One of the best dining experience in Concord. (I sometimes like Bondir more) Hard to match the innovative menu in the burbs. Very nice seasonable menu that rivals the best ones in Boston.. Glad we have it so close to home. The food can be a little finnicky, as is the case with most refined menus...but I'll take quality over portion size anyday. Usually gets a crowd, so book a reservation. read more

Walked in at 6:30pm on a Sat night. No reservations available but got a table in the bar area. The reviews we had gotten from friends was that the food is good but the service is really slow. We ordered the cheese puffs from the bar menu. I expected them to be right out of the oven warm but they were served cold. I ordered the steak medium and it was served closer to well done. It still tasted pretty good because it was a good cut of meat. My husband ordered the paperadelle which was delicious. For desert we ordered the chocolate pot de creme, which was nice. We also had the strawberry napoleon which was new to the menu. Overall, the service was fine and the food was good. We will definitely come back. It is by far the best restaurant in Concord right now. read more

80 Thoreau was Amazing! We sat at the Chef's Bar watching the artistry being created for everyone. The Duck Confrit was the best ever. The pork juicy and tender. We shall be back again. read more

80 Thoreau - Chefs bar. Great place to sit and watch the art of creation for you belly. The food is amazing! - New American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

My folks live in both Concord, MA and Westport, MA, I'll do a review 5+ star review also on the Back Eddy another time because it's all about 80 Thoreau. I live in Downtown Boston, and I have been in the food & beverage industry for 18+ years, my first job out of College was at "The Charles Hotel" the "restaurant" at that time was "Rarities" but I worked for the hotel. The reason for my review is I just recently went to 80 Thoreau, it was outstanding! This was my first time there but my folks 4th time:) and from what I understand the "owners and Chef" are also "grads" from either Jody Adams/Dick Freidman/Interstate Hotels Group/Peter Davis. I will give it 5 stars, even though they messed up my dad's drink order the night I went there for the 1st time. I will tell you our waiter (can't remember his name) but he had training in Aspen and or Beaver Creek CO, he was outstanding! He 100% sold me on the "head cheese" not too many people will have the "guts" actually it's not the guts but the "brains" AKA head cheese for my appetizer:) it was so good, but my entree of the swordfish was beyond outstanding, the flavor was so savory, my father had the scallops and he said they were good and my mother had the chicken (again, this was their 4th time) we are all torn between here and AKA Bistro, Christian Touché and Chris Chung also have a great place as well in Lincoln. read more

I've gone to 80 Thoreau with my husband on Restaurant Week for 8 consecutive years. The food is consistently exceptional. BUT, the dining experience was disappointing this time due to the anti social demeanor of the owner/maitre de. When it was time for us to pay, the owner came over to pick up our credit card and he didn't give us eye contact or ask how our meal was. That behavior from an owner is rude and unacceptable. It cost them a star in this review. read more

Fantastic upscale dining that never disappoints. They do a great job of mixing loved classics with exciting new flavors. This is where I take people when I want a more formal dining experience where we can slowly enjoy the meal and have a great conversation. read more

My wife and I went for dinner to 80 Thoreau yesterday to celebrate an important date. We went there before and liked the place. We knew that it was pricy, but wanted to celebrate in a classy place. My martini was excellent and my wife had a glass of a nice wine. We ordered lettuce salads and were enjoying them when I noticed my wife gagging and almost throwing up at the table. There was a good size BEETLE in her salad. I called the hostess who immediately took the salad away and said that the manager would talk to us. The manager came over, apologized and said that my wife's salad with the beetle and the wine will be free. The rest of the meals were good but the evening was ruined. They could have at least give my wife a complimentary dinner and not just a free salad with the beetle and the glass of wine. It is not a classy establishment! read more

The food was decent, but didn't blow my mind. Service is spectacular, but the food does take a while to come (even on slower nights). Really enjoyed their pairings, and would come again when they change up their menu (fairly often). Overall, a local winner! read more

When we want unpretentious good food done and served right, we find ourselves returning to 80 Thoreau time and again. It's a fine dining experience with a good mix of reliable tasteful stables as well as the occasional surprising twists. Some times the twists are hits some times misses. But that is the fun of dining out, and we appreciate that after so many years, the chef and her team constantly strive to bring something new to the menu. We love that we don't need to trek out to Boston when we want good food. And many we've tried in the city do not live up to the hype. read more

