patiofixture's Profile
Modern Pastry
Although Mike's might be average by Boston standards, I've heard from visitors to Boston (yes, I talk to tourists sometimes) that it's far and away better than can be found in many parts of the U.S.
In that case, Modern might make some tourists' heads explode, and that would be bad for tourism overall, I think.
Boston Wine Expo discounts?
If you're on the Globe's Ticketwatch mailing list, a discount link went out a while ago.
Oak Room Leaves Hollow Feeling
Oak Room is currently surrounded on the outside by a great big plywood box while the exterior (and presumably interior) are renovated. Anyone know if they're open during renovations? I understand their wishing to renovate during Boston's off-season, but I've thought of it as a nice warm place for a drink this time of year.
Former Bostonian Market
Probably more like a Lionette's Market or Formaggio. They must have discovered an untapped need in the area.
Dinner near UMass Boston
d bar has great food, but at around 9pm they remove all of the tables and it turns into a predominantly gay bar/nighclub, filled mostly with locals. It won't work at the time of night that the original poster requires.
If you want to have dinner somewhere closer to 7pm, it's a wonderful choice.
Thanksgiving pies - Brookline
I've done Pie in the Sky for a few years now, and have always gotten wonderful pies. One key is to arrive at your pickup destination early - they don't have any issue with you taking a look at a few pies to pick your favorite chef or restaurant, but with many people doing that some of the best get snapped up. That, and it is a great cause that I hope your guests will appreciate.
Former Bostonian Market
I don't know what's going in, but given that the Bostonian was driven out by a huge increase in rent (according to the owner) I would suspect that it would not be a reasonably-priced spot.
If you miss the Bostonian, you can always go to the Bostonian. They've moved to a larger space with a good-sized seating area and a fuller menu. It's near the corner of Harrison Ave. & Fay St. A bit of a walk, but not too far.
Why no good (or any?) French food in Brookline?
Gaslight might be a pain. From Bookline, you'd need to take a bus to Dudley Square (CT2 or 3?) and then the Silver Bus inbound to Waltham St., or go all the way to Boylston Station on the Green Line and then Silver Bus outbound.
Aquitaine is in the middle of "Restaurant Row" in the South End, and isn't too far a walk from either Copley or Arlington on the Green Line.
Does James Hook Serve Lunch...?
You can pick up a lobster roll and find somewhere to sit by the Boston Harbor Hotel or the courthouse. They're still available and as good as always.
Since they're not a restaurant, I don't know if they can shuck oysters then package them to sell. I've never seen it, but it might be worth calling them. The last time I was in a local fish market like Hook, oysters were about 1/3-1/2 the price of restaurants, but it's difficult to compare when the sources (and freshness) of the oysters may be different.
Super88 is Dead... Long Live CMart?
The Essex St. Super 88 Market is currently "closed for renovations," although not much was happening the last couple of times I walked by. All of the other operations in the same building were still open, but I don't know if they have anything to do with the market.
Given the proximity to C-Mart, if they have been sold they may not reopen - but that's just speculation.
King Fung Garden has Reopened
I guess that "closing" might not have been the greatest word. I went there prior to closing and this is the story I was told:
The previous owners of King Fung in Chinatown sold the restaurant to another family and did indeed close. The chef has now joined his wife in their Brookline restaurant (creatively named King Fung Garden II) - they're consolidating into one space (which is larger and has a better kitchen).
I'm not sure that they knew that the new owners would go ahead and reopen with the same name and the same menu. I haven't been since the changeover, but I really liked the food there prior to them moving. Someone will undoubtedly post a review of post-changeover KFG soon.
As far as who is right or wrong... I guess it depends on whether you consider a change of ownership closing. The previous owners probably thought that they were when they sold the place.
Mandarin Oriental Dining
If you're going to Sel de la Terre, take a walk through the corridor behind the hotel to Lord & Taylor. The entire kitchen is viewable through plate glass windows onto the hallway, with sauces strategically placed at about eye level at the prep area so that the chefs can't watch you watching them.
You'll get to see where your food is coming from.
Dining in general downhill due to economy?
Which places?
In Boston, I've found Saturday nights in many of the more popular restaurants to be invaded by the B&T crowd. I could see how the locals might be staying away on that night, in particular. I've given up on even bothering with a few restaurants on Saturdays.
Locals can sustain a restaurant during a downturn, and it looks like they've been showing up at places like Coda, Franklin Cafe, Pops, Petit Robert South End, and Tremont 647 on weeknights - it seems Thursday in particular. Not sure about other areas of Boston.
I've also noticed that some restaurants definitely have not attracted locals. DaVinci's comes to mind - I had to dodge the tumbleweed last time I walked by on a weekday evening. Not a mark against DaVinci - I'm not sure that great food is sufficient (or even necessary).
Best Chocolate Chip Cookie in the Boston area?
Third for the Chipyard. It's one of the best reasons for a local to brave the throngs of tourists in Quincy Market.
Wine shop near South Station/Faneuil Hall
If you're taking the High Speed Ferry to Provincetown, you'll find that the prices at Big Vin's or Perry's on the other end are often either about the same as Boston or lower. It might be an option if you don't want the extra weight.
Orecchiette, where are you?
I've seen it in three Shaw's/Star Markets (didja notice that some of them are suddenly changing names?). The problem is figuring out where it is. Two have recently renovated (BU and Allston) and put all pastas into the Italian section in the world foods aisles - that's where the orecchiette is. The one at the Pru has a separate Italian section, with orecchiette. It's not with the other pasta.
