TroyOLeary's Profile
Best Fresh Bagels In Boston?
I would expand this and rank my preferences thusly:
1. Rosenfeld's in Newton
2. Katz's in Chelsea
3. Bagel Rising in Allston (the original question asked for "downtown," so these might be the best option in that sense)
4. Kupel's in Brookline
5 Iggy's Bagels (storebought)
(Also, a friend of mine recently raved about Ohlin's Bakery in Belmont, but I don't have personal experience)
Harvard Square
Weird. I've always just walked past that place (kind of hidden in that hideous concrete strip mall on Mass Ave) but it wasn't until now that I poked around online. Lots of positive reviews. Report back if you end up going.
Harvard Square
Some lunch options/snacks I haven't seen mentioned:
- Sweet: Good cupcakes. It's usually empty, so a good place to sit and read.
- Crema: Really good coffee/tea/cafe drinks and baked goods. Always a long line and nowhere to sit.
- Cardullos: A foreign (primarily European) specialty market with a really good made-to-order sandwich counter.
- Darwin's: Good upscale sandwiches and drinks.
- Shabu-Ya: This Korean place is hit or miss, but there are a few things here that I really enjoy in a city devoid of many Korean restaurants: kimchi, bulgogi, and the scallion pancake.
Best sandwich in boston?
Sam LaGrassa's was the sandwich place Guy Fieri visited while filming his Food Network show here last summer. They have the best pastrami in the city (in my opinion) and their Chipolte Pastrami sandwich is amazing.
I'd also recommend All-Star Sandwich Bar in Inman Square. My favorite there is the roast beef w/ horseradish, with a side of 3 deviled eggs for $0.99.
Stunningly good lobster roll at... Foodie's in Duxbury!?
On my way to the beach in Duxbury this Saturday I noticed a Facebook post from Foodie's itself advertising their $14.99 lobster rolls.
"Lobster roll at a supermarket?" I wondered. I'm glad I did.
As you can see from the pictures, they essentially pile an entire lobster (steamed in-store) onto a grilled, buttered hot dog roll, adding only a little bit of mayo to give it a kick.
In the first picture on the right-hand side that's half a lobster tail. In the second picture, that's a whole claw. (My only regret -- not grabbing a fork) There are even a few picnic tables right outside the supermarket at which to lovingly eat this treasure.
Not pictured is the bag of Cape Cod Dark Russet chips I also purchased as a side. And my face, which is lit up with glee and astonishment sort of like this :-O
Not too shabby for a pre- or post-beach meal.
Authentic Spanish restaurants in the Boston Area?
I'm aware -- poster said that "either [Mexican or Spanish] would be great" in a later post.
Union Oyster House - is it worth it?
As I think is clear, Union Oyster House = bad. Bland, overpriced food. Literally the only thing I would eat there are the oysters, and even then, there are dozens of better places to eat oysters. It is historic, though, so if you really want to go, as others have said, sit at the downstairs bar and get a plate of oysters and a beer (and a chowder for the little one, which, though nothing special at all, will be fine for a 7-year-old)
To be honest, as strange as this may seem, downtown Boston doesn't really do "seafood" -- yes, there's Neptune Oyster and Mare in the North End... but for the most part, I'd recommend Italian seafood pasta places over straight seafood places.
In terms of "seeing Boston," I'd highly recommend the North End (depending on the number and flexibility of friends). It's hard/impossible to park, but it's a great area with dozens of restaurants (plenty of threads about it on the board).
During the day I'd recommend the Freedom Trail tour, which will be great for the little one (a lot of walking, though) and will take you past some good places to eat (Sam LaGrassa's, Marliave, Al's State Street, Sultan's Kitchen, etc.) and a water taxi ride to East Boston (great views of the city, and East Boston is FULL of hidden gems to eat and see)
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Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St Ste 1, Boston, MA 02113
Sultan's Kitchen
116 State St, Boston, MA 02109
Al's State Street Cafe
110 State St, Boston, MA 02109
Union Oyster House
41 Union Street, Boston, MA 02108
Marliave
10 Bosworth Street, Boston, MA 02108
Authentic Spanish restaurants in the Boston Area?
Since he's a fan of "Mexican" flavors and ingredients, if he wants to take a slight departure from the food he's used to but stay in the same taste family, I'd recommend heading to Orinoco, a Venezuelan place in the South End and Brookline.