DO NOT ORDER A SCALLOP!!! My most wonderfullest girlfriend has ordered the "scallops". They should have not waisted the ink for the second s in that word. For this appetizer was not scallops it was a single scallop. Not only that, that thing was thinly sliced and garnished with a few dots of yellow jelly. We had a great laugh over this overworked contraption that does not deserve deserve to carry a new of the true favorite New England dish! We will not be coming back. read more

Yummmmmm the grilled pork tenderloin is THE BEST! Ammmmmazing experience, the staff the food the drinks everything was outstanding My new favorite spot! read more

Really nice presentations, plentiful portions and great atmosphere. Loved, loved seeing the owners on the floor. Unpretentious and ubiquitous. Service was attentive but felt a bit rushed for wine selections. Service attentive but not overly engaging. Wished she had shared more insight on the menu. Super fan of the scallop starter and cheese plate perfect ending. Thank you for a very memorable Valentines! read more

80 Thoreau - Scallop crudo - New American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

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This is only a comment on their vegetarian fare. Good starter (battered and fried vegetables) and nice simple kale salad but their vegetarian risotto was no risotto. It was more if a tasty rice dish served inside a overcooked and mushy bell pepper. The dish did not have a creamy, brothy quality. I suspect it wasn't even arborio rice. Very disappointing. Just serve a "rice" dish but don't call it "risotto". read more

dinner for two last night. Right away I noticed our waitress seemed a bit preoccupied. courteous yet perfunctory. Maybe she was having a bad day. Ordered appetizer and entrees along with cocktails. Appetizer was delicious according to my sweetheart(duck...). We both ordered the Lamb dish, she thought it was delicious I thought is was ok. As an aside, it seemed it took forever for the food to arrive after ordering. Looking back into the kitchen, the didn't seem to be in a hurry to get the food dishes out. The place was fairly busy too. Maybe it's the ambiance that is more important than prompt food prep.... All in all a lot of $$$$$ for a little bit of food, especially the desserts. Dessert was delicious but quite small... read more

Ordered the take out Easter dinner. When I opened it up on Easter it looked to me like we did not have enough side dishes for the five of us. I emailed Andrew. He immediately responded, dropped off more food at our house on Easter day and added a bottle of wine as a gift. What incredible service. Have always love the food here. Let's support 80 Thoreau during this time. Thanks again Andrew. read more

Our daughter and son-in-law took us to 80 Thoreau last night as our Christmas present, and it was everything they promised it would be: excellent food, artfully presented, in a calm and unpretentious yet upscale setting. Everything we ate was wonderful, and the attention to detail was remarkable. In preparation to receive this gift, I had read a number of Yelp reviews, some of which described an unpleasant and haughty restaurant but we did not experience this in the least; it was one of our best meals in the last decade, and we have visited many fine restaurants. We shared 4 appetizers, and they were wonderful - the squash and chestnut soup could be a meal in itself, the grilled radicchio, the tuna rillettes, and salad with apricots. For dinner she shared the swordfish, the sweet potato (an excellent vegetarian entree with grains), and because we had heard its praises, the best hamburger in Boston from the bar menu. The sommelier suggested a Domaine de Fondreche 2014 Ventoux red, which benefitted from decanting. All of us had desserts - large enough to fully satisfy and small enough to leave the diner feeling happy. I know it was an expensive meal, but every bite was worth it, and we will return next chance we get. read more

Love the roasted squash salad and the grilled pork chop. This place is so awesome, I've been coming here for several months now on my lunch break. The service is excellent and the staff is super friendly, I really have no complaints. I also found the bathrooms to be nice and clean, I'm a bit of a Seinfeld grade germ-a-phobe so that's important to me. read more

read a review calling the cuisine progressive modern. what balderdash. it's simply very good. from bread to st paddy's special of corned beef tongue with cabbage slaw; to the grilled octopus salad and poached haddock entrée, both symphonies on a plate, each component taking a star (taste) turn. and must have, grilled-braised pork loin and shank on flageolet beans, assuredly the best dish i've had this year. really. faultless service, brilliant wine list and ricotta cake-fig jam a la mode rounds dinner up quite nicely. me would call this gastropubby. read more

