Margeaux Supper Parlor — Restaurant in Cambridge

On Friday, January 24, my partner and I dined at Margeaux Supper Parlor, drawn by her fond memories of their Gruyère macaroni gratin from a previous visit.

The Food:

I ordered a charcuterie board (promising smoked duck breast and prosciutto), followed by a ribeye steak with asparagus and mashed potatoes. My meal was paired with a Domaine Solitude Côtes du Rhône, and I finished with their banana bread pudding. My partner chose the Gruyère macaroni gratin, lamb chops with cherry confit, grilled broccolini, and potatoes, paired with a Californian Syrah.

The ribeye was well-executed—rare, with a crisp sear and a tender, juicy interior. The mashed potatoes were smooth and delicately buttery, and the asparagus was vibrant and perfectly cooked. The Côtes du Rhône was an excellent complement, its rich fruit and balanced tannins enhancing the steak.

The lamb was tender, with the cherry confit lending a pleasing sweetness. The broccolini was nicely charred, and the potatoes were both crisp and flavorful. However, the Californian Syrah was disappointing, finishing harshly rather than harmoniously.

The banana bread pudding failed to impress. Its dense, rubbery texture and bland taste suggested it had been prepared well in advance and reheated. The Gruyère macaroni gratin, the dish my partner had eagerly anticipated, lacked the characteristic nuttiness and sharpness of a truly fine Gruyère.

The Service:

From the very start, the experience was undermined. The charcuterie board, intended to set the tone for the evening, arrived missing the smoked duck breast. Worse, the detailed explanation of cheeses and condiments one might reasonably expect was interrupted by a neighboring table loudly demanding the server’s attention. He left us mid-service and didn’t return until we called him back after he had cleared their plates. Even then, he offered no explanation of the cheeses; we remain unsure if they served us Brie, Camembert, or another variety altogether.

When we pointed out the missing duck breast, another staff member approached, apparently sent by our server. However, instead of discreetly apologizing or resolving the oversight tactfully, he leaned over our plates and asked bluntly, “What exactly is missing?” His tone implied that we were exaggerating or dishonest, which felt particularly unwarranted.

The lack of attention and respect continued throughout the meal. The waiter repeatedly asked, “Are you happy?” in a tone that seemed more accusatory than concerned. My partner and I couldn’t help but wonder if something about our appearance or demeanor led the staff to regard us as undeserving of the care they extended to others.

At the end of the meal, we attempted to express that we did not hold the server personally responsible for the earlier disruptions, especially as the neighboring table had even apologized to us for monopolizing his attention. His response was: “You can tell how important you are by the chair you’re sitting in.” While this may have been intended as humor, it felt dismissive in the context of our concerns and left us uncertain whether our feedback had been understood or taken seriously.

Final Thoughts:

While the food displayed moments of skill, the service issues undermined the experience from the outset. The missing items, lack of professionalism, and dismissive attitudes left us feeling overlooked. An establishment with a dress code should strive for gracious hospitality and fairness among guests. Unfortunately, our evening at Margeaux Supper Parlor failed to meet these...

Friends and I decided to try the Chinese New Year Special Prix Fixe at Margeaux, with Chef Doris Huang. With advanced reservation, my party of 5 received seating immediately. The menu, at $98 / person, included the following

Starters: Scallion Pancakes Shumai and/or Peking Ravioli (aka potstickers, can mix and match) Entree (Duck 3 ways): Peking Duck Fried noodles w/duck Duck bone soup Dessert: Sweetheart cake

First, the starters. The shumai had way too much powder in the filling, making it feel dry and pasty. It tasted like something you'd find at a mediocre dim sum place in Quincy - the kind where only pensioners go because it's cheap and reliable. The scallion pancake was a jaw workout. It was way too thick and tough - not flaky, just chewy and hard. It was crispy, but not the desirable pan-fried crispy, but a deep-fried crispy that only exacerbated the toughness.

The service also was a mess. A server spilled a cocktail (an accident, understandable). In his attempt to correct his mistake, he spilled more, decided to get the cocktail remade, but left without cleaning the spill. I had to flag down another server to clean the table.

Exacerbating the service was the arrival of the first duck entree. Or, rather, the lack of it for 45 minutes. Only after flagging down a server did the entree promptly appear. The peking duck did not have crispy skin - its defining charactertistic. It was indistinguishable from your average roast duck at the Chinese BBQ store, like Hong Kong Eatery in Chinatown. The scallion arrived artistically arranged as flowers. However, they were also as thick as 1/8" steel dowels at Home Depot. They need to be julienned you don't just taste an entire damned sprig of scallion.

The other two entrees took another 75 minutes to arrive. Again, only after flagging down a server did they promptly appear. The soup was lukewarm. It was clearly sitting around, ready to serve. The noodles tasted like fried noodles with duck - nothing more special than the sort I could find at the neighborhood Thai restaurant. The portion sizes, which resembled small entrees, only added insult to injury.

The sweetheart cake dessert was comparable to what I could have purchased at one of the myriad of bakeries in Chinatown for a few dollars.

Overall, this has been quite far the most egregious waste of money I have encountered in recent memory. What did I expect from a French place attempting to host a...

The Lunar New Year commenced in spectacular fashion at the Margeaux Supper Parlor in Cambridge last night. The celebrated restaurateur and host, Doris Huang, delighted all who attended with the gift of her culinary artistry on her birthday. The special three-course dinner, complete with an appetizer and dessert, showcased her renowned Peking Duck prepared three ways. Each course was truly exceptional. The Peking Duck was cooked to perfection, with skin as crispy and delicious as one could desire. The entire meal was a gastronomic delight. The thoughtfully paired wines complemented each course beautifully. The restaurant itself is incredibly attractive, and the service was impeccable. The evening was a resounding success, with Doris at the helm, working her culinary magic. Happy Birthday, Doris! May the Year of the Snake bestow upon you abundant health and bring into your life the same joy that you so graciously offer to others.

By the way, it doesn’t take a special event to make Margeaux Supper Parlor a go-to restaurant. If you haven't visited yet, peruse the menus, and you'll see that owner Rebekah Barr has meticulously curated a unique and memorable dining experience. The bar is generously sized and well-stocked. Dinner offerings include various themed collections featuring small plates with bold flavors, as well as other delectable options. The brunch menu is both wonderful and indulgent. Believe it or not, they also serve breakfast from Tuesday thru Friday. Their next special event, featuring a prix fixe menu, is on Valentine’s Day, and the menu looks absolutely amazing! If you’re wondering where to go on that special day, look no further—make a reservation, and you’ll discover firsthand that Margeaux Supper Parlor shines in so many ways. It is likely to become one of your favorite dining...