I wasn't expecting to be blown away when my friend suggested Thistle & Leek. Good restaurants are a plenty in this area, but multi-layered flavor experiences are rare anywhere. This place combines friendly, 'everyone knows your name' service with a menu you would expect from a Beard nominee in some hip downtown neighborhood. What to try? Everything. Pretend you are a food critic and visit several times over the course of 2-3 months to check off each item...but start with the mushroom ragout....that alone is worth the visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Donal Waide
Top notch experience. Great service and some nice wine glass options.
Parking: Street parking to 6 p.m. opposite and outside restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mushroom Ragout
David Jones
first visit thought the food and service were both great. didn't love the chef table but understood that is what we could get. would definitely go back
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nick Citrone
Nothing was stand out. Some dishes didn’t work, like the cabbage, which is one of those dishes that’s in vogue right now and often executed well. Swordfish was overcooked. Potato confit was dry. Focaccia was served cold. Very limited wine offerings, standard cocktails. Dessert was the biggest miss. The chocolate cake was more of a spiced fruit cake than what you’d want to receive when ordering chocolate cake. Staff was friendly, no issues there. Atmosphere was probably the lowest point. Pea soup green walls against brown wainscoting with generic food based prints on the walls. Lights cranked up too high, music clashes with the perceived effect they are trying to achieve. Hard rock posters in the bathroom add to the confusion. Worst part? $500 bucks for four people. Usually I head into Boston or Cambridge to take my folks out for X-Mas, but I thought I’d opt for a quicker drive based on the reviews, but my mistake. Could have driven farther, and spent the same on known quantities like Sarma or Alden & Harlow and had a great meal. A real bummer.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Leslie Lai
The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service is top-notch. The staff was incredibly patient and helpful, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The owner even went the extra mile to ensure our young child was comfortable and entertained. But the food? Outstanding! Every dish we ordered was delicious, together a fine curation. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gigi Grimm
I love everthing about this incredible gem in the heart of Newton Center.
Justin Snider
Great restaurant and great vibes. Really good food served in small dishes. Loved the tartare, cabbage, potato salad, really everything.
Kind of restaurant that more places should aspire to be. Can't wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Robin R Johnson
Outstanding. Rivals Sycamore in flavor and creativity, and surpasses in atmosphere and service. Bravo!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adam Rasmussen
An awesome tapas style restaurant. Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Expensive, but worm it. Will come again. I want to try everything
house baked focaccia, sesame, olive oil- Very fresh and good quality. It did come plain and lacked flavor focaccia usually has.wish it did come with some herbs or something on it. 3.5/5
smoked bluefish, new potatoes, pickled habanada peppers, crispy potatoes Very tasty. A cold Dish. Dish was very fresh and had strong flavor. The roasted potatoes inside and the crispy potatoes on top added great texture 4.5/5
mushroom ragout, chanterelles, maitake, poached egg, celery root Very savory dish. Mixed the poached egg on top which added a nice creaminess to the texture The mushrooms were perfectly sauteed and also had great texture. 4.5/5
lamb meatballs, tomato & ginger curry, garlic flatbread Star of the show. Meatballs are so tender and have so much flavor. The Curry is so savory and only adds to the lavor. And on top of that you have garlic flatbread, which was so fluffy and crispy 5/5
rice pudding, charred figs, toasted coconut
Creamy and tasty. The figs are poached in red wine and adds a nice boozy flavor 4/5
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maksym F
Nice place to get lunch. Hope to come back for dinner.
This place is really making a name for themselves. They get better each time I go. The small dishes are a good serving size with good variety and they are well priced.
A mixed bag here- the small plates get expensive fast. Most people order 3 dishes at $15-20 each. Focaccia was too dry. Oat fritters bland. House salad dressing was perfect mix of sweet and tart. Lamb meatballs and Broccoli dishes were outstanding! Good service in a nice setting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Karen Bailey
Sad to say I’ll never patronize this establishment after learning that the owner supports question 5. Not everyone lives in Newton’s lap of luxury and works in a chi-chi restaurant. Most are trying to make ends meet and rely on tips. I call selfish and egocentric.
Rachel Leverton
Cozy, elegant space serving thoughtful, delicious dishes! The chefs are so impressive with how they can take a simple, locally grown, and in season veggie and make it into the most delicious dish that you will continue talking about for days to come. With many wonderful local establishments to visit in Newton Centre, I get excited on the days that this is the place I get to dine. The lighting, music, friendly staff, and most certainly the food and drinks has me dining here as often as I can! Greatest meal! Every. Single. Time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vince Maguire
Order everything! Well, maybe not all at once, but at least once. There were 4 of us and we ordered 12 different dishes, plus 4 desserts. The crudo was fresh and vibrant. The tomato salad was surprisingly different, spiced with curry leaves. The oat squares were unlike anything and yet deliciously familiar. Crispy potato, yes please. Then the meatballs and the chicken were divine. For me, the dish that beat them all was the sausage and sauerkraut. Perfectly balanced. All of it. I wish were could have stayed for round 2. Go. Order everything. Eat. Enjoy!
