51 LincolnWatermelonYou really need to try the grilled watermelon steak. It sounds unlikely, it looks unlikely, and it is a marvelous creation. The food is at a consistently high level but the watermelon steak is worthy of mention all by itself....which is why I am mentioning it.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMSoft Shell Crabs RockEvery May, the season of the soft shell crab, 51 Lincoln's chef has a different soft shell crab special everyday. The preparations are novel and interesting. The regular menu and other specials are also available, but it's worth the trip for the crabs. Their web site tells you what they are doing with the crabs each day.
All good!5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat great foodWas very happy with 51 Lincoln - Watermelon "Steak" was a great appetizer, and the soft-shelled crab special was divine. The server was excellent too. Great place in Newton Highlands!5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience as usual--foodGreat experience as usual--food and service. Service is very personal and we're always made to feel welcome.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was excellent andThe food was excellent and the service was attentive and helpful. It was pretty noisy so sometimes hard to hear conversation at the table. A great restaurant.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMDownstairsWalking in, 51 Lincoln was noisy and crowded. We were escorted to the downstairs room, 4 tables only, very quiet and lovely. Service initially seemed a bit slow but rectified itself. A lovely evening with exquisite food. Particularly liked the Hake and the Poblano Chili soup.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst impression - excellent!We read some great reviews about 51 Lincoln and wanted to try it out. Food, service were excellent. Ambience is casual chic. Would recommend it highly.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMJust excellent. Great food,Just excellent. Great food, cooked to perfection, no-fuss, and not remotely inaccessible. Just good, good, elegant food.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMA very pleasant late reservationA very pleasant late reservation meal that included a very nice glass of Malbec before sitting for dinner. The food was delicious and the servce excellent. I particularly liked the chicken under a brick and the pulled pork "donut" appetiser.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMMy third trip and it was stillMy third trip and it was still fabulous. This place has the local neighborhood vibe, but with super high end food. I love the combination of casual setting with an outstanding kitchen; it is just what I would want to open if I had my own restaurant. The Perfect Green Salad is just that - perfect. We actually would have been satisfied with the sweet cream butter (which appears to be mixed with honey and sea salt crystals), slathered on the bread and topped with their tomato jam. But adding the duck entree, and a huge bowl of Chef's Rigatoni Bolognese, and it does not get much better. I had a special evening out with my 13 year old son, and it was just wonderful, especially since he is a real food lover. Highly recommended.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was fairly originalThe food was fairly original and quite good. A bit pricey for a local, neighborhood restaurant, but not outrageously so, given the quality of the cooking. Not someplace for a weekly dinner, but very good for any special occasion. Small, intimate, if not romantic, atmosphere.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had an awesome dinner.We had an awesome dinner. The watermelon "steak" appetizer and the pasta with Bolognese are two dishes that stand out. Be sure to try them both!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe marsopone cheese cakeThe marsopone cheese cake with lemon curd is to die for.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding!Our favorite area restaurant , without a doubt. Also a place we enjoy sharing with others, knowing they too will enjoy it.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat food, and attentive,great food, and attentive, friendly service. First visit there. Chef came out to introduce himself and make sure everything was ok. He sent out complementary soup, which was delicious and a nice touch.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding meal and service.Outstanding meal and service. Looking forward to my next visit!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMTuesday Night Dinner??We were 4 guys getting together to celebrate a birthday on a Tuesday night-normally a slow and boring night.As well because of schedules etc. we had a reservation for 8:30 p.m.Sounds like a recipe for disaster but we had a great night due to a little help from Nate our waiter but especially from Fernanda.We had never eaten together before so we were struggling over what to order.Fernanda showed up at the table and suggested a few things she was working on.Wow.Lobster bisque to die for-a beautiful color and a distinctive flavor worthy of much praise.She also suggested the Rigatoni with Rabbitt which we all had and that topped the Lobster bisque.Perfect pasta but more importantly the Ragu was distinctive as well as sublime.Thanks,David4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went to 51 Lincoln forWe went to 51 Lincoln for my birthday in December, and liked it so much we came back for our anniversary. Food is delicious, nice atmosphere. Good for special occasions since it's a little pricey.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMOur reservation was very early,Our reservation was very early, so the restaurant was less than half full. Later in the evening it was probably a lot noisier. One entree was terrific, and the other was good. The service was very good. I'd recommend 51 Lincoln to anybody, although it's a little pricey.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a lovely family dinnerWe had a lovely family dinner here. My only complaint was the noise. We had a loud table next to us and it was very hard to hear conversation at our table. The restaurant needs to install some sound absorbers to help with is problem because it is clear it is always jammed full with happy diners.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was delicious andThe food was delicious and well-presented. The service was conscientious without intrusiveness. The tomato jelly served with the bread course was delightful BUT the white bread had the consistency of Wonder bread.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMA group of 4 went to 51 LincolnA group of 4 went to 51 Lincoln and had such a scrumptious meal. The waiter came promptly and let us know the specials of the day, he also asked if anyone in the party had any food allergies or restrictions, which was nice since we did shave a few. The waiter was able to answer all of our questions/ concerns with such ease, is was as if he knew not only the menu itself but what was possible in the kitchen for substitutions. Only once was he stumped and he excused himself and came back with an answer from the kitchen. I was impressed since this was a 7pm reservation on a Saturday night, not the slowest meal time. Each meal was a joy to eat! Highly recommend the watermelon steak!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMSmall neighborhood restaurantSmall neighborhood restaurant with bar translates into a very loud restaurant, with excellent food. We had a 6:30 reservation on Friday night and were seated promptly. Restaurant was about 1/4 full and bar tables were about half full. You could have a conversation with the table and hear the wait staff. By 7:30pm the place was packed and you could barely have a conversation at the table or hear the wait staff.
The food was excellent. We started with the excellent Watermelon appetizer. Very hard to describe, but it is worth trying. I also had the Liver Pate appetizer which was awesome. The beef tenderloin was excellent, but expensive at $48 with no sides. The flatten chicken was also excellent. Polenta Fries were a big hit.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMI had a whole fish that wasI had a whole fish that was out of this world!!! I moaned through the entire meal!!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's always good, especiallyIt's always good, especially the delicious food. This time we had to wait a bit long before being served.EG3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe are regulars here and whatWe are regulars here and what we really love in addition to the food is the way they have created a warm,welcoming spot in our neighborhood.It's a genuinely friendly place.This time was a bit more special-we walked to the restaurant on Friday May 8.Our local weatherman had measured 14 inches of snow and the crowd was a bit thin.As a result the chef de Cuisine,Fernanda had a chance to come out from the kitchen and talk a bit with the customers.A charming confident young lady who quickly engaged us in a discussion of the food and the special appetizer,hake croquettes with chicory leaves which we thoroughly enjoyed.A great spot and we are headed back next wekend.3/8/2013 12:00:00 AM