Barbara Lynch strikes again. As though it wasn’t enough that she delighted us with the best oysters at B & G Oyster or perfection in charcuterie at The Butcher Shop or special nights out at No. 9 Park or the whimsy of her mixologists at Drink (not to mention Stir and 9 at Home), but she really hits one out of the park with her latest restaurant, the fine dining wonder, Menton, in her Fort Point complex. Sleek, elegant, and comfortable, Menton is a glammed up dining experience that we Bostonians mightn’t be totally accustomed to, but I think we will learn pretty quickly to love it. 😉
Menton is decorated in muted grays, blacks, and whites, with some funky touches that make it feel modern and approachable.
I was excited to dress up for an evening out and even more excited to see a dining room of dressed up people.
I started with a glass of sparkling wine from the Loire Valley. You can see my husband’s Vieux Carre cocktail in the photo as well 🙂
Our team of impeccable servers brought an amuse of asparagus, cream, and a toasty parmesan top.
We were offered bread between each course, and we started with honey croissants with fresh butter. I could have made an entire meal of these, but limited myself to just one sweet, buttery bite.
Menton operates on a prix fixe menu or tasting menu only, and we opted for the prix fixe. I started with a meaty crab salad.
My second course was an artichoke velouté, a creamy, silky artichoke soup with summer truffles and crispy artichoke chips that melted right into the creaminess.
The options for the third course were duck, veal sweetbreads, or beef, but when I asked our server if I could substitute a second course for the third, they happily obliged and brought one of the best fish dishes I have ever eaten. Flaky, buttery halibut was served with fava beans and a rich but light broth.
For my final course, dessert, I had the coffee caramel parfait which included a buttery financier cookie, coffee pearls, chocolate ganache, and a ball of ice cream dusted in cocoa. To accompany the dessert, my husband ordered a 1980 Warre Port which we shared. It was a sweet and delicious addition to our desserts. Although all of the portions seemed small, I left this meal completely full.
The final special touch of the night was the bowl of mini macarons that was presented with our check. In flavors such as a zesty pink peppercorn, basil, black olive, and traditional vanilla, these mini macarons were enough for dessert in themselves, and despite having already eaten decadent desserts, we finished off the bowl. The pink peppercorn was incredible! Peppery all the way to the back of the throat, with a tiny bit of sweetness, these macarons were unlike any dessert I have ever eaten.
Menton is opulent, sleek, beautifully decorated and well stocked with expert servers. More importantly, it serves quintessential Barbara Lynch cuisine, high quality, satisfying portions, of fresh, delicious, and fun food. If tonight, a night before they are even officially open, is any indication of the success of Menton, I predict it will be close to impossible to get a table for at least the first year. Plan ahead for special occasions, and make your way over to this Fort Point gem.
My ALLY Foundation raffle closes at 12:00 Eastern today! You can still donate through May 2010, but the chance to win fun prizes will end today.
http://firstgiving.com/meghanmalloyteamally
