Asta

We were in town for the weekend and decided to try Asta due to the glorious reviews. They offered 3, 5 and 7 course tasting. We geared up for 5 courses but for the price we were not wowed. While innovative and definitely fresh, the food lacked real flavor punch and wasn’t at all memorable. I believe the most memorable course was the lamb — but here we sit a week out and between the two of us that’s all we remember. They also served bread mid courses which we thought was fairly odd but scarfed down anyway due to the small portions. That was the other thing! The portions went from teeny tiny to very large without really a medium bridge. The other disappointing factor was that they lacking a liquor license — but they did not remedy that problem at all as their wine offerings were fairly slim. On top of all of this, the service was very awkward, choppy and not a single of the 4? Random servers we had even asked if had enjoyed our dinner or any of the dishes. Was just a strange experience overall. I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant to folks.

Chef Crabb and his team are amazing.
I came here on a Saturday night for my BFs surprise bday dinner. I called Saturday morning and was able to easily book a reservation.
The concept of Asta is innovative, creative, and genuine food. This was the first time that I had fine dining and Asta was a great restaurant to dabble my feet. The experience was phenomenal.
1. Each diner has the option to choose a 3 course, 5 course, or an 8 course meal.
2. I had the 5 and my BF had the 8 course meal. I would say that the 5 course with wine pairing is the perfect size for anyone. The 8 course meal does offer more intriguing and unique dishes, but I think that the 5 course is sufficient enough for first timers here.
At Asta, I would ask to be seated near the kitchen area so you and your party can experience an open kitchen and watch the chef prepare your food live. We enjoyed talking with Chef Crabb and the servers did a great job explaining each dish.
I loved the food, the vibes, and everything. I think Asta is a great place to take your loved one as a fun way to experience food. The music, the dim lighting, and the candles set the perfect romantic ambience :) excited to be back!
*** note: MY PICTURES DO NOT DO IT JUSTICE

Thoroughly enjoyed the 8-​course tasting menu. The staff were fantastic, very welcoming and accommodating. I loved the lobster, buckwheat pasta and more! The atmosphere is perfect for a special dinner out, after work bites, and even a casual meal. I sat at the bar area with a great view of the kitchen.

A solid tasting menu and a nice mostly casual vibe. Had the $ 95 tasting menu with 8 courses. This started with a great amuse of merguez sausage, then beef broth, cabbage & clams, another course slipping my mind, sugar beet, venison, naughty or nice, and milk chocolate sunchoke. The highlights were the lobster, which was quite simple but very flavorful and kept perfectly hot with the iron pan; cabbage & clams was excellent; naughty or nice is a cheese course with a slightly sweet honeycomb thing that really hit the spot. It had a good combo of sweet and savory, soft and crunchy. The main was venison, and I thought it was a bit disappointing. The venison itself was fine but nothing special, and the dish was mostly jazzed up with the little bits of extras like brussels sprouts and some crunch. So that made up for it and made it a fine dish, but the venison did not stand on its own, and I think for what this restaurant wants to be, a better option would be a truly great venison with virtually nothing else needed to jazz it up. And finally, the petit fours was some really good caramel popcorn.
I liked the feel of the place with nice wooden tables, and the 8-​person bar is kind of cool because you are set off from the kitchen but have a good view of all the prep. The service was great.
I enjoyed the meal, but a slight criticism is that the presentation is a bit cute. They really go all out with a special plate or gadget for each course, in this case the sugar beet came with «campfire vibes» of a burning ember of pine tree and some pine needles. It sets a certainly fun mood and all, and the smoky ember really did give that vibe, but do you really need to entertain that much, or is this trying to make up for food that is good but also a bit short of outstanding? In fact, the best dishes were the ones that had a less showy presentation, and the fancy dishes do not truly fit with the décor and the service, which is more about comfort than show. Naughty or nice also had a fancy presentation with a little «gift wrapping» you take off to reveal whether you got the coal or the gift. Again, a bit too cute, although the cheese course itself was actually great.
Note that the $ 95 is a bit more adventurous, so it is not for people just wanting great food. The chef is pushing boundaries a bit here and there, trying to keep good flavor as opposed to going all out experimental, but it is not at all traditional. I watched all of the 5-​course menus go by, and would say that is much more in the solid good food category, or at least looks it since I didn’t get to try. Go for the 8+ course only if you are not weirded out by unusual ingredients and combos. I appreciate what they’re doing here. They could do with one or two more great dishes and tone down the cuteness, and establish more confidence with the food.

