I had such a great experience coming here for the first time! We went here an a date night and it was definitely a great atmosphere for that. The staff was extremely friendly and explained to us about the different wines we were tasting. Get ready for a long background story of each wine! (Wasn't super long but it was very interesting to listen to.) They also poured out a good amount of wine for us, definitely no complaints there! We chose the 4 course tasting menu and it was very filling. Prosciutto & fig salad, sauternes vin, arugula, pickled kale, vincotto- This was delicious and I have no complaints about it at all. A great starter and definitely very refreshing. Red beet & mustard soup, crispy pancetta- This was a bit too salty for me. It wasn't too bad but we would have enjoyed it more if it was less salty. Marinated hanger steak, with basil pesto, israeli couscous, english peas, cipollini onions, mint puree- This was delicious! I wish they had asked ahead of time as to how we'd like our steaks cooked. Luckily, I'm not super picky but my steak was quite rare. It was delicious though! Limoncello creme brulee, strawberry jam, candied pecans- This was definitely my favorite! I love creme brulee and this met my expectations. We weren't great fans of the candied pecans but the lemon flavor in the creme brulee was really delicious and subtle. The only complaint I have is that the place is a little small so it was a bit squishy but still manageable. It was loud in there but they placed the chairs of each table so that couples were sitting next to each other as oppose to across from the each, which was definitely a good idea so we weren't screaming across the table. This place was definitely a great find. Don't forget to make reservations! read more

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I went in with low expectations and left unsurprised and unimpressed. The meal was average at best, a good crispy salmon skin, typically slightly overcooked meat, and a pathetic accompaniment of ratatouille that I can't possibly recommend. Nice service though. read more

They do a deal on Thursdays with a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine for $15. It changes every week but whatever it was last week was so good!! Very cute place with good vibes and nice staff. The kitchen is open on one side so you can get the full wafts of the food as its being cooked. First we had ordered a board that had so many great things that you could combine together or just eat alone. Then we both got the pasta and a glass of wine that they already have pre chosen; you just say red or white. Then we ordered the baklava and lemon tart. Both were to die for and so flavorful!!!! Loved them and would definitely have them again. Great experience and will definitely be back. read more

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Leaving pretty undecided. The food was okay a bit overpriced and the ambiance didn't really match the cost of the menu. The cocktail list was very limited. Don't think I'll be back but overall a fine experience. read more

Had a wonderful experience at Ten Tables. Their cheese board was laid out beautifully. A mild, soft cow cheese with a sharp, hard goat cheese. A few jams, bits of fruit, olives, and honey complimented each of the cheeses. I opted for the hanger steak as my main course. It was, without a doubt, one of the best pieces of meat I've ever eaten. This steak was so tender, it didn't know which state of matter it wanted to be: a liquid or a solid. Wonderfully salty and juicy, it's triggering some subconscious memory in my mind and making my mouth water. The wait staff was professional and attentive. The dining area itself is rather small. It seemed like they did have more than "ten tables", but it probably wasn't much more than that. If you want to eat here, I would *highly* recommend getting a reservation. There were people already lined up at the door as they opened for dinner. While this is marked as a triple-dollar-sign restaurant, I'd consider it on the cheaper side of that category. An entree will only run you about $25, and you can get a tasting menu for only $50. read more

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The food and drink were bc better than advertised. We had a terrific meal. The waitress was quick and cheerful.

Pretty yummy! Got the broccoli quinoa cakes and they were great. My friends got the steak frites and the salmon and both seemed happy with their choices. Great service too! read more

I am editing my review, as we have been coming here for years and have had nothing but great reviews and experiences. They do $1 oyster specials on Sundays at the bar and $15 pasta+wine Thursdays. The last three experiences we have had here have been okay to sub par. Really disappointing, I think we are done coming here, when we go out to a nice restaurant and pay a lot of money we want quality, after having two bad experiences here in a row, I think we are done coming here, so sad, we were both bummed. We used to have to make a reservation ahead of time and if we walked in we would have to wait to get a space at the bar, but now every time we have come in we could literally walk in no wait. I will say the staff and service is very friendly, we do always love sitting at the bar. Drinks: The drinks we have had the last couple of times have been off consistently, not that great. We have tried an array and they have all been meh. Appetizers: The focaccia bread we had the last two times was dry/stale consistently. The pork dumplings were okay, but nothing special, very bland and plain, I didn't feel like they were worth the money. The crab dip was way too dry/overcooked and stiff along with being fishy. Dinner: The burger we had was very sloppy and soggy, not even close to being recognized as a burger, pretty bad. The orecchiette was very dry and bland. read more

