mikeinboston's Profile
Wiener Schnitzel?
Locke Ober has it "a la Holstein" on their menu as well. Might be a fun adventure to have it at the bar.
Shake Shack Coming to Chestnut Hill
Visited their location in South Beach this past January. Good, but not a revelation in the burger world. Oddly though, there was a weird "cult-like" vibe that the staff was giving off. I got the impression that there was a Shake Shack kool-aid that they had all consumed.
Let’s make a list of obnoxiously loud restos
+1 on Tasty Burger. So loud that the bartender (who was the most disinterested service person I have seen in a long time, constantly with his back to the patrons while watching TV) couldn't hear my order, so of course it was completely wrong upon arrival. Not even an apology for the screw up.. .
Dunkin Donuts's Angus Steak & Egg Sandwich
From Salamander to DDs - quite a change of pace. Dunkin cannot seem to get it together for any non-donuts/pastry item. The bagels are like a sponge, those flat-bread sandwich things were disgusting, and now "steak" and eggs? Really? If I must eat, I usually just get 5 of the Munchkin doughnut holes (invariably stale), and that reminds me never to eat there again for the next 6 months.
Non-gourmet Food Trucks
There's a guy who sells Chicken Kabobs right by the State Street T station (I think they have another location outside of Macys). Good food, reasonable price, outrageously good garlic dressing - almost criminal how good it is.
fresh fish retail markets
Can anyone provide a review of Morse on Washington Street in the South End?
Good food and cocktails until 1AM or later
Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe on Columbus opens at 6a M-F. Same for Mike's Diner on Washington. Boston South End, both fairly easy from Logan.
And thanks for the great list MC Slim JB!
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Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe
429 Columbus Ave Ste 1, Boston, MA 02116
Mike's City Diner
1714 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
olive oil?
Columela is also available from Amazon in a 2 pack, ships for free. Outstanding.
ISO Thanksgiving To Go?
We had done the whole thing with WF a few years ago and were not very impressed with quality. At the risk of sounding like the old joke, even though the quality wasn't superb, we also remarked at the small-ish portions.
We ordered from Roche Brothers in West Roxbury last year and had a good experience.
Wendy's remaking burger
I had one as well, just the single, no pickles (not my thing). Kinda interesting wrap job, in waxed paper, and then stood on end in light cardboard sleeve.
Sandwich was good, bun was buttered and toasted with just a little bit of griddle crispness. Good fresh veggies. I prefer Bermuda onion, so the red onions are a welcome addition. Two slices of cheese, probably would have them leave off one slice the next time (again, not my thing). Cheese was well melted from the outset, almost cheese wiz by the last bites.
I personally like the new fries with the sea salt, but they have to be super fresh. I usually ask to wait for hot fries.
For a fast food burger, it kicks Mc'ds and BK's butt, but the indie shops in Boston (Tasty Burger, Uburger, ect.) aren't worried
Minimum $10 Credit Card charge? Legal or illegal?
If my understanding is correct, the fee structure for merchants is lower for debit card purchases, so perhaps a combination of credit/debit might be a better solution.
While I understand it from a merchants perspective, I tend to avoid any business that wont take a debit/credit payment - especially when they then direct you to their own ATM that tacks on a $2 or $3 surcharge for your withdrawal - generating additional revenue (albeit a minor amount per transaction) for the establishment.
Aznmask: What about just factoring your additional 3% of credit surcharges into the price of each item, just making the $7.95 dish cost $8.25? You'll make a little more on each sale and you wont have to fight with your customers.
What's the scoop on Gaslight?
@Jolyon - lol, was just about to say that on a return visit, having recently asked them to make me a double order of tartare as an entree, i forgot just how much I dislike their addition of the mushrooms. i felt kinda tacky just scraping them all off to the side, but other than that, the tartare was great.
the onion soup wasn't a standout.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 3rd quarter 2011 [Old]
I briefly considered the pour brownies as well, and suddenly felt it was the epitome of laziness and I put it back on the shelf. :)
Boston restaurants with a service shtick?
I've cultivated quite a rapport with the Thatcher St. staff - i would attribute any "gruff" to 25% show and 75% being constantly slammed with lots of tourists. As the other poster stated, they soften up right away. So sit back and enjoy the show.
First visit to Trader Joe's...
The frozen croissants (both plain and chocolate) are good to have on hand. You will need to pre-plan before serving as they need overnight to proof. And dont be shocked at their size when you take them out of the package, they rise about 200% during proofing. A little egg wash, pop 'em in a 350 degree oven for 20 min or so. Never going to replicate Paris, but a very nice treat.
Two Guys from Italy Pizza, Warwick RI
As far as I know, this is completely true. It was a special treat for us to detour the "long way" home from the beach on a Saturday night, Dad would stop at Frank & John's from Italy in East Greenwich and we'd all have pizza. (This is easily 40 years ago).
After the feud, Frank opened in the strip mall in Warwick. I played my first game of video pong in that store. I remember those plastic baskets for the garlic bread (something I equate with the Crow's Nest Restaurant too).
