for the opportunity to take my friends and family back there!

Mistral by Callie Parsons

Mistral by Callie Parsons

Have you ever dipped a butternut squash and maitake mushroom pizza into snail sauce? Mistral Bistro in Boston, Massachusetts has an incredible array of dishes, each innovative and delicious. My meal began with classic escargots in a burgundy sauce. The tenderness of the snails paired beautifully with the smokiness of the sauce and the warm semolina toast. I immediately regretted my decision to split the appetizer with a friend.

Starting with rich escargots had me craving something light and refreshing. For my entrée, I had black bass—two filets and the tail—served over a bed of Yukon gold potatoes and boiled spinach in a lime, ginger broth topped with sweet crab meat. Served elegantly in a silver bowl, the fish was both delicate and filling. The tender fish acted like a sponge, absorbing the acidic and slightly spicy broth. The vegetables continued to hold both the flavors of the broth and their own natural flavors, making this dish truly exceptional.

For dessert, what better than chocolate? And what better to go with chocolate than anglaise and homemade ice cream? A chocolate torte with a bitter chocolate cake exterior and a smooth, sweet, melted chocolate interior was surrounded by a silky vanilla bean anglaise and a single scoop of simple vanilla ice cream. The warm torte had a slightly crunchy exterior and a completely smooth inside—eaten with the crème anglaise and ice cream created a symphony of textures and flavors. We made our way to the actual symphony after the meal, and it is entirely possible that I have never been so full. Though perhaps in a building too small for the demand, Mistral is an extraordinary restaurant and I will certainly be going back again. 

Mistral, reviewed by Marc Foster

Good Food, Good Friends, Great Time by Marc Foster

            The Mistral restaurant is a high end French restaurant located in Boston. Walking into the restaurant there is a sense of formality, and precision to the atmosphere. The guests, the waiters everybody is dressed up. The waiter came around and collected our glasses that we did not need. Effortlessly he fitted around 12 glasses into his hand, without dropping a single one, while also explaining the menu to us. The menu was fantastic, and I kept on changing my order in my head.

            For an appetizer, I had a squash mushroom pizza. The squash made the pizza sweet and the cheese and mushroom had just enough savory in it to not make the pizza taste like a dessert. After having the appetizer I was very excited for the entrée.

            The food came out relatively fast. The waiters in between politely cleaned up our places and filled our drinks. On seeing what other people got I envied their choices. However, when the rack of lamb was put onto my place I immediately knew I had gotten the right choice. The lamb was perfectly cooked, and since I had never had lamb before it was perfect way to introduce myself to this meat. The portions were perfect, not too big and not too small. I was not overly full and after my entrée I knew there was room for dessert.

            The waiters came around and gave us the dessert menu, politely asking us if we had any questions. The waiters were perfectly politely and made enough small talk for us to get to know them but not for them to intrude on our meal. I decided on dessert, get an apple crostada. It came just as quickly as the rest of the meal, and was warm and perfectly cooked. The food was so well presented that it was hard to eat it first, but when I took the first bite no one could stop me from finishing everything.

            The meal was fantastic. The lighting was perfect at the beginning, a little too dark by the end, but not enough to not enjoy conversation with friends. I would highly recommend this restaurant. The atmosphere, food, and décor all invite for a very good time. 

Mistral, reviewed by Julia Duato

Oh Là Là! 
by Julia Duato

Three dishes, three adjectives: exotic, soft, and warm. The Sushi Grade Tuna Tartare with Crispy Wonstons, Ginger & Soy for the appetizer could be the perfect way to start the evening. Followed by the Red Wine Braised Short-ribs with Butter Whipped Potato, Mirepoix & Smoked Tomato, the soft way that the beef melts in your mouth at the first second it mixes with your saliva, and you feel it going down your throat, you stop feeling guilty for the $42 you are paying for it. You might be thinking you don’t want dessert because you have eaten to much by now, but the Warm Apple Crostada with Vanilla Gelato & Caramel Sauce is just one of those things you can’t miss if you are having dinner in the Mistral. 

If you are going to the restaurant willing to pay enough money for a great evening, without caring how much it is going to be, and ready to eat real good food, then the Mistral is the right place for you. Last but not least if you were hoping for a place where people treat you well, but, with some exception, not genuinely, then is definitely the right place for a lovely dinner with your family, friends and colleagues from work. Don’t forget to get fancy!

Mistral, reviewed by Aoife Hughes

Boston’s Best Bistro 

by Aoife Hughes

An incredible hideaway located in South End, Mistral is a restaurant not to be looked past. Highlighted in Boston’s Best numerous times, the culinary genius that comes from Mistral Bistro is incredible. It is noted as a “Hole for the well-heeled” and “Guaranteed Great Meal” as well as “Upscale Bar” in Boston Best.

Jamie Mamanno opened the restaurant in 1997, and since then it has flourished. On their website, Mistral is described as “Gracious. Sophisticated. Seductive. Distinctive.” Most recently,

Crowd pleasers on Mistral’s current menu include their Whole Roasted Duck and Wild Mushroom Risotto, Red Wine Braised Short ribs with Potato and Smoked Tomato, and

Tomato, Mozzarella and Oregano Pizza.

The desert menu includes rich profiteroles and refreshing sorbet along with crème Brule and a creative chocolate pizza.

The waiting staff takes care of your every need and are not overpowering to an extent that you cannot enjoy your meal. The food arrived promptly after ordering and no one had any issues with their order.

The atmosphere in the restaurant was perfect; not too noisy and not too dark or bright. The restaurant quickly filled up come 6:30 in the evening, regardless of the fact it was a Thursday evening. 

Boston should be proud of Mistral. The bistro is the epitome of a restaurant and the food is nothing short of incredible. Although pricey, if one is looking for a place to enjoy a good meal and a great atmosphere, look no further than Mistral. 

Mistral, reviewed by Erin Gifford

Choreographed Dining 
By Erin Gifford

Two large men in suits open double doors in synchronization as you walk inside the Mistral Bistro. The green, orange, yellow, and white color pallet of the restaurant is extremely aesthetically pleasing. Clean cut tables and minimalistic decorations, the Mistral is a striking establishment. Waiters come to your table almost immediately, explaining the menu, pouring glasses of iced water, and laying out bread.

The menu offers a wide variety of interesting appetizers, ranging from butternut squash pizza to escargot in garlic sauce. The entrees are all accommodating, offering a large selection of fish, chicken, duck, beef, and also some pasta. A particularly wonderful choice is the “Market Fish”, which happens to be a black bass braised in ginger-lime sauce, served with gold potatoes and lump crab. Each flavor is very distinct and yet they all work in harmony. Every dish is unique in the way it is served and cooked, coming with many different vegetables and fruits. The waiter provides all the necessary information and even combs the crumbs off the tablecloth.

Dessert is also prepared to perfection, being served with chocolate decals on the plate and warmed. Most come with a side of ice cream and a mint leaf, adding to the artistic presentation of the desert. A favorite would be the warm chocolate tort with vanilla ice cream, filling the diner with a warm satisfied feeling after eating a fantastic meal. The Mistral Bistro is a definite for any classy diner, accommodating many tastes along with fantastic service and moderate pricing.