Did you know that Trident Booksellers & Cafe on Newbury Street now has a mini-patio for alfresco seating!? I don't know if that's old news, but on my walk during lunch today I noticed this for the first time.
I would love to sit outside and enjoy their lemon ricotta stuffed french toast sometime...or perhaps the avocado and havarti melt...or the prosciutto and brie sandwich... okay I'll stop now. YUM.
Of course the question is, can you sit outside and read their magazines for free like at their indoor tables? =)
Here's a post I wrote a long time ago about Trident, one of my favorite spots in Boston.
Showing posts with label Newbury St.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Newbury St.. Show all posts
Bouchee on Newbury St
Last night Dish Gal ended up at a business dinner at Bouchee on Newbury Street, which I was excited about as that restaurant has been on my “to-visit” list for a very long time.
Descending the steps down from Newbury St, and maneuvering through the patio tables, I was taken aback when I walked into the large and grand restaurant. What a beautiful space! An impressive staircase flanked one wall, leading up to a second floor. A large but cozy bar lined the other wall. Typical tile-and-wood French brasserie décor rules here.
We were seated upstairs by the window overlooking Newbury St, and some of the open windows let in the cool October breeze. Our waiter was quite gregarious—loved chatting but also knew when to stay away when we were deep in discussion or still deciding on our meal.
I started with the baked raclette with poached pear (I apologize for the lack of photos—sort of awkward pulling the camera out during a business dinner!). It came with thinly-sliced baguette toasts, which I generously smothered with the oozy and tart cheese. This was decadence at its best—a pot of cheese with bread! I can certainly picture myself stopping by the bar for a glass of red wine and this appetizer on certain cold winter nights.
Next I ordered the braised short rib with pommes puree and onion ring garnish. The onion rings were massive—this onion must have been the size of a basketball!—and generously fried. The short rib was very tender, and the meat slipped off the massive and commanding bone without needing a knife. The mashed potatoes—I'm sorry, pommes puree!—were just like Mom's.
Finally we all shared the profiteroles as a dessert. As you may remember, profiteroles are one of Dish Gal’s absolute favorite foods (I know, mashed potatoes and profiteroles at one meal—it was like heaven!), and while these did not disappoint, they were a bit different than others. The ice cream was not encased in the pastry; rather, the pastry was like a little hat on top. The pastry was a bit hard to cut into (I almost wished I had a knife) but still, profiteroles are delicious nonetheless.
So how does Bouchee rank and/or stand out from other brasseries in Boston? Not as loud or trendy as Gaslight (though more expensive) and less crowded than Eastern Standard. And what about its neighbor on Newbury St, La Voile? Though its not as authentically French as La Voile, for some this could even be a positive. English “subtitles” make the menu very accessible to non-French speakers, and approachable and friendly waiters make the experience less daunting for those nervous to flub up French pronunciations. If you go in knowing it’s been a bit Americanized, Bouchee can definitely deliver a great overall experience.
PS Dish Mom and I like to rate restaurant bathrooms—this one gets an A+ !
Descending the steps down from Newbury St, and maneuvering through the patio tables, I was taken aback when I walked into the large and grand restaurant. What a beautiful space! An impressive staircase flanked one wall, leading up to a second floor. A large but cozy bar lined the other wall. Typical tile-and-wood French brasserie décor rules here.
We were seated upstairs by the window overlooking Newbury St, and some of the open windows let in the cool October breeze. Our waiter was quite gregarious—loved chatting but also knew when to stay away when we were deep in discussion or still deciding on our meal.
I started with the baked raclette with poached pear (I apologize for the lack of photos—sort of awkward pulling the camera out during a business dinner!). It came with thinly-sliced baguette toasts, which I generously smothered with the oozy and tart cheese. This was decadence at its best—a pot of cheese with bread! I can certainly picture myself stopping by the bar for a glass of red wine and this appetizer on certain cold winter nights.
Next I ordered the braised short rib with pommes puree and onion ring garnish. The onion rings were massive—this onion must have been the size of a basketball!—and generously fried. The short rib was very tender, and the meat slipped off the massive and commanding bone without needing a knife. The mashed potatoes—I'm sorry, pommes puree!—were just like Mom's.
Finally we all shared the profiteroles as a dessert. As you may remember, profiteroles are one of Dish Gal’s absolute favorite foods (I know, mashed potatoes and profiteroles at one meal—it was like heaven!), and while these did not disappoint, they were a bit different than others. The ice cream was not encased in the pastry; rather, the pastry was like a little hat on top. The pastry was a bit hard to cut into (I almost wished I had a knife) but still, profiteroles are delicious nonetheless.
So how does Bouchee rank and/or stand out from other brasseries in Boston? Not as loud or trendy as Gaslight (though more expensive) and less crowded than Eastern Standard. And what about its neighbor on Newbury St, La Voile? Though its not as authentically French as La Voile, for some this could even be a positive. English “subtitles” make the menu very accessible to non-French speakers, and approachable and friendly waiters make the experience less daunting for those nervous to flub up French pronunciations. If you go in knowing it’s been a bit Americanized, Bouchee can definitely deliver a great overall experience.
PS Dish Mom and I like to rate restaurant bathrooms—this one gets an A+ !
Stephanie's on Newbury
When people mention Stephanie's on Newbury St, I usually hate on it. "Ugh, it's so overpriced," I'll grumble. "Upscale, comfort food-- so overdone."
