Famous chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay opened a new restaurant on Boston’s prominent Boylston Street. The aptly named “Ramsay’s Kitchen” fits right into its location at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. 

My husband and I went on Saturday for an impromptu date and to scout out the new location. Reservations are difficult to get, especially during prime lunch or dinner times, and securing one is just the start of an interesting experience. 

Upon arrival, the hosts set expectations low, refusing to seat our party until the menu changed over from lunch to dinner, even though there were plenty of available tables. At exactly 4 p.m, when dinner started, they allowed those waiting to sit. 

During this time, a kitchen worker was seen coming back into the restaurant with tubs of Daisy sour cream in a bag – not a great first sign for quality of ingredients. 

The ambiance of the restaurant was a surprise. The atmosphere was immediately warm and welcoming, allowing customers to relax as soon as they step inside.

Though a ridiculous art piece of Ramsay himself hangs right by the entrance, the restaurant area had inviting hues of dark blue, white and orange, with wood paneling warming the colors up even more.

Sat in the alcove near the kitchen, the dark blue shadow boxes that went up the wall and onto the ceiling created an intimate vibe. The tables were dark wood, with extremely comfortable cream leather chairs. From our position tucked away, the view of the bar was also intriguing. 

Hidden behind a wall of cookbooks, the bar gave off a darker lounge feeling, bordering on the edge of a club with a phenomenal playlist coming through the speakers, just a touch too loudly, all over the restaurant. 

We started with cocktails, which were reasonably priced for Boston. We got the spiced pear and witches’ elixir, both of which were $15. The pear cocktail was phenomenal, the sweetness playing with a refreshing tingle. The elixir was initially pleasing but gave way to bitterness, still delicious but perhaps more intricate than the pear. 

The menu is something Ramsay cultivated by utilizing dishes he would serve in his own home. However, the prices were top tier for some of the low-key meals that were being served. There’s something upsetting about seeing a chicken pot pie priced at $28. 

Unless Ramsay himself is in the kitchen sweet talking the vegetables before they hit the pie, I find that price absurd. Even clam chowder, a local staple that is widely accessible in Boston, was priced at $18. 

The lunch menu has more options, with sandwiches being included. My biggest regret was not being able to snag a lunch time reservation solely for the purpose of making “idiot sandwich” jokes the entire time. 

We initially decided on one appetizer, the $24 tuna tartare, served from the raw bar. The tuna came so beautifully seasoned in chili garlic soy that it was hard to put down. The avocado circled the tuna, deliciously fresh, while wonton crisps sat in a pool of sour cream.

Every element of this dish worked so well together, the tuna and avocado were phenomenal, but the wonton crisps shined. The perfectly crunchy crisps with just the right amount of salt really made the dish pop. The sour cream I could have left alone, but that may have been from knowing where it came from. 

After experiencing the amazing tuna, we decided to get a second appetizer of chicken wings. We wish we hadn’t. 

The “frenched drumettes” were cooked well, but it stops there. The heavy taste of cilantro ruined the flavor profile. All my cilantro haters will get it, but even the cilantro lover at the table struggled with how potent it was. After the sheer perfection of the tuna, we were vastly let down by the chicken.

To save our wallets, we decided to skip right to dessert. We ordered cups of their veteran brand coffee as well as a sticky toffee pudding and an Eton mess. The desserts were also expensive, averaging around $16 per plate, but we couldn’t resist the English styled menu. 

The coffee was lovely, but our waitress, who had been clearly disappointed when we went from apps to dessert, fell short. The desserts took almost twenty minutes to come out. Our coffee cups sat drained and no refills were offered as we continued waiting. She came back three times to say the desserts were on their way, but never asked if we would like refills. 

When we did finally get our dessert, we started with the Eton mess. It was, well… messy. Whipped cream with citrus meringue, citrus fruits and pistachios came together nicely. However, the addition of grapefruit all but ruined a few bites for me, as the bitterness overpowered the sweetness and left a lingering taste. 

Where the Eton mess fell short, the sticky toffee pudding came through. It was by far the best dessert I have had in any Boston restaurant. The cake sat in a pool of English toffee sauce and was topped by a crème fraîche ice cream. The cake was still warm and the flavor profile was soft and sweet, a perfect end to a meal. 

Overall, I was impressed by how well Ramsay’s Kitchen fit in Boston. I could see myself going back for drinks and dessert, but I find it difficult to really consider a full meal there when most entrees range from $21-$145. 

The restaurant serves as an experience, especially one for those who are fans of Ramsay. I can’t say it’s reasonable for students, or even those who don’t want to blow at least $200 for a meal, but if the fancy strikes you, make sure you try the sticky toffee pudding – it’s well worth it.

Follow Ashley on Twitter @Ashleyfairchi14.