Time for a new review! Ten Tables continues to be the place in JP if you want a romantic, gorgeous ambiance, great drinks and friendly staff. Their food hasn't kept pace though. (As some others have noted.) And they basically have nothing for vegans to eat. Not even dishes they can modify. It's 2020 and if you're a good restaurant in Boston and can't have at least one entree that's vegan and delicious, you're just lazy. The old Ten Tables in Cambridge, which is now Forage, on the other hand had makes their own vegan sausage! (and really great meat dishes according to friends) Since I live around the corner I'll probably keep coming here for a drink, but no more attempts to actually have dinner. I hope they evolve on the food front eventually. read more

Meh, honestly the food was pretty good but so overpriced. The restaurant seemed incredibly short-staffed. There seemed to be one server doing everything, from hostessing to serving to bussing tables. read more

Multiple times there. Always great. Small, that's the beauty! Staff so attentive, food soooo good. Wonderful evening.

The pasta and burger days deals are amazing! Who does not like good food and a great deal!

We went to Ten Tables recently for an anniversary. Hadn't been there for a couple of years. We used to go there regularly because it had a special atmosphere, excellent food, and a wine sommelier. It was disappointing. Service was haphazard, with various waitstaff stopping at our table every five minutes asking the same questions, the wines offered were minimal with staff not familiar with the offerings -- told us to go ask the bartender in the next room -- and the food was the most disappointed, with tiny portions, not well prepare3d. At the end, I said to my table mate, "I feel like I just finished eating in a burger joint." Won't be back. read more

Had the chef menu, it was ok, nothing special but ok.iI didn't like the Orio cake it was tasteless, very milky and super sweet. Two stars for two simple reasons: the chef did not use gloves and was constantly touching his sweaty forehead. He was also talking loud with the other employees who were not very skilled nor had a clue of their menu. We asked our server to explain the plates and she clearly had no idea whatsoever. Very disappointed! read more

Awesome experience. Loved the food it's made with love and you taste it. Customers love this place and the staff is amazing

My wife and I had dinner there tonight. I had the finest salmon dish I've ever eaten. It was Salmon over cauliflower rice (which I normally hate), with fresh peas in a lobster cream. The Salmon had a fantastic char on it, deep brown giving the salmon a little crunch without drying the fish out. The cauliflower rice, peas and lobster cream just WORKED. My wife had the risotto, which was served properly hot and was very moist without turning the rice into mush. It was perfect seasoned and served with shaved cheese. Staff (both kitchen and servers) were very friendly and helpful. When we left we turned to each other and asked why we don't go there more often. By the way, if you flatter the Chef Mendez enough he slides you a gratis desert... read more

I'm sad to be doing this, but if you have a bad experience it needs to be shared. The menu I was given had food on it. The plate that I was served with was chipped. When I asked for limoncello and was told they were out and would be given a replacement cocktail I was charged the greater price (and would not have gotten the drink had I known that). We had two servers and never knew if things were entered because I ordered a drink and then the second person came 30 seconds later asking about drinks. I voiced confusion and it continued. My tequila cocktail was good but tiny for something that was not Manhattan like (not 99% liquor). The baba ganoush was too thick to be able to dip bread in. The cauliflower was really good and the highlight of my experience. The chocolate cake and raspberry ice cream was good but nothing to write home about. read more

I just ate at 10 tables with my boyfriend, paid $117 for the meal with tip, had 4 courses, and am still hungry. That was the worst thought out menu I have ever tasted. And extremely overpriced. We decided to go with the tasting menu. I will admit we didn't ask what was on the tasting menu but everyone raves about it and it is not described on the menu. What we got first was fish paste, a pickled apricot, chicken liver, and crackers so hard my jaw hurt. It was disgusting! The second course was bluefish which was just decent. I would give a 7/10. We then had the pork which was probably the worst part about the meal. So much meat and not a good flavor or anything special. We then had "desert" which I'm pretty sure was a cucumber ice cream of the strangest consistency, a tomato ???, and another painfully hard cracker. A chocolate bar from cvs would have tasted better. To top it all off, I was sandwiched in between the big fan and the AC the whole meal. It was freezing. All in all, I wish I had spent this much money at Oleana and will not be returning. read more

