Petit Robert Central Blog

Our oh-so fabulous pastry chef Milissa Laurence has done it again! Her macarons are magnifique, her souffle is superb, now see what makes her chocolate-cranberry bread pudding so incredibly delightful. Visit WHDH.com to see!

Boston Socialete presents an absolutely glamorous Black & White NYE Experience right here at Petit Robert Central. Music, dancing, cocktails & (of course) delicious cuisine awaits you. See our calendar page for more information.

Join us each week for Tasting Tuesday when we offer a delicious 3-course, wine-paired dinner for only $45 per guest. It’s the perfect way to start the week. Reservations can be made by calling 617.737.1777.

We’re raffling off a bike in honor of this French tradition. Imagine a twenty-two day expedition through France. Beautiful mountains, windy hills, and city streets immerse you in the culture. Imagine French cuisine, French language, even the Eiffel Tower in Paris.  Sounds pretty leisurely.  But this is not the kind of expedition the competitors in the Tour de France are experiencing.  The race that comes once a year, every summer, is now in full effect.  At stage 5, there have already been heavy crashes and pile-ups, breakaways, wins, losses, windy hills, and difficult trails.  Despite the hardships, the Tour de France is truly an amazing race.  Some of these racers have been training since they were “young bucks” as my father said.  To celebrate this event, we’re raffling off a bike!  You could have a chance to wind through the streets of Boston (I know, not as exciting as France) and then come to Petit Robert Central and try our “Tour de France” dish of the day!  I mean that’s the American way, right?  Work out and then eat more calories than you burned off?  Regardless,  its going to be an exciting twenty-two days, and we hope you will join us for it!

To enter to win, simply join us at Petit Robert Central at some point during the Tour de France and drop your business card next to our beautiful bike displayed at our entrance.

Engagement parties. Rehearsal dinners. Bachelorette dinners. Wedding showers. Wedding festivities are full of just that, festivities just as life is full of day-to-day questions.

What should I wear on my date tonight? Since it is finally almost April, is it acceptable to break out my spring wardrobe? (35 degrees is basically summer, right?) And do I dare type “Charlie Sheen” into Google? (It might be dangerous to know the secret to non-stop winning).

Yes, life is full of questions, big and small -but every so often, a question comes along that stops you in your tracks and makes the day more special than usual. For example, there’s that little question that gets a lot of attention: “Will you marry me?”

Perhaps the all-time holy grail of questions to ask and be asked (almost as stressful to answer as that time your boss asked you who ate the last bagel) the proposition of marriage is an all-consuming, nerve-wracking moment.  But when it does happen (written in skywriting, as an orchestra plays an acoustic version of “the way you look tonight”, of course) you can put aside the stress and just happily say yes. When the anxiety of the proposal melts away, the real fun can begin because fortunately, there are a lot of events that pop up on the horizon when it comes to weddings – engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, bachelor/bachelorette events and of course the big day itself!

Planning can be stressful, so it’s important that you entrust these matters into capable and creative hands (aka Petit Robert Central and our fabulous event planner Danielle Tannous). There’s no need to let a beautiful time period in your life turn into a harried mess and all of your celebratory events can absolutely be as awesome as you are.

The wedding ceremony itself is sure to be great (Kate Middleton even asked if she could borrow your dress for the royal wedding). However, Petit Robert Central is here to make sure that all of the accompanying parties and receptions are at the same level.  A successful wedding event leaves guests feeling comfortable, well-taken care of and as though they are in the presence of true love.

The restaurant has several rooms to accommodate parties of varying sizes (up to 300 people) including the main dining area and bar, the Provencal room, and the Petit Bistro. With the option for a totally customizable (and mouthwatering) menu, prepared by the renowned Chef Jacky Robert, the food menu is always prepared to perfection. Furthermore, our resident wedding fairy godmother (and recent bride herself!) Danielle can help you envision an amazing atmosphere, appropriate to your event (i.e. you want the rehearsal dinner to have a different vibe than the bachelorette party).

It’s important that you make the entire wedding process fun – this is one of the biggest occasions to eat, drink and celebrate love with your family and friends. Your wedding is meant to be fabulous, and Petit Robert can help you get it there.