80 Thoreau - haddock poached in lobster broth - New American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

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80 Thoreau and Sarma are the only two restaurants in the Boston area that get 5 stars from me. It's all about the food, which is consistently superb. Flavorful, fresh, and beautifully plated without pretense. read more

I've been coming to 80 Thoreau regularly since I moved to the area and it's about time I write a review. I love this place! I mostly sit at the bar and the bartenders, Bella and Evan, are amazing. They are super friendly folks that always take great care to make you feel comfortable. Their craft cocktails can't be beat. Try any whiskey cocktail, you won't regret it. And the food! Yes! The burger is the best burger ever. It's all about the sauce. And the meat quality. All of the bar bites are awesome. Eat anything duck on the menu-you can thank me later. read more

Long wait for entrees seem unreasonable Drinks unusual and tasty Substitutions available if we request it Surprised that both visits produced such uncomfortable times in anticipating food Even simple hamburger dish took over 35 minutes. Why ? Steve the bartender shares great info on liqueurs so connect with him! Best part of visit indeed sorry to say read more

Consistently delivers a thoughtfully put together gourmet menu. Wine and cocktail selections are also quite versatile and high quality. Highly recommend for a romantic night out or catching up with friends. read more

This has become my favorite place to eat in the entire greater Boston area; and we have tried the most expensive, most hyped establishments. Their menu changes seasonally, and they have a chef's tasting that changes monthly, so there is always something new for us to try. My family and I have eaten here at least half a dozen times, and we've never once been disappointed. Consistency is so important to me when choosing a restaurant. Speaking of consistency, the food here is amazing from the first bite to the last. They excel at appetizers, main courses and desserts equally. We are always focused on what's on the plate. But the service here really deserves special comment. The servers have always taken excellent care of us; they are attentive and warm, but never intrusive. That helps us focus on enjoying the food because we're never waiting for water, wine, bread, or anything really. And by the end of the meal, we are left with the pleasant feeling of having been well cared for. We always arrive excited, and leave satisfied and happy. If that isn't fine dining, then I don't know what is. read more

Thoreauly disappointing. The Good: Our server was super nice and the cocktails were well mixed. The Bad: Everything else. It honestly just seems like this place is poorly managed and that is trickling down and having a really negative impact. The kitchen might of been having a rough night too- our food was tremendously dry and overcooked and we saw a woman at the table next to us send her food back to the kitchen. Seriously, the walnuts on my plate were so overcooked that they tasted like poison and my husband's plate was sitting for so long before our food came out (45 plus minutes with no acknowledgement that it was going a bit slow) that the emulsified sauce was separating. When the server asked about our food we tried to be honest but polite and were totally understanding that it wasn't his fault. Again, he was super nice and I think he tried to communicate our unhappiness with the food to management. They threw us an unsolicited free dessert - ice cream - my husband is lactose intolerant. It just seemed like a weak gesture and pretty cheap on their part. But if you want a Friendly's caliber dining experience, by all means, eat at 80 Thoreau. read more

Very good food and drinks, though the menu was very limited. The service was bad...mistakes on the drink order, forgot to bring a dessert order and not very attentive...we had to track down the waiter several times. read more

First time here and I have already made reservations to return. Excellent restaurant all around. I would recommend this place without hesitation. We were early and had a drink at the bar before dinner, excellent service and freshly squeezed fruit juices in the drinks. Started off with mixed lettuce salads that were wonderful. We had the grilled swordfish and roasted chicken as entrees both were extremely flavorful. The chocolate and peanut butter dessert may have been the best part of the meal. The service was top notch. I can't wait to return! read more

I don't know where to start. I adore this place and go there only for special occations. Upscale foodie venue, amazing menu, and excellent service make this my absolte favorite. Make a reservation and enjoy an intimate dinner with your SO and you won't regret. Check out the menue before you go as it changes over time...never a bad meal. read more

