The service was terrible - I don’t think the waitstaff had ever waited tables before. Our waitperson asked us if we were ready to order just as we sat down, didn’t tell us the specials, almost left before taking my husbands order and asked if we wanted all the food at once (on a tiny table) when we had clearly ordered appetizers and entrees. She never came back to the table until we flagged her down for the check. We both ordered medium rare and his was over cooked mine was under cooked. It wasn’t even very busy. So surprising for a Barbara Lynch restaurant that I’ve always enjoyed.
One of us always gets duck. The Chef does it so well. Wine list has “hard to find” options, always a treat.
Hard to recommend. Our burger, ordered medium, came extremely rare and quite bland. The couple next to us received a raw pork chop and had to send it back. The price point ($$$$) makes it especially hard to justify.
Visiting Boston. Food was amazing. Service was superb.
Have to say disappointed overall, expected more of an upscale feeling … started at a two top until we asked for a larger table, honestly can’t believe they serve anything more than drinks at the tiny bistro tables for two!! We purchased a 2010 bottle of wine, waitress brought to table and showed us bottle highlighting it wAs a 2010 … come to find out half way through that it was a 2011 ? Food was good but nothing that we haven’t had before … wouldn’t go back unfortunately!!
Did not look at reviews before going. Nice open windows. Great place for a glass of wine.
The tables and chairs were horrible! Very uncomfortable and completely wrong for the restaurant! The decor was hideous!
I was really looking forward to taking my wife to The Butcher Shop again. Our first visit (sometime in 2004) was shortly after they had opened, and we had a wonderful experience. We recently moved back to the Boston area and I made reservations for Mother's Day. Let me begin with my praise for the staff that we interacted with, they were kind and wonderful. Sadly, to say that the food was disappointing would be an understatement. I ordered from the Mother's Day prix fixe menu and was looking forward to my prime rib eye. I have no idea what I was given but I can assure you it was not prime rib eye. I am old enough to have eaten my fair share of steaks (at some of the best steak houses around the world). My wife (the reason we were there in the first place) had an even worse experience. To summarize, The Butcher Shop may have once been a "can't miss" eatery, sadly, it is no such place any longer.
I'll be brief: The Butcher Shop is not what it once used to be, namely, a place known for quality food. I made the mistake of taking my wife there for Mother's Day because our first experience in 2004 (shortly after they had opened) was quite pleasant. We moved away from Boston in 2007, returned last year and thought it would be nice to take her there again. Sadly, the food was borderline inedible and there wasn't much else to make up for it. It is certainly NOT worth the prices they charge, not even remotely close. There are too many choices in Boston/Cambridge, don't waste your money here.
Foie gras was delicious and the crispy duck was perfect!