Very nice food and experience. We went for my birthday and the quality of the food is unrivaled in the area. These guys get that with few good restaurants in Concord, they have the ability to cement their status as the go to for a really nice dinner. My wife and I liked the sauces. We also felt that the creativity of the dishes was really nice. The ambiance of the restaurant is part of what makes it great. Would love to sit at the bar sometime. Our server was professional and very busy. Well worth the money. read more

Have been here many times. Food is always excellent and service is top notch. On top of that, I find the prices very reasonable for what you get. I'm a fan of their salads, kale soup, lamb chops, and salmon. Sometimes I even go off menu and get the burger...pretty good when you're not in the mood of a full meal. Also, the décor is very nice...I don't even mind the sound of the commuter rail that rumbles by every 15'. Just two issues - I do find the menu a little small and restricting. I usually only can find one entree on it that I actually would consider. Whatever I get is quite good, but would like a few more choices. Secondly, and quite surprising given the quality of the food, the two times I've order cappuccino it's been awful...tasted like dishwater. Not sure why...fix your coffee, and I'll give you 5 stars. read more

Had a WONDERFUL meal here, exceeding our expectations! Food was delicious, service was excellent, covid precautions were accommodated well, and the staff were knowledgeable about every ingredient on the menu. I would go back here in a heartbeat! I had hake for the first time, and it was SPECTACULAR. read more

We dined there about 3 weeks ago. The pacing of the meal was poor, with apps arriving before drinks even served. Portions were good, but small, striped bass and salmon. The app. -- stuffed squash blossoms - was disgusting, two small blossoms over cooked and stuffed with squash not ricotta. They looked like cigars on a plate. We were done eating in 40 minutes and $150. My iced tea refill was another $3. Six dollars for two glasses of iced tea?? Filled out the customer comment card and had no response,even though it asked for my email. I sent an email to their web site, with no response and called them. Spoke to the manager(?) and he said that open kitchen allows them to view the pace of the meal. I guess that didn't work. I then asked why the iced tea refill was charged and he said they use a very high quality tea and the price reflects this. Most importantly, I asked why Ihad not heard from them and they said they don't contact persons who fill out the card!! He was NOT cordial on the phone and hung up on me. Wont be back, sorry that a special res'tuanrt for us is out of the rotation. read more

Fantastic menu and great service. I'm having the roasted apple salad with hazelnuts and cheese. The cocktail menu has the best drinks - old staples with an 80 Thoreau twist and new creations that are always balanced and delicious. read more

This place has the mother of all burgers. The meat, the bread, the toppings all unique and delicious. Totally recommend it. Their other dishes are good too. But those burgers.... read more

I suppose the current 4.5 star average is due mostly to the quality of the food but the bar service leaves a lot to be desired. My co-worker and I were told to go to 80 Thoreau and order the hamburger at the bar. We obliged and I agree that the burger was very good but I would expect no less for a item priced north of $15. I also ordered the kale salad which was very good. Unfortunately the accompanying fries were a bit over-salted so I had to down a few glasses of water which took a while to get because the poor lone bartender was absolutely swamped with drink orders. I know the bar space is small (given the size of the restaurant) but 80 Thoreau seriously needs to get another bartender during the busy dinner service. Or perhaps they set up another station so that another individual can take care of the beer and wine orders. Everyone I observed around the bar appeared to have an inordinate wait. Perhaps the table service is better but if I were to judge this restaurant based on my service at the bar, I wouldn't return. read more

One of the best restaurant and the best service. We sat at high table next to the bar. Our bartender/server provided us such a wonderful fast services even it was busy on monday night. Food great, excellence service always come with the price. read more

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We've gone to 80 Thoreau for nearly every milestone event in our lives - graduations, birthdays, anniversaries and the occasional holiday. The service, ambiance and equally important, the food are all superlative! I cannot imagine a year without visiting 80 Thoreau. It's been a privilege to dine with them. read more

We were saddened to hear that the chef Alex had left, we came back specifically for his tremendous dishes and sauces. He made a seabass dish with curry leaves sauce and a soft shell crab that was the best meal of our lives. The new chef isn't nearly up to par, we won't be back until the food improves. The dining room was bustling and loud, the waiters seemed unorganized. read more

