Going Out

Photo Credit: Dan Watkins

By Kyle Wright

The danger of opening a restaurant in the Theater District comes in being pigeonholed as a pre- or post-show spot. John Christinzio, manager at the Ritz-Carlton’s newly launched Artisan Bistro, experienced that fate when the Avery Street space was Jer-Ne, an upscale and oft-overlooked restaurant/bar that closed after 10 years this summer. “Our menu was all over the place,” he laments. “There just wasn’t a focus, and I think that confused people.”

Branding the largely renovated spot as a bistro may not be cutting-edge, but it does give it focus, and extensive renovations make the space feel clean and modern. “There isn’t anything like this in the neighborhood, so I think we’re a welcome addition,” he says. “People are recognizing us as a place to eat, not just a place to go to the bar.”

Artisan Bistro’s layout is more open that its predecessor, but the extensive use of luxurious, caramel-hued leather lends warmth. “For the concept to work, it was important to make a clear separation between the bar and the dining room,” adds Christinzio, marking the partition. On one side, slanted mirrors loom above the bar and splash energy into a subdued collection of booths and four-tops. Industrial light fixtures are the unexpected focal point of the room, glowing against the black-washed walls. It’s a stark contrast from the Ritz’s other new spot, Avery Bar, which has the airy feel of a ’60s living room. The variance should encourage people to float between them as the night progresses.

Chef de cuisine Adam Kube’s menu plays with typical French bistro dishes, but he doesn’t fully commit to the genre. “There are classics, but we’re trying to have fun with it,” he says. “It’s more important to me to show off with ingredients that are in season and local.” A rotating list of daily specials includes hearty plates like pappardelle tossed with duck confit ($25) and beef stroganoff dotted with fresh beets ($27). “Our regulars look forward to knowing that they can get their favorite dish at least once a week, and I think it makes for a stronger menu.”

“To a lot of people, this is their nightly dining room,” Christinzio adds, referencing the 400 people who own luxury condominiums in the hotel. “We’ve been busy all night.”

Artisan Bistro
The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common | 10 Avery St., Boston | 617-574-7176
ritzcarlton.com/en/properties/bostoncommon/dining/artisan_bistro