Wednesday, January 26, 7:00 pm
Members $125, guests $150

After a decade in business, a beloved restaurant becomes a mainstay. After nearly two decades, it begins to take on legendary status. Such is the case with Hamersley’s Bistro, Gordon Hamersley’s deceptively simple homage to the family-run bistros that enticed him during his travels in France.

Hamersley’s Bistro opened in 1987 in a cozy storefront in the South End of Boston, and it began racking up critical praise almost immediately. It was voted Best of Boston in 1988, the same year Hamersley was named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs. Diners coveted the creative, seasonal, French-inspired food prepared with a restrained hand. Dishes like the signature roast chicken with garlic, lemon, and parsley have developed a cult-like following of diners who return to the restaurant over and over again.

A restaurant as beloved as Hamersley’s Bistro was bound to outgrow its diminutive space. In 1993, Hamersley moved the bistro a few blocks away to the historic building where it remains today. In the last decade, the restaurant has reached the top of the Boston food chain, having been awarded four stars from both the Boston Globe and Boston Herald. Gourmet has repeatedly included the restaurant on its list of America’s top dining spots. Gayot.com explains, “[Hamersley’s Bistro] is a case study in how a restaurant can grow from small wonder to big-hitter.” Hamersley himself has been singled out for numerous honors, including a James Beard Foundation Award. He has also become something of a father figure in the world of Boston food; he teaches at his alma mater, Boston University, and a turn in his kitchen is de rigueur for any up-and-coming Beantown chef. Despite the longevity, the restaurant stays fresh and the food is as good as ever, according to Concierge Magazine, which wrote in 2002: “Though this South End restaurant is approaching its 15-year anniversary, it doesn’t show it. Chef Gordon Hamersley’s simple bistro menu still impresses.”