But the other night, Skylar and I ended up there on one of these beautiful summer nights we've been having. We grabbed a glass of chardonnay at the bar, and then were quickly seated on their bustling patio. Our waiter was less than stellar (struck me as a summer-off-from-college type, which was interesting because I thought Stephanie's was a full-time-servers-only place). He was nice, but forgot to mention specials, and was a bit awkward for a seemingly-refined place.
But, I hate to say it, my asian yellow fin tuna salad ($16.95) really hit the spot. The tuna was supple and fresh, topped with a tangy wasabi sauce. The field greens were tossed in a zesty (albeit a tad too much of it) sesame dressing. The wok-charred peppers were unexpected and had just the right amount of crunchy-to-soft ratio. And while the price is pretty high, it was a large portion, and they did not skimp on the tuna.
While I think the menu is way overpriced and there are definitely better places to try in Boston, I don't think you'd be going wrong if you stopped here during a day of shopping on Newbury. I guess I'll have to quiet my grumbling for now. . .
But the other night, Skylar and I ended up there on one of these beautiful summer nights we've been having. We grabbed a glass of chardonnay at the bar, and then were quickly seated on their bustling patio. Our waiter was less than stellar (struck me as a summer-off-from-college type, which was interesting because I thought Stephanie's was a full-time-servers-only place). He was nice, but forgot to mention specials, and was a bit awkward for a seemingly-refined place.
But, I hate to say it, my asian yellow fin tuna salad ($16.95) really hit the spot. The tuna was supple and fresh, topped with a tangy wasabi sauce. The field greens were tossed in a zesty (albeit a tad too much of it) sesame dressing. The wok-charred peppers were unexpected and had just the right amount of crunchy-to-soft ratio. And while the price is pretty high, it was a large portion, and they did not skimp on the tuna.
While I think the menu is way overpriced and there are definitely better places to try in Boston, I don't think you'd be going wrong if you stopped here during a day of shopping on Newbury. I guess I'll have to quiet my grumbling for now. . .
Casa Romero
I have to be honest about something: I don't really like Mexican food-- well, as a foodie, at least. Sure, a burrito once in a blue moon (or with a Blue Moon) tastes pretty good, but I just don't understand "upscale" Mexican cuisine.
Sebastian on the other hand is a Mexican food lover. So when his birthday rolled around, we headed with his family to one restaurant that I had enjoyed previously with Z-- Casa Romero on Gloucester St off of Newbury. Like Dali in Somerville (which I NEED to re-visit since it's one of my faves), this restaurant has a magical feeling to it, as you step off Gloucester down a small alley and into a tiny, wooden doorway. It's as if you're headed to some secret lair that no one knows about.
Once inside, it has pretty typical Mexican restaurant decor, with tiles, artifacts, and wooden chairs. They do have a beautiful patio though-- atypical of neighboring Newbury St patios, where motorcycles zoom by and cars loudly rev their engines. This one is small and secluded, and feels like you're dining in someone's private garden.
I started with some sangria, which while good, lacked any of the signature floating pieces of fresh fruit in it. We shared some chips with zingy salsa (complimentary) which I think turned out to be my favorite part of the meal. Sebastian's mom ordered a cactus and tomato salad, which due to the salmonella scare did not have tomatoes. This would've been fine had the waiter informed her previously-- it just showed up with only cactus. Hmm.
We also shared some guacamole which at nearly $8 should have been in my opinion a trough of it. Instead, a small scoop arrived on a bread plate. I got as my meal the chicken fajitas. I had expected your standard chicken accompanied by sour cream, guacamole, etc. but instead it came with refried beans and rice, and two tiny tortillas. Hmm. I understand that Chili's isn't authentic, but what's the deal with two tiny tortillas? The chicken was cooked in a red sauce, which seemed to mimic a sofrito but lacked its tanginess. The chicken was kind of dry. All in all, a disappointment.
Ah, Mexican food. Perhaps someday I'll understand you...
Sebastian on the other hand is a Mexican food lover. So when his birthday rolled around, we headed with his family to one restaurant that I had enjoyed previously with Z-- Casa Romero on Gloucester St off of Newbury. Like Dali in Somerville (which I NEED to re-visit since it's one of my faves), this restaurant has a magical feeling to it, as you step off Gloucester down a small alley and into a tiny, wooden doorway. It's as if you're headed to some secret lair that no one knows about.
Once inside, it has pretty typical Mexican restaurant decor, with tiles, artifacts, and wooden chairs. They do have a beautiful patio though-- atypical of neighboring Newbury St patios, where motorcycles zoom by and cars loudly rev their engines. This one is small and secluded, and feels like you're dining in someone's private garden.
I started with some sangria, which while good, lacked any of the signature floating pieces of fresh fruit in it. We shared some chips with zingy salsa (complimentary) which I think turned out to be my favorite part of the meal. Sebastian's mom ordered a cactus and tomato salad, which due to the salmonella scare did not have tomatoes. This would've been fine had the waiter informed her previously-- it just showed up with only cactus. Hmm.
We also shared some guacamole which at nearly $8 should have been in my opinion a trough of it. Instead, a small scoop arrived on a bread plate. I got as my meal the chicken fajitas. I had expected your standard chicken accompanied by sour cream, guacamole, etc. but instead it came with refried beans and rice, and two tiny tortillas. Hmm. I understand that Chili's isn't authentic, but what's the deal with two tiny tortillas? The chicken was cooked in a red sauce, which seemed to mimic a sofrito but lacked its tanginess. The chicken was kind of dry. All in all, a disappointment.
Ah, Mexican food. Perhaps someday I'll understand you...
