Mistral

Superb and unique — menu was simple with complex preparations. Service was excellent. Really nice and evening and memory. I’ll be back!

Mistral — Boston, MA — 5÷31÷2016
This is the first of Chef Jamie Mammano’s six amazing restaurants in the Boston Metro area… Like some of the others I’ve been to, large grandiose dining room beautifully decorated… The entire place hums with the efficiency of a fine Swiss time piece… Each person moving in harmony as though the entire event was choreographed… Mistral is where art meets cuisine with its French Mediterranean fare… It tastes every bit as good as it looks and although I like discovering new places… This just got added to my go back to list…
First out… A small round loaf of bread served warm with softened butter and a Chick Pea and Garlic purée… I could easily eat the entire loaf but decided to be good and have just two pieces… It’s just a great bread…
Tonight’s appetizer… The Asparagus Bisque… Asparagus, Cream, Leeks, Chicken Stock, Parsley and Spinach all puréed smooth, served with a Yogurt and Lemon Panna Cotta… Beautifully plated with a garnish of Jumbo Lump Crab and Herb Salad… There is no picture that could do justice as to exactly how delicious this soup was… Wow!
The main… A Half «Whole Roasted» Duck & Wild Mushroom Risotto, Dried Cherry Gastrique… Yet another work of art! Rich in Colour… Flavour… Atop a Risotto in a Savory sauce that just has you wanting more… Amazing, but then I fully expected that it would be…
And for dessert… The house made ice cream trio… Vanilla, Chocolate and Coffee along with my signature Cappuccino! My server Tom was awesome as was Jasmyn one of the managers for her attentive service… Add this to your «must try» list in the Boston area… Simply marvelous, I’ll be back!

It’s always a somber day when it comes time to send a former prize filly to the glue factory — but, after last night’s lackluster meal, I conclude with certainty that Mistral must move to that greener pastures upstairs — or, at the very least, get a few new stable coats and an upgraded saddle — in her current state, girlfriend is tired.
Team N first ventured here 16y ago, me, a tender teenager on the precipice of falling into the crevasse that is the New England boarding school experience, my parents, likely just looking for a calm setting to enjoy a decent piece of fish. Over the years, I probably come once a year — sometimes it’s great — but more often I leave feeling that it’s resting on its laurels — if you told me it much of it is prepped at an industrial off-​site kitchen, I wouldn’t be shocked.
Rolled in for our 730p resi, place fairly full — the crowd suggests that whereas Mistral used to be capable of attracting a crowd looking to intrigue their palates and stuff bellies (portions ain’t petite), it’s now where families hailing from far away lands congregate to celebrate a golden child’s graduation from one of the billion schools around and businessmen take hookers, rather than having its 2−4−6 tops of patrons actually seeking notable food.
Admittedly, I only chose it for this weekend because it’s close to where the clan is staying — and it has a patina of glory that will keep Papa N within his comfort zone. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for someone who spends as much time nerding out abt food as I do.
Commenced with arugula salad (rhubarb, marcona almonds), escargot (red wine, garlic butter, semolina toast), asparagus salad (shaved, microgreens, something lactosy), and crab ravioli (thyme, tomato broth) — ravs being the star — pillowy, nice proportion of filling to pasta, though not for the faint of tum as its muy rico. Salads were nice, though without combinations that made the ingredients sing. Pass, pass.
For mains, if the roasted branzino is on the menu, get it. It’s lemony, flaky, tender. The most lovely thing I’ve had here. Skip the halibut — for $ 42, dry and bland isn’t what I signed up for. At previous visits, the rack of lamb (spring pea salad, marsala jus) and roasted duck (shroom risotto, cherry gastrique) have been happily noshed. So yes, it’s clearly possible to have a nice meal here. But really, isn’t nice kind of… boring?
Dessert is adequate — the chocolate sorbet, fine — not quite rich enough for me (that’s what she said) — the profiteroles, basic — key time tart, lacking sass. Crème brulee, if you must, is what is expected.
Idk — the menu hasn’t changed in ages — the décor remains the same — and it’s all just a bit tired — case and point, the faucets in the bathroom are missing the H/​C markers (have been for years) — the service, while generally kind — last night happened to be inattentive and detached. I felt like the bussers did the lionshare of the work — our waiter just gave zero effs. I’m sorry that we weren’t popping hella bottles of Cristal — but when a light din for 2 will run you at least a cool two fifty — a full meal for five significantly more — it should be better.
I want to feel like the kitchen cares, and lately, it’s all dead-​eyed and soulless. Yum.
Starters (tartare, mussels, bisques, greens, cheese assiettes galore) clock in btwn $ 13 – 24, flatbreads (tomato/​mozz; beef tenderloud/​mashed potato; white pizza/​arugula; shrooms/​garlic) $ 20 – 24; entrees $ 21-«market» — with most hovering around $ 42ish/​per plate — desserts (rhubarb tart, profiteroles, crème brulee, ice screams, sorbets) $ 11 – 22. Overall, while there are still some bright spots, Mistral’s stormy seduction has grown old.

