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Bar Boulud, Boston, MA

Bar Boulud

4.3
4.3
1096 Reviews
$30 and under
French American
Sister restaurant to the popular New York and London locations, Bar Boulud, Boston at Mandarin Oriental, Boston is a French-inspired bistro and wine bar located in the heart of Back Bay on Boylston Street. Chef Daniel Boulud offers locally inspired seasonal dishes, traditional French bistro fare and an impressive selection of famed house-made terrines and pâtés by Parisian Charcutier, Gilles Verot. Additionally the menu features a handful of signature sausages and burgers, adding an American touch to this French inflected bistro and wine bar. An impressive wine cellar spotlights wines from Burgundy and the Rhóne Valley , including many fine selections by the glass. The interiors are inspired by a contemporary take on the craft of winemaking to create a comfortable and welcoming surrounding for a unique and intimate experience. Bar Boulud serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, all-day dining is also available at the bar. Walk-ins are encouraged.

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Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

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Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Cuisines

    French American, Bistro, Contemporary French / American

  • Hours of operation

    Breakfast: 6:30am - 11am Brunch: 12pm - 3pm (Saturday & Sunday) Lunch: 12pm - 2:30pm Dinner: 5:30pm - 10pm

  • Phone number

    (617) 535-8800

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Executive chef

    Ethan Koelbel

  • Private party facilities

    A dynamic, warm and welcoming space, Bar Boulud offers endless possibilities for private breakfast, lunch and dinner events

  • Private party contact

    private dining manager: (617) 535-8800

  • Neighborhood

    Back Bay

  • Cross street

    Fairfield Street

  • Parking details

    Valet parking is available at a special rate when validated by Bar Boulud. Validated parking is $24 for up to 3 hours.

  • Public transit

    Closest "T" stops are Copley Station on the Green Line or Back Bay Station on the Orange Line.

  • Entertainment

    Live DJ - Fridays 7-11pmLive Jazz - Saturday 10pm-1am

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,096 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.3
4.3 based on all time ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 3.8Value

NoiseModerate

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  1. LondonFoodie

    London

    108 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    108 reviews

    Dined on February 16, 2020

    overall3food4service3ambience4
    First, the lobster risotto was amazing and absolutely worth $36. Everything else was quite good (shrimp cocktail, lemon sole, chocolate mouse), but nothing amazing. The bathrooms were not well serviced (no toilet paper or hand towels) and we waited about 15 min to be seated with a reservation. Not sure what the issue there was.
  2. KatCS

    New England

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 16, 2020

    overall1food1service1ambience2
    It took a long time for our server to acknowledge us. Food was meh.
  3. YoSoyFiesta

    New England

    46 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    46 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My fiancee and I had reservations for Valentine's Day at a different restaurant and didn't have a great experience, so we decided to go out again on the 15th and chose Bar Boulud. In this circumstance, we had an excellent time. The service was quick and extremely professional. They let us pick our table as we were a little early for the rush and were early for our own reservation. The cocktail list was outstanding. We started with the beef tartare and chicken liver mousse, which were both extremely good, and appropriate sized portions. Next we split the lobster risotto and the boudin blanc, which were both good, but not the best I've had. One feature of the dinner that I really appreciated was that we wanted a very non-standard wine to go with our dinner, and no one tried to change our mind or upsell us. We really enjoyed our choice with the provided food. Lastly, the desserts were phenomenal, especially the Ile de Flottante.
  4. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2020

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Amazing food and great ambiance
  5. Kaboypi

    San Francisco

    19 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2020

    overall2food3service2ambience1
    I had a high opinion of Bar Boulud but on Valentine's Day I lost that opinion. I have dined here before and in three of the group’s restaurants in NYC. I have several of Mr. Boulud’s books and I cook from them. This Valentine’s Day was a total disappointment. My wife and I changed three tables until we were seated in a quiet and not frigid part of the room. The menu price was very expensive for a place with no tablecloths and mediocre service by waiters who could not speak English clearly to understand what they were telling you. I know the lack of tablecloths and I knew the price, but I had high hopes for the service and, especially, for the meal. The served food was fancifully presented. However, good packaging does not make the food great. My lobster risotto was prepared hours before, was overcooked and the lobster was mostly small pieces that were lost inside the mussy risotto. I cook risotto myself for 20 years and I have visited Italy extensively where even a neighborhood restaurant will cook the risotto when you order it. This is the reason the menu tells you that you have to wait 20 minutes. Apparently in Mr. Boulud’s Boston bar/“restaurant” the risotto is made in the morning and heated in the microwave before it is served. The Dover sole my wife ordered was three very dry small pieces of fish that occupied only 10% of the plate’s area, the rest occupied by fanciful pre-prepared side actors while the mail actor, the fish, was a disappointment. A menu designed to be prepared and presented even by untrained people to control costs. What a disappointment for such a special day.
  6. lionshead

