LAinBoston's Profile
Vegas, Romantic, on a Monday?
I am hoping that everyone can help me out here:
I am looking for a really romantic place for a dinner on a Monday night next month. I am staying at the Wynn, but unfortunately Alex is closed Mondays. I have been to SW and DB and am not sure the other places are right for the occasion. Any thoughts on Sinatra? My sense it ttht it could work, but might not really be the atmosphere I'm looking for.
Budget-wise, I think Robuchon and Guy Savoy are out. And I dont think my companion would really like Restaurant Charlie.
I had thought of Le Cirque and Aureole's Swan Court, but unfortunately both are closed Monday as well.
Perhaps somewhere else at Bellagio with a view of the fountains. I'd love to hear opinions on Prime Steakhouse, which is my leading contender right now. Olives seems too casual, and I've been reading bad things about Picasso. Also, thoughts on Michael Mina?
Other places I've been considering: Mix (but very mixed reviews), Alize, Andre's.
Any recommendations on these or others that I may be missing would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
First Anniversary Celebration Recs
Mistral. They are even offering a prix fixe menu on Sundays now. And their portions are fairly large for such a nice place, so you can easily share an appetizer (the steak flatbread would be my pick) and/or dessert.
Thoughts on Troquet's Desserterie?
A follow-up question: Are the desserts from the downstairs Desserterie available with dinner upstairs? I assume so, but wanted to be sure...
Ten best things to eat in Boston
No order:
1. Chez Henri - Cuban
2. Burdicks - Dark hot chocolate
3. Grotto - Garlic-truffle soup
4. Pinnochio's - Sicilian slice
5. L'Espalier - Cheese plate
6. Oceanaire - Hash Browns
7. Mamma Maria - Braised rabbit pasta
8. Green Street - Any cocktail
9. Formaggio - Cheese selection
10. Marliave - Baked beans
Help with Anniversary Dinner
I am trying to figure out where to take my girlfriend for our 2-yr anniversary next month. Looking for a celebratory feel - romantic would be a plus as well. Mamma Maria was great for the occasion last year. Dinner will be on a Sunday, so ideally looking for somewhere that won't be totally deserted.
I'd appreciate any comments on the relative merits of the following:
Via Matta
Sorellina
Mistral
Troquet
Excelsior
Thanks in advance for your help, and for the collective wisdom in general on this board.
L'Espalier Lunch Questions
Thanks to all who helped out. Figured I would post a review:
The food was certainly good, though I'd say I was not blown away by it. My girlfriend and I both had the degustation menu, and between the two of us sampled the entire menu.
The highlight was the middle course white asparagus with crispy prosciutto and a fried quail egg. The mains, beef tenderloin and lamb chops, were both excellent as well. Also, the lemon panna cotta was really delicious, a very refreshing way to end the meal.
However, I was a bit underwhelmed by the signature Lobster BLT and the seared scallop starters. The lobster in the BLT was way too finely chopped, and had lost that lovely tenderness. And unfortunately, the cheese sampling was really lackluster - small portions of only three different cheeses, none of which were otherworldly.
Service was great as expected, even offering to substitute a new amuse bouche after they realized my girlfriend was not eating her oyster (which I ate happily - both were delicious).
As for decor, it is certainly a very pretty place, and I'm glad to have finally gotten there before the move. That said, I think that the new digs will be a plus, as the current space is really in need of some maintenance (paint peeling etc).
Also, I went without a jacket, and felt very comfortable, as none of the other 5 or 6 men in the room were wearing one.
So all in all, a great afternoon, even if the food wasn't quite as great as I was expecting.
L'Espalier Lunch Questions
I'm very excited to finally be making it there before they move. Going for a celebratory lunch next week and had a couple questions:
Most importantly, anyone been for lunch recently? Recommendations?
But also, what to wear? I know their website says jacket preferred, but I'm thinking that might just be for dinner. Would slacks and a nice shirt be fine?
Lastly, any thoughts on which room is best? I've never been there before, but I understand there are several.
Thanks in advance for all the help.
Gran Gusto: Great, and Now Open Sundays
Had an excellent dinner at Gran Gusto tonight. Not surprising, I know, but figured I'd add my approval. The Arugula pizza with prosciutto was great, though a bit more cheese would have rounded out the bitterness of the arugula better. And the pappardelle with sausage and mushrooms was also quite good.
Very reasonable prices for the quality. Especially the wines by the glass, which are really served in quartinos. More wine for the money is always nice.
I spoke with the owner as well. He said this was the first Sunday that they were open. Not sure if he meant ever or just this spring. But either way, I figured I'd spread the word, since the place was totally empty. We were the only ones there by 9pm. I would hate to see such a great place falter.
moderate priced/near harvard square
Second Garden, and would add West Side Lounge as one that fits all the criteria.
Pulled Pork Sandwich at Flat Patties
I deviated from my usual burger order (which is always quite good) to try this one. I know it's been discussed here, but wow, that thing was delicious. And very big. And only $3.25. I think it's one of the best food deals in the city at that price.
Details: decent roll (same as for the burgers), very nice portion of tasty pulled pork, fresh cole slaw, and a bbq sauce that is both sweet and tangy at the same time. I enjoyed this sandwich much more than similar ones at Redbones and Blue Ribbon (both places I enjoy) and paid less than half. If only I could order a beer to go along with it...