My dad remained faithful to Frank's pizza until my dad passed away 7 years ago. He swore Frank's was the closest to the New York thin crust pies he had grown up on.
I believe my dad even made a point of making sure his granddaughter's first pizza was from Two Guys.
Thanks for the memories, glad the pizza still rules!
Boston Creme Pies for soldiers
I have to agree with Allstonian's point about the custard. Shipping anything with dairy (even if it leaves here frozen in a brick) is really scary from a food safety point of view.
I don't know where "dry ice" falls in the list of "Hazardous, flammable, toxic and radioactive substances", but my assumption is that they might not look too favorably on a package that is smoking (while the dry ice is evaporating).
I love the thought so much - hope someone more clever than I is lurking out there.
http://www.bootsonground.com/soldier-restricted-items.htm
rec`s to make a dream come true
I would also recommend stopping at Mike's Kitchen in Cranston RI right near the Police HQ. It's in a VFW post - amazing and so inexpensive it's embarrassing.
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Mike's Kitchen
170 Randall St, Cranston, RI 02920
What's your "Subway" sandwich?
Chicken breast on flatbread with bacon but no cheese. Toasted, topped with spinach, small amount of iceberg, tomato, onion, small line of light mayo, S+P.
What happened to Common Ground?
I only ate there once, but that place was very creepy Tuna salad with a side of cult. .
Belated Mother's Brunch
I am guessing that bucci was interested in these more "traditional" hotel dining rooms. The Four Seasons closed Aujourd'hui a while back and the new Ritz on Avery St doesnt have the same feel as what is now the Taj.
I know that Copley Plaza does a big buffet style brunch on major holidays, but the usual weekend menu is a la carte.
I believe that the Langham Hotel does a Sunday Buffet Brunch that is more of an "old school" offering. I have not been but it seems well received.
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Aujourd'hui
200 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116
Savin Bar & Kitchen
They seem to be trying quite hard. They had some new items post to the menu today via their FB page, and then posted these specials:
"We've just added a few specials to tonight menu! Come in and enjoy our Tax Day Meatloaf w/ Mashed Potatoes and Bacon Marmalade Gravy. If this chilly days got you feeling a little under the weather; come over and enjoy our delicious broccoli and cheddar soup; its sure to warm you up! If you do stop in to see us tonight don't forget to try the NEW Fried Calamari dish or give the hearty NEW Barbecue Pork Rib dish!"
A nice attempt to build rapport. I'll take this over an arrogant SOB owner any-day...
Windsor Dim Sum Cafe, minor quirks and non dim sum recs?
I was with friends one night and one of the other members of the party ordered their General Gau's Chicken. We all froze. Would this curse our whole order with the kitchen?
When the waiter delivered the dish to us, a cook from the kitchen came out and just eyeballed our table, as if to say "those fools...?"
I did notice that they charge more for it in comparison to their regular low prices (I think it's $11), perhaps its like penalty charge for such an un-authentic dish?
But back to the chicken. It was really good. Super thin, flash fried, standard steamed american brocolli, but comforting in a way.
I may endure the icy stare and re-order on my next visit.
Capital Grille Restaurant Week
Well, if they serve 400 at an average check of $60 with a one hour turn time, the money will be roughly the same for them as 200 at the $100 per person 2.5 hour dinner of a non-restaurant week.
Plus you run the chance of a RW customer using the menu savings to justify a higher priced wine bottle and you always sell tons of house wine which has a huge markup on it too. It's tough on the restaurant though, taking a toll on the staff.
Toro: making the best of a bad situation
What a bad booking by the powers that be. 18pp at 7pm? Kills your first seating and kills your 3rd of those tables - the large parties are notorious for becoming oblivious to their camping-out, especially on a weekend night. And pouring wine into each others mouth's? A sophisticated bunch as well.
Only a Boston-area hound would...
... plan an entire lunch excursion just to take the water taxi from Downtown to Scup's in the Harbor.
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Scup's In the Harbor
256 Marginal St, Boston, MA 02128
Disappointing Meal
Dined last night for the first time. Good but not great. Service was very odd, seemed as though the server was more annoyed with us than anything. Bottled water service at room temperature, server just poured and then informed us that it "needs to chill". That was $7 wasted. Food was fine, $6 for 1/4 cup of polenta is a little insane as a side, other side of roasted veggies were nice but expensive as well. Asked for cream with coffee, got 1% milk. Coffee was lukewarm. Refill from same pot, ice cold. My fault for not saying anything, but the server honestly didn't seem to care, so my complaint would have fallen on deaf ears. Pretty room, but no need to return in my opinion.
Flour Bakery - Hazlenut Dacquoise and Staffing
Total agreement on the worst service. I live just a block from the Washington Street store - and Flour fanatics are so jealous, but the whole set up is so unpleasant that I would never consider it.
7 layer cake and rainbow cookies
Mike's Pastry in the North End has Rainbow Cookies (they call them Rainbow Layers) that look like this. They put a thin layer of jelly between the colors, which if I remember from my childhood trips to Front Street Bakery in Rockville Centre Long Island, they did not have.