80 Thoreau is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to in MA. It's absolutely incredible! The last time I went was during restaurant week and I got a crispy skin duck confit that was unbelievably good -- hands down the best duck confit I have ever had. The duck was perfectly crispy (I don't even know how they do that!) and extremely tender. The dessert was a peanut butter mousse with peanut brittle and caramelized bananas which was, again, incredible. I could not recommend 80 Thoreau any more and I can't wait until I get to go back again! read more

80 Thoreau - Peanut butter mousse - New American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

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Food Poisoning!!!! Had guests for a business dinner here last week. 2 of us had the lamb and got violently ill by 3 am. Confirmed by the ER. I actually called to leave a message to politely inform them with no response. Do not eat here. You will get sick. read more

Incredible restaurant. My gnocchi appetizer and pappardelle entree were absolutely delicious. The cocktails were a fantastic addition. Don't skip dessert, it as excellent as the rest of the menu. Additionally the service is the fastest and friendliest I've ever experienced. read more

80 Thoreau - New American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

Very Odd Update.... I won't be visiting this restaurant and this will be my last comment on the place. Honestly, I don't even know why I have taken the time to write this at this point. Let's call it closure. Yes, a really sad ending. In the old days, this would have been in the newspaper, but today it's on Yelp. Surprisingly, Vincent (the co-owner) just called me on my mobile phone. He told me NOT TO BOTHER ever coming back to 80 Thoreau after reading my pre-visit update below where I thought it was time to give this place another chance. He said he could never satisfy me. I guess he does not take well to criticism, but at least I finally got a response! He said he has plenty of happy customers. No doubt, that appears true. Of course, if you look down the list of reviews there is an occasional complaint which is to be expected. And, I now see that those complaints just do not matter in the whole scheme of things. Since I have been clearly told to never visit, I must now forever stick with my original assessment along with my permanent ban. And, I certainly understand that as the owner of the establishment, he certainly has the right to pick his customers. So, I stick by what I originally wrote as it was a fair and accurate assessment of my 2012 experience. If you look at my long list of reviews you'll see that I generally rate on the high side. Vincent, you have earned this and based on our conversation today, I know you truly do not care. Bye-bye... read more

Okay! The food was not spectacular for the price. It was just regular food and I felt like it missed the zing.

Open letter to the residents of Concord, You are lucky. Take care, Chuck P.S. After some flattering reviews and a bunch of hype among my friends, my wife and I decided to do a Saturday double date in the burbs and give 80 Thoreau a shot. Let's just say the commute was well worth it. By random chance, we ate at Craigie on Main the night before, and in the head-to-head 80 Thoreau was the clear victor. Hats off to the young restaurant. Ambiance: (9 out of 10) The restaurant is on the upper floor of the Concord commuter rail station, and they've done a great job of making the setting warm with just a taste of chic; the venue's white table cloth formality is lost (in a good way) with the local neighborhood comfort, exposed rafters, and pleasant din of a packed house. One of the two dining areas has open exposures to the kitchen, allowing dinner and a show if you get the right table. (There are a few seats at the kitchen bar if you are so inclined) Overall, the design and feel is tasteful without any notable gimmicks. Food & Drink: (10 out of 10) I'll try to keep this short, but the overall message is that the food and drink alone make the trip to Concord worth it. We were not shy with our ordering, and still the per couple cost was 2/3 what we had paid at Craigie on Main the night before. To start, our group of four couldn't make up our mind on which appetizers to get, so we ended up ordering a fifth. The Gnocchi was probably the overall winner of the five; it was savory with a silky texture that left you wanting a second plate. The soft shell crab may have been the best I've ever had, no lie. The farm salad was a great order as well - always order the salad when it comes with a poached egg. I could happily return 3 to 4 times before reusing an entrée, and the menu changes frequently depending on what is available and fresh. The entrees were superb without being overly large, too flamboyant, or heavy. The winner of the entrees was the Pappardelle with Braised Veal. Clearly a little piece of Rialto's excellence has moved out to Concord with Carolyn Johnson. I think in the restaurant I described the dish as stupid awesome. The chicken was great as well; I love a restaurant that can make chicken a marquee attraction. The wine list is not cheap, but you're getting good bottles of wine rather than overpriced bottles of mass-produced-probably-was-in-a-box-at-some-point grape juice. We had a Pinot Noir Rose on the staff's recommendation. Despite being the first Rose I've ever had in the U.S., it was awesome and a great match for our eclectic meal choices. Also, they've got a great assortment of regional craft beers and a great cocktail list. Service: (10 out of 10) Considering it's a young restaurant and they are still probably training some of the staff, everything was excellent. Our waiter knew the menu front to back, (he'd actually had everything on the menu at least once), was friendly and helpful and as attentive as you want when dining with friends. More than anything, everyone from the hostess to the bartender to the staff had an air of training, courtesy and care. No attitude, and we felt like they were happy to be working there. So again, 80 Thoreau is a homerun for anyone looking to diversify from the TGI Friday's routine. They can handle kids, but it's probably a bit more in-line for any foodies out there. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. read more