On a week night dinner, expect a full business crowd! Everyone around us seemed to just get off work and go for business meetings or co-​worker dinners.
My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our anniversary, and we were well taken care of by our server.
+ SEARED FOIE GRAS WITH DUCK CONFIT ($ 24) /​/​This appetizer was glorious. There was duck confit stuffed inside a brioche topped with seared foie gras swimming in a cherry sauce that was not tart at all. I could’ve eaten this as an entrée! It was hearty, savory, but not too heavy with the foie gras. The duck confit melted in our mouths.
~ TUNA TARTARE ($ 21) /​/​Mistral is esteemed for this appetizer! They were kind enough to beautifully split the tartare between my boyfriend and I in separate plates. The tartare’s presentation was killer, with a thin layer of tuna wrapping the circumference. However, the tartare had too much soy sauce, as it was overpowering the tuna. The thin crispy wontons added a nice, light and crunchy element to the dish.
+ GRILLED FAROE ISLAND SALMON ($ 34) /​/​The salmon was perfectly cooked, breaking the minute you put your fork into it. I loved the parsnip purée with the English peas and asparagus!
~ PAN ROASTED PRIME SIRLOIN ($ 44) /​/​My boyfriend ordered this entrée, and they did NOT skimp on size! The steak literally took up the entire plate. However, they did not cook the meat to a medium rare and it was a little too tough for our liking. However, I commend them for not skimping on quantity for being a French restaurant!
We celebrated with a CRÈME BRULÉE ($ 13) dessert, which was the perfect end to our meal without being too sweet or overpowering. They wrote «Happy Anniversary» on our plate, which was beautifully presented!

Let me start by saying I went into my visit with fairly high expectations based on the reviews. It is a lovely restaurant the décor was inviting and warm. The staff was very good and on point.
My average review is based on what I found to be a somewhat uninspired menu. The food was good but not exceptional. Once again had I not gone in with high expectations my opinion may be different. All and all it was a nice place albeit pricey and I would return but not until trying many other places on my list

I went to Mistral for the Sunday brunch with a friend. The menu was somewhat underwhelming, offering mostly old classics with little verve.
For drinks, we got a bloody Maria, an Irish coffee, and a regular coffee. The bloody Maria was average, tasting like little more than v8 with some spiciness. It did have the unique aspect of long, thin slices of shaved celery, which I’m still struggling to understand how they did. The Irish coffee was much better, balancing the whiskey, coffee, cream, and sugar perfectly.
We started the food rolling with an order of the cinnamon rolls and the truffled deviled eggs. The cinnamon rolls were cooked to order, so they had that fresh-​out-​of-​the-​oven warmth and softness that is lost soon after first preparation. The texture was phenomenal, but the experience was imperfect because the flavor was corrupted by a surplus of lemon zest that made it just a bit too bitter and tangy. The truffled deviled eggs were served with a wedge of parmigiano through the middle and atop a leaf of basil, and the flavors were brilliantly orchestrated. This was probably my favorite item from the meal.
For the entrées, we ordered the duck confit and root vegetable hash and the smoked salmon Benedict. The benedict was a good but uncreative interpretation, though it did excel in one aspect: the English muffin, which was extremely fresh and tender. The confit & hash was the worst part of the meal, with a dry, poorly seasoned mix of vegetables and duck. Even the slice of challah served alongside it was disappointing, especially given the performance of the rest of their breads.
Mistral also serves a coffee cake muffin as an amuse bouche, which was well textured, but just shy on flavor. Finally, pommes lyonnaise (essentially home fries) are served with the entrées. These were perfectly textured, but, to my taste, could have used a touch of acidity to balance out the fatty saltiness that always accompanies fried potatoes.

