PLEASE NOTE: L'Espalier moved to its new home on the second floor of the Mandarin Oriental on Boylston Street.

UPDATE: L'Espalier opened its doors at 774 Boylston Street for dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12.
Fearlessly led by Frank McClelland, one of the top 25 chefs in the nation according to Food and Wine, L'Espalier is as good as it gets. And it gets good. Ascend the narrow staircase into the first of L'Espalier's 2 classically-decorated dining rooms (get a table in the more modern upper dining room if you can) and prepare yourself for high-class French food, catering to no less than serious eaters with serious finances; this is one place that'll get you psyched for Parents Weekend. The menu is a standard three-course prix-fixe for $75: spanning a wealth of tastes, from foie gras to Hawaiian red snapper to grilled lamb, the seasonal selection is substantially varied and guaranteed to delight every palate (course if that isn't enough, there's always the 6-course Degustation Menu for $95; $135 and up with paired wines). But perhaps the best thing L'Espalier has to offer: their special events, like “cheese Tuesdays,” a 4-course dinner with matching wines and a grand cheese sampler, all led by the restaurant's top cheese and wine meisters for a bargain $55. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Afternoon tea: There are two tea service choices offered: 'Make Way For The Ducklings' ($27) - your choice of tea plus a selection of petit fours and pastries - and 'Red Riding Hood's Basket' ($36), which adds tea sandwiches and canapes. For 15 dollars further, a glass of fine champagne can be served with either. Vegetarian substitutions can be requested. The tea choice is a typical 8 or so varieties and your cup is refilled from teapots carried by the staff rather than leaving them on your table. The accompanying food includes lobster salad, cucumber and cream cheese sandwich, strawberry terrine and the classic L'Espalier swan.

The 3rd location of this hotspot focused on rustic french fare. With the flagship location on the Boston Waterfront, and one in the Natick Collection, this empire is choosing to expand in posh new digs at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.. Two of the franchise's veterans, Louis DiBicarri in the kitchen and Ian Grossman out front, are leading this third installment. As with their other locations, the food is unpretentious and classic French style fare, done simply but well, in a great atmosphere with first rates service. The space is warm, open, and simply but elegantly decorated. Each floor sports a bar and there's usually a crowd at all typical times, as this back bay locale had been hotly anticipated for quite some time. They serve lunch during the week, dinner daily, and brunch on the weekends, and offer a late night menu Wednesday through Saturday until 12:30. Each menu is a unique twist on their general theme: Lunch Menu Brunch Menu Dinner Menu Dessert Menu Late Night Menu Children's Menu

Vibrant and hurried, this Boylston street classic in the Back Bay is Abe and Louie's answer to seafood. Filled with first dates, client dinners, and family celebrations. UPDATE: The Atlantic Fish Company has re-opened with renovations after the restaurant had to close due to a fire.

This restaurant is located at the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center. It is one of Boston's finest dining destinations, the award-winning Top of the Hub features outstanding cuisine, impeccable service, and a sophisticated ambiance. Soaring 52 floors above the Back Bay, the restaurant and adjoining Skywalk Observatory offer guests a spectacular view of the Boston skyline from every table.
Top of the Hub's creative menus reflect a balance of New England dishes blended with contemporary cuisine influenced by the cooking styles of Asia and California. Selections strongly emphasize the freshest New England fish and shellfish available, including Boston lobsters, New England clam chowder, along with the highest quality beef, veal, lamb, chicken, and game that make up the changing, seasonal menus.

Typhoon is known for it's creative sushi and Asian cuisine. Located on Boylston Street, the atmosphere is dark and intimate. Start off with the avocado salad. Made with crab, avocado, cucumbers, and topped with tobiko, the avocado salad is worth the $8.00 price tag. Next, try a sushi entree or a hot entree ($19.00 and up). The staff is friendly and the service is fast. Payments include the Typhoon gift card, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discovery, and cash. Reservations are available, but not required. Lastly, the restaurant has take-out opinions available.

Azure offers rare and exotic seafood, resulting in a tantalizing shock to the senses and the bank account. A bit too expensive for any old Saturday night out, it's a fabulous place to go with parents or friends with pockets deeper than yours. Located off the lobby of the Lenox Hotel in the Back Bay, Azure offers its inventive New American fare in a mellow, romantic, and azure-infused atmosphere. The muted glow of backlit walls, glassed-in open kitchen, high ceiling, and understated gold accents that linger about the room soothe diners during what tends to be a lengthy and luxuriant meal. The menu is not lengthy but combines a number of classic delicacies with more innovative dishes. Decadent entrees like potato-encrusted Halibut and five-spiced roasted duck (both about $27) showcase chef Robert Fathman's excellent talent. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

French style cooking in a cozy nook below a bed and breakfast in the Back Bay on Newbury Street. The warm colors give you a feel for the inventive menu. Rumored to be the child of a famous restaurant in Cannes, France- the chef has a high-profile reputation as well. The food is made with the best french ingredients, so expect a large bill. The restaurant is a "brasserie by cuisine and a bistro by atmosphere", serving Mediterranean style dishes in clean and authentic presentations. They also offer up their own takes on the French classics, such as steak or moules frites. french, restaurant, outdoor dining, wine list

A Boston-based chain Legal Sea Foods offers a variety of high quality sea food. The clam chowder has been served at the last seven presidential inaugurations. Although Legal Seafoods now has an entire East Coast, it's base continues to be Boston. Legal Sea foods also ships throughout the country.

If you're looking for the perfect pre-/post-theater date destination, look no further. Situated off the lobby of the Colonnade Hotel, the lively Brasserie Jo offers classic French cooking in a casual but stylish setting. Although steak frites ($22) is the main attraction (and understandably so), a variety of other simple bistro entrees including swordfish, salmon, and roasted chicken are available and uniformly good. The wine list offers lots of affordable options, and desserts are absolutely marvelous. Entrees $15-25. Bar with a “light menu” open daily 11am-1am. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

This swanky Bay Bay restaurant and bar, connected to the Copley Westin, costs a pretty penny but will blow you away with its classic elegance. Serving New England seafood--including its award-winning clam chowder--in a five-star setting, Turner Fisheries is perfect for the quintessential power lunch. Armed with a $3 million renovation, the venue isn't your typical hotel bar.