Arguably one of the best restaurants in Boston. We went there for dinner and chose the three coarse one. Immediately it was obvious we are in for a good deal.
Although we had reservation the place was not very busy and we sat at the table we wanted to.
We could see the kitchen which was a treat by itself. I am glad we went there and i am sure this will not be our last time there.
Don’t drive unless you have a back-​bay sticker.

I came here for dinner with my wife and a friend. We all got the 5 course menu with the wine pairing and a foie gras to split. Everything was great! (albeit a bit pricey). The wait staff were engaging and friendly. Each dish had unique flavors and textures. The beef dish was cooked perfectly. The wines were well matched with the food (a sparking wine, 4 whites, 2 reds, and a dessert wine).
The only thing that was a bit weird was the silverware in the drawers at the table. We thought it was fun at first, but later we found it to be a chore, poking around in the drawers to find the right cutlery.
But overall, we had a great meal at Asta!

A good restaurant for Boston standards. Nice food, okay service, weird smells, high prices.
The overall ambiance of the space is nice. There were very few people there on the weekend night we dined here, which made for a pleasant and calm dining experience.
The service was ok. Our main waitress was nice enough and she made sure we always had water and dutifully changed our tableware. One of the owners (?) just walks around and smiles at you, which could make some people feel welcome, but just made me feel uncomfortable. I noticed that the chef chats with tables, but he only walked by our table to say things like, «here, radishes. That is butter.» Okay. Thanks. This felt slightly condescending.
Anyway– the food was quite nice. The very first thing they served us though, was an amuse bouche of duck heart on a burnt juniper branch. It was an awful choice on the part of the restaurant– not only because the burnt juniper branch smelled like what I imagine an old, cigarette smoke-​infused pair of underwear saturated in old urine smells like, but also because every time this branch was prepared, the smell permeated through the whole restaurant. This smell really colored my experience here.
The rest of the food was quite nice though– well cooked, nicely prepared, well flavored. Not a place where you go to have a hearty meal, but overall good preparation. I appreciated the inventive, clean flavors that the chef presented us with– these are hard to come by in Boston.
The fixed menus are very expensive for what you get. At a certain point you stop paying for the food, and start paying for the experience. I would say that Asta is somewhere on the cusp between these two. A good place for a date though.

Fourth visit recently with a friend at the chef table near the kitchen. This place just continues to deliver the best food in Boston. No exaggeration, if you want dinner theater with exceptional service and the whimsical inventiveness of a star chef and his awesome team, this is your new favorite spot. I can’t recommend it enough. Don’t miss it.

My boyfriend surprised me with an anniversary dinner here. I really wished I had taken a picture of the menu or taken it home with me, but I’ll try my best to remember what we had. We walked in and were given the option of sitting at the «bar» or at a table. We chose the bar to get a good look at the chefs in action and I’m so glad that we did — these are the best seats in the house.
You get three options — a 3-​course, 5-​course, or 8-​course meal. Every single option is different and this is one of the few pre-​fixe places that actually allow you to order different options within the same party. In order to optimize our tastings, I ordered the 8-​course and my boyfriend had the 5-​course. I highly recommend coming with a third person and getting all three options :)
I would go into detail, but this review would end up being one of those obnoxiously long ones that no one will ever read. It was hands-​down one of the best meals I’ve had in Boston. It was a honor to get a front row view of Chef Alex Crabb in action (he was an apprentice at Noma for a bit). It’s probably the closest to Noma that I’ll ever get and for a fraction of the price.
My favorite course of the night was the very first — a roasted mushroom with sauteed kale and an anchovy dressing — everything fit so well together and the anchovy dressing was one of the best things I’ve ever had. My boyfriend’s favorite was the raw mackerel — it was extremely fresh, silky, and delicious.
The menu rotates at a moment’s notice so don’t ever expect the same thing twice. The hostess informed us that the mackerel was caught that very day and the original vision was for it to be cooked, but that the fish was just too good that it only seemed right to serve it raw. They have a real respect for their ingredients here.
Overall, the service and food was excellent. Again, get a seat at the bar if you can (there’s only about 8 seats total — 4 on each side) — it’s absolutely mesmerizing to watch them work!

