Gabatta's Profile
Otto in Coolidge Corner Open
Has anyone else been here for a sit down meal with a full pie? Going for pizza with the family and was curious, but may just go for the sure thing at Flatbread pending some reviews.
May 2012 Openings and Closings
Wow, that is a huge loss for Concord. Granted the place was pricey, but it always seemed to do a good business when I have been in there. Not a place I would make a special trip to given the lack of value and closer options to the city, however we were always glad to have it as an option when visiting friends in that area.
Looking forward to the new butcher shop in Somerville. Any word on when it will open?
5/15/12 Rosa Mexicano Report
Good to know about the Fast Lane. Which garage is this specifically?
Guy Fieri seen at Angela's, and Cutty's
Heard he was at Boston Burger Co. as well. That place can become overrun all it wants because it's not somewhere I'd go to begin with. Cutty's is already overrun, but excellent.
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/update-bobby-as-guy-fieri/1383270
5/15/12 Rosa Mexicano Report
Glad you liked the scallop. It was our favorite dish as well. I was scraping the extra sauce onto anything available.
Massachusetts seasonal restaurant question - Brant Rock, Marshfield
The wait staff won't kiss your butt and they give what they get right back, but I have always had good service at Arthur & Pat's. I always make sure I get a piece of griddled corn bread with my $15 omlet.
Cafe Sushi Cambridge
Starting a new thread to break this topic out of a rather long thread on O Ya: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/796911
I have not been to Cafe Sushi in over 2 years, but will be in at some point this week. Hopefully the reports are accurate as I can walk to this place in less than 5 minutes and have been pining for good sushi on this side of the river for a long time. We have been enjoying Gen Sushi in Belmont, but Cafe Sushi is in our back yard.
Rosa Mexicano coming to Boston
The valet is $13, so not totally unreasonable, but I understanding paying for parking being distasteful. I can't help with any street parking suggestions in the area. In most parts of Boston, parking enforcement is lax to non-existent on Sunday's in case you stumble across a street spot which may be a grey area...
Rosa Mexicano coming to Boston
Jonesing for any good mexican we gave this place a try and will definitely be back. It is miles better than Temacazal across the street, but they unfortunately don't have the waterfront location. Service was fast, friendly, professional and welcoming to our 19 month old who loved watching the table side guac prep. We split several dishes, all which was good to excellent:
- Guacamole: this was just OK. I mean, how hard is guac really as long as the ingreditnes are fresh. I have yet to find a place in Boston with better guac than I make at home. I actually think the table side prep hurts the flavor as guac benefits from some time to come together.
- Scallop ceviche: Definitely our favorite dish of the night. Extremely fresh scallops in some kind of chilie vinagrette with poblanos. This was really delicious and one of the best scallop peps of the night.
- Hamachi tacos: Another dish we would order again. The accompaniments were nice without overpowering the fish.
- Ahi ceviche: The fish was sort of lost in the fruit flavors.
- Carne asada tacos: Very good, well marinated and tender meat.
The La Suprema margarita was one of the better restaurant margaritas I have had in Boston. I was impressed how smoothly things ran for the first week, they clearly have lots of FOH help from other outposts. It may be a chain, but there is such a lack of good Mexican in Boston that it is a welcome addition. As other posters pointed out, the cookies left in the car were a welcome touch. For the food mentioned above and 2 margaritas the bill was about $110 before tip, so it's not cheap.
I love the Seaport convenience, coming from where we are in Cambridge it is less than 10 min garage to valet at non peak times.
What is the appeal of Fox and Hound???
I remember liking their french onion soup as well.
What is the appeal of Fox and Hound???
The one time I was there the pork chop was pretty tasty. Our service was much better than yours, but again it was only one data point.
Party of 6. Mare or mamma Maria?
I would go to Mamma Maria. Beautiful rooms, consistent service and great (if not overly inventive food). It will be a memorable spot for a Boston visit IMO. I just sent clients there last night and they were very pleased.
I have not been to Mare since it has been 'reinvented', but it seems like their repositioning is meant to capture some of the overflow from Neptune down the street which does not bode well.
Best Fresh Bagels In Boston?
Consider getting the hand cut lox from The Butcherie in Brookline. It is the best I have had in this area by far.
Coach Grill, Sudbury
That comparison is a bit extreme IMO. When Coach was owned by BBRG they used only choice beef. Since becoming independent they have added a few prime options to their menu. The service is as good as any steakhouse downtown, and the atmosphere is better than some (e.g. the new cookie cutter Capital Grille). Per the OPs request to compare to the higher end steak houses in and around the Boston, I'm not seeing where a huge disparity is.
