Ma Maison — Restaurant in Boston

Tucked away in the charming embrace of Boston’s South End, Ma Maison is a culinary haven that beckons with the allure of French-inspired comfort food and a cozy atmosphere that feels like a warm hug on a chilly evening. My partner and I chose to visit this quaint bistro on a recent weeknight, eager to explore its offerings and immerse ourselves in its inviting ambiance.

As we stepped inside, we were greeted by a warm and intimate setting, where rustic wooden beams and soft lighting created a welcoming glow. The decor, a blend of vintage French charm and modern touches, enveloped us in a sense of familiarity, as if we had stumbled upon a beloved friend’s dining room. The gentle hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses added to the enchanting atmosphere, promising an evening filled with delightful flavors.

We began our culinary journey with the Duck Pâté en Croûte, a delightful pastry encasing rich, savory duck that melted in our mouths. Each slice revealed a treasure trove of flavors, complemented by a tangy cornichon that cut through the richness, leaving us eager for more. It was a beautifully executed dish that showcased the kitchen's dedication to traditional French techniques.

For the main course, I chose the Coq au Vin, a classic dish that transported me straight to the heart of France. The tender chicken was braised to perfection in a rich red wine sauce, infused with mushrooms, lardons, and pearl onions. Each bite was a comforting embrace, evoking memories of cozy dinners in a rustic French countryside. My partner opted for the Braised Short Ribs, which were succulent and flavorful, served atop a bed of creamy polenta that soaked up the savory juices. The dish was a testament to the chef’s ability to transform simple ingredients into a symphony of taste.

Throughout our meal, the service at Ma Maison was warm and attentive, embodying the spirit of genuine hospitality. Our server was knowledgeable, offering insightful recommendations and ensuring our glasses were filled with the delightful house red that paired beautifully with our dishes. However, there were moments when the service felt a tad rushed, as if the evening’s rhythm had a slight urgency that distracted from the leisurely dining experience we had hoped for.

As we concluded our meal with the Tarte Tatin, a caramelized apple tart that arrived warm and inviting, our spirits soared. Each bite was a sweet revelation, with the buttery crust cradling tender apples, their sweetness perfectly balanced with a dollop of crème fraîche. It was the perfect ending to our delightful journey through the flavors of France.

In conclusion, Ma Maison is a charming sanctuary for those seeking an authentic French dining experience in the heart of Boston. The quality of the food shines brightly, showcasing a deep respect for culinary tradition and seasonal ingredients. While the service had moments of slight haste, it did little to diminish the overall joy of our evening. As we stepped back into the bustling streets, our hearts were warmed by the flavors we had savored, and we looked forward to returning to this delightful bistro, where every meal feels like a cherished memory waiting...

I used to come here many times for dates as well as hangouts with friends because of its reasonable price for French cuisine. And I used to highly recommend friends to come here. But since last time I got burned by a hot plate, manager SAMANTHA treated me extremely rude, broke her promise and just wanted to get rid of me. She doesn't deserve working here or any service places and should get education for caring people and customer service by being injured and treated rudely in return and feel how I felt. SAMANTHA is indeed the WORST MANAGER I ever met in the past 20 years over 20 countries all around the world.

Last time I went here in July, I got burned on my right upper arm by a hot plate when the waitress wanted to put on the table. First of all, she didn't warn me about anything; Secondly I didn't move when she tried to put the plate on table, so she reached my arm not us approaching each other. I don't remember her name but she is an Asian waitress who is always smiling and polite. She apologized immediately and although I felt painful but didn't want to interrupt my supper with my long-time-no-see friend, and thought it was not a big deal and I tried to enjoy the meal. When the redness of skin got really painful during the meal, I asked her to give me some cream and she did, which was helpful to the burn. After the meal, she apologized again and gave us a free desert so I was extremely nice to tip her even more for her being appropriately handled the accident.

I thought the burn will recover after one day or two - however, it kept hurting until the forth day - it stopped hurting but left a scar in brown color. I realized that I should seek for medical help to make the scar as light as possible, and I called the Ma Maison number - the manager Samantha answered the call and expected it a reservation call. I explained to her what happened politely but she interrupted me several times that she didn't know and questioned me why I didn't go to emergency room that day, I said bc I didn't want to make a big deal, but she said no she never heard about the accident and she cannot help anything. Then I told her you could ask your waitress who is 100 times better than you handling this matter but she repeated that she is busy and then hanged up on me twice(the call was not long or annoying at all, and she didn't even ask me about how the scar is). I was so angry but still called in the third time and telling her how the scar looks like - not a big bill for medical expenses - which is already covered by my health insurance and only a very little copay. And I will leave a review for them if they handle this rudely like she did before. then she finally promised to call me back the next day late morning and wrote down my number and name since it is busy for her to talk at this moment. I understood so I said I will wait but I waited forever to receive her call, not until now - it's been prob two months now.

If I want, I could even bring a court case towards the restaurant - but I gave them chances to make it up easily - they didn't take care of it. French culture praises true gentlemen, but not someone who is fake gentle and...

We had an EXTREMELY disappointing experience here last night- on our anniversary, after traveling an hour into the city for what we’d hoped would be a special night. I can’t comment on the food as we never got that far. We’d had an amazing meal in France 10 years ago and chose this restaurant hoping to relive some memories. Upon arrival I was told I’d made a reservation for outdoors. I was very confused as I did not, and the hostess explained that this was an easy mistake to make. The reservation was on open table- a service I regularly use. I’ve since gone back on open table to see how confusing it was and it clearly states “indoors” or “outdoors”. I would never make an outdoor Oct dinner reservation without knowing the weather and this reservation was made over a week in advance. We were clearly confused with this information and then asked if that was “ok.” No, it wasn’t because it was just beginning to rain, as was predicted in the forecast. We asked if there was anything inside and were told no. So we were seated outside in a drizzle next to a heater. A server came over with water and then became distracted by the fact that our seating placement and the heater were now blocking her from getting to her other tables. In the process of her trying to rearrange furniture someone asked if there were umbrellas. She explained that heaters and umbrellas could not be used at the same time. We thought it was very odd that they chose heaters over umbrellas given the 60 degree evening and increase in current precipitation. At this point it was legitimately pouring and we had our menus on our heads and jacket hoods up. The people’s meals next to our table were getting soaked. At this point our server had gone indoors and never re-emerged, and so after 5 solid minutes sitting in the pouring rain googling other restaurant options we got up and left to attempt to find another available table at 7pm on a Friday night. Never once were apologies made. I’m certain we were bumped to that outdoor table after arriving a bit late - despite calling to inform them of our late train in plenty of advance notice, and no reference was ever made to the note I’d included about our anniversary and how disappointing this might be. Fortunately we were able to find an accommodating hostess and get an almost immediate bar seat at a popular restaurant in a well known hotel across the street and have an amazing dinner with outstanding service, saving our special night. It’s really too bad as we’d had high hopes for the food here. But after leading with the level of service we received I don’t think we’ll be wasting our time...