Where to Eat Fabulous French Food around Boston
From traditional mainstays to saucy little bistros, these are the French spots around Boston with that je ne sais quoi.
Batifol’s moules frites. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
French fare is famously difficult to perfect—fortunately, though, Boston’s most talented chefs are up to the task. Whether you’re looking for a no-fuss bistro serving coastal classics or a decadent multi-course extravaganza that doesn’t skimp on the butter, here you’ll find something to please any Francophile. And unlike your guilty-pleasure binge of Emily in Paris, these restaurants won’t make you feel embarrassed in front of your French friends.
Jump to: French-ish Restaurants (brasserie-inspired spots that aren’t explicitly French, and more)
See also: Here’s Where to Find the Best Bakeries in Boston Right Now (which includes French stunners Michette, Colette Bakery—no relation to the restaurant Colette below—and more)
This guide was last updated in August 2024; stay tuned for periodic updates.
Aquitaine Boston. / Photo by Izzy Berdan
Aquitaine
Best of Boston winner, 2013
This restaurant from longtime Boston restaurateur Seth Woods may be named after the region in southwestern France that happens to be home to wine destination Bordeaux, but Aquitaine is a thoroughly Parisian bistro. Low lighting, burgundy booths, tiled floors, and namesake printed dinnerware make the South End spot quite chic—as does the seasonal outdoor patio, where you can nibble on an assortment of fromage with a glass of cabernet franc while people-watching under the shade of a striped umbrella. Wherever you take a seat, including at Aquitaine’s suburban location in Chestnut Hill, treat yourself to a hearty meal of filet au poivre with cognac crème.
569 Tremont St., South End, Boston, 617-424-8577, aquitaineboston.com; 11 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-734-8400, aquitainechestnuthill.com.
Charcuterie and cheese boards at Batifol. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Batifol
Greater Boston’s French restaurant scene is mainly concentrated in the South End and Back Bay, so it was a delight when Petit Robert Bistro owner Loic Le Garrec opened Batifol across the river in Cambridge in late 2022. The “true Parisian brasserie,” as he described it at the time, is full of date-night coziness, from the curved subway-tile wall to the plush teal banquettes. (The sweet and fun cocktail list doesn’t hurt.) On the menu: beautifully plated spins on traditional French dishes, from savory coq au vin with wine-braised mushrooms to steamed moules frites with apple cider cream.
291 Third St., Kendall Square, Cambridge, 617-945-0345, batifolcambridge.com.
The second-floor dining room at Bistro du Midi. / Courtesy photo
Bistro du Midi
This Back Bay Provençal-inspired staple perched above the Public Garden may encourage you to sit up a little straighter and double check the buttons on your shirt. Yet, with one swift swoop of a silver table crumber, Bistro du Midi gently brushes aside haughty French waitstaff stereotypes. With their approachable demeanor and eagerness to discuss chef Robert Sisca’s New England-inspired French seafood dishes, these pros provide all-star service to match the stellar menu. Expect to feast on foie gras and bouillabaisse in the elegant upstairs dining room, or visit the more relaxed downstairs space to lunch on moules frites while sipping on Sancerre.
272 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-279-8000, bistrodumidi.com.
Café Sauvage
Since opening Café Sauvage in 2021, wife-and-husband duo Anaïs and Antoine Lambert have aimed to present Parisian dining through a multicultural lens, which means you’ll find dishes such as glazed eggplant with burrata, chimichurri, pomegranate seeds, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil, or mussels in a coconut milk-based curry. The intimate restaurant also serves up a killer espresso martini, not to mention excellent mocktails. Swing by on the last Wednesday of each month for a prix fixe dinner that doubles as an immersion into French language.
25 Massachusetts Ave., Back Bay, Boston, 857-277-0075, cafesauvage.com.
Colette. / Courtesy photo
Colette
One more Cambridge option! This energetic wine bistro—sibling to Frenchie in the South End (see below)—livens up Porter Square with decadent brunch (Black Forest waffle or croissant French toast, anyone?); a dinner menu full of traditional French options, including plenty of seafood; and an extensive wine and spirits selection. Come for the salon-inspired vibes—the restaurant is named for French author/journalist/actress/photographer/etc. Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette—and stay for the delicate duck confit and mushroom vol au vent, garlicky escargot, and cheesy butternut squash risotto.
1924 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge, colette1924.com.
Deuxave’s French onion soup. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Deuxave
Best of Boston winner, 2014 and 2017
At the corner of Commonwealth Ave. and Mass. Ave. sits a sleek, modern French restaurant and lounge that draws stylish crowds and even wines and dines the city’s top chefs. Perfect for a fourth or fifth date—you know, when things are getting more serious—Deuxave offers just the right sultry setting and seasonal dishes by chef Christopher Coombs to help seal the deal. Things may get a little steamy once the nine-hour French onion soup arrives, but the pastry team knows how to keep things cool with a coconut and citrus panna cotta to round off the night.