I got married in Mistral’s private room (both the ceremony and reception). The entire experience was flawless. Lisa, the coordinator, really took care of all the arrangements and catered to special requests. On the night of the wedding, I feel like all my husband and I had to do was show up. I had guests coming up to me and complimenting me on the venue choice and raving about the food. I had a family member with a special dietary restriction, and they really catered to her; even bringing her a different dessert when she didn’t ask. The entire night went exactly as planned and was perfect.
I’ve been several times to the regular dining room for dinner and brunch since then and the service and food always continue to impress. The bar is also great (the Basil Lime Gimlet is my favorite!) Mistral is a very special place; one of the very best!

BEST SERVICE IN BOSTON PERIOD
food is also amazing, but service is the best in the Boston area. food is good also. I think you get my point: P

Went here for our anniversary and found it lovely all around. From the warm and gracious welcome to the staff and servers everyone was knowledgeable and helpful.
The ambience is warm and slightly corporate but lighting is flattering.
The tuna tartare is as good as it gets and the mushroom thin crust pizza was equally fabulous. Linguini was tasty and the chocolate torte was decadent.
Overall this is pretty much a must try in Boston.

One of my favorite places for brunch! The interior in here is really nice; it has bright lighting and a very white clean color scheme and comfy seats. The location can be a little inconvenient but definitely worth it!
First they start off with a coffee/​crumb cake muffin which is extremely delicious! As for the things we ordered. We got the cinnamon rolls which are baked fresh in a mini cast iron and it’s absolutely delicious but can be a bit sweet for some. We then order omelettes and the portion were huge! Both omelettes were cooked perfectly and the sauce it sat in went perfectly well with the fillings. If you’re okay with sharing, I would just get one and get something else so you get to try more of the delicious dishes!
I highly recommend coming here and I will definitely be coming back again for brunch as well as to try dinner!

This is now my favorite brunch spot. Coffee cake muffins with cinnamon butter and apple spread instead of bread. I love their pancakes– the lemon poppyseed ones are my favorite and are such a good deal ($ 14) as they come with a generous side of the softest potatoes you will ever eat. The duck confit is also very tasty, the duck is not dry at all. Mimosas are quite strong and the waitstaff is amazing as usual. Mistral brunch holds a special place in my heart.
**definitely make reservations for brunch!

Came here on a Saturday night on Valentine’s weekend. Had really high hopes for this restaurant and they really didn’t let up.
My only con was we had an 8 o’clock reservation set by our hotel. We got there five minutes before and were told to have a drink by the bar which is normal. Turns out, our table wasn’t ready for another 50 minutes.
Thank god the food lived up to the hype and got rid of the bad start. We ordered the Maine crab ravioli with rock crab, thyme and a tomato broth. We also ordered the steak carpaccio which was topped with Parmesan and had a truffle aioli drizzled underneath. Both of these appetizers were delicious and was a perfect start to our meal.
For my entrée I ordered the braised lamb osso bucco over goat cheese polenta, oven cured tomatoes and a green olive gremolata. One of the best entrees I’ve ever had. Anytime I see an osso bucco on a menu, I must have it. It didn’t disappoint. It was so tender and well cooked. Don’t forget the bone marrow in the bones! One of my favorite things to have.
We skipped dessert because the martinis and bottle of wine was quite enough. Mistral definitely was everything we wanted and more. When in town, this is the place to dine.