So leave all the hard work to us and enjoy dancing and celebrating to it’s fullest! To quote my favorite wedding crashers, no excuses, play like a champion.

-Blog posting by not-yet-a-bride but always-up-for-a-good-party, Alex Vaccarino

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT DANIELLE FOR MORE INFORMATION PETIT ROBERT CENTRAL WEDDING OPTIONS

It is hard to believe, but February is almost over! (did I hear some frostbitten cheers?) With the frolicking of New Years no more than a distant memory, most resolutions shattered like an old champagne glass (because what does “in moderation” mean anyway), and of course the onset of blizzards 1, 2 and 5, it really seems that everyone in Boston could use a spark of fun and warmth injected into these long cold days.

Fortunately, the solution to these icy issues is simple and composed of two crucial elements- cheese and chocolate, the great nation of France’s biggest claims to fame (besides that fancy Eiffel tower.)

So it seems only fitting that Petit Robert Central, a venue so dedicated to authentic French cuisine, is bringing these two staples together in the form of some fabulous fondue with the new addition of Fondue-for-2, available at the bar for only 10 dollars. Mon Dieu. There hasn’t been a combination this drool-worthy since those crazy kids at the Reese’s factory got wild with peanut butter and chocolate.

Let me paint a picture for you (just call me Monet). It’s Wednesday afternoon and since your boss shot down your request for time off to go to Aruba, you’re stuck going to work dressed in your new style (let’s just call it “Eskimo chic”) with a desperate yearning to avoid the outdoors at all costs. But at 5pm you find yourself at Petit Robert Central’s bar, dipping delicacies into pots of chocolaty or cheesy melted goodness. Ah, bliss! The frozen woes of the day are long gone.

10 dollars is amazingly affordable and you and a close friend, lover, or random person at the bar who has that “let’s fondue” look in their eyes, can split a pot of all that’s gloriously warm and flavorful. I’m sure you’ve always been told that sharing is caring ever since elementary school but, as an only child, I used to dismiss this as an ugly rumor. However, this fondue is something worth going 50/50 on.

Or hey, 70/30 if your friend isn’t looking.

-Blog posting by Alex Vaccarino, the woman at the bar with the “let’s fondue” eyes.

If months were children, February would be the neglected middle child (With July of course being her shiny-haired, high-achieving older sister). Cheated of days, (seriously, only 28?) and playing host to the harshest of winter storms, poor February has always gotten the short end of the stick. However, her one gem, lodged precisely mid-month is of course, the holy grail of all that is pink, red and heart shaped – Valentine’s Day.

But for many people, this holiday, despite its loving intentions, is a polarizing one. Should it be deemed Valentine’s Day or Single’s Awareness Day? Is the mastermind behind February 14th St. Valentine or the CEO of Hershey? And finally, if life really is like a box of chocolates, than is it a small but meaningful one from CVS or does it need to be a big declaration from Godiva?

Issues like this can turn a great day into a stressful debacle, so it’s important that this year, you put aside the drama and just enjoy February 14th. Be it with the love of your life, your love of the moment, friends, or family, just don’t stay home watching a rom-com while throwing candy at the screen. And of course, the crucial part of any holiday is enjoying it over a phenomenal sampling of food.

You know how important this is. Have you ever tried to make a reservation for a Valentine’s dinner just a tad too late? It’s not a fun time.

If you’re spending Vday with friends or family, our amazing full dinner and cocktail menus are still available. However, if you’ll be enjoying a romantic evening for two and would prefer something different, we are also offering a $36 prix fixe menu. Starting off with celery root & oyster soup w/ crumbled roquefort & chive, the meal continues on a delicious track with slow- roasted prime rib, served with duchess potato, haricot vert (read: green beans) & au jus. The conclusion, a luscious dessert, includes dark chocolate and cherry clafoutis. My pupils are dilating while writing this, must mean I’m in love.  And, if YOU’RE in love, Petit Robert Central is offering a little promotion where you have the chance to win a romantic Valentine’s dinner.  All you have to do is knock our socks off with your love story. (Details at the bottom of the page.)

