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Itinerary help/EMP question
Thanks so much for the insight. We're definitely going to do the 4 course and save money for a nice lunch.
I made a reservation online for Sunday lunch at Jean Georges, then called to confirm that they are in fact open. They said that they have been closed on Sundays for renovations (including today, I believe) but will be open on Sundays by May 27.
Itinerary help/EMP question
I will be in New York Memorial Day Weekend. After much research (and procrastination at work), I have come up with the following itinerary. Background: my husband and I will be in the city with the main goal of eating good food, we live in Boston but are from the Midwest (St. Louis), we come to New York often but usually for work or friend engagements, so we usually don't have the freedom to eat whatever we want. We're coming to New York for our anniversary, which is Sunday, May 27. The general idea is to have 1 or 2 splurge meals and cheap, great eats for other meals. Our staples in Boston (that we don't want to waste time on in NY) - fresh seafood/sushi, Thai, Chinese (mainly Sichuan, Cantonese, Shanghaiese, and Taiwanese), Korean (mostly home cooking), Italian. Oh, and I'm pregnant (but may indulge in a half glass of or some raw fish on this trip).
I welcome any general comments, and I also have a couple specific questions.
Saturday:
Lunch at Katz's (I have been several times and should probably try something new but have been dreaming about a reuben) or Steak and Shake (I love the chili here - this is a Midwest/Southern staple and the Midwest branch is the closest location for hundreds of miles)
Dinner at EMP (barely snagged a 10:30 pm reservation!)
Sunday:
Bagels/salmon from Russ and Daughter's
Lunch - TDB (see below)
Dinner - something cheap - possibly Chinatown Crawl for different types of Chinese cuisine than we are used to, maybe Halal food truck if weather is nice. Any suggestions? We eat all kinds of food.
Monday:
Breakfast TBD (something close to hotel - 48th and 8th) - any suggestions?
Lunch at a naengmyun at Geum Sung Chik in Flushing
Here are my specific questions:
1. We have about an $700 budget for our 1 or 2 nice meals. We can either do the tasting at EMP (2 tasting menus plus one wine pairing for my husband) and blow all our budget, or do the 4 courses and still have money left over for a fancy lunch (see next question). Is the tasting worth the extra money?
2. If we don't do the tasting, we would try to get a res for a nice multi-course lunch on Sunday. I'm leaning toward this option, because we could try more dishes at EMP and still enjoy a nice meal on our actual anniversary. Our options are limited here - many places are closed and Le Bernardin (first choice) is booked. I have a res at Marea, and am also looking at Gramercy Tavern and the Modern. Any thoughts on those places, or suggestions for other places open for Sunday lunch?
Thank you in advance. This board has been tremendously helpful in planning this trip and other past meals.
pepperdelle
Pappardelle e Melanzane at La Summa. It's lighter, for a pasta dish, and delicous.
Recommendations for Buk Kyung?(Korean in Union Sq., Somerville)
One of the house specials is a dish with deep fried pork pieces - it's great. I don't remember what it is called.
Please review current plan, critique and suggestions requested
If you're intent on doing the North End on Friday and the Walk on Saturday, then I have 2 suggestions - check out the open market on the greenway on Saturday near the "sea" part of the walk. I think it has food carts like the SoWa market (?), some of which might be interesting. Also, I would not go back to the N End on Saturday - one day there is enough. I also don't think Waterfront or Yankee Lobster are special enough to make it on your list when you have limited time. (For pizza, Regina's is crowded and crazy but is a Boston institution and the pizza is really good. Even waiting in line is an experience.) Instead of Yankee Lobster, I suggest James Hook at the end of the Walk to the Sea - it's on the water a bit south of Aquarium. James Hook is a little lobster/seafood market with a food counter and has a good classic lobster roll and great clam chowder, plus you can see lots of live lobsters in tanks, which my guests always enjoy. Maybe head to Boston Common/Back Bay area for the afternoon/evening and then head to Island Creek for dinner. It will probably be really busy but put your name in and get a drink at Eastern Standard - good cocktails and atmosphere.
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Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
Yankee Lobster
300 Northern Ave, Boston, MA
Wedding Pit Barbecue?!
Blackstrap BBQ in Winthrop has a catering division. I just had the bbq for the first time, and it was EASILY the best I've had in the area (after 2 years of searching).
