I have found an amazing gem of a restaurant! This is "Chad's Eats" review of Sycamore Cuisine: New American, French Location: Newton, MA Parking: Abundant street parking and there seemed to be lots nearby that could be used. The meters were buried in snow but luckily it didn't apply as on weekends parking is free after 6:00 PM. Not sure of weekdays Decor / Ambiance: Low lit romantic, creative use of ambient lighting which comes up from behind the seats along the wall. Great bar along the right as you walk in, dining to the left. As we walked in I got that feeling of "Oh yeah this is a cool place". Nice vibe, playing old classic funk in the back. Not to loud but just enough to dig it! Open kitchen with a great bunch of focused chefs in view making wonderful foods. I particularly liked how each one had there own distinctive look. As this business of being chefs has become almost rock star like, it's not uncommon to see a chefs appearance to accentuate their personality. I sat so I could watch the wonderful show. Greeting: Super friendly, we had 7:30 reservations that we arrived right on time for. We waited about 10 minutes for our table and the hostess gave us a drink menu. We ordered quickly and were given our drinks promptly. The bartender brought them over to us rather than reach across the folks at the bar which I found to be a great gesture. The entrance can be a little cramped if waiting for a table. Waiting outside was not an option in the winter weather but in warmer months I am sure that's where folks could wait. And trust me, it is worth the wait if you must! Menu mix: This menu clearly represents the culinary fortitude that is so strong in this kitchen. A great selection. Water / Bread service: Fantastic, awesome ramekin of whipped butter, bread was warm and crusty and fresh. Bread is served from the staff from a basket which the hold and present you with as much as you wish. I got seconds! Water was tap served in a bottle that was left on the table. Tasted as good as spring water. Our glasses were kept full by the attentive staff. Drink pour: Good wine pours, my rum was a measured pour and certainly acceptable. Food quality: Talent, talent, talent and oh so creative. This food is remarkable. It's not a large menu but you can safely bet that anything you choose will be a home run. We started out with the sweet potato muhummara which came with a grilled Naan type bread. We also got the winter citrus salad...cured black olive tapenade, grilled avocado & pistachios. This salad actually inspired me to create a similar salad at my school.I think my students would enjoy this very much. We also got the charcuterie plate. I remember this had summer sausage, a liver mousse and a chopped meat terrine I believe? Forgive me for not recalling exactly but it was wonderful (see my comments below). For our entrees I got the painted hills bavette steak...hand-cut frites, porcini butter, watercress, red wine jus 28. My wife got the loch etive sea trout...maine mussels, macomber turnips, leeks, butter lettuce velouté 25. Both were "Friggin" awesome.... Please note that I only use "Friggin" when I must indicate that something gets an additional push on the remark. The food at Sycamore is beyond awesome, or fabulous, and or fantastic so I strategically place "Friggin" in front to emphasize my feelings. Service: This stood out right away as soon as we came in the door. Throughout our entire meal we were well taking care of. Nice team work. At the end the kind hostess that took care of us when we came in asked us how our meal was. I told her we were thrilled and that she was so pleasant and kind. Value: For this class of food which is very creative, elegant and artistic I think it's a great value. I think closer to Boston you'd be paying far more and 35 bucks parking on top. So all around I am pleased with the value. Bathrooms: Impeccably clean! Beautiful and well maintained Would I return? Absolutely Comments & Tips: I highly suggest making reservations. Also I recommend getting the charcuterie. It changes frequently and features a variety of various house cured meats, sausage, pâtés, terrines and such. Comes with assorted pickled veggies and stone ground mustard. Grilled bread to help build little assembled bites. read more

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I have been to this restaurant a few times over the last 2 years and it's always a top notch experience. The menu changes all the time but I can say that their vegetables are always super fresh and tasty (had the heirloom tomatoes last time), pasta dishes are great and cooked al dente, fish is perfectly cooked and flavorful (I had the striped bass and local bluefish) and steak cooked to perfection. Their beignets (a menu staple) are incredible - perfectly airy and not too heavy with delicious sauce. I have gotten their boards and they are a great value and very tasty. The most recent one was the duck board which was phenomenal! The service is great and decor is very cozy and nice...quiet enough for conversation but also vibey. read more