Ten Tables - The first course of chicken liver, fish paste, etc. Absolutely awful. - New American Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Went to Ten Tables last week for a belated birthday dinner for my friend. I made the reservation ahead of time through open table. So convenient! When I arrived i was greeted and promptly seated. I absolutely loved the restaurant. The ambiance is great it's very homey and comfortable. We ordered the shitso peppers which were okay. I got the tagliatelle as my meal and my friend got the Moroccan chicken. The tagliatelle was a little bit watery but overall pretty good. My friend loved her chicken. Overall, the food was good and the service was friendly I would head back if ever in the JP area. read more

Ten Tables - Tagliatelle - New American Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

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The boy's personal trainer, in reaction to my mentioning that we went to Ten Tables... PT to boy: 'You took him to the one in JP?!' PT to me: 'You made it back alive. That's a good thing.' Me: 'Huh? What's wrong with Ten Tables? I thought it was great!' PT: 'Oh, you know. JP's kind of known for being a pretty rough area. There are shootings there all the time.' Me: ... Me: 'But the food was stellar... and I thought JP was known for all the lesbians.' PT: ... ---- Shootings and women-who-love-women aside, Ten Tables was 120% worth the trip out to Jamaica Plain. It was possibly the most enjoyable meal I've had in a long while, and for an astonishingly affordable price, no less! Since everything on the menu sounded mouthwatering, we discussed with our server regarding how best to sample as great a variety as possible. Between the two of us, we ended up sharing one carnivore chef's tasting, one pescetarian chef's tasting, and cocktails aplenty. Given the tastings are presumed to vary from season to season, I won't get into the food save to say that everything was prepared exceptionally. Similarly, drink-wise, you can't go wrong, either. I was particularly fond of the beverage I started with, The Nasturtium. With Aperol, Genever, St. Germain, and lemon, it was brightly refreshing without being cloyingly sweet. This theme runs true throughout their cocktail program. Whoever's behind the wheel here has some finely honed taste I can appreciate! Ten Tables serves well as a solid choice for catching up with good friends, but truly excels as a date destination if you're really trying to impress your companion. The lively, boisterous environment, endless entertainment (in the form of an open kitchen), and amiable service all add up to a gustatory theatrical experience worth sharing. read more

From the first bite to the last swallow I've only had one thought in mind...I've died and gone to the great dining room in the sky. This wonderful little gem in JP is all about organic, locally sourced produce and traditional cooking techniques that you can taste in every bite. Imagine a perfectly seasoned juicy pork chop, homey succotash and light summery gazacho salad. But then you don't have to imagine, pick up the phone and make a reservation today! I know I'll be back for more. Some important things to remember: 1). Tuesday's are wine tasting nights, this week was Spain. 2). Wednesday's are pick your favorite nights, where you get 3 courses for $29. Bring a friend or two and sample the whole menu! 3). The remaining nights you can pick the Chef's Tasting menu of 4 courses for $40. 4). There are literally 10 tables (ergo Ten Tables) so say hello to your fellow diners. They'll be curiously looking over at your food as you're eating anyways ;) read more

Ten Tables - New American Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

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All of the reviews exact how awesome Ten Tables is so I probably don't need to go on ad nauseum. A few distinct things though: - They only advertise the stout as the beer they have on draft. I asked if they might have anything else that was local aside from the stout. The waiter tells me they have something in the basement called "Pork Slap" which is pale ale in a can from NY, and did I want it. Um, YES I DO. It was delicious. He even brought the can up to show me because it's so hilarious (see picture). - Their accommodation to vegetarian items was amicable and pleasant. They offered to swap that lamb ragu in the cavatelli dish to a meat free alternative. Score! Also, it was delicious. - The interior is marvelous. Quiant, intimate, and personal. The open and visible kitchen kept me staring all night. - If you order dessert, do yourself a favor and get the chocolate terrine with thai basil ice cream. So different you have to try it. (See picture). read more