Unbelievable place! From the ambiance to the staff to the food this restaurant is perfect! I went there for my birthday on Monday and came right back on Wednesday with my mom so she could try it too. We already have plans to go there for her birthday next month. Every dish is expertly created to combine perfect complimentary flavors so that every bite is a piece of heaven. It's not your run of the mill menu, either. The food is original and inspired, and some may be pleased to know they use locally grown produce as frequently as they can, so their menu changes to accommodate. My mom's been talking about 80 Thoreau since they opened in April and so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to "test drive" it on my birthday. The interior is beautiful, understated, simple elegance. A creative combination of modern and rustic. My boyfriend kept commenting on the floors (one of his jobs is with Direct Buy which does home remodels) which are beautifully unique, albeit a bit slippery, but that's the only quasi negative thing I could say about this place. There are two main rooms. Upon walking up the stairs there's the first dining area, just past the host stand, and around the corner to the left the bar area. Down a hall and a couple stairs is the main dining room which is where we were seated, in a corner against the windows. It's was Monday night at 8pm and I assumed it would be empty, (being the suburbs) but the place was almost filled. In fact, we were told the only reason it was "slow" was because there was a town meeting that night. The kitchen is in this main room, only separated by glass windows which I thought was fantastic. I've been to many restaurants with "open kitchens", but it was always noisier than maybe should have been, not to mention the scent of the cooking food can impair your own meal. The glass windows is a wonderful innovation and beautiful to boot. So we ordered drinks (really wish I could remember our servers name because he was wonderful...the gentleman with glasses and a close shaved beard, perfect!). My boyfriend ordered a tonic and gin (ya, they make their own tonic) and myself the apples and oranges. My drink was very good, but when I tried his I was blown away. Coming from a girl who has never enjoyed that juniper gin taste, this was amazing. Like WoW. We ordered an appetizer of the striped bass crudo, which was a sushi style dish served over thinly sliced radishes and topped with watermelon pickle. Such a great combo and perfect appetizer because it was very light. For dinner we both (sadly) ordered the same: duck. I only say sadly because I would have loved to try something else at the same time. Have I ever mentioned I'm a foodie? Duck - AMAZING. I love duck, and it's purely a restaurant food for me so I've had it a lot of places. Usually it's in some boring sauce that's more often than not meant for steak or pork and surrounded by an inch of fat. Yes, I know that duck is by nature a fatty meat. But the duck here was exquisite: barely any fat, and the combination of sunchokes and quince.was phenomenal. So dessert rolled around and I got the goat cheesecake, my boyfriend the caramel apple. His was definitely tasty, like a spice pumpkin cake with carefully sculpted apple and wafer atop drizzled in caramel. You can probably find the picture he took of it somewhere online, it was very beautifully presented. But my goat cheesecake surpassed all my favorite desserts. I should preface this by saying 1. I'm not typically a dessert girl, the only time I will ever get it is if it's creme brulee or if it's the caramel apple xangos at this spot in worcester and 2. goat cheese is my all time favorite cheese...and I LOVE CHEESE. Holy crow, thank you 80 Thoreau for putting my favorite cheese into dessert form. I don't think I will ever have dessert again unless it's at your establishment. Anyway, so Vincent comes over for the second time (forgot to mention him, he's one of the owners, nor did I mention that I sort of stalked this place and staff before hand so I know all the main players and their life histories, thank you internet), understandably I gushed like a kid in candy land. He's asking us what brought us here tonight, you know standard courtesty/interested owner stuff and my boyfriend explains it's my birthday. Well, even though we had already finished dessert and all, he was thoughtful enough to let our server know who puts a candle on the plate they serve their pear after dinner "mints" on. Very sweet. So, needless to say the first time there (I would argue) made me their biggest fan. I would write more, and gush about my second time but Yelp just cut me off my 5001 character limit as I tried. I don't think you need more info than that though, to understand the fantastic quality 80 Thoreau has to offer. Thank you to everyone there for bringing a little piece of utopia so close to home! read more

