Rendezvous in Central SquareAll categories were almostAll categories were almost excellent - our second visit and we'l go back5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMEasy Going and Interesting MenuDid their Mother's Day Lunch which was a special menu (all proceeds went to the Boston One Fund) and it was really interesting and delicious. We all had a great time. Will definitely go back.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfectly done steak-Delicious DuckAlmost everything was great. The team in the kitchen was on it. Our server was gracious and professional. She took our various food intolerances and dealt with them well, even checking when one of us ordered something another one in the party couldn't eat.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMA great time every timeI should get here more often, it's so satisfying every time. Starting with a cocktail while reading the menu: drinks are inventive and fresh without being contrived. Menu offers great variety highlighting seasonal foods, including very healthful and deliciously decadent. The seasonings, with a middle eastern touch, are distinctive and creative. Love the open feel of the interior, contemporary chic, warm and inviting-- and the wait staff is also, now that I think of it.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMrendezvousFine combination of comfortable room with excellent food , attentive server and very competent bar tender. Noise level very moderate and acceptable for dinner conversation5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMyou can't ask for anythingyou can't ask for anything better than a meal here superbly created by chef/owner Steve with wonderful efficient service.
It's always packed but you do not feel hurried and the staff knows how to honor reservations no a timely manner.
Reserve even for week nights!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways good for any occasion!I love rendez vous! It is always great! Food, wine, staff and if course chef/owner Steve. It is my standby!5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place is a reliable,This place is a reliable, friendly restaurant with great food. The menu varies and prices are fairly reasonable.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent place for a casualExcellent place for a casual meal or special occasion. Great drink menu. Friendly
staff. Attentive. Excellent food. Limited vegetarian options. Great desserts.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and drink,Excellent food and drink, nice atmosphere, great service! A little pricey.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMMy out of town guests gotMy out of town guests got stuck in ballgame traffic and were an hour late. I called them in their car and read the menu and was able to give our order to the server, who was very helpful and patient throughout - and made sure that we were served our entire meal in time to make it to the theater.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always, a lovely diningAs always, a lovely dining experience. And as is nearly always the case, Steve Johnson was present and was friendly and welcoming. A wonderful presence, just as Rendezvous itself is a treasured part of this neighborhood.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely deliciousWe went on a Sunday, not knowing that they offer a $38 prix fixe menu for dinner that day. What a wonderful surprise! The choices were varied, quantities generous and preparation excellent. Our group of three ordered different items for all three courses, and everything was delicious.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMconsistenly a gem with greatconsistenly a gem with great food perfectly rpepared even on a busy Saturday night4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the gems in CentralOne of the gems in Central Square. Fantastic experience. Best service around, and amazing food.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMRendezvous is a great slightlyRendezvous is a great slightly upper scale neighborhood restaurant. Food is creative and well prepared using quality ingredients. Dining room is a little open and boxy but it's still quiet enough for a nice dinner conversation. Prices are fair for the quality of the food you get. The drinks are really good!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding meal!Steve Johnson is a very creative chef and a gracious host. He is supported by a friendly and efficient staff, making our visit an outstanding evening!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe go to Rendezvous frequentlyWe go to Rendezvous frequently and it is one of our favorites. The food is excellent and the short wine list is well selected. Park on the street or in a city run lot a block behind the restaurant.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAn Exceptional ExperienceA great meal from appetizers through to desserts. Very cordial and helpful wait staff who don't hover. Had a short wait before we were seated for our reservation time, and the staff compensated by giving us a complementary appetizer! And offered us wine to taste before we made selection. I would definitely return again.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and service were topFood and service were top notch. The decor was not to my taste. I think a different type of flooring would make a world of difference - at a minimum the carpeting should be replaced and the brown, industrial style, entry mat removed.