My husband and I went last Thurs. to check it out, and had a great experience. Definitely busy, but waiting in the bar wasn't bad once we were able to grab a seat. Love the decor, the staff is very friendly, and we loved our food. We ordered the lobster "tortilla" (think Spanish tapas, not Mexican wrap) and the potato wedges with chorizo and cheese for starters. Excellent choices. Our entrees were also really good (mine was the chicken w/gnocchi and husband's was a fish entree, which I liked even better than mine). We will definitely go back and bring friends. Lots more to try on the menu!

My husband and I checked out Moonstones 2 weeks ago and it was AWESOME!!!
I ordered from the tapas menu, and highly recommend the Asian BBQ short ribs and the potato wedges with chorizo and cheese.
My husband had the Free Range Bison which was INCREDIBLE!!!
We will definitely be eating there again soon!

We visited Moonstone on Saturday for a late lunch and were surprised at how crowded it was. They asked if we had reservations and we said no, didn't know we had to and they said they were crowded for graduation. They sat us in the sunken bar which was fine, but what was NOT fine is that our table was under a flat-screen TV bolted on the wall. Very strange to sit under a TV that must weigh a ton. The drinks were delicious though. We ordered the bison tips and the filet frites. The bison tips were wonderful, but my filet was literally the size of a quarter. I understand it was a lunch serving, but give me a break for 16 dollars, the size was atrocious. I also asked for it to be cooked med-rare and got grey shoe leather. Thankfully, when they brought it back, the cut of meat was bigger and cooked to perfection. Service was eh, but I'm hoping to chalk it up to opening issues. We will try once more because the food is promising, but if the service continues we won't be heading back. Oh, and remove that bar table from under a TV please...

Amber! We are very sorry about your Filet. They are cut to a 5/6 oz portion, but in overcooking it, it would have shrank. (shrunk? shrunken?) I am glad we fixed it for you, and we got it right the 2nd time. Our servers are awesome, really, so perhaps yours is still learning. Next time you are in, please ask for me. I will both find you a less daunting table, AND I will buy you a drink the size of Lake Michigan as an apology to your Filet that was "literally the size of a quarter"!! :)
SPLath

Very very very expensive. Very very very small portions. My entree was cold. Experienced it--- will not go back. Lunch menue was more Chelmsford friendly BUT still very very expensive .

What's "very very very expensive" mean exaclty? I really wanted to try this place because it sounds interesting but now I'm afraid I'd better wait until an anniversary (October) or something.

Prices range from $18- $32 (rib eye). To me this is status, if not cheap compared w/ the hub.

Any restaurant can be very, very, very expensive. First time you go order the least expensive thing on the menu. At a good restaurant it should be just as good. Just get a glass of water with your meal. No appetizers, no desserts. You'll feel the ambiance of the place, get the opportunity to tell friends you've been and decide if it's worth the trip back where you can open your wallet a little wider. Enjoy and don't forget to generously tip your waitstaff!

Sorry Annie, I'm all for drinking water or iced tea, but skipping apps AND desert just isn't in the cards. I'm not a big drinker, but as far as food goes, when I go out, I GO OUT, or else what's the point?

It sounds like it's more "Legal Seafood expensive" than "Capitol Grille expensive," would that be fair to say?

Just for me and my dad: Do they give you bread? How big is the salad?

Bread is homeamde focaccia. caesar salad. not so big. decor alone is worth the trip. go peter, go!

Glad to hear about the bread, a definate plus for me, I'll try to check it out soon though I'm kind of commited to eating in Lowell. Old Man Rollins likes him a great big 'ol healthy-style salad so maybe it's not for him though.

If he likes big salads, I would say skip it. While my experience there was terrific, my friend recently showed me a picture of her ceasar salad that she took with her cell phone. three pieces of romaine lettuce, one anchovie, and three croutons. I can go both ways on this. I for one, like small apps like tapas, so I'm not completely stuffed when the appetizer arrives. However, there are times when all I want to eat is a salad, and for the same price, I can get a nice big delicious ceasar salad from Sangria's. To each his own....just figured I'd share.