We have been looking for a nice, elegant restaurant local to us and have been disappointed with other places. With 80 Thoreau, we have finally found what we are looking for. We arrived for our reservation at 6:45 and were seated promptly after they took my coat. The room had a nice, French-country-rustic feel to it. The service was attentive without being overbearing and the meal moved at a nice pace. The food was outstanding! We each started with a salad with mixed greens, thinly sliced radishes and mustard vinaigrette. I don't usually like radishes, but they worked here. We both devoured the salads. For entrees, I had Arctic char with mussels The char was cooked perfectly with crispy skin, the mussels came with a nice sauce, and the whole thing was served over some chard and root vegetables with a tasty broth. My husband had the braised beef and said it melted in his mouth. For dessert, I had a nice cheese plate with house made bread and crackers, almonds, and fig jam. My husband had a very rich chocolate pave. Great experience and the best meal we've had in months. We'll definitely be back. read more

Hello 80 Thoreau, Nice to meet you. Do you know that I dream about you and your food? Yes, your food really is THAT GOOD. Here is a synopsis of my adventure: Appetizer = Delicious fluke crudo with perfectly paired and surprising blood oranges and seared gnocchi with morels that is knock your socks off delicious. Main = Duck and also sampled lamb and sirloin steak. Each dish was impressive and delicious in its own right. Most importantly, my duck was tender and juicy- cooked just right. Dessert = Silky, decadent chocolate mouse. The perfect sweet end note to a fantastic meal. Even the appetizer bread was so good my group asked for multiple baskets. And everything at Thoreau is local whenever possible. Finally, the owners are on hand to lend charm and excellent customer service. 80 Thoreau, please save a seat for me, for I will return one day soon to bask once more in your culinary delights! read more

I've only been once so I'll have to try again. That said everything was fine but it seemed like they were trying too hard without the expected results. The prices, waitstaff and food fell short, for me, in relation to the prices charged. Concord seems to have had a fine dining curse set on it since the revolutionary war. Or perhaps Concordians are still loyal to the throne and still serve food meant for when the British return to lay claim... read more

Went there for dinner and I really enjoyed the meal. It's a bit "old" to my taste. Seemed like people only go there for family meals (no kids) or business meals. Food was great (maybe the food needs a bit more of a "spark") , service was great. But I'm not sure it's my scene and I don't think I'll be returning. read more