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for lunch or dinnerRendezvous offers consistently good, imaginative cooking in a relaxed atmosphere. it's a go-to spot when we're around Central Square. There are always new, delicious enticements to go with favorite items on the menu. Definitely recommended.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently excellent food,Consistently excellent food, service and ambiance!!!!!!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMRendezvous has somehow managedRendezvous has somehow managed to maintain high standards for food and service, after being in business for many years. The food is always flavorful, creative and consistent. Noticeable this time was the very professional, caring, grown-up service, which is very rare indeed. My compliments to Steve Johnson and his crew.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMFood Great, Service not so muchI thought, overall the dining experience was phenominal. We had an 8:00 PM reservation and we were seated immediately and given water. I am going to keep this short. I thought the food was great but our server wasn't very attentive, nor did he really have the energy or look like he even wanted to be there. Had no knowledge about the tequila's that were offered there and generally seemed disinterested. another waiter came over to our table as he noticed we were sitting there and asked us if we needed anything and did it with a smile, something our waiter was not able to do. Also, for dessert I believe we had to wait over 15 minutes. But I would definitely go back as the food was spectacular.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMDelightful servers and pleasantDelightful servers and pleasant ambiance combined with incredible food.... What's not to like?4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic...go there all theFantastic...go there all the time....plus a great bartender which is always an addition!!!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMI brought a friend to RendezvousI brought a friend to Rendezvous on Saturday night to celebrate his birthday and we both had a wonderful experience, starting with the warm greeting from the owner when we arrived, and ending with the the surprise touch of a birthday candle on my friend's dessert. Our appetizers (sauteed crabcakes and seared sea scallops), entrees (roasted skate wing and the winter vegetarian stew) and desserts (pear crostada and lemon buttermilk cake) were all well prepared and delicious. At the end of the meal we wanted to start all over again! The serving staff are very well trained -- knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive but not overbearing. I highly recommend Rendezvous. Be sure to make a reservation because it's popular and fills up quickly.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe are old friends of RendezvousWe are old friends of Rendezvous and when thinking about where to go for a special dinner we almost always end up there. The food is very good, the service unobtrusive and very professional while friendly and the wait staff is extraordinarily knowledgeable. We love rendezvous and we feel coddled and taken care of when we go there for what is always a relaxed and special event.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had to rush in and outWe had to rush in and out to get to a show (Epsilon at the Nora theater) but the staff were so sweet and efficient we somehow had time for three courses and a careful consideration of our wine picks. The pizza with mushrooms and cheese was astonishingly divine. The little scallops with salsa verde were delicious. My main was the bollito misto which was a bit undersalted (unusual as I have it all the time). One of us had the chicken, the other had the gnocchi with mushrooms (delicious). The pear croustade with vanilla bean icecream was according to report fantastic but I didn't taste it.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had an early dinner hereWe had an early dinner here before a play at the Central Square Theatre. All the dishes were tasty and the service was attentive. We'll certainly be back.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMRendezvous is one of my all-timeRendezvous is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. While we often try out other spots, I have to confess - we keep coming back over and over. The food is ALWAYS terrific as is the service.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMSteve Johnson and his staffSteve Johnson and his staff have created and maintained a high quality restaurant. The customer is surrounded by friendly professionals who convey a feeling that you are in capable hands. We had a fun night!3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThe skate was incredible.The skate was incredible. There were four of us and all had terrific meals. The cassoulet was also particularly perfectly seasoned and delicious. I'd go back just for the skate and cassoulet.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went on a Sunday eveningWe went on a Sunday evening when they have the prix fixe menu. The menu offered a sufficiently wide choice for appetizer, main course, and dessert, and was very well balanced. Rendezvous pays special attention to using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, so everything was fresh and tasty. The preparations were creative without being overly "frilly". One got the feeling that every ingredient on the plate had a vital role to play; they complemented and balanced each other. This was my second visit to the restaurant. The first was on a Monday evening when they have a small-plate menu for sharing. That was also a very good dining experience. I strongly recommend Rendezvous to fellow foodies and locavores.