La Voile - still don't know how to pronounce it, but dayum it's good!
It used to be that when people raved about great service at a restaurant, I never really understood it. Sure, it's nice to have a server who isn't smacking gum or whose eyes aren't severely bloodshot (thinking of one particular IHOP waitress), but I always was sort of confused-- aren't you really there for first and foremost the food? However, my most recent experience at La Voile on Newbury Street reminded me how truly great service can really turn a good experience into a great one.
It was a very special occasion that brought part of my family out to dinner on this past rainy Friday-- my dad's birthday. We met on the sidewalk and after exchanging hugs and greetings, we walked down the stone steps into the basement level restaurant that is La Voile.
We were greeted warmly by several important looking people at the door. They insisted they take our coats, even explaining how the type of chairs they have make your coat slip off. As I handed my dad my shopping bag with my rain boots in it to remove my jacket, I heard a loud rip and my rainboots spilled out on to the floor. Mind you, these are bright pink rainboots with hearts from Marshall's-- not something you'd want to be seen in at a beautiful establishment like this -- exactly why they had been removed and placed in an Ann Taylor shopping bag in the first place! The manager quickly bent over and scooped them up, ripped bag and all, as my face turned a dark red color and my brother laughed and asserted, "Yep, we've arrived!"
Still horrified, I followed the hostess to our table. The restaurant was quiet (it was around 6:30) and stunning, in an understated and charming way, with French script scrawled across the walls and large wooden mirrors, and of course model sailboats (La Voile translates to "The Sail"). As we perused our menus and I had just started to forget the rainboots incident, I felt a tap on my shoulder; it was the kind manager, who whispered in my ear in a very intimate manner, speaking in his thick French accent, "I ev placed your boots in zee closet with a new bag, BUT I can only find one sock..." And just like that, the horror had returned. Blushing, I explained to him that the other sock was probably shoved into the boot.
Even though I was embarassed with this whole boot experience (I get embarassed quite easily), it really did mean a lot that this man had gone out of his way to make sure my experience was not ruined by something like a missing sock. It warmed my heart that he seemed so genuinely concerned.
But back to the food. Our waiter greeted us with two different amuse bouches-- one with escargot, and one a gruyere (if my memory serves me) cheese pouf. My sister deemed the escargot, "the worst she's ever had," but I was too busy being proud of myself for trying it to notice. The cheese pouf was yummy and melted in your mouth.
My dad is a huge fan of French food, and doesn't have it very often, so we did not hold back and ordered many different dishes. My dad and I both chose to start with the soup du jour, a light and fresh celery soup, accompanied by a piece of crunchy bread to dunk into it. My sister in law chose the fresh spring vegetables, a salad of peas and greens. My brother chose a cheese plate with 5 different selections. Our waiter wheeled over the cheese tray and explained, in almost kindergarten teacher-like explication, the different types. My brother was most impressed with the blue cheese and the creamy goat cheese.
We all shared a trio of foie gras-- one pan seared, one terrine, and one creme brulee. As this was my first foie gras experience (I know, I probably shouldn't admit that...) I can't really compare to others, but the pan seared was exquisite.
For my main course I chose the duck al orange with orzo risotto. The duck came sliced, with thick slices of fat underneath the skin, sitting in a pool of sweet sauce. The orzo risotto was incredibly rich and creamy and tasted pretty much like heaven. My dad ordered frog legs, which everyone seemed to enjoy (couldn't bring myself to try those...again, I know I shouldn't be admitting this!). My brother and sister in law orderd the rib eye for 2, and the owner himself, Stephane Santos, who moved this restaurant from Cannes to Boston, came out and sliced the meat tableside-- another example of the supreme service at this restaurant.
We couldn't resist choosing a dessert, and so with the waiters help we ended up choosing two-- a chocolate mousse and a strawberry "charlotte" -- like a strawberry shortcake but filled with custard and encircled by a raspberry sauce. While the others were fighting over the chocolate mousse, I was enraptured by the strawberry charlotte.
La Voile is a journey to France from the moment you walk down the stone steps, from its busboys in navy blue and white striped shirts, to its classic cuisine, and its waiters and bartenders with French accents. Its a great addition to a neighborhood geared towards tourists and shoppers (see: Cafeteria), and I'm just so glad that Santos chose Boston for this fantastic restaurant.
It was a very special occasion that brought part of my family out to dinner on this past rainy Friday-- my dad's birthday. We met on the sidewalk and after exchanging hugs and greetings, we walked down the stone steps into the basement level restaurant that is La Voile.
We were greeted warmly by several important looking people at the door. They insisted they take our coats, even explaining how the type of chairs they have make your coat slip off. As I handed my dad my shopping bag with my rain boots in it to remove my jacket, I heard a loud rip and my rainboots spilled out on to the floor. Mind you, these are bright pink rainboots with hearts from Marshall's-- not something you'd want to be seen in at a beautiful establishment like this -- exactly why they had been removed and placed in an Ann Taylor shopping bag in the first place! The manager quickly bent over and scooped them up, ripped bag and all, as my face turned a dark red color and my brother laughed and asserted, "Yep, we've arrived!"
Still horrified, I followed the hostess to our table. The restaurant was quiet (it was around 6:30) and stunning, in an understated and charming way, with French script scrawled across the walls and large wooden mirrors, and of course model sailboats (La Voile translates to "The Sail"). As we perused our menus and I had just started to forget the rainboots incident, I felt a tap on my shoulder; it was the kind manager, who whispered in my ear in a very intimate manner, speaking in his thick French accent, "I ev placed your boots in zee closet with a new bag, BUT I can only find one sock..." And just like that, the horror had returned. Blushing, I explained to him that the other sock was probably shoved into the boot.