Full disclosure, my boyfriend brought me here for my birthday, so I was bound to love it.
Having said that, the atmosphere, the food, the service, nothing disappointed.
We got the carpaccio as a starter which was absolutely delicious. The Parmesan, arugula, fresh steak and sauce combination was like a little party at every bite.
I got the swordfish while the bf got the duck. The duck was a little bit on the sweeter side, and I liked my swordfish better as it had a little kick to it.
I felt very classy and at the same time very comfortable (pillows for the lady!) and was a perfect celebratory yet intimate dinner setting

Disappointing.
walked in and felt like I’d entered a themed restaurant in Disney. We’d been trying to have brunch here for weeks, but every time we called to make a reservation, they were full for the remainder of the day.
Finally, we got a table a week ahead and came mentally prepared for 5 star dining. The complementary coffee cake muffin was the best thing about the restaurant. I ordered chocolate chip pancakes with bananas and was given a plate of thinly sliced yellow cake. I also ordered a side of bacon that was SO burnt, but when I sent it back the waitress informed me this was their standard. The second batch of bacon was literally raw and just soaked in grease.
My sister ordered the duck confit with hash which could best be described as «one note» and «flat.»
The prices were outrageous, and we will not be returning.

Came for dinner — loved every single dish. Our absolute favorites were: salmon tartare (don’t even think about, just get it, trust me), beef carpaccio (so soft, melts in your mouth), duck on risotto (duck is cooked perfectly), and the tenderloin/​mashed potato/​truffle oil flatbread (those flavors. amazing). We also got the dessert sampler — each selection was really good, but nothing super special compared to desserts at other places.

Great service but a tad off on the food.
For main courses, the tenderloin was excellent, the pork was lacking, and the linguini was under cooked.
For deserts the chocolate torte was fantastic, the crème brûlée burnt and the carrot cake overly dry.
If the food can be brought up to the level of the service this place would rock!
We know they can do better but last night was not it!

The brunch was really great here. The French toast is a stunning tower of crispness it is topped off with poached pears and whipped cream. Yumm! The lobster omelet was rich but not overly heavy and tasted divine when scooped up with a piece of freshly baked challah bread.
I usually hit up diners for brunch but this was a nice change. The restaurant is delicious for dinner. If you haven’t come for dinner definitely order the truffle Mac n cheese its soooo good.

Ate here on a Monday night (and the place was packed — a good sign).
The restaurant is easy to miss so drive slowly as you approach it. Valet is $ 21.00, otherwise you can try finding parking on the street.
I’ll keep this short and simple: everything was absolutely delicious.
Our server was very nice and did a great job too.
Ordered the black truffle macaroni appetizer and it was amazing… one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. The dish had so much depth and was so savory. Each bite left me wanting more. I could have licked the plate clean — that’s how good it was.
I also had the salmon tartare appetizer. Very good. Had a fresh, clean taste and balanced very well.
For the entrée, ordered the grilled salmon. Perfectly charred on the outside, and lentils and bacon that accompanied it was a nice pairing.
Also had the dessert platter at the end and it was a nice way to finish the night.
Your wallet will take a bite, but for a special occasion, this place is worth it.

My boyfriend and I came here for his birthday. We both got the mussels for the appetizer, he got the salmon entrée and I got the cornish hen. The mussels were probably some of the best I’ve ever had and the cornish hen was huge and succulent. My boyfriend said the salmon was delicious. The wait staff was super attentive and friendly and took account of the note I left for a birthday dessert on the opentable reservation. Mistral is a nice, upscale restaurant for an intimate dinner with your significant other or a small group of friends. A little pricey, but definitely worth it and looking forward to coming back!

