Hamersley's BistroNot quiteEverything except the entrees was excellent. Both our main dishes (especially my halibut) failed to live up to the quality one would expect in a restaurant of this class. Too bad I was really looking forward to a stellar meal. The duck confit appetizer was, however, world class.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMTastyThe food was good though the noise level a little loud. Would go back again.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMChef really knows how to cookChef really knows how to cook his fish. Artic char was one of the best I have had, crisp, salty skin, with tender, moist, buttery fillet.
I can see why Hamersley is still around after more than 25 years when other famed ones have come and gone5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMI took my mother for Mother'sI took my mother for Mother's day and it was perfect. The food was amazing and she even commented it was the best meal she has had in a very long time which is no easy feat coming from her. Made my day that I could make hers!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMBest in BostonThis restaurant is always reliably great! The quality and delight never lapse. Service is a joy. I have gone there multiple times over the years but never tried the famous roast chicken, thinking it might be boring or routine. It is anything but. Everyone should have this at least once in their life; you will never have better! Also, it is so nice to go to a restaurant owned by a well known chef and see him working away when you walk in. That probably is a big factor in making this restaurant so consistently outstanding.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMBest in BostonThis continues to be one of the best, if not the best, restaurant in Boston. I have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, the service is excellent and the food outstanding! Thank you for continuous excellence!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Mothers Day BrunchGreat selections for brunch. The food and service were excellent. Noise level a little high, but acceptable. A great place to dine.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMfrom the minute we walkedfrom the minute we walked in the door the staff couldn't have been more helpful the food was wonderful and adequate portions the appetizers were a little too exotic i would go back in a heartbeat5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a fabulous dinner atWe had a fabulous dinner at Hamersley's! We were a table of 7 and the service was terrific. Each of us ordered a different appetizer and entree and everyone thought the food was excellent. We would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a great bistro.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMNot as expensive as we rememberedAs long time South Enders (30 years for one couple and more than 40 years for the other), we always remembered Hamersleys Bistro to be exorbitantly expensive. However, we were pleasantly surprised when we realized that while this might have been true years ago, its prices have basically remained the same while those of the other restaurants in the area have jumped drastically so that they are all basically in the same range at this point ($20-30 for entrees). But the important point is that the food at Hamersley's is still absolutely outstanding, and far better than many of the newer restaurants in the area. So we would all recommend it highly, if you are comfortable with this price range.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMNice option but not first choiceUnfortunately we were not so impressed by the food... It was ok but not exceptional. The halibut was undercooked and the sides with the flounder was overly citrusy. We love the friendliness and attentiveness of the servers and hostesses. Thr average age of most diners were in the 50s.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMBest seat in the house!I could not have been happier about my service and dining experience at Hamersley! What a treasure! The place has been around for decades and I finally tried it out for the first time with my boyfriend. We felt very attended to without any overbearing moments. The duck confit is not to be missed, the halibut made me believe in white fish again and the skirt steak was prepared to perfection! Chef/owner, Gordon Hamersley still remains on the line running the show; a true testament to his pride in his establishment.
Thank you to everyone who made our night memorable!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways deliciousHamersley's Bistro has a very pleasant, relaxed atmosphere. It can get a bit noisy when full. The service is always gracious and unpretentious and the food is always excellent. Try the grilled pineapple and lime gelato for dessert.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMOn a Wednesday evening birthdayOn a Wednesday evening birthday dinner the restaurant was full, but we received prompt, courteous service. Everything we ordered was superb: not only the signature chicken dish that my wife had but two vegetarian dishes that I had, two side vegetable dishes and the dessert. Our waiter was attentive without hovering, and the whole meal took less than 1.5 hours. The valet parking outside the door of the restaurant is a convenient, inexpensive service.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent first experience.Excellent first experience. Strongly recommend. Location is an easy walk from Copley and BB trains.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMLives up to expectationsWe had:
Roast chicken was moist; side of creamy french lentils with carrots and leeks was superb.
Pork tenderloin good but the star was the noodle pancake it sat on.
Lemon pepper strawberry shortcake with strawberry ice cream, fresh strawberries, caramel and big mint leaf garnish was refreshing and divine.
Irish honey cocktail was delicious.
