Rustic French-Sel de la Terre Boston

French culinary creativity , sunny flavors , and a lively and attractive dining space combine splendidly at Sel de La Terre , Long Wharf to create the taste and feel of the South of France. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2010, over the years, Sel de la Terre has carved out quite a following among both locals and visitors. Sel de la Terre literally means “salt of the earth”  and in that spirit, the restaurant serves French Provencal food that relies heavily on ingredients obtained from local anglers and farms – including the restaurant’s own Apple Street Farm -to form the basis of its seasonal menu. 

Located near the waterfront and close to the Financial District and Faneuil Hall, walking into Sel de la Terre  is like stepping into an inviting French country home- beamed ceilings, iron chandeliers, and slate floors.

If is soup weather, you may want to forgo the salad course and order the roasted squash soup ($11) with shitake mushrooms. It is a lovely dish- a bit of curry accents the roasted  flavor of the squash.Don’t miss the opportunity to sample the housemade charcuterie ($14). The selection varies  seasonally but recently featured a flavorful pork pate and a wonderfully luxurious guinea hen fois gras served with brioche points, pickles, mustard and a chutney jam. For a lighter first course, the  subtly sweet seared scallops ($14) with roasted vegetables is an excellent choice.

The wild striped bass ($28) with roasted fingerling potatoes , spinach and roasted pepper  was a favorite dish,challenged only by the next one, the Long Island duck($29) on a butternut squash puree with wild rice , baby bok choy and parsnip croquettes. South of France flavors are especially evident in the boulabaissse ($ 26); the tomato-based broth was loaded with beautiful clams, mussels, shrimp and salmon.

An extensive wine list complements the menu, mainly focusing on  French varieties, but also including a good  mix of American, Italian and German wines. Novices will be easily wooed here- there are lots of very good choices under $10 a glass. Either the chocolate molten fondant cake ($8) with Grand Marnier ganache or the vanilla creme brulee ($8) make  a decadent finish.

Note too, that Sel de la Terre is famous for its bread- each restaurant has a boulangerie  where you can pick up a  baquette and some pate for a picnic lunch, or croissants and juice for breakfast-to-go.

Sel De La Terre Longwharf ( 255 State St., Boston, 617-720-1300) (Map)

Sel De La Terre at the Mandarin Oriental, (774 Boylston St., Boston, 617-266-8800)(Map)

Sel De La Terre at the Natick Collection Mall (1245 Worcester St., Natick, 508-650-1800)(Map)

Image Credit: Sel De La Terre

PlanetEye Boston received a complimentary meal to review this restaurant.