300 dollars for two people (i reserved without any research) the servers dont even have uniform and act like theyre drunk and are way too informal, not professional at all. its like a cheap restaurant. food is mediocre, music too loud. do your research b4 u come here read more

We went to Asta for their tasting menu and wine pairing. It definitely did not disappoint. We each had the 8 course pairing... one was vegetarian and the other was not. We love seeing how they try to make comparable dishes of each. The service was excellent... we never really have had poor service with any of our tasting menu experiences. Everything I ate was amazing, creative and the pairing they offered with each was perfect. We need to go back since my hubby is now vegan and finding Vegan upscale dining is hard in the area... we would love to see what they do for that since he really enjoyed the vegetarian options. read more

As far as I know, this is easily the best place to take a foodie on a date in this particular section of Back Bay/Fenway. The tasting menu was extremely well done and creative, and the wine pairings went along in perfect harmony. The server was very accommodating and let us switch out one of the desserts on the five course for the (more superior) chocolate dessert on the seven course menu. The things preventing a full five stars: the price was a little steep, even considering the quality of the food, and although I'm a fan of the A-ha classic Take On Me, it played over three times on the speakers throughout the course of our meal, which I find odd for a restaurant where one could easily spend more then a Benjamin per person. Ultimately, I would certainly return (and make sure to sit at the Chef Table), but probably not until I have Scrooge McDuck sort of funds. read more

--Tries too hard to be Noma-- Let me start by saying I like Alex Crabb as a person and as a presence in the kitchen ( which we had the fortuitous opportunity to have as a view when we dined here). But his restaurant Asta tries way too hard. It is like that hipster-wannabe kid who name drops bands from Pitchfork and shops at Urban Outfitter. Basically, not there yet. We had, to put it succinctly, everything on the menu. Basically the 3, 5, and 8-course tasting plus 3 portions of foie gras (because we love foie gras that much). Of the 17 courses, only 1 manages to blow us away (the Duck is amazing). Everything else is just okay. I like what Alex is trying to do with the vegetable (basically what René Redzepi from Noma did with his). But unless you could transport these garden varieties to a whole other level, please don't serve me a plateful of onion and then call it a course. Maybe I came here on an off day, or maybe I saw through all the frou frou and hoity toity contemporary/trendy plating technique. End of the day, I really don't care what style of cuisine you are going for, it has to, first and foremost, taste good. (Would've given 3 stars for food but adding another because Alex and the rest of his staff are really awesome - A+ service) read more

I've had the opportunity to dine at ASTA 3 times. Each experience was a memorable one. The staff are friendly and create a special dining experience. Chef Alex is so talented- every dish is not only visibly impeccable but also delicious and will leave your taste buds wanting to visit again soon. From one foodie to another- I highly recommend this place. I've dined at many fine establishments in Boston and all over the world and still consider ASTA to be among the best. Can't wait for my next visit! read more

Asta-ondingly good food! I cannot wait to come back in a month to try the new menu. My boyfriend and I each got the the 5-course with wine pairing. Our five course consisted of pike, beef, radish salad, butter soup, and a tasty chocolate, toast, and bay leaf desert that came together wonderfully. Definitely spend the extra $45 for the wine pairing. All the choices were unexpected but complemented each course perfectly. You also have the option of a 3 course meal or 8 course meal. Your party is not limited to having the same number of courses. I loved the atmosphere. Depending on what side of the table you are sitting on, you get a full view of the open kitchen. Silver-ware is tucked in a draw in the table, giving you plenty of table space. The service was spectacular and our waitress was incredibly well-informed about the menu. It is a popular place on weekends. I recommend making a reservation at least 5 days in advance. read more

We were visiting from Portland, Oregon, where we have so many fabulous restaurants. Wanted to surprise my husband with a special meal and chose Asta. Oh my gosh!!! It truly was an amazing , memorable experience. We each chose the 8 course pairing and as each course came out, it was a work of art, both visually and culinary. The wine pairings were excellent and totally enhanced the food. The atmosphere was great and the service was superb. Wish we lived in Boston so we could go back and celebrate special occasions! read more

Had a great time - definitely recommend for a special occasion. Sit at the chefs counter/bar for a more interactive dinner and to watch the food prep. We enjoyed our 8 courses and the wine pairings - also had a great time talking to Shish about the artfully curated pairings and how she evaluated each bottle of wine before serving - even discerning differences from different bottles of the same vintage. While it was good that the tastings and pairings were inventive - next time we will try the 5 course menu. read more