But yet another great option for National Chocolate Day (my own term for this holiday) is to make dessert more fun with our chocolate “Fondue-for-Two” at the bar. Accompanied by a glass of wine (or several), this dessert will do a lot to set the mood. I may have heard a rumor somewhere that chocolate is an aphrodisiac.

So the moral of this story, to put it simply…

Roses are Red
But wine is too…
So single or taken
You should enjoy drinks and fondue.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy it, no matter what.
Because if you ask me, forget love, I’d rather fall in chocolate.

By Alex Vaccarino, your funny Valentine

As promised…details on our VDay promotion, click here to submit your love story.

It is hard to believe, but January is almost over! (did I hear some frostbitten cheers?) With the frolicking of New Years no more than a distant memory, most resolutions shattered like an old champagne glass (because what does “in moderation” mean anyway), and of course the onset of blizzards 1, 2 and 5, it really seems that everyone in Boston could use a spark of fun and warmth injected into these long cold days.

Fortunately, the solution to these icy issues is simple and composed of two crucial elements- cheese and chocolate, the great nation of France’s biggest claims to fame (besides that fancy Eiffel tower.)

So it seems only fitting that Petit Robert Central, a venue so dedicated to authentic French cuisine, is bringing these two

staples together in the form of some fabulous fondue with the new addition of Fondue-for-2, available at the bar for only 10 dollars. Mon Dieu. There hasn’t been a combination this drool-worthy since those crazy kids at the Reese’s factory got wild with peanut butter and chocolate.

Let me paint a picture for you (just call me Monet). It’s Wednesday afternoon and since your boss shot down your request for time off to go to Aruba, you’re stuck going to work dressed in your new style (let’s just call it “Eskimo chic”) with a

desperate yearning to avoid the outdoors at all costs. But at 5pm you find yourself at Petit Robert Central’s bar, dipping delicacies into pots of chocolaty or cheesy melted goodness. Ah, bliss! The frozen woes of the day are long gone.

10 dollars is amazingly affordable and you and a close friend, lover, or random person at the bar who has that “let’s fondue” look in their eyes, can split a pot of all that’s gloriously warm and flavorful. I’m sure you’ve always been told that sharing is caring ever since elementary school but, as an only child, I used to dismiss this as an ugly rumor. However, this fondue is something worth going 50/50 on.

Or hey, 70/30 if your friend isn’t looking.

-Blog posting by Alex Vaccarino, the woman at the bar with the “let’s fondue” eyes.

It has just reached nightfall on Les Champs-Elysees and a stranger catches your eye. You are intrigued, the night is young – perhaps a rendezvous is in order?

Well, actually it is 5 pm on State Street and you just dashed out of work, hoping your boss or (god forbid) your intern doesn’t catch you. And that stranger who caught your eye is actually (yet another) tourist looking for directions. Sigh, illusion shattered. Your mother always told you that you had an overactive imagination. Quelle tragédie.

But regardless of your surroundings it may very well be time for a rendezvous. You’ve always had an air of mystery to you- a certain je ne sais quois. That is to say that friends and co-workers are drawn to you… just as you’re drawn to a lovely glass of red wine after a long day at work.

Well, that’s perfect. Or as they say in France, c’est parfait. For I introduce to you, the After Work Rendezvous, a fabulous live entertainment opportunity held every Thursday from 5:30- 7:30 PM at Petit Robert Central. It’s time for you to meet, greet and listen to the sweet music of native French singer Marie Aussant. Passport to Paris anyone?

Because if the French know how to do one thing just right, it is how to relax and enjoy the company of friends over a nice glass of wine, perhaps accompanied by “nos fromages”, which for we Américains, is a collection of hand-cut, local and imported cheeses. Would it be gauche to say oo la la?

With the always pleasurable company of wine, cheese and other delicacies (oh right, and your friends) this live entertainment simply beckons the after-work crowd. So feel free to dream of midnight escapades under Le Tour Eiffel while you relax to Marie’s musical high notes that possess the same sultry and smooth air as the word rendezvous itself. Before you know it you’ll be asking that attractive stranger to rendezvous later on.

Just be careful not to butcher the pronunciation. But if you do, c’est la vie.

-Blog by Mademoiselle Alex Vaccarino, who invites you to Petit Robert Central every Thursday after work for a rendezvous.