Ten Tables - Pork Slap beer! From NY - New American Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

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The tasting menu there is such a good deal! There were 3 of us there and many of our courses we had were different dishes from each other. So we ended up trying more variety of dishes because we would share. The cocktails are great as well! read more

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The setting was good being a mellow romantic type place. The food was delivered speedily. The service was polite and good. An appetizer, two entrees and one side for about $100 including tip. Thought over priced though for what we got. Risotto was a bit salty. Salmon was done nicely. Overall though the food lacked the wow factor. Given the price unlikely to go back anytime soon. read more

Ten Tables Parking: You're going to have to try to find a spot up along Center Street allow for some time to circle around the block a few times. You may have to walk a little bit Decor / ambience: Small, low lit, cozy, tables close together. Nice view of the kitchen which is a very tight operation in a small space. It's like the cooking right in the dining room with you. I found this to be really cool. As soon as we sat down the chef sent out a couple of shot glasses of a cauliflower purée soup with a drizzle of smoked Paprika oil on top. I thought it was a nice way to welcome us in. Greeting: Somebody was right there to greet us as we walked in. We were a few minutes early for a reservation but she got us out right away. Very nice feeling walking into this place. You certainly don't feel like a number when you enter here Menu mix: Creative with a nice selection, it's not a huge menu but it offers a lot and a wide range of flavors. Does the water taste of bleach? Probably the best tasting tapwater I've ever had. I swear this was filtered water but no hints of bleach whatsoever. It kills me when I go to will find restaurant and I go to drink the water and it taste like Clorox. Drink pour: I was quite happy with the wine pours. I had a fantastic bourbon drink there as well called a 3.2.1. And it was simply wonderful. This was a well-crafted cocktail. They have a great menu of well thought out concoctions. The drink menu is an adventure all it it's own. Food quality: There is strong culinary talents and passion in this kitchen. There's a big emphasis on local ingredients and I found the food to be particularly fresh tasting. The presentations were wonderful. Service: I think this is a team service sort of environment because we were constantly being attended to by various folks. All of which were extremely friendly, had strong knowledge in the menu and gave us great recommendations when we requested them. Value: You looking at about 200 bucks with tip and that includes two maybe three craft cocktails two glasses of wine to appetizers to entrées and splitting a dessert. I think for the quality of the food the ambience and the service that this was a fair price Bathrooms: I didn't use the bathroom but from what I'm told my wife said it's rather a squeeze to get into but proportionate to the size of this restaurant. Would I return? I would absolutely return in fact I plan on bringing one of my shifts with me to sit at the chefs bar which overlooks the small kitchen operation. I love seeing that action and it just would make my meal that much more enjoyable to see all of the orchestration. Any restaurant that offers a table like this where they can see the kitchen up close is always very attractive to me Comments / tips: They offer a chef and bar tasting menu and it's basically the chef and bartenders whim. The gentleman that were sitting to the right of us opted to do this and it looked like they were having a great time. Each course was paired off with a different beverage wine beer or cocktail. It sounded like a fun culinary ride and I might do that next time. These are the types of craftsman that you can feel comfortable with what they sent to the table. If you're picky fussy eater then you're not going to want to do this. If you're a culinary adventure or then this may be the meal program for you. read more

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One of the best meals I've had in Boston. After two unsuccessful attempts, we finally made reservations (well in advance) for a Tuesday wine dinner. They highlighted one region and served wines to match each course. Despite the fact that everyone in the room would be eating the same menu all night, the kitchen did not make the food until you sat down (except for the desserts, of course). We watched them make a delicious salad for the two of us instead of serving us from a large batch made for the night. Each course was excellent. Ingredients were based on the wines to be served and what was fresh at the market. The pork was delicious. Dessert was divine. It was exciting to see the two men in action in the kitchen, though the small size and open floor plan meant it got really hot in the dining room. The chef made sure to come say hello to each table at least once during the meal. He brought us one course and chatted briefly before returning to his duties. That was a nice touch. Service was excellent; attentive but not overwhelming. They were also understanding when we called to say we were late due to a broken-down T train. We got there in the nick of time, and they still accommodated us. Wine was great; we were especially impressed with the Sauternes served at dessert. We can't wait to go back to try the regular menu. read more