Expensive and worth every penny. Amazing. World class creative seasonal food with no pretense. Sit at the chef's counter and enjoy the show. My wife ordered the 5-course meal and I ordered 7 so that we could try the greatest variety. Chef Alex Crabb constantly played with our expectations, from our amuse-bouche of a tiny doughnut with cheddar sauce to a light and savory dessert that included chocolate and parsnip puree and Pop Rocks exploding on the plate (trust me, it worked). I loved the pickled burdock with oysters and citrus (maybe the second course?). Some courses were pure and simple, like the radish course, and others were quite involved, but all of it seemed perfect to me. We were full of questions, and the staff was totally engaging. Shish, who served most of our food and beverages, reminded me of a dark-haired Pippi Longstocking. She was quirky and absolutely delightful. The beverage selections were sometimes surprising, but they always worked (loved the local cider). Chef Crabb somehow found time to talk to those of us at the counter while he was preparing food, even inviting us to ask questions. The welcoming environment at the chef's counter made the near-perfect food even much more enjoyable. I look forward to going back. read more

This review isn't really an update on their dinner service because it is still amazing. This update is for their Fried Chicken & Biscuit sandwiches, which only happen on select Saturday afternoons from 12noon-2pm or until they sell out of fried chicken sandwiches. These fried chicken sandwiches are only available for a limited number of saturdays throughout the year so be diligent and follow their instagram to be in the know. This fried chicken sandwich is a true reflection of perfection. The biscuit is thin yet doesn't fall apart and acts as a beautiful boxspring topped with shredded lettuce in a secret sauce which acts as the mattress for the wonderfully tender, juicy & crispy fried chicken to rest upon. The top of the biscuit is like big toasty down comforter keeping the tender fried chicken warm and cozy as you raise it to your mouth to take a bite. After you eat one you will be permanently altered by a certain je ne sais quoi. It is also important to note that you will not have the power to only eat just one. You will always want another and will not be able to resist ordering a second, or a third. Sometimes my wife will order all of the sandwiches to go and take them with us. You have been warned and should arrive promptly at 12noon to avoid showing up after we do only to watch us buy all the sandwiches right in front of your very own eyes. read more

I had my birthday dinner here recently thanks to my very thoughtful significant other. The wine pairings were a bit off. I had the 8 course meal and i thought maybe 2 or 3 of the pairings were good (as in, "ooh yes this complements the food very well and is also an interesting adventure of its own') but the rest were sort of like they were ::trying:: to make interesting pairings. I realized that a sherry is a dessert wine for a reason-- it is incredibly syrupy and sweet and just does not go well with a mushroom/onion/asparagus dish. Just a heads up for animal lovers: they proudly feature a bear skin (with the head facing the entrance) and other skins around the restaurant. I am not a fan of hunting and skinning, but maybe the skins are an interesting draw for others. Don't mean to be harsh--just trying to articulate why I gave this place 3 stars. Many of the dishes were quite good, some mediocre. Kudos to Asta for using seasonal ingredients and provoking interesting combinations of flavors. read more

Arguably one of the best restaurants in Boston. We went there for dinner and chose the three coarse one. Immediately it was obvious we are in for a good deal. Although we had reservation the place was not very busy and we sat at the table we wanted to. We could see the kitchen which was a treat by itself. I am glad we went there and i am sure this will not be our last time there. Don't drive unless you have a back-bay sticker. read more

I was really excited to try this place but... I just didn't get it. I usually love tasting menus because it gives me an opportunity to try things I might not have ordered and I like doing wine pairings with them. The wine pours were generous and the food was definitely not enough to keep up with the alcohol. We did the 8 course menu with pairings and we left drunk and starving. We had to go home and eat bagels. Some examples of the dishes: a dandelion with lemon squeezed over it, a single scallion that looked like it was grilled on a George Foreman grill (we were sitting next to the open food prep area), and soup that was only enough to coat the bottom of the bowl. They were also really strange about bread when we asked for it (because we were starving after 2 courses) and were a little pretentious about it saying "We normally only serve bread with the fourth course." For a $400 dinner, I think they could have just given us the bread without the attitude! read more

We had an awesome time at Asta. it is a small and intimate place. The menu features different ingredients that you might not have tried before, like turnips or quince but it is incredibly well done and. The staff is very warm and attentive, but not overly so. The tasting menu was a lot of fun. And it was beautifully prepared and delicious. It was a perfect date night spot! We will be back. read more

Have had a few dinners here, and I can't race enough about the place. The format on the menu is set up exclusively as a tasting menu, either 3-, 5- or 8-courses, with an optional wine pairing for each course. Delicious, creative food, wonderful wine pairings and a delightful, attentive staff, what more do you need? Highly recommended!!! read more

