I just got back from watching the Top Chef demo outside the Pru! My lord, was it hot outside. Nikki was so cute! Photos to come later...
In the meantime, some links to enjoy...
The United States of Sriracha Lists places all across the U.S. you can enjoy the amazing condiment sriracha (an Asian hot sauce with a cult-like following). For Massachusetts, Myers + Chang's banh mi makes the list. {New York Times}
Massachusetts set to unveil fast-food menu rules, which would require chain restaurants to list calories. {Reuters}
Making Love in the Kitchen. A food blog recommended by pal OmGal, filled with healthy tips and recipes.
8 new rules for ordering wine. The new way to enjoy wine at restaurants during these shaky, economic times. {New York Post}
First Bite: Boston Burger Company. Is it just me, or are burgers EVERYWHERE these days? Is it because summer's coming? Or is it because it's the only thing people can afford? Either way, it's making me hungry. {Boston magazine's blog "Chowder"}
Showing posts with label Somerville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Somerville. Show all posts
Spike's Junkyard Dogs
I'm on a Davis Square binge, if you can't already tell from all these posts in a row. With my move to the North End coming up very quickly, I'm trying to enjoy everything that my favorite square has to offer before heading across the river. Dining at Gargoyles, seeing a movie at the theatre, chatting it up with the ridiculously friendly Hollywood Express employees-- I'm just trying to soak it all in.
Last night, Sebastian and I stopped by Spike's in Davis. Spike's locations seem to follow me wherever I go-- one was right around the corner from my last apartment in Allston, there is one down the street from my job now, and also one right in Davis Square. However, I'm not a big hot dog and hamburger girl, so despite its close proximity, it's not a spot I frequent very often.
But last night, something about it called to us. Despite its gruff and "intimidating" sounding name, the inside of Spike's is very friendly-- bright and colorful, the walls covered in old street signs and similar paraphenalia. Sebastian opted for one of their cheeseburgers ($4.85), which was 1/3 of a pound of meaty goodness which he called, "sooo good" (a direct quote). Sebastian also noted the quality for amount of money you pay- "it couldve been at a fancier restaurant for twice the price, ya know?" I hear ya, Seb.
I went for the signature-- Spike's Junkyard hot dog, which had Spike's house spicy mustard, scallions, tomato, and hot pepper rings ($3.45). The meaty hot dog came wrapped in not your average soft and doughy bun, but rather in a loaf of crusty, sub-like bread. Now I understand why the "Spikes challenge" (eat more than 6 in 90 minutes) is so hard to accomplish... It was really delicious, and the unusual toppings added a nice kick and creative flavors. I also got the "poodle fries" (curly fries). These were decent, nothing special. I added some salt (you know, trying to make it more healthy...) which jazzed them up a bit.
My favorite part of the night, though, was when they called my name, handed me my bag of food, and then proceeded to tell me that actually, that wasn't my order. This would've been fine, had I not already started eating the fries...Woops! =)
Oh, Davis! How I'll miss thee...
Last night, Sebastian and I stopped by Spike's in Davis. Spike's locations seem to follow me wherever I go-- one was right around the corner from my last apartment in Allston, there is one down the street from my job now, and also one right in Davis Square. However, I'm not a big hot dog and hamburger girl, so despite its close proximity, it's not a spot I frequent very often.
But last night, something about it called to us. Despite its gruff and "intimidating" sounding name, the inside of Spike's is very friendly-- bright and colorful, the walls covered in old street signs and similar paraphenalia. Sebastian opted for one of their cheeseburgers ($4.85), which was 1/3 of a pound of meaty goodness which he called, "sooo good" (a direct quote). Sebastian also noted the quality for amount of money you pay- "it couldve been at a fancier restaurant for twice the price, ya know?" I hear ya, Seb.