My rating had been 4.5, but now it is 4. I made reservations one week in advance on Open Table and specifically requested a table in the back by the large windows away from the restroom/​foot traffic area. What did we get? A table by the restroom/​foot traffic area. I expected a better arrangement having made reservations in advance and with the specific request, or at least an explanation as to why such request could not be accommodated.
The other factor contributing to the downgrade is the scrambled eggs. I like my food simple, but cooked to near perfection, and the scrambled eggs were a big let-​down. I have gotten better scrambled eggs from Paramount in Beacon Hill (a fast-​paced, casual, absolutely delicious place). Scrambled eggs should be warm, tender, and creamy. My order of scrambled eggs at Mistral were luke-​warm, bordering dry, with a tough skin on the surface. They almost reminded me of the scrambled eggs from my college years in the dining hall. They definitely were not French-​styled scrambled eggs; the French would never commit this kind of travesty. If Mistral is going to hold itself out as French, then it needs to improve the consistency and texture of its scrambled eggs. My friends enjoyed their entrees (which were much pricier), so I know the chefs can cook well. The fact that my scrambled eggs were not as profitable for the restaurant is no excuse to slack off in its preparation. The best foods are the simplest, cooked perfectly. I was disappointed by the three-​egg scramble at Mistral. This is a reminder that they should not neglect the basics in pursuit of «glory». After I chased some of the eggs down with a few strips of bacon, I was left staring into the dry, highlighter-​yellow pile of leftover scrambled eggs that I did not want to finish.

We have only been here once for a graduation dinner, but enjoyed it a lot. Typical high-​end French menu with a sophisticated atmosphere. Expected the décor on the inside to be a little more unique though. Started out with foie gras and salad. For entrees, we ordered the pan roasted halibut and beef tenderloin. The dishes were enjoyable and the chef nailed some complex flavors. However, we personally prefer Deauxave for French in Boston and have dined their multiple times.

Mistral is probably my favorite place for brunch in Boston. The service is great, and the atmosphere is lovely.
I’ve only been there for brunch, so I can’t really speak for their dinner service. Last time I had the French toast with poached pear, which was delicious. It satisfied my craving for something sweet, but wasn’t overly so.
I definitely need to come back for dinner!

I can’t believe I have lived in Boston most of my life and have only now been to Mistral. It is going to get added to the special occasion (or maybe just because) rotation.
The food was phenomenal and the portions were surprisingly huge, for a place that serves Frenchy food with all the heavy sauces. I was thinking of desert initially but could not finish my entrée after splitting a couple of appetizers. The wine list is all encompassing, with (alas!) to be expected rather large mark-​ups.
We started with escargot and the foie gras. The escargot came in a rich burgundy sauce, almost like from a beef stew and was really good. We scraped up every last bit of sauce with the bread. The foie gras (a generous portion) comes on a brioche with pieces of duck confit — also great. Both were pretty rich and heavy.
I had a special pork osso bucco over a mushroom and butternut squash rissotto and my husband had the steak au poivre — cooked to perfection both.
I want to try everything on the menu!

Great atmosphere and food! Went there on a Friday night for dinner, was able to be seated right away (had reservations). Took at least 10 min for a server to come and take drink orders. Cocktails were good but pricey ($ 12 – 15 each). They brought fresh bread half an hour later with butter and a really tasty chickpea dip. I had the crab ravioli ($ 18) as my main dish even though its an appetizer– came with 4 pieces, pasta itself was very good but the crap had a very fishy smell and the taste was average. The beef tenderloin was tasty esp with the horseradish mashed potatoes. For dessert I had the nectarine and blueberry cobbler which was excellent. Food was good overall, pricey, but service could have been better.

I went here for brunch and made reservations on open table. I called mistral to change the number of people in my reservations to 8 people and they mentioned that if we didn’t show up there would be a 25 dollar charge per person, but when they called me to confirm my reservation, the hostess mentioned it was a 15 dollar charge per person. Either way it didn’t matter to me because we were planning on showing up!
The menu looked amazing and I couldn’t wait to try the food on their menu. The give you a free coffee cake pastry to begin with and this was delicious! We ordered some cinnamon buns to share as a group and this was also delicious! My friends also ordered the bacon as a side which they said was amazing. I did not try it because I am not a bacon person.
Anyways, onto my entrée. I ordered the French toast which looked beautiful and was the thickest piece of bread ever! I love French toast and order it every time I go out for brunch. It was topped with peaches, which I didn’t really like. (Not a fan of warm peaches). I found the French toast to be a bit dry because it was so thick and wasn’t stuffed with anything. I was reaching for the water every few bites. I ended up only eating half of my dish and a bit of the crab omelette that my bf ordered. I highly recommend the crab omelette. It was filled with crab and you could taste it in every bite!
4 stars: Even though, I didn’t really like my dish, all my friends loved theirs. I will give mistral another try one day!

