Stephanie's On Newbury

Liz and I stumbled upon our 10-month anniversary, and it seemed as good a reason as any to find a restaurant in which to celebrate and enjoy each others company.  Liz had suggested the old standbys: Sugar and Spice (a Thai place in Porter Square, Cambridge), Indian Food (a couple locations nearby), and The Elephant Walk (French/Cambodian fusion in Porter Square).  Though all of these suggestions were good, and all will eventually have reviews, I decided that something further from the norm was on the menu, and suggested Stephanie’s on Newbury, an upscale comfort food place downtown.  Liz was all about it.

Stephanie’s is located on the corner of Newbury and Exeter streets in the bustling Back Bay in Boston.  The night was even busier than normal due to the fact that it was restaurant week in Boston, an event in which many restaurants offered prix fixe menus for the same low price to encourage first-time customers.  Though Stephanie’s was not a participant of restaurant week, you wouldn’t know it by the size of the crowd on that Wednesday night.  Luckily, I had made reservations via opentable.com, a website that secures you reservations at many participating restaurants.  Also on the website, I had made mention of Elizabeth’s gluten allergy in the notes section to see two things.  First was to see how well the website conveyed guest requests, and second was to see how accommodating the restaurant would be.

We checked in at the host table, and were directed to sit at either the bar or in a waiting area adorned with plush couches and settees.  We chose the latter and observed the surroundings.  Both the inside and outside seating were full to overflowing, and the capacity crowd was chattering noisily and excitedly.  The inside space felt soft and comforting, with nice detailing to make it feel a bit fancier.  The lighting was natural feeling and gave a warm glow to the many tables and booths.  Our reservation was for 7:30, and we were led to our seats in a booth on the far wall at about 7:40, which is not bad considering the crowd.

Once we were seated in our cushy booth, the noise seemed to die down, helped along in large part by high booth backs and separating walls.  Our host greeted us genuinely, and immediately brought up my concern about Liz’s allergy.  He assured us that the chef’s were aware of this, and urged Liz to pour over the menu and pick out whatever she would like, and the kitchen would accommodate her needs as best as possible through substitution or ingredient replacement.  It was comforting to Liz and to me to see this attention to detail and to hear the sincerity in the host’s voice.  That is what great service is all about.

Our waitress followed the host shortly and realized even before I did that my menu was missing a page.  She quickly whisked away my menu and was back in another minute with a replacement.  She took our drink orders (water and a Harpoon IPA) and gave us needed time to look over the enticing menu.

When the waitress returned, we ordered our meals.  I got the Macaroni and Cheese with Truffle oil and Prosciutto, while Liz had the Blackened Rainbow Trout.  After the waitress left with our orders, a warm basket of assorted breads were brought to the table.  I always appreciate table bread when it is still warm.  While I ate bread and we awaited our meals, Liz and I enjoyed the comfortable feel of the restaurant, really soaking in the ambiance.

Then the dinners came to the table.  This mac and cheese was no Kraft-in-a-box, my friend, this was a sensational dining experience.  The gravyboat-sized crock of pasta was heaped with a sturdy helping of cheesy noodles, specked with chunks of prosciutto and covered with toasted, buttery bread crumbs.  The noodles were perfectly cooked, maintaining their shape and texture, but not being too firm, and the sauce was a decadent delight.  It was deliciously savory, and though it was rich, it was not overly so.  Even so, I had a difficult time finishing the mammoth portion, and I eat my fair share.  One added bonus was that the entire crock of pasta maintained its heat throughout the meal, a rarity in larger portions.  Liz’s trout was on a bed of shitake and sweet potato hash with cherry tomatoes and a light sauce, and Liz really enjoyed the flavor combination of the trout with the sweet potato, along with the comfort of knowing that the chef had taken special care to ensure her dish would be gluten-free.

All in all, Liz and I had a wonderful evening, with great food, nice ambiance, and each others company.  In my three trips to Stephanie’s on Newbury, I have tried several of the dishes, and would highly recommend the mac and cheese and the meatloaf, and you cannot go wrong with the onion rings.  I also recommend going with reservations, and on an off night, like a Wednesday, as there is a bit less chaos, and the nighttime servers were more pleasant.  Stephanie’s has wonderfully made, upscale comfort food.  Though it is a bit pricey, at $18 for the mac and cheese and $28 for the trout, it is well worth it for the great food and service, as well as a memorable experience.