Yvonne's — Restaurant in Boston

Hanging out in Boston working for a few weeks and little did I know I should've made reservations on a freaking Monday night of all nights!

Atmosphere/Appearance: This place is ducked off in like an alleyway of sorts right downtown Boston. It's such a cool vibe because it feels like you've found something secret that nobody knows about, but in fact... everyone knew. Lol. It was so busy in here and they were sold out of reservations for the evening so we popped a squat at the main dining room bar. There are actually two. Once you come in the door you're corralled into a small room where you're greeted by the hostess, but once you turn the corner the place opens up! To your right there's seating, to your left is the first bar and more seating. Then if you go straight you go into the main dining room which has an even bigger bar and plenty of places to sit. This place was dimly lit, chill, intimate and almost felt gothic a lil' bit. Like, real 1600s type stuff. I dug it.

Service: Carrie & Darwin took excellent care of us. They were both friendly, fun, quick, attentive, knowledgeable and made sure we had everything that we needed.

Food: I started off with a What's Up Doc. It's a cocktail consisting of blended scotch, drambuie, carrot, turmeric, ginger, honey and lemon. It was mixed VERY well. Tangy, sweet, balanced and didn't taste a lot like carrot at all.

My first social plate of the evening was the Lazy Lobster Dumplings which are ricotta dumplings cooked in black truffle butter with an onion crunch and lemon crema. This was HEAVEN. It was my favorite dish of the night. I could've eaten 2 or even 3 of these! It was out of this world. Savory, creamy, hearty. Delicious. Soft. Tender. Cheesy. They're like, deconstructed dumplings. They aren't stuffed. Mild, yet very clear truffle taste.

For my next drink I went with the Icarus. It's blanco tequila, strawberry balsamic, martini fiero, suze, apricot, lime and served with a spicy tincture. It was a bit spicy, a bit bitter with natural fruity sweetness. Both delicious and different.

My next social plate was the Bavette Steak "Mirabeau". There was a slight, slight fishy taste from the anchovy butter. Cooked excellently. Seasoned well. Tender. VERY buttery. The toast underneath it was a great addition to soak up all the extra juices and flavor that you could've missed out on!

My final cocktail of the night was the Circus Charlie. It's brownie infused bourbon, coffee infused punt e mes and served with toasted marshmallows. There was a light coffee flavor with a spiced sweetness. Not quite an espresso martini, but lighter, not as thick.

My final social plate of the evening was the Coconut Rock Shrimp which is served with a key lime yum-yum sauce, pickled fresno peppers and spicy peanuts. I didn't taste a lot of coconut, but the breading is really soft, really tender. Great snap to the shrimp. Sauce is a little on the light side. It was my least favorite dish of the night. Breading was too thick, fell off in the "Yum Yum" sauce.

Now the desserts... I got to try the La Bête Noire which is Valrhona chocolate crémeux, coconut yogurt, mango sorbet, candied cashews, chamoy strawberries and a hibiscus meringue. THIS WAS FANTASTIC. The lightest, airiest, fudge ever and the fruit balanced it all out.

Lastly was the Cinnamon Babka Bites. They're served with dulcey chocolate-chunk ice cream, orange blossom, red currant jam, candied pecans and a chocolate dipping sauce. They were soft, sweet, rich, decadent with a great cinnamon-sugar balance. The chocolate dipping sauce was an excellent complement.

Value: Each drink was $17.00. It's Boston, it's downtown and this is a NICE place. Be prepared to pay. It is what it is. The lobster dumplings were $32.00. The steak was $19.00. The shrimp was $20.00. Both desserts were $12.00. Like I said, this place isn't cheap so be prepared to spend if you visit.

I love this place SO MUCH. I would come back here again and again to try out different drinks, different menu items and of course, repeat that...

On a tranquil weekday evening, we found ourselves drawn to Yvonne’s, a captivating hideaway in the heart of Boston, where the allure of modern Mediterranean cuisine promised an unforgettable culinary escape. As we entered, the ambiance wrapped around us like a soft cashmere shawl—dimly lit, with lush greenery and elegant decor that whispered tales of romance and indulgence.

The atmosphere was alive with the hum of conversation, a chorus of laughter and clinking glasses that painted a picture of vibrant social life, yet we were soon reminded that beauty can sometimes be marred by the imperfections of service.

We began our night with the Mezze Platter, a colorful array of hummus, baba ganoush, and crispy pita chips that sang of the Mediterranean sun. Each dip was a delightful embrace of flavor, inviting us to share in the warmth of its ingredients. The grilled octopus, tender and charred to perfection, danced across our palates with hints of citrus and spice, a dish that truly captured the essence of the sea.

For our main courses, I chose the Lamb Shank, which arrived beautifully plated and glistening in its savory sauce. The meat was succulent and rich, falling off the bone with a gentle nudge, accompanied by a fragrant saffron couscous that felt like a warm hug on a cool evening. My partner indulged in the Lobster Tagliatelle, a decadent creation that celebrated the sweetness of fresh lobster amidst a luscious saffron cream sauce—a dish that promised waves of delight with every bite.

Yet, amidst the culinary artistry, the service faltered like a ship caught in turbulent waters. Our server, though friendly, seemed distracted and slow to attend to our needs. We found ourselves waiting longer than anticipated for our drinks to be refilled and our plates to be cleared, creating a disjointed rhythm that dulled the evening’s shine.

As we concluded our meal with the Chocolate Soufflé, a cloud of rich decadence that promised to lift our spirits, we were met with a moment of disappointment. The soufflé, though delicious, took longer to arrive than expected, and by then, the magic of the evening had dimmed slightly, overshadowed by the lack of attentive service.

In reflection, Yvonne’s is a restaurant with a heart that beats strong, filled with dishes that speak of passion and creativity. However, the experience was marred by service that fell short of the culinary brilliance on display. As we left, hand in hand, we carried with us the flavors of a beautiful meal, tempered by a longing for a more seamless evening.

Yvonne’s holds a promise of greatness, and we hope that with a bit of refinement in service, it will rise to meet the extraordinary potential that lies within...

My sister and I were so excited to try this place. We’d heard so many good things, so our expectations were high. Sadly, none of those expectations were met. When we arrived at the restaurant (two hours early), we were greeted by three hostesses, but it took a while to get their attention as they were focused on their phones. I politely asked if there were any openings earlier than our reservation. One of the hostesses, looking visibly annoyed, briefly replied, “You can either sit in the lounge and have dinner there or wait until your reservation.” Since it was our first time at the restaurant, we asked if we could see our options. Her response was dismissive: “Go ahead.” Considering it was clearly our first visit, we found it extremely rude and unprofessional that she didn’t offer to show us around or provide more guidance. Thankfully, a young gentleman eventually stepped in and showed us around after we asked. Long story short, we ended up sitting at the bar to wait for our table. The bartenders were excellent, and the drinks were exceptional. However, our reservation was for 9:30 PM, and we weren’t seated until 10:10 PM, despite having been at the restaurant since 7:00 PM. At no point did any of the THREE hostesses check on us. The only reason we were finally seated was because we asked to speak with a manager. As someone who has worked in the hospitality industry for over five years, I hate leaving bad reviews, but I feel compelled to share our experience. This place is completely overhyped. While the atmosphere was beautiful, the service and management fell far short. The food was hit or miss. The lobster dumplings were fantastic and easily the best dish we tried. However, the octopus was chewy, and the lamb chops lacked flavor. For a place with such a stunning ambiance, it’s disappointing that the overall experience was so underwhelming. Unfortunately, we will not...