Sandrine’s

Went here for lunch with by husband a couple of months ago during Restaurant week and ordered a steak cooked to medium. It tasted burnt, but didn’t look burnt to me so I continued eating. Nor did it taste medium. About half way through when I turned over the steak, I discovered the entire other side of the steak burnt about 1 – 2 mm. When I notified the waitress, she said had I notified her earlier she would have brought over a new steak.
I didn’t find it too tasteful to blame the customer for the chef’a fault.
Just not an overall good experience.
Otherwise, the food was delicious. Especially the desserts. We had nice window seating (my favorite!) which is always nice for daytime people watching.

I am so sad. I really like this restaurant. I just found out today they are closing March 30 according to the Harvard Crimson. We were only there for dinner last year and planned on going back next week. It has been open for 18 years.
I was looking forward to Unilocaling it. They had great drinks at the bar also. Again so sad.

I had lunch with a friend at Sandrine’s last Saturday and I was disappointed. I order the Steak Frites medium (pink) but instead the steak was well-​done (completely brown). Furthermore, the meat was tough. I ate some of it but left about half on my plate. When the server came to take our dishes, I told him the steak was overcooked and tough. He apologized and said he would notify the kitchen. At this point, I expected a show of concern or some effort to make things right. The server then proceeded to bring me a tiny dish of lemon sorbet (too sour) on the house, with no further mention of the steak.
Not a great dining experience. I won’t be back.

Worst service ever – we were offended by such rude and arrogant staff who were unwilling to be accommodating and flexible. We were not surprised when the manager was not any better, if not worse. I agree with other reviewers here that their service is absolutely horrible. I don’t understand how they are able to get away with such low-​class service. Definitely not coming back.

Came here most recently for Restaurant Week 2013 and also one other time (my wife and I honeymooned in France so we like to try Boston’s French restaurants). I think I went in the late-90’s with coworkers.
Open Table also has reviews:
Location is okay. It’s a couple blocks back towards MIT down Mass Ave from Harvard Square station. Parking is on the road (meter) — so we went on a Sunday (=free). I believe Sandrine’s is actually Alsatian cuisine in addition to all the other «favorite French items.» I seemed to remember in the late 90’s, this was really good, but perhaps chefs or owners have changed.
We have had (in the last two experiences): 1) the Steak Frites, which I usually like closer to medium-​well instead of à point (which is about as grilled as most French really like it, «the rarer the better»). It had a good sear and the aioli wasn’t overpowering. The French fries were thin and crispy. 2) The Duck Breast — their version of Duck à l’Orange with a Grand Marnier reduction. It was okay. 3) Sea Scallops — pretty good. 4) some daily special (I believe it was like a lobster risotto?) We usually get escargots. Which were good.
Nothing really to write home about. It’s a cute restaurant with some Alsatian wines, Alsatian décor, it was pretty quiet but with some non-​student clientelle.
I was hoping for some more French wines (I believe that was less than 25% of all their wines on their list).
The dessert (Restaurant Week) was forgettable.
Final verdict: Enjoyed the food, experiences, but wouldn’t go back. (I don’t think you’ll have a bad experience, but it’s nothing to write home about either.)

I’m sorry to say it, but we had high hopes for this place and were slightly disappointed.
First, we made a reservation online and when we showed up they had lost it/​said they hadn’t received it. We were able to show them the confirmation email and they seated us promptly (by the window, which was a great spot but very chilly in the winter!). They were extremely polite and apologetic about having lost the reservation, but it was a nerve-​wracking way to start what was supposed to be a nice, relaxing meal.
On the whole, our food was good but not remarkable. The chicken was well-​cooked and flavorful, but the potatoes tasted a little boring/​bland. The steak was cooked inconsistently. First course and dessert were fine but unmemorable. Service was good throughout the meal.
Under other circumstances I might not be so picky, but we were expecting something more special, especially considering the restaurant’s high price point. I’m not sure if we would come back. For a special occasion or nice dinner, there are so many other good places to choose from that I don’t know that it’s worth it to prioritize Sandrine’s.