Even though I was embarassed with this whole boot experience (I get embarassed quite easily), it really did mean a lot that this man had gone out of his way to make sure my experience was not ruined by something like a missing sock. It warmed my heart that he seemed so genuinely concerned.
But back to the food. Our waiter greeted us with two different amuse bouches-- one with escargot, and one a gruyere (if my memory serves me) cheese pouf. My sister deemed the escargot, "the worst she's ever had," but I was too busy being proud of myself for trying it to notice. The cheese pouf was yummy and melted in your mouth.
My dad is a huge fan of French food, and doesn't have it very often, so we did not hold back and ordered many different dishes. My dad and I both chose to start with the soup du jour, a light and fresh celery soup, accompanied by a piece of crunchy bread to dunk into it. My sister in law chose the fresh spring vegetables, a salad of peas and greens. My brother chose a cheese plate with 5 different selections. Our waiter wheeled over the cheese tray and explained, in almost kindergarten teacher-like explication, the different types. My brother was most impressed with the blue cheese and the creamy goat cheese.
We all shared a trio of foie gras-- one pan seared, one terrine, and one creme brulee. As this was my first foie gras experience (I know, I probably shouldn't admit that...) I can't really compare to others, but the pan seared was exquisite.
For my main course I chose the duck al orange with orzo risotto. The duck came sliced, with thick slices of fat underneath the skin, sitting in a pool of sweet sauce. The orzo risotto was incredibly rich and creamy and tasted pretty much like heaven. My dad ordered frog legs, which everyone seemed to enjoy (couldn't bring myself to try those...again, I know I shouldn't be admitting this!). My brother and sister in law orderd the rib eye for 2, and the owner himself, Stephane Santos, who moved this restaurant from Cannes to Boston, came out and sliced the meat tableside-- another example of the supreme service at this restaurant.
We couldn't resist choosing a dessert, and so with the waiters help we ended up choosing two-- a chocolate mousse and a strawberry "charlotte" -- like a strawberry shortcake but filled with custard and encircled by a raspberry sauce. While the others were fighting over the chocolate mousse, I was enraptured by the strawberry charlotte.
La Voile is a journey to France from the moment you walk down the stone steps, from its busboys in navy blue and white striped shirts, to its classic cuisine, and its waiters and bartenders with French accents. Its a great addition to a neighborhood geared towards tourists and shoppers (see: Cafeteria), and I'm just so glad that Santos chose Boston for this fantastic restaurant.
Thanks for a wonderful Dish Gal birthday!!
I just had a fantastic birthday weekend, filled with friends, fun, and you guessed it -- lots and lots of delicious food.
Skylar took me out on Saturday to 29 Newbury for lunch, which served, as Dish Gal likes to think of it, food that is simple but delicious and exactly what I WISH I was able to cook for myself every day. We shared butternut squash soup ($10) to start which was amazing (soup as a dish has been on a roll recently!). Then Skylar got a turkey burger, bunless, with a tossed salad ($13). Usually I would think of this as typical "dieters" fare, but I was jealous of her meaty burger, crisp greens, and spicy aioli -- not diet food at all! I opted for a pizzeta with prosciutto, goat cheese, and figs ($16). The server informed me that since figs were out of season they had replaced it with roasted pears-- fine with me! It was a great combination of ingredients, and a perfect lunch that I wish I could have everyday.
Saturday night was the real foodie heaven, though. We headed to Masa for dinner, hoping to snag some bar tables and share the famous $1 tapas plates. However, due to a large party that had reserved the tables, we quickly realized that was not happening... but we stayed and enjoyed some drinks and tapas for a bit. I really can't do a complete run down of the food, but everything was AMAZING-- little tiny bite sized pieces of heaven. Check out the menu here: www.masarestaurant.com . We also enjoyed sangria margaritas-- combining two of my favorite drinks in a refreshing way that made me ache for summertime and patios.
We then headed to The Savant Project in Mission Hill. Our cab driver got super lost on the way, so much so that we were questioning our choice of restaurant by the time we got there. But as soon as we stepped into the restaurant I knew we had made the right choice. It was dark, and effortlessly cool, with bronze walls and cozy tables. We waved away the restaurant week menus, and opted for, like at Masa, their (non-Spanish) tapas. We went ordering-crazy, and everything was absolutely delicious. Some of the highlights: skirt steak egg rolls; Tuna sashimi, micro greens, garlic chips; Greek salad with fried feta balls; Tempura vegetables with a whole grain mustard peanut sauce; and Chicken, Spicy Sweet, Tom Yum Coconut Soup (all around $8-9 dollars each).
Not only did The Savant Project have delicious food, it also had extraordinary and imaginative cocktails. A few of us stuck with sangria and got one of the “Singrias” (although we were tempted by the “Mangria,” which kicked up the spicyness with jalapenos). One person got one of their beer cocktails called the “blonde” (despite the fact that she is, in fact, brunette—heresy!) which was blonde lillet, blue moon, and fresh lemon juice. Another favorite was the infused alcohols (imbibed straight—Skylar, so hardcore!).
To top off all the wonderfulness, our server brought over churros with chocolate dipping sauce with cayenne pepper in it – it had a kick!—with a candle in it and everyone sang happy birthday, which was really sweet. And speaking of sweet—the churros were outta control. I can’t speak more highly of an establishment, and I’m already plotting a trip to go back—perhaps to bring Z as I know he would love it!!