I went for the signature-- Spike's Junkyard hot dog, which had Spike's house spicy mustard, scallions, tomato, and hot pepper rings ($3.45). The meaty hot dog came wrapped in not your average soft and doughy bun, but rather in a loaf of crusty, sub-like bread. Now I understand why the "Spikes challenge" (eat more than 6 in 90 minutes) is so hard to accomplish... It was really delicious, and the unusual toppings added a nice kick and creative flavors. I also got the "poodle fries" (curly fries). These were decent, nothing special. I added some salt (you know, trying to make it more healthy...) which jazzed them up a bit.
My favorite part of the night, though, was when they called my name, handed me my bag of food, and then proceeded to tell me that actually, that wasn't my order. This would've been fine, had I not already started eating the fries...Woops! =)
Oh, Davis! How I'll miss thee...
Blue Shirt Cafe in Davis
As I mentioned in the previous post, I finally did see The Dark Knight last night. We arrived back in Davis with only about 15 minutes to spare before the movie, and this time we decided to head across the street to one of my favorite take-out spots in Davis, The Blue Shirt Café.
Specializing in vegetarian options, Blue Shirt is great because it is not your typical sandwich spot. It has lots of options, and can offer something for any ethnic food option you’re hankering for. In the mood for Asian? You can get my favorite, the Thai seared tofu (around $6) —a wheat wrap stuffed with jasmine rice, grilled tofu, mint cucumber slaw, and peanut sauce. How about Italian? Try the “Little Italy” (around $5)—a pressed, warm panini with provolone, roasted red peppers, tomato, basil, and lots of balsamic. Last night, we tried the Indonesian Squash and Spinach soup (bowl, around $4) which was creamy squash soup with a hint of curry and spices, topped with fresh baby spinach leaves. So yum! In a hurry, I’ve also stopped by and grabbed the “Blue Shirt Salad”—mixed greens, feta, slices of pear, and walnuts, with a rich tasting balsamic dressing.
Blue Shirt doesn't disappoint in the drink department, either. They have every kind of juice imaginable, from standards like orange and apple to more unusual choices like carrot or raspberry. I’ve never had the guts to try it, but perhaps an “Immunity Power” concoction – carrots, red pepper, parsley, garlic, lemon, and cucumber—will get you through the winter cold-free? It’s worth a shot. And if it’s terrible, you can always chase it with one of their award-winning smoothies --they just won a Best of Boston® award.
Specializing in vegetarian options, Blue Shirt is great because it is not your typical sandwich spot. It has lots of options, and can offer something for any ethnic food option you’re hankering for. In the mood for Asian? You can get my favorite, the Thai seared tofu (around $6) —a wheat wrap stuffed with jasmine rice, grilled tofu, mint cucumber slaw, and peanut sauce. How about Italian? Try the “Little Italy” (around $5)—a pressed, warm panini with provolone, roasted red peppers, tomato, basil, and lots of balsamic. Last night, we tried the Indonesian Squash and Spinach soup (bowl, around $4) which was creamy squash soup with a hint of curry and spices, topped with fresh baby spinach leaves. So yum! In a hurry, I’ve also stopped by and grabbed the “Blue Shirt Salad”—mixed greens, feta, slices of pear, and walnuts, with a rich tasting balsamic dressing.
Blue Shirt doesn't disappoint in the drink department, either. They have every kind of juice imaginable, from standards like orange and apple to more unusual choices like carrot or raspberry. I’ve never had the guts to try it, but perhaps an “Immunity Power” concoction – carrots, red pepper, parsley, garlic, lemon, and cucumber—will get you through the winter cold-free? It’s worth a shot. And if it’s terrible, you can always chase it with one of their award-winning smoothies --they just won a Best of Boston® award.
Gargoyles on the Square
A few nights ago, my plans with Z consisted of stopping by Gargoyles on the Square for a drink at the bar and a bite of food, and then wandering down the street to the Somerville Theatre to see The Dark Knight. However, upon sitting down and seeing the menu, I knew this movie was just not going to happen(*). This was a menu to be reckoned with.
