Good Food, Surly Chef-Owner
I wish I could recommend this restaurant. I had one very good meal there, and then one meal that was totally destroyed by the chef-owner. She runs the front of the house as well as the kitchen, and yelled at my wife for inquiring after our food, when couples who had followed us in had been served theirs. We were treated to a lecture on how the food is prepared to order and told we were free to leave.

The food is good and the atmosphere is casual, but the service needs assistance.    [21 Jan 2000 16:36:28]

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Recommended Dishes: roast chicken

     ­Joel Abrams   

Wonderful Place
I've eaten at Prose many times and I've had nothing but great experiences with the service and the food. The ambiance is low-key and idiosyncratic but very comfortable. All of the food has been innovative and tasty, with liberal use of strong flavors like Gorgonzola and garlic. The soups are consistently outstanding, and it's always worth saving room for the maple custard.    [12 Oct 2001 11:58:13]

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Recommended Dishes: soup

     ­bert   

Good Food, Just Don't Get Her Mad
I have eaten at Prose many times; I really love the menu. But I have seen the owner-chef get angry very quickly with her guests if any issues arise. Once I inquired about having a private party at the restaurant but I did not settle on the date or the menu with her. A couple days later, my plans fell through so I called to tell such. She immediately got short with me and hung up before I could say anything more. Reminded me of the soup nazi from the Seinfield show.    [21 Oct 2003 16:39:20]

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     ­Anonymous   

Great Food, Debbie Is Wonderful
I've had great food and fantastic service. The owner always comes over the make sure everything is fine.

A wonderfully rare jewel between East Arlington and Arlington Center on Mass Ave.

I highly recommend!    [16 Apr 2004 09:13:45]

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     ­Dave Houle, Arlington   houlivan at yahoo dot com

Always Fantastic
I have consistently enjoyed excellent meals of the highest quality served with a personal touch by the talented chef/owner. The menu changes every day, and the ingredients are always fresh.    [23 Dec 2004 00:50:32]

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     ­Jon R, Berkeley, CA   

Bullsh*t Food and Owner
What a overrated and overpriced place to eat. No ambience whatsoever. The food is adequate but it is all spoiled by the attitude of the chef/owner Debbie Shore. She is the soup Nazi. She makes it feel as if you're doing her a favor to spend your money on her dishes that really leave a lot to be desired.    [05 Feb 2005 02:07:46]

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     ­Disgruntled, Somerville   

What Is Everyone's Problem?
Perhaps people in Boston are just way too uptight and unimaginative to eat at Prose. My partner and I recently dined there and I have never felt more at home, more interested or more engaged with what I was actually eating! Sure, perhaps the menu has things on it that are "different" by white, American standards. And, perhaps it's unusual to have a chef that actually gives a damn about whether people like her food or not. But please. This is, by far, the best food that we've had in Arlington or in Boston.    [19 Aug 2005 14:25:13]

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Recommended Dishes: squash blossom appetizer, the chili rubbed steak, sea bass, maple custard

     ­Anisha, Arlington, MA   

I Thought It Was Just Me...
...but clearly I am not the only one to experience a very surly hostess. Her behavior was so appalling that I did not stay for my second course. I agree that the menu is eclectic and wonderful, but unfortunately I won't be back to try any dishes served with cold bitterness.    [13 Aug 2006 12:38:32]

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     ­Meggan, Arlington, MA   

Creative and Tasty Food
My husband and I have eaten at Prose several times and brought both of our parents to eat there as well. Each meal was interesting and delicious. The chef/owner uses seasonal ingredients in creative ways. As for the service, we've never had anything but excellent service from the chef/owner and anyone else who waited on us.    [04 Jan 2007 21:41:46]

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Recommended Dishes: spaetzle

     ­Anonymous, Arlington, MA   littleotissmith at yahoo dot com

Great Food, But Won't Return
I would rate this restaurant higher--MUCH higher--if not for the creepiness of the owner/chef/server.

Our parents had given us a gift certificate; the owner had a fit, first rejecting it, then accepting it, then returning to our table again and again to complain about the certificate.

Food was FAN-TASTIC! Clearly an involved chef; great pairings with the beer. But we were so paranoid after being harangued that we began to wonder whether we were receiving the same portions and service as other tables. Also, we were cowed into veritable silence, afraid even to ask for more bread.

Weird place: funky decor; would have interesting ambiance if not for the loud wall-mounted A/C and loud traffic. Got the sense that its a, uh, "chick" place, if you know what I mean (you know, in the Cambridge/Arlington sense of the word, not that there's anything *wrong* with that...). All veggies were local (heirloom tomatoes, pea tendrils--our new favorite munchy--all super); the superb beers we had are unobtainable at local shoppes.

Chef/owner strikes me as NOT a businesswoman, and she REALLY needs some front-office help at the very least to keep her safe (or, rather, to keep the clientèle safe). All that said, I repeat: food was FABULOUS (oh, and 50 bucks for the beer tasting dinner was a great value). That said, we will not be returning.    [06 Sep 2007 16:06:33]

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Recommended Dishes: Beer Tasting Dinner

     ­Family Man, Winchester