Would I prefer G23?...of course, but G23 is much closer to me. If I lived in Wayland, Coach would be fine once in awhile.
Olives in Charlestown Has Reopened
Let the rabid bashing commence...
I will pay a visit at some point, as I have fond memories of the original Olives (even some in it's waning days).
Strip T's increasing funkiness
I'm not so sure about that. Per an earlier post you made, turkey on sourdough is what a lot of their regulars want for lunch (not lamb & watercress, etc). While I am sure they have considered this and it is a conscious change, I heard overheard grumbling from local regulars the last time I was in regarding the changing menu, increasing prices, inability to get seated on a weekend night and (ahem) changing crowd in particular. This new lunch menu is definitely a push further in that direction. While most of us on these boards appreciate the lunch menu taking cues from the dinner service, it is not necessarily a positive for many of their neighborhood customers. What may pass is their patronizing a old local favorite.
near Logan Airport
^ parking in Eastie has never been a problem for me either (and my karma is suspect).
Gen Sushi in Belmont is finally open
The rice has fine on all my visits, but is honestly not the highest prority for me as I eat much more sashimi than nigiri or maki. The fish, value and service can't be beat IMO. I like actually being able to order from and interact with the chef, rather than sitting at a sushi bar and having a waitress handle the entire meal.
Gen Sushi in Belmont is finally open
I wish people would support Gen Sushi and spread the word! It is easily our favorite sushi place on this side of the river, and probably the best straightforward sushi in the immediate area. Lunches are a very good value IMO, and dinners seem reasonable compared to the some of the clip joints downtown. The fish is always extremely fresh, and the chef/owner and his wife are very pleasant. They remember all patrons and their likes/dislikes, and are open to suggestions.
When my wife picked up our take out this evening the small restaurant was empty! This follows on a few recent lunches where there were only one or two other people in there. This place needs to stick around as good sushi is in short supply around here (plenty of mediocre). For Cambridge people it is about 3 minutes farther than Genki Ya (and light years better). For us it is also much closer than Toyara and every bit as good. The menu advertises delivery as well, but we haven't looked into the delivery area yet. They are not churning out things like Green Monster Maki, but much more traditional fare. The chef hand picks the fish and it is all beautiful and fresh.
Get over there to support them, and get a great meal at the same time!
All-Star Pizza: A preview?
Who cares if they don't specialize in pizza exclusively? City Girl has great pizza, period.
Who cares if pizza Pie'er just opened? Either you like the pizza or you don't.
I like both, so that is more than enough options in one very small neighborhood for me, which was the point of my original reply. However, it is clearly lacking for you bobot, so I truly hope AS Pizza helps with that. Inman has plenty of needs before another pizza option IMO.
All-Star Pizza: A preview?
The pizza you describe from Pizza Pie'er is nothing like my one experience at the Inman location (it was neither thick, bready, doughy or over-sauced), or at the RI original. Maybe I got a good pull or you got a bum one. More data points will be required on that one.
I like Pinocchio's Sicilian slices, but their regular pizza isn't really worthwhile. Cambridge 1 is off our list as it is way too inconsistent.
Angelo's was one and done for me, but the CRLS kids seem to really like their cardboard-like oversized slices, so I can use that as a barometer for what your tastes are as 'someone who actually likes pizza'.
All-Star Pizza: A preview?
Inman has City Girl and Pizza Pie-er. Two very good options for the neighborhood, and better than anything in the other areas you mentioned IMO. A truly top notch option would certainly be welcome, but Inman is suddenly better off most than most areas when it comes to pizza. I live closer to Harvard Sq and there is nothing (not a fan of the reheated slices at Otto).
All-Star Pizza: A preview?
Does it really matter if City Girl isn't a pizza only restaurant? The pizza is still very good.
Also, I 2nd Pizza Pie-er recommendation (despite their unfortunate name).
Inman isn't really lacking for pizza, so AS Pizza will have to be good to compete. I don't have high hopes as I think their sandwich place is pretty mediocre other than the fries and rings.
Haven't both ASS Bar and ECG been sold? I don't think they are affiliated longer.
Pret a Manger coming to Back Bay
I really enjoyed the cookies someone brought into a recent meeting. The sandwiches were fine, but not that memorable or noticeably better than any other catered 'business meeting' type sandwich I have had. I like the idea that it is not processed like other fast food options.
sorellina favorites?
Best tuna tartar in Boston IMO. Maccheroncelli with kobe beef meatballs is a must share for the table. The veal chop milanese is excellent.
Enjoy your meal.
Should I give the Painted Burro a second chance?
How do you prefer your margaritas? Was it improperly mixed? Margaritas are quite potent if properly made.
