Peachy's Picks Boston: Sonsie on Newbury Street in the Back Bay Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
Sonsie's Executive Chef and Co-Owner Bill Poirier
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Once upon a time there was a girl that would look out her window and see the amazing Sonsie on Newbury Street and she loved to eat there, however she moved away to New York which is not so convenient for frequenting Newbury. She returned to Boston recently and did not forget what she loved and hoped she'd find everything just as good as she remembered.
Sonsie was not just as good as she remembered.
Sonsie was even BETTER than she remembered and since 1993 they've set the standard for fine dining in Boston.
What are the origins of Sonsie? It's found in a Robert Burns poem titled Address to a Haggis:
Aboon them a' yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
As lang's my arm."
As we are so clearly literary as well here at Whom You Know (we've published over 600 book reviews in Read This and the site itself is named after Peachy's 10th English class taught by Mover and Shaker Mr. McQuilkin-doing a pretty good job in this class got Peachy to Boston College where she first learned of Sonsie) we appreciate the name even more now since we know where it came from.
Sonsie has an absolutely smashing wine list and narrowing it down was not an easy feat. It is rare that Peachy Deegan meets an Italian red she doesn't like; she chose the Palazzo Della Torre, allegrini, veneto 2009 which proved to be an excellent robust companion to every course we delicately devoured with enthusiasm at Sonsie.
Upon entering the land of the beautiful through the French doors at 327 Newbury, we were warmly greeted by Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Sonsie, Bill Poirier who is one of Boston's best chefs ever. Bill hails from Cranston, Rhode Island and is the original executive chef. Bill owns Sonsie along with Steve Coyle, Patrick Lyons and Ed Sparks and this winning team clearly has it all down pat from the best in cuisine, service, decor and that je ne sais quoi that is quintessentially Sonsie. Simon Cowell, that means the X factor.
Before we had a chance to order and finalize our menu choices, Chef Bill brought out a Bone Marrow baked oyster for us to try, Tremendously fresh, this boasted incredible flavor accentuated by the Bone Marrow of course and marks the first edible item in the history of Peachy's Picks Boston. The menu at Sonsie changes four times a year and about 15% of their signature dishes remain constant throughout the year while 85% vary.
Chef Bill continued to accentuate his creativity with the next item he had in mind for us: Hamachi crudo, granny smith apple, truffle oil (to die for!!!), lime and jalapeno. Thin and refreshing, this was a bevy of alternating flavors and textures that married well combined.
The third item on the Chef Bill Poirier hit parade that we were welcomed with we liked the best of all: Pork Belly tacos, apple slaw and chipotle mayo. The richness of flavor and delicious pork belly marked this as an item that is absolutely must-have for all of you reading. And those of you in New York that don't think you like Boston, be quiet and eat this. Your mind will be changed.
As a starter, Peachy Deegan was most enticed by the Warm mini buttered lobster roll with tempura tomato, quite an intelligent combination! This endless summer for your stomach was super fresh and so succulent. Sonsie makes the idea of a lobster roll an artisan concept and you ought to try it.
Deciding what to order off the American eclectic extravaganza of a menu is not easy because one of everything would not be a bad answer when you are at Sonsie. The Sea Scallops with creamy parmesean quinoa, artichoke, and oyster mushrooms beckoned most convincingly to Peachy and that is what was her final answer for an entree.
Seared perfectly the fresh scallops and their soft texture literally melted in our mouths and the notes of parmesean are a superlative accent to this enticing dish. The mushrooms were a brilliant accent as well. Absolutely this would be ordered by Peachy again. It only adds to the list of reasons why Sonsie is a must if you are in Massachusetts, and why you should even go there. All the great food in the world is not only in New York.
The mashed potatoes were in a word a dream, and if we get to heaven we hope the clouds up there are made of these. The stir fry green beans with ginger, garlic, chile and oyster sauce were crisp and added a lovely nutritional aspect to our experience.
Some "see and be seen" venues have mediocre cuisine; Sonsie is a see and be seen spot that excels in all culinary endeavors-you've seen the visual evidence so do try it out for yourself. The atmosphere cannot be beat especially when those French doors open, and sometimes they even open in January if it is warm enough. We were lucky it was warm enough on a November night to enjoy the lovely Boston breeze. The tin ceilings are also wonderful and the decor is gorgeous. If you are into knowing who goes there other than Peachy, know that recent guests include Seth Meyers (SNL) and Big Papi (Go World Series Champs!). You may have read Peachy write previously that she could see Fenway Park from her Boston window when she was a resident-so you know if she also sees Sonsie from it, Fenway is not far at all. Peachy remembers seeing Demi Moore there in the years she lived in Boston. Currently, Big Papi loves the double order of duck at Sonsie we have heard. Tom Brady and his wife dine at Sonsie. So do Steven Tyler and Tom Cruise, plus if you remember Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and their first Academy Award win, you should know their celebratory party was at Sonsie.
Movies filmed at Sonsie include Fever Pitch, Ghost of Girlfriends Past, and many more. Speaking of movies, Bill had a suggestion for us that we'll pass on to all our culinary friends: Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
The dessert menu is incredibly inviting and you should save space, or rather make space. Above please meet the warm chocolate bread pudding with soft whipped dream and below, do make pals with the decadent white chocolate tiramisu with espresso crumbs. Both were uniquely sensational and in a class by themselves, just like everything else in the aforementioned hit parade. It is clear that Sonsie sets the standard for excellence when it comes to dining well in Boston.
Sonsie opens at 8am for breakfast you should know too with a closing time of 1am according to the website. So in conclusion, Sonsie is still there, they are doing well in their ideal location and it is one HOPPING place. Be there. Peachy misses it already...
Our esteemed panelist adds:
The Vietnamese vegetable spring rolls were light and refreshing and most satisfying.
Wrapped in rice paper, they were softened “just enough” and full of healthy, crisp vegetables, fresh herbs (mint) giving them much flavor and crunch! Dipped in a not-too-spicy-but-with-a-“kick” sauce, these wraps are a perfect combination and great appetizer choice.
The 14 ounce sirloin was cooked as ordered, to perfection! Served with either a garlic ponzu sauce or blue cheese butter, the juicy steak was flavorful without either sauce but both were delectable. (I ordered both on the side.)
The ponzu was a combination of light, garlic tanginess just as the blue cheese butter sauce was fantastic – flavorful, but not an overpowering.
The mashed potatoes were amazingly-creamy. There was nothing “too fancy” about them, which made them that much more delectable – classic, “light,” whipped, delicious. The stir fry green beans were sautéed to the perfect crispness with a savory blend of ginger, garlic, chile and oyster sauce.
Peachy Picks Sonsie.
Sonsie has earned our Highest Recommendation.
