Bistro 5

Name: Bistro 5
Address: 5 Playstead Road, Medford, MA, United States, 02155
Telephone: (781) 395-7464
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.8

4.8

2144 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a booking

2 people

29 Dec 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 21 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Neighbourhood gem
Innovative

Bistro 5 is located in Medford, MA just minutes from downtown Boston. "A quintessential neighborhood spot" boasts The Boston Globe.
Chef/Owner Vittorio Ettore and his team serve the finest Italian fare with French and Spanish influences while focusing on farm-fresh local ingredients. The ever changing Chef's Tasting Menu keeps Boston's most distinguished palates returning time and again for seasonally fresh dishes that embody the warmth and richness of Chef Vittorio's own hospitality.
Bistro 5 also offers a full bar and extensive cocktail and wine list featuring unique wines at exceptional values.
The restaurants 2 dining rooms are richly appointed and can accommodate parties of up to 100 guests, making Bistro 5 the perfect venue for your next office party, family gathering, or special event.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, European, French
Hours of Operation
Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(781) 395-7464
Website
http://www.bistro5.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive Chef
Vittorio Ettore
Catering
Bistro 5 caters to a spectrum of events from casual cocktail parties to formal sit down dinners. We provide innovative cuisine to please any palate using the freshest, local ingredients, and professional service. For more information, complete the form on the private dining page at www.bistro5.com or call to speak to our event coordinator.
Private party facilities
At Bistro 5, our personal service approach ensures we execute every detail of your event beyond your expectation. Bistro 5 has the heart and personality of a local favorite but also boasts the sophisticated Northern Italian fare found in a destination dining experience.

Location
5 Playstead Road, Medford, MA 02155
Area
Medford
Cross Street
High Street
Parking details
There are several places to park your vehicle. 1. On High Street in West Medford Square, meters until 7pm 2. Along the commuter rail on Playstead Road, metered until 7pm. 3. Municipal parking lot behind Bargain Spot Liquor Store; in West Medford Square on the opposite side of High Street.
Public transit
From North Station you can take the commuter rail on the Lowell Line outbound one (1) stop to West Medford. We are directly across Playstead Road from the train platform to the right of the bank. It is approximately 11 minutes from North Station.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

New Year's Eve Tasting Menu
USD 95.00 per person
31 Dec 2024 only
Amuse Bouche Served with Prosecco Roasted beets, orange-scented ricotta, crispy shallots Appetizers Crispy Oysters Smoked salsify gelée & tobiko Duck Confit Strudel Duck confit with currants, herbs & and blood orange emulsion Dinner Braised Short Rib Fresh Perigord black truffles, truffled mashed potatoes & grilled king oyster mushroom Lobster Risotto Meyer lemon risotto, saffron, leek & orchid Dessert Chocolate Pear Tarte Taten Browned butter whipped cream & amaretti crumbs Passion Fruit Thyme Cheesecake Shortbread crust, mascarpone

Offers

Two-Buck-Tuesday Oysters Only $2 Every Tuesday
Multiple dates available
Tue - Thu - 5:00 pm - 8:45 pm,Fri - Sat - 5:00 pm - 9:45 pm
Enjoy $2 local oysters every Tuesday, while supplies last only!

Popular dishes

Calamari*USD 18.00
Semolina, sweet and spicy tomato chutney, lemon aioli, pickled shishito peppers
Beef Carpaccio*USD 18.00
Black truffle coulis, crispy parsnips, pickled lemon zest, pecorino cheese
BurrataUSD 16.00
Roasted pear, endives, frisée, castelfranco radicchio, caramelized almonds, vincotto
Golden BeetsUSD 15.00
blue cheese crumbles, endives, walnuts
Organic GreensUSD 14.00
Radish, rainbow carrots, pecorino crotonese cheese, white balsamic & basil

Handmade Pasta

GnocchiUSD 28.00
organic "fat moon mushrooms," herbed crumbs, truffle oil, parmigiano
Spaghetti ChitarraUSD 28.00
spanish octopus, smoked poblano, cherry tomato, crispy capers, olive crumbs
Tagliatelle BologneseUSD 29.00
beef & pork ragu and shaved parmigiano