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Awesome meal by Chief Alex. Food impeccably presented. Lite and creative tastes all exquisite. Funky and comfortable atmosphere. Good 1980s music. Fairly priced. read more

Asta - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Asta is absolutely amazing. The food is so unique, creative and delicious. The staff is so passionate about the ingredients, food, and experience. We love to go to Asta to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and just for a fun night out. We hadn't been in several months, but we went last night and we're reminded of how much we love it! They are so accommodating, too. My recommendation would be to get both the 5 & 8 course so you can experience as much as possible. Unlike other fixed menu restaurants, they actually let you do this and course it out appropriately. I'd also recommend getting the foie- it's a splurge but it is SO worth it! We don't always get the wine pairing (it is excellent- they do fun beers, too, but we get too drunk!), but they have a great wine list, so we usually just get a bottle off of that. I would highly recommend Asta to anyone who really appreciates great food and great service. read more

Where to begin...this meal was probably the best meal I've had. We sat at the bar overlooking the prep area, which was definitely the best choice. We watched as they prepared each course of our meal, perfectly timed so we didn't feel rushed or have time to get antsy. We did the 5 course option but there were a couple of freebies thrown in too. All in all, the service was impeccable and the food was incredible... fresh, seasonal produce, tender squid, lamb & cod, fresh baked bread & butter made in house. Add Asta to your list, you need to try it! We'll be back soon. read more

Asta take-out is more straight-forward and hearty than it's more innovative dine-in fare, but it still reflects a commitment to well-prepared, good food. I drive 25 minutes at least once a month for it. read more

This place used to be called Pasta 47 and they had decent salad and pizza (I've lived around the corner for years). Now they are a NEW restaurant - and what do they do? They don't even bother to get a new sign - they simply SPRAY PAINT over the "P" in Pasta and "47" and VOILA "ASTA". The menu, lack of choices, price and taste/quality of food suck. This place is a nightmare - do NOT waste your money here. read more

Decor a bit off putting in its informality at these prices. Bathrooms bar-like w weird spray painted animal outlines. Delightful pine hand soap. Service a bit too fast paced, could be 10% slower. Oddly fancy silverware (actual silver) stored in drawer beneath table from which you self-select-- interesting. Champagne starter and sea bass roulade amuse was delightful. Nice black garlic, pickled ramps, remoulade. Good package. Scallop w radish and mint was just strange. Not sure what the mint was doing. Paired excellently with rose pinot, however. Squash, dandelion, , chestnut honey. Nice. Very plum and round, visually and taste, w dandelion crisp and slightly bitter cutting through. Paired with a clean but sort of middle of the road Greek white. Onion dish: pickled and roasted, dusted w venison liver grating and Demi glacé. Essentially French onion soup on a plate. At first annoying--where's the venison?? But with a taste, that's resolved--truly delightful. Just think it could do w a rebrand so onion is emphasized as the star, which it is. Grilled ribeye quite outstanding. Evidently not sous vide but perfect temperature and excellent 360 degree sear. Pair w pickled green (very salty!) nectarines interesting and successful. Likewise the peanut foam. Sort of a very high level peanuts and hamburger! The main was the star of the whole meal, and well paired w a very smoky Cotes du Rhone. Dessert was an excellent blueberry currant and lemon curd tart w graham cracker crust. Simple, well executed, not overly sweet. Paired w sherry served chilled, v sweet, v cinnamon/sugar--a nice complement the less sweet dessert. Nice aperitif of gingerbread, brownie crusts, and gingerbread bunnies--quite spicy! Bread--housemade--and butter were excellent. Overall, wine pairings far more successful than average. The scallop dish was the only one that fell short. Could do with a touch less informality in decor. But overall, excellent. The five course was just enough to be happily full rather than stuffed to death. Would enjoy returning. read more

What a great dinner! Came here on Saturday to celebrate an anniversary. My boyfriend and I both ordered the five-course tasting menu with the wine pairings. Everything was perfect. The portions were a good size (not tiny, not overwhelming) and simply delicious. The wine went perfectly with everything as well. My favorite courses were the gazpacho (mmmm) and the sea bass. I think my favorite part of this restaurant was the melding of a fine dining experience with a non-stuffy atmosphere. Some of the nicer restaurants in Boston (L'Espalier, I'm looking at you) can feel very overbearing at times with how fancy they are. Asta served up an incredible meal but in a more casual atmosphere. Nothing felt forced about Asta. Just good, solid food in a classy (but not upscale) environment. I will definitely be coming back in the future and will recommend this restaurant to friends. read more