It’s generally a good sign when a menu stops you in your tracks like that, but I still was skeptical, partly due to the bad experience I had at Banq recently, whose menu was equally intriguing. To top it all off though, our waitress, Jen (who was great), let us know that they were starting restaurant week early, so we had a chance to go that route, if we wished.
We decided to share the restaurant week 3 course meal, and supplement it with one item off the bar menu. We started with a bowl of the green pea and green chile soup with bbq brisket and crispy tortillas. You can’t really tell in the picture, but it came in this crazy bowl that was sort of tilted and sculpture-like. With each bite, I got more and more excited about the rest of the meal. It was SO good! The brisket mixed with the pea and chile soup was an unexpected combination that seemingly wouldn’t work, but did. A hint of cilantro and mint topped it off.
It’s generally a good sign when a menu stops you in your tracks like that, but I still was skeptical, partly due to the bad experience I had at Banq recently, whose menu was equally intriguing. To top it all off though, our waitress, Jen (who was great), let us know that they were starting restaurant week early, so we had a chance to go that route, if we wished.
We decided to share the restaurant week 3 course meal, and supplement it with one item off the bar menu. We started with a bowl of the green pea and green chile soup with bbq brisket and crispy tortillas. You can’t really tell in the picture, but it came in this crazy bowl that was sort of tilted and sculpture-like. With each bite, I got more and more excited about the rest of the meal. It was SO good! The brisket mixed with the pea and chile soup was an unexpected combination that seemingly wouldn’t work, but did. A hint of cilantro and mint topped it off.
Next came the entrees. From the restaurant week menu, I chose the “signature” honey and hoisin glazed duck confit with sticky sweet rice and cashews. YUMMMMM. It was indeed very sweet, but delicious. The crispy duck flaked right off the bone to reveal tender meat underneath, which, when scooped up with the soft and sticky rice, was so rich it could’ve been dessert. Z chose the grilled tuna “BLT” sandwich, which was thick slices of bread with seared tuna, avocado, pancetta, lettuce, and tomato. It was a very hefty and filling sandwich—he couldn’t even finish it! The avocado was so creamy and fresh tasting, you could definitely tell it wasn’t any of that pre-packaged nonsense. Next to the intense flavors of the duck dish, it seemed a teensy bit lacking in flavor, however.
Finally, we finished with the butterscotch cream pie with whipped cream and caramel sauce. WOW. What a great end to a great meal. It was a medium sized pastry with a crunchy crust filled with smooth and sweet butterscotch pudding. It was garnished with candied peanuts. So quite the decadent treat.
What a GREAT restaurant, one that I would highly recommend for restaurant week. Definitely no skimping here! I was so full after all this food I could barely walk the half mile home. BUT it was so worth it! and The Dark Knight can always wait…
* Last night we DID finally see The Dark Knight-- and WOW what a movie!! I'm glad I didn't go with a full stomach though...
Snappy Sushi
Last night I decided to try Snappy Sushi (formerly Shino Express) in Davis Square. My first impression: the name is silly. It makes it sound like some bad chain restaurant that would have a cute little mascot.
My second thought when I walked in was that I really don't like communal round tables. I can kind of handle communal long tables, like the ones at Wagamama, but round tables are so awkward. You're staring across at a total stranger while trying to concentrate on the conversation you're having to your right or left. I think a lot of the fun of a restaurant is that when you're at your table, you're in your own little world, and you can almost pretend you and whoever you're with are the only ones dining.
However, my lack of enthusiasm for the name and dislike of the configuration of tables waned when I read through the inventive menu, filled with the odd foods Shino was famous for. Example: a portobello mushroom maki? Roasted red peppers with eel? It was all very intriguing.
Snappy Sushi, besides its inventive rolls, differentiates itself from the pack by using brown rice, white rice's healthy cousin. I was a bit hesitant about this, but it turns out that I really enjoyed it!
