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Fine experience here. Took my wife, 15 y.o. And 19 y.o. Here on a Sunday night for dinner. Cozy downstairs French place in Boston downtown. Our servers were attentive and patient. Food was carefully prepared and delicious. We had escargot and fois gras to start while our entrees were steak frites, sea bass, flounder and duck. I really liked my flounder...pan fried, and came with nicely done fingerling potatoes and spinach. A great creme brulee and chocolate mousse in the end.
I came for the French onion soup and ended up also getting the ribeye steak. First of all, this place is really small and they are packed for dinner service. Prices are reasonable considering the neighborhood and clientele. Food however was disappointing. The French onion soup was mediocre except for the cheese. Not sure exactly what type of cheese it was but it sure was broiled to protection.... melty, full of flavor and caramelized to a chripst without burning. The 10oz Ribeye for $38 was too good of a deal not to try. I ordered it rare but it came out slightly under cooked. The center was still cold, no rendered fat and no crust. Flavor was also lacking in all aspects. The meat wasn't beefy, no char taste on the crust and the herb butter didn't taste like herbs nor butter. It was worth a try but sadly I probably won't come back.
We had an enjoyable experience here last night during Dine Out Boston. The venue itself is tucked on the lower level of a building on Newbury Street and is quite intimate, without feeling crowded. We had a table toward the back of the room, which felt quite private. The artwork is largely natutical themed, with traditional French elements mixed in. Service was fantastic. Our server was very attentive without being overbearing--the perfect balance. They have a nice wine menu subdivided by region, and I had a glass of 2015 Merlot which paired quite nicely with my entree. My partner and I both had the corn soup with microgreens, which was nice and refreshing. I don't often have corn-based soup, but this worked well. My beef bourguignon, which is a dish that I use to stack French restaurants against each other, was good albeit the smaller piece was pretty fatty, and the larger one was just a touch dry. My partner's duck was delicious, especially the jus, and I would definitely order that on my next visit. We shared the vanilla millefeuille (quite a large portion and fairly decadent--the cream was really nice) and opera cake (a bit on the sweeter side, with a few strawberry slices as an accompaniment). These were nice desserts to complete the meal. One thing I will say is they will not let your bread basket go empty! As soon as our basket was nearly full, our server would appear with another basket and some butter--I had to stop after the second time (ha) so that I didn't overfill myself. I would be happy to return to La Voile again!
Excellent French spot for a cute little place! The vibe is chill and friendly. Service is great!
Five stars for La Voile. My one and I went here on a whim while strolling down Newbury Street. My goal was to find a nice place to eat that has good food and some class too. I waited for my one to arrive and had made a rez in person after peeping it out first by popping my bean in and casing the place a bit. It had a cool vibe and looked upscale enough for me. I went to the bar area which is xtremely teenie and grabbed a seat. They had a small cocktail selection of "signature" cocktails. I had three Margarita-type cocktails. They were delish but VERY teenie and pricey. This is Newbury Street... My one showed up and we were seated. The space is attractive and groovy and somewhat casual and packed in tight. Not elegant but nice and well decorated and fun. The Escargot was wicked pissah and it was a steal at like 14 bucks or so. Even apps at joints like Applebee's and the like are more bucks than this and they are certainly not on par with Escargot. (The snail thing takes a back seat to the snail butter. Escargot is really just a catalyst for the bread dipping in the snail butter. For all peeps and nonFrenchies out there the snails are akin to mushrooms with a bit of rubbery chew.) Our food was very good, not epic, but very good. The Floating Islands dessert was however the coup de gras being out of this world and left us tickled pink and on Cloud 9. To restate: It is crowded and almost "airplane like" in its cramped-ness but the clientele is uppity, polite and respectable enough to make this "OK." Big recommend for this joint. It is fun to make believe you are wicked tony by treating yourself to this upscale vibe of Newbury Street. "Yes, I say, Smedley..."
Fantastic meal out on the patio. Many other guests were speaking French along with the wait staff- felt like an afternoon in Paris. Enjoyed champagne, onion gratinee soup, fantastic bread, Croque Monsier and chocolate mousse. I appreciate that the soup wasn't Americanized into a salty broth- it was fantastic. The meal was fine well- not rushed. Efficient and friendly servers.