What a fantastic night of food and drinks. Kudos to these amazing Boston restaurants who bring ambiance, amazing food, and affordability -- these places are what Dish This is all about!
Skylar took me out on Saturday to 29 Newbury for lunch, which served, as Dish Gal likes to think of it, food that is simple but delicious and exactly what I WISH I was able to cook for myself every day. We shared butternut squash soup ($10) to start which was amazing (soup as a dish has been on a roll recently!). Then Skylar got a turkey burger, bunless, with a tossed salad ($13). Usually I would think of this as typical "dieters" fare, but I was jealous of her meaty burger, crisp greens, and spicy aioli -- not diet food at all! I opted for a pizzeta with prosciutto, goat cheese, and figs ($16). The server informed me that since figs were out of season they had replaced it with roasted pears-- fine with me! It was a great combination of ingredients, and a perfect lunch that I wish I could have everyday.
Saturday night was the real foodie heaven, though. We headed to Masa for dinner, hoping to snag some bar tables and share the famous $1 tapas plates. However, due to a large party that had reserved the tables, we quickly realized that was not happening... but we stayed and enjoyed some drinks and tapas for a bit. I really can't do a complete run down of the food, but everything was AMAZING-- little tiny bite sized pieces of heaven. Check out the menu here: www.masarestaurant.com . We also enjoyed sangria margaritas-- combining two of my favorite drinks in a refreshing way that made me ache for summertime and patios.
We then headed to The Savant Project in Mission Hill. Our cab driver got super lost on the way, so much so that we were questioning our choice of restaurant by the time we got there. But as soon as we stepped into the restaurant I knew we had made the right choice. It was dark, and effortlessly cool, with bronze walls and cozy tables. We waved away the restaurant week menus, and opted for, like at Masa, their (non-Spanish) tapas. We went ordering-crazy, and everything was absolutely delicious. Some of the highlights: skirt steak egg rolls; Tuna sashimi, micro greens, garlic chips; Greek salad with fried feta balls; Tempura vegetables with a whole grain mustard peanut sauce; and Chicken, Spicy Sweet, Tom Yum Coconut Soup (all around $8-9 dollars each).
Not only did The Savant Project have delicious food, it also had extraordinary and imaginative cocktails. A few of us stuck with sangria and got one of the “Singrias” (although we were tempted by the “Mangria,” which kicked up the spicyness with jalapenos). One person got one of their beer cocktails called the “blonde” (despite the fact that she is, in fact, brunette—heresy!) which was blonde lillet, blue moon, and fresh lemon juice. Another favorite was the infused alcohols (imbibed straight—Skylar, so hardcore!).
To top off all the wonderfulness, our server brought over churros with chocolate dipping sauce with cayenne pepper in it – it had a kick!—with a candle in it and everyone sang happy birthday, which was really sweet. And speaking of sweet—the churros were outta control. I can’t speak more highly of an establishment, and I’m already plotting a trip to go back—perhaps to bring Z as I know he would love it!!
What a fantastic night of food and drinks. Kudos to these amazing Boston restaurants who bring ambiance, amazing food, and affordability -- these places are what Dish This is all about!
Lunch at Boston Public in Louis Boston
When your friends know you love food, and you know those certain friends that love going out to eat, it's hard to not go out every day for restaurant week.
The day after Rialto, some of my coworkers and I headed over to Boston Public, Pino Maffeo's restaurant in the famous Louis Boston. The table wasn't ready when we arrived, and the slightly frazzled, but convivial hostess seemed genuinely apologetic when it came to be 20 minutes after our reservation time. Finally, she led us into the very small dining room with minimal decor except for large geometric wooden chandeleir-type sculptures. Our table was located in the corner at kind of an awkward angle where two of us were staring literally at the corner, but we were just glad to be seated.
Like at Rialto, I got the feeling that the items on their menu did not really reflect what usually is served. Boston Public's cuisine is contemporary American with an Asian twist, but the menu was not very harmonious, and most dishes were either Asian or American -- not a combination of both.
For example, I started with chicken spring rolls and my coworker D started with vegestable summer rolls (that was another indicator that RW was half-assed; when we asked about the summer roll, our server informed us that when they put tuna sashimi in it, it's much better. Um, okay?) Our other coworker, a fellow lover of Boston dining, J, opted for a non-Asian option of the sweet potato soup. All three were delicious, but I might have to give the award to the soup.
For our entrees, I got the burger, D got salmon, and J got pad thai. The randomness of the menu is apparent now more than ever, right? The pad thai fell flat, and made us start chatting about our favorite pad thai places in Boston -- never a good sign when you're talking about restaurants that do it better while eating someone's dish. D enjoyed her salmon (I didn't snag a bite of that one...). And I actually really enjoyed my burger! It was definitely a "fancy place" burger, with a deeeelicious buttery toasted bun with sesame seeds on top. It more like a mini-burger, which was fine with me, as I enjoy quality over quantity anyday. And ketchup and spicy brown mustard were served on the side in little dishes of their own-- nice touch.
We all chose the strawberry shortcake to finish which was served in wine glasses and had a lemony shortbread with rich whipped cream and fresh tasting strawberries. Nice and fresh.
The experience could definitely have been affected by a snooty over-pretentious server who noticed that we were a bit out of their demo. But instead, our waiter (who was totally adorable!) was affable, joked around with us, and answered our questions without making us feel silly. All in all, he really helped liven up the lunch.