There are two Ten Table locations, and my friend suggested the Jamaica Plains one, so we ended up here. The address is actually 597-599 Centre St., which is the address for two connecting houses. It used to house only ten tables, but after the expansion, the restaurant can now accommodate a few more tables and a bar. We ordered: * Asparagus Soup with Porcini Panna Cotta and Fine Herb Oil * Braised Octopus with Garbanzo Beans and Romesco Sauce * Ten Tables Bourride: Stew of Hake, Littleneck Clams, Swiss Chard, and Toast * Peppercorn-Rubbed Hanger Steak with Horseradish Cream and Grilled Frisee * Plate of Cookies with Milk Jam Everything was delicious! My favorite was the hanger steak, with its nice crispy and salty crust. I am a huge steak snob and the hanger steak here is now one of my favorites. A close second favorite would be the braised octopus -- the flavors of the beans and Romesco sauce melded nicely with the octopus. There is also a prix-fixe menu option, but the chef would choose the items, and well, I am too opinionated to let someone else choose for me! read more

I had a great meal here tonight with a friend. Excellent service that worked together as a team and made great recommendations as well as wine pairings. The hanger steak was very flavorful and came served with pesto. The chicken confit served with Brussel sprouts and was very tender. Great meal all around, hope to stop back in at some point! read more

Ten Tables - New American Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

UPDATE: 08/20/2007 After relocating to Boston and eating at a bunch of other $$$ restaurants around town (i.e. Sandrine's, Atlantic Fish Co, Grotto, etc.), I'm taking away a point from Ten Tables. For the price, you could easily go somewhere else for better food and friendlier service. ******************** Definitely one of the better restaurants we dined at on our trip to Boston. They started us off with a cucumber puree amuse bouche and some bread with olive oil. Good stuff. T ordered the housemade chorizo with gigantic white beans. The beans weren't so gigantic (fyi). But they were TASTY. Their soft texture and light, clean flavor were the perfect complement to the spiced, robust chorizo. We also had the grilled fish with romesco and farro, which was pretty good, and the salad, which was decent, and the steak, which was cooked perfectly at medium rare on the inside, but tough and dry on the outside. Sad. But 4 stars anyway, for the chorizo and the fish. I'd go back for those two dishes alone. read more

Ten Tables - housemade chorizo and (not so) gigantic white beans - New American Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

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I learned about Ten Tables from Yelp and a segment that Rachel Ray did on the place. What a fantastic little gem in JP!! It is so unique, unlike any other "fancy" restaurant I have been too. There is no dress code and the staff is friendly. However I call it "fancy" because I do think that many people visit for a special occasion like birthday, anniversary etc. We went to celebrate with my family. It was me, my husband and two little girls. My eldest daughter is curious about what a chef does, so I thought it would be fun for her to be able to watch the action in the kitchen. Since the space is small and the kitchen is open at the back we were able to see them prepare our own unique food. We did the chef's tasting menu for $40 which included dessert. It was great. We each got different items so we all tasted off each other's plates. The waitstaff made this occassion very special for us and took the time to explain the menu. Since our kids our old enough to appreciate the food, it was fun to see their faces as they tried each exciting dish. We were stuffed by the end of all the dishes. The desserts were just impossibly good. They served me a hot chocolate (european style which tastes just like melted chocolate). The youngest daughter got a lemon tart which was the best i have ever tasted, no joke. My other daughter got an elegant spongecake served warm with a drizzle of choco sauce and crem fresh. Hubby had something different which he gobbled up in less than a minute flat:) Can't wait to go back for another special dinner occasion. Although we had a great experience with our kids, I probably would not recommend this place for very young tots as the space is limited and younger tots may get bored and there is no "kids menu". The aura of the place is very ecclectic and mature and soothing. To give you an idea on time, we had a reservation at 5:30pm (people were already dining when we arrived) and we finished at about 7:30pm. I'll try to post the pic we got with the chefs..... Please visit this place and make a reservation. It's so much fun and every dish is brilliant! read more