I opted for an old classic, a spicy tuna roll ($4.95), and tried a new one, the crispy eel maki ($7.95). The latter was eel, avocado, cucumber, and flying fish roe topped with crunchy tempura bits and eel sauce. I discovered when I opened my take-out bag that it wasn't just topped in tempura flakes, it was smothered in them. You couldn't even distinguish individual pieces of sushi. The eel sauce and some unidentified creaminess (mayo?) made these crispy flakes into a mushy mess.
The spicy tuna roll was uninspiring due mostly to the fact that it wasn't spicy! The tuna tasted nice and fresh, but I could not detect any heat from it, and had to pile on the wasabi.
I can't be definitive about Snappy Sushi since I only tried these two rolls, but I don't think I'll be heading back anytime soon. Though I think other sushi places should follow suit with the brown rice option...
My second thought when I walked in was that I really don't like communal round tables. I can kind of handle communal long tables, like the ones at Wagamama, but round tables are so awkward. You're staring across at a total stranger while trying to concentrate on the conversation you're having to your right or left. I think a lot of the fun of a restaurant is that when you're at your table, you're in your own little world, and you can almost pretend you and whoever you're with are the only ones dining.
However, my lack of enthusiasm for the name and dislike of the configuration of tables waned when I read through the inventive menu, filled with the odd foods Shino was famous for. Example: a portobello mushroom maki? Roasted red peppers with eel? It was all very intriguing.
Snappy Sushi, besides its inventive rolls, differentiates itself from the pack by using brown rice, white rice's healthy cousin. I was a bit hesitant about this, but it turns out that I really enjoyed it!
I opted for an old classic, a spicy tuna roll ($4.95), and tried a new one, the crispy eel maki ($7.95). The latter was eel, avocado, cucumber, and flying fish roe topped with crunchy tempura bits and eel sauce. I discovered when I opened my take-out bag that it wasn't just topped in tempura flakes, it was smothered in them. You couldn't even distinguish individual pieces of sushi. The eel sauce and some unidentified creaminess (mayo?) made these crispy flakes into a mushy mess.
The spicy tuna roll was uninspiring due mostly to the fact that it wasn't spicy! The tuna tasted nice and fresh, but I could not detect any heat from it, and had to pile on the wasabi.
I can't be definitive about Snappy Sushi since I only tried these two rolls, but I don't think I'll be heading back anytime soon. Though I think other sushi places should follow suit with the brown rice option...
Take Out Madness
Things have been a bit crazy in Dish Gal's world lately. I was out of Boston this past weekend at a wedding in Philly, and returned very late Sunday night. Then, I've had an event for work every single night this week. Thus, I have not had the time (or energy) to cook or grocery shop at all... which led to The Week of Take-Out Food... Hopefully you can learn a thing or two from my mistakes (and my good choices).
Monday night I left the event and trekked home, feeling fairly confident that I'd be able to pull something together from my pantry. I was wrong. I ended up making some Easy-Mac, which, note to self, is only good at 3 a.m. post-a night of fun; perhaps the lack of clear thinking makes me forget that I'm eating something that turns powder into cheese.
Tuesday night I stopped at Taipei Tokyo in Davis after event #2. I got one single sushi roll (spicy tuna) and had them add tempura flakes (at the suggestion of "Penelope", Sebastian's friend/TV & movie star/sushi enthusiast). Taipei Tokyo is a stop I often make in Davis--not as much because of the quality of the food, but more because of its proximity to the T stop. I've never had a bad meal there, but never had a great one either... I took it home and ate it on my bed (even though OmGal calls that bad feng shui-- I call it comfortable) but sadly spilled soy sauce on my sheets (ugh! should have known better).
