Stanhope Grille

Hotel restaurant… MEH. I should’ve known better than to dine at a hotel restaurant for breakfast. Especially if it’s not even complimentary!
By far the most greasiest breakfast I’ve had in all my 23 years of living, and that says a lot because I’ve had TONS of Mexican food for breakfast. (Ha!)
Here’s everything that could possibly go wrong:
— 9am, and my boyfriend and I are the only two people eating breakfast.
— Back bacon tasted just like a fat piece of overcooked and overpriced ham.
— Cold toast.
— Potatoes were drenched in a tub of oil, therefore causing my fruits to be drenched in oil due to the close proximity.
— Vanilla waffle was soggy under the weight of the whipped cream.
— Completely overpriced for the amount of food, but like I said, I should’ve known better.
— Service was poor even with poor attendance.
But on the bright side:
— The eggs were surprisingly cooked perfectly to over medium temp.
— The yogurt & fruits side dish had lots of fruits.
— Even though the potatoes were too oily, they were well seasoned!

I really wanted to give this place a higher rating, I just couldn’t. We had breakfast 3 times here during our last stay at the Loew’s Boston hotel. I wasn’t too happy from day 1 but thought that with better communication we can make things a bit better and with a toddler in tow it’s hard to roam the city looking for breakfast. The staff were friendly especially to my toddler but they’re clueless and need some serious training.
On Day 1, I ordered scrambled eggs (asked for dairy free), no meat, no toast and an adult size oatmeal for me and my toddler. The prices were a bit too steep for my liking as I didn’t want the full scrambled eggs meal, i just wanted the eggs with some fruit and I wasn’t told that there’s a kids’ menu with a smaller much less costly oatmeal. When I asked the hostess to give me the kids’ menu she said «oh your son is much too young for it» and wouldn’t give it to me (?). Anyway, i didn’t make a fuss, I confirmed several times that the food is dairy free yet both my son and I felt ill all day. The next day, I asked for boiled eggs (i figured it’s hard to screw that one up) and the kids’ oatmeal, better experience though it was hard to get the waiter’s attention most of the time. On day 3, I got gutsy again and ordered an omelette, confirmed several times that it’s dairy free, i took a couple of bites and i could taste the butter and started feeling it in my stomach (hadn’t given any to my son). I mentioned it to the waiter who kept assuring me that there’s no butter. He checked one final time with the kitchen and was told that even though it was not cooked in butter, there was butter added to it in the end. I assume the same happened to my scrambled eggs on day 1. I asked for boiled eggs again instead. We got a half hearted apology, i don’t think they understood the seriousness of it. As our toddler was getting fussy, my husband who hadn’t eaten his food yet as we were taking turns eating and entertaining our son, helped me take him to the elevator. We specifically asked the waiter and the hostess to KEEP THE FOOD, as he’ll be back. He goes back and the food was already taken away. He got frustrated and came back to the room. We complained to the hotel front desk later who completely took the breakfast charge off.
i really hope that the Loew’s hotel management turns this restaurant around. We really enjoyed the food there back in 2011. Unfortunately both the menu and the food are boring and tasteless.

A nice, cozy bar (we only had drinks) with a nice garden-​level outdoor seating area with comfy seating. The wine I had was tasty, but it took nearly 10 minutes for a server to notice me and another 10 – 15 passed before I had a drink in hand. (This for a bar that was half empty). Since I had to leave shortly after to meet a friend for dinner, I didn’t really get to finish my one and only drink…

Stayed at this hotel and came for breakfast.
Way too expensive.
My husband had the buffet… bagels were hard!
I requested banana pancakes and the chef made them. They were huge and delicious.
$ 50 for breakfast is ridiculous though!

I gotta say, this was one of the topped ranked breakfast venues on Unilocal for the Back Bay and it was fine and all, but I was expecting at least four star something. The staff was polite, if not a little stretched thin in a relatively unbusy space, the food was on par and the ambiance was good. Not great, but good. We didn’t have to wait at all at 9am on a Saturday morning, and again once we got the food it was perfectly fine. My granola yogurt parfait was a bit of a disappointment, the quality of the granola was out-​of-​the box and if there was honey along with the plain greek yogurt, I couldn’t taste it. My dining companion’s omelet looked fine. Not a bad place by any means, but I wouldn’t call this the best place for breakfast in the Back Bay — if it is, this city needs wee higher standards!