Always a treat to find a fun new place. A friend had been wanting to try this place, as it's fairly close to her home (sadly not as close to mine,) and decided restaurant week presented a perfect opportunity. I arrived first and seated promptly is the spare, handsome dining room. I was greeted warmly by the smartly dressed maitre d', and a drink order quickly taken. Any restaurant with an interesting menu deserves a careful look at the cocktail menu as well-I often find nice variations on my usual choices. And so it was here, with a light and delicious variation on a negroni: gin (I don't remember the brand, which was unfamiliar to me, nor the vermouth; thevthird mixer was Lillet. Served on the rocks with a hefty curl of orange peel, it was slightly bitter, slightly floral, and lightly citrus-y- a perfect alternative to the rose everyone is offering this summer. My guest arrived shortly thereafter; she has a slight physical disability which was dealt with gracefully by an observant hostess. We'd both dine our homework and previewed the menu. The pleasant young waiter earnestly answered our few questions and gave us time to settle in once we had our drinks (smart lad!) My companion had a smoked swordfish pate to start, which was great- the fish and some cream cheese, I suspect, whipped up and deftly seasoned, served with beets, horseradish, and little toasts. I ordered an herbed panna cotta, largely because I'd never thought of it before. Tangy with yoghurt and herbs, served with purplish cherry tomatoes, parsley salad, and tiny fried zucchini fritters- light as air but crunchy. We could have eaten a basket of those (not to chef...) My pan-roasted hake was served with a medley of beautiful tiny mushrooms and a nicely chewy grain salad. My friend's steak came with nice-looking accompaniments, though I don't remember what. Wine suggestions were helpful and on point. We shared the two desserts on offer, a nutmeggy zucchini cake with a swipe of blueberry sauce, whipped cream, and a scattering of fresh berries, and a non-confrontational chocolate pudding with whipped cream and crispy fig biscuits. The eagle-eyed hostess appeared bearing the needed crutch at the slightest glance. A warm adieu from the maitre d' sent us out with smiles on our faces. To sum up... a quirky but not frightening menu, a gracious and cozy atmosphere, and exceptional service every second we were there. I can't wait for an excuse to go back. (By the way- look for the blue door!!) Update on a second visit... Just as fine as the first. A gracious server, a warm welcome from Vincent, the maitre d', who remembered where we'd sat on the first visit. And another inventive and delicious cocktail to get things rolling. The server gave us lots of time, as we'd requested, them appeared out of nowhere the second we needed him. We shared a lovely pork and veal terrine, with some crispy crackers, a sharp horseradish-y mustard, and some cool pickled things: fennel, maybe, and a caper berry or two. My companion enjoyed her pork dish- roasted tenderloin and some braised pork presented as a mini pot pie, served with pumpkin and some wilted greens. Perfect for a chilly night. My duck was as successful- perfectly pan-seared to medium rare, served with woodsy mushrooms and sweetly earthy sun chokes. Our servers wine recommendations were spot on. A deconstructed bread pudding, with amaretto ice cream, gingerbread crumble, and poached dried cherries and cranberries rounded off another splendid meal. A place for special occasions, perhaps, as our meal totaled about $150 before tip. But a fine place to celebrate a happy event, or to remind yourself what an inventive team can achieve. read more

Our first time, and a perfect dinner. Casual elegant decor, gracious service, beautiful plate presentation and oh, oh, what delicious flavors from the creative menu. Began with a refreshing tonic and gin (sic) featuring house made tonic. Don't miss the corn custard starter, creamy and savory/sweet with shaved truffle and tasty greens. I loved the saffron tagliatelle with stewed rabbit, mmm, my sister enjoyed a socca crepelle (sp?) which was a chick pea crepe layered with a melange of vegetables that was awesome. Too full to enjoy the tempting cherry clafouti with smoked bourbon ice cream and orange creme caramel (!), but the decaf coffee surpassed my very high standards for coffee, right down to the tiny pitcher of steamed milk that went with it. I mistakenly reserved the wrong night on-line -- the restaurant was very very gracious, calling me to check on my absence, and easily shifted to the next night -- gave us a lovely private table by the window. Service all around was top of the line. I'm a city mouse, and it's unusual to find such fine dining out in the suburbs. Concord is a lovely town to visit, and an easy 30 minute drive from the city. We'll be back. read more

I've been to 80 Thoreau about a half dozen times, at this point, and every type of experience has been first rate, both for food and for service. I've had the tasting menu twice, sitting at a counter overlooking the kitchen, and have multiple courses. It's a real treat, with some spectacular dishes that are constantly changing. Last night, the standouts were the Nantucket scallops and also the lamb, with "beggar's purses." Really fantastic meal; we left full but not quite over the edge of being overly stuffed. Expect it to be a three-hour affair, but it's very fascinating to watch the cooks hard at work, making their magic, and the genius chef overseeing every last little detail. The wine parings are always exceptional, and they make really great cocktails. We've had sizable groups (maybe eight people) there a few times, in the main dining room, and it's terrific for that. The menu has something or everyone. My kids (9 and 12) love it, as do their parents and grandparents. But it's probably most appropriate for most people as a date night destination, or for a leisurely hang with a couple friends. The bar area is another great experience there. It serves simpler fare, but the quality is first rate. They make a mean burger, on a brioche bun. The cocktails are nicely thought out. Desserts are just gorgeous. I've found the service to be consistently very strong, both for food and drink. They are friendly and helpful and knowledgeable. I tend to pepper servers with technical questions, but here, they always roll with it, and rush off to research any answers that they don't know offhand. Very good sports, and they seem into what they are doing. When the conversation turns to travel, the owner Vincent is generous with restaurant recommendations for other cities! To me, this is the area's best restaurant, from Concord to the west. It's consistently high quality and interesting, with decent value and varied experiences possible. They try really hard, and do a great job. read more

