Bistro 5

4.7

2161 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 14, 2025

11:00 PM

Booked 23 times today

Experiences are available.

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Charming

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.

Additional information

Location
5 Playstead Road, Medford, MA 02155
Phone number
(781) 395-7464
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
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.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Vittorio Ettore
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Experiences

Dine Out Boston
$55.00 per person
Feb 23, 2025 - Mar 15, 2025
3 - Course Menu $55 Wine Pairing $30 Menu will change throughout Dine Out Boston to feature our finest dishes and latest creations APPETIZERS Calamari Organic Greens Beef Carpaccio Involtino DINNER Gnocchi Tagliatelle Bolognese Maine Lemon Sole Stuffed Chicken DESSERTS Creme Brûlée Flourless Chocolate Cake
Easter Brunch
$59.00 per person
Apr 20, 2025 only
April 20th, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm $59 per person (prix fixe menu only) Children's menu available 3-course prix fixe menu appetizers house-cured salmon toast grilled sour dough, avocado, frisée & house pickled vegetables spring polenta taleggio cheese, asparagus, english peas and pea shoots calamari semolina, sweet & spicy tomato chutney, pickled Fresno, cured lemon aioli crispy burrata basil, rhubarb and strawberry compote organic greens radish, rainbow carrots, almonds, white balsamic & basil entree tagliatelle & lamb bolognese lamb ragu & orange-scented whipped goat cheese sausage frittata (available vegetarian) house made sausage, potato, scallion, smoked mozzarella gnocchi organic mushrooms, herbed bread crumbs, truffle oil, parmigiano wild striped bass blood orange, fennel, pea tendrils and roasted delicata squash brunch burger (available vegetarian) sunny side up egg, fontina cheese, bacon, tomato, homemade brioche bun, hand-cut fries, and smoked paprika aioli crispy buttermilk fried chicken white sweet mashed potatoes, tzatziki, and red watercress dessert Macedonia fresh fruit salad and passion fruit sorbet creme brûlée vanilla custard, fresh berries, shortbread cookie flourless chocolate cake whipped cream & caramel

Private dining

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

Handmade Pasta

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

Dinner

Faroe Island Salmon*$30.00
Blood orange emulsion, strawberry rhubarb compote, fennel orange and pea tendril salad, red lentil
Grilled Chicken$28.00
Parsley-lemon marinated chicken, romesco sauce, radish and rosemary potatoes
Veal Milanese*$31.00
Herbed-panko, watercress, gooseberries, roasted rainbow carrots, vincotto, shaved parmigiano
Grilled Steak*$32.00
100% grass-fed strip loin steak, yucca fries, red pepper chimichurri, charred broccoli, winter salad
Bistro Burger*$19.00
Grass-fed beef, provolone, apple wood smoked bacon, homemade brioche bun, and hand-cut fries (vegetarian burger available)
Tasty Vegan$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%)$13.00
Zero Gravity 'Green State' Lager (vt, 4.9%)$11.00
Cambridge Brewing 'Amber Ale' (ma, 4.9%)$11.00
Faces Brewing Co. 'Progression' ipa (ma, 7%)$13.00

Bottles / Cans

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

Wines by the Glass

Whites

Sager & Verdier, Sancerre, France$15.00
Rahana, Grillo, Sicily$14.00
Bisol, Jeio, Prosecco$13.00
Corte Pitora, Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie$13.00
Anno Unno, Verdicchio, Marche$14.00
Raeburn, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley$14.00
Nicolas Potel, Macon-Villages, France$13.00
Paul Buisse, Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Valley$14.00

Rose

Whispering Angel, Cotes du Provence, France$16.00
Prestige, Côtes du Rhône$13.00

Reds

Famiglia Bruno, Barbera d'Alba, Piedmont$15.00
Querceto, Chianti Classico$13.00
Gaierhof, Pinot Nero, Trentino$14.00
Daou, Cab Sauvignon, Paso Robles$15.00
Imma, Nebbiolo, Piedmont$15.00
La Linda, Malbec, Argentina$13.00

What 2,161 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bistro 5 offers a delightful dining experience with "fabulous food and service." The menu features creative and inventive dishes, thoughtfully crafted by Chef Vittorio, with standout items like the "soft shell crab" and "porcini cappuccino." The cozy atmosphere and attentive staff make it a "special-occasion restaurant" that consistently impresses.