Dinner

Faroe Island Salmon*USD 30.00
Blood orange emulsion, strawberry rhubarb compote, fennel orange and pea tendril salad, red lentil
Grilled ChickenUSD 28.00
Parsley-lemon marinated chicken, romesco sauce, radish and rosemary potatoes
Veal Milanese*USD 31.00
Herbed-panko, watercress, gooseberries, roasted rainbow carrots, vincotto, shaved parmigiano
Grilled Steak*USD 32.00
100% grass-fed strip loin steak, yucca fries, red pepper chimichurri, charred broccoli, winter salad
Bistro Burger*USD 19.00
Grass-fed beef, provolone, apple wood smoked bacon, homemade brioche bun, and hand-cut fries (vegetarian burger available)
Tasty VeganUSD 28.00
Red lentils and romesco, roasted cauliflower, radicchio & watercress

House Cocktails

$14

Hemingway
house made spiced rum & falernum, almond, cloves, fresh pineapple concentrate, celery bitters; all infusions are made in house
El Bandido
blanco tequila infused jalapeno, muddled cucumber, house made pear & cardamon puree, lime; all infusions are made in house
West Medford Buck
teeling irish whiskey, lemon, spiced honey, ginger, almond, ginger beer
Bistro Daiquiri
privateer new england white rum, giffard lychee liqueur, lychee & butterfly pea flower syrup, lime juice
Gracias a Mezcal
mezcal artisanal morales, fresh grapefruit juice, honey, red pepper flakes, tonic bitters, chili oil
Gin Thyme
gin lane infused with lemon thyme & coriander, angelica botanical liqueur, passion fruit, kaffir lime leaves, juniper berries, orange bitters; all infusions are made in house
Faleena
el luchador blanco tequila, agavero, agave reduction, lime, salt & lime zest rim
Fraise du Bois
vodka infused with madagascar vanilla beans, strawberry, rooibos, suze, lemon; all infusions are made in house
Sangria Rosada
nerello mascalese rose, apple brandy, luxardo maraschino, guava nectar, ginger ale

New Standards

$14

Vieux Carre
sagamore rye, ansac v.s. cognac, benedictene, carpano antica, bitters
Aviation
bully boy gin, crème de violette, luxardo maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, tonic bitters
Caipirinha
aguaviva artisanal cachaca, muddled lime, granulated sugar
White Negroni
barr hill gin, suze gentian liqueur, lillet blanc, celery bitters
Paper Plane
knob creek bourbon, aperol aperitif, braulio amaro, lemon juice

Beers

Draughts

maine brewing co. 'Lunch' (me, 7%)USD 13.00
Zero Gravity 'Green State' Lager (vt, 4.9%)USD 11.00
Cambridge Brewing 'Amber Ale' (ma, 4.9%)USD 11.00
Faces Brewing Co. 'Progression' ipa (ma, 7%)USD 13.00

Bottles / Cans

Fiddlehead IPA (vt, 6.2%)USD 12.00
Brooklyn Brewing amber lager (ny, 5.2%)USD 10.00
Saison Dupont (Belgium, 6.5%)USD 14.00
Allagash 'White' Wheat Ale (ME, 5.2%)USD 11.00
'O'Haras' Irish Nitro Stout (Ireland, 4.3%)USD 10.00
downewast cider (ma, 5.1%)USD 10.00
Bud Light, Lager (4.2%)USD 6.00

Wines by the Glass

Whites

Sager & Verdier, Sancerre, FranceUSD 15.00
Rahana, Grillo, SicilyUSD 14.00
Bisol, Jeio, ProseccoUSD 13.00
Corte Pitora, Pinot Grigio, Delle VenezieUSD 13.00
Anno Unno, Verdicchio, MarcheUSD 14.00
Raeburn, Chardonnay, Russian River ValleyUSD 14.00
Nicolas Potel, Macon-Villages, FranceUSD 13.00
Paul Buisse, Sauvignon Blanc, Loire ValleyUSD 14.00

