Great place with inspired menu. Highly recommended. Tuesdays they often have oyster specials.
Helena Q.
Nice interior and service was great, but unfortunately the food was just not good. We had two of the dine out Boston set menus, so it was $55+tax+tip each. I did really enjoy both desserts! The chocolate cake was very chocolatey, and both it and the creme brulee weren't too sweet (definitely better that way!) However, the appetizers were both meh, with the calamari being a bit fishy and the burrata just not that interesting. The entrees had their high points -- the pappardelle pasta was lovely and the greens served with the fried chicken were nicely seasoned -- but they were both let down by a major factor -- the pappardelle meat was way too salty and the fried chicken was not crisp. I do wonder if they do better when it isn't dine out Boston?
Minh Hoang
We totally love this spot! Want awesome food without the crazy traffic in Boston and Cambridge? This is your go-to place. It's a hidden treasure – if you know, you know!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
NoraM
The tasting menu was delicious and the wine pairings perfection. Our waitstaff attentive and knowledgeable and friendly but never overbearing. We are and have been fans of this place since it opened and are thrilled that it remains so good and so popular
BellaItalia
We enjoyed our dinner, the service and ambience which we have been to over the years. Our bread with houmous was not as great as we remembered. It was burnt on the bottom and was difficult to pull apart naturally. We cut off the bottom but did eat the bread as we were hungry at that time.
silvanac
Appetizers and dessert were very good, wine was very good main course was just ok. Pasta was a little tough and there was not much sauce, good flavor but a little dry overall. The tasting menu es are usually very good, tend not to come for the regular menus because the main dishes become a little boring.
BetseyC
Service was friendly, sufficiently attentive, andI accommodating. Staff gave the impression of being very willing to please without being sycophantic. Pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. Sound level OK, especially as they honored our request for a quieter spot. I'd give the food 3.5 stars. The menu descriptions sounded fantastic, but the actual food didn't quite live up. This is why I downgraded the Value to 3. I've been wanting to try Bistro5 for a long time and will give the food another try. It's a very pleasant place to dine.
I've been going to Bistro for a long time now One of my favorites restaurant for sure. And it never disappoints, my issue this time was that my steak was cold tasted amazing but it was cold !
LucasT
I had the salmon. Wife had the steak. Both were good. My meal was a little under flavored for my taste, but that is totally subjective. Service was excellent. Nice interior dining room. I say definitely worth giving it a try once or twice and decide for yourself.
kareng
We went for the special "chocolate" tasting menu. Four courses all using different mole sauces and wine pairings. Everything was spectacular! The chef came out and chatted with us at the end of the meal which was fun. The food is inventive and unusual and delicious. The pasta course will be ingrained in our memories for a long time! Will definitely be back to try more of the special menus! (I've been for regular dinner and that is good too, but this tasting menu is just WOW).
Bistro 5 is already our favorite local restaurant as the food and drinks are always great. This time we went for the Chef's special tasting menu pre-Valentine's Day featuring chocolate in various mole sauces. Wow! It's a bit on the pricey side but it was worth it! Every course was fantastic and unique. My wife really enjoyed the wine pairings as well, whereas I opted for a Mexican chocolate cocktail which was also great. The waiter was very friendly and attentive and the chef came out to talk to us at the end of our meal. Highly recommend you catch this tasting menu before it is gone, but if you can't then you'll still have a great menu to choose from. The only downside for me is that it gets quite loud in the dining area, which makes it a bit harder to have conversations without speaking loudly.
gingergma
My favorite restaurant. We had the special chocolate menu which featured 4 different kinds of mole. Delicious and inventive dishes, beautifully prepared. We enjoyed chatting with Chef Vittoria, a true genius with food! The duck with mole was especially wonderful,
Rebecca L.
Went there for a girls night out and it was delightful. We had no complaints. The food and service were both on point.
Stacey C.
My husband and I have been going to Bistro 5 for years... since they first opened (shortly after we bought our home in West Medford). The food is always great. We love to sit at the bar and order drinks & appetizers, or split an entree.
Kathleen K.
Upscale creative Italian, comfortable room, decent ambience and service. My spaghetti alla chitarra was outstanding (squid ink + saffron spaghetti, baby clams, octopus, calamari, olives, capers, cherry tomatoes). Parking can be tricky, allow time.
