How is The Hungry I restaurant rated?

Name: The Hungry I
Address: 71 1/2 Charles Street, Boston, MA, United States, 02114
Telephone: (617) 227-3524
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4

The Hungry I

4.0

536 Reviews

$50 and over

French

Top Tags:

Welcome to the Hungry I! Tucked just below street level on Beacon Hill's picturesque brownstone-lined Charles Street, the Hungry I is charming and intimate. Although small, it is quite cozy and very romantic. There's a true elegance to the Hungry I that comes from the surroundings, the food and the staff. A distinctively different place that makes every visit really special.

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Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
French
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:30 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(617) 227-3524
Website
http://www.hungryiboston.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Peter Ballarin

Location
71 1/2 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
Neighborhood
Beacon Hill
Cross street
Mt. Vernon Street
Parking details
Street Parking available; also Charles St and Boston Common Public parking lots are close by. Valet Service available nightly during dinner service; 3 doors past the restaurant on the corner.
Public transit
Charles St Red Line is the closest; Arlington St on the green line is also walkable.
Additional
Beer, Full Bar, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wine

Poulet Julia$29.00
a breast rolled with a brie farcie, Sauce supreme
Duck Breast Pan$38.00
seared with dates and leeks, porto
Swordfish Mirebeaux$33.00
anchovy and roasted red pepper crossed, Baked in a lemon balm
Beef Bourgignon$32.00
finished in a potato casserole
Venison au Poivre Noir$41.00
peppered, flamed with cognac, Burgundy and sour cream
Scallops$36.00
corn dredged, pan seared with asparagus, ginger& Chablis
Torte des Legume$25.00
baked in a pecorino crust