Ten Tables - Chefs at Ten Tables - New American Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

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Foodie heaven! I'm perfectly situated at the midpoint between their two locations and am a fan of the new Cambridge spot, but nothing beats the intimacy of the original in JP. My friend and I reserved a seat at the "chef's table," which are really just glorified bar seats, but worth it nevertheless for the views of the small front kitchen in which the Ten Tables chefs work wonders. What really stood out to me about this meal was the *texture* of the food. (Check out my pictures. Apologies for the mediocre iPhone 3G quality.) The spring vegetable salad with haricot vert, sliced radish, peas, and rich-but-not-too-rich with its creme fraiche-shallot dressing simply *felt* great when eating. The orecchiette was just perfect - the cauliflower, cockles, and moreover breadcrumbs (who would have thought something so simple can be the perfect finishing touch to a plate?) gave what would be a good but normal dish elsewhere entirely original, and the homemade orechiette was fantastically fresh. My friend had the sweet onion soup and meyer bavette steak, which looked and apparently tasted delicious. Unfortunately, we had to run before having the chance of digging into their much lauded desserts. My few complaints? Having to wait half an hour for my reservation. Don't get me wrong, I understand this is a small restaurant with a limited number of tables (10, I'm told), so these things happen, but a simple apology if not an appetizer on the house would have been a nice gesture from an establishment that occassionnally, I hate to say, suffers from snootiness. Another minor complaint is that I had intended to pick up a bunch of gift cards while at the restaurant, but the staff only had two on hand. Again, these things happen, but still another business faux pas in my opinion - I'm trying to give you guys more business! With all this said, and all the positives and negatives considered, this is a five-star establishment at the end of the day that undoubtedly deserves its spot among the top foodie destinations in the Boston area. And cheers to them for keeping their prices reasonable relative to the quality they deliver. I'm a fan of spots like Craigie on Main, but I'll skip a $70 meal there any night to get an equally good and perhaps more personalized meal at Ten Tables for $40. read more

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Disappointing meal here after having had a great experience last time: -called 24 hours in advance for a vegan tasting menu, meal ended up being sad substitutes (lentils as a main, sliced apples as a desert?) and far from the creative choices last time -desert was poor for omnivore menu as well -expensive drinks with minimal liquor and volume - not to mention it took ages to get drinks from the bar... -service overall disjointed...servers didnt describe dishes, not know what was in them, and seemed to be sharing service so didnt know what was already requested or delivered I felt it necessary to leave this review because of the significant decrease in quality from the last time I visited for a special occasion last year. Sorry to see. read more

Besides the fact that this place is very pricey, I really enjoyed my time at Ten Tables. We didn't make reservations so we had to sit at the bar which wasn't a problem at all. The bartender was extremely polite and nice. I ordered the burger which was pretty good. It wasn't like "out of this world" good or anything, but I was happy with the food. I asked for medium rare but it looked more like rare so I would recommend to ask them to cook the meat a level higher than you would normally want it. My fiance ordered the mac&cheese and it was really good. It's a very intimate place and I think it would be a great place for romantic dinner night. read more

Ten Tables - Burger! - New American Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

OMG Ten Tables. We were lucky enough to get a Ten Tables gift card over the holidays and we couldn't wait to use it. If you're a meat lover, you can't go wrong ordering the House-Made Tagliatelle (Braised Short Rib, Roasted Turnip, Kale, Parmesan). The flavors are so incredible that my mouth is watering just thinking about it! You also can't go wrong with the TT Burger (Crispy Pancetta, Lettuce, Cheddar, Garlic Aioli, & Chips). I have eaten many, many burgers and appreciate most, but this burger tops them all. I was so protective over the last few bites I had on my plate that I whacked my friend's hand when they tried to grab a bite!! (And I usually do share my food, so that was unusual, haha!) I also absolutely love the waitstaff at Ten Tables. They're so pleasant and helpful and all around excellent at what they do. They made our dining out experience superb. We can't wait to go back again soon! read more