We headed back to work completely stuffed, but the food coma at my desk was certainly worth it-- all in the name of research =)
The day after Rialto, some of my coworkers and I headed over to Boston Public, Pino Maffeo's restaurant in the famous Louis Boston. The table wasn't ready when we arrived, and the slightly frazzled, but convivial hostess seemed genuinely apologetic when it came to be 20 minutes after our reservation time. Finally, she led us into the very small dining room with minimal decor except for large geometric wooden chandeleir-type sculptures. Our table was located in the corner at kind of an awkward angle where two of us were staring literally at the corner, but we were just glad to be seated.
Like at Rialto, I got the feeling that the items on their menu did not really reflect what usually is served. Boston Public's cuisine is contemporary American with an Asian twist, but the menu was not very harmonious, and most dishes were either Asian or American -- not a combination of both.
For example, I started with chicken spring rolls and my coworker D started with vegestable summer rolls (that was another indicator that RW was half-assed; when we asked about the summer roll, our server informed us that when they put tuna sashimi in it, it's much better. Um, okay?) Our other coworker, a fellow lover of Boston dining, J, opted for a non-Asian option of the sweet potato soup. All three were delicious, but I might have to give the award to the soup.
For our entrees, I got the burger, D got salmon, and J got pad thai. The randomness of the menu is apparent now more than ever, right? The pad thai fell flat, and made us start chatting about our favorite pad thai places in Boston -- never a good sign when you're talking about restaurants that do it better while eating someone's dish. D enjoyed her salmon (I didn't snag a bite of that one...). And I actually really enjoyed my burger! It was definitely a "fancy place" burger, with a deeeelicious buttery toasted bun with sesame seeds on top. It more like a mini-burger, which was fine with me, as I enjoy quality over quantity anyday. And ketchup and spicy brown mustard were served on the side in little dishes of their own-- nice touch.
We all chose the strawberry shortcake to finish which was served in wine glasses and had a lemony shortbread with rich whipped cream and fresh tasting strawberries. Nice and fresh.
The experience could definitely have been affected by a snooty over-pretentious server who noticed that we were a bit out of their demo. But instead, our waiter (who was totally adorable!) was affable, joked around with us, and answered our questions without making us feel silly. All in all, he really helped liven up the lunch.
We headed back to work completely stuffed, but the food coma at my desk was certainly worth it-- all in the name of research =)
Capital Grille
This might be a controversial statement, but here goes: I don't like the Capital Grille.
A few years ago (it feels like eons ago) I went there with my then-boyfriend and his family. Everyone ooh-ed and ahh-ed as I sat there wondering, am I trying the wrong thing? I kept my mouth shut since I wasn't paying and hate saying negative things about food in the presence of others who are enjoying themselves, but I couldn't help but wonder what the fuss was all about.
This past weekend, my parents kindly invited me to join them at Capital Grille since they had received a gift certificate there for Christmas. Free (fancy) food—score! I was ready to give this restaurant another shot—especially since it again was not something I’d have to pay for. Maybe my tastes had changed/matured?
The location on Newbury Street was all booked, so we opted for its Chestnut Hill spot. When we walked in the restaurant at 6 pm it was already very crowded. We were seated in an intimate yet cramped back room filled with wine bottles. The menus were these ridiculously big plastic monstrosities with a font size that my 91 year old grandfather could probably read without any glasses (p.s. happy early birthday, grandpa!).
While I could probably easily go vegetarian most of the time, once in awhile a good piece of red meat is just what the doctor ordered (well not literally, because I’m pretty sure a doctor wouldn’t endorse a 24 oz porterhouse… but who knows?). We each got a different steak dish—Dish Gal went with the dry aged steak au poivre with a Courvoisier cognac cream and peppercorn sauce (around $38). We got mashed potatoes and asparagus as our side dishes (they are family style).
When push comes to shove, when I buy something that is $38, I want it to make me do the famous “this food tastes so good” dance in my seat (see: New York entry with Café Gray). However, this made me go, Mmm. Pretty good. Not the reaction I was looking for.
For dessert we ordered a piece of chocolate hazelnut cake that was so big it was overwhelming. While it was nice, it wasn’t anything that couldn’t have come out of a box from Shaws.
Capital Grille, to put it bluntly, is best for food enjoyers, not food lovers (because who could get excited about dessert options that are as run of the mill as key lime pie and cheesecake?). It is for someone who enjoys predictability—the same type of service, same grade of steak, same meat & potatoes combo. They can recognize quality food, but don’t like to be surprised by “foams” or “emulsions” or ingredients they can’t identify.
For those food lovers, Dish Gal says: travel on. . . and spend those hard-earned dineros on something that will blow your mind, not just your budget.
A few years ago (it feels like eons ago) I went there with my then-boyfriend and his family. Everyone ooh-ed and ahh-ed as I sat there wondering, am I trying the wrong thing? I kept my mouth shut since I wasn't paying and hate saying negative things about food in the presence of others who are enjoying themselves, but I couldn't help but wonder what the fuss was all about.
This past weekend, my parents kindly invited me to join them at Capital Grille since they had received a gift certificate there for Christmas. Free (fancy) food—score! I was ready to give this restaurant another shot—especially since it again was not something I’d have to pay for. Maybe my tastes had changed/matured?
The location on Newbury Street was all booked, so we opted for its Chestnut Hill spot. When we walked in the restaurant at 6 pm it was already very crowded. We were seated in an intimate yet cramped back room filled with wine bottles. The menus were these ridiculously big plastic monstrosities with a font size that my 91 year old grandfather could probably read without any glasses (p.s. happy early birthday, grandpa!).