Just finished eating dinner at Asta and all I can say is HUH? Service and ambience were 8/10, but the food was one of the most underwhelming we've ever had. My boyfriend and I came in an hour earlier than our reservation and were seated because the restaurant was quite empty. The waitress poured us some complimentary sparkling because it is the holidays after all and we were excited to start the meal. We both had the 8 course tasting menu and it took roughly 2.5 hours from start to finish. The time between courses were long and the portion size was tiny (yes, tiny even for someone who can barely finish an entree size pasta at another restaurant). The amuse bouche was salty, the turnip dish though garnished with truffle did not smell nor taste anything like truffle, and the venison was covered in burnt ash that was way too overwhelming and bitter. The cheese dish was great and I wish there was more since it was ONE ravioli. Apart from that, I can barely remember any other dishes because they all tasted the same. The menu was mostly vegetable dishes, actually, 6/8 were vegetarian. I don't want to give such a bad review, but for $110 a head without drinks or tip, it is insanely overpriced. I have had 8 course dinner before for much less and the quality of food that I experience today at Asta is inferior to say the least. The vision was there but the food was not. I hope they will change up the menu, or hopefully do something different to reflect their price point and vision, it's safe to say I won't be back any time soon. read more

I checked out the joint...was disappointed...SORRY CHEF YOU JUST DON'T GET IT. No choice...high priced...doesn't make any sense...it's a neighborhood!. I am sure the crew can cook but it is not the theatre district. Everything is just wrong. On the bright side its not too late to change. Admit you got it wrong and start cooking good food at a good price and the place will rock. Failure teaches us our best lessons. Learn a lesson and move on. What's the big deal change the menu add some choice... knock the price down 20-25% and it very well good be a great go to eatery. Not gonna happen presently. I have read the reveiws about ASTA ..."Hello is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anybody home?" read more

The place is cashing out on its past glory. A customer pays a non-sense price for non-sense food with mediocre service, experience not worth neither time nor money. read more

A year later, I'd write the same review. My wife and I went back last night for her birthday and had another amazing meal. Best restaurant in boston we've been to. read more

We really enjoyed Asta. Like most tasting menus, there were hits and misses. The misses, though, were sort of "near misses" and the hits were transcendent dining. The whole vibe of the place is really different (think Scandanavian sparse) and the wine pairings were great. I love that the chef works the stove right up front and even serves people. We'll be back! read more

Sorry, but just not fully resolved. The concept is interesting, ie try really innovative dishes with unusual ingredients. But western cuisine is based upon principals, and this was too far off the fairway. The price for two was $300 for an experimental dinner. That isn't fair. PS. For a place we expected to have a nice wine list, we struggled to find anything reasonable. We had a Maranges from Burgundy, for about $60. It was ok, but mainly it was all we could find. The wine by the glass is a joke. Left over bottles are taken from the refrigerator and brought to your table to try until you finally find one that hasn't been open for days. read more

Perfect food, service, and atmosphere plus tasty extras like a little amuse bouche, glass of champagne, and macaron to top the night off! Happy to leave the menu in the hands of the chefs here, and to watch all the magic happen in the open kitchen. read more

Asta is a gem: it's a small, unpretentious restaurant run by extremely friendly people who are clearly having fun, and make truly excellent food. We visited after a tour of NYC's finest, and found Asta a breath of fresh air. We were visiting so went for the long 8-course menu, but if local would come back frequently to sample the changing seasonal items. The seared foie gras as mind-blowingly good - significantly better than similar dishes we had at Atera and Eleven Madison Park two days earlier. No, really - it was that good. So please, please, PLEASE eat here, Bostonians - make this restaurant thrive so I can eat here every time I visit Boston. read more

I really wanted to love this place. Unfortunately, the food and the service fell short. We chose the 5 course dinner with wine pairings. Our wines always came about.l two minutes after our course was served. So we were almost always done with the course by the time the wine came. Moreover, the server told us nothing about the wines except the name. Similarly, we were told little about the food. This really took away from the overall experience. Here is the other thing, the food looked excellent, but really did not taste special at all. Very under seasoned and not very creative. In my opinion this place is very over priced for what you actually get. read more

Good food. Good wine. Everything is a little too buttery and cooked for my taste. I wish the chef would use more herbs and fresh vegetables/fruits. Over all it was a good experience. I can recommend this restaurant to anybody with a group that likes to sit for a while and enjoy life. I would go here again. read more