    Washington DC

    50 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    50 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2020

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    Relatively inattentive service. Clam chowder was good, but not hot enough. Boudin was decent, but not extraordinary. Same with profiteroles. Overall, eh. Fine.
  7. luckybayly

    New York Area

    19 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on February 6, 2020

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Great food and service. Perfect for early morning business breakfast.
  8. DougC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 26, 2020

    overall3food3service4ambience4
    My husband and I were looking for a new place to have dinner. Bar Boulud is fine, the food was good and the service was very good. However, for the price, we have eaten better is other places. So we probably won't be back.
  9. Foodie2McDees

    New England

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on January 25, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Girls night out. 1/25/2020 Our waiter Colin was terrific. Food was delicious. Can't really go wrong when you go Boulud. My one complaint was that there should be better acoustics. A table of 6 and I had trouble hearing the person next to me. Few acoustical panels might help. Thanks Colin!
  10. SouthLoopFoodie

    Chicago

    52 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    52 reviews

    Dined on January 24, 2020

    overall2food1service2ambience3
    Burnt snails, really? Mouse terrine wrapped in PLAStic, whoopsie!
  11. AWDog

    New York Area

    29 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    29 reviews

    Dined on January 24, 2020

    overall2food1service4ambience3
    Food is not what Daniel B would expect!
  12. AdamV

    New England

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on January 19, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great service, knowledgeable and friendly staff, and delicious food! Thank you!
  13. FZEM

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 11, 2020

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    Lovers of French food, we were very impressed with the food at Bar Boulud. We had superb moules frites (with extra frites) and bone marrow (!) and an excellent glass of Sancerre. The atmosphere early evening on a Saturday was relaxed with a very decent noise level. Service was friendly and quick but not rushed. The only disappointment was that we had a reservation for a hightop at 5:30 and when we arrived, all the hightops were taken, and the hostess just said they are first come, first serve.
  14. Taikogo

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on January 10, 2020

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Great wine list, solid menu and excellent service.
  15. N200

    New England

    3 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 2, 2020

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    Food was so so and I could not believe they charged the pelligrino 12 dollars a bottle.Usually even at top restaurants in Boston charges 7 dollars.Our Waitress was nice but rest of the helpers very cold and unfriendly.I expected the restaurant was more up beat when they are charging that much and we were little disappointed and felt like having a dinner in casual bar.
  16. jeffreyc

    New England

    11 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2020

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    Poached eggs on Benedict were over cooked.
  17. LowCarber

    New England

    57 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    57 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2019

    overall2food2service4ambience1
    Appetizers were the only thing that was very good. The main courses were disappointing and overpriced. We had the beef and the fish and neither were worth it. The desserts were just OK. For Christmas Dinner, we were very disappointed. We will never go back there. Our waiter was excellent and we didn't tell him we were unhappy. It didn't seem like the right thing to do on Christmas day.
  18. RichardL

    Hampshire

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2019

    overall3food4service4ambience3
    We ate here at brunch on Christmas Day and the food was very good, the original table allocated was no in a very good place being in the middle of the floor area. The reallocation as not that much better there being nothing else available except in the bar area which we took but it was not very comfortable for a meal and was away from the rest of the restaurant and lacking in atmosphere. However, the food was very good as was our server. Because we did not start until 2.30 pm we were a little late and although the manager was very helpful had to rush the end of the meal as the staff needed to change the seating around for the evening sitting. Overall all though pretty good
  19. MabelZ

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 24, 2019

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    The environment is great, nice services and good music. But the risotto was undercooked anda little bit raw.
  20. Vanessaa

    New England

    7 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 24, 2019

    overall3food3service2ambience3
    The service and food were just ok for a Christmas Eve dinner. We had to pour our own wine as the dinner went on
  21. Foodie

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 22, 2019

    overall3food2service4ambience4
    In other cities (NYC, London) this restaurant is spectacular but the Boston location did not stand up to our expectations delivering cold food on a Monday night with an empty restaurant.
  22. greencityguy