We were introduced to the Stanhope Grille by a
certificate.
From our arrival at the downstairs entrance, everything went smoothly. The Maitre-​D took our coats and showed us to a corner table. Our waiter whisked away our certificate and away we went.
Since we’d had drinks and a nice Mezze plate out in the bar before dinner, we ordered salads instead of appetizers. My Caesar was good, but a little heavy on the dressing. My wife’s mixed green was great. We shared the seafood stew for two. It was like a Bouillabaisse — lots of fresh tasting seafood in a strong broth with toast to dip. It came in a huge cast iron pot, and we had extra for the next day. Dessert was fine — my wife’s cheesecake was good, but my bread pudding was fantastic. We both finished that one off.
Service was great. We had wine by the glass, and they opened bottles for us as needed. Overall, the Stanhope is better than many hotel restaurants. The menu is a little short, but they did it well.

Sorry but this one just didn’t live up to expectations. The waiter was good, but he started off by bringing stale rolls. After we sent them back, he returned with warmed up stale rolls. Finally, on the third try, he brought out fresh bread.
Prior to my ordering it, the waiter explained that the ribeye steak was lean, which sounded good to me, until I ate it and realized that «lean» was code for chewy… perhaps the chewiest ribeye I’ve ever had. The dessert was decent, but judging by the size of the check, the entire meal should have been much better, especially given how many really good restaurants there are in the immediate area.

I stay at the Back Bay a lot, so I appreciate a good option for food. Prices are moderately high, but not out of line for the area you are in. Bottom line: great décor and ambiance, great food, great service. Also, the wait times are never too long and the drinks have generous alcohol :)
If you are looking for a vibrant crowd, this is probably not the best option, as there are so many other places in Back Bay to eat. But definitely worth a try for your more mellow nights.

For a restaurant in the Back Bay hotel and with such high Unilocal reviews, I guess I expected… better from this place.
Basic description: an upscale fancy place with moderate, affordable prices. Good place to take a date if not looking to spend a lot of money, but still have a nice, fancy, romantic dinner. Basically sums this restaurant up.
I guess I would really give this place three stars for the food. First off, the bread was cold. I hate to be a stickler but I love it when places give me at least WARM break. Second, the new england clam chowder was pretty salty. Almost unbearably salty. Lastly, I got the short ribs with mash potatoes for an entrée. This entrée was definitely a four star meal. Additionally, I tried my father’s surf and turf; the filet was perfect and the shrimp was outstanding. Definitely recommend ordering that!
As for the atmosphere: pretty upscale and fancy. Definitely a business casual kind of place. The wait service was extremely friendly, but then again there was probably four other people there on a Wednesday night.
Overall, pretty pleased. Definitely a good place to try, but I don’t know if I would go back.

We visited Stanhope Grille for dinner this past Sat PM. Parking can be tough in this area and $ 12 valet parking is a great deal for very courteous service.
The Stanhope is in the old Boston police department which was renovated into a hotel a few years ago. Check out the pictures on the wall near the bathrooms.
The dining room is classy looking and we were seated promptly near a window. We had a few glasses of wine by the glass. None of them were outstanding but maybe we were unlucky.
For apps my wife had the salad which was pretty large and she liked it. I had the Tuna tar-​tar which was excellent. For an entrée I had the Japanese pumpkin ravioli. This was also excellent in a cream sauce.
We did not stick around for dessert and went somewhere else. Honestly, the reason for this is that they didn’t have any chocolate option for dessert and that is what we were in the mood for. I have a feeling based on the other food that dessert would have been pretty good so… some regret there.
Service was great. We’ll have to return.
4.5 stars but we’ll round up.

Had breakfast here twice and it was great. The staff is super as is the bacon. The service is fast and the atmosphere is very relaxing. We loved it.

Great business lunch spot! The outdoor patio was lovely, and the stone walls and pretty flowers made me feel a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, which was perfect for work-​related conversation.
I had the soup of the day, which was a stellar blue potato soup with artisan Vermont cheddar. Yummylicious. Others in my group tried the entrée and sandwich specials, and were equally impressed.
The waitstaff was attentive, and the overall experience was great.

