nfo's Profile
Where can I find pawpaws in upper bucks county?
There was a segment on NPR recently that is sure to have given a big awareness boost to pawpaws:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/09/29/140894570/the-pawpaw-foraging-for-americas-forgotten-fruit
Restaurants near Wayne/Main Line
I'd recommend Theresa's Next Door. Belgian food, with a great beer selection. I've only been once, but I'll be back. Bone marrow, mussels, and ribs were all very good. Creme brulee was pretty standard.
Decent lunch spot between CC and Elkins Park?
I recently tried Jong Ka Jib, and highly recommend it. The soon tofu is good stuff. Your rice comes in a stone pot, with hot water to break up the crust, by default. They bring you eggs to drop in your soup, by default. Heat level 4/5 was hot enough. Pretty legit.
Chef Ken's, NW Philly
I'm new to the area, so any recs for NW Philly would be appreciated. So far, Earth Bread + Brewery is my favorite up here (the seed pizza is so good). I like craft beer and all cuisines. Places I'd like to try include Tiffin, Wine Thief, McMenamin's, and Osaka - any tips?
I thought I'd give Chef Ken's Cafe a mention, since I didn't find anything about them on these boards. Counter service, about a dozen seats, not so great for a large group (but you could do take-out). Ken was welcoming and friendly. In case you're thinking take-out, the food didn't come out very quickly, but that's because they take the time to do a proper fry job. Here's what we tried:
Brisket: Tender and flaky, more of a beef braise/stew as opposed to a firmer BBQ brisket. Deeply flavored, lots of spices, really good.
Beef ribs: Very tender for what's typically a chewy cut. Sauce on the sweet side.
Whiting: Filleted. Great fry job, nice cornmeal crust. No sauce (opinions were split on this). The fish itself wasn't super clean or fresh tasting, but the only whiting I've had to compare was really, really fresh.
Wings: Great fry job. Good seasoning. These are excellent wings.
Jambalaya: A tad dry, good flavor, my favorite side, but maybe wouldn't carry a meal on its own.
Green beans: Cooked for a while, a subtle smokey flavor.
Mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and collard greens were all fine, but not noteworthy.
Surprise great meal at Cambridge Brewing Company
I'm a fan of the place, and have been there 3 times this year. However, I have to say that the food can be hit or miss, and we got some terrible food the same day you were there. In particular, the "house made" mezza plate is worse than any dish I can recall from 2010 (maybe '09 too). Calamari was merely bad. This was partly attributable to careless ordering (well, hard to be too careful in a minefield).
It looks like they've switched the fish and chips to a more traditional style. I thought the chips may be more authentic, but also kind of soggy and bland. The fish is better than whatever they used to use. The batter was beyond crisp, crusty and a little overdone, but since each portion was one big chunk of fillet, the fish inside was fine. Probably wouldn't order it again.
On the other hand, the special small plates at the barleywine fest a few weeks ago were all quite good, and creative. The pizza can't compete with Emma's across the street, but is better than average, with interesting toppings. Of course, it just serves to annoy me that they can produce decent contemporary fare, and yet they serve crap like that mezza plate.
The beer has been great, including the various barleywines. The IPAs are good (Mind Left Body is a new one, with very clean bitterness, that I could drink a pitcher of). The lambic on right now is packed with flavor and bracingly acidic (Rose de Cambrinus, get it now if you like this style of beer because it's pretty limited).
Ten Tables - worth the drive?
I've also had some unpleasant service at the JP location. I know exactly what montuori is talking about - the service I got on a couple of visits was cold and inattentive.
I went once shortly after the expansion, and it was a somewhat better experience, but I'm still not eager to go back. I would not say it's worth a special trip - the Harvard location may be a better option, if you're already visiting the area.
Lord Hobo
This whole time, I thought I was getting chunks of shepherd in there. I guess my school cafeteria was sloppy with the apostrophes - I agree that lamb makes more sense. So much for getting shepherds pie and washing it down with a soylent green.
Central Bottle: Fantastic Wine & Cheese Store Central Square
I'd like that coffee info - where do you get it?
MIT + Russo's
It kept going through the summer, and is still going now. But I'm not sure whether they plan to stop during the winter.
What were these and where can I find them?
Taiwan Cafe has them - similar to the ones as Chung Shin Yuan. These are the big puffy kind, like the OP describes. I've also had them where the bun is smaller and chewier, closer to XLB but still a little bready.
Cape Anne CSF members - what's the mid-term grade?
That's essentially what they told us when people asked at the first couple pickups. Obviously, on one hand they are not unbiased (they're affiliated with fishermen who would like to fish for more than a few minutes), but on the other hand they are much closer to the situation and have better information than us. Who can say for sure how fish stocks are doing - all we can do is hope the regulations are working.
As for the issue of bottom-trawling... they're essentially saying we've already dragged these fishing grounds for so long, it is how it is. If we changed the way we fish, maybe things would improve (in terms of habitat/bycatch), but it would more expensive and inefficient in other ways.
Cape Anne CSF members - what's the mid-term grade?
I think the quality has been great - everything has been fresh and tasty. In my opinion, the variety has been a problem (got the flounder/whiting combo once). I've eaten so much cod this summer, I feel guilty about it. However, it sounds like we might get some other stuff later in the season - that would be welcome.
