firenze413's Profile
Cafeteria on Newbury..Worst Meal...Ever
Hi, everyone. I eat out in Boston all the time, and no matter the service or the food, I enjoy myself. I literally have never written a bad review about a place, because there is always something I can pull out of the experience that was good.
Cafeteria on Newbury was so bad I had to say something. First of all, trying to be nice...the look of the restaurant I kind of liked, it was all white, and had clean lines. This is my own fault, but after eating here I looked at some other reviews and it mentioned this restaurant is trying to pull in the Armani Cafe crowd. I should have known then, as I hated the majority of the pretentious people (cheesy dorks in my opinion) who ate there. The hostess was nice to us, and sat us right away. We ran into another group of friends who also had reservations, they were not so lucky and waited 20 minutes standing around other tables which were empty. In fact we watched as the hostess rudely sent away people (most were clearly tourists) even though there were a ton of tables empty. In retrospect it makes sense that they didn't want to fill those tables because the service sucks so bad. Our waitress was young and sweet, but very slow. It took us over a half an hour to get anyone to even come over to our table, and we basically had to kidnap the waitress to do so. She only had 4 other tables. On a side note, I did notice at least 3 seperate parties literally leaving their tables to track their waiter/waitress down to be able to pay their bill...not a good sign. Finally we get our drinks, which weren't bad. Another half hour later I grab another person (not our waitress because I hadn't seen her in 20 minutes) to ask if we could get four waters when they got a second. When the waitress came back with our appetizer we ordered another round, and asked her for suggestions for our main course. Big mistake. I am Italian and make homemade pasta and sauce, so I will admit to being a little more critical than most when it comes to pasta, but this was a joke. But before we get to our dinner..second round of drinks comes. None of them were the same drink as our first round, all different colos, and in different glasses. I almost started laughing, my friend mentioned the difference to the waitress, who asked if we wanted to send them back. Fearing another 20 minute wait without alcohol, which was very much needed in this situation, we declined. Another big mistake of ours, mine tasted like kool aid, my friends tasted like seltzer water (she had a martini). I think what angered me the most about our drinks is that it took so long, yet the bar was right in front of us, and there were two bartenders with 4 people at their bar, and they were too busy talking to make our drinks!! Then dinner came, my friends went safe with pizza...not good pizza, but I was jealous. Mine (recommended by the waitress as the "best") was penne arrabiata. It was overcooked Shaw's Market pasta with prego pizza sauce and a bottle of pepper thrown on it. It was the worst pasta I have ever eaten. I actually feel bad writing that, but it seriously was. I took 3 bites, and didn't finish it. To end the evening I ordered a captain and coke...cannot screw that up. There was zero rum in this drink, and the coke was flat. Like I said I never complain, so we didn't, and we paid 20% on our bill, because that is just what we do...but I could not let this go so had to warn people. I wanted to try a new place, but stick with the old faithfuls in the neighborhood, Atlantic Fish, Abe's, Douzo, Toro, B+ G, etc. I guess new is not always better.
Any reviews of the new restaurants in Worcester?
I live in Boston, so I am used to good restaurants, and I have eaten at a bunch in Worcester. Coral Seafood is not one of them. The actual interior made me feel like I was sitting inside a Saturday morning cartoon. It was just tacky. That doesn't bother me if the food is good. Which it wasn't. My friend got the tuna special, and it looked like someone had gotten sick on it. It had some kind of pesto type sauce with peas on it. On tuna? He was optimistic and thought maybe it was a combo that might work...it didn't. He asked for his tuna rare, it was well done. Who cooks tuna well done? A seafood restaurant? I had a pasta special that was basically like a frutta di mare. None of my shellfish, the mussels or the clams had opened, so I couldn't even eat any of it. The sauce was actually just olive oil. We ordered a tuna roll, and I know it's not a sushi restaurant, but it was horrible. The rolls were falling apart, they were not rolled correctly. On the positive side, the prices are reasonable, but who really cares if the food is just awful. Our waitress was very young and sweet, but there was nothing she could do about the fact that the kitchen was backed up so I got my meal 10 minutes before my friend. Thank god he told me not to wait for him to get his food. It seems to me they shouldn't have brought mine out because my shellfish needed a little bit longer to cook. Tribeca on the other hand I was very happy with. The decor is nothing to write home about, mainly because the carpet upstairs looks like the one my grandmother has in her house, but I like the downstairs area. We had my sister's engagement party there and the service was great, and the food (mind you we only had h'our dourves) that I tasted were quite good. Everyone had a great time and we were very happy. Even when we went over our time, they didn't bother us. Would go back there anytime. Coral Seafood, you couldn't pay me to go back there.
quiet romantic spot near Worcester
All of these are very good suggestions. Sonoma is outstanding but it is on the pricier side. Harrington Farm has a beautiful location but the food is nothing special. I don't know if Tianos reopened, but if it did you should go there, used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Also on Shrewsbury street there is Portobellos which is Italian, great food, and a small restaurant so very intimate. Old Mill also beautiful property, food not so much. If you don't mind the prices I say go for Sonoma
looking forTO DIE FOR ITALIAN
I have to agree with three so far, Taranta, Sorellina, and La Morra. Taranta is non traditional italian so I always lean that way, but the food is outstanding. Sorellina is new and hard to get a reservation at, but worth it. La Morra is nice because it's somewhat out of the city and a nice small space, but the food is absolutely fantastic. I also just tried Prezza in the North End and loved it. Will be going back again..
Where to have fun with college kids in and around Boston/Cambridge?
I love Toro and go there all the time with a younger crowd. Tapas and Sangria everyone likes. Also Match is a good place for food with a young bar crowd.
Great meal at South End Petit Robert Bistro
I usually don't comment on these kind of things but when it comes to PRB I must. I've seen a lot on these boards about PBR's service, not this particular post, but I must comment.I live right around the corner from this place, and visit it at least two times a month. It might be because the waitstaff recognize us, but I always get great service there. I eat out all the time all over the city, and it seems like no matter the cost people have kind of an uptight attitude when it comes to the service. Going out to dinner should be an enjoyable experience because you are out with people you like, even when I've had a bad waiter, it never bothers me because I always enjoy my company. At Petit though I always have a laid back and friendly attitude, and it is reciprocated in my service. This is the only french restaurant in the city that I have been to where every waiter I have had is actually French. The South End location is great, you can sit outside, and you feel like you are at a bistro right in Paris. It is loud inside, but that is because the other people eating around you are enjoying themselves, and having conversations. It happens. The food there I must suggest trying the foie gras, it is the best I have had in Boston. The Lamb shank, which my waiter always makes me get, and I cannot stay away from, falls off the bone and is delicious. To end the evening, have your waiter suggest a few selections of cheese and a bordeaux to make sure you are being completely overindulgent, and you will be in heaven. It's all in excess and over the top, but the best part of PRB is that the prices are not. Seriously one of my favorite places, just enjoy it...
