The Butcher Shop - Boston, MA

Chef Barbara Lynch and her vision never fail to impress me. My companion and I decided to pop into The Butcher Shop on Tremont Street in Boston one night for some steak and wine; we actually had a gift certificate and wanted to use it up :) and we are sure glad we did!
I am a steak and potatoes kind of gal and this restaurant was right up my alley. My companion and I were seated immediately upon arrival on the high top bar stools facing the wall of windows that overlooks the streets around Tremont - perfect for people watching and ambiance.

The restaurant is absolutely perfect - white linens, sparkling glasses, clean bar, and attentive servers that knew the menu through and through. Our waiter started us off with water poured AWAY from us (something all restaurants should do!!!) and made some comments on the weather and the beautiful night. He recommended a wine and explained his favorite starter. Once he was finished we had to have it - the artisan cheeses and accoutrements. The plate arrived with perfectly crispy breads, a creamy honey spread, various sharp, dry, soft, and hard cheeses. It was a perfect starter with our wine.

We decided to order a few entrees and sides and just share everything. We decided on the prime tenderloin, risotto, tagliatelle with bolognese, the Misty Knolls chicken, and the chocolate mousse. We decided to order the tenderloin medium rare to taste and feel the real texture and flavor of the meat. We were not disappointed; it was beyond perfect. The tagliatelle cooked perfectly and the bolognese had the perfect combination of sauce and meat and sprinkled with a sharp tasting parmesan.The Butcher Shop is definitely a place that knows their risotto and you will not be disappointed to try it out. The chocolate mousse was decadent, the perfect portion for us two to share, with the best texture and flavor that I have ever tasted.

You should know that the menu does change, usually with the seasons, and it is full of meats, pâtés, and other unusual items for the average person out to dinner. But it is because most of the animal is used for the menu and not wasted - perfect.

I give the Shop 5 hearts - the atmosphere is perfect, the waitstaff impeccably trained, extensive wine list, but still a limited number of dinner choices and the menu definitely "talks" to a particular type of diner.

Don't forget to visit the butcher shop in the back to pick up any necessary items you might need for tomorrow's night dinner - it is a must to try and recreate the amazing dinner you had here back at home.

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