How nice to find a French restaurant on Newbury St open for lunch. Extra excited to see the 3 course lunch menu. The service was legendary. I wanted to dine outside because it was a beautiful summer day and I could enjoy the flowers and greenery but after my first course the sun was too hot. "Can I switch to indoors?" "Of course madam" Ah, air conditioning, sparkling Rose, quietude and du pain. For my second course I chose P.E.l. mussels in Marinière sauce. The bowl was so full of mussels that I used one of the two extra bowl to pour in some of the flavorful sauce so I could dip each mussel. The portions of the first two courses were more than I could eat. My server asked how long until I could refrigerate the mussels, I said 60 minutes and he generously put the remainder in a takeout container and gave me another container of ice for the ride home. That is the legendary service.
A very nice valentine dinner at La Voile. From the moment you walk in and are greeted, to the care taken in designing the restaurant for Valentines to the instant photo shoot of each couple to keep, to the usual yummy food and pretty valentine menu and a rose and macaron and candle to go. Complimentary cocktail at the end & they recognized that I can only drink mocktails. That's service !
Christmas Eve at La Voile was amazing. From the service, to the food, to the ambience it was top notch. The Onion Soup was perfection with great flavor and the perfect amount of cheese. For the main course it was the Le Filet de Boeuf - Beef Tenderloin with a peppercorn sauce. The beef was not only flavorful but melted in your mouth. With dinner and a glass of wine, we passed on desert as we were full. And our waiter was amazing. Friendly, funny, and the perfect service
The food here was absolutely incredible. i got the risotto, french onion soup and entrecote. They were all very tasty and well made. the atmosphere is very french / and europe so it felt good to be in that vibe. great friendly service too. Only complaint i would havess it was too hot in there, we were sweating!
We went to La Voile for Valentine's Day and were so pleased! The ambiance was great, with rose petals lining the steps, pink hearts on the mirrors, and fairy light balloons in the dining room. They even took a photo of us when we sat and gave us the Polaroid as a keepsake! The food was fantastic, the standouts being the fennel and tarragon velouté - which was creamy and savory, the pan seared scallops - one of the best dishes I have ever had, so unique and delicious, and the opera cake for dessert. My boyfriend also got the foie gras and rack of lamb, although he wasn't the biggest fan of either. It should be noted that this was their Valentine's Day menu, so these items may not be typically available, but I hope that some of the dishes do make it onto the regular menu, because I would love to relive them again!
5 years ago
Had a lovely lunch with my girls at this quaint spot. We sat outside. Staff was nice and polite. Drinks were good as well. Food was all very good would recommend it for a nice lunch or dinner read more
When my friends suggested French food I was a bit skeptical because I wasn't that sold when I went to France and had the food there. But let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything we had in the table was delicious. My friends also enjoyed everything. The staff was friendly and responsive. It has a very intimate feel to it and that paired well with the food. Would definitely go back. And would recommend it. Check out all the pics for inspo. read more
3 years ago
Place is unbelievable. Service is outstanding!!! Homard is best server !! Did good job !! Fish is outstanding!!! Complements to the kitchen. read more
Just good onion soup watery and skimpy on the cheese ribeye meh fries good pate not bad service from a busboy (female) vindictive it seemed. French? Not for me I guess but this place and others like it in Boston Petit Robert for example would probably be scoffed at or at least laughed at by a French citizen. The deserts were good but the creme brulee was tiny. Good nice setting nice waiter with a thick french accent which was cool everyone wearing lacoste polos which was funny room temp water which was distressing on this horridly hot day. Mashed potatoes past pureed to watery everything needed a little salt. Gi back nah I'm good Le Voille au revoir. read more
We were blown away by everything in this restaurant. Our waitress was bubbling with enthusiasm, you could tell she just love to be there as did everybody in this restaurant everybody loved what they were doing and it was a pleasure for them to not only be there but to do what they were doing and to be able to serve people very best French food. The decor was delightfully cozy with a nautical theme. The only complaint I would have is that where I sat was right behind the major Z's station and when the air conditioning came on (or was it the wine cellar doors opened?) It blew cold air behind my back. We had the escargot and the smoked salmon both were absolutely divine, the bread baskets were filled before we even knew they were empty same with our water glasses. The sommelier came by to check on us and