I get you Peter but I was just responding to the many remarks that Moonstones is too expensive. If you enjoy salads maybe a restaurant of this type isn't for you. I also applaud you for trying to keep your business in Lowell. I'm only hoping Mr. Plath is not trying this as a way to make an exit from our fair city sometime in the future. Haven't heard anything it just crossed my mind. Reading a few of gourmet gals earlier posts I don't think it's unreasonable to consider this. Let's all not forget about Cobblestones is I guess what I'm trying to say.

Annie!! Cobblestones is not going anywhere! Please...you'll scare the "children".

We love Lowell, and Lowell has been great to us .
Just say "no" to rumors! We opened moonstones because we saw what we thought was a great opportunity for us all. We designed it to be considerably different than Cobblestones, flavor and style wise, but at the same level of quality.

We sought to appeal to a different
"entertainment" need with a fun, stylish, quality oriented restaurant normally found in a more Metropolitan area. Unfortunately, as Mr. Cronin evidenced, we won't please everyone nor everyones budget. After serving the community for the past 14 years, We just felt like there were enough frozen burger, fry heavy, "great deal" type places in the area to choose from.

So, similar to our thought process with Cobblestones in 1994, we have attempted to appeal to a wide enough audience that appreciates when actual Chef's create the food, where creativity is encouraged on site, and where fresh ingredients are used throughout. Including our (fresh)1/2 pound, "very, very, very expensive" bacon and cheese "Joe Burger" for $10.00. (does that make two Quarter Pounders with cheese "expensive" or very expensive?)

Of course, if I am wrong, I will be forced to fire a Chef or three, put on an apron, and start cooking at Cobblestones myself. And if that happens...we are ALL in trouble!

In the meantime, we will continue to work really really hard in the hopes that you like us, and that you will frequent BOTH restaurants equally! Splath

I had cocktails and appetizers at Moonstone's 2 weeks ago and was thoroughly impressed. The food was great, the drinks cold and neat, the service staff very professional, but most of all the atmosphere very impressive. I can't wait to go back for a whole meal with friends. This is now my favorite place to go for meeting up with old friends and celebrating special dinners with my husband!

I've copied my Yelp.com review to add to the mix.

This place is the second establishment owned by the person who owns Cobblestones in Lowell. (Moonstones, Cobblestones, get it?!)
I was here on opening night with early dinner reservations. The decor is modern chic upscale urban. Comfy seating, several dining rooms and good sized bar area. Their drink menu goes on forever, but we did not partake of the mixed drinks.
The menu is varied and interesting and includes a glossary on the back page which came in handy for looking up several of the featured ingredients. Harissa? It is some kind of spicy something.
So, for dinner we shared a basket of very spicy sugary rubbed chicken wings, totally messing up the white linen napkins in the process. I had pomegranate lamb soup which was very good, hearty and flavorful with lentils and ground lamb and just a hint of fruitiness. We shared crostini and tapas, a wide variety of vegetable, meat, and seafood offerings.
We had a carafe of sangria which was a delightful beverage indeed!
The manager introduced himself to us as he made the rounds of the tables; another person who might be the chef or owner also came by to ask how we were enjoying our food; he noticed that all our dishes had been brought to us at the same time, somewhat crowding our table, and he said that should not have happened and he'll talk to the servers about it. Really, it was no biggie.
Our server was helpful and attentive and if we had a question that she didn't know the answer to, she found out for us.
I hope this restaurant does well; the location is excellent, pricing is reasonable, and the atmosphere is fun and friendly.

Is the Moonstones menu online anywhere for us to see?

My husband and I dined here last Friday as well; I was wondering if GG was around! We had a wonderful experience. Decided on heading over at prime dinner time without a reservation, and the wait was about 45 minutes. However, the hostess offered the choice to sit at the raw bar and order off the top (tapas) portion of the menu, which was fine with us as we were excited about the tapas anyway.

This was a good choice - the raw bar chef was a delight to watch and we got to see all of the delicious seafood that was being prepared. He also gave good recommendations which we'll try next time. The raw bar seating also allowed us to have a casual conversation with other diners and it was very interactive. The couple next to us had come from Groton.