We went on a Thursday evening during opening week and are very happy to welcome this new foodie restaurant to Newton. Not yet over flowing, but I can see this being a neighborhood hot spot and one that folks from other towns will seek out for a fine dining experience. - Service was attentive and informative with guidance; the waiter even made some spicy ketchup appear at request - The food was very good to excellent. We shared Winter salad, sea scallops and steak frites. The menu was (this night) American with French influence, creative (seafood sausage!) but minimalistic (not too many items nor over the top on ingredients) - Menu and beer and wine list are finely curated without overwhelming - Atmosphere was very warm and decor simple, but very pleasing (exposed break walls, nice lighting). Two items for improvement: 1) One main (scallops) seemed a bit scant on the sides and an encouragement by the waiter to order a side would have been nice; Steak frites did not lack on the frties. 2) The main dining room (there is a separate bar room area) a little awkward as you are fully exposed via full windows to the street. It seems like it could use some dressing up or smoking of glass perhaps. read more

It's really more than a great neighborhood spot. It is a great restaurant. It is down-to-earth and unassuming. The food is great. The service is great (especially Scott the bartender). I live nearby and wish I could go more often. read more

Great beer, great cocktails. Had the chorizo croquettes and gnocchi with rabbit meatballs. Felt badly about eating the bunny, but not so much so that we couldn't finish the plate off. Entrees were the scallops, and the cajun pork sausage. Both were excellent - great flavors, great set ups with crisp snap peas, chunks of radish, and varied sauces. With no room for dessert, they still brought us a couple of the warm beignets with vanilla milk sauce. Unreal. The missus had Zuzu's Petals cocktail, and I had a Trillium double IPA. Make a reservation. It's a tight space, and can get a little loud. But not bad - just don't bring a whispery date. read more

This past Friday was our first time ever at Sycamore. We were lucky to get one of the last available reservations. The hostess was super attentive and personable. We arrived early, so I figured I'd get one of their cocktails (they sounded great). As I tried to figure out how to approached the bar, the bartender (who was already fully busy with an entire bar of diners as we as mixing all the cocktails for the place), addressed me quickly and said someone would be right with us. I ended up with one of the best pimm's cups I've ever tasted. The Valentine's Day tasting menu was a dream - the components of Rabbit & Foie Gras terrine were perfectly balanced, the toasted nori butter was the most interesting and surprisingly tasting thing that we've eaten in a while! The quail was comforting and the red chicory made the dish. We loved both the Rum Baba and the Key Lime Parfait. The wine pairings were perfection. The Lamb for two was homey and savory and comforting. And Allison was one of the best servers we've had in a long time. The meal was worth every penny! And we're looking forward to going again (and trying the Duck Board!) - great service, great drinks, great food! Thank you, Sycamore! read more

Best Service I have had in a long time! As soon as we got in we were greeted warmly. We had to wait for a table, which was fine. So the manager helped us choose some drinks. While we were waiting 2 other people checked on us to make sure we were all set. We got our drinks. I liked mine, but my date did not. She was content to drink it but the host insisted that they make her another drink. Practically grabbed it out of her hand haha! It was appreciated. The next drink they brought her was great! Once we sat down, our server (Jason) gave us great service. Personable, knowledgeable, and attentive. All the food we had was great! So without boring you with all the details, just know whatever you order you will probably love! On top of it all the atmosphere is great! It may not be the place you go to regularly as it a high end place (our dinner plus drinks and tip was $200), but every dollar is well spent. Well done Sycamore! read more

My fiancée and I tried Sycamore for the first time this past weekend and were not disappointed. The cocktails were excellent, the menu was unique, and both of our meals were very delicious. Service was brisk despite the crowded Saturday night rush, the staff were knowledgable and friendly throughout the evening. read more

I love this place really. I had one of the best--this is going to sound weird--vegetable crudites I've ever had. They even refilled the slightly warmed and pleasantly dressed little gems of summer when our vegetable to dip ratio fell out of balance. The cocktails were, well okay, the whole grilled fish was pretty forgettable. But the starters and sides were fantastic. Our carrot with Labneh (which was the dish the waiter suggested) was worth the lactose intolerance I didn't mention (I figured since I didn't tell him about my allergy to start it was my fault). Also how awesome is it to have a waiter bring you a side of carrots when you ask them to surprise you? Normally they would just bring out what overpriced out of season lobster or steak dish they can jack up your ticket. No, not here. Love it and I'd go back again--I just wish it wasn't sooo far away. read more