With my newly attained love for french cuisine, this felt like an adventure!
I have only been to one other French restaurant so I am novice BUT my taste buds are not novice to fresh, quality and flavor ;)
The appetizer was my favorite:
SEARED FOIE GRAS WITH CONFIT OF DUCK IN BRIOCHE, WISCONSIN DRIED CHERRY GASTRIQUE
Let me just say I love sauces because they are a wonderful element to ANY dish. The Cherry Gastrique had such intense flavors, my socks were blown off! In one bite the soft yet firm brioche, the tender shreds of duck and the soft and exploding flavor of the foie gras was like fireworks going off and I fell in love.
I did have the pan roasted prime sirloin ordered medium rare. I love flavor and this sirloin had lots BUT I also love texture. I usually get a filet mignon but it was not on the menu so I hoped the texture would be comparable. It was not. I grew up in a household where we cut our steaks with butter knives because that is how a perfect cut and a perfectly cooked steak ought to be. OH WELL! I still had the foie gras on my mind so I was still happy.
I also need to state that restaurants of such caliber ought to have more transparency with where their products are from. No farms were listed, only States in which the product was from. Meh.
Regardless. The service was amazing. The atmosphere was intimate. The cocktails were made perfectly. And that foie gras…
Cheers Mistral!

One of my favorite restaurants of all time.
1. Order the Sancerre white wine, I never had this type of wine before and this one in particular has the most amazing pear based after taste that leaves your mouth fragrant.
2. The Cornish hen was out of this world. The spinach and fingerling potatoes were the perfect compliment.
3. The risotto side on the menu is amazing.
4. The salmon tartare with avocado was out of this world!

Inventive, Gourmet, and Smooth
Mistral is located in the South End and is surrounded by very stiff competition in the fine dining space. Getting to Mistral can be a bit of a trick (lack of street parking) unless you are willing to pay $ 21 for valet parking. Once you get by that obstacle, things get a lot better. The ambiance is smooth and relaxing. The light colored appointments clash with the dark lighting. A good set up for the food which pits a variety of flavors against each other. The service is good although if busy, ordering and getting your meal can be a bit slow.
The food is eclectic but probably fits somewhere between French and New American. Closer to French however. I started with the tuna tartare which was superb. Ample fresh tuna with a ginger soy broth provided a nice, light, but rich start to the meal. Next, I had the halibut with risotto. The halibut was delicately seasoned with a very nice fresh taste. Cooked just about right. The risotto was a great compliment, bringing a strong savory richness to the lighter fish. For dessert, I had the profiterols which were featured puff pastry that was right between crunchy and chewy with ice cream and chocolate sauce. While certainly tasty, it did not stand out from other profiterols that I have had in less gourmet restaurants. I would have thought, Mistral would have added some kind of a flourish or twist on this. It was good but just not on-​the-​level with the rest of the meal.
Overall, Mistral is a well-​established option for fine French-​focused cuisine in the South End. I have dined at better restaurants of the class in the city… but not many.

Came here on a Monday night with a party of 7. We were seated right away (we had reservations). The place is very elegant, dark and candle lit. It was about 85% at capacity. The food menu is extensive, as was their wine and cocktail lists. They bring you fresh bread with a delicious spread. I had the rabbit gnocchi and it was great. I tried the duck and it’s a substantial portion with fantastic taste. The steak and ribs seemed popular too. They offer great delicacies such as escargot, fois gras, and duck confit. I had the profiteroles for dessert and wow!!! So many delicious flavors in each bite.
The only downside was the service. Our waiter was super nice. But the service was just too slow. Our 3 course meal took around 3 hours total. It took 45 mins between the app and main course.
With faster service, this place deserves a 5 star review for its incredible ambiance and food.