The food was delicious and well-prepared and presented. Portion sizes were perfect for those who want to try a little bit of everything; we left satisfied - but not uncomfortably full - after sharing 5 or 6 tapas plates. Had some tuna tartar (yummy!), lamb lollies, crab, foccacia & a couple other dishes. The food did not all arrive at once so we could take our time with each plate.

My only minor complaint was the time it took for us to get our drinks, but a pitcher of sangria does take time and the bar was very busy. I recognized our server from Cobblestones so there are some experienced people there.

Scott - you've done great with the new place!

Another thing that is really cool is that you have 2 Restaurants down the street from each other that have wonderful ambience with very different menus. It's great when you entertain family or clients and can show them a nice evening so close to home.

Mr. Plath
So glad to hear you say Cobblestones isn't going anywhere. With all the emphasis on Moonstones my concern was Cobblestones will be forgotten. This would be a shame because it is a true asset to the city. Thanks for your response and it does set my mind at ease. I really like Cobblestones as you can tell.

I had lunch there on Friday! What is going on? My salad was the size of Happy Meal at McDonalds, with just three pieces of chicken nuggets and no fries! I'm not saying it wasn't delicious, and it was nice to be out with friends at a place with no cell phones, no kids screaming, and not a lot of excessively loud chatter. Atmosphere was beautiful, but lets face it, it seems what your paying for is not the food but the expensive decor they are more than likely still paying for on credit. Going somewhere just to look at the amazing decor, and a great atmosphere, which it was, just does not seem area appropriate, especially for lunch. I don't know about dinner, as I did not go for that. Go to Boston or New York for the weekend if you want to pay for that, or even better, pick up a copy of Metropolitan Living, and eat at home while you look at the mag then you don't have to pay for it. You're in an area that is filled with the average person trying to balance everyday life and family in an ever slipping economy. A night out for a speacial occasion, than YES!, but not often no matter how swanky the decor is and certainly not for lunch. I've been around enough to know that if the portion is not worth what your paying, no one will become a regular in this area, and lets face it alot of places rely on regulars. I think it will do good at first, but if it doesn't change I'm afraid it will be a beautiful empty piece of realestate on the corner next to a Best Western.

I speant a few summers in Madrid and Toledo, Spain. I think it's only fair to point out that tapas are, in fact, supposed to be free. But in all fairness, you only get one kind and it's not your choice of what it is.

I think THAT would be a REAL classy touch for someplace aspiring to be poshy to do!

Tapas are basically the Spanish equivalent to pretzels at the bar, though even THOSE are fewer and farer between these days!

OK everyone, I'm going this weekend. Cannnot wait! Scott, I wish you much success.

For the person inquiring about the Smokehouse...they have been working diligently every day all winter thru today. It's a very large building in need of extensive renovation. The workers say (and I saw) there is no way it will be ready in June

Maybe the Smokehouse should hire more workers.

Have been twice and both times, great! I don't find it expensive. Different people have different ideas of what is expensive and what isn't. Both times my meal consisted of pakoras, potato wedges and the short ribs - all this for $15 was stuffed to the brim! The shorts ribs are out of this world! And the wedges and pakora are delightful.

And you are delightful too Christine! Please visit often, and bring all your friends who think like you! Please call me, or any manager, if there is ever anything we can do for you @
978.256.7777. -Scott

My girlfriend and I ate there last Saturday. The ambience is very trendy (like a Manhattan restaurant), however the location seems a little out of place. Food was overpriced for the portions, yet very good. Would go back for drinks and appetizers, probably not for dinner though.

I went to Moonstones for a late lunch and found it absolutely delightful! I had the pomegranate lamb soup and the moussaka tapas. They were both delicious - very unique tastes. For dessert, I had the coconut pudding. Again, delicious and unique. The decor is wonderful - restful and interesting at the same time. The wait staff were all great - very attentive and pleasant. I took home the lamb entree as takeout for my husband and myself. I heated it up in the microwave later that evening and it tasted very fresh and full of interesting and unique flavors.

My husband and I are very grateful that a restaurant of high quality at a good price has arrived within a short drive from our house. We will definitely return many times!