371 Commonwealth Ave., Back Bay, Boston, 617-517-5915, deuxave.com.
Frenchie Wine Bistro. / Photo by Brian Samuels
Frenchie
Come for the crêpes and croque-monsieurs in the morning, then find yourself sipping an apéritif before a dinner of duck magret à l’orange at this easy-going South End wine bar. Unsurprisingly, the Parisian-inspired bistro boasts an utterly French menu complete with classics such as coq au vin and steak frites. While you may be tempted to find a perch at the glittering white marble bar, aim for a spot in Frenchie’s glass-enclosed conservatory lit by twinkling bistro lights and pretend you just picked the rose on your table straight from the gardens of your own château.
560 Tremont St., South End, Boston, 857-233-5941, frenchieboston.com.
La Voile
Best of Boston winner, 2015
Something about dining outdoors on a Newbury Street patio, with all the people-watching it entails, feels very French. Enter La Voile (“the sail”), a Back Bay staple—with a Brookline sibling, too—with deep roots in Cannes. The food doesn’t stray far from tradition, and that’s a beautiful thing, especially when it comes to favorites like the buttery Dover sole meunière or the duo of foie gras preparations. We’re longtime fans of lunch service at the Back Bay location, too, which adds a couple casual sandwiches to the mix.
261 Newbury St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-587-4200; 1627 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-277-1260; lavoilerestaurants.com.
Ma Maison
Best of Boston winner, 2022
Celebrity chef Jacky Robert moved from France to Boston in the ’70s to help his uncle open the late, legendary Maison Robert. Eventually, though, this fusion-cooking pioneer and Maîtres Cuisiniers de France (Master Chefs of France) inductee spawned his own culinary revolution—first in San Francisco, then back in Boston where he opened multiple locations of Petit Robert Bistro. He’s since moved on from those restaurants, and now you’ll find him at Ma Maison, his most traditional and personal dining room. Adorned with silver trays, wine bottles, and white tablecloths, the homey Beacon Hill charmer is the picture-perfect setting to dine on beef bourguignon, frog legs, and other classics.
272 Cambridge St., Beacon Hill, Boston, 617-725-8855, mamaisonboston.com.
Marseille
Like Batifol (see above), Marseille is a relative newcomer from an experienced team—another piece of the Petit Robert Bistro empire. Billing itself as a “modern French” restaurant, Marseille pokes around the Mediterranean for broader inspiration, punctuating its classic French dishes with options such as a chorizo-studded cod dish with red pepper hummus and a smoked ham risotto. Frequent wine dinners keep things festive, highlighting exemplary winemaking regions in France and beyond.
560 Harrison Ave., South End, Boston, 857-277-0366, marseilleboston.com.
Dover sole meunière at Mistral. / Courtesy photo
Mistral
The first—and arguably most famous—Jamie Mammano production under the Columbus Hospitality Group umbrella has been serving some of Boston’s finest French-Mediterranean cuisine since 1997. Named for the wind that blows through the South of France, Mistral helped move the center of buzz in Boston’s dining scene to the Back Bay-South End borderline when it opened. Since then, the whole city has exploded—yet Mistral remains en vogue thanks to its delicate balancing of flavors. See the robust dried cherry gastrique drizzled over seared foie gras or the warm, buttery lemon caper sauce poured over delicate Dover sole. A single meal may max out much of your rainy-day fund, but c’est la vie.
223 Columbus Ave., South End, Boston, 617-867-9300, mistralbistro.com.
Petit Robert Bistro
Best of Boston winner, 2007
If you ignore the peek-a-boo view of the Prudential Center behind the church across the street, you can almost imagine that this South End bistro is parked right by Notre-Dame. Petit Robert is the perfect place to live out your French fantasy—and contemplate which Parisian arrondissement would suit you best—while digging into foie de veau Lyonnaise topped with caramelized onions or plump butternut squash ravioli in sage cream with fragrant toasted hazelnuts. Church bells will ring as you raise a glass of Sauvignon Blanc to your adventurous (and very well-fed) alter-ego.
480 Columbus Ave., South End, Boston, 617-867-0600, petitrobertbistro.com.
A duck dish at Rochambeau. / Courtesy photo
Rochambeau
This trendy Back Bay spot delivers—and at a reasonable price point—on fine French-inspired food served with a side of flash. There’s certainly frisky energy to the place, starting with the Art Nouveau-inspired architecture and mid-century modern millennial pink chairs. Bring a crowd, pop some bubbly, order lots of hors d’oeuvres, and dive into some Parisian gnocchi and crispy pommes frites accordingly. Looking for something meatier? Head to the first-floor dining room, which transformed into the “Steak Room” in early 2024, exclusively serving a prix fixe menu centered around steak frites.