WE won a gift certificate for a stay with dinner… weren’t banking on much from a hotel restaurant — but have to say, we were pleasantly surprised! It is small, but the staff there were really quite good — the food was actually quite nice as well. I don’t think ANYONE who lives in the area would think to go there (as it’s tucked away in the basement of the hotel.) There is a very nice patio too… and it is adjacent to the less fancy bar/​grill area. With all of the choices in the city, it is perhaps an easily overlooked option… but definitely one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!
On the more pricey, end. Our waiter has been there since the hotel opened and he really worked hard to keep us — and everyone else happy.

Oh-​my-​god I think my cholesterol or blood pressure or whatever is affected by your salt intake shot up a gazillion points after this meal. SALTY SALTY SALTY
We got the foie gras BLT which was pretty substantial portions for an app, but rather than a slab of foie gras it was more like little thin chunks. Luckily it made is easy to share amongst the diners. The lobster bisque was slightly salty but had a really strong lobster flavor. I liked the soup but it may be too strong for some people.
The other dishes we got were the scallops — most salty, monkfish — more salty, duck — surprisingly not so salty. The dishes that I actually did get to enjoy were the mushroom side dish, the bread and chive butter, ice cream and sorbet selection. We did get the crème brûlée but they managed to serve us a burned one. If its not salty then its burnt… what’s up with that!
Overall disappointing experience. We did come on the sunday of memorial day weekend so perhaps it was a back up chef that smoked because they were seriously heavy handed with the salt. Wasn’t a big fan of our server either, there was just something about his demeanor that throws him off.

I went here last night to celebrate a promotion with a
certificate. No problems using the certificate, I was worried as I had heard some places aren’t so psyched when you use them but our waiter was awesome. I had read other Unilocal reviews that service was great and from the moment we walked in the hotel you could really tell the difference. Even before going to the restaurant, we asked how to get there and the doorman walked us to the entrance and was really friendly.
Our waiter was AWESOME, he was so friendly and made great conversation and really made you feel welcome. The lighting and atmosphere was really great although the hotel patrons in the adjoining bar before the entrance reminded me a little bit like I was in town at a business conference but not in a bad way at all.
Our waiter made recommendations on how I should order the duck, we started with a risotto appetizer and my boyfriend ordered the chicken. We had ordered one risotto app but when it came out they brought two huge dishes and said they split it for us. I was really surprised to get so much and am convinced they hooked it up and gave us one for free. We both were almost filling up and it tasted amazing, squash, walnuts, scallops, it was well prepared and well presented.
The duck I had was awesome, it was really tender and the priscutto was amazing. I liked the grape sauce that came as a side w/​potatoes, you would never think all the flavors would taste so good but i really enjoyed the salty of the priscutto along the sweet of the grape. My boyfriend really liked his meal, although we were so stuffed from the app, he couldn’t finish his all, mine was no problem, haha.
To top it off, my waiter brought me a packet of flower seedlings when he brought out the check, it was so unexpected and really topped our special experience off. You can tell there is a great chef and cooking staff who take a great deal of pride in their work quality. The waitstaff was really attentive to everyone in the restaurant. I really felt like I had an experience above and beyond the norm, thanks Stanhope Grille!

If you’re looking for a civilized breakfast, this is the place. Not only do they have a great breakfast menu with the old standbys, they also have some great items with a twist. The Oatmeal Crème Brulee is one example. They also have a great breakfast buffet. Fresh fruits, yogurt, cereals pastries, eggs, bacon, sausage plus a few items I am forgetting are there for the taking. You ALSO get the option of having them make any omelet you want and Belgian waffles. If the full buffet is too much for you, get the continental option. It’s everything but the hot items. Filling to say the least. That’s the way I usually go. You get fresh squeezed juice and coffee for less than $ 15. This last time though i went with the French Toast. YUM! Somewhere on here is a picture I took of it. But damned if I can find it now.
The service is impeccable. I go there often enough that they know me by name. I am always greeted by Umberto with the same warm, welcoming greeting. He offers me a paper and seats me at a great little table in the sun. Jaime and Marcos seem to always be there waiting on the guests. Two of the nicest guys and so efficient. They know what I like and don’t dilly dally. But once I have everything I like they always make a point of chatting with me. I like that. I hear about their families and how things are going for them. I would miss them terribly if they left.
That being said, I am no one special. They treat everyone that way. Go and enjoy breakfast. tell them I sent you.

