Celebrating a special occasion at Ten Tables

Last night, my wonderful boyfriend took me to Ten Tables in Cambridge for our anniversary. This upscale eatery is tucked away from the bustling restaurant scene, but easily beats out the competition. The place is small (hence the name), and my six-foot-five companion had to watch his head on our way to the table. However, the small, elegant atmosphere helped to make the restaurant that much more special, and the waitstaff was friendly, informative, and eager to please. The menu had few vegetarian options, but the waiter mentioned they have tasting menus every other night for omnivores and vegetarians alike. The four course meat-free tasting menu was also only $28, compared to the price of one entree, which averages at $25 per plate. Since I was "off the clock" last night and didn't want to be taking notes or snapping photos during such a special evening, I cannot remember the kind of white wine the waiter recommended to us - but the result was crisp, and full of the tart and sweet tastes of citrus and dates. When it comes to the food, our first course was complements of the chef, and was a spicy coleslaw-type dish. Next was the salad, which consisted of a bed of greens topped with large shavings of tangy cheese, toasted nuts, crispy croutons, and a flavorful vinaigrette. The main course was handmade ricotta cavatelli with spicy squash, sage, porcini broth, ammaretti cookies, and parmesan cheese. Homemade pasta makes a world of difference, and although the amaretti cookies gave the dish an odd caramel flavor, the spiciness from the squash helped to balance the bowl perfectly. The two desserts, however, were the stars of this meal: chocolate cake with sea salt and Thai basil ice cream, alongside hazelnut semifreddo with bay, oranges and caramel. The hazelnut dish was light and refreshing, but I'll be dreaming about that Thai basil ice cream for weeks. The addition of sea salt was also surprisingly successful, and helped cut the sweetness from the dense chocolate cake.

All in all, Ten Tables helped to make our anniversary extra special - and filling. It's definitely a great place to bring a date, impress a business associate, or just to share some good wine with great friends. What's your favorite date spot in Boston?

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