Their menu is quite pedestrian. Hangar steak? Mussels in white wine with chorizo? Taco Tuesday? But their prices and ego are exorbitant in comparison. The staff is very pretentious and noticeably dysfunctional. Upon catching her colleague make a benign mistake, the smug "lead" waitress (who is not much of a leader but more of a bully) pompously and condescendingly asked her if she'd ever worked in a "fine-dining" restaurant before. The equally arrogant bartender found this funny and snickered at the expense of the humiliated waitress. Some people try to be tall by cutting off the heads of others. Maybe that's their company motto. Then she approached us patrons acting apologetic on behalf of her colleague's "ineptitude." And yet so completely oblivious to her own ineptitude. I don't know about you but I have never heard of a "fine-dining" restaurant that has weekly early bird specials. Taco tuesday and pasta thursday, come and get it, just 15 bucks a pop! Nor one that has no dress code. Flip flops and cut-offs? Sure come on in! White tablecloths? Not in their budget. Nor one that doesn't have a maître d'. The servers, who casually wear jeans and sneakers, themselves seat guests and take reservations, just like they do in all casual restaurant. And I've certainly never been to one that has such a pitifully banal and commonplace menu. So where does their egotism and pretension come from? I don't know. All I know is that they probably should get out more, and meanwhile, refrain from making such ignorant, naive statements. There is nothing exciting or even remotely extraordinary about Ten Tables. The greatest thing they serve is their false sense of grandiosity. I can forgive a lot of things, unimpressive food, lack of originality, artless staff, zero avant-garde. However, I hate pretentiousness and have no tolerance for impudence. I knocked off four stars because I found your staff so pretentious and odious. read more

Came in for Sunday pre fixe; the prosciutto and spaghetti were both incredible appetizers. We both had filet mignon for the entree, mine rare and the other medium rare. I've had great filet mignon before that you could cut with a butter knife because it was so tender. The steak I got was very tough and hard to cut and chew. Although the kitchen already slices it for you, even they were not able to cut through the entire steak themselves. The other steak, however, was easy to cut and chew, overall much more tender. I let our server, Eren, know and she was so sweet and understanding. She did not make me feel uncomfortable whatsoever and was happy to offer me a different steak. The dining area is open to the kitchen and I will say that all three kitchen staff were glaring me down which made me VERY uncomfortable. I have been a server before and know that the kitchen can take it very personally and get nasty if someone sends food back. I expect better at a place like this and it's the only reason for knocking a star off. Daniella who I think was the hostess was very nice and sweet as well and also added to a positive experience. The second steak was perfect and Wren was happy to pack up what I didn't finish. Both the chocolate terrine and creme brulee were perfect, although I would ask for extra fruit for the brulee to balance it out. Overall, great service and the food was incredible. Eren and Daniella were great, but the kitchen should not be staring down the guests... read more

We visited Ten Tables on a quiet Wednesday night and found it to be charming and cozy - just as expected! This restaurant is unlike many in the Boston area. With only ten tables (yep just like the name says!) you will find a dimly lit, warm and welcoming spot. What's interesting about this place is the open kitchen concept - you can see everything going on! Ten Tables also has a bar side, which offers great deals such as the homemade pasta of the day and a glass of wine for $15 on Thursdays (my next visit will be trying this out). We ordered the focaccia bread with chipotle butter, the grilled romaine salad, the moroccan chicken breast and the tagliatelle pasta. 10/10 would recommend! The focaccia bread was delicious - even leftover, it was a mouth pleaser. But be-warned, the chipotle butter was spicer than expected. We were very satisfied with the grilled romaine salad, the pecans and burrata cheese were a perfect compliment. We found the Moroccan chicken to be perfectly cooked - soft and juicy. I only wish this meal was served with a few more brussel sprouts and little more of that delicious Moroccan sauce it was paired with. The tagliatelle was super tasty, and more than plenty came in the bowl. Only wish we didn't fill up on the meals, because we had to skip the dessert! I would highly recommend this little restaurant as a must try if you live in the Boston area. For anyone outside of JP, it might be a trek, but worth the visit. read more