My new likes about restaurants are how simple they can keep it. From the menu, to the experience...please keep is simple. Goes along with casual dining and casual dress. 80 Thoreau has been opened now for a year or so. Hearing the need for reservations well in advance somewhat intimidates me. I don't want stuffy or dressy. Those days are gone and should I want to dine like that well all I have to do is agree to meet with one of my business/manufacturer partners. But going out with the bride, family or friends let's keep it casual. So now it's my oldest daughter's birthday and as she loves to cook and explore new restaurants, what better way to suprise her than with reservations for 10 at 80 Thoreau. She has read the reviews and heard from friends....let's go. We get there on a Thursday night right on time and I realize my 10 is really 8. I swear I counted out the guest list 3 or 4 times but well our hostess says no problem and dine we do. Good old tap water for us as you know Concord is plastic free and we should not want to be looked at over the top of someone's glasses should we order bottled. Drink menu is wonderful with combinations and cute names from top to bottom such as the Long Tall Gin and Tonic. We opt for our old regulars and order up some appetizers of Crispy Gnocchi with snails and cauliflower; smoked swordfish pate; scallop crudo; and the salad for the bride. I never order gnocchi. Cripsy is my new way to go with this potato dish and the added snails..who thinks of that? The smoked swordfish was wonderful and cut into medalions which has me thinking about how I will smoke and prepare my summer bluefish. Deliscious! The crudo scallop was buttery sweet and perfectly prepared although I'm not sure there was more than one scallop. My grilled porter house veal chop was cooked perfectly medium rare and yet more pork chop size than expected. Guests enjoyed the lamb and hanger steak while the birthday girls was wild over the boar and pappardelle. She left not a morsel behind. My wife thought the chicken was as good as any poultry dish she has ever had and this lady eats more chicken than anyone I know. Service by the way was excellent; non intrusive with perfect timing and answers. We drank the sauvignon blanc by the glass that was dry and citrus-like and perfect for many of the dishes while I ordered a bottle of pinot noir that went well with our meat dishes. Desserts were the brown butter chocolate pave with peanut ice cream and raisins; a lemon sorbet with rosemary (try it); and the carmelized bananas with ice cream, rum, walnuts and cookie crumbs...who thinks this up? Not overly crowed for the first seating. Bar was packed when we got there at 6. Love eating at the bar and hope to go back with the bride this week. Concord desperately needs more establishments like this as it draws from all over and imagine being next to the commuter train? Price? I thought it was going to come in at a $1000 for 8. To my chagrin it was only $640.00 for 8 people. A bargain. read more

Just so so, and didn't live up to the hype. Food is very good, but service by Chloe made the experience uninspiring. She had no insights, recommendations or advice about the menu. We also felt like they were trying to rush us out of the place. Perhaps they're overcompensating for some of the other reviews about slow service? read more

It's a cozy restaurant and the food is really good. I enjoy the food every time; therefore, I would love to take my family there when they are in town. However, I just made a phone call to make a reservation for party of 5. I was told the available time is 9:45 pm for party of 5. I understand it's not a big restaurant, but I did try to make a reservation more than 3 weeks earlier. In addition, I can see the time all available on that day on open table if your party size is smaller. Why the restaurant can't give us two tables next to each other? Does it means this restaurant doesn't welcome family dining? read more

Four of us arrived at 5:30pm for an early dinner. We were comfortably seated outdoors nearby Infrared heaters (not lit but there is needed. The service was attentive. Two of our party ordered the swordfish entire' at $28...and went home hungry. There was a single smallish piece of swordfish which was tasty enough, but basically nothing else. The small piece of fish looked lonely on the plate. Accordingly, we expected one or two sides would come along on separate plate or bowl to complement the meal but there were none. That was it! No vegetables, no salad, no potato or pasta, no other accompaniment apart from a few small leaves of garnish. There were no dinner rolls or bread. The other two guests in our party were reasonably satisfied with their meals, one of which was the cheeseburger. I was fortunate to share a few of her french fries! We all try to make allowances in the COVID era. But... read more