The owner is as authentic as they come, and her arepas are truly excellent.
PS: I haven't seen Tu y Yo recommended. Is that intentional? I remember it being pretty great about 5 years ago, but I've heard mixed reports since.
Boston - on the water?
Seconded. My colleague came back raving about that place this weekend -- beautiful views and pretty good food at surprisingly reasonable prices, according to him.
Philly Cheesesteaks in Boston?
A friend of mine has talked about cheesesteaks at Sandwich King at Lowell before. I've never been, so you I can't personally guarantee anything, but if your expectations are set right (i.e. don't go to Chicago and then complain that the pizza "Just isn't like it is back home in New York" as someone I know did) I'm sure it'll satisfy a craving.
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Sandwich King
361 Bridge St, Lowell, MA 01850
Spaghetti Carbonara
emilief -- I know you probably know this, but making carbonara at home is fairly simple, probably healthier, and your kids can certainly help. (i.e. grating cheese, cracking eggs, pulling apart parsley leaves)
As far as child-friendly restaurants go, I think Borrega Fiorentina in Coolidge Corner might be a good spot. They serve carbonara every day in an informal setting (communal style tables) and you can start off with some really nice antipasti.
gift certificates for incoming Harvard freshmen
I'll also recommend Crema, and Veggie Planet is a good suggestion (I don't LOVE their food, but it's funky and is part of a pretty good independent live music venue -- the epicenter of vegetarian culture in Harvard Sq)
You should also look into Burdick's -- they have a store (one of their 3) in NYC ~ 20th street, I think. My favorite hot chocolate in the world, and a really nice place to go to relax and have some dessert.
I also like Berryline (a pretty good Pinkberry clone).
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Burdick's
Cambridge, MA, Cambridge, MA
Crema Cafe
27 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Veggie Planet
47 Palmer St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Where to go during a 5 day stay in Seattle
These are all fantastic recommendations, thank you. Are there any particular dishes that you'd recommend at these places?
And what about a typical brunch place (eggs bene, etc.).
Thanks in advance for all the (additional) help and advice.
Where to go during a 5 day stay in Seattle
Boston ChowHound poster here. Will be visiting for the first time for 4 days and looking for good eats. Will be staying in Redmond but will have a rental car.
1 or 2 expensive meals are alright ($30 entrees), but also looking for some meals that will fit a budget (~$15-20 entrees). Ethnic food, American food both fine.
I've been told to go to Dahlia Lounge. I'm also planning to hit up Le Pichet. What else?
Have heard that I need to go to
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Le Pichet
Seattle, WA, Seattle, WA
Dahlia Lounge
2030 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Kelly's to open Allston location
Kelly's is open for business. Can anyone comment on the quality of the roast beef?
Any authentic Korean around here?
I've never eaten there myself, but I know a few people who swear by the literal hole-in-the-wall Cafe Han River in Brookline at the St. Marys T stop -- all they get is the Gal-bi (beef short ribs) and they swear by it. I've heard good things about their soups, too, but other than that have heard the rest of the menu is not worthwhile.
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Cafe Han River
1009 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446
NY hound seeks chowish restos near BU for possible suppers on my own
Good suggestions so far.
Sichuan Gourmet: Just opened on Beacon St. (you might still find it listed as Chef Chang's House on Google Maps and such) and does a few really good sichuan dishes (you can find the thread about it on the first page of this board)
Audobon Circle: This was mentioned, but has a few really nice sandwiches and a really good burger (decent potstickers, too). Great place to sit and have some drinks (NOT before/after a Sox game, though)
Lower Depths: If you want low end, this place has one of the most extensive beer lists in the city (~200) as well as some top notch $1 hot dogs (buttered & grilled and topped with anything you want -- guac, mac & cheese, ground brown mustard, etc.)
At the same time, for $60 I'd encourage you to venture out beyond the BU confines to the best restaurants in the city that we rave about on this board -- Neptune Oyster and Modern Pastry in the North End, Cragie on Main in Cambridge, Coppa or Toro in the South End, etc. All of them are accessible by public transportation.
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Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St Ste 1, Boston, MA 02113
Toro
1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
Modern Pastry
257 Hanover St, Boston, MA
Lower Depths
476 Commonwealth Ave Ste 1, Boston, MA 02215
Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Sichuan Gourmet
1004 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446
Kelly's to open Allston location
I have to say I've noticed a very big difference between the original Kelly's (Revere Beach) and all of the others (Natick, Medford, etc.)