A quintessential upscale French cuisine that’s perfectly relatable to the American customer.
I celebrated my birthday here and it was certainly an occasion I’ll always remember!
Appetizers:
We started with the seared foie gras with confit of duck in brioche and it was the perfect appetizer to really get our taste buds dancing — full flavored, warm, not-​too-​fatty perfection.
We also had the beef tenderloin, mashed potato, and white truffle oil thin crust pizza to share and it was the thinest, flakiest pizza I’ve ever had that was yet still strong enough to hold the weight of all its toppings. Everyone needs to learn how to make thin crust pizza like this!
Entrees:
Pan roasted halibut with lobster and asparagus risotto — this is the only reason I’m not giving Mistal 5 stars. My friend and I both got this dish and mine was seared to flaky tender perfection. My friend’s, however, was extremely overcooked, dry, and the chewiest fish I’d ever had. I’m not sure what went wrong, but I expect consistency from a restaurant like this and for each dish to be quality assured.
Pan roasted cornish hen — Juicy, flavorful, and a huge portion! The warm pancetta and spinach salad with lemon and rosemary nicely complemented to the bird.
Half «whole roasted» duck with mushroom risotto — also a huge portion and the cherry gastrique really brought the duck to a new dimension that made it unique and memorable.
Special of the evening was a rack of lamb — just the right amount of pink and again, a big portion with 6 pieces!
Dessert:
Since it was my birthday, my friends had a cake delivered and the restaurant brought it out with candles lit up for me to blow out. They then took it back to the kitchen, and brought out 5 slides that were beautifully plated. They went above and beyond when plating the cake and absolutely did not just put cut slices on a plate. The cake laid on top of a chocolate spread that was also accompanied by a small side of ice cream sitting in a chocolate cup.
This really is a great place for a special occasion and I highly recommend!

Scene: Cold, snowy, Tuesday evening outside. Inside? A lively assortment of beautiful décor, a lovely bar and yummy French foods waiting to be sampled.
A few friends and I decided to grace Mistral with our presence last week for Restaurant Week/​Dine Out Boston. Andrea B and I got there a little early so we checked our coats in, and sauntered over to the bar for a drink. We both got the Spicy Pineapple Margarita. No joke — this was a smoky spicy drink with a jalapeño slice in there. True to the name that drink was…
Our table was ready, so we were seated about 20 minutes after sipping our spicy (but tasty) cocktails at the bars. Eunice E. and Annie C. joined us a few moments later. We perused the menus, and I decided on the mushroom bisque for an appetizer, pan roasted 12 oz sirloin with the potato lyonnaise and port wine reduction for an entrée, and then the pineapple tart with the coconut ice cream for a dessert. Dang. This was AHHHMAAAZZZINGGGG. I was happy full, and with good company to boot.
Service was pretty good, and our waiter was able to answer any random questions that we had about the menu items. I had decided on the hazelnut cremeux first, but changed my mind and got the warm pineapple tart instead. Best decision ever.
Décor is very nice, and charming. The lighting is low and sets the stage for a very nice and cozy evening with whomever. Make a reservation well in advance as this restaurant never seems to be empty. I mean, it was restaurant week, but from what I’ve seen and heard, it’s hoppin any darn day of the week.
Bön Appetit :)