We have eaten at 80 Thoreau in the past and always loved the food, especially the burgers. BUT NOT TONIGHT!!! The burgers were flat and seemed frozen just like a Mac Donald burger. The special sauce was too salty and too spicy. The bun was on the well done side. If you want a really good burger, go to Craigie on Main in Cambridge or Boston Burger Company in Davis Square. Even Shake Shake is better than this burger. Just want to mention that the service was outstanding, and the cocktails are unique, so maybe other reviewers are confusing good food with good service and interesting cocktails. Expressing our views to the manager garnered an unsympathetic response that the burgers have not changed. read more

what a disappointment! I was looking for a good meal and read the reviews. I was expecting a wonderful experience. Well, it was less than stellar... I was told the restaurant was booked solid when a table stayed empty right in front of me the entire duration of my meal. I was politely showed the bar and asked to find a seat if I could (all seats were taken). When i finally got a seat, it took a good 10 min for someone to acknowledge me and another 35 min to get my meal. Luckily my waiter was nice but it didn't made up for the unpleasant experience. read more

This restaurant is outstanding. I am from Boston and went to Acton for a family member's birthday. At first, we had trouble finding the restaurant, as it's a bit hard to find from street level (it's on the second floor of a building), but let me tell you, once you find it, you will never want to leave. The atmosphere is perfect. We started the night with drinks at the bar, followed by dinner in the restaurant. I have been to some pretty incredible restaurants in the city, but I am telling you, after going to 80 Thoreau, there is no reason to drive into the city if you're looking for a wonderful evening out- this place has it all! I'd like to mention the level of service. From the moment I walked in, every staff member I encountered was incredibly kind and accommodating! It was truly amazing. The drinks at the bar were fabulous. I had a gin martini and my boyfriend had an old fashioned. For dinner, our table of 7 each ordered something different. Every dish was unique and delicious. Word is that every table has their own chef, who cooks for each table individually. Whatever they are doing here- it's working! read more

Though pricey, this place is a dream for anyone who loves delicious wine, fabulous cocktails, excellent local food, and fantastic service. Make a reservation and you won't be disappointed. Though the front door doesn't announce that it's a restaurant, and you wouldn't know it by walking by, this upstairs restaurant is a treasure that is quickly becoming a well known secret. There's a large bar area when you first enter, an open kitchen counter where you can eat, as well as a back dining area that is a bit quieter. Take your pick. Anywhere you choose, you'll have the best service and leave completely satisfied. read more

Small menu, but very well done. A rare place where I actually thought the entrées were better than the starters. The soup and custard apps were a little on the bland side, but the main dishes were all complex and just right. Meat was perfectly cooked, with thoughtful, complementary sides. The two rooms are quite nice too. The service was a little overly solicitous and...young, but clearly they are trying hard to offer good service, and it's unfair to fault that. The bar is inviting -- I can definitely see coming here for a something small after x-country skiing nearby, providing the area ever gets snow again. Nice place for a nice meal. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in the Concord, MA area. Everything is tastefully made with local organic ingredients. Even their salads are worth savoring one morsel at a time. Really divine. read more

From the farm to the table - and right to your heart. The service at 80 Thoreau is impeccable without being stuffy, and the cuisine consistently creative and satisfying. Great date-night, Friday-night, or need-to-unwind-on-a-weeknight kind of place. You are likely to be greeted by co-owner Ian and his wide smile and be cheered by co-owner Vincent's hearty laugh as you dine on Chef's seasonal creations in historic Concord. Conveniently located next to the train station and surrounded by ample free parking. Make sure you take advantage of the co-owners' wine recommendations! read more

I have just one word for 80 Thoreau: FANTASTIC! The food. It's all about the food. I went with a party of six, which makes for sampling a variety of dishes really easy. We started off by trying the sweatbreads, the gnocchi w/ morel cream sauce, and the fluke crudo. All of it was sublime. Our entrees were equally exceptional. From the parpadalle with veal to the lamb to the roast chicken, everything was expertly prepared. For dessert, we had the chocolate pot de creme, the profiterales, and the cheese plate. I've run out of adjectives for amazing, but take my word, they were all amazing, and the perfect end to the perfect meal. Ambiance cannot be beat. The restaurant has two areas: the bar area and then the general dining area. Both were inviting and comfortable, with great lighting and decoration. I hear they also have a bar menu, which I look forward to trying. The place was jam packed and yet wasn't noisy at all; I could hear everyone at my table really well. The service was flawless. Our waitor Chris was delightful and the wait staff was truly pleasant after two members of my party managed to spill their wine at two different occasions. read more

A lovely surprise. Had a very nice meal, interesting menu, helpful/friendly staff and a very good space with plenty of parking. definitely will return and highly recommend. read more