Wednesday night's late night event left me famished (and anxious to get back for the Top Chef finale-- otherwise known as the most ridiculous judges' panel of all time). Skylar brilliantly suggested getting Wagamama, and I devoured my ginger chicken udon, thick, slippery noodles with fragrant ginger and garnished with pickled red ginger. However, my "favorite dish award" for my crew had to have been "Jamie's" ("Jamie" is making her Dish This debut!) chilli beef ramen, a spicy soup with cilantro, fresh chillies, and lime.
Thursday night, after nearly falling asleep on the red line, I stumbled off at Davis around 9 pm and wandered over to Diesel Cafe. Part cafe/part pool hall/part late night hang out, I love how Diesel doesn't really make sense except if you've experienced it. Sebastian is probably more of a fan than I am (I'm a die-hard Dave's Fresh Pasta girl when it comes to sandwiches) but sadly Dave's stops making sandwiches at the wee-hour of 7 pm. So to Diesel I went, where tired-me (I know, call the waambulance) felt very welcomed by the convivial and unpretentious employees, who didn't even balk when I tried to change around the sandwich a bit. I got the "monkey wrench" which is (usually) a baguette with turkey, avocado, havarti dill spread, tomato, and sprouts. I nixed the dill spread and changed the bread to wheat (trying to pretend to be healthy). It was very satisfying and was a nice late-night meal (not too heavy, but satisfying).
Anyway, thank GOD this week is over. Looking back, I've definitely learned some lessons from it all :
1) Easy-mac should only be eaten when inebriated...
2) Soy sauce should be kept far away from the bed or even a sofa...
3) Wagamama is always a good call...
4) Dave's Fresh Pasta should make sandwiches 24 hours.
Monday night I left the event and trekked home, feeling fairly confident that I'd be able to pull something together from my pantry. I was wrong. I ended up making some Easy-Mac, which, note to self, is only good at 3 a.m. post-a night of fun; perhaps the lack of clear thinking makes me forget that I'm eating something that turns powder into cheese.
Tuesday night I stopped at Taipei Tokyo in Davis after event #2. I got one single sushi roll (spicy tuna) and had them add tempura flakes (at the suggestion of "Penelope", Sebastian's friend/TV & movie star/sushi enthusiast). Taipei Tokyo is a stop I often make in Davis--not as much because of the quality of the food, but more because of its proximity to the T stop. I've never had a bad meal there, but never had a great one either... I took it home and ate it on my bed (even though OmGal calls that bad feng shui-- I call it comfortable) but sadly spilled soy sauce on my sheets (ugh! should have known better).
Wednesday night's late night event left me famished (and anxious to get back for the Top Chef finale-- otherwise known as the most ridiculous judges' panel of all time). Skylar brilliantly suggested getting Wagamama, and I devoured my ginger chicken udon, thick, slippery noodles with fragrant ginger and garnished with pickled red ginger. However, my "favorite dish award" for my crew had to have been "Jamie's" ("Jamie" is making her Dish This debut!) chilli beef ramen, a spicy soup with cilantro, fresh chillies, and lime.
Thursday night, after nearly falling asleep on the red line, I stumbled off at Davis around 9 pm and wandered over to Diesel Cafe. Part cafe/part pool hall/part late night hang out, I love how Diesel doesn't really make sense except if you've experienced it. Sebastian is probably more of a fan than I am (I'm a die-hard Dave's Fresh Pasta girl when it comes to sandwiches) but sadly Dave's stops making sandwiches at the wee-hour of 7 pm. So to Diesel I went, where tired-me (I know, call the waambulance) felt very welcomed by the convivial and unpretentious employees, who didn't even balk when I tried to change around the sandwich a bit. I got the "monkey wrench" which is (usually) a baguette with turkey, avocado, havarti dill spread, tomato, and sprouts. I nixed the dill spread and changed the bread to wheat (trying to pretend to be healthy). It was very satisfying and was a nice late-night meal (not too heavy, but satisfying).