Which Petit Robert?
South End started taking reservations for the dining room a few months ago. Patio is still first-come first-served.
Stores Around Boston With Good Stonewall Kitchen Mustard Selection?
The best source might be Stonewall Kitchen. Their closest outpost to Boston would likely be the one in the Chestnut Hill Mall (about a half mile walk from the T stop of the same name, or right off Route 9 in Newton if you drive).
That's assuming that Maine doesn't count as "Boston Area."
BTW: Which Whole Foods is deficient in Stonewall? The ones I've frequented are pretty good. It might vary from store to store.
The dearth of food carts and trucks in Boston
The Back Bay info is exactly right. Recently there were articles in the Globe about the hot dog vendor in Copley Square. Back Bay limited the number of carts allowed and a large operator had snapped up all of the permits, preventing any independent carts from entering.
Carts in front of any building need permission from the building's owner to stay there. The Downtown Crossing carts are currently operating on Macy's goodwill (and some elbowing from the Mayor). Many of them wind up on public land.
Inspections and licensing are also factors, but they're not worse than places like New York.
Teff Flour in Boston?
The South End Food Emporium, an Ethiopian-owned market at the corner of Columbus Ave. and West Newton Street, carries teff as well as a very wide variety of Ethiopian spices and specialties. You can also pick up stacks of pre-made injera. Few of the labels are in English, but one of the store owners should be able to help decipher them.
pie cherries, sour cherries--any local sources?
Keown Orchards is at many of the local farmer's markets (Scollay Square/Gov't Ctr today, and I've seen them at Copley, but forget which day). They're currently selling locally grown sour cherries for $3/basket (about a pint). And... they're really good.
Da Vinci and Persephone -review
There is a great deal of parking around Persephone, but only if you overcome the temptation to try and park in front of the restaurant. Summer Street flies over the local streets that take you to the parking.
Instead, after crossing the Fort Point Channel, take an immediate right onto Melcher Street. The next right will take you to a large parking garage (on the left) and a large surface lot (on the right), both of which are cheaper than their downtown counterparts.
You can walk back around Melcher, or take the stairs from A Street to Summer Street above.
Farmer's Markets & CSAs - June 30 & it's July!
The fresh mozzarella is not from Sienna Farms but from a woman who makes it fresh daily in Jamaica Plain. Sienna was nice enough to give her some space in their booth, but they're separate operations.
Be careful with that cheese. It's addictive. You may find yourself with an insatiable craving in the middle of Winter and no farmers markets around to get a fix.
Help for Tonight
You've just picked three relatively alcohol-focused places. Beehive is mainly a bar, Petit Robert highly recommends wine with their food (as you'd expect of the French) and Stella has a popular bar scene for the area residents. Another strike against Petit Robert is the relatively high fat content of most of their dishes - which is also a challenge to the liver.
Of the choices, I'd maybe say that the side room at Stella would be good to shield you from the bar area. Other possibilities: the back room at Tremont 647/Sister Sorel and the greenhouse room at Pops. Any of these restaurants would likely be able to accommodate special requests if given enough advance notice (hold the fat, hold the vinegar, etc.).
First trip to Boston..am I choosing wisely?
Great menu so far.
Just wondering if the Legal Seafoods Cambridge location is the one in Kendall Square. If that's the case, I'd recommend going to a place like East Coast Grill in nearby Inman Square or Hungry Mother of Cambridge in the Kendall Square complex over Legal.
Unfortunately, that one Legal location seems to never fail to disappoint. Any other location will give you good (basic) preparations of very high quality seafood. Kendall often won't.
Dinner for One - Back bay
Brasserie Jo in the hotel is a great restaurant, and has a wonderful bar. Just beware of Pops concerts and other events in the Symphony area - the bar will fill up before and after. You will be able to tell by buses lining up across Huntington Ave.
Take a short walk down West Newton Street into the South End and turn right on Columbus Ave. First place on the left is Petit Robert Bistro, where you'll find many solo diners at the bar and in the lounge area. Also French like Brasserie Jo, but more of the homey bistro food and generally a CH favorite. Keep walking and you'll find Columbus Cafe on the right. Mostly "new American" with some Latin twists, and reliably good food. On the left on the same block is Jae's Cafe with seating at their sushi bar.
If you walk up Columbus Ave. in the other direction for about four blocks you'll find CoDa at the corner of COlumbus Ave. and DArtmouth St. (clever name, no?). Great comfort-oriented menu and one of the better looking bars for eating.
Mahi Mahi in Boston
Have you tried calling Morse Fish Company on Washington St. in the South End? They don't carry mahi mahi year round, but they may have it.
Green Coffee Beans?
For the budget alternative:
South End Food Emporium, a local market that sells Ethiopian specialties, sells green coffee beans for a pretty low price per pound. They come from, where else, Ethiopia.
It's on the corner of Columbus Ave. and West Newton St.
Dewey Square farmer's market terminated
During the brief period of time when Dewey Square was one day and the bridge was the other, I spoke to some of the farmers there. The foot traffic just wasn't enough and because of the fairly narrow space it was easy to create bottlenecks if it was busy. They also could only take trucks to the end of the bridge and then had to lug everything in. Dewey Square was much better for them.
Guess that didn't work out either.
Lobster breakfast and late night dining
Wherever you decide on... call ahead and make sure that they have lobster. One of Boston's largest suppliers is temporarily (I hope) out of commission.
Other than that, second for Kelly's, especially given the setting (sitting on the beach in the morning). It also is only a short trip to the end of the blue line and a quick walk.