On a Tuesday evening to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary- ambiance was like an inviting home. Service also excellent.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecialI brought my boyfriend here for a birthday dinner. The ambience was lively but cozy and classy. We started with delicious grapefruit gimlets. We are foodies so we had our eyes on a lot of menu items. We started with the chickpea cake and duck confit. I love duck, order it almost every time it's on a menu. This was one of the best I've ever had- amazing. My boyfriend got the lamb, I the skirt steak. Both delicious and tender. And although we were a bit full, the desserts looked phenomenal. We got the strawberry shortcake. Oh my goodness amazing. Sweet and savory, light but filling.. All at the same time. Our waitress Michelle was also phenomenal. Kind, attentive, lively, honest and definitely made the experience. Very successful night.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMmy fourth time there. consistentlymy fourth time there. consistently wonderful food, always some interesting treat on the menu. attentive staff. has the feel of a neighborhood place that one discovered by chance, but it is really one of the truly fine eating establishments of New England. it is the type of place one wants to visit many times in a year.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMBThis place is still on its game. Yum, yum n. great execution and delivery n4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Food, interestingExcellent Food, interesting choices, outstanding service4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a great meal. TheAlways a great meal. The staff is top notch. Amazing that a restaurant, more than 20 years old, is still so fresh and contemporary.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOur waiter I believe his nameOur waiter I believe his name was Mark was outstanding...4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was good and serviceFood was good and service was excellent. Wine glasses and water glasses always filled without hesitation. Nonetheless, there was an older (50+) crowd present. Not for young diners.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had not been to Hamersley'sWe had not been to Hamersley's for over a year, and we were looking forward to our return. It was, unfortunately, not the Hamersley's of old. It was quite loud, and we felt rushed. It seemed more impersonal than in the past. As soon as we finished out last bite, we were gently directed to the door.
The food was excellent, but I very much doubt that we will be returning to Hamersley's anytime soon. We have other options that preserve the personal touch.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMA lively and energetic restaurant.A lively and energetic restaurant. The food was very good, especially the chickpea cake, it would be nice if they gave you more than one tiny little portion, nevertheless, it was delicious. The vegetarian meal was different but very good and the peppered beef tenderloin was expertly prepared. Service was friendly and very efficient. A pleasant way to spend the evening, good food, good atmosphere, good service - definitely worth a visit!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service great good andGreat service great good and great atmosphere !Chicken is the best '4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect food in a prix fixe brunchThey really (really) know how to cook here, although I've noticed that it's better when Gordon Hamersley is there. This time we went for Easter brunch, & Gordon was indeed there. The muffins were *perfection*: delicate crust, light & moist interior. My son's omelette was, again, perfect. Light, airy, with a wonderfully rich filling of asparagus, wild mushrooms, & goat cheese. The pickled veg accompaniment was also delicious. (I kept stealing the cabbage off his plate). I requested no dairy in the sauce of my pappardelle with pea shoots & grilled salmon (a slightly odd dish conceptually), & it was flavorful even without the cream & butter. The salmon was, again, perfectly cooked: nice crust from the grill and pink inside. Lovely meal.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food at Hamersley's BistroThe food at Hamersley's Bistro is incredibly consistent. One can never go wrong there.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a highly pleasurableAlways a highly pleasurable experience. Service is fantastic, food never disappoints.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMOur meal at Hamersley's wasOur meal at Hamersley's was delicious- everything was very unique and flavorful. It was so hard to decide what to get- will definitely have to come back to try more. We particularly enjoyed the lamb meatball appetizer and haddock entree and the two desserts we tried were amazing.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMCan't say enough good things!Food was absolutely amazing. We ordered the duck and lamb, and both were incredibly tender (fell right off the bone), well seasoned, and well good size portions. Service was great, had a few laughs with the waitress who was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Randomly, the main power went out twice but the backup generator kept the restaurant going and it ended up making the night a lot more fun/memorable! The head chef alos came out to each table personally to make sure everyone enjoyed their meal and to apologize for the power outages (which everyone seemed to enjoy!). Prices were much more reasonable than expected and we have absolutely nothing bad to say about the evening!