Anyway, thank GOD this week is over. Looking back, I've definitely learned some lessons from it all :
1) Easy-mac should only be eaten when inebriated...
2) Soy sauce should be kept far away from the bed or even a sofa...
3) Wagamama is always a good call...
4) Dave's Fresh Pasta should make sandwiches 24 hours.
The Hunt for Flatbread Pizza
This past weekend I had a craving for flatbread pizza. A full-on, must-have-right now desire. So Friday night Skylar and I went over to Sagra in my favorite 'hood, Davis Square, as I had recalled having a good mushroom one there. When we sat down and perused the menu we were confused to not see any pizza options listed though. We asked the waitress, and she said that they are specials sometimes but that she’ll check with the chef. When she returned she ‘fessed up that it was actually her second day and that she had made that all up. (haha, I remember those first days as a waitress…) Apparently they had done away with the pizzas. “Fjskldflskfs!” was all I could think.
So fast-forward to Saturday when I dragged my roommate, who is making his Dish This! debut(!!!) as “Sebastian,” to Figs in Beacon Hill, where I KNEW they have pizzas. Now I’ve heard in food folklore that your taste buds change every 8 years. This must be true, at least in the case of Figs, because I used to hate the Wellesley location and now am a fan of the Beacon Hill one.
The restaurant is small and cozy (to the point of being almost a bit claustrophobic), and is the perfect in-between spot if you’re craving Sorellina but have the budget for Bertucci’s. The cuisine falls somewhere in between the two, but to be honest I’ve only tried their pizzas (although a fig and duck risotto caught my eye). Definitely not your average pie, this Todd English restaurant is the first I can remember that offered the flat bread style with the signature unusual ingredients, like a salad of arugula or, you guessed it, figs.
On this particular night we went for the ½ and ½ option and got 1/2 spicy chicken sausage with whipped ricotta, and 1/2 mushroom with fontina cheese (price goes by the more expensive, so $18). Sebastian declared that the ricotta “made the pizza” (but he’s also a self-proclaimed cheese lover and this was approximately his 12th serving of the day…). The spice in the sausage was different than I had expected; it was much more Mexican/taco style than Italian hot pepper, but nice all the same. The mushroom half was creamy, and not over the top mushroom-y.
All in all, Figs definitely saved the day when it came to the pizza craving. Embrace Figs for what it is—a step up from Bertucci’s in ambiance and cuisine—and you’ll most likely enjoy it as well.
So fast-forward to Saturday when I dragged my roommate, who is making his Dish This! debut(!!!) as “Sebastian,” to Figs in Beacon Hill, where I KNEW they have pizzas. Now I’ve heard in food folklore that your taste buds change every 8 years. This must be true, at least in the case of Figs, because I used to hate the Wellesley location and now am a fan of the Beacon Hill one.
The restaurant is small and cozy (to the point of being almost a bit claustrophobic), and is the perfect in-between spot if you’re craving Sorellina but have the budget for Bertucci’s. The cuisine falls somewhere in between the two, but to be honest I’ve only tried their pizzas (although a fig and duck risotto caught my eye). Definitely not your average pie, this Todd English restaurant is the first I can remember that offered the flat bread style with the signature unusual ingredients, like a salad of arugula or, you guessed it, figs.
On this particular night we went for the ½ and ½ option and got 1/2 spicy chicken sausage with whipped ricotta, and 1/2 mushroom with fontina cheese (price goes by the more expensive, so $18). Sebastian declared that the ricotta “made the pizza” (but he’s also a self-proclaimed cheese lover and this was approximately his 12th serving of the day…). The spice in the sausage was different than I had expected; it was much more Mexican/taco style than Italian hot pepper, but nice all the same. The mushroom half was creamy, and not over the top mushroom-y.
All in all, Figs definitely saved the day when it came to the pizza craving. Embrace Figs for what it is—a step up from Bertucci’s in ambiance and cuisine—and you’ll most likely enjoy it as well.