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was excellent. AndThe food was excellent. And the service was very attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would definitely come back!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a great restaurant,This is a great restaurant, a convivial room, delightful servers and service, delicious food prepared perfectly, a very generous wine pour. Also outstanding, considering it was a very busy and freezing cold Saturday night, so many people were out and gathering here. We are New Yorkers and so are extra critical critique-ers! If I lived in Boston, this would be my #1 "go to" spot.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMOur evening at RendezvousOur evening at Rendezvous was excellent from start to finish. We got stuck at the Allston-Brighton tolls and called the restaurant; when we arrived 15 minutes late for our reservation it was no big deal and we were seated promptly even though the dining room was packed. Service was attentive. The menu made it hard to decide but we ended up with a special bruschetta as well as a salad to start and the duck three ways and the grilled swordfish for dinner. Everything was perfectly prepared and delicious. Portions were generous. We were too full for dessert but were offered a complimentary plate of lemon buttermilk pudding which we managed to devour. Rendezvous pays attention to detail and it shows.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMRendezvous is the bestMy favorite restaurant in the world! The owner is the best, so kind and engaged, and the service is top notch. And the food is out of this world!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food, perfect serviceWe had a wonderful meal at this restaurant that came highly recommended by a foodie friend. My husband had duck 3 ways and I had lamb that was delicious! The service was perfect! We will definitely go back.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways Great!Rendezvous continues to be a favorite. You can't go wrong with Steve Johnson and his crew. A wonderful, and consistent, restaurant!3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I eat at the RendezvousMy wife and I eat at the Rendezvous when we're in the area for an event. The food is always very good as is the service. If you're going to a play nearby they make an extra effort to make sure that you're out on time.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMLucky FindAs out-of-towners, we didn't have friends' recommendations to rely on in choosing a restaurant to help make our mini-vacation in Boston really special. We discovered RendezVous on line and were delighted that we did. Our meal was wonderful from beginning to end -- great menu selections, attentive but not fawning service, and delicious food. The prices were quite reasonable for the quality of the experience, and one of our frequent issues -- the noise level-- did not interfere with our enjoyment. All in all, some place well worth returning to next time we're in the city.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe chef-owner takes timeThe chef-owner takes time to pass through the room to check in with each table. The food never fails to please -- it's both familiar, yet spiced and cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is friendly, the wait staff are attentive but not intrusive. Rendezvous has never failed us.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best skirt steaksOne of the best skirt steaks I have had in a very long time. Perfectly cooked and prepared. Great cut of meat as well. Only negative was that our waitress was a little lax in the attention department.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMSteve Johnson runs a greatSteve Johnson runs a great restaurant! Strong and vibrant tastes...good drinks (always including an interesting non alcoholic choice - thank you)...and capable servers.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMStaff very knowledgable inStaff very knowledgable in both menu and beer and wine selections3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGive your review a title (optional)My wife and I hadn't been to Rendezvous in a while but it was convenient because we were going to a play nearby. The food was very good, the service was perfect...not hovering but everything was taken care of in a very un-obtrusive way. The space is open but you can easily carry on a conversation without having to raise your voice. Unfortunately, the play was a bust.2/23/2013 12:00:00 AMOver the years, Steve JohnsonOver the years, Steve Johnson has kept the menu alive with seasonal changes featuring the best of local ingredients. I know of few folks who understand and prepare fish in such careful and unique ways. In addition to the fantastic food,the talented knowledgable wait staff, the well selected wine and the generous dining experience always makes me want more.2/19/2013 12:00:00 AMUnfailingly perfect. SteveUnfailingly perfect. Steve Johnson is a master in the kitchen and as a host. The food is exceptional and the entire staff is so welcoming, knowledgeable and just really nice.2/11/2013 12:00:00 AMUnbeatableI moved to San Francisco, but I come back to my very favorite restaurant as often as I can. Rendezvous is a miraculous convergence of uniformly exceptional cuisine, warm and knowledgeable service and a welcoming neighborhood feel. There is nowhere better. Go with very high expectations and you will go back.
I am grateful to have Rendezvous to come back to whenever I'm in Boston.1/16/2013 12:00:00 AM