Great place with inspired menu. Highly recommended. Tuesdays they often have oyster specials.
Nice interior and service was great, but unfortunately the food was just not good. We had two of the dine out Boston set menus, so it was $55+tax+tip each. I did really enjoy both desserts! The chocolate cake was very chocolatey, and both it and the creme brulee weren't too sweet (definitely better that way!) However, the appetizers were both meh, with the calamari being a bit fishy and the burrata just not that interesting. The entrees had their high points -- the pappardelle pasta was lovely and the greens served with the fried chicken were nicely seasoned -- but they were both let down by a major factor -- the pappardelle meat was way too salty and the fried chicken was not crisp. I do wonder if they do better when it isn't dine out Boston?
We totally love this spot! Want awesome food without the crazy traffic in Boston and Cambridge? This is your go-to place. It's a hidden treasure – if you know, you know!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The tasting menu was delicious and the wine pairings perfection. Our waitstaff attentive and knowledgeable and friendly but never overbearing. We are and have been fans of this place since it opened and are thrilled that it remains so good and so popular
We enjoyed our dinner, the service and ambience which we have been to over the years. Our bread with houmous was not as great as we remembered. It was burnt on the bottom and was difficult to pull apart naturally. We cut off the bottom but did eat the bread as we were hungry at that time.
Appetizers and dessert were very good, wine was very good main course was just ok. Pasta was a little tough and there was not much sauce, good flavor but a little dry overall. The tasting menu es are usually very good, tend not to come for the regular menus because the main dishes become a little boring.
Service was friendly, sufficiently attentive, andI accommodating. Staff gave the impression of being very willing to please without being sycophantic. Pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. Sound level OK, especially as they honored our request for a quieter spot. I'd give the food 3.5 stars. The menu descriptions sounded fantastic, but the actual food didn't quite live up. This is why I downgraded the Value to 3. I've been wanting to try Bistro5 for a long time and will give the food another try. It's a very pleasant place to dine.
I've been going to Bistro for a long time now One of my favorites restaurant for sure. And it never disappoints, my issue this time was that my steak was cold tasted amazing but it was cold !
I had the salmon. Wife had the steak. Both were good. My meal was a little under flavored for my taste, but that is totally subjective. Service was excellent. Nice interior dining room. I say definitely worth giving it a try once or twice and decide for yourself.
We went for the special "chocolate" tasting menu. Four courses all using different mole sauces and wine pairings. Everything was spectacular! The chef came out and chatted with us at the end of the meal which was fun. The food is inventive and unusual and delicious. The pasta course will be ingrained in our memories for a long time! Will definitely be back to try more of the special menus! (I've been for regular dinner and that is good too, but this tasting menu is just WOW).
Restaurantji Recommends
Bistro 5 is already our favorite local restaurant as the food and drinks are always great. This time we went for the Chef's special tasting menu pre-Valentine's Day featuring chocolate in various mole sauces. Wow! It's a bit on the pricey side but it was worth it! Every course was fantastic and unique. My wife really enjoyed the wine pairings as well, whereas I opted for a Mexican chocolate cocktail which was also great. The waiter was very friendly and attentive and the chef came out to talk to us at the end of our meal. Highly recommend you catch this tasting menu before it is gone, but if you can't then you'll still have a great menu to choose from. The only downside for me is that it gets quite loud in the dining area, which makes it a bit harder to have conversations without speaking loudly.
My favorite restaurant. We had the special chocolate menu which featured 4 different kinds of mole. Delicious and inventive dishes, beautifully prepared. We enjoyed chatting with Chef Vittoria, a true genius with food! The duck with mole was especially wonderful,
Went there for a girls night out and it was delightful. We had no complaints. The food and service were both on point.
My husband and I have been going to Bistro 5 for years... since they first opened (shortly after we bought our home in West Medford). The food is always great. We love to sit at the bar and order drinks & appetizers, or split an entree.
Upscale creative Italian, comfortable room, decent ambience and service. My spaghetti alla chitarra was outstanding (squid ink + saffron spaghetti, baby clams, octopus, calamari, olives, capers, cherry tomatoes). Parking can be tricky, allow time.