My wife and I were excited to go 80 Thoreau for restaurant week; we had high expectations. We were very pleased with the food, the service was OK, but we were disappointed in the atmosphere. My wife had a greens salad, the braised chicken with grits and corn, chocolate zucchini cake, coffee and a house wine. She consistently said the meal and the house wine was excellent. I had the seafood salad, the braised pork with a bean side dish, a very small portion of a blueberry crème brulee, coffee and a house wine. I have to agree the meal and the wine was excellent. The service was good, but not great; the wait staffs were rushed. As an example, after taking our dessert order the waitress took off and did not ask if we wanted coffee, so we had to flag down the host and ask for it. Then we had a long wait to get the coffee, it came well after the dessert had been served. Both my wife and I were disappointed in the atmosphere. Although clean and bright, we were in the attic of a train station without windows. The walls and the cathedral ceiling were all a hard white surface that reflected noise. It was noisy to the point where it was often difficult to have a conversation. Overall excellent food, OK service coupled with the uninspired noisy atmosphere and the high prices, adds up to a 3 star rating. read more

Excellent food and ambiance. We had a course meal themed with local corns and tomatoes. Everything was delicious and had depth to the taste. The restaurant became quickly busy around six on a Saturday night. Glad we made a reservation. read more

The food here is superb. It is interesting (blue cheese custard? AMAZING!) and the decor is lovely. However, it was nearly impossible to have a decent conversation with my partner, due to the ridiculously loud noise level of the restaurant. We don't need total quiet, but having to nearly shout at my partner to be heard was not acceptable. We very much wanted this to be our new favorite local restaurant- how terrific not to have to go into Boston or Cambridge for an excellent meal. But the noise really was a problem. I also think they should play some music and have candles to add to the ambiance. We appreciated that we could get reservations at 10pm too; so many of the restaurants in the suburbs close at 10 on Saturdays. But the food is great. Certainly the best in the Concord area. But they will need to do something about the noise for us to come back. read more

My wife and I have been wanting to go here for quite a while now, and so we took advantage of it being our 21st anniversary (yes, we're finally at a year where there is no traditional anniversary gift!) to go. And golly gosh, were we happy we did. The atmosphere was relaxed and the interior was very nice. It was nice to watch the kitchen through the big windows - although I sympathize with the chefs who are under constant surveillance by the customers. None of this Julia Child thing of dropping food on the floor and putting it back on the counter because nobody sees! Anyway, I digress. The food was amazing and was just the right amount too. Everything was perfectly prepared and delicious. If I had to criticize something it was the number of staff people circling the restaurant, waiting for the opportunity to swoop down on a finished plate or refill a water glass. I was reminded of a caged zoo animal, circling its space, and it did cut into the otherwise relaxed atmosphere. Still, it's a minor quibble. We hadn't intended to mention that it was our anniversary, but it slipped out and they were very nice about it. Everybody was polite and professional and it was a thoroughly enjoyable meal. I'm sure we'll return. read more

The food here is very good. To say "amazing" (an awfully overused and undescriptive term) would be pushing it, though. Soft shell crab appetizer was lightly breaded and plated with a few peas and tendrils and a spicy mayonnaise. Perfectly cooked, but one small crab for $16? C'mon! The veal flank came with a roulade of shredded veal and sweetbreads. The little strips of veal were slightly chewy, but the veal roll was excellent, although not much of the sweetbread flavor or texture was evident. My friend had a humongous lamb chop, perfectly done at medium rare, and with great lamby flavor. In general though, all the food could have done with a little less salt. Desserts were unremarkable. Nicely presented with little flowers, but nothing special. The flourless chocolate cake with a very fancy French name and the lemon cake did however, both adequately satisfy the after dinner sweet tooth. At the end of the meal they give the tiniest squares of a cookie cake thing that almost literally needed a microscope to find on the plate. The wine list is a very nice mix of French, American and Italian, and for the most part is fairly priced. Service was ok. Not quite up to snuff for a place of this kind. Not in harmony with the sophisticated ambience, food and price point. Mostly young, semi-experienced women from the 'hood. I guess what charming, smooth, brilliant, aspiring actors, medical students, or professional waitstaff can be found in Concord to do this job? Overall, however, one of the best restaurants in the area. read more