Rose

Whispering Angel, Cotes du Provence, FranceUSD 16.00
Prestige, Côtes du RhôneUSD 13.00

Reds

Famiglia Bruno, Barbera d'Alba, PiedmontUSD 15.00
Querceto, Chianti ClassicoUSD 13.00
Gaierhof, Pinot Nero, TrentinoUSD 14.00
Daou, Cab Sauvignon, Paso RoblesUSD 15.00
Imma, Nebbiolo, PiedmontUSD 15.00
La Linda, Malbec, ArgentinaUSD 13.00

What 2,144 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bistro 5 in West Medford offers a "really special place" with "excellent food and drink." Guests rave about the creative and exquisite chef tasting menus by Chef Vittorio, paired with thoughtfully chosen wines. The service is consistently praised as attentive and friendly, making it "Medford's best restaurant." Perfect for special occasions or an adventurous dining experience.

2,144 Reviews

JM
JayM
New York City
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Bistro 5 is a hidden gem! Easy parking by the T allows us to sneak out for romantic couples dinners, yet we also have enjoyed Mothers Day brunch as a family. Staff is a well oiled machine, and the food is inventive and delicious!
Is this helpful?
J
Janet
Greater Boston
23 reviews
5.0
23 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
As always, Bistro 5 was a great choice for our annual dinner together. This is truly the best place to go if you have food allergies, etc. They are so gracious, the food is delicious with deep flavors and fresh ingredients. The service is stellar. 10 out of 10!
Is this helpful?
b
barbra
VIP
Greater Boston
5 reviews
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on 21 December 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Horrible. From the service to the food. We have been long time customers since its inception. This was supposed to be a special occasion, and it was just destroyed by the lack of service, attentiveness and quality.
Is this helpful?
M
Madi
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 21 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We love coming here! Had a small family celebration the other night and called ahead to see if we could do anything special for dessert, they were super accommodating and everything was perfect. Food was delicious and the staff were amazing!
Is this helpful?
N
Nora
Greater Boston
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 18 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a delight. The food and wine pairings were perfect.
Is this helpful?
D
Diane
Greater Boston
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on 18 December 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The Baccala course was way too salty. The oyster course and halibut was outstanding.
Is this helpful?
D
Dorothy
VIP
Greater Boston
42 reviews
5.0
42 reviews
Dined on 18 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We enjoyed the Feast of the Seven Fishes special menu. The first course was crispy fried oysters on an unbelievably delicious sauce. Chef Vittorio came to our table to describe each course, something we very much enjoyed. The food was, as always, delicious and beautifully presented.
Is this helpful?
k
karen
VIP
Greater Boston
48 reviews
5.0
48 reviews
Dined on 8 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We had not been to Bistro 5 in a few years, and it was even better than we remembered! Menu was varied, food was delicious and service was outstanding! Definitely will return.
Is this helpful?
J
James
Greater Boston
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on 8 December 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This Bistro provide imaginative food, well prepared and fairly priced. Wait staff is attentive. Appreciated that chef stopped by requesting feedback on the dining experience. Only drawback was the noise level, worsened by some high alcohol consuming neighboring tables making conversation almost impossible.
Is this helpful?
D
Don
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 28 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Bistro 5 is one of the best restaurants in Greater Boston. Last evening our drinks, apps, mains and dessert were all excellent. Like really excellent. We ate at the bar, which was lively, congenial, fun. The staff is welcoming and attentive. Highly recommended!
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bistro 5 offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (781) 395-7464.

