Ah, the joys of fall in New England. One moment you are leaf peeping, apple picking and hay riding under the glistening sun. The next moment rain, unseasonable cold and blustery winds keep you indoors, glued to your TiVo.

Last Friday was that kind of night. The kind of night where most would stay in with their favorite slippers on, sipping red wine and watching reality TV. Tonight would not be that kind of night for me as I was dining at the one, the only, the legendary Mistral, and neither rain nor wind would stop me. From head to toe, I was dressed to the nines – and ready to dine.

From the moment my heel touched the rain slicked pavement of Columbus Avenue, I was given the VIP treatment. Humorous pleasantries about the weather were exchanged as my car was valeted. An oversized umbrella – and a cordial gentleman, of course – escorted me to the entrance. A warm, genuine smile and the perfect black hostessing dress greeted me hello. Whether you are truly VIP or just playing the part for the night, Mistral rolls out the red carpet treatment, no matter who you are.

The ambiance inside was as warm and cozy as my favorite pashmina and for a moment, I forgot about the autumnal storm brewing outside. Ironically enough, the name Mistral is derived from Southern France’s sweeping winds, however not once do you feel a chill in the air or a breeze blowing. A warm embrace engulfed me inside, while a gusty wind howled outside.

Thievery Corporation-like beats played tastefully in the background as beautiful Bostonians moved about with that certain je ne sais quoi. The décor was simple and sleek – crisp linens and sterling silverware adorned my table, while soothing lighting cast luminous shadows that danced above.

I was seated promptly. The waiter, also prompt, took my drink order with a certain sixth sense that I was anxious for one. The bread arrived in the shape of a blossoming flower, almost too pretty to eat, but too good not to.

For an appetizer I ordered the French onion soup. It arrived soon thereafter, topped with a delicate gruyere puff pastry, which collapsed and melted into the piping bowl of sweet onions and broth. In my mind it was the perfect fall soup – warm and hearty with a brilliant hint of sweetness.

When dining out, I tend to eat slow, talk a lot and take my sweet time. The waiter’s sixth sense must have recognized my leisurely dining personality, as he never pushed or prodded me to order, or anything else for that matter.

For my main course, I ordered the grilled swordfish entrée topped with maitake mushrooms and served with a side of garnet yams. The creamy, buttery-silk whipped yams were so delicious that I couldn’t speak, and took a moment of awestruck silence to stare at their deliciousness. The swordfish was cooked to perfection – it was tender and juicy and just melted in your mouth.

I decided to order a Ketel One and tonic with my vanilla crème dessert. The brulée was pleasant and topped with fresh raspberries and a crispy shortbread. My cocktail was quite strong and I could not swallow more than a sip. My waiter had another one made, which was still too strong and when I told him so, he did not hesitate to remove the drink from the bill, done swiftly and with a sincere apology.

As my remarkable dinner at Mistral slowly and sadly came to an end, I thought about all of the beautiful and powerful people that passed through its doors each night. Some truly VIPs, some not, but all certainly feeling like one once they’ve arrived. Mistral can truly play the part of an A-lister. In fact, Mistral is an A-List restaurant, winning awards and accolades, gracing magazines and topping the Best of Boston charts. Mistral is, in its own right, a culinary celebrity, and rightfully so. I applaud you, Mistral for an award worthy meal and picture perfect evening.

Mistral
223 Columbus Ave
Boston, MA 02116
Tel: (617) 867-9300
www.mistralbistro.com

-Review by Matina Dafoulas (mdafoulas@gmail.com)

Matina Dafoulas lives in Boston, MA