My husband and I had such a great experience there on Friday night! They actually read the note on our reservation and greeted us with "happy anniversary!" and a glass of champagne. Service continued to be excellent throughout the meal, and everything was so delicious - food and drinks both. The patio was one of the best sidewalk patios I've seen, and we felt very safe re: Covid protocols. I've been raving about the dinner to all my friends! read more

The good: very flavorful food, snap pea, strawberry and feta salad is crave-worthy The bad: portions are not large, extremely limited menu (even for a good eater) The ugly: the service is spotty at best, overpriced for a neighborhood spot; doesn't feel like prices match... everything else This was my 4th or 5th visit and while there's always one course that is amazing, the experience is never quite what I hope it will be. I think this was my last visit (though Buttonwood looks great...) read more

WOW! This hits my sweet spot. Excellent small plates/interesting but not too weird. Fun bar with good mixologist! My girlfriends and I sat at the bar, as the 3 walking tables were filled, but we grabbed corner and had a great evening. I hope my husband get the hint that this is my new fav, outside of Boston. read more

Simply outstanding. Since opening we have been there at least three dozen time. I don't ever recall having a bad meal. A well edited menu with food options for most people and the dishes are always well prepared. Consistency is the toughest part of this business and they have it nailed it. Service is super efficient and seemingly effortless. A number of time we needed to leave within the hour and it was happily accommodated. I wish more restaurants are like Sycamore read more

K and I sat at the bar with Scott and quickly fell for the 'falerno!' cocktail--spicy drinks are ubiquitous these days, yes, but this one has character and pleasing color. Next we had olives and the bluefish pâté, which were hits--the toasts served with the pâté were the perfect size. The chef was kind enough to make an off-menu vegan dish, including fresh Romesco, young artichokes, potatoes, fennel--a surprising and delicious dinner, believe me. Really, the place is a pleasure, with strong hospitable vibes, courtesy, laughs; the space cozy, clean, cared-for. I can't list all the people who helped make the experience memorable, but there were several. Sycamore delivered. read more

Sycamore - My lil vegan specialty. - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

Place has only been open for a few weeks and I can already say that this is the best restaurant in Newton Center. Food, cocktails, beer, and wine are all top notch. I would guess that they are going to be rotating what's on their menu, but if they have scallops and beignets for dessert, definitely give them a try. Atmosphere is great. Dining room has a nice view into the kitchen & the bar has a very cozy and relaxed vibe. Definitely a great place to dine and hang out at. Anyway, hopefully they can keep it up...Really love it so far. read more

This place has delicious food, laid back atmosphere, great service, and amazing drinks. We had the oysters, rillete, salman, bierwurst, steak fritter, and duck board for two. The meal was spread out time-wise very well and we didn't feel rushed or hungry for the next course. Our server and kitchen worked well together. The drinks were made by the mixologist; and he has a good sense of humor. We met some new people at the bar, including John Dewar himself. It was a great night with lots of fun. read more

My wife and I went to sycamore last night for our wedding anniversary. We started with some cocktails. My wife had the ghost of Mary which was a martini like drink but tasted like a Bloody Mary. Amazing! I had the dadbod because I have one and it reminded me of a very good Manhattan The food was outstanding. We started with the soft shell crab was homemade kimchi. Very tasty. For our entree, we shared the pork board, which was shank, tenderloin and sausage. The shank was crispy on the outside and meltingly tender inside. The tenderloin was cooked perfectly and went so well with the almond romesco. The sausage was flavorful and juicy. For dessert, we got the beignets and they were so light and delicious. We had a fantastic time, and our waitress was excellent and even gave us a few glasses of port on the house with our dessert. I would highly recommend this place for a fun night out or a special occasion read more