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMHad the famous chicken w/garlic/lemHad the famous chicken w/garlic/lemon. Thought the dessert was over-priced, & quite small. We had a seat by the window, which was very nice-only 1 set of guests on our left side-the tables -also not to difficult for my friend to get in/out of the banquette. The tables weren't too squished together. I look forward to coming in the Summer to your outdoor patio. Our waitress was friendly/well-informed about the menu & other staff friendly when I took a quick stroll thru the rest of the restaurant. Valet service was very good-both men very polite and solicitous as we got in/out of the car. The front desk receptionist was friendly and helpful-All in all, a wonderful experience. My friend and I went as part of Restaurant Week-we'll be back!3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMMet a friend here for brunchMet a friend here for brunch for the first time and we had wonderful meals. Duck sausage with onions and potato hash with an egg, as well as egg white omelette with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh herbs, with a fresh blueberry muffin and fresh fruit. Very tasty and great service. Thanks!3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMTruly, amazing food. ThisTruly, amazing food. This was the best Brunch. We will return.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMnice and relaxed Sunday brunchWe thoroughly enjoyed the Sunday brunch here. Although they only featured one omelette on the menu, one of us ordered an entirely different omelette and the server not only didn't blink, he also brought back exactly what my companion had ordered. The food was excellent! I loved the big, sunny windows. Very nice for a Sunday afternoon in the South End. Tnanks.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMJust love this restaurant.Just love this restaurant. Can't say enough good about it.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food, excellentDelicious food, excellent wait staff, a delightful evening.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMHamersley's BistroIn our opinion it is one of the best restaurants in Boston MA. My wife had the haddock and I had the Salmon. We finished and cleaned our plates. We will definitely be back again.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed an absolutely wonderfulWe enjoyed an absolutely wonderful meal ! The restaurant was nice and calm for 6pm pre-theatre dinner on a Saturday night. The service could have been a bit more attentive.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMService made the difference...Arriving fifteen minutes before opening the staff was gracious enough to allow me to come in from the cold and enter the restaurant to wait for my wife. Watching them bustle about before opening I was impressed with their efficiency, attention to detail and cheerfulness. Throughout the dinner our waitperson was attentive, but not intrusive (more European than a rushed American) and very, very sweet and cheerful. Most impressive care that complimented the wonderful meal.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always, we are very pleasedAs always, we are very pleased with our evening at Hammersleys. Food and service were excellent. Well done!3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was really excellent,Food was really excellent, expensive , but felt like it was something special. Service was great and patient even with our motley crew of kind of weird orders. Noise level was reasonable even for my 93 yo Dad who was dining with us.
Great place for a special meal.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMImpressive restaurant withImpressive restaurant with exceptional food,knowleadgable wait staff and very comprehensive wine list. The restaurant mood was comfortable. Will definitely return on my next trip to Boston.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMA great meal as always. PâtéA great meal as always. Pâté superb, lobster and duck were great and perfectly cooked.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMIn a word: fabulous. WonderfulIn a word: fabulous. Wonderful mingling of spice in a curried carrot soup and the best duck breast we have had in many years. Service was excellent, as always. Gordon Hamersley stopped by our table twice to chat with old friends with whom we were dining. He still really cares about his menu and his guests' dining experience.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMNo loud music...what a blessing!As someone who is hearing challenged, I find that most restaurants these days do little to accommodate. For starters, they feel compelled to have loud background music that fights with dinner conversation. How refreshing to walk into Hammersleys and hear relative quiet. Honestly, it was a blessing. Thank you.
I had the duck with fig and a celery purée. Amazing! We'll be heading back soon.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, though a coupleGreat food, though a couple of our entrees were slightly overcooked for our taste. Very good wines at reasonable prices, too! We've been visiting Hamersley's for over 20 years and have never been disappointed. Kudos!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMoverall a good experience--wishoverall a good experience--wish the menu had more offerings--lighter fare and more reasonably priced entrees --altho there was chicken ,salmon and lobster. they did a nice job but it is very expensive. everything is high and it made me pause about ordering what i would have liked--lobster for $40--so i ended up with duck for $35 plus a vegetable on the side a la carte. by the time you have an appetizer , dessert and drinks , it is a big night on the town--plus parking. nice to have the valet in front of the restaurant. it was very pleasant but hard to justify the prices.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent evening. ServiceExcellent evening. Service impeccable, attentive without being intrusive and the food was fantastic.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMThis one of favorite BostonThis one of favorite Boston spots. We generally only eat their appetizers and salads as it makes for a more eclectic food experience. I have had their lobster and chicken entrees in the past and would recommend either without hesitation. Outside or the bar area are our favorite places to eat as they are less formal.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AM