    New England

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on December 21, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great atmosphere and delicious food and drinks! Pricey but worth the value for a special occasion or a date night!
  23. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 20, 2019

    overall1food1service5ambience5
    The food was terrible and very over priced. The waitress was wonderful.
  24. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 15, 2019

    overall1food1service1ambience2
    The service was awful and slow. The restaurant was not busy at all. Very poor communication, he got part of our order wrong and the food was absolutely sub par. For the price and the fact that it was a special occasion, I was expecting much more from this restaurant.
  25. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great food and service.
  26. Selewyn

    London

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2019

    overall4food3service5ambience4
    The only problem was that there was too much food. A plate full of fried clams was initially advised as a starter portion but when it arrived it was far loo large for even a main course, and almost half was uneaten. I hate wasting food but this was an excessive sized meal.
  27. RichardJ

    New England

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 11, 2019

    overall3food3service2ambience3
    The restaurant was a best a quarter full, and there were plenty of waistaff on hand, but the service, while friendly, was not up to snuff for a restaurant at this level. Waitstaff seemed to use a team approach, but didn't know who was doing what. I ordered a glass of wine, and didn't even need to taste it. One whiff told me it had been open for days and had turned. That shouldn't happen when you charge $18 for a modest glass of wine. Furthermore, it was a good fifteen minutes before anyone from the waitstaff came by again so I could ask for another glass. Even after all that, it was a rather skimpy pour.
  28. AnnM

    New England

    2 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 9, 2019

    overall3food3service5ambience5
    Usually love the french onion soup. It was not good on Monday evening, December 9. Watered down?
  29. Allie21

    New England

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on December 6, 2019

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Had chance to dine at Chef’s table and watch kitchen. Amazing!
  30. MichaelS

    New England

    2 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2019

    overall3food2service4ambience4
    Much worse than previous experiences here...they seemed to be having an off night (night after Thanksgiving). The food was uniformly worse than on other visits and the service slower.
  31. MATA

    New England

    15 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Fabulous Thanksgiving supper!
  32. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 22, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food and service were excellent
  33. Gl12

    New England

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2019

    overall2food1service1ambience3
    We’ve been to Bar Boulud and loved it. Disappointed this time. Service was slow. It took a long time to be served our meal. When it arrived the food was cold.
  34. cjfloyd

    New England

    9 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2019

    overall3food5service2ambience4
    I am a regular guest and the last two times the service has been marginal to poor. The food is still great.
  35. Penenden

    New England

    73 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    73 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2019

    overall5food4service4ambience4
    Bistro atmosphere but top class food and wine list. Limited choice onnthe menu but high quality.
  36. Paul

    New York Area

    79 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    79 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Four of us came after a Sunday afternoon concert, shortly after the dining room opened. All of us have been at BB many times before. As always, the service was professional and friendly from beginning to end. We all had seafood, all of different sorts, and divided some of BB's excellent side vegetable dishes. Everything was prepared exactly as one would wish. This is my go-to restaurant in the Back Bay. It is uniformly wonderful.
  37. OpenTable Diner

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Teddy our server was fantastic!!!!!
  38. JoelF

    New York Area

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 17, 2019

    overall3food3service4ambience5
    Failure to keep the buffet foods replenished was disappointing.
  39. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 16, 2019

    overall2food1service5ambience4
    Strangely, despite two tries, the kitchen failed to send a medium rare steak. The server was prompt, attentive, and sympathetic throughout the challenging experience.
  40. PaulM

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2019

    overall3food4service2ambience2
    Pleasant but slapdash service. Food good but not outstanding.

FAQs

Bar Boulud is rated 4.3 stars by 1096 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.


Is this your restaurant?
Claim this listing

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Fairfield Street

  • Neighborhood

    Back Bay

  • Hours of operation

    Breakfast: 6:30am - 11am Brunch: 12pm - 3pm (Saturday & Sunday) Lunch: 12pm - 2:30pm Dinner: 5:30pm - 10pm

  • Cuisines

    French American, Bistro, Contemporary French / American

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Parking details

    Valet parking is available at a special rate when validated by Bar Boulud. Validated parking is $24 for up to 3 hours.

  • Public transit

    Closest "T" stops are Copley Station on the Green Line or Back Bay Station on the Orange Line.

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    Ethan Koelbel

  • Entertainment

    Live DJ - Fridays 7-11pmLive Jazz - Saturday 10pm-1am

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Phone number

    (617) 535-8800

  • Private party facilities

    A dynamic, warm and welcoming space, Bar Boulud offers endless possibilities for private breakfast, lunch and dinner events

  • Private party contact

    private dining manager: (617) 535-8800

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  • Terms of Use
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  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
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