Kendall Square is better known for science and tech companies than its dining scene, which is heavy on lunch stand-bys catering to office workers.
Restaurateur Loic Le Garrec is hoping to change that in this corner of Cambridge. He debuted Batifol late last fall, bringing the hustle, bustle, and buzz of a Parisian brasserie with it. Le Garrec is the powerhouse behind Petit Robert Bistro, a longtime favorite among Bostonians seeking escargot and pâté.
Batifol also focuses on high-quality French cooking but isn’t a replica of its older sibling. “It’s more like a brasserie type of place, so it’s a faster pace,” Le Garrec says. “The cuisine is traditional, but it has a little twist.”


Petit Robert Bistro regulars can expect favorites such as boeuf bourguignon, but the menu at Batifol expands significantly upon Le Garrec’s first restaurant.
Salmon and leek dip with buckwheat crackers stands out on a list of hors d’oeuvres that includes beef tartare and fried cauliflower served with harissa aioli. No starters (save for the cheese plate) cost more than $20, and all are ideal to share over a glass of wine.
“We always work hard for guests not to spend too much money,” Le Garrec says. “You can come in, have a full dinner, and spend $300 on two people, or $70. We want to be able to serve everyone.”
Standout mains include pan-seared cod served on a cassoulet of crispy sausage and cannellini beans. Chef Cyrille Couet sprinkles the dish with shredded, crisped pieces of citrus-infused brioche. A roasted butternut squash and spinach risotto gets punched up with garlic, cashew, and brown butter sauce.
Couet frequently changes the menu. A recent addition included cashew-crusted red perch in a Thai-style red curry.
At Batifol, there’s always something exciting on the menu. A tartine topped with tuna confit, anchovies, and saffron aioli is a midday hit, while roasted salmon with hibiscus sauce is among the dinnertime favorites, Le Garrec says.


The cocktail menu rotates as frequently as the food. For now, chase away Boston’s bluster with the Chaud Bouillant, a steaming hot cup of rye, amaro, and honey-ginger syrup. The Pigalle, which gets its bright-purple hue from Empress gin, is another highlight. As is the Le Chenapan, featuring prosecco, apricot liqueur, and blackberry syrup.
The playful cocktail menu best represents the restaurant’s name, which comes from the French verb “batifoler,” meaning “to frolic.”
“We’re going to keep changing them all of the time so there’s always something to see,” Le Garrec says, referring to the cocktails. “The smoky things, the bubbly things, burning herbs, there’s so much potential to entertain.”
The wine wall is another standout at Batifol. It both maximizes storage and showcases the restaurant’s wide selection of French, American, and Italian wines. They start at $11 per glass, $26 for a half bottle, and $44 for the whole bottle.


French brasserie vibes dominate the space, too. Large windows look out on the street. Subway tiles on a wall inside have the restaurant’s name emblazoned on it like a Paris Metro station. The bistro chairs and the blue banquettes add to the restaurant’s cozy charm.
Le Garrec designed the space so there are plenty of nooks for a romantic night out or a quiet, mid-day work session.
Hot tip: Batifol is one of the few places in the city that broadcasts international soccer matches. Le Garrec kept the TVs from the previous tenant. When a match isn’t on, images of iconic French spots such as the Pont d’Avignon evoke the French countryside.
Le Garrec is buoyed by the fact that his new restaurant already has a group of regulars. The French expat now calls Kendall Square home. “I’ve always loved the energy there,” he says. “I especially love it now as more and more people move in and visit us.”

Batifol is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to midnight.
Carley Thornell-Wade is a Boston-based food, travel, and technology writer who’s been to more than 70 countries and delighted in tasting the regional delicacies of each.