Dumpling Republic in Central Square?
Saw some fliers near Kendall today - I agree, lack of location is kind of sketchy. The back of the fliers had some stuff about how leeks are really good for you. I'm not sure if the purported health benefits of leeks are FDA-approved...
Wilson Farms - Excellent Fish
I had some of their scallops when they were experimenting with carrying seafood back in the fall. They were labeled as never-frozen dry scallops and seemed fresh. However, I haven't seen seafood there recently - I didn't realize they were still doing it (and I was just there today). Is it still in the meat section, on the front end? Where is their fresh seafood now?
Best Korean BBQ in Boston area?
Recently went to Chung Ki Wa for the first time. It was okay, not great. The panchan selection was small and not automatically refilled, but they tasted good. For BBQ items, the sauces were too sweet, portions not that big. The kimchi chigae was far too salty. There were Korean people at the restaurant, and I questioned their taste.
I have no Korean ancestry, have eaten a fair amount of Korean food, but don't consider myself an expert. I believe that for most people, the Korean food around here is not worth your time or money.
Indian/Thai lunch Mass Ave Arlington/Cambridge Saturday..
Diva in Davis has sidewalk seating. Most hounds prefer the food at Namaskar, also in Davis.
Will the New Parking Rules Make People Think Twice About Dining in Somerville?
I agree that the people making the decision are well-meaning. I am sure there is a spreadsheet somewhere that shows how this move will increase turnover, and improve local business while also providing the city with additional revenue. I am also sure that in reality nobody knows what the net impact of the changes will be, and it will be difficult to figure out even after the changes have taken place.
My understanding is that one reason for the outcry is that the public was not involved in these decisions. The Somerville Theater, in particular, is a local business that is upset with the proposal.
Personally, I don't think the impact will be huge, but I don't think the overall effect will be good. Of course having the red line is huge, but I think another reason the restaurants in Davis do well is because parking is relatively low hassle. It only takes a slight decline in restaurant patronage (or one person drives home drunk because they don't have quarters) to make the whole thing not worth it.
The Friendly Toast!
I haven't been there yet, but I just wanted to say... that's pretty generous use of the term "multi-tasking".
Flap Steak
I used to get this quite often from McKinnon's in Davis. It was an excellent cut for stir fries, and relatively cheap. I haven't gone in a couple years, though, so I can't speak to current availability/price.
Good fish market w/ good prices for picky fish eater
It's on Cambridge St (in E. Cambridge).
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New Deal Fish Market
622 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141
Eithopian Restos in Cambridge/Somerville
Yes, Fasika has been panned by some, but I quite like it. The atmosphere is weird, due to the bar and all, but I've gotten good food and service - the thing I found annoying is all the restrictions when ordering a combo. Don't go expecting a fine-dining experience, but rather for inexpensive home-style. A good place to go with vegetarian or vegan friends. There are a few duds (like the split peas if I recall). The catfish was good the one time I had it.
I think the Ethiopian option near Porter you're thinking of is Addis Red Sea. It also gets mixed reviews, but if you want a proper dining room you might want to try here first.
Good fish market w/ good prices for picky fish eater
Basically, you need to learn how to identify good fish if you're going to buy from Super 88. Clear eyes, red gills, and a decent amount of activity for the live ones (though it's hard to gauge activity in a crowded tank). While a live fish is usually okay, personally, I'd rather pay $8+/lb somewhere reliable (like New Deal) - that is a reasonable price, around here. Occasionally I'll buy from Market Basket (~$6/lb), but the quality can vary.
Flying in the face of "Chow Wisdom"
Where was the original? I used to go to the one in Shopper's World (I think) when I was little, but have no idea when they started to expand - I'm a little curious.
My Restaurant Review - Shiki near Coolidge Corner
I've had pretty slow service there as well, including a wait just to get a check. Being asked to order more is indeed pretty rude.
I agree the portions are typical for this type of cuisine. Not only is it a different kind of restaurant, but the food is in a different league than Tampopo, or anything in Porter Exchange (even though I'm a fan of Cafe Mami).
I think there is a small bar. I'd actually expect a typical izakaya atmosphere to be more crowded (er... cozy and warm?). It's just a little too quiet and subdued to capture the experience you get in other cities...
B-Side to be sold? Say it ain't so
Looking forward to it (I don't get the name either). To be honest, if I lived near there, I wouldn't want them to be open until 2. I hope they can still do good business with last call at 1 - won't be a problem if they deliver on the high expectations.
Malden Americanized Chinese delivery
Yeah I've been for dinner, but I was curious about the weekend buffet, since it looks like a good deal and apparently there's some different stuff than the regular menu.
Malden Americanized Chinese delivery
Hmm, I had read good things on here about the weekend Northern dim sum buffet, and was thinking of trying it out. Is that different - are you guys talking about just the weekday buffet?
Fish and Chips
I finally went there recently, after meaning to go there for a long time. The fish and chips are indeed great (as long as you don't mind some herbs added into the seasoning).
General Tso's Chicken??
Really? What else do they have for the weekend buffet, is it northern style dim sum?