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Blackstrap BBQ
47 Woodside Ave, Winthrop, MA 02152
Boston Chinatown: Best Chinese restaurant for food, value and service
I've done a fair amount of investigation into why there is always of line at GDH. I have concluded that the main reason is Yelp (GDH currently has 420 reviews, at least twice as many as other CTown standbys). I also think that seeing people in line attracts more people to join the line, especially for people who are unfamiliar/intimidated by Chinatown. Now, back to work...
CSA Rating
This is my 2nd year with Parker Farm. Agree that quality is great but this year has been somewhat monotonous. Even so, I will definitely return.
BTW what happened to the corn? Last year we got 12 ears at a time (for a small!) Was he renting the corn field last year and not this year?
Erbaluce, Bondir or somewhere else for an anniversary?
I agree on Bondir rec, and it would be well within your budget depending on wine choice.
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Bondir
279 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
North End for the 1st time what next
How is the new Strega different? In a good way or bad way?
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Strega
379 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113
Not feeling the high price point.....
Third this idea. Bondir is very romantic and reasonably priced to boot.
However, it is much simpler than Clio.
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Bondir
279 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
North End for the 1st time what next
This is a very comprehensive thread on the North End, although the original post is rather old:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/448599
I agree that Mamma Maria, Modern, and Regina are great. My favorite is Neptune Oyster. And I hated Strega the one time I went (1.5 years ago) - good enough food but terrible service, so schmaltzy, and full of tourists who love the mafia theme. Not my cup of tea.
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Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St Ste 1, Boston, MA 02113
Mamma Maria Restaurant
3 North Sq, Boston, MA 02113
Strega
379 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113
Japanese/Chinese/Seafood near Andover?
Mootone is a pretty good Japanese/sushi restaurant near the commuter rail stop in Andover. Next door is its sister restaurant, Teatone, which bills itself as Chinese, but I have never tried it.
My favorite restaurant in Andover is Yella Grille, which is Lebanese, located off of Main St near the post office. Unfortunately, options are not great.
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Yella Grille
16 Post Office Ave, Andover, MA 01810
cozy quiet lunch in charlestown?
Figs would fit temperature and price requirements. I've been there for lunch on a weekday, but that was back in the fall so I'm not sure if they are always open for lunch.
There is also the new Grasshopper Cafe, which is on Bunker Hill st (not in the Navy Yard). It's kind of like a bright and non-greasy diner - breakfast and lunch only. I can't vouch for lunch but breakfast is good and it's fairly cozy and definitely in your price range.
On Main St there is Chow Thai for Thai food.
Max and Dylan's is not cozy and it's owned by the Tavern on the Water people so I'm betting the food is not good.
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Chow Thai Cafe
187 Main St, Charlestown, MA 02129
Casual Dinner East Cambridge?
Second East Coast Grill - really good and walkable (about 10 min walk). Also second East Side Bar and Grill - good Italian and is very close to Courtside (at Cambridge and 7th, I think). BUT best would be Bondir - search the board - quick cab ride to Courtside and really good, local, simple yet sophisticated food.
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East Coast Grill and Raw Bar
1271 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Courtside Restaurant
291 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141
Bondir
279 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
Celebratory, but low key
I would also recommend Bondir. The menu may sound pretentious but the food is not (just very delicious), and the service is very warm. It is wine and beer only so that might be a deterrent, but then again nothing says celebration like a glass of sparking wine.
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Bondir
279 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
Searching for the name of restaurant new Union Square...
The dorm was Brittany Hall, at 55th and Broadway.
Searching for the name of restaurant new Union Square...
I think calling Drew would be easier...so it isn't Union Square Cafe. She says "nice Italian, didn't have as big of an awning" as Union Square Cafe. Small h, I'm running down your suggestions next. Thanks to you both.
Searching for the name of restaurant new Union Square...
This is an odd question, but I'm just trying to find out the name of a restaurant near Union Square but don't have much to go on. My friend lived in an NYU dorm one summer in college (around 2002) and remembers a restaurant across the street from the dorm (doesn't remember the dorm name or the street! Near Union Square but not right on the square) that was well-known, she thinks it's Italian and had been around for a long time. She once saw Drew Barrymore going in. And now she wants to go there for her birthday. Any help is appreciated!
I need 3 restaurant recommendations...