5+ stars. My bf took me to Asta for my Bday. It was kinda pricey but the vibe wasn’t pretentious at all. Shish was our server who also happened to be the co-​owner. She was just so fun and it was contagious. We sat at the bar, the best seat in the house, and watched the chefs do their thing. We did the 8-​dish prix fixed option and every dish was mind-​blowing. They gave just enough portions to have you leaving full. Chef Alex was great and even stopped by and chatted with us. I just fell in love with the place and would definitely have to go again.

Took a nasty spill on my bike today right across the street from this restaurant. The owner, Alex, took a break from his daily prep to come out and make sure I was okay. He carried my bike across the street, let me get cleaned up, gave me water and a place to rest, so I could collect myself enough to make some phone calls. I know where my lady and I will be coming for our next nice dinner! Thank you, Alex! You were a Good Samaritan today and I’m grateful.

I just like to say, that any restaurant that start the meal off with a glass of champagne and end it with chocolate/​caramels and a glass to brandy (all on the house) WINS in my books.
Even though it’s expensive, it’s a very low key restaurant, you would not feel out of place with shorts on. And if you can, grab the high top seats by the kitchen, so you can see the chefs in action!
We all went with the 5 course dinner, which I think was the perfect portion for me.
As for the food, this was literally only a week ago and I can’t remember the details for the life of me. Hmm maybe that champane/​wine/​brandy combo really did me in… Anyways, I remember that every dish was excellent. 1) I was surprised at how much I liked the 1^st dish which had beans and mushrooms and I’m really not a bean person. 2) I felt bad eating the green beans that they were literally arranging neatly with tweezers but very delicious. 3) THAT CEREAL! Yes it was literally cereal for dessert but with this awesome caramelized milk. If cereal tasted like that, I would actually have breakfast everyday (which I know I should but I often don’t…) I think if I had to pick something not perfect, I thought the beef could be slightly more tender and slightly less oily. But that’s being quite picky.
Overall great experience here. Amazing food in a unpretentious atmosphere. Oh and look out for the small sign, you’ll walk right past it!

Asta-​ondingly good food! I cannot wait to come back in a month to try the new menu. My boyfriend and I each got the the 5-​course with wine pairing. Our five course consisted of pike, beef, radish salad, butter soup, and a tasty chocolate, toast, and bay leaf desert that came together wonderfully. Definitely spend the extra $ 45 for the wine pairing. All the choices were unexpected but complemented each course perfectly.
You also have the option of a 3 course meal or 8 course meal. Your party is not limited to having the same number of courses.
I loved the atmosphere. Depending on what side of the table you are sitting on, you get a full view of the open kitchen. Silver-​ware is tucked in a draw in the table, giving you plenty of table space. The service was spectacular and our waitress was incredibly well-​informed about the menu.
It is a popular place on weekends. I recommend making a reservation at least 5 days in advance.

Holy moly. If you’re visiting Boston and want to splurge, give this place a shot. The menu is made up of tasting menus of either 3, 5, or 8 courses, with or without wine pairings. We had a 5-​course and an 8-​course, so we got to sample 13 different dishes. Absolutely astonishing. Very seasonal, so the offerings frequently change.
Sit at the bar tables as close to the open kitchen as possible so you can watch the staff painstakingly assemble each course before it comes to your table. Delightful and thoughtful wine service. Chef Alex Crabb came by the table a couple of times to chat, which was very cool.
Not at all a stuffy place — no need to dress up. Loved it.

