Lunch on a Sunny Patio at Bouchée
April 4, 2008
A lunch at Bouchée can be summed up in one word: lovely. Slowly but surely, the days are getting warmer and more Jumbos are making their way outdoors and seeing the sun for the first time in what seems like months. To break up a monotonous routine, take some time out for yourself and go out into the great beyond. In this case, to Newbury Street, and more specifically, a French restaurant called Bouchée.
In the upcoming weeks, take advantage of the outdoor patio-style seating offered at the restaurant. The sunken patio is perfect, since it allows patrons to enjoy the sun and the cool breeze, while at the same time being enclosed enough that one will not be too distracted by the heavy Newbury Street traffic and many passersby.
Upon entering, guests are greeted by a flock of penguin-like waiters (vests and aprons included) and a polite and professional host or hostess. The place gets quite busy on the weekends, especially around lunchtime, though there is surprisingly hardly ever any wait for a table during these times. The drawback is that during peak hours, nearly all the tables are filled with loud people, making Bouchée a not-so-great choice for an quiet, intimate meal.
Though self-described as a “brasserie,” the French equivalent of a tavern, it far exceeds its own definition. The menu covers items from soup to salad, hearty entrees (think coq au vin and filet mignon) to desserts, flatbreads (French-style pizzas) to sandwiches, and a double-sided list of aperitifs (cocktails) and hot café drinks. And it seems that the chef can do no wrong. All of the above-mentioned are impeccable. The best part is, everything on the menu is affordable and fits a student budget. Lunch without drinks will cost you approximately $12 plus tip. One downside is that dinner, on the other hand, is pricier, running about $30 per person, plus tip. Therefore, I have found that late lunches (starting at around two or three) are best, since after that time you can get the intimacy of a quieter dinner for the lower price of lunch.
Ask the waiter for their daily specials. On Sundays, the extensive list of specials includes brunch foods, using market-fresh ingredients that are in season. Bouchée prides itself as a “fresh-ingredient only” establishment, and it shows — even the coffee beans are ground to order. The options for meals are also wide for both vegetarians and health-conscious customers.
If you can’t get a table outdoors in the warm spring sun, the interior is quite large, and has seating areas on two floors. The whole restaurant is decked out in dark, mahogany-colored wood and has large bay windows on its Newbury Street side. Vintage-style French posters line the walls and many of the seats are on the perimeter of the space, allowing for a good half of the customers to sit on comfortable banquette-type seating. Old-school French music, Ã la “La Vie en Rose,” plays in the background in an unassuming way. A particularly charming touch is the crisp, white tablecloth that adorns each table, which truly makes you feel as if you are dining in a high-end establishment, even though you aren’t breaking the bank for your delicious meal.
What really tops off the dining experience is that even the smallest of details are considered at Bouchée. For example, iced teas (which are excellent and brewed individually) come with thick black straws, and an order of plain coffee comes in a miniature pot. And yet, the feel of the restaurant is completely unpretentious. Walk-ins are welcome and waiters are friendly to students and older couples alike, despite knowing that we won’t necessarily tip them as much.
Overall, my experience at Bouchée was absolutely wonderful. To take a break from classes and commitments and relax at a beautiful restaurant on one of the first warm days in a while was just what I needed, and what many other Tufts students may need. Next time you go out on the town and you want to treat your friend, significant other, or family member to a refreshing and delicious meal, I urge you to visit this gem. I promise that you will get that much-needed break we all need this time of year at Bouchée.