What 536 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.0

4 based on all time ratings

3.8Food
4.1Service
4.4Ambience
3.8Value

Noise • Quiet

536 Reviews

j
jersey
Greater Boston
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 6, 2019
overall4food4service4ambience4
Nice experience. Glad we dined here before Hungry i closes. Food & value was very good - quality & portions. Owner is charming. Our waiter was affable & provided good service. We wish them (& all others who will soon become displaced) happiness in the next chapter of their lives!
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D
Disappointed
Greater Boston
8 reviews
vip
2.0
8 reviews
Dined on September 5, 2019
overall2food2service4ambience3
Ambience nice, but food way too heavy.
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TV
TarfiV
Baltimore
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 25, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lovely intimate space, great traditional Continental/French cuisine, and excellent service. The chef/owner, Peter Ballarin, is very entertaining - worth going just to talk with him. I've been going there since I was a kid, and it's always fun to go back.
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JM
JohnM
Los Angeles
34 reviews
vip
4.0
34 reviews
Dined on August 24, 2019
overall4food4service4ambience4
The food is very good, classic French but the deserts are really special and home made. The restaurant is in a old Beacon Hill ground floor stone building with a nice outdoor terrace. Staff is friendly, and nice. Recommended for a quiet, romantic evening as well as every day eats.
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SS
SummerS
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 21, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
My family loved The Hungry I! Extremely nice and knowledgeable waiter, and the food was amazing. The snapper was fantastic, and so was the venison. Honestly, all of it was fantastic!
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CS
ChristineS
Cleveland
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 13, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our experience at The Hungry I was nothing short of outstanding in every way. The service could not have been better and we enjoyed chatting with Sam. He was knowledgeable, helpful and congenial. Thank you so much for a romantic and perfect evening!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 24, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
A pleasant environment. Great service and highest quality food.
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V
Vaultboy21
Las Vegas
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 2, 2019
overall5food5service4ambience5
Amazing food, Peter the owner is the best and a real character.
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DD
DebraD
Unspecified
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 28, 2019
overall3food3service2ambience5
The atmosphere was lovely, the food good, service adequate. The wine list admirable and the house wine very fine.
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c
charlesj
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 22, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Can not be beat. Attentive service, great menu and service, outstanding wine, and an outdoor situation without any noise ( no obnoxious unnecessary music- which is why I picked it). A jewel in the heart of Beacon Hill. Probably the best restaurant in the city to catch up with friends ( a quiet place where conversation is possible.) My last dinner there was with visitors who had never seen Boston. This could be a niche for restaurants to provide what used to be called fine dinning. My apologies to the staff for us staying beyond (4 1/2 hours) the usual dinner length. He wase extremely patient and even provided a good bye sip of port. I have no idea what the bill came to, but the experience was memorable and worth what ever it came to.
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r
ronj
Chicago
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 20, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous food, very cool atmosphere, couldn't have been better.. AND not many guests so lots of privacy.
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MH
MiscHuman
Greater Boston
44 reviews
vip
3.0
44 reviews
Dined on June 13, 2019
overall3food3service3ambience4
The Hungry I is a quirky neighborhood restaurant. It is reminiscent of "The Grotto", another Beacon Hill establishment hidden in a cellar, except with food and service that are not as good. I'd skip this place for dinner, but it looked fun hanging out at the bar for drinks.
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LU
LUCAB
Greater Boston
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 8, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Really nice place, romantic the outdoor patio, food was very good and staff very friendly.
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JB
JamesB
Sacramento
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 1, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Special place to celebrate our anniversary.. an awesome spot like no other. Jose gave us the royal treatment, but appears he gave same to other tables. From our cocktail through desert food was outstanding in a very cool ambience.
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n
nitag
Greater Boston
26 reviews
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
My husband took me to the Hungry I for Mother's Day and it was great! Even thought the restaurant was busy, our service was excellent and the time between courses was perfect. Choices for the day were 3 appetizers, 4 entrees and 3 deserts at a very reasonable fixed price. I had the spinach salad with warm pancetta dressing to start and my husband had the mushroom bisque. Both were delicious. My entree was poached salmon on a bed of asparagus, which was perfectly cooked, and my husband had ham with fried polenta and scrabbled eggs. The dishes were wonderful and the portions were very generous. We finished up with a chocolate mousse torte (mine) and apple pie with cranberries (his) for desert. Yummy. Besides being Boston's most romantic restaurant, the food is always outstanding. I look forward to our next visit.
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DQ
DrQue
Greater Boston
4 reviews
vip
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2019
overall4food3service5ambience5
I have been here several times in the past. The service and ambiance is always outstanding. This was our 3rd Mothers Day celebration here and unfortunately, the food was good but not outstanding as it always has been in the past.
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RK
RobertK
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 11, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
My girlfriend and I really enjoyed ourselves. The food was so good and the service was perfect
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R
Renee
Chicago
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2019
overall4food4service4ambience5
I thought it was great but never enough other people. I wonder why? Thanks.
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NT
mNoT
Greater Boston
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 27, 2019
overall3food2service3ambience4
Food generally lacked flavor, appetizer was downright bad, wine list years are evidently out of date (but with the same pricing) and bottle presented (with a 4 year more recent vintage) with no comment.
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p
professorai
Greater Boston
20 reviews
3.0
20 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2019
overall3food4service4ambience5
we ended up on charles street, aiming for the Persian restaurant Lala Rokh, which shut down permanently. H.I. is a quaint basement cafe advertising as a french restaurant. The mushroom bisque was OK, and the filet of sole rolled around asparagus was very nice, but overall it was nothing to write home about.
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S
Saltandsand4
Greater Boston
27 reviews
vip
5.0
27 reviews
Dined on March 31, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our favorite Boston restaurant. Would recommend to a friend in a second.
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RB
RichardB
Las Vegas
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on March 30, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
If can only eat at one restaurant in Boston, make it this one.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Edinburgh
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 24, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
The service was amazing!! The food was delicious and the ambiance was great. No complaints
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SW
ShermanW
Greater Boston
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 17, 2019
overall4food4service5ambience1
Cozy need not look old and musty. Modern auberge should entice us with a bit more color and warmth.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
10 reviews
vip
2.0
10 reviews
Dined on March 11, 2019
overall2food1service4ambience2
While the server/bartender was really friendly and helpful, the food was below average at best. I was really disappointed that the food was unseasoned and seemed to have been reheated. Very poor quality.
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M
Mike1232
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 3, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious Food! Charming atmosphere and delightful location.
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NI
NuttyIrishman
Greater Boston
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on February 24, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is our go-to special occasion restaurant. This was our fourth time there The food, atmosphere and service are all top notch. Took son there to celebrate his engagement. He texted us before we arrived home telling us how wonderful he thought it was.
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SE
SouthEndRegulars
Greater Boston
8 reviews
vip
2.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 17, 2019
overall2food1service4ambience5
A very bad meal in a most beautiful, romantic and relaxing setting. Decent wine, good music, and the fireplace rescued a very poorly prepared and uninspired meal. We have been to Hungry I several times over the past 20 years and, while the place remains an ambience gem, the food has declined dramatically. Sorry!
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
11 reviews
vip
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2019
overall4food3service5ambience5
Service was fantastic.
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R
Ravenwell
Greater Boston
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
If you want a great romantic date night, this is the place. The music mix was eclectic. So off the wall it reminded me of being home except that I could never cook food as astounding as they do at the Hungry I.
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M
Mark
Greater Boston
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2019
overall3food3service4ambience5
When I made the reservation there was no indication that it was a fixed price menu only. When we got there the menu said it was $250 per person. We discussed it, the waiter heard us discussing it, and we nearly left. We stayed anyway. When the bill came it was actually $250 per couple. The waiter told me he knew we were confused, but he never said anything. He let me sit the whole meal with that stress. The salad was supposed to have figs. There were no figs. The escargot appetizer was good. The sole dinner was "fishy." My wife couldn't eat it, so I traded entrees with her. The duck entree was good. The cheesecake for dessert was not cheesecake. It was regular cake. It was supposed to have peaches. We couldn't find any. The ambiance was good.
1 person found this helpful
JD
JoshD
Greater Boston
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 15, 2019
overall3food2service3ambience3
Food was decent but homestyle and very overpriced. Great service though the decor for Valentine’s Day was overly suggestive which was strange. Not worth the price tag.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on February 15, 2019
overall2food2service3ambience1
Valentine’s Day. Stuffed into the basement on top of other tables even though the spacious upstairs had available tables. Girlfriend wore my suit jacket because we were next to the window and heat was off. The food was okay, not great and certainly, CERTAINLY not worth the $250 prix fix charge. I understand the vday premium most restaurants charge but this was a little much.
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E
Eastiegirl69
Greater Boston
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 11, 2019
overall5food5service4ambience5
Delicious food in the warm ambiance of a Beacon Hill home. Great place for a romantic evening with a lovely courtyard for warm weather eating.
1 person found this helpful
RM
RudyMass
Greater Boston
35 reviews
5.0
35 reviews
Dined on February 9, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Have enjoyed multiple meals here and never been disappointed. Requested our server Jose select my main course tonight (after narrowing it down to three choices) and it was delightful. A wonderful Saturday night date.
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MK
MolK
San Francisco
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on February 9, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service, perfect ambiance, and excellent food.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 3, 2019
overall3food2service4ambience5
Food was over cooked, both the swordfish and beef. I have been there before but not for about a year. Ambiance was still lovely, Andrea Bocelli played in the background, nice fire place. We will try it again another time.
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G
Gigi
Greater Boston
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 17, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Have lived around the corner for years and only just checked it out. What a romantic, cozy restaurant. The food was amazing! Perfect portion size and healthy gourmet.
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D
Davie
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 4, 2019
overall5food5service5ambience5
Hungry I is a gem tucked into a cozy hole in the base of Beacon Hill. Everything was superb as was the atmosphere and service. A meal that makes you feel relaxed and special. I’ll definitely be going back again and again!
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SS
SimoneS
Greater Boston
5 reviews
vip
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 1, 2019
overall3food2service3ambience5
I have heard so many good things about this restaurant and really wanted to try it but were left disappointed. First, both of our wine glasses were dirty and when we pointed it out to the waiter his response "oh that's just dishwasher residue" that should never happen at a restaurant of this caliber. We had to ask for new glasses. Second, the food was really bland and flavorless. We then ordered dessert which came out 2 seconds after we ordered and from the taste of it, they clearly pulled it out of the refrigerator, It was cold and unappealing. There are so many good restaurants in Boston at half the price we paid for dinner that was mediocre.
2 people found this helpful

