This Hotel Restaurant Has Dramatic Roast Oysters and a Great Rack of Lamb
The Lenox Hotel, built in 1900, has seen a lot of Boston history, and recently welcomed Willow & Ivy as its new cornerstone restaurant in Back Bay.
What to order
- For an order that arrives with a bit of drama and delivers on flavor, the roasted oysters ($26) are the move. Served from under a smoke-filled glass dome, the oysters are charred and earthy, topped with crispy bacon and rich Grana Padano.
- The dumplings ($19) were a hit with my whole table, with ginger and lemongrass-seasoned pork in soft steamed buns.
- Steak marinated in chimichurri is served with queso, salsa, and pickled chiles on a warm flour tortilla, and is a starter that could also work as a main, with three hearty tacos ($19).
- There’s never enough rack of lamb on menus (as far as we’re concerned anyway), and we really like the one here: Fragrant with harissa and cooled by sumac mint yogurt ($48).
The vibe
Soft lighting, live greenery, and enormous historic windows make for a dramatic dining experience. Get a table for a group, or sit at the newly renovated bar for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail. We recently enjoyed the gin-forward Ruby Leaf, with cranberry juice and sage.
Insider tip
The building is also home to a Lindt chocolate shop, and the partnership means a Lindt dessert on the menu, which is a must. When we visited, the affogato was made with Lindt pumpkin spice truffle chocolate. It’s very, very rich, like everything Lindt, so proceed accordingly.