Love sycamore's vibe- intimate, exposed brick, small bar, etc. (more polished than 10 Tables, though feels 10 Tables-esque). If were blindfolded and guided into the restaurant, could easily be convinced you were in the South End - not suburban Newton. Great, creative food. Shared the Beef Board (which was beef like 5x different ways) - filet, marrow, pulled, Reuben sliders with handmade corned beef, etc. Tasty and creative. Despite its small size, sycamore would be reasonable for up to a party of four. Would definitely return. read more

Sycamore is my #1 favorite restaurant in the suburbs! I've been at least 5 times and never had a bad dish. They change their menu every few months (or maybe weeks?) to keep up with changing seasons. Their drinks are delicious too- don't touch my muddler is our favorite but their sangria and strawberry margarita are also outrageously delicious. If there is a wait we just put our name in and grab drinks at Central which is a few doors down. Stop reading reviews and trust me, just go!! read more

Dreaming of the lemony sweet lamb ribs. OH MY GOD! I shared the Lamb Board so I only had one and I could have eaten that and only that. I don't know if I'll ever forget them. Great service, great food, great drinks! Beignets and profiteroles were both a perfect end to the night. read more

To celebrate a long week at work, I pursued this French restauraut for their duck board I read abouton Yelp. Apparently that was a former special, so I had their lamb chops instead. I had it with a glass of reisling. It was delicious. They serve some house bread with olive oil. It is a little pricey but definitely worth it for a nice night! read more

Sycamore - Lamb chops - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

Last night was my first time eating here. I have been dying to go for a while and it was well worth the wait! Everything from the pork belly appetizer special to the duck board was AMAZING. We also got a side of creamed Brussels sprouts (also amazing). The service was impeccable and if I could eat here everyday I would!!!!! read more

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Very popular but wasn't super vegan friendly , limited menu in my opinion. Service is excellent and super friendly. Cool neighborhood place

They had awesome deserts and main entrees. Highly recommended this for French food. The staff is very helpful and we used their suggestions for food, which was wonderful. read more

We really enjoyed our dinner here. We had reservations midweek, during a record midwinter snowstorm. We were surprised to find Sycamore full of diners! Boston was pretty much deserted this evening! We soon found out why -this place is worth the effort. The menu was creative and enticing without being too precious. Our waiter was happy to explain when I asked questions that were not particularly sophisticated (I am NOT a "foodie" although I certainly appreciate good food). The portions and prices were attractive. I loved the ambiance and size of the restaurant. Drinks were creative and heavily poured - I like it. Waiter loaned me a lighter - I love it. We will be back. They made us feel welcome and made our tummies happy. Smile!! read more

I likely don't have anything unique to say that hasn't already been said. Great spot, great cocktails, great food, and the staff are super friendly. Only deducted one star because they could use a gluten free option on the dessert menu. read more

Very nice place with good food. You can tell the ingredients are very fresh and organic. The service is very good as well.

We ordered the duck board and it was really delicious. The service was great too. It was our first year anniversary and we had a really enjoyable night here :) read more

Sycamore - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

Easily one of the tops in Boston. Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere.

Comfy and delish. The cozy atmosphere was great for a mid-week dinner. House red wine was juicy, flavorful and inexpensive, always a great way to start a dinner! Our server generously offered us a taste before purchase, which is an art that a lot of suburban restaurants have forgotten about. Oysters were fresh and prepared with lime and ginger. Steak had a peppery crust with super tasty fries. The gnocchi was a little under seasoned but still soft and pillowy. read more

Had their roasted cauliflower----it was soso so good. It was sprinkled with walnuts and pomegranate that really added to its flavor and texture. And also the duck board, really delicious but a little too much for two girls. And of course, their beignets are a must. read more

Sycamore - Roasted cauliflower - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

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Excellent cocktails. Pimm's Cup, grey lady and vienneau carre are all winners! My wife and I ordered the pasta and the sirloin steak. Steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Both were very good and the prices are within reason for a place like this. Make sure you make a reservation! read more

Great service, decor, atmosphere, and cocktails. Interesting menu, wide variety of choices, all delicious. Can't wait to go back. read more

My husband and I came here because of the nice yelp reviews. Well, it was as the yelpers said. This place packed shortly after we arrived around 5:00 pm on a Sunday. The duck board was delicious! It was a bit pricy, but I would say for a special date or occasion it would be a nice treat! The seating was romantic. My husband said it was the best formal meal he had ever had in boston area. We would come back again. I would recommend this place. :) read more