What a let down. I’ve always wanted to go here and we stumbled on it last night. We only had time for some drinks and an appetizer before a show, which we mentioned upon arrival. I will say the tuna tartar was delicious, and the portion size was good for 2 people. The service and the drinks, left something to be desired.
We sat at the corner of the bar near the odd dessert station. After sitting for a while with out drinks, menus or attention from the bartender, a waiter came up with menus and took our drink order. When we sat, there were used napkins from the previous customer. We would have sat closer to the middle of the bar, but I thought people were already seated there. There were menus and wine glasses taking up multiple seats but it turned out the area had not been bussed or cleaned and it stayed that way for quite a long time. Our drinks finally arrived 20 min later, but the bar was not busy.
There were 2 or 3 customers at the other end getting the full attention of the bartender. Our delicious food arrived but we were sitting with empty glasses. I see the bartender making some drinks and then realize she’s making herself a drink in addition to the group she is attentive to. We watch her lick the sugared rim off whatever shot it was and suck it down. We still don’t have drinks, but she’s serving herself first? I ask a different waitress about more drinks and eventually the bartender returns with one drink for me and nothing for my friend.
It’s hard to justify this kind of service when you have $ 12 – 15 cocktails and $ 25+ entrees.
We received no ice water, no knives, my napkin had lipstick stains on it that no amount if bleach could have gotten out and I found it odd they keep their dessert blow torch just laying down on the bar mat out on the bar.

Came here with a friend during Restaurant Week (3 course dinner = $ 38 w/​o drinks) and it was amazing. We came around 7pm and the restaurant was pretty empty so we got a wide variety of tables to sit at. The service was a bit slow in the beginning, despite the fact the restaurant was pretty empty. My friend and I would spend about 5 minutes just playing on our phones while we waited for our next course.
Don’t get me wrong, the service there is definitely on point. Very courteous, professional, and the host was extremely welcoming. The food itself was amazing. Definitely suggest the Escargot for an appetizer. I wasn’t expecting such a delicious dish. The entrees were good portioned but the dessert really just nailed the night. I ordered the Chocolate Crème Brûlée and was extremely happy to find that it had a taste of coffee within the glazed sugar coating.
Overall, my friend and I enjoyed our experience here and would definitely suggest others to try it out especially during Restaurant week!!!

I came here on Bastille Day weekend for a friend’s birthday dinner. First though, I had to watch the World Cup final with a bunch of Germans in front of me. Man, were they tense. ;-)
Sandrine’s had a table with various foods offered during the match. I tried a crème brûlée and it was quite good. The top was crispy without being burnt, and the custard inside was smooth.
Afterward, my party came in and got seated quickly. We were given a lot of bread and butter to start off, which was nice. The waiter was cordial and gave plenty of wine/​beer suggestions.
I went with a three-​course prix fixe, with the starter being gazpacho. It had the right consistency: not too thick like some tomato soups, and not too thin like a pico de gallo. There was a lot of cucumber and onion taste to it, which gave the flavor some depth.
The steak frites portion was generous. The steak was a decent-​sized sirloin that was cooked medium or a touch medium rare. It was tender and had decent sear. The thinly-​cut truffle fries were in abundance and I barely finished them, but they were delicious.
The bleu, blanc, and rouge custard was a nice ending to the dinner. The custard inside was a little less smooth than the crème brûlée (puzzling) but sweet.
The restaurant was clean and comfortable, though the décor was just okay. Yeah, it’s a little pricey for a student, but you don’t get cheated here with portions. It’s a little hard to find this spot, as it’s more subtle than other restaurants around.

My boyfriend and I decided to come here to celebrate a special occasion. He loves french food, so we decided to try it out. There were so high points and also some low points. I agree with those who mentioned that the restaurant looks tired and stuffy. Our waitress seemed nice enough, but we feel like she was trying to pull one over on us when we ordered a 2009 vintage wine and brought instead the 2010 vintage. She didn’t say anything until we mentioned it and then had to do a little dance back and forth until she magically found the ‘last bottle’ of 2009 hiding in the cellar — right! If we didn’t have sharp eyes we would have gotten charged a lot more for a less expensive bottle of wine.
So, anyway our meals were good/​okay. I had the rack of lamb, which was pretty delicious and my boyfriend had the half roasted chicken which was mediocre.
I wouldn’t ever return, unless the place went through a major refresh. This place’s bread and butter is visiting college parents and professors. Looking for a good French restaurant go to Café Du Midi or Gaslight for starters.