Just right! Man, am I a fan of this place. It’s creative, it’s seasonal, it’s not too serious. (But they take it seriously!) Yes, it bears some comparisons to Noma. Perhaps it’s out of experience and respect for a former mentor? That’s only a good thing in my book!
It’s a place to let the pros do what they do– it would serve you well to put your guards down and just let these guys do what they do. Chef Alex Crabb is über-​talented without being pretentious (so welcomed in a time of chefs thinking they’re friggin rock stars!) and his kitchen staff are all very sure of each move without that hectic restaurant feel. In an open kitchen, it’s fun to see how dishes are crafted and they reveal some tricks if you sit up close at the counter tables.
The wine service and pairings are creative and all work well. The food is highly seasoned, textural, well thought out and respects the many cultures that influences come from. Technique is not short in his food.
Why this place is not bigger on the Boston map really confuses me! Are people that boring? or is it like the pro football player that blows up after learning the play book – except the Boston dining scene is the player.
If you go it’s best to go with the intention for a tasting menu. That’s what they do well. Sometimes what’s on a menu isn’t what you may think… sometimes that is on purpose. Allow yourself some surprise factor at Asta– they’re also good at this part!
Tip:
Don’t say you’re a foodie and then ask for a million substitutions (it’s not that place) but if it’s an allergy — I bet they’d respond if you call ahead. Too many people with allergies show up and expect immediate results… given notice and you probably will be much better cared for!
Bonus:
Love the silverware rest up at the counter.

Love Asta.
Took my GF here for an anniversary dinner. She LOVED it. We’ve been back 4 – 5 times since, and I booked the chef’s counter for my buddy’s bachelor party. All visits have been superb. The service is excellent, the atmosphere warm and casual, the food is always interesting and delicious, and the wine pairings are amazing.
It’s pricy, but not compared to a similar dining experience in other world class cities. And unlike some other tasting menus in town, at the end of the meal you feel like you got your money’s worth.
Go. You won’t regret it.

I really wanted to like this place… but it ended up being a disappointing dinner. This place has 3 course ($ 45), 5 course ($ 70) and 8 course ($ 95) tasting menus; nice thing that sets this place apart from other tasting menus is that each person at the same table can order which ever number of courses they want. Most places makes everyone order the same number of courses which is so silly.
The décor is modern with wood furnishings. The space focuses on the far end of the restaurant which is the open kitchen that’s framed by two large light fixtures. I loved watching the kitchen and how the chefs plated with such choreography. There was a lot a lot of tweezers being used… which is should have been a sign that the food would be more precious. Most reviewers said the food portions were adequate but it really wasn’t. I had the 8 course and still could have used another meal afterwards. The dishes were creative in a sense but the execution did not match the level of art they were trying to achieve.
My faves were the apple, lardo and horseradish — very cool presentation and interesting texture and taste. Also enjoyed the oyster stew and the lobster. But the game bird, sweet breads and the dessert of hazelnut and quince were not the best dishes in overall taste. My husband’s beef dish was not seasoned and the meat was unfortunately chewy.
I liked how we were greeted and everyone received a glass of sparkling wine to start the evening. I also liked the cutlery that’s tucked away in the drawer in front of you so you can bring out your utensils during the meal. Service was more laid back and knowledgeable enough though it wasn’t up to the same level as other competing restaurants.
Restaurant had a cool and creative vibe but for over $ 100 for one person, it was disappointing to only enjoy 3 dishes out of 8.