I agree with Neptune, Mamma Maria/Marco, and would add Lucky's as a hangover brunch option. It's walking distance to your hotel, I like the atmosphere and it has a good hangover menu.
great meal at Bondir
I went to Bondir Friday 3/18 and generally thought it was great. The highlights - the space really is just too cozy for words. After reading rave reviews about the drinks table/fireplace I thought it may feel contrived but it didn't. The service was friendly, knowledgeable and professional without being snobby, which is an all too rare feat. The first courses were very good, if limited - there were really only 2 choices (sunchoke bisque and beet salad). Mains - I loved the half-portion option. 2 of us shared 2 half-portions and with a first and dessert each it ended up being a perfect amount. The half-portions here could be a full portion at other places in town. We left very satisfied but not uncomfortably full.
The value and atmosphere that Bondir offers is the best part about it IMO. It is a romantic "date night" place with great food and surprisingly low bill. I canceled a RW reservation to go to Bondir and we probably ended up spending about the same for 3 courses each but was much higher quality than a lot of RW places. I will definitely be back - I can't wait to see the menu with spring and summer ingredients.
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Bondir
279 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
Restaurant Week
Second question - yes, you just make a reservation, and once you arrive, mention that you are there for restaurant week. Most places will offer the RW menu automatically, but not all.
My only comments on your list is that Top of the Hub is a great place for a drink but does not have great food. Also, I like Marliave but it is pretty reasonable to begin with so you won't end up saving that much by doing restaurant week.
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Top of the Hub
800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199
Marliave
10 Bosworth Street, Boston, MA 02108
Boston: Feb 25 - 28, 2011
A lot of people, myself included, would say that Neptune has the best in town. Lobster rolls usually come cold, lightly dressed in mayo, but Neptune also offers it hot, which is wonderful and buttery. You could start with some oysters and do the lobster roll.
James Hook, which is a seafood seller with some prepared foods, does a good, classic one that is popular as well. And it's about half the price of the Neptune version (with is about $25). It's good for lunch on the go, but be warned, there is no where to sit at James Hook except some outdoor tables that are probably buried under snow right now.
What are your stand-by, go-to restaurants?
Good post. Little embarrassing though (guilty pleasures...)
Chinatown: Great Taste (restaurant and bakery), Taiwan Cafe, dim sum at China Pearl and Emperor/Empire Garden
East Coast Grill
Jenny's Pizza in Charlestown (this is out of laziness but it's solid)
Mi Pueblito
Minado (case in point - guilty pleasure)
Porter Square Exchange
New to the rotation: Garlic n Lemons, Neptune Oyster
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Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St Ste 1, Boston, MA 02113
East Coast Grill and Raw Bar
1271 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Jenny's Pizza
320 Medford St, Charlestown, MA 02129
Minado Restaurant
1282 Worcester St, Natick, MA 01760
Mi Pueblito Restaurant
333 Border St, Boston, MA 02128
China Pearl Restaurant
288 Mishawum Rd, Woburn, MA 01801
Great Taste
201 Main St, Milford, MA 01757
Best Boston Cheap Eats?
Here is a good, relevant thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/617624
Also, if you family likes Mexican, I would definitely check out Eastie for really tasty Mexican/Salvadoran. Sooooo much better than Border Cafe (and cheaper!) and most places have parking close by. Here is a thread on Eastie:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/448448
Thanksgiving Day Dinner...buffet?
I went to Turner Fisheries last year. I picked it because it had a raw bar and some seafood dishes in addition to traditional Thanksgiving food. It served my purpose well - I had tons of oysters on the half shell, some delicious clam chowder, and minimal amounts of good (not spectacular) turkey, potatoes, etc. It's a good choice if you're looking for the raw bar stuff but overpriced and mediocre if you're not.
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Turner Fisheries Bar
10 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116
Thanksgiving non-traditional open restaurants?
Random choice - Minado in Natick. Apparently they have turkey and potatoes in addition to loads of sushi.
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Minado Restaurant
1282 Worcester St, Natick, MA 01760
Good alternative to Koreana for large group on Christmas day?
Are you looking for Korean BBQ specifically? Chung Ki Wa in Medford would fit the bill - all the Korean standards plus a large private room with no fee. I don't know if they are open on Christmas. And consensus of all the Koreans I know is that it's better than Koreana.
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Koreana
154 Prospect Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Chung Ki Wa
27 Riverside Ave, Medford, MA 02155
V. specific req: pumpkin risotto served in tiny baked hollowed out pumpkin?
I just saw pumpkin risotto in tiny pumpkins at the Whole Foods prepared food counter in Andover. Would work if you decide to serve at home.