High expectations. Disappointed.
Restaurant feels tired. No atmosphere, average food and very slow service. Apologized to my guests about the place and will not return.

The atmosphere was quaint and cozy and the staff were eager to please.
We started with their traditional tarte flambée for an appetizer, which was quite good. For a main, I ordered the scallops, which were being featured. They were served on top of a pile of mashed potatoes and to me, the dish left something to be desired.
Although a cute spot, I found the food a bit lacking for the price. Probably not high on my list to return to.

I had a great meal at Sandrine’s last night for my birthday dinner.
We had a reservation; I apologized for being a few minutes late, and the host was extremely nice and promptly sat us at an intimate table towards the back of the restaurant.
After ordering drinks, we started off our meal with the traditional tarte flambée, which is a crispy flatbread topped with cheese, bacon and onions. Such a simple dish, but it was absolutely delicious and one of the best flatbreads I’ve tasted. I would recommend starting off your meal with one.
I ordered the Choucroute Garnie au Riesling, which was a mix of various meats (including sausage, ham and pork) on top of sauerkraut with fingerling potatoes. It was a little different from what I usually order, and it was delicious! The meats were all cooked perfectly and were juicy. The sauerkraut was also great and melted in my mouth. Just a warning: the mustard they bring you on the side is extremely spicy; I had a tiny amount on a sausage and felt it burn my nose.
For dessert, we ordered the Vanilla Crème Brulee. A little pricey for what it is ($ 9), but otherwise a nice ending to our meal.
Sandrine’s has a romantic and intimate atmosphere. Our servers were friendly and prompt, and we did not feel rushed at all. Overall it was a nice evening. I’d recommend this place for a special occasion. I hope to be back someday!

I came here this afternoon for a Restaurant Week lunch. I’m always a little wary of going out to eat alone (unless I sit at the bar) because I worry that the staff will treat me like I’m wasting a table. This was not the case at Sandrine’s! The host was very friendly and asked me if I’d like a window seat. It’s the first day of spring, the sun was out, and I love to people-​watch in Harvard Square. Of course I’d like a window seat!
For an appetizer, I had the French Onion Soup. It was not overly beefy, as some other restaurants’ French Onion Soup can be. It was, however, very flavorful. The rich, savory broth paired well with the crispy baguette and soft, melty cheese (probably Gruyère). The fresh parsley sprinkled on top was an excellent addition.
For the main course, I selected the Steak Frites. The steak was cooked to perfection, with a melt-​in-​your-​mouth tenderness. It sat atop wonderful shoestring fries, that were crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. The dish was topped with a drizzle of basil vinaigrette. I want to track down the recipe for that sauce and put it on everything!
Finally, for dessert, I had orange creamsicle crème brûlée. The custard was a soft, pudding consistency and the sugar on top was perfectly flambeed.
The service was excellent. It was attentive without being intrusive, and the courses were spaced well.
Everything else on the menu looks great, and not overly expensive. I’d definitely like to return.

I dislike going out at night for Valentine’s day. So color me thrilled when I found out that this establishment was open during lunch. The hubby and I usually go out to a local joint but he recently got back from the Alsace region and was raving about the Choucroute he had while visiting there.
Thanks to my good old Unilocal app, I found Sandrine’s. So on a cold, Valentine’s day afternoon, we met there for a lovely and relaxing lunch. My husband did get the Alsatian Choucroute Garnie au Riesling. The Choucroute is basically all kinds of porcine encased meat products on top of a sauerkraut that is slow cooked in a Riesling wine. This is not my cup of tea but he LOVED it!
I opted for the prix fixe menu item of a skirt steak with pomme frites which came with an apple salad that had candied almonds and a port wine vinaigrette. The steak was lovely and the pomme frites came with an aioli drizzle. The server asked if I wanted ketchup but the drizzle was so perfect on the fries I opted out. Also, the fries were delicious — even cooled they stayed crisp and tasty (not oily).
We ended the meal with a crème brûlée that we split. The crust was perfect and the custard was nicely balanced with vanilla. I don’t usually like this type of dessert but they did a nice job with it. As my husband said as we left, this restaurant will definitely be in our rotation of places to go to when we meet for lunch in the Square.