2,161 Reviews

DB
DonnaB
Greater Boston8 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Went to Bistro 5 for dine out Boston. All of the items on the fixed price menu were appealing. The bolognese was excellent.
Is this helpful?
C
Cristina
Greater Boston29 reviews
4.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We choose Dine Out Boston to try this restaurant. Parking was easy. Overall, all was good. We got the Dine Out menu with the pairing, which was basically a glass of paired wine for each dish. The tagliatelle were absolutely amazing! The striped bass was delicious, but I was not totally convinced by its sides; the desserts and appetizers wee good. The restaurant was busy, medium noise level. Overall, it could have been a very nice evening out, but we felt rushed. I understand that we took the Dine Out Menu, but seriously, that came to $85/person, we may have spent less by taking straight from the a la carte (we usually don't get a 3 course menu per each). Boston Restaurant week used to be $35/person - it is not the case anymore, and people who use the Dine Out Boston choices should be treated as regular costumers. Note: this is not the only restaurant that has this approach on Dine Out Boston times.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston4 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Delicious dinner. From the apps to the main to dessert, all highest quality ingredients and taste and presentation outstanding. Tables were a bit tight but the ambiance was still quite nice. Servers were attentive. Will definitely return.
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J
John
Greater Boston5 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We ate here for Dine Out Boston and had great dinners. The calamari was delicious and tender. We also had the gnocchi and the striped bass for entrees. The service was great, and the bottle of wine we ordered was fantastic.
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j
jessie
Greater Boston4 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious food and amazing cocktails, paired with a fabulous intimate atmosphere. You can’t go wrong.. enjoy!
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j
jjwisco
Greater Boston12 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Bistro 5 is our favorite restaurant! We love coming back here again and again. Tonight they helped make our anniversary celebration special!
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T
Tricia
Greater Boston5 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was delicious/ loved the calamari and the soup very flavorful . Cocktails very nice too
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco1 review
4.0
Dined on March 1, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
The ambiance was great. Quiet, great decor. Our service was excellent!! As were the appetizers. We had the carpaccio and calamari. We will be back for those and drinks again. The flourless chocolate cake was wonderful. The bolognese and chicken were meh.
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V
Vidra VIP
Greater Boston55 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Food, plating, service was all outstanding. My husband raved over the octopus appetizer. And, all four in our party cleaned their dinner plates (sea bass and stuffed chicken entrees). We are soooo looking forward to our next visit here.
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C
Cheryl
Greater Boston24 reviews
3.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
We have been to Bistro 5 before and been very pleased. Our past visit was fine, but not up to their usual standards. We were there on an early Saturday and the service was a bit slow and haphazard (items not cleared from the table, used/unused glassware). Three of the party loved their entrees and appetizers, the vegan dish and the Bolognese. My steak entree however was okay not as tender & flavorful as I hoped. The fried items on the plate tasted overwhelmingly of oil, but he frisee salad on the side was delicious.
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FAQs

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

Bistro 5 is rated 4.7 stars by 2161 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 14, 2025

11:00 PM

Booked 23 times today

Experiences are available.

5 Playstead Road, Medford, MA 02155

Additional information

Phone number
(781) 395-7464
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
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.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Vittorio Ettore
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Bistro 5

Make a reservation

Additional information

Dine Out Boston

Easter Brunch

Main Dining Room

Original Bistro 5

Wine Room

Custom inquiry

Two-Buck-Tuesday Oysters Only $2 Every Tuesday

Calamari

Grilled Chicken

Grilled Steak

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*$18.00

Beef Carpaccio*$18.00

Burrata$16.00

Golden Beets$15.00

Organic Greens$14.00

Handmade Pasta

Gnocchi$28.00

Spaghetti Chitarra$28.00

Tagliatelle Bolognese$29.00

Dinner

Faroe Island Salmon*$30.00

Grilled Chicken$28.00

Veal Milanese*$31.00

Grilled Steak*$32.00

Bistro Burger*$19.00

Tasty Vegan$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%)$13.00

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

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

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

Bottles / Cans

Fiddlehead IPA (vt, 6.2%)$12.00

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

Saison Dupont (Belgium, 6.5%)$14.00

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

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

downewast cider (ma, 5.1%)$10.00

Bud Light, Lager (4.2%)$6.00

Wines by the Glass

Whites

Sager & Verdier, Sancerre, France$15.00

Rahana, Grillo, Sicily$14.00

Bisol, Jeio, Prosecco$13.00

Corte Pitora, Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie$13.00

Anno Unno, Verdicchio, Marche$14.00

Raeburn, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley$14.00

Nicolas Potel, Macon-Villages, France$13.00

Paul Buisse, Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Valley$14.00

Rose

Whispering Angel, Cotes du Provence, France$16.00

Prestige, Côtes du Rhône$13.00

Reds