Bistro 5 is rated 4.8 stars by 2144 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

29 Dec 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 21 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

5 Playstead Road, Medford, MA 02155

Additional information

Cross Street
High Street
Area
Medford
Hours of Operation
Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, European, French
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
There are several places to park your vehicle. 1. On High Street in West Medford Square, meters until 7pm 2. Along the commuter rail on Playstead Road, metered until 7pm. 3. Municipal parking lot behind Bargain Spot Liquor Store; in West Medford Square on the opposite side of High Street.
Public transit
From North Station you can take the commuter rail on the Lowell Line outbound one (1) stop to West Medford. We are directly across Playstead Road from the train platform to the right of the bank. It is approximately 11 minutes from North Station.
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Vittorio Ettore
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.bistro5.com/
Phone number
(781) 395-7464
Catering
Bistro 5 caters to a spectrum of events from casual cocktail parties to formal sit down dinners. We provide innovative cuisine to please any palate using the freshest, local ingredients, and professional service. For more information, complete the form on the private dining page at www.bistro5.com or call to speak to our event coordinator.
Private party facilities
At Bistro 5, our personal service approach ensures we execute every detail of your event beyond your expectation. Bistro 5 has the heart and personality of a local favorite but also boasts the sophisticated Northern Italian fare found in a destination dining experience.

Bistro 5

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

New Year's Eve Tasting Menu

Two-Buck-Tuesday Oysters Only $2 Every Tuesday

Calamari

Grilled Chicken

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Small Plates To Share

Marinated Olives

Pickled Vegetables

Eggplant Dip, Roasted Garlic & Goat Cheese

Octopus, White Beans, Chorizo, Tomato, Paprika

Whipped fresh ricotta, sour dough, fat moon mushroom preserve, sea salt

Appetizers

Calamari*USD 18.00

Beef Carpaccio*USD 18.00

BurrataUSD 16.00

Golden BeetsUSD 15.00

Organic GreensUSD 14.00

Handmade Pasta

GnocchiUSD 28.00

Spaghetti ChitarraUSD 28.00

Tagliatelle BologneseUSD 29.00

Dinner

Faroe Island Salmon*USD 30.00

Grilled ChickenUSD 28.00

Veal Milanese*USD 31.00

Grilled Steak*USD 32.00

Bistro Burger*USD 19.00

Tasty VeganUSD 28.00

House Cocktails

Hemingway

El Bandido

West Medford Buck

Bistro Daiquiri

Gracias a Mezcal

Gin Thyme

Faleena

Fraise du Bois

Sangria Rosada

New Standards

Vieux Carre

Aviation

Caipirinha

White Negroni

Paper Plane

Beers

Draughts

maine brewing co. 'Lunch' (me, 7%)USD 13.00

Zero Gravity 'Green State' Lager (vt, 4.9%)USD 11.00

Cambridge Brewing 'Amber Ale' (ma, 4.9%)USD 11.00

Faces Brewing Co. 'Progression' ipa (ma, 7%)USD 13.00

Bottles / Cans

Fiddlehead IPA (vt, 6.2%)USD 12.00

Brooklyn Brewing amber lager (ny, 5.2%)USD 10.00

Saison Dupont (Belgium, 6.5%)USD 14.00

Allagash 'White' Wheat Ale (ME, 5.2%)USD 11.00

'O'Haras' Irish Nitro Stout (Ireland, 4.3%)USD 10.00

downewast cider (ma, 5.1%)USD 10.00

Bud Light, Lager (4.2%)USD 6.00

Wines by the Glass

Whites

Sager & Verdier, Sancerre, FranceUSD 15.00

Rahana, Grillo, SicilyUSD 14.00

Bisol, Jeio, ProseccoUSD 13.00

Corte Pitora, Pinot Grigio, Delle VenezieUSD 13.00

Anno Unno, Verdicchio, MarcheUSD 14.00

Raeburn, Chardonnay, Russian River ValleyUSD 14.00

Nicolas Potel, Macon-Villages, FranceUSD 13.00

Paul Buisse, Sauvignon Blanc, Loire ValleyUSD 14.00

Rose

Whispering Angel, Cotes du Provence, FranceUSD 16.00

Prestige, Côtes du RhôneUSD 13.00

Reds

Famiglia Bruno, Barbera d'Alba, PiedmontUSD 15.00

Querceto, Chianti ClassicoUSD 13.00

Gaierhof, Pinot Nero, TrentinoUSD 14.00

Daou, Cab Sauvignon, Paso RoblesUSD 15.00