A very strange experience last night.... I made a reservation. When the hostess showed us to our table, it was about 12 inches from the next one. The girl sitting at the adjoining table looked horrified when we headed to our table. We were not to keen on the arrangement and abruptly decided on the bar instead. Much better seating in a cozy booth. I planned to order the softshell crab sandwich, but it was not to be. They were all out of softshell crabs. I was really not up for one of the more eccentric dishes, so I asked the bartender if I might be able to order the pappardelle minus the rabbit ragu and have a vegetarian pasta dish instead. I was quite happy to hear that this would be ok with the kitchen. In the meantime, we ordered a mixed green salad to start and the scallop crudo. The dressing on the salad was so intense (too much mustard?) that we could barely tolerate it. Usually we get underdressed salads, so this was a first. About 40 minutes later, the bartender returned and asked if we'd like to see the dessert menus. What the hell? we thought. What happened to dinner? The bartender hustled off, and perhaps plugged our orders into the computer. The pasta didn't arrive for at least another 20 minutes. No apology. The pasta was amazing. We loved it. Perfect flavor, awesome veggies and presentation. Really, one of the best vegetarian pasta dishes I have experienced. I saved half for the next day and asked the waiter to pack it up. Then, the other (primary?) bartender proceeded to wait on us for the remainder of the evening. Dessert was incredible. We tried the corn pudding and the caramel banana w/choc. bar. Probably the best desserts we have had in a long time. But where was my take-home pasta? Never got it. Our first waiter (bartender 1) never returned. Pretty disappointing. The second bartender offered fantastic service, but overall we had too many disappointments and bad service incidents for one evening, especially based on the final bill. When you pay that much, you expect a superior experience all around. 4 stars for the kitchen 2 stars for the service read more

by far the sexiest place in Concord. My sig other brought me here for my 30th (+2) birthday. It was lovely. Which, I mean, is standard around here. Concord is a lovely place. What Concord typically isn't, exactly, is sexy. Which, I think, is the goal here in the birthplace of America. We're a sturdy, rascally, unsexy bunch. The town tends to close at 8, strangely, we were seated later than that. And (gasp) even had wine! This close to bed-time! Seriously though, everything we ordered was perfect. I still dream of the opening soup, an orgasmic bowl of squash stew. Good lord. I had the grilled pork chop with Delicata squash, apple, sage... the sauce was so good. Another good lord warranted. Booski had the grilled & braised beef (ok, I had a third of that too).. it was delish. Beyond delish. We live three or so miles westish. We'd happily come again. Weekly if we could manage a babysitter... Which reminds me: our server was 9 mos pregnant! Adorable and quick. We had a wonderful time! read more

Good food. Ate here once and the fish dish I had was done just right. Had the popcorn and chocolate dessert which was so good

Very very good. The food was of a high quality and service was pleasant. Pork chop was nicely done...wish I could have tried other dishes. Would come back and recommend to others. Great find in this part of the world. read more

80 Thoreau - The open kitchen - New American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

I enjoyed my meal at 80 Thoreau. The service was commensurate with an upscale restaurant such as this. I had the striped bass which was delicious and cooked perfectly. The kale soup was a fantastic way to start the meal. My wife thoroughly enjoyed the scallops. We sat near the open kitchen and i enjoyed watching the buzz of activity as orders were prepared and picked up for delivery. The bill was pricy, as we knew it would be, but we both felt that we got our money's worth from this experience. Definitely a good choice for fresh food prepared very well. read more