before he even left the table he noticed there was a ever so slight imbalance in the table reach down and fix the table himself. This left such a huge impression on us! No one in the restaurant was too big or too small for any task and they did it with such pleasure! It added all the more to our experience and our pleasure with it! I ordered the Dover sole which was absolutely fantastic. The man who brought it over showed it to me and said "may I debone it for you?" Of course I agreed and he did it so artfully and so skillfully he took out the spine of the fish in one piece! Sadly we did not get many pictures because we were so enjoying the experience The phones didn't come out. The Sommelier remarked on the court when we got the special bottle that they were wondering how it would hold up and it held up beautifully and the wine was absolutely lovely. At the end we were too stuffed for dessert and they brought us out Cognac as a dessert / pallet cleanser and we have to say we were extremely impressed! The food was absolute top level. The service was beyond exceptional, we had things refilled before we even knew they were getting close to empty. Everyone was courteous and obviously happy to be there. The bathrooms were even cute and well-appointed. Do yourself a favor and book a dinner here and you will not regret it! read more
5 years ago
I love French food and have been searching for the perfect French restaurant for special occasions. Came here for Valentine's Day and LOVED IT! Ordered the pan seared foie gras, roasted duck breast, and creme brûlée. The foie gras came with two huge pieces -- more than I have ever seen served at any restaurant (approximately double what you would expect so you can definitely share with someone). It's seared to perfection and comes with fresh marmalade, sufficient bread (many fancy French places don't give a lot of bread but I am a huge lover of bread - I need it with every bite of my foie gras - so I was very happy with it). I am still dreaming of it to this day. If you are a foie gras lover like myself, you MUST ORDER. The roasted duck breast was also very good. The portion is so generous and I loved the sweet sauce. I didn't love the French lentils but I also tend to be very picky with vegetables. Creme brûlée was also good but pretty standard for a good creme brûlée. We were both stuffed at this point but thought it would be nice to order a dessert to finish off a Valentine's Day meal - we ended up eating all of it :) The only downside about the food is that the bread served initially was not warm. It's a small issue but this always affects my initial impression of a place. Service was also impeccable. Food came out in a timely manner and staff were attentive. We also arrived 15 minutes late (7:15pm instead of 7pm) and called ahead to make sure this was okay because Valentine's Day can be a busy time and we didn't want our table to given away. They were very honest and said it was fine as long as we left before the next reservation which was at 9pm. We definitely tried to make it out before 9pm to be respectful but ended up staying a bit longer and they didn't rush us at all. Overall very pleased :) read more
Very authentic for what it is. Came here twice, in 2018 and 2022, and enjoyed the top-notch/authentic French cuisine on both occasions. A top dish worth highlighting was the seared La Sole Meuniere that blended extremely well with capers. I would rate the fish a must-have for everyone who enjoys fresh seafood that is seasoned extremely well. The escargot cooked in garlic and parsley butter was a top choice for a hot starter, would also recommend it. The ambiance and service were both excellent, did not decline a tad over the last 5 years, and would definitely be a must-try for anyone touring Boston. food 5/5 service 4.5/5 price 4/5 ambiance 4.5/5 read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
La Voile is a very cute restaurant located in the heart of Back Bay on Newbury. The restaurant would be so cute in the spring with outdoor seating once it warms up. We sat in the bar area where it was cozy and inviting. We started with Le Saumon Fume which was smoked salmon with quail eggs and caviar. The smoked salmon was not amazing but it was a big portion size for a starter. For my main, I ordered La Magret which was roasted duck breast. Very unique flavor and I was surprised by how good the lentils were. Lastly, we had the La Mousse au Chocolat and Le Millefeuilles which was a puff pastry with vanilla cream, caramel and fruit. Both were absolutely wonderful! They tend to get pretty busy so definitely try to make a reservation in advance. It's a great spot in a great location! read more
3 years ago
We had a really lovely date night here while in Boston. Service was friendly and attentive and they even filet your fish at the table! I've never had sole before but it was delicious. My onion soup was also some of the best I've had! We did a to go chocolate mousse which was amazing even after we got back to the hotel. Highly recommend if you are looking for an amazing and authentic French experience. read more
5 years ago