I went here for a friend's birthday and was really impressed with the 4-course set menu. First off, we were served a potato leek soup (I actually don't remember the leeks) with a dollop of blue cheese in the center; clean taste, lovely texture. Next we were served 2 appetizers of 1) brot with red cabbage and 2) clams in a tomato broth with fennel, and two other ingredients. (I don't remember what the other two ingredients were. Absolutely delicate and delicious. I even ate the broth as if it were a soup, so delicious! The main course consisted of steak tidbits with salsa verde and another sauce on the side (I can't remember what these sauces are! If you go there be sure to bring a notebook with you!!!). Very chewy, soft, beef textures that melt in your mouth, and I don't even like steak that much, which means it's really good. We were then given a sorbet as a palate cleanser, after which we were served a dessert assortment including olive oil cake, a pudding, a chocolate dip, etc. One of the dishes included a sweet thyme sauce which we thought was really creative. Absolutely one of the best 'fancy restaurants' in the Boston area! read more

Ten Tables epitomizes New England cuisine. This is what anyone passing through the region must try at least once. Cheap? Not exactly. Chic? Not always. Fresh? Most definitely. Delicious? Always. The boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we did the simple yet filling 4-course tasting menu. We were greeted with shots of hot parsnip soup with sea salt and chili, and on an overcast 50-degree day, it was absolutely perfect. First course was a charcuterie plate with chicken liver pate, mushrooms, carrots and housemade mustard. Even non-fans of ground-up innards can enjoy this. See boyfriend for proof. Second course was seared ocean some-kind-of-fish with orange vinaigrette, chick peas and a simple vegetable ragout. The light sauce was absolutely delicious. Just a simple, savory flavor like a well-done chicken stock. The vegetables were crunchy yet perfectly cooked and the fish was melt-in-your-mouth tender. Third course was a seared duck breast with rice and shiitake mushrooms. Again, this dish epitomizes Ten Table's simple, flavorful and hearty cuisine prepared with just the right amount of elegant presentation. Dessert was two-fold: I got a chocolate terrine with Thai basil ice-cream and a glowing candle and the boy got a pistachio semi-freddo with orange pieces. Both were fantastic, but I just could not get over the perfect pairing of salty basil ice-cream and sweet chocolate terrine. It was absolute heaven for the palate. The service was very "village raises the child". No consistent waiter/waitress yet water carafes were never left empty and empty dishes were cleared away immediately. The restaurant won't win points for fancy interior decorating and hardly exudes a romantic ambience, but unless you plan to propose there, it really won't matter. And praise for the cocktail list: So few places really try to go above and beyond with their drink menus, offering cocktails that are one-of-a-kind unique, amazingly creative and filled with ingredients (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that you would never in a million years think to pair but somehow work. In that elite class (Tier 1) of cocktail places live such establishments as Craigie on Main, and now, Ten Tables JP. The Emerald Necklace was just fantastic. read more

Amidst the eager cries of "But you MUST go to Ten Tables if you're a foodie!" and "OMG it's sooooo good!", that followed me through four whole years in Boston, I think built Ten Tables up so much that I may have been disappointed no matter what I got. The Spring Vegetable Terrine was the color of iodine, and when combined with a gelatinous crème fraiche and a nondescript pile of arugula, this dish fell flat. Then the Braised Octopus was mealy and so soaked in vinegar that I couldn't chew and breathe at the same time. After abysmal appetizers, the Ten Tables Bourride didn't do much better. A French stew-turned-spinach-egg-drop-soup minus the msg except someone dropped a delicious, flaky chunk of cusk in the middle. Then came a turning point. The Hanger Steak was salt and peppered to perfection, and I've rarely found a steak this perfect. The Goat Cheese Panna Cotta with sweet rhubarb compote tasted about as close to the panna cotta I had in a tiny restaurant in a nameless town of Tuscany as anything perfect could really come. Then we finished with a phenomenal Chocolate Terrine, and I couldn't believe that the same restaurant of the miserable vegetable terrine could finish with something like this. The sea salt sprinkles provided the perfect contrast to rich chocolate, and the sweet n' savory Thai basil ice cream brought it all together. I'll never regret eating at Ten Tables after this amazing end. If I had come four years ago, I may have dubbed it the best meal of my life, with a caveat for the terrible terrine. And despite failing to wow me, I wouldn't let my somewhat lukewarm review stop you from going. Just try not to build it up too much - Ten Tables may be a JP legend, but take what you've heard with a grain of sea salt and make sure you taste the chocolate terrine. read more