DISCLAIMER: This is a review solely based on Restaurant Week/​Dine Out Boston 2015!
The words stated in this review can’t even begin to justify how happy, impressed, and satisfied I am with my first dining experience at Mistral. From start to finish, everything exceeded my expectations.
As today marks the beginning of Restaurant Week, we thought we’d give Mistral a try, especially because we’ve heard so much about it already. Street parking was available free for Sunday and we walked a short distance into the restaurant. We were greeted right away by the hostess, and brought to our table. A good thing to note is that they do have the option of checking in your coat! Very useful for all the bulky layers from our harsh winter!
We had our reservations for 7:00pm and it was already pretty busy. We were given the menus, glasses of water, and some of the best complementary bread, ever. It was perfectly crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside. Served alongside it was softened butter and a delicious type of garlic hummus, which made it even more addicting.
After prior research, me and my date were pretty certain about what we were going to order, however, with great surprise, our server stated that there were special menu items added onto the Dine Out Boston menu with no additional charge. Impressive already! We ended up ordering (and sharing!):
Appetizers:
— Beef Sirloin Carpaccio (Black Truffle Aïoli, Parmesan & Toasted Ciabatta)
— Sushi grade Salmon Tartare (Avocado Salad garnished with Crispy Sesame Breadsticks, Soy & Ginger)
Entrée:
— Pan Roasted 12oz Sirloin («Potato Lyonnaise», Port Wine Reduction, English Stilton Butter)
— Half «Whole Roasted» Duck (Wild Mushroom Risotto, Kumquat Gastrique)
Desserts:
— Classic Profiteroles with Vanilla Ice Cream, Dark Chocolate Sauce & Peanut Croquant
— Warm pineapple tart with Coconut Ice Cream, Passion Fruit Sauce
The main thing I noticed course after course is the quality of the ingredients. The beef sirloin carpaccio had a great mouth feel and melted perfectly bite after bite. You could taste every component, down to the nitty gritty details of the salt and pepper. Salmon tartare? Even better. The dish was bright, fresh, and had amazing citrus notes to it. If it weren’t so strange, I’d lick the entire plate clean.
Even more important? The portions were excellent for a higher end restaurant. the 12 oz steak and half roasted duck were more than enough; we ended up taking the rest of it home for excellent left overs!
For dessert, the profiteroles were good, but the star of the dessert round was the warm pineapple tart. It was tropical, comforting, and had the perfect hints of sweetness.
The atmosphere felt romantic with candles placed at every table. Adorned with high pillars, modern artwork, and big windows, it felt special. Also, service was great despite how busy they were.
The last time I remember getting this excited about a restaurant was almost a year ago. Coming to Mistral, especially for Restaurant Week’s $ 38 price tag is an absolute steal. Definitely a fan and I will absolutely be back.

While visiting Boston we went to Mistral for brunch on Sunday before heading out to the airport.
We had a really weird server, she was like overly nice to the point where it felt very odd… but that did not overshadow the quality of the food.
We were all given little apple cinnamon muffins upon sitting down — these were so unnecessary and very tasty! Then we splurged and ordered the :15 minute frosted cinnamon rolls — two giant rolls was plenty between 5 people. We could have honestly split the main dishes — these were just huge — almost too big for breakfast.
My friend and split one salmon pizza (with two eggs on top!) and the Mushroom/​Spinach omelette. These were both really great and presented beautifully. The pizza had cheese & potatoes on it as well as the salmon and eggs — very heavy. And the omelette, was a huge portion and a little buttery for my taste but still very good. We opted for the challah bread, I didn’t regret it :)
Other folks had the salmon Benedict & the egg whites omelette and everyone seemed pleased! I would love to go back the next time I visit Boston!

I’m hugely impressed with this place and feel like I’ve missed out from not knowing about it before! I had brunch with a friend here but look forward to trying more.
— The hot chocolate — the homemade marshmallow is amazing, I’ve never had anything like it before. That being said, the hot chocolate itself was tasty but not incredibly memorable.
— The duck confit — amazing! A very rich but powerful dish. There is a good mix of vegetables and the farm eggs complement it well. The presentation is also grand, with a good mix of colors. This is such a unique spin on common breakfast flavors.
— The apple muffin — they gave everyone apple muffins, which were perfectly sweet and delicious. I only wish they were a little warmer, and they were a bit messy to eat.
I’m curious to try other dishes here, but so far I’ve had a great experience. The decoration in the restaurant is also very fresh, bright, and welcoming yet elegant. It seems like they require proper attire, so keep this in mind. Overall, can’t wait to try this place again for dinner!