Sycamore - Octopus starter - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

We came here on a Friday night and had a lovely experience! The servers were excellent and the ambience was nice. We had a few apps, one of which was the carrot and walnut hummus which we highly recommend! For entree we had the Colorado Lamb board for two, which was delightful, extremely well seasoned with several different flavors and cuts of lamb. The meat was perfectly tender and presentation was nice! We will be back! read more

Sycamore - Colorado Lamb board for two :) - New American Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

We just had a spectacular takeout dinner from Sycamore: salad and ragu first course, followed by pork chop and lamb shank and then a memorable chocolate cake. Lots of places do takeout, and when you get it home it's gluey and disappointing, but each component of this meal was terrific, bursting with flavor, totally satisfying on a dreary chilly night. We will be back! read more

Sycamore is a lovely small restaurant with great atmosphere, wonderful drinks, and great food. The open kitchen is well done allowing diners to see the action without having to hear all the noise that can go along with it. The service was spot on. A shout out to Matt who was our server, who did a great job. He answered all our questions with a smile. Sycamore has a wonderful menu, we had leg of lamb and steak frites and both were top notch. Sides of cauliflower gratin and roasted brussell sprouts were great. Rabbit turine and agnolotti for starters. The cod croquettes from the snack menu were also wonderful. Warm chocolate cake and goat cheese cheesecake for desert. From start to finish, a great meal. Looking forward to going back. read more

We came to Sycamore for Scott's great cocktails, specifically the Ghost of Mary, as well as his knowledge of food and his self-effacing, dry sense of humor. It was our first time at Sycamore, and it became an experience that, although it was not quite my girlfriend's birthday, and our visit was spontaneous based on the day's activities, she proclaimed that this was her birthday feast, because nothing was going to top it. We ordered the heirloom tomato salad, and the Southern Board, and we were completely blown away by the fresh ingredients...we devoured the pulled pork sliders, perfectly fried fish and fried whole (!) okra, fried green tomatoes, and house made pork sausage...which was seasoned and fatty enough for tenderness with extraordinary flavor. We even had some sausage left over, which ended up being the standout in a breakfast scramble, two days later. All of that said, the most stellar components of our experience were the service, the atmosphere, and the cocktails. I mean to say that we really loved the food, but we were there intending to relax and enjoy ourselves...and we achieved that without any effort, thanks to the amiable, neé family-level-welcoming staff and beautiful design of the place. We sat at the bar, as we normally like to do, so we were treated to great conversation whenever it was appropriate for our dining... and every suggestion and chance for incidental service was well timed. The excellent drinks, both delicious microbewed beer and booze, Scott's humor, and rapport with his colleagues made us smile all throughout the dinner, and we have no choice but to return, hopefully soon. read more

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I'm torn about rating Sycamore badly. The service is exceptional, the ambiance is lovely, the wine choices are stellar, and the pasta was thoughtful, but... We had the fish plate and weren't thrilled. After the pasta dish, Sycamore was in competition with Giulia and Craigie for us, but some of the fish on the plate was quite overdone to the point of mushiness. I've had many a fish from my own culture, as well as fish while on travel in Europe, and have never had fish so badly cooked. Sycamore's black cod and mackerel were both seasoned beautifully-- the black cod, more delicately, in character with the rich fattiness of the fish; the mackerel, with stronger, more pungent, seasoning-- but both were far too soft. We mentioned the sogginess of the black cod to the waitress, who graciously replaced it, but the replacement was no better, unfortunately. Sycamore seems like a potentially wonderful restaurant, but certain dishes are significantly stronger than others. read more

Rather amusing the people that come on Yelp and give a swipe at a nice restaurant with a pathetic "review". Sycamore is a charming and convenient spot with a nice $0.50 parking charge. Highly recommend the sweet potato + walnut muhammara served with a charred Naan type bread - outstanding. Icelandic cod Delicious and savory. The squash dish is all about Fall in New England. Sun choke soup = amazing. Cost is what it is, your eating in a very expensive neighborhood. read more