Came here on a late Saturday for dinner. Dining area is actually pretty small, quiet section of the hotel.
Best part of the dining experience-​service. Excellent service from all the staff at Back Bay Hotel. You can really tell they take care of their clients. We felt like we were VIP there.
Food-​decent, but nothing crazy spectacular. I had the duck breast. My friend had the steak. The flavors were good and cooked well, but again nothing crazy unique. Price is a little pricey for the type of meal. Wine list was alright. Again, not the most extensive wine list I’ve seen.
Would I come back? Perhaps if I was staying at the Back Bay Hotel… otherwise, I have other favorite spots in Boston.

For Restaurant Week, I went to Stanhope with every intention of ordering the lobster bisque which has been so well touted by by a friend of mine… till I read the description of the arugula salad — «tossed with grilled peaches, prosciutto, roasted pistachios, organic olive oil and vinegar»… Ooooo… that sounds good… Fortunately, my friend was willing to share. Then, it turns out, the waiter said that he could split the soup for us! Cool!
We were started off with focaccia bread served with both olive oil and room temperature swirls of butter. Extra slices were later passed out from a large basket during the meal, but we were unable to make room for them in our tummies.
We ended up having a four course meal that night… first was the soup, which was nice and creamy, but with only a single small chunk of lobster per bowl, then the salad course (also divided for us), which was a creamy pile of arugula with a single piece of wrapped peach apiece (a nice fruity, salty, creamy, fresh tasting combo). The entrees (north atlantic salmon, pan seared and served with roasted fingerling potato salad and pork tenderloin with chive and fontina risotto, roasted mushroom and cherry tomatoes) were very well prepared — the meats were moist and tender. The only thing missing from the entrees were veggies (for me, shreds of scallions and a handful of micro-​greens just don’t cut it).
The brownies from the triple chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream were crispy outside and crumbly too easily under my fork, but with a nice chocolate flavor. The fresh berries topped with an orange mascarpone crème were more pretty than tasty.

Came on a recent Friday night around 7 pm. The restaurant wasn’t very crowded and the service was great — we had several people waiting on us hand and foot. The food was pretty good — the tomato and buffalo mozzarella app was fantastic, as was the sirloin steak and garlic mashed potatoes. I was a little disappointed with the tagliatelle, which was way too garlic-​y and overwhelmed by the sun-​dried tomatoes to the point that I couldn’t taste anything else. The dessert menu didn’t really have anything that grabbed me. I’d come again, but avoid the pasta at all costs.

Went here for my first meal of restaurant week. I thought it was a little strange for such an upscale restaurant to be in the basement of a nice hotel, next to a really loud bar, but it works for some reason.
The décor is fantastic and inviting. High back benches, dark wood chairs… very upscale.
As it was restaurant week, we had a pre-​determined menu but they also brought out their regular menu. We ordered from the RW menu. I started with the caeser salad, while others had the lobster bisque. I really enjoyed my salad… so good, with just the right amount of dressing. I hear the lobster bisque was great too.
We were also given great foccacia bread, with a well of Spanish Virgin Olive Oil and then another well of Irish Butter. The butter was so creamy and sweet, it was wonderful.
Our second course also presented a lot of options. There was a beef entrée, roasted chicken, pork chop, salmon and a vegetable pasta dish. I got the chicken and while it was very moist, it was rubbed with far too many herbs, making it very fragrant but overpowering. My friends got the pork chop, which she said was good, and the beef. I guess they didn’t cook it properly for one friend, but she still enjoyed it.
For dessert, the options were key lime pie and strawberry rhubarb shortcake. I opted for the shortcake, which was so good. The key lime also looked good, but standard. Coffees were also offered and free refills were given. Water was refilled constantly throughout the evening.
Because the beef wasn’t cooked to the specifications of my friend, the waiter graciously didn’t charge us for the coffees. Unnecessary but appreciated.
Overall, I would dine here again. I really liked the service, menu options and ambiance.