When Pigs Fly Bakery in Davis Square
My S.O. and I decided to make the delicious and classic combo of grilled cheese and tomato soup the other night for dinner, but wanted to give it a little modern zing. So we decided to try the new bakery in Davis Square, When Pigs Fly, as I had heard they have delicious bread.
The store is very small, but luckily we were the only ones in it so we were free to peruse the selection without knockin' anyone down. Behind clear plastic dividers were shelves and shelves of large, luscious loaves of bread, beckoning you to try each and every one.
And try you will; the sales staff was so friendly and insisted that we try several types after they overheard that we were going to be making a grilled cheese. They loved helping us decide on the bread that was just right, and didn't seem to mind our indecisiveness. We ended up choosing the Kalamata Olive with Fire Roasted Red Pepper, which definitely had the zing we were looking for!
It was a hard decision though, as there were so many interesting and unique options. There seemed to be a bread for everyone: Chocolate bread for those with a sweet tooth, Sicilian Green Olive with Hot and Sweet Cherry Peppers for those who like a little heat, and Mango, Pineapple, Raisin, with Toasted Sesame and Ginger for those who like a taste of the tropics.
Another great find in Davis Square!
The store is very small, but luckily we were the only ones in it so we were free to peruse the selection without knockin' anyone down. Behind clear plastic dividers were shelves and shelves of large, luscious loaves of bread, beckoning you to try each and every one.
And try you will; the sales staff was so friendly and insisted that we try several types after they overheard that we were going to be making a grilled cheese. They loved helping us decide on the bread that was just right, and didn't seem to mind our indecisiveness. We ended up choosing the Kalamata Olive with Fire Roasted Red Pepper, which definitely had the zing we were looking for!
It was a hard decision though, as there were so many interesting and unique options. There seemed to be a bread for everyone: Chocolate bread for those with a sweet tooth, Sicilian Green Olive with Hot and Sweet Cherry Peppers for those who like a little heat, and Mango, Pineapple, Raisin, with Toasted Sesame and Ginger for those who like a taste of the tropics.
Another great find in Davis Square!
Finger-Lickin' Good
I don't even really like barbeque. I mean, by all means it's delicious, but for the most part I compare it to my experience with Taco Bell-- sounds like a great idea, tastes like a great idea... about 5 minutes later-- not such a great idea...
However, Redbones in Davis Square is so good, once every few months I ignore what my brain tells me and follow my taste buds. Redbones is a perfect example of one of my foodie mantras (see right): a great restaurant experience does not have to cost a fortune.
There are so many wonderful details about the restaurant that make it so gosh darn likeable, even if it tries to have a hard, bad-ass edge. Like how the owner is a cyclist, so they offer the only "bike valet" in the city, offering to stash your two-wheeled ride for you. The atmosphere is always festive, as if every night is a celebration, or at least reason to drink $5 margaritas.
I had the pulled pork sandwich ($6.50) and chose to double-up and have hot and sweet sauce. The sauces slipped through the succulent shredded pork, soaking the bottom of the bun so it was almost soggy (which sounds like a negative, but actually makes it even more finger-lickin good). We shared a plate of mashed potatoes (woah, what is it with me and mashed potatoes recently? comfort food much?) and fries. I sampled my friend's BBQ Hash which several people warned him was hot-- and wow was it! At first bite it seemed reasonable...that is until the warm tingling on my tongue turned into a full-on four-alarm fire.
We washed it down with standard beers like Corona and Guinness, but the restaurant also proudly offers a list of beers on tap that changes daily, from local and regional brews like Allagash White to Belgian brews.
So when is Redbones a good option? When you are...
- taking a friend out to celebrate a birthday? yay
- meeting the in-laws? nay
- feeling like your hands have been too clean lately and need that sticky-ness that can only come from really good ribs: ding ding ding jackpot!
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