Very creative menu! Not somewhere to go if you are a picky eater, but if you can be open to what they prepare for you, you’ll be in for a treat!
We did the 8-​course menu (we called ahead to make sure they could accomodate a vegetarian and they could). We shared some of the same dishes (a wonderful sweet & sour eggplant dish and a mushroom dish) but they did a wonderful job for both of us! Service was fantastic as well!
If you can get a seat at the chef’s table toward the back of the restaurant, I recommend it. There’s more to watch as the chefs prepare and plate the dinner, and it’s more social with other diners, which we enjoyed.

Came here for a 5-​course and 8-​course tasting menu. All I can say is that the experience was absolutely phenomenal! The food was delicious, the service was top notch, and the ambiance was perfect!
We were seated at the bar, which was great because we got to see the food being prepared. Our server was brand new but she was very attentive throughout the entire service (4 hours long!). The dinner started with a complementary sparkling wine (yummm) and amuse bouche of duck mousse on cheddar cracker. My favorite item was probably the «asparagus» with mushroom or the green-​ita with foam yogurt. But to be honest, everything was superb.

About 6 months ago I started to see a new name coming up in a number of food-​related articles and «best of» lists: Asta. I had never heard of Asta before, nor had I heard of the chef/​owner Alex Crabb. After seeing that Asta was a James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in 2014 and that the Boston Globe had awarded Chef Crabb the honor of «best new chef», I decided to add it to my long list of restaurants to try.
I made a reservation at 7 o’clock on Saturday night and requested the chef’s counter for our seats. I was a little nervous about this, as I sometimes find chef’s counters can be a little invasive/​awkward. When we arrived, instead of being seated at an uncomfortable bar right on top of the chefs, we were sat at a spacious counter a few feet away from and angled toward the kitchen. There were four seats to a counter and we had a spectacular view of the all of the action and especially the plating area. It was so incredibly cool.
As soon as we sat down we were given some complimentary sparkling wine. Such a nice touch! Asta only offers tasting menus — either 3, 5 or 8-​courses with pescetarian and vegetarian options for the 5-​course. What is unique to Asta is that diners in the same party can choose whatever option they’d like. We decided to share the 5 and 8-​course options since they featured different ingredients. The kitchen did a fantastic job timing our meal. I was unsure of how they would handle bringing everything out since we had mixed the two tasting options, but they really did a perfect job!
The food overall ranged from very good to incredible. Some highlights for us:
— Cauliflower, trout roe, mushrooms, lemon sauce, fried capers. I didn’t expect to love a dish centered around cauliflower, so I was shocked out how much I enjoyed this. It was flavorful and the fried capers gave the dish a fun, crunchy, salty pop.
— Salt cod on a toasted crostini with carrot slaw, mustard seed, micro greens and olive oil. This dish made us smile and reminisce about our first taste of salt cod in Iceland. It was wonderful from the first to last bite.
— Monk fish in bacon broth with brussels sprouts and pickled mustard seed. This was one of my favorite courses of the night. The bacon broth was amazing — I was literally spooning it into my mouth! The fish was perfectly cooked and I really enjoyed the pickled mustard seeds.
— Braised celery, chicken skin, black gnocchi, duck confit. Ladies and gents, let me introduce you to the star of the meal. This signature dish is like a deconstructed chicken soup. Chef Crabb came over to our seats right as we were given this plate and I noticed that our black gnocchi were missing. He immediately went back to the kitchen and whipped us up a little plate with the gnocchi plus some extra chicken skin. Seriously, this dish was heaven. I’d go back to Asta just for this plate!
— Carrot soup with coconut. We were both skeptical when we saw this on the menu. Carrot soup with coconut? Yuck. Once again, we were blindsided by how delicious this little dessert was. We both happily slurped it down.
— Black sesame cream puff with smoke maple syrup. It was so fun to break open this giant cream puff! The cream was delicious, and the flavor was very unique.
Besides the incredible food, what I really loved most about Asta was sitting at the chef’s counter. I truly felt like we were a part of the team. The front of house staff, the sommelier, and all of the chefs were constantly interacting with us. I really felt like the experience was a unique one, and one I will definitely go back for.