L'Espalier

L’Espalier was a French restaurant located in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Back Bay neighborhood, adjacent to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The chef and owner of L'Espalier was Frank McClelland, who received a James Beard Foundation Award in 2007 for Best Northeast Chef.

L'Espalier
L'Espalier
Restaurant information
Established1978 (1978) by Moncef Meddeb
Owner(s)Frank McClelland
Head chefFrank McClelland
Food typeModern New England with French influences and local ingredients
Dress codeJacket and tie most comfortable, but not required
Street address774 Boylston Street
CityBoston
StateMassachusetts
Postal/ZIP Code02199
CountryUnited States
Coordinates42°20′54″N 71°04′51″W
Seating capacity90+
ReservationsReservations suggested
Other informationPhone: 617 262 3023
Websitewww.lespalier.com

History

Chef Moncef Meddeb opened L'Espalier on Boylston Street between Arlington and Berkeley in 1978. It moved to an 1880s-era brick townhouse on Gloucester Street in 1982 and was purchased by McClelland in 1988. The restaurant moved again into the Mandarin Oriental complex in 2008. It was designed by Martin Vahtra of Projects Design in New York. L'Espalier is known locally as a popular place for marriage proposals and celebrity sightings.[1]

On March 27, 2013 McClelland celebrated their 35th anniversary with a specially designed six course tasting menu including Jonah crab bisque, branzino and rack of lamb.[2]

L'Espalier closed permanently upon the expiration of its lease on December 31, 2018.[3][4]

Food

L'Espalier served locally grown produce prepared in classically French ways, offering lunch in the afternoon and dinner nightly with tea service on the weekends 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Patrons could choose from three prix-fixe menu, the seasonal degustation (tasting) menu or the Chef's tasting journey. First courses included almond-dusted veal sweetbreads with morels and wilted baby mustard greens, with main course options such as pan-roasted East Coast halibut and Vermont rabbit.


Staff
  • Frank McClelland: Chef/Proprietor
  • Logan Foos: Chef de Cuisine
  • Louis Risoli: Maitre d’ & Fromager

Awards and accolades
  • AAA Five-Diamond Award recipient: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
  • Mobil Four-Star Award recipient: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998
  • Zagat Survey of Boston Restaurants, "#1 Food" Rating:2015, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998
  • DiRoNa Award recipient: 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998

See also

References
  1. Abelson, Jenn (2007-05-17). "L'Espalier set for entree on Boylston". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  2. Moore, Galen (March 27, 2013). "L'Espalier owner: Seaport has 'sucked the wind' out of Boston restaurant scene". Boston Business Journal.
  3. Kearnan, Scott (2018-12-26). "Back Bay's Legendary L'Espalier is Closing". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  4. Kuschner, Eric (December 27, 2018). "3 major Boston restaurants are closing for good on New Year's Eve". Boston.com. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
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