My husband and I were on vacation in the Concord area and wanted to have at least one nice (on the fancy side) dinner during our vacation. I yelped restaurants in the area and came across reviews for this restaurant. Since most of them recommended eating here, we decided to give it a try. I wasn't sure if we would be able to get a reservation being that it was already 5pm on a Saturday night when I went online to reserve a table. Fortunately, there was an open table at 8:45pm. For starters we had the crispy soft-shell crab accompanied with wine. For the main course, my husband had pan roasted quails and I had roasted and braised chicken. I don't think I've ever had such moist and tasteful chicken. The quails were also delicious. For dessert we had lemon curd and was also very good. Ian, the General Mgr/Owner brought us two complimentary glasses of champagne, which I thought was a nice touch. All this for $92.00, a very reasonable price. I definitely recommend this restaurant and I will visit it again if we're ever in the Concord area. The only drawback was that it may get a bit loud at times and makes it difficult to have a conversation with the person sitting across from you. Other than that, this please is great! read more

Elegant but not pretentious. This is the restaurant I recommend to out of town visitors and friends. The food is amazing. THE BEST Burger ! read more

this place is amazing. went on a tuesday night around 630 we didnt have reservations so we sat at the bar which i like because you can hang out and watch what other people are getting. we went because my friend knows one of the owners.he recommended some of his favorites which we both enjoyed.im not going to lie a lot of the things i had to google i wasnt sure what everything was we had such a great time the atmosphere is beautiful.the restaurant was full but it was still quiet.next time i go i def want a seat in the back near the windows. as far as the food we spent a good 3 hours eating and talking. for apps we got chick pea fries,white bean puree with grilled pita bread and the cheese puff bread.the bean puree was my favorite we then got the seared gnocchi with morrels.the taste of homemade gnocchi cant be beat it was wonderful for dinner we decided on the grilled lamb and turnovers and the pappardelle with braised veal.the lamb by far was the winner. i have never had lamb before and wow it was amazing here!!!!! for dessert we got the choc pot de creme very good had a slight flavor of oranage and the little choc orange meringue cookies went well with it.but then we got these pastry puffs filled with cinnamon ice cream and drizzled with a light coffee syrup OMG!!!!! BEYOND GOOD.simply amazing this is a beautiful gem of a restaurant that is great for any occaision. read more

I actually can't think the words "80 Thoreau" without going off on a fantasy of another wonderful evening spent wining and dining in a comfortable booth of this restaurant. I have nothing but good associations with this place, having spent 3 wonderful meals here. My first visit to the restaurant was shortly after opening day- a few weeks or so- and I was blown away already by how professional and fluid the staff were. Considering a restaurant usually takes a while to get into it's groove, it's quite an achievement to be turning heads and mouths so soon out of the gate. With a constantly rotating seasonal menu, a personal but professional wait staff, beautiful views out onto Concord's streets, and a well done interior, this is one restaurant you need to treat yourself to. read more

This is one of the best restaurants in the area. However, some of the nicer restaurants in the city are better, so it may only deserve four stars. We will definitely be back! The food was awesome, and the service was good too. The restaurant is bright and relatively small. Although the tables are fairly close together, it still seems intimate. read more

We arrived around 10pm and found three spots at the beautiful sandstone bar. It was really nice that they serve full menu until 11 - in the burbs this is almost unheard of. First the food. We had white bean puree that had roasted garlic on top (yum) as a starter and it was good but no one devoured it. I had the navy bean soup which was very tasty and perfectly seasoned but had been sitting waiting for a bit in the kitchen. We also ordered the sweetbreads and they must have been fabulous because they were gone before I had a taste. For the main course, we had someone with a hamburger which was huge, a unique ketchup (went fast) and french fries that were a bit cold and not my favorite. I had the gnocci which were fabulously delicate albeit a bit oily and the Pork Belly Roulade and beans which was very tasty but not a knock your socks of dish. Overall we were extremely pleased to have this new gem open up as I know we will be back. It was the second night of opening and we had heard earlier that their had been a fire alarm in the middle of the rush, The service was a bit off but they had a tough night and the food quality was there so I think that will continue to improve. Our bartender had a tough night I am guessing as she seemed very inattentive, had to be reminded of drinks, left us empty (only 8 people at the bar) and was grumbling quite a bit. We love sitting at the bar so that would be one thing that I really hope improves. read more