La Betterave is a great starter if you like beets & goat cheese. Then you can't go wrong with Le Foie Gras as another appetizer. For a main dish my favorite was La Sole - a delicious, lemony & light option. Classic cozy ambiance & great service read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
Got the $55 tasting menu: beet salad, duck breast, millefeuille Hard to go wrong with beet salad, duck breast flavors tasted great (don't ask for it medium well like I did though, go for the medium), millefeuille dessert was so pretty and tasted fine (haven't had before so not sure if it should be more crispy? But other than that was great) For $55 it's a lot of food and a pretty good deal! The service was also amazing -- our bread was refilled twice and we never ran out of water! The location on Newbury is very cute, the basement smells a little fishy like Boston basement restaurants often do but you stop noticing it very quickly read more
Amazing French classic ambiance with great service ! The escargot is incredible. I was slightly disappointed with the mussels because the broth was a little too light but if you like a very lean, light broth you will love it (I like my broth very garlicky and rich!) read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
First off, the atmosphere was immaculate. This is largely due to the interior design of the place. It made me feel I was in a quintessential French restaurant. But let's get down to the food. We came here mostly for dessert and drinks. We each got one appetizer: The french onion soup and risotto. Both were very good, the risotto was cooked well. But nothing special. The desserts were definitely the star of the show. Each dessert was delicious, especially the creme brulee. But again, nothing truly outstanding to the point it differentiates itself from all the other creme brulees or chocolate mousses I've had. So the food is solid, but a pricey and not sure if it's 100% worth it. It's good, don't get me wrong. But if I wanted to splurge on a dinner I don't know if I'd come back and I'd probably want to try somewhere else. Now, the service. Honestly this largely contributed to why this place has 4 (more like 3.5) instead of 5 stars. It could be better. Our waiter was attentive but you know when its great when the waiter also has good energy or is on the same wavelength as you? I didn't really feel that. To us it was quite important because it adds to the overall experience of the place. But it's def a place people should check out at least once. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
I ordered the prefixed lunch menu. I tried the soup, duck confit and Napoleon cake. Everything was well portioned and the environment was very comfortable. I enjoyed the food. It's not heavily flavored and tastes healthy. It is a classy dine in and would revisit another time. The customer service was great, too. read more
You can quickly miss this walking down Newbury Street, it's a small but adorable French restaurant with some outdoor seating (street level) and indoor dining (street level, slightly underground level). It's very aesthetic with good French music. I appreciate their authentic dishes. I last came during a Boston Restaurant Week (now known as Dine Out Boston) with a friend, but it'd be very good for a date night. Highly recommend for Dine Out Boston first because of their options and price, and then again on another night. read more
Second time here and their food still disappoints me. The seared foie gras had oil steeping out and wasn't crispy on the outside. The middle of the foie gras was even cold! For entree we could the duck breast and mussels. Mussels were good but the duck breast was just dry and rubbery. The flavor of the duck was right but the quality just wasn't there. read more
3 years ago
Incredible service. The chicken, scallops, beef filet, along with the escargot, cheese plate, bread and all the desserts (raspberry sorbet in champagne! ) the dinner was an experience that I will repeat again read more
3 years ago
We went to Le Voile to celebrate our anniversary on a Saturday night. The restaurant was quite busy but the ambiance was just perfect for a date night. We ordered leek and potato soup and Les Moules (mussels in curry sauce) for our apps. For the main course we had braised lamb shoulder and roasted duck breast. The lamb was cooked to tenderness and the gratin that came with it was absolutely delicious. I was not a fan of the roasted duck, I wish the skin was made crispier than it was. Our server was attentive and the service was excellent. read more
5 years ago
My wife wrote a great review of this restaurant and over looked mentioning a superb bottle of wine recommended by our waiter read more
6 years ago