Simply phenomenal, these guys are solid every time, thanks Sandrines! Every course (escargot, lobster salad, duck & wine) was all excellent & well worth the price.
Btw, just for some clarity — those of you who are looking for an upgrade from MacDonalds — this isn’t your place & please stay away/​stop whining if you come here. This is a traditional french restaurant which is very low/​key/​very comfortable & chances are, they will cost a little bit more than pedestrian fare… also, they will most likely not have your Heinz 51 flavors ketchup to smother your food with.
Also, I didn’t catch anyone being judgmental on the staff — as I can smell it from 10 miles away — everyone was so down to earth and low-​key/​approachable. Can’t wait for our next trip back.

The menu was definitely very interesting as it was the only French restaurant I’ve found to include Choucroute (Sauerkraut & sausages; apparently it was also a part of the French cuisine!) and quails. It was a nice change from the stereotypical «French» dishes here in Boston.
The portion was generous but I didn’t find the food or the dessert (lemon pound cake) to be anything special.

I have visited this place at least 4 times by now. All my visits were wonderful.
Last time I went there was yesterday and prior to that it was a year ago.
We ordered escargot, flat bread with artichokes, and Legumes Printaniers en Pipérade Tofu Roti. (The last item I didn’t enjoy much, even though it looked like a fancy wrap, it lacked flavor).
And of course wine. All that cost us $ 72+ tips.
We had the best server — young guy, he was very attentive.
There was no music, not much noise (which is a great PRO).
There were many tables open. We got sited close to a couple, they left and then another couple was sited right by us. (I always worry when sited so close: do we bother them? Or are they going to be loud and we forced to listen to them?)
We enjoyed the evening. Food was great, service was excellent and timely.
(I always get the feeling though that young people don’t usually go there.)

First time visit and a good first impression. I got the grape and gorgonzola salad to start and it was nothing special. Next we got the artichoke and swiss cheese flatbread pizza which was pretty good (I would try the bacon and caramelized onion next time). For the entrée I got the organic roasted herb chicken and it was awesome. The chicken was cooked to perfection, not to mention the fries were awesome.
We did come here with a Groupon and as far as that went everything went very smoothly.

So the first challenge here is finding a point of comparison. I mean, when was the last time you has Alsatian food, anyway? For me, it was in Strasbourg in the mid-​90s, and I had a salmon crêpe with rosé wine and a dessert crêpe with Nutella®. So that’s not exactly the same thing.
You sort of have to imagine the last time you ate French food (old-​school, not Chez Panisse), and the last time you had good German fare (preferably outdoors at a Biergarten), and then squish them together, add some fancy dry white wines and an excellent Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, and voilà!
It’s Sandrines!
But also it’s in Cambridge, on a quaint sidestreet near Harvard Square, and it’s quiet and dark and the wait service is *vastly* better than you would actually find in France or Germany, so that gives it a New England edge that Strasbourg, for all its undeniable charms, cannot match.
Oh, and did I mention the Stone 16^th anniversary double IPA? 10%, in the big bottle?
(I should have mentioned the Stone earlier).
And the Oktoberfest prix fixe menu? With French onion soup, Alsatian choucroute garnie au Riesling*? And the apple cake at the end?
Well, then slap my silly and call me Lorraine, I should have written this review much better. Because, honestly, that’s a damn fine line-​up. Heavy, rich, resonant with roasted, simmered, stewed, and brewed flavors: a menu and a half, at least.
But good nonetheless.
Sandrine’s: like Alsace, it’s small compared to its more famous European neighbors, but it definitely packs a powerful culinary punch.
(*) sauerkraut slow cooked in riesling and juniper berries with bauernwurst, boudin blanc, wiener, grilled smoked pork loin, ham hock, hickory smoked bacon wrapped fingerling potato (from the menu).
(Kent W., San Francisco, CA gewidmet).