I wasn't expecting to be blown away when my friend suggested Thistle & Leek. Good restaurants are a plenty in this area, but multi-layered flavor experiences are rare anywhere. This place combines friendly, 'everyone knows your name' service with a menu you would expect from a Beard nominee in some hip downtown neighborhood. What to try? Everything. Pretend you are a food critic and visit several times over the course of 2-3 months to check off each item...but start with the mushroom ragout....that alone is worth the visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Top notch experience. Great service and some nice wine glass options.
Parking: Street parking to 6 p.m. opposite and outside restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mushroom Ragout
first visit thought the food and service were both great. didn't love the chef table but understood that is what we could get. would definitely go back
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nothing was stand out. Some dishes didn’t work, like the cabbage, which is one of those dishes that’s in vogue right now and often executed well. Swordfish was overcooked. Potato confit was dry. Focaccia was served cold. Very limited wine offerings, standard cocktails. Dessert was the biggest miss. The chocolate cake was more of a spiced fruit cake than what you’d want to receive when ordering chocolate cake. Staff was friendly, no issues there. Atmosphere was probably the lowest point. Pea soup green walls against brown wainscoting with generic food based prints on the walls. Lights cranked up too high, music clashes with the perceived effect they are trying to achieve. Hard rock posters in the bathroom add to the confusion. Worst part? $500 bucks for four people. Usually I head into Boston or Cambridge to take my folks out for X-Mas, but I thought I’d opt for a quicker drive based on the reviews, but my mistake. Could have driven farther, and spent the same on known quantities like Sarma or Alden & Harlow and had a great meal. A real bummer.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service is top-notch. The staff was incredibly patient and helpful, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The owner even went the extra mile to ensure our young child was comfortable and entertained. But the food? Outstanding! Every dish we ordered was delicious, together a fine curation. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love everthing about this incredible gem in the heart of Newton Center.
Great restaurant and great vibes. Really good food served in small dishes. Loved the tartare, cabbage, potato salad, really everything.
Kind of restaurant that more places should aspire to be. Can't wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Outstanding. Rivals Sycamore in flavor and creativity, and surpasses in atmosphere and service. Bravo!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
An awesome tapas style restaurant. Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Expensive, but worm it. Will come again. I want to try everything
house baked focaccia, sesame, olive oil-
Very fresh and good quality. It did come plain and lacked flavor focaccia usually has.wish it did come with some herbs or something on it. 3.5/5
smoked bluefish, new potatoes, pickled habanada peppers, crispy potatoes
Very tasty. A cold Dish. Dish was very fresh and had strong flavor. The roasted potatoes inside and the crispy potatoes on top added great texture 4.5/5
mushroom ragout, chanterelles, maitake, poached egg, celery root
Very savory dish. Mixed the poached egg on top which added a nice creaminess to the texture The mushrooms were perfectly sauteed and also had great texture. 4.5/5
lamb meatballs, tomato & ginger curry, garlic flatbread
Star of the show. Meatballs are so tender and have so much flavor. The Curry is so savory and only adds to the lavor. And on top of that you have garlic flatbread, which was so fluffy and crispy 5/5
rice pudding, charred figs, toasted coconut
Creamy and tasty. The figs are poached in red wine and adds a nice boozy flavor 4/5
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nice place to get lunch. Hope to come back for dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hanger Steak
Restaurantji Recommends
This place is really making a name for themselves. They get better each time I go. The small dishes are a good serving size with good variety and they are well priced.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Schnitzel and Garden Salad, Steak Tartare, Hanger Steak
A mixed bag here- the small plates get expensive fast. Most people order 3 dishes at $15-20 each. Focaccia was too dry. Oat fritters bland. House salad dressing was perfect mix of sweet and tart. Lamb meatballs and Broccoli dishes were outstanding! Good service in a nice setting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Sad to say I’ll never patronize this establishment after learning that the owner supports question 5. Not everyone lives in Newton’s lap of luxury and works in a chi-chi restaurant. Most are trying to make ends meet and rely on tips. I call selfish and egocentric.
Cozy, elegant space serving thoughtful, delicious dishes! The chefs are so impressive with how they can take a simple, locally grown, and in season veggie and make it into the most delicious dish that you will continue talking about for days to come. With many wonderful local establishments to visit in Newton Centre, I get excited on the days that this is the place I get to dine. The lighting, music, friendly staff, and most certainly the food and drinks has me dining here as often as I can! Greatest meal! Every. Single. Time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Order everything! Well, maybe not all at once, but at least once. There were 4 of us and we ordered 12 different dishes, plus 4 desserts. The crudo was fresh and vibrant. The tomato salad was surprisingly different, spiced with curry leaves. The oat squares were unlike anything and yet deliciously familiar. Crispy potato, yes please. Then the meatballs and the chicken were divine. For me, the dish that beat them all was the sausage and sauerkraut. Perfectly balanced. All of it. I wish were could have stayed for round 2. Go. Order everything. Eat. Enjoy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Steak Tartare, Monkfish, Toasted Focaccia
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