FAQs

The Hungry I is rated 4 stars by 536 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.

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Claim this listing

71 1/2 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114

Additional information

Cross street
Mt. Vernon Street
Neighborhood
Beacon Hill
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:30 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
French
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking available; also Charles St and Boston Common Public parking lots are close by. Valet Service available nightly during dinner service; 3 doors past the restaurant on the corner.
Public transit
Charles St Red Line is the closest; Arlington St on the green line is also walkable.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Peter Ballarin
Additional
Beer, Full Bar, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wine

Website
http://www.hungryiboston.com/
Phone number
(617) 227-3524

The Hungry I

Not available on OpenTable

Additional information

Menu

Starters

Sweet Potato Dumplings$13.00

Liver Pate Crepe$16.00

Baked Escargot Onion$18.00

Compare Soaked Figs$14.00

Three Bean Cassoulet$15.00

Salads

Hearts of Iceberg Lettuce$14.00

Romaine & Watercres$13.00

Main Course

Poulet Julia$29.00

Duck Breast Pan$38.00

Swordfish Mirebeaux$33.00

Beef Bourgignon$32.00

Venison au Poivre Noir$41.00

Scallops$36.00

Torte des Legume$25.00

What 536 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

How is The Hungry I restaurant rated?

Not available on OpenTable

Additional information