Welcome to Phantom Gourmet's Online Dining Community

Atmosphere:

Maxwell’s 148 is properly sophisticated for a savvy, suburban clientele. Subdued cream and bronze tones carry the Zen-like vibe, brought together with a dainty crystal chandelier, thick velvet curtains, and hydro rock gardens.

Menu:

The unfocused, yet fascinating copper-plated menu alternates Italian, French, and Asian dishes with terrifically involved approaches.

Appetizers:

Intriguing appetizers included the grilled quail of smooth dark meat, permeated by a heady five spice blend, distracted by charring, and classically paired with potent citrus-fish sauce, over tangy cucumber salad. The concentrated salmon flavor of the lemongrass-ginger cured gravlax became wonderfully subdued, served with oiled arugula and lemon crème fraiche.

Entrees:

For entrees, the sumptuous Shanghai crispy cod came alive with fiery-sweet veggies in a seductively tangy Thai basil-ginger sauce over jasmine rice. A sprinkling of salt would have perfected the incredibly tender clay pot lamb shank over wild mushrooms and buttery polenta.

Dessert:

To finish, the awesome apple egg roll stuffed cinnamon stewed fruit into a hot, crusty shell aside vanilla bean ice cream and rich caramel. The superb Pavlova buried its marshmallowy-centered, crunchy baked meringue with fresh blueberries, strawberries, exotic fruits, and whipped cream, all topped with blackberry and mango gelati.

Portions:

From start to finish, portions know no limit, with stimulating, multi-layered sensations.

Service:

Phenomenal service stemmed from vigilant neckties who were constantly poised with water refills, table crumbers, and culinary education.

Cleanliness:

Also in Feng Shui compliance, cleanliness was flawless down to each oversized floor tile.

Value:

Appetizers average $12, and entrees span quite a spectrum from $15 to $35.

Location:

Maxwell’s 148 is in a one-story brick building on East Central Street in Natick, just across the Wellesley border.