The last time I had a roast beef in Medford the beef was grey and the sandwich a mess. The last time I had a roast beef at the Revere Beach location the beef was soft, pink and delicious, the bun was buttered and hot, and the bbq sauce was perfectly tangy.
Hoping the Brookline location is up to snuff.
DC Chowhound in Boston - please help w/LUNCH recommendation!
In addition to the above, if you like French food there's Brasserie Jo in the Colonnade Hotel (just outside Copley Sq). I've only had drinks and oysters, so I can't speak to much of the menu, but it's a nice atmosphere.
If you have time to take a 10-15 minute stroll, though, I'd recommend a walk to the South End (where Tremont St and Clarendon meet). Especially if it's a nice day, you'll see a lot of nice Boston scenery on the way, then you can head to the Butcher Shop, B&G Oysters or Picco and grab some really great food.
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Brasserie Jo
120 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116
Kelly's to open Allston location
The storefront now has a banner hanging from it that says "Now Hiring"
Don't remember whether signage was in place, but that would indicate things are moving along...?
Sichuan Gourmet: Lucky Brookline
Thank you so much to all who offered suggestions and encouraged me to go back (hargau in particular). It worked (obviously) and I'm extremely thankful.
Taralli -- what's up with the dumplings you liked? Or do you mean wontons? What I'm used to calling "dumplings" -- peking ravioli -- were no good.
And what's this Taiwanese dim sum, Spike?
Sichuan Gourmet: Lucky Brookline
Like Antoine Walker and Dennis Eckersley before me, I returned. And I sure am glad I did. This time I went with a genuine pair of knowledgeable Sichuan eaters -- one of whom was actually born in China.
The food was delicious, bursting with flavor and heat. The wontons, as described above, were silky and delicious. The dan dan noodles were soft and exploded with sichuan peppercorns. The dried chicken was amazing, a perfect texture of crispy fried exterior without overwhelming grease. The beef with chili sauce was a half-step below the rest, but still fantastic (helped by not mixing in all of the mountain of chili flakes and garlic that was perched atop it). The sichuan meatball (which I only had a bite of) was also apparently a winner.
The meat was well cooked and high-quality. The scallions were fresh and perfectly cooked. The dishes were presented beautifully and with care.
So. I don't really know what to say. Why would a place put out the dishes described above, and yet also serve such inedible, low-quality beef with broccoli (and, apparently, General Gao's -- which I've always found inedible, to be fair)? How is half of their menu L'Express and the other half is Panda Express?
Either way, last night was one of the best Chinese meals I've ever had. Happy to stand corrected by the other half of the menu.
Sichuan Gourmet: Lucky Brookline
Striper -- Which "real Sichuan" dishes are worth ordering here?
(Despite my affinity for the two aforementioned dishes -- my childhood comfort food -- I assure you that I enjoy spicy food and experimenting with new flavors.)
Sichuan Gourmet: Lucky Brookline
You did, and I should have listened. Why no green beans?
Sichuan Gourmet: Lucky Brookline
I don't "refuse" to try new things. I loved 2 dishes which were good. They might be simple and they might be American and they might be boring, but, unless you had them within recent memory at Chef Changs, I'd ask that you reserve judgment. Sure, part of my fondness for these dishes might be childhood memories of afternoon lunches with my father, but I'm a fairly discerning guy and I assure you that they were good.
What annoyed me most on Sunday was the disrespect shown for the customer. I was being punished for liking boring American Chinese food. Just because Chef Changs was comfort food for me means I deserve to be fed tasteless, fatty beef and buffet quality peking ravioli? I assumed that a good restaurant would take pride in its entire menu. The beef and broccoli chow fun at Myers + Chang, for instance, is as high-quality as the rest of their menu (for the record, my favorite dish there is the slaw followed by the baby octopus)
I've always looked down upon those who order their steak well done or want California rolls when we go out to sushi. If nothing else, I'm glad to have had this experience as a reminder that, sometimes, comfort food is comfort food.
Sichuan Gourmet: Lucky Brookline
Ugh.
