Petit Robert Bistro

Took out of town guests and our 2 yr old toddler here for a special occasion. Food was very good, but service was just unacceptable. We received our entrees over an hour after ordering (well at least 3 of 4 dishes), and it took another 15 min to get the entree for the 4th adult (which was a simple coq au vin ordered with no special preparation). They also forgot the noodle portion of one of the dishes, which required us reminding them. Avoid at all costs. more

The first time I went to PRB I really liked it, so when I returned with a party of 4 the other day I was shocked and disappointed. Even though we had a reservation, our table was not ready and we had to wait about a half hour. Then, my husband's soup came about 25 minutes after everyone else's (he had ordered the onion soup, like 3 out of 4 of us), despite his specifically asking for it more than once. We had to consistently ask for more water as everytime someone came to fill it up they would go less than halfway. I noticed we didn't have this problem when ordering wine, probably because they were making money on it. We also found a mistake on the bill - they overcharged us for the late soup. Pros: good value for money, ambiance Cons: rude/slow/incompetent service more

My wife and I have lived in the South End for about 10 years. When this restaurant first opened in Kenmore Square, we rushed to visit - in hopes of finding authentic French Cuisine. We did!! One, of not the onlty restaurant in Boston to service authentic french food - and numerous varieites of organ meats. more

This is a great neighborhood spot to dine on traditional French food; if I lived closer, I would eat here every day. There is always a good mix on the menu so that you can go for ""comfort food"" (onion soup & coq au vin?) when you need something familiar, or try something more adventurous from the regular menu or the daily specials when you want to try something you might not necessarily try to cook at home. The dessert selection also ranges from the familiar to the more exotic. All of the food (appetizers, entrees, desserts) is excellent, very reasonably priced, and the portions are big. Pros: variety & quality of food, great service more

Living in Tremont St, I am so lucky to celebrate the best authentic french place in Boston, So Frenchy and unique. Of course, the menu made by Jacky Robert is... tres fantastique. But, the big value... the atmosphere ,so hilarious. Even if you couldn't get any french words, the frenchy waistaff seems to come from directly from Paris. We like to sit down at the Bar, to appreciate one Ricard, or even the Absinthe. more

If you're looking for high quality French food, don't go here. You're better off elsewhere. The only dish that is decent is the foie gras. To top it off, their staff are SOOO RUDE! I had to drop by to pick up an order that my sister placed over the phone (I stopped eating there after facing rude service time and time again). I walked in and said hi to the bartender who just looked at me and completely ignored me! Then some other girl walks in and he's helping her! The thing is, he has a reputation for being rude to Asian people. Pros: foie gras. That's it Cons: BAD service, rude bartender. cramped restaurant, lazy and obnoxious servers. more

I went there a few weeks ago with a group of 8 women to celebrate a baby shower. The dining room is small so we were sat in the bar area which actually turned out to be a bit more quiet than the dining room. We shared appetizers and each had an entree and dessert and the bill was very reasonnable. The wine list is great with a lot of options in the $30 range. Pros: great and fun vibe Cons: hard for large parties more

I was very happy to see they started to take reservations (open table ones as well) which I would definitely recommend. more

Awful Experience - almost ruined my best friends birthday! more

The Lobster Bisque here is great. The lamb was really tiny in portion and a little fatty but the flavor was great. The dessert was amazing, especially the crepe and the dessert with the little chocolate Eiffel tower. So Yummy, I will definitely be back! more

As a french I know what I am expecting with french food and Bistro Robert is my favorite . The staff is excellent and friendly ( which is important when you go with kids !) and the food is so GOOD !!!!!!! The desserts are to die for .....I think I tried all of them !!!! Not talking of the bread ! I can't tell you what to order because I just love the complete menu . Pros: food , location , ambience and staff more

The good news is that the food was splendid--I didn't know beet salad could be delicious--and my dining companions felt the same about their respective meals. The wait staff was attentive and prompt. The bad news is that the host was unable to organize the wait for tables, which made the meal begin with a sour taste. He gave inconsistent or unclear information, sometimes responded only with a shrug and delphic smile, and was beset with angry customers complaining that there seemed to be no seating system at all. He didn't seem malicious, just over his head. A promised 10 minute wait turned into 45 minutes. ""Promptness"" in bringing food ordinarily shouldn't be a factor in a bistro, where a leisurely meal is the goal, but because of the seating issue, we ran into a scheduling problem, which is why we were appreciative that the woman who served us was so excellent . She was able to accomodate our concerns, even volunteering which items on the menu took longer to cook than others. The sorbets for desert were overly frozen, but that was a small deviation from wonderful food. We would happily return, but only if we were on no schedule. more

My boyfriend and I went to PRB last night for dinner. We sat in the bar area rather than the dining area, which seemed a bit fancier. The atmosphere was really pleasant, laid-back with French radio playing in the background. Our waiter was really nice, helpful and attentive. We didn't feel rushed to get through any of the courses. The panko crusted cod was served with a delicious garlic butter sauce and just the right amount of potatoes and vegetables. It was Halloween and the waitstaff was handing out candy to the children outside, which added a nice neighborhood vibe (that you get at a lot of South End restaurants). Overall, it was a very pleasant experience! Pros: Ambience, great food and real french music Cons: can't think of any more