While I could probably easily go vegetarian most of the time, once in awhile a good piece of red meat is just what the doctor ordered (well not literally, because I’m pretty sure a doctor wouldn’t endorse a 24 oz porterhouse… but who knows?). We each got a different steak dish—Dish Gal went with the dry aged steak au poivre with a Courvoisier cognac cream and peppercorn sauce (around $38). We got mashed potatoes and asparagus as our side dishes (they are family style).
When push comes to shove, when I buy something that is $38, I want it to make me do the famous “this food tastes so good” dance in my seat (see: New York entry with Café Gray). However, this made me go, Mmm. Pretty good. Not the reaction I was looking for.
For dessert we ordered a piece of chocolate hazelnut cake that was so big it was overwhelming. While it was nice, it wasn’t anything that couldn’t have come out of a box from Shaws.
Capital Grille, to put it bluntly, is best for food enjoyers, not food lovers (because who could get excited about dessert options that are as run of the mill as key lime pie and cheesecake?). It is for someone who enjoys predictability—the same type of service, same grade of steak, same meat & potatoes combo. They can recognize quality food, but don’t like to be surprised by “foams” or “emulsions” or ingredients they can’t identify.
For those food lovers, Dish Gal says: travel on. . . and spend those hard-earned dineros on something that will blow your mind, not just your budget.
Mini Review: Tapeo
I was on Newbury St. the other night for a party, and when it was over some friends and I decided to wander across the street and dine at Tapeo. I've been to Tapeo before, almost exactly a year ago, and remember being impressed by its intimate atmosphere and yummy sangria.
So the two ladies I dined with are two friends that I'm sure I'll refer to a lot, as we dine out pretty frequently together (already wrote about each of them already), so let's give them some names. Dining companion #1, from time at Cafeteria where we had to share the fork, let's call her Skylar (her request; refers to Minnie Driver character in Good Will Hunting--she's a true Boston gal). Dining companion #2 used to waitress with me; let's keep with the Boston movie trend and call her Francis (okay this is a stretch-- it's Jack Nicholson's character in The Departed).
So Skylar, Francis, and I got seated right away; however, our table was upstairs in an area I had not seen before. I prefer the downstairs if you have a choice-- the upstairs has a more gimmicky feel to it-- open and lacking in ambiance. (The downstairs is dimly lit, with low ceilings and dark walls and feels overall much more romantic.)
We ordered a pitcher of sangria and five tapas dishes: duckling w/ a berry sauce, pork tenderloin with a blue goat cheese sauce, vegetarian crepe, boneless pheasant with bacon and serrano ham, and baked goat cheese with tomato and basil. Everything was tasty, but here is my verdict...
Bottom line: Tapeo is often compared to Tasca on Comm Ave in Brighton and to Dali in Somerville, and is probably better well-known than both. However, I think it falls short of these two. I think Dali has much better atmosphere, and Tasca has much better prices. Tapeo clearly rests upon its Newbury St. location whereas the other two, more out-of-the-way spots work harder, and more successfully, to get you to return.
So the two ladies I dined with are two friends that I'm sure I'll refer to a lot, as we dine out pretty frequently together (already wrote about each of them already), so let's give them some names. Dining companion #1, from time at Cafeteria where we had to share the fork, let's call her Skylar (her request; refers to Minnie Driver character in Good Will Hunting--she's a true Boston gal). Dining companion #2 used to waitress with me; let's keep with the Boston movie trend and call her Francis (okay this is a stretch-- it's Jack Nicholson's character in The Departed).
So Skylar, Francis, and I got seated right away; however, our table was upstairs in an area I had not seen before. I prefer the downstairs if you have a choice-- the upstairs has a more gimmicky feel to it-- open and lacking in ambiance. (The downstairs is dimly lit, with low ceilings and dark walls and feels overall much more romantic.)
We ordered a pitcher of sangria and five tapas dishes: duckling w/ a berry sauce, pork tenderloin with a blue goat cheese sauce, vegetarian crepe, boneless pheasant with bacon and serrano ham, and baked goat cheese with tomato and basil. Everything was tasty, but here is my verdict...
Bottom line: Tapeo is often compared to Tasca on Comm Ave in Brighton and to Dali in Somerville, and is probably better well-known than both. However, I think it falls short of these two. I think Dali has much better atmosphere, and Tasca has much better prices. Tapeo clearly rests upon its Newbury St. location whereas the other two, more out-of-the-way spots work harder, and more successfully, to get you to return.
Dish Gal tries Cafeteria Boston
Dish Gal LOVES trying new restaurants. However, I have to be honest-- as much as I'd like to pretend I'm one of those people who bravely goes where no one has gone before, I often do some pretty extensive homework on a restaurant before I try it for the first time. I check out old faithful chowhound.com, read the citysearch and yelp reviews, check Boston magazine and the Boston Globe...etc. until I have convinced myself that yes, this restaurant is worth my hard-earned money.
But last night, this was not really an option. Cafeteria Boston, only open for a mere 5 weeks, was turning up zilch on my google searches. I knew it was by the Armani Cafe people (not encouraging). There was only one measly citysearch entry, which was about the cork decor. The Globe article was inconclusive. I also knew that that building (279 Newbury St.) seems cursed -- there have been something like 4 restaurants there in the past 10 years or something crazy like that for a place with such an amazing location and built-in audience. So I agreed to try it out, but with some trepidation.