My wife and I recently celebrated our 10th anniversary and wanted to do something special. We love fine dining and we love wine pairings. We thought a tasting menu with a wine pairing would be best, so I started looking...... reviews were good so we chose Asta... big mistake! The service was very professional and friendly, and the sommelier was well educated in the wines she was serving. It was a shame that the music was too loud to hear most of what she was saying. We love trying new things so we opted for the 8 course tasting with wine paring... by the 4th or 5th course we were both laughing at the folly of coming here. There was nothing bad about anything, but to best understand you have to know the story of The Emperor's New Clothes. It was supposed to be amazing so many treat it like it was amazing but it was not. It's a shame because it really has everything needed to be very special, but the food was mediocre at best. Our only other issue was when I mentioned that I did not appreciate being served a small glass of beer (WINE PAIRING) with one of the courses, and suggesting instead that a thick smokey red would have been better with the beef, the sommelier was visibly insulted. It would have been just as easy for her to agree with me and keep her irritation to herself. Let me end by saying that I never write reviews (good or bad), but this was a $400.00 dinner for two. read more

Food: Hit or miss. Some dishes were right on while others completely missed the mark. We spent $330 for two people for the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairing, which is to say that this was extremely low value. Wine: The pairings were OK and some of the wines were interesting, however, the sommelier was very unpleasant. She had a terrible table side manner, frequently talking over us and not responding to our tasting notes in a positive manner. read more

This was a killer because we had heard SO much about this place. 5 star prices, for 2.5 star food...THOUGH .they did some things incredibly well. The squash soup AMAZING, the Fois Gras a MUST HAVE....but stop there. The music is WAY and I mean WAY too loud. The interior is sparse but fine but acoustically tough. The tables are bare and you set them yourself...okay...but no placemats, and at 175 bucks a head ...YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. Also, skimpy on bread that one really needs to enjoy the ends of certain courses. And if you ask for more..BEWARE.....we felt like Oliver in the Play, Please sir, MO SIR! We all wanted to love this place and made a great effort to get there and we just don't get it. The sommelier was a shining STAR there..knows her stuff, has a to the point and wonderful wine list. The wait staff, meh. Advice to owners-Greet patrons more formally, not just say sit here....Turn down music, invest in some place mats...tell staff to bring bread earlier into meal and offer it more throughout, pace it better and cook the meat the same for all plates...some got well done lamb, some got too rare lamb....unfortunate. The desserts were good..very different and the little treat tray at end with check a nice add on. There is hope here, but you've got work to do get us back there. Sorry, wanted to love you more than I did. read more

I just love Asta! I'm originally from London and this just reminds me of some of the best restaurants there. The dishes are delicious and beautifully crafted. Wonderful, wonderful service too! I'd recommend the table at the bar, as you can watch the kitchen. Great for a special occasion or when you want a top notch dinner. read more

I'm sorry everyone & to Asta but I wasn't impressed. I'm a big foodie & have eaten several tasting menus & even have my own food page on Instagram (newenglandfoodventure) but this one in particular was a waste of money. We just left a wedding & was almost full so we went with the 5 course selection that night & it just didn't measure up & I found myself constantly looking around for some salt & pepper. We were going to go with the 8 course for $110 but the $80 per person plus $45 for the wine pairing seemed good enough. My total of $316 for my fiancé & I was a waste. I was extremely upset with the quality of the food but I never walk out of a restaurant & love to try new & out of the ordinary cuisine. I will admit, the food was different but the floors just didn't do it, I needed a lot more to satisfy palette. The wine pairing was good, can't complain there but damn I wish the food could've been a lot better for $300. read more

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Took a nasty spill on my bike today right across the street from this restaurant. The owner, Alex, took a break from his daily prep to come out and make sure I was okay. He carried my bike across the street, let me get cleaned up, gave me water and a place to rest, so I could collect myself enough to make some phone calls. I know where my lady and I will be coming for our next nice dinner! Thank you, Alex! You were a Good Samaritan today and I'm grateful. read more

Amazing food. Everything here is top notch. Fine food for a casually sleek and relaxed atmosphere. They all seemed to help each other which I really liked. A Boston hidden gem and must read more

Ok a 5 course tasting menu with tiny portions plus a wine flight with 1/4 filled glasses was $285/2 people without tip. I wouldn't mind as much if the food was divine, but it was just better than average. Food at Deauvuxe next door is roughly as expensive but significantly tastes better. Advice to management, no need to appear to be as hipster friendly instead focus on really delicious food for that price. read more