I went to Petit Robert Bistro in Kenmore square many times. I have to say it is so far my favorite place in Boston. The food is awesome. I also have to say I love the bread!!! The Lobster Bisque is out of this word. Grilled skirt steak with poivre sauce is excellent. I had a rabbit with sausage once. It is on top of this world!! The service also is exceptional! The atmosphere is so romantic. Great value for your money. I would recommend it to anyone. more

Brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings are exceptional. Try their Salad Nicoise, Crispy Poached Eggs with Bacon & Frisee Salad (so good), Soupe a l?Onion Gratinee (yum!), Duck Confit and Grilled Pork Sausage. Frites are delicious. Chocolate Eiffel tower is cute. However, one thing is that their Pan Seared Foie Gras is served straight up on a plate, which is, I guess authentic and back to the roots, though it's a bit overwhelming after a few bites... Price is definitely affordable and worth it (expect to pay approximately $30 per person with appetizer, meal, and drink). Service is usually friendly, some of the waiters are a bit pretentious, though I'd like to think that it's all in good jest. Try it out! Pros: Food and wine are both fantastic, great value, authentic French waiters! Cons: Those French waiters can get quite... well, French on you, hard to find parking more

I hesitate to even write this as I don't want to give away this hidden jewel. I have been to many, many restaurants in Boston, specifically many French restaurants. This is the best place I have been too in a long time. It is authentic in every way. From the waiters to the hostess to the chefs to the decor to the cuisine. The restaurant itself is quaint and charming - reminiscent of a Parisian bistro. The staff was extremely friendly and the food was excellent. The best part is that it was the most affordable meal I've had in Boston in a very long time! Ever in fact. I can't recommend Le Petit Robert Bistro enough! Pros: Ambience, waitstaff, food/drinks Cons: Don't go too late on a Saturday (8pm or later) as it gets crowded. more

My partner and I happened upon Petit Robert one night, not knowing how great a meal we would have. While I'd heard good reviews about the Kenmore Square location, I was unsure if the South End one would match its sibling for quality. Indeed, we were pleasantly surprised. From the warm greeting of the owner to the classic, unobtrusive service that I expect from a far more expensive restaurant, I couldn't want a better dining experience. Since that great night, we've gone back several times. The cozy, busy dining room transports us to Paris every time, and we always appreciate how the servers take care of the little things, like clearing crumbs, ensuring that bread is adequately supplied, and delivering food the second the chef has completed it. Lest I forget, the food here is amazing. I still cannot believe how little I pay for such rich and satisfying portions. Recently, we ordered pate to start, and were blessed with huge portions of three different, rich, slices of pate. The fried goat cheese complemented the fresh greens in a light citrusy vinaigrette. Panko crusted cod in a rich white wine-butter sauce livened up traditional French preparations, while my leg of lamb fell off the bone and melted in my mouth. Beef burgundy on another night was succulent - with deep burgundy flavors complementing the tender brisket and perfectly cooked veggies. I cannot get over how fresh the food is, or how hot it is served. DIning here is always a perfect experience, and I'm blown away at how affordable it is. Petit Robert can't even be compared to Hamersely's Bistro, as everything about Petit Robert is so much better. Amazing how the latter gets such better press. Petit Robert is wonderful. Pros: Wonderful French food, great service, great atmosphere Cons: So good, it gets busy. more

So my gf and I were in the mood for French food, and looked up our options in Boston. Seeing that French food is usually synonymous with high prices, we were happy to find Petit Robert as an excellent value-oriented french restaurant. The Setting: Simple, but cozy, actually reminds me of many bistro's in Paris. The Service: The wait staff is primarily french, so take that for what it means to you, but they were very courteous, if not hasty in their interactions. We went on a busy Saturday night, and since they do not take reservations, were told it would be 30-40 minutes for a table. It ended up taking an hour, but moreso because the patrons there typically take their time and don't rush through a meal. The Food: Excellent at these prices. We wanted true french, so we stuck to the french dishes: pate, escargot, sweetbreads, cheese plates, etc. High quality french food and some of the best I've had in the city. The wine menu is limited, but again very value-priced. Overall: A must for any one seeking quality French food in Boston, the pricing is reasonable, just plan your visits on off-nights or you may end up waiting longer than you figured. Pros: Realistic French Ambience, High Value French Food Cons: No Reservations, Busy Service more

I ate here last night with my boyfriend, and neither of us knows very much about French food. But we tried to be adventurous. We had the pate and the lobster bisque for appetizers, and I have to say, they were both very good. Especially the soup. But as for the service, first of all, the server never once cracked a smile. But I have worked in a restaurant, and I know it's not always easy, so I can forgive that. What I cannot forgive, however, is that when the girl brought us our appetizers, I asked, Excuse me, do you eat the pate plain or put it on something? And she said, very snooty-like, No, you eat it with bread. And she actually gave me a look as if I was the stupidest person in the world. I wanted to say I'm sorry, but I'm not from this country, or from France, and I wanted to eat here to discover something, food or culture that I did not know about, and I don't appreciate being insulted. Then with the meal, we ordered French fries, because we wanted to see if they are different from American fries, and when they came, we asked the same girl for some kechup. And I could not believe what she did. She actually rolled her eyes and when she turned to go get it, my boyfriend heard her say ""Oh my God"". And it's really too bad, because the food was quite good. We had the lamb and the salmon and we both loved everything, but we will not go back there if we have to be insulted to eat the food. Pros: good food Cons: snobby service more