The food was excellent, the service friendly. What I couldn't get past was the table for two we were seated at. The tables behind the bar , to the left as you enter the restaurant are up against marble, the floor is wood and there is a slight draft from the front door. The overall impression is that the tables there were an afterthought. Everything is black and white and it lacks any warmth or ambience. I would go back again and try the other section if there are two tops over there - it looked more convivial and a bit cozier. The area we were in felt like a nice place to have a coffee, but not really up to snuff for a nice dinner out .
Sonia
The service was beyond fantastic, however the food - specifically the bouillabaisse was too salty and the fish (e.g., monkfish) was undercooked. The salad's pumpernickel croutons were dry and salad was wilted. Food was disappointing given the price. Having said that, my rating has nothing to do with the service which was beyond fantastic.
Ashley
Always a top notch experience and elevated taste above any other restaurant around. The timing of the service is always spot on, not too rushed, but the next course comes out just when you want it. Favorites always include the branzino, the octopus app, and the panne cotta dessert. Brandon, our waiter, was particularly enjoyable and present when we needed him to be. Can't say enough about how much we enjoy our dinners here.
Khanh Nguyễn
I recently had the pleasure of dining at this fine dining restaurant, and overall, it was a memorable experience. The food is absolutely terrific—beautifully presented, thoughtfully crafted, and bursting with flavor. Every dish showcased a high level of culinary skill and attention to detail, making it well worth savoring. However, one thing to note is the wait time. We had to wait approximately 40 to 50 minutes before the food is served, which was longer than expected for a place of this caliber. While the ambiance and service helped make the wait more tolerable, it's something to keep in mind if you're planning to visit during peak hours. That said, once food is served, the experience truly shines. If you're a food lover with a bit of patience, this restaurant is definitely worth the visit.
Peter
Special evening with visiting couple from France. Service, starting with the umbrella/coatcheck, was delightful. Our server caught wind that it was a retirement dinner, and our dessert plate came out with a chocolate ‘Congratulations' inscription. My wife sneezed at one point, and our server offered to bring her a tissue — she accepted, and he did. The menu, as I am sure you are aware, is heavy on the fish. Three of us had the monkfish on a ragout of locally foraged mushrooms — superb. The fourth had the paella, which was tasty and huge. In fact, portions are generous: the calamari appetizer could easily feed two or more. Nice buzzy atmosphere, even on a rainy Monday night. Highly recommended for a special occasion.
ann
Every dish was perfect, waitstaff were gracious, setting was nice. Only downside is that the tables were so close you could hear every word of the conversation at the next table.
Hira
The ambiance was amazing and the service was divine. However the food was good but I was expecting more. The dessert and tuna tartare was to die for.
Lars
Everything was excellent. From service to the food and drink. The service was outstanding and attention was given to every detail. The food was prepared to perfection. Especially the monkfish was so unbelievable delicious.
Wing
Thank you for making my mom's birthday very special! I appreciate all our waitress and waiter's help and the manager's thoughtful birthday card for my mom! Thank you all!
Scott
Our dinner at Ostra was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we sat down at a cozy high-top in the bar, we knew we were in for something special. We started with the Blue Lump Crab Meat appetizer — fresh, delicate, and beautifully presented — followed by the Ricotta Gnocchetti, which was absolute perfection. For our entrées, I had the Simply Broiled Branzino, and my husband ordered the Grilled Sea Bream. Both were impeccably cooked and showcased the pure, clean flavors of the sea. Our server and bartender, Kay, was a standout. She managed our entire experience with grace and charm — the pacing was flawless, her recommendations were spot-on, and her warmth made the evening feel effortless. Every detail — from the cocktails to the presentation — was thoughtfully executed. Ostra exceeded our expectations in every way and delivered one of the best dining experiences we've had in Boston. We'll absolutely be back!
The service was excellent; our waiter seemed invisible until we needed something and then he appeared as if out of nowhere. The food, OMG the food was sensational. "The best Paella ever" and the Rib Eye steak was grilled perfectly and seasoned beautifully. We highly recommend Ostra and make sure to make a reservation.
Jason
The team at Ostra absolutely delivered. We celebrated my mom's birthday and everything from the food to the service to the atmosphere was exactly what I was hoping for. Whether it's a work dinner, a special celebration, or you just want to treat yourself to some of the best seafood in Boston, this is the spot.
Phyllis Q.
Good food, great service, wonderful atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mary Anderson
Jose and the rest of the team who helped us tonight were wonderful, and the food was incredibly well done. We let them know we needed to leave at a certain time for a show, and our courses were brought out in a perfect cadence. An exemplary experience!