I was freezing as I bolted across Newbury St., teetering on the ice in my heels. But as soon as I opened the door to Cafeteria I was met with an unexpected warmness-- both in temperature and ambiance. Almost instantaneously I felt stress melt away, like from a warm hug from a loved one. I had to wait a little bit awkwardly, waiting for a hostess, but it gave me a second to survey the scene. I was in the downstairs area (I don't think the upstairs was open on this particular night). Everything was beige (and, like the reviewer said, cork). Couples snuggled up at high top tables, groups huddled with large glasses of red wine... and a film crew stood in the middle? Clearly were filming a segment for some TV show ( Boston.tv perhaps?) aided by Cafeteria publicist Max Buccini of Regan Communications. The film crew aside, this seemed a haven from the blustering, cold outside world.
Finally, a well-dressed man rushed to the door, and with a genuine eagerness, offered to seat me right away (this was refreshing-- so often hosts/hostesses seem like they are on the tail end of a 15 hour shift). As I settled into my corner table, I surveyed the menu-- nothing supremely interesting, pretty standard fare-- carpaccio and calamari as appetizers, chicken piccatta and salmon offered as entrees. When my favorite dining companion joined me, we selected a 1/2 bottle of Syrah ($28) which was quite delicious.
We decided to opt to share a bunch of things. We ordered the Butternut Squash Bisque ($7), the Tuna Tartare ($13), and the Warm Spinach Salad ($9). The bisque (which our waitress forgot, and we had to prompt her to bring us) was superb -- the pecan molasses stirred in was delicious. The Tuna Tartare was pretty standard -- although a bit different with a chipotle aioli that lended an almost southwestern flavor to it! And finally the Warm Spinach Salad was very nice, but nothing to write home about. Although I did like the addition of shaved aged cheddar as opposed to the cliche goat cheese.
We finished with Zambaglione. It was filled with fresh berries & cream. Would have been perfect if we had been in the mood for berries, but I think we were both hankering for something a bit more decadent.
Our waitress forgot to bring an extra spoon for my friend (we awkwardly shared one for awhile; hope she's not sick!) and forgot to bring her decafe coffee at the end. But she was cute and friendly otherwise, and told us a story about how Tom Brady had come in on Monday night to pick up take out (for Gisele perhaps???).
All in all, I would return to Cafeteria for drinks with a beau at a cozy high top table, or a glass of wine after work, but probably won't be craving the food any time soon.
Trying Sel de la Terre on Friday!! Can't wait =)
Love,
Dish Gal
But last night, this was not really an option. Cafeteria Boston, only open for a mere 5 weeks, was turning up zilch on my google searches. I knew it was by the Armani Cafe people (not encouraging). There was only one measly citysearch entry, which was about the cork decor. The Globe article was inconclusive. I also knew that that building (279 Newbury St.) seems cursed -- there have been something like 4 restaurants there in the past 10 years or something crazy like that for a place with such an amazing location and built-in audience. So I agreed to try it out, but with some trepidation.
I was freezing as I bolted across Newbury St., teetering on the ice in my heels. But as soon as I opened the door to Cafeteria I was met with an unexpected warmness-- both in temperature and ambiance. Almost instantaneously I felt stress melt away, like from a warm hug from a loved one. I had to wait a little bit awkwardly, waiting for a hostess, but it gave me a second to survey the scene. I was in the downstairs area (I don't think the upstairs was open on this particular night). Everything was beige (and, like the reviewer said, cork). Couples snuggled up at high top tables, groups huddled with large glasses of red wine... and a film crew stood in the middle? Clearly were filming a segment for some TV show ( Boston.tv perhaps?) aided by Cafeteria publicist Max Buccini of Regan Communications. The film crew aside, this seemed a haven from the blustering, cold outside world.
Finally, a well-dressed man rushed to the door, and with a genuine eagerness, offered to seat me right away (this was refreshing-- so often hosts/hostesses seem like they are on the tail end of a 15 hour shift). As I settled into my corner table, I surveyed the menu-- nothing supremely interesting, pretty standard fare-- carpaccio and calamari as appetizers, chicken piccatta and salmon offered as entrees. When my favorite dining companion joined me, we selected a 1/2 bottle of Syrah ($28) which was quite delicious.
We decided to opt to share a bunch of things. We ordered the Butternut Squash Bisque ($7), the Tuna Tartare ($13), and the Warm Spinach Salad ($9). The bisque (which our waitress forgot, and we had to prompt her to bring us) was superb -- the pecan molasses stirred in was delicious. The Tuna Tartare was pretty standard -- although a bit different with a chipotle aioli that lended an almost southwestern flavor to it! And finally the Warm Spinach Salad was very nice, but nothing to write home about. Although I did like the addition of shaved aged cheddar as opposed to the cliche goat cheese.
We finished with Zambaglione. It was filled with fresh berries & cream. Would have been perfect if we had been in the mood for berries, but I think we were both hankering for something a bit more decadent.
Our waitress forgot to bring an extra spoon for my friend (we awkwardly shared one for awhile; hope she's not sick!) and forgot to bring her decafe coffee at the end. But she was cute and friendly otherwise, and told us a story about how Tom Brady had come in on Monday night to pick up take out (for Gisele perhaps???).
All in all, I would return to Cafeteria for drinks with a beau at a cozy high top table, or a glass of wine after work, but probably won't be craving the food any time soon.
Trying Sel de la Terre on Friday!! Can't wait =)
Love,
Dish Gal
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