Hamersley's Bistro553 Tremont Street

Boston, MA 02116

(617) 423-2700


When you walk into Hamersley's Bistro, you feel a wave of warmth, calm and contentment. Surprisingly, this is before you even taste a single morsel of food. Although it is a high-class, formal South End restaurant, Hamersley's exudes a welcoming and amicable atmosphere. Perhaps we are lured in because the bistro succeeds in being an, as the restuarant's Web site claims, "elegant Boston translation of the homey, family-run country bistros of France". On any given night, one can savor a handpicked wine from owner Fiona Hamersley, and see her husband and partner Gordon Hamersley cooking in the kitchen with his trademark baseball cap.

Twelve years ago, Fiona and Gordon Hamersley opened Hamersley's Bistro in Boston. As a small, quaint French-American bistro, the restaurant barely changed except that it expanded and now has a brick patio for outdoor dining. Some special aspects of the bistro include buttercup-colored walls, an open kitchen and charming paintings of provincial France throughout. Also, make sure to take a trip to the bathroom to delight in the humorous, roly-poly caricatures similar to those you will see on the walls of Zaftig's Delicatessen in Brookline.

Not to be overshadowed by the wonderful atmosphere, Hamersley's food is fresh and delicious. The appetizer of "Warm Roasted Beet, Walnut and Goat Cheese Tart" looked especially tantalizing, but my friend and I refrained from spoiling our appetites. This proved wise since we ordered meat dishes, which were plentiful and succulent. Both the "Roast Chicken with Garlic, Lemon and Parsley" and the Braised Lamb special burst with flavor and were cooked to a precise tenderness. As a side dish, the "Sauted Broccoli Rabe with Gremoulata" added a much-needed healthy aspect to our meals.

Leaving a pinch of room for dessert, my friend and I could not agree on one to share. Since there were so many enticing choices, we each decided to order our own. His "Chocolate and Pecan Pave with Coffee Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce" and my "Lemon Custard Souffle" complimented each other, so we nibbled at both. Being the restaurant's signature dessert, the Lemon Custard was definitely superior and melted in the mouth. Still, it would be hard to go wrong with any of the top-quality desserts on the menu.

For a fine dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere, Hamersley's Bistro is superb. Furthermore, the location in the South End has lots of cute boutiques and pleasant parks to enjoy afterwards in an evening stroll. Although the bistro is by no means inexpensive, it is not terribly overpriced either. Treat yourself and try it - you'll be happy you did.