This place has always come highly recommended but I'm not often in the city these days so it took me a while to make it over. It is an adorable little French restaurant on Newbury St. The location is great, the interior is cozy, and the food is delicious. My server Alex was very sweet and helped me pick out some of the best items on the menu that would work with my allergy! THATS RIGHT! Gluten free French food, that almost never happens! I had some rose, a whole sole with truffle mashed and creme brulee. Despite the amount of food I did not feel like it was too heavy for lunch. The flavors and quality were great! The fish was well cooked and flavorful. The creme brulee was also well done, not a sign of burnt sugar! I only took off a single star because I was a tiny bit ill after, which seemed like it could have been a small amount of cross contamination. This is not going to deter me from returning however because it felt minimal and the food and experience was absolutely worth it. I also definitely recommend sitting on the patio if you can! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
Good|Bad news. The day was wonderful to sit outside in the patio. Space - a spacious ambience to sit and relax. If your smart and have a keen Sense of hearing, you can pick up the latest stock tips, Corp restructuring drama, and how to make your wife happy, ALL at the same time. Great outdoor set up with a Parisian feel. Food- a delight to my tummy. Presentation was quite decorative Service - opportunity for improvement. The server never stopped by to check on me nor to see if my selections were made to my satisfaction. For a good chuck of $, a little kindness can be shown and Goes a long way. Sightseeing - it's a runway of Fashionistas ranging from the latest trends to the dog-wear accessorizing and bedazzled Sweaters. While this was not a planned adventure it was definitely worth sun the ambience and the space. Are you welcomed change from Pandemic normality. read more
Delicious lunch here today! We did the dine out boston deal and it was sooo filling and so worth the money. We each had a delicious glass of wine. The apps were good but if you're coming here for dine out boston I would get the pate along with the moules. The mussels were so good and extremely filling. Both desserts were great to end. read more
The food and waitstaff were both great! We had the escargot and mussels in white wine sauce to start. The escargot had chopped fresh spinach in it, which was interesting but went well with the garlic butter sauce over it. The mussels were very fresh and the sauce was outstanding. We ended up getting two more baskets of bread just to soak up the sauce! We both had the steak, which had a nice crust on it but was just a little under-seasoned and came out medium, rather than medium rare like we asked for. Definitely save room for dessert if you come! Both the creme brûlée and the meringue in creme anglaise were amazing!! The meringue was soooo light and had little bits of almonds and caramel on top and the creme anglaise wasn't too sweet but perfectly complimented the meringue. The staff were super attentive the whole time, constantly pouring water and coming by to check on us. The decor is very cute and cozy, definitely old-school French restaurant vibes. My only complaint is that our table was very close to the other two on either side of us. If you want a more intimate night, I'd recommend asking for a corner / end table. All in all, a very nice experience, especially for the price point as restaurants on Newbury Street go! read more
6 years ago
Overall I found this to be an average French restaurant. It's overpriced for the quality of food but service is good. The smoked salmon salad was delicious. The duck was overly salted with some burnt parts. The accompanying salad was very plain and the potatoes were the best part about le confit. The creme brulee was inconsistent in texture and slightly undercooked. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
I came here with some friends for Dine Out Boston (aka Boston Restaurant Week) for lunch and am so glad I did. I had to make a last minute change to my reservation and the person I spoke to was very nice and accommodating. I was concerned about space since I read some reviews saying it was cramped, but I thought there was plenty of space inside where we were seated. The only issue was that we were right in front of the AC and my friend was cold for most of the meal since air was blowing right on her. For my appetizer, I got the salad which included olives, feta cheese, tomatoes, and raw salmon. It was delicious. My friend got La terrine and the liver mousse was so good. It was a pretty big portion, too - I was already getting sort of full just after the appetizer! My main course was the trout with rice, which was good. The filet was pretty big, which is great, but it didn't really come with any vegetables so it was just fish and rice (and lemon and one single cooked cherry tomato on top). My friend got the risotto which was also delicious but rather salty. For dessert, I got crème brûlée while my friend got the floating island. Both were good, but I personally preferred the crème brûlée. Overall, I was really happy with the meal. Everything tasted great, and I felt it was totally worth it for the price ($32). read more
More info about La Voile
261 Newbury St
Boston, MA 02116
Back Bay
Directions
(617) 587-4200
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http://www.lavoilerestaurants.com
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Does La Voile have a dress code?
No, but most people dress a bit nicer since the restaurant is higher end.
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