Got my standbys today -- beef with broccoli and peking ravioli. Yes, again, I know those are boring dishes. Fine. But I loved the Chef Changs version -- in fact, I'd be interested if others similarly felt these were the best respective renditions of these dishes around: very high-quality beef, enormous broccoli, tender dough on the dumplings, plenty of filling. Instead:
1) My tab came to $21 with tax. I was shocked when I saw it, and did a quick check of the receipt. That's ridiculous for lunch for 1 person, even if it is a weekend (i.e. no lunch specials). I just pulled a Chef Chang's menu from my drawer, and my suspicion that the prices have been dramatically raised has been confirmed:
Chef Chang's:
Peking Ravioli: $5.75
Beef w Broccoli: $9.75
White Rice: $0.95
Total = $16.45
Sichuan Gourmet
Peking Ravioli: $7.25
Beef w Broccoli: $11.50
White Rice: $0.95
Total = $19.70
So, first of all, that's a serious price hike (%20) for the exact same dishes.
2) The beef was soft, extremely fatty, and grey. In addition, the garlic in the sauce was overpowering.
3) The dumplings tasted like they'd been fried in yesterday's oil, and the dough was tough and flavorless.
I guess I need to give up my favorites and change to something else. This really frustrates me. I understand all the criticism I'm sure to face -- that I need to open my mind, that it serves me right for trying to eat such boring American dishes, etc. etc. Fine, you're entitled to that opinion.
But I'm entitled to my opinion that if you're a high-quality restaurant you should take pride in the food you serve -- all of it. That Sichuan Gourmet is apparently such a fine restaurant and that its owners are so well regarded for customer service only underscores my disappointment that they would not only massively increase the price of my favorite dishes but also dramatically cut their quality. It's almost an insult.
But I won't give up on them, in part because of the universal praise on the CH board. So... at this location, what else?
- Dan dan noodles
- Wontons in chili sauce
Anyone tried the minced pork with sichuan long green beans? Pork & eggplant with yu hsing sauce?
Visit to Boston near Charles Street
The suggestions above are all fantastic (No 9 Park is a favorite), but I want to build off of one that was mentioned in passing -- the Liberty Hotel.
At the end of Charles St., they've turned what used to be the city jail into one of the nicest luxury hotels in the city. Live music at nights, and an "NYC"-type crowd. In terms of eating/drinking:
Scampo - Really fantastic and a bit pricey. You can control the price by getting smaller plates or the pasta.
Clink & Alibi - (get the puns?) These bars, both within the hotel, often offer poor service and long lines, but the bar scene here is among the "hippest" in the city (this is where the Celtics go after games).
Also, make sure to just walk around Beacon Hill itself. There's nothing to eat or drink in the residential section, but it's some of the most stereotypically beautiful Boston streetscapes around.
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Scampo
215 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
Anyone Know Timetable for Chef Changs ---> Sichuan Gourmet Changeover?
Apologies for coming off as a neophyte, but as somone who for 25 years ate nothing from Chef Changs but their beef with broccoli and their peking ravioli (the best of those respective dishes I've had in New England -- broccoli was always fresh, they used good beef, etc) I'm wondering if anyone has tried the boring "American" dishes here.
I'll be going either way, but want to know where to set my expectations.
Addis Red Sea
Small sample size and all, but I've always enjoyed Addis Red Sea in the South End. Definitely enjoyed the food, and don't remember the service being particularly, well, memorable -- good or bad.
The chopped collard greens (gomen wot ?) in particular were oily and peppery and delicious a few months ago.
Help with Workday Lunch Options
In terms of sandwiches, here are my suggestions in the area:
- Sam LaGrassa's (their Chipotle Pastrami is one of the best sandwiches I've ever had)
- Al's State Street (there's a location near South Station -- best chicken salad sandwich in the area, in my opinion)
- Flour Bakery (across the river from you in Fort Point -- the chicken & avocado & jiacama and the roast beef & horseradish & crispy onions are my favorites)
Others:
- Many, many places in Chinatown obviously
- Mantra (Indian on Temple Pl -- I've only had their buffet once, but found it pretty high quality. Not outstanding but passable)
- Pho Pasteur (edge of Chinatown -- my favorite pho in the area)
- Karo BBQ (It's a food cart in Downtown Crossing. The dipping sauce for their chicken kabobs is... addictive. Hard to explain, but it's like a flavor punch in the mouth. In a good way)
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Al's State Street Cafe
110 State St, Boston, MA 02109
Flour Bakery + Cafe
12 Farnsworth St, Boston, MA
Pho Pasteur Restaurant
682 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
