Sel De La Terre Natick

The Scene
Situated between Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom in the swank Natick Collection shopping plaza, Sel de la Terre's relaxed, warm-hued dining room allows weary shoppers to feast on award-winning, country French cuisine. The handsome bar area is ideal for those looking to sample from an impressive, all-French wine list while nibbling on flatbread pizza. Efficient, black-clad servers are intimately familiar with the menu's many nuances.

The Food
Talk about a pedigree: Sel de la Terre is co-owned by L'Espalier's Frank McClelland. Accordingly, diners enjoy inventive, affordable interpretations of French faves like roast chicken--served with zesty lemon-herb gnocchi and a tasty melange of plum tomatoes, green olives, and arugula. Flavorful fillet of sole arrives sauteed with lemon atop jasmine rice, pine nuts and poached figs. Patrons try their best to leave room for light, refreshing desserts, including homemade strawberry-lemon sorbet and bruleed peach melba.

Hits
In an area desperately in need of quality breakfast and lunch options, it's nice to know that Sel de la Terre pays just as much attention to the quality of its non-dinner menus.

Misses
Due to its location, the restaurant often hosts dressed-down shoppers and families with kids in tow--not exactly the kind of atmosphere suited for $25 dinner entrees.