Mooo....

Sorry for the lack of photographs in this post. My boyfriend and I were celebrating an anniversary, so I left the camera at home for a change instead of embarrassing him like I usually do.

Vegetarians, read no further: this restaurant is not for you. “Steakhouse” just doesn’t seem like the right term for Beacon Hill's Mooo. “Carnivore’s heaven” might be a bit better. The ambiance is subdued and elegant while still screaming “steak steak steak!” The candlelit beige and cream interior features luxurious leather booths and cow fur pillows, leaving no doubt as to the featured meat.

We arrived a little early and were invited to wait in the lounge, where we started off with cocktails. Ben ordered a gin and tonic, and I ordered a mojito (of course.) They were both perfect. After a short wait, we were led to our table, where I sunk into an extraordinarily comfortable seat.

A cute little cast iron pan of rolls arrived, baked to perfection, impossibly soft and squishy and brushed with some sort of butter or egg. Even though we were quickly filling up on the rolls, we decided to order appetizers. I started out with an arugula, lemon, and parmesan salad that can best be described as a mountain of arugula. The greens were tossed in a tangy lemon vinaigrette and topped with pieces of parmesan. Two long, thin breadsticks crisscrossed the plate. Ben opted for butternut squash soup with foie gras, a dish he described as “buttery delight” and a “pleasant welcoming to fall.” The foie gras had an earthy, nutty flavor and was served on top of a piece of flaky pastry floating on top of the soup.

For the main course, we both ordered steak. Yes, there are other things available (Wiener schnitzel, some seafood dishes, and a couple other non-steak items), but why would you come to a restaurant named “Mooo” and not order steak? I got a filet mignon with red wine sauce and Ben got a rib eye with chanterelle gravy. Mine came out perfectly medium rare, so tender that a knife was almost unnecessary. The red wine sauce complemented the meat nicely. Ben enjoyed his steak as well. The menu said that steaks are served with “bone marrow butter,” and we were amused to find that it was served in an actual bone.

To accompany the steaks, Ben and I shared a side flight that included mashed potatoes, summer corn succotash, creamed spinach, and truffled parmesan fries. This much food was really unnecessary, but it was all very good. I especially liked the fries (and was pleased that they reheated so nicely the next day!)

Alas, we had no room for dessert. I’m dying to try the “Bailey’s Hot Fudge Sundae for Two,” which includes vanilla and chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, walnut brittle, and toasted marshmallows. I saw a couple of these being served shortly after we arrived, and I was tempted to skip the steak and go straight to dessert. (Ok, I wasn’t really thinking of skipping the steak. But the sundae did look amazing.)

The service was good, the ambiance was nice, and the food was beyond excellent – definitely one of the best steaks I’ve had. I’d love to go back, but I’ll have to wait for a very special occasion. This place is on the pricey side. Oh, and I’d like to apologize for the excessive use of words like “perfect” and “excellent” in this review, but go to Mooo and you’ll understand.

Rating:Five forks!

Address: 15 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108 (Beacon Hill)
Telephone: 617.670.2515
Fax: 617.670.2525
Website: www.mooorestaurant.com
Breakfast Hours: Monday-Friday, 7am-10:30am
Brunch Hours: Saturday-Sunday, 8am-2pm
Lunch Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:30am-2pm
Dinner Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5:30pm-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 5:30pm-10:30pm
Bar/Lounge Hours: Daily, 11:30am-12:30am (bar menu available until 11pm Sunday-Thursday and 11:30pm Saturday and Sunday)

What do other bloggers say? Check out...The Passionate Foodie: Mooo