900 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-247-0400, rochambeauboston.com.
Troquet on South
When this cozy French-New American bistro moved from its Boylston Street location to a much roomier space in the Leather District, Bostonians breathed a collective sigh of relief. Now everyone has the space to lean into a laissez-faire mindset and order as much wine as they please off owner-sommelier Chris Campbell’s award-winning list. Besides the magnifique beverage options, Troquet on South offers new takes on French staples with dishes like truffled chicken roulade with pea and ricotta risotto or a melt-in-your-mouth ribeye with Parisian gnocchi. If you want the full royal treatment, opt for the five- or seven-course tasting menu, which is bound to satisfy.
107 South St., Leather District, Boston, 617-695-9463, troquetboston.com.
French-ish Restaurants
While not explicitly French, these great local spots draw inspiration from the cuisine.
Blue Ribbon Brasserie’s shrimp Provençal: cheese ravioli and spinach. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Blue Ribbon Brasserie
New York-based restaurateurs Bruce and Eric Bromberg brought their successful Blue Ribbon Brasserie to Boston’s Kenmore Square in late 2023. The restaurant draws much of its inspiration (including the “brasserie” designation) from the brothers’ training in France, so there are certainly some French dishes on the menu, including steak frites and escargots à la bourguignonne. There’s also the shrimp Provençal, a nod to a dish the brothers learned while summering in Provence as kids that inspired their eventual path to the culinary arts. But “French” doesn’t seem like quite the right descriptor when the menu also includes matzoh ball soup; a “pupu platter” that includes pierogi, Buffalo cauliflower, and ribs; fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collard greens; and two variations on paella. You can scratch your itch for French food here, but it’s a genre-hopping restaurant for all occasions, and that’s not a bad thing.
528 Commonwealth Ave., Kenmore Square, Boston, 617-634-0404, blueribbonbrasserieboston.com.
Eastern Standard steak frites. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Eastern Standard
Also firmly in the brasserie camp is Boston’s own Eastern Standard, which for nearly 15 years was located in the space now occupied by Blue Ribbon. It was reborn in a shiny new space nearby in late 2023, to the joy of many a Boston diner, and continues to be a standard-bearer for the modern sort-of-French, sort-of-American brasserie, the type of place you can go for a cozy weekday lunch or date-night dinner or hearty late-night snack. Those seeking French cuisine will find excellent versions of steak tartare, steak frites, a niçoise salad, and more, not to mention the Tuesday special, a brown buttery skate meunière.
775 Beacon St. (in the Bower), Fenway/Kenmore, Boston, 617-530-1590, easternstandardboston.com.
Juliet’s hake meunière. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Juliet
This Union Square gem describes itself as “mostly French, totally fun, and inspired heavily by the region of Nice”—which in turn brings in some Italian influence, due to Nice’s proximity to Italy. And then there are Juliet’s rotating prix fixe menus that trot around the globe, from an ode to north California to a yearly celebration of the Persian new year, Nowruz. Not to mention random bits of fun like fish fry Friday or a Texas barbecue special. All this to say: Juliet does a lot of things. But at its mostly-French heart, there are rich omelettes (among the best in town); fancy aioli with lots of things to dip in it; several styles of moules frites; steak frites; hake meunière; and lots more.
263 Washington St., Union Square, Somerville, 617-718-0262, julietsomerville.com.
Zuzu’s Petals in Cambridge. The quote on the wall comes from 1980s British comedy Withnail & I, a favorite of Zuzu’s Petals owners Alexandra Whisnant and Bobby MacLean. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Zuzu’s Petals
It’s no surprise that Cambridge’s award-winning, screen-free dessert and wine bar feels a little Parisian; co-owner (and chocolatier extraordinaire) Alexandra Whisnant is an alum of Le Cordon Bleu Paris. The small selection of savory food feels quite French—cheese, meats, and buckwheat galettes (which are rooted in France’s Brittany region). The eclectic wine list is international, as are the impeccable desserts, although several do nod strongly to France, such as the irresistible dark chocolate mousse and the crème brûlée. And on Tuesday nights, Zuzu’s Petals is at its Frenchiest: Come between 7 and 9 p.m. to practice speaking French (while drinking French wine, naturally).
204 Hampshire St., Inman Square, Cambridge, 617-945-7749, zuzuspetalscambridge.com.