The food was excellent, the service friendly. What I couldn't get past was the table for two we were seated at. The tables behind the bar , to the left as you enter the restaurant are up against marble, the floor is wood and there is a slight draft from the front door. The overall impression is that the tables there were an afterthought. Everything is black and white and it lacks any warmth or ambience. I would go back again and try the other section if there are two tops over there - it looked more convivial and a bit cozier. The area we were in felt like a nice place to have a coffee, but not really up to snuff for a nice dinner out .
The service was beyond fantastic, however the food - specifically the bouillabaisse was too salty and the fish (e.g., monkfish) was undercooked. The salad's pumpernickel croutons were dry and salad was wilted. Food was disappointing given the price. Having said that, my rating has nothing to do with the service which was beyond fantastic.
Always a top notch experience and elevated taste above any other restaurant around. The timing of the service is always spot on, not too rushed, but the next course comes out just when you want it. Favorites always include the branzino, the octopus app, and the panne cotta dessert. Brandon, our waiter, was particularly enjoyable and present when we needed him to be. Can't say enough about how much we enjoy our dinners here.
I recently had the pleasure of dining at this fine dining restaurant, and overall, it was a memorable experience. The food is absolutely terrific—beautifully presented, thoughtfully crafted, and bursting with flavor. Every dish showcased a high level of culinary skill and attention to detail, making it well worth savoring.
However, one thing to note is the wait time. We had to wait approximately 40 to 50 minutes before the food is served, which was longer than expected for a place of this caliber. While the ambiance and service helped make the wait more tolerable, it's something to keep in mind if you're planning to visit during peak hours.
That said, once food is served, the experience truly shines. If you're a food lover with a bit of patience, this restaurant is definitely worth the visit.
Special evening with visiting couple from France. Service, starting with the umbrella/coatcheck, was delightful. Our server caught wind that it was a retirement dinner, and our dessert plate came out with a chocolate ‘Congratulations' inscription. My wife sneezed at one point, and our server offered to bring her a tissue — she accepted, and he did. The menu, as I am sure you are aware, is heavy on the fish. Three of us had the monkfish on a ragout of locally foraged mushrooms — superb. The fourth had the paella, which was tasty and huge. In fact, portions are generous: the calamari appetizer could easily feed two or more. Nice buzzy atmosphere, even on a rainy Monday night. Highly recommended for a special occasion.
Every dish was perfect, waitstaff were gracious, setting was nice. Only downside is that the tables were so close you could hear every word of the conversation at the next table.
The ambiance was amazing and the service was divine. However the food was good but I was expecting more. The dessert and tuna tartare was to die for.
Everything was excellent. From service to the food and drink. The service was outstanding and attention was given to every detail. The food was prepared to perfection. Especially the monkfish was so unbelievable delicious.
Thank you for making my mom's birthday very special! I appreciate all our waitress and waiter's help and the manager's thoughtful birthday card for my mom! Thank you all!
Our dinner at Ostra was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we sat down at a cozy high-top in the bar, we knew we were in for something special. We started with the Blue Lump Crab Meat appetizer — fresh, delicate, and beautifully presented — followed by the Ricotta Gnocchetti, which was absolute perfection. For our entrées, I had the Simply Broiled Branzino, and my husband ordered the Grilled Sea Bream. Both were impeccably cooked and showcased the pure, clean flavors of the sea. Our server and bartender, Kay, was a standout. She managed our entire experience with grace and charm — the pacing was flawless, her recommendations were spot-on, and her warmth made the evening feel effortless. Every detail — from the cocktails to the presentation — was thoughtfully executed. Ostra exceeded our expectations in every way and delivered one of the best dining experiences we've had in Boston. We'll absolutely be back!
Restaurantji Recommends
The service was excellent; our waiter seemed invisible until we needed something and then he appeared as if out of nowhere. The food, OMG the food was sensational. "The best Paella ever" and the Rib Eye steak was grilled perfectly and seasoned beautifully. We highly recommend Ostra and make sure to make a reservation.
The team at Ostra absolutely delivered. We celebrated my mom's birthday and everything from the food to the service to the atmosphere was exactly what I was hoping for. Whether it's a work dinner, a special celebration, or you just want to treat yourself to some of the best seafood in Boston, this is the spot.
Good food, great service, wonderful atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jose and the rest of the team who helped us tonight were wonderful, and the food was incredibly well done. We let them know we needed to leave at a certain time for a show, and our courses were brought out in a perfect cadence. An exemplary experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing seafood. Great restaurant!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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