Boulud Boston - Crossing

First, the lobster risotto was amazing and absolutely worth $36. Everything else was quite good (shrimp cocktail, lemon sole, chocolate mouse), but nothing amazing. The bathrooms were not well serviced (no toilet paper or hand towels) and we waited about 15 min to be seated with a reservation. Not sure what the issue there was.

My fiancée and I had a reservation for Valentine's Day at another restaurant which turned out to be a disappointing experience. So, we decided to go out again on the 15th and chose Bar Boulud instead. This time, we had a wonderful time. The service was quick and highly professional. Since we arrived a bit early, they allowed us to choose our table before the rush and even before our reserved time. The cocktail menu was excellent. We started with the beef tartare and chicken liver mousse, which were both delicious and served in appropriate portions. For the main course, we shared the lobster risotto and boudin blanc, which were good but not the best I've had. One aspect of the dinner that stood out to me was that when we requested a non-standard wine to pair with our meal, the staff did not try to persuade us to choose something different or more expensive. Our chosen wine paired perfectly with the meal. Lastly, the desserts were outstanding, especially the Ile de Flottante.

Our server took a while to notice us, and the food was just average.

I had a high opinion of Bar Boulud but on Valentine's Day I lost that opinion. I have dined here before and in three of the group’s restaurants in NYC. I have several of Mr. Boulud’s books and I cook from them. This Valentine’s Day was a total disappointment. My wife and I changed three tables until we were seated in a quiet and not frigid part of the room. The menu price was very expensive for a place with no tablecloths and mediocre service by waiters who could not speak English clearly to understand what they were telling you. I know the lack of tablecloths and I knew the price, but I had high hopes for the service and, especially, for the meal. The served food was fancifully presented. However, good packaging does not make the food great. My lobster risotto was prepared hours before, was overcooked and the lobster was mostly small pieces that were lost inside the mussy risotto. I cook risotto myself for 20 years and I have visited Italy extensively where even a neighborhood restaurant will cook the risotto when you order it. This is the reason the menu tells you that you have to wait 20 minutes. Apparently in Mr. Boulud’s Boston bar/“restaurant” the risotto is made in the morning and heated in the microwave before it is served. The Dover sole my wife ordered was three very dry small pieces of fish that occupied only 10% of the plate’s area, the rest occupied by fanciful pre-prepared side actors while the mail actor, the fish, was a disappointment. A menu designed to be prepared and presented even by untrained people to control costs. What a disappointment for such a special day.

Relatively inattentive service. Clam chowder was good, but not hot enough. Boudin was decent, but not extraordinary. Same with profiteroles. Overall, eh. Fine.