Gitlo's Delivery?
Just saw that Gitlo's has been added to campusfood.com, meaning they will deliver to Harvard, as well as most of Boston. Anyone have thoughts on how their food will travel? I haven't been able to make it there, but am really tempted to order in.
Also, if you think it'll hold up ok, what should I be ordering?
Mamma Maria - Great
Had an excellent celebratory dinner with my gf at Mamma Maria last night. Great service, and certainly the romantic atmosphere I was looking for. Onto some specifics:
Beef Tartare (a special last night) - Really delicious high quality beef, mixed with mushrooms, truffle oil and topped with truffle slices. Smallish portion, but very rich so it was surprisingly fulfilling.
Mozzarella and Ricotta - We both really loved the ricotta, and while a bit less impressed, also very much enjoyed the mozz. Was especially good coupled with some of the pesto sauce that they brought out with the bread. Pretty sizable serving of both cheeses too.
Mushroom Ravioli - Noted as a house specialty on the menu, and for good reason. Really earthy and rich, with an elegant presentation as well. Could have maybe used a bit more salt though.
Rabbit Pappardelle - I had a tough time choosing between this and the Osso Bucco, both also highlighted as house specialties. But I was certainly very happy with my selection. The red wine sauce was really excellent, and I was happy to find a good portion of rabbit, much of which was hiding under the pasta.
Very nice Pinot Grigio, though the name of it escapes me. No room for dessert, though the pear tart did look enticing.
Certainly not cheap ($160 with tax and tip), but we both thought that the experience was well worth the price, and was one of the best dinners we've had in the city.
Mojitos in Boston?
In Harvard Square, Daedalus makes a surprisingly great, very fresh, Mojito. More specifically, the bartender downstairs does. Don't know his name, but it's sort of his specialty.
San Juan Recap
Just returned from a wonderful 5 days in PR. Weather was mostly lovely, and the eating was surprisingly good. A couple notable spots:
Mi Casita - Puerto Rican, Inexpensive, Isla Verde - Food was pretty good and portions were very large. Mofongo was excellent, though the beef with it was dry and forgettable. Chicken breast stuffed with ham, bacon and cheese was really delicious. Not a destination place, but decent food at good prices.
Lupi's - Mexican, Inexpensive, Isla Verde - Skip it. Food sucked. Drinks were fine. Only went because they had a lot of TVs to watch the Giants game.
Dragonfly - Asian-Caribbean, Old San Juan, Moderate/Expensive - Really surprisingly great food. Definitely a highlight. Nice ambiance and good, strong drinks (better than the overpriced wine list). Food is meant to be shared so four of us tried 4 big plates and a few side orders. Sauteed spinach came with a spicy peanut sauce and was really quite good. Sea bass was forgettable. But the other three main plates - Peking Duck Nachos, Asian Steak Frites, Crispy Calamari - were excellent. Portions were very large, and the food was imaginative and well done. Would definitely return.
Metropol - Cuban, Isla Verde, Moderate - Shared a big Cuban-style steak dish, with plantains, and black beans. All was pretty nice, though the steak could have been a bit more tender. Really enjoyed the atmosphere. Nothing upscale but seemed like a lot of repeat customers who knew the staff, and a lot of big families. And the gigantic pitcher of Sangria was very good and cheap.
Wish I could have made it to the Santurce markets. Maybe next time.
Anniversary Dinner
I know there have been many posts regarding romantic anniversary dinners, so sorry if some of this is repetitive.
Looking for a place for a Friday night next month to take my girlfriend for our 1-year anniversary. Willing to spend, but maybe not quite for L'Espalier and the like. Definitely want something romantic, and where we can dress up a bit.
Preferably Italian or Steak/Seafood, since the girlfriend is not quite as adventurous as some. Someplace with a great cheese plate or selection much appreciated.
I've been thinking about Prezza, Mamma Maria, Oak Room, Abe and Louie's. Any thoughts on these are much appreciated, as well as other suggestions.
Thanks in advance.
Goodlife or Kingston Station?
Had a great meal at Kingston Station last night. Very nice, fresh caesar salad, good prosciutto plate (thought the marinated vegetables were only so-so), and a really excellent steak frites. The fries were delicious, and the steak was even better, cooked perfectly to medium-rare.
Drinks were good, although maybe a bit weak for my taste. And the girlfriend did not love the stemless wine glasses. Service was fine.
Will definitely return.
Sticking up for Harvard Square
I'm not saying it's NYC or Paris, all I'm saying is I can't really understand when people say "woe is me, I have to meet friends/relatives/coworkers in Harvard Square - too bad the place is worthless." Which happens a lot on this site.
I can't really comment on the overall feel of the place, since I've only been here during the overly commercial days. But I think the food is quite good. Great call on Harvest, by the way. A favorite of mine that I somehow forgot.
And I know some of the places I mentioned are not technically in the square. But they are only a short walk away. And they seem worth mentioning to those who insist they can't find anything else worthwhile.
Clearly there are other great areas in the city. I recently posted my little roundup of JP lunch spots. But I also think Harvard Square deserves better.
Sticking up for Harvard Square
Not sure why Harvard Square gets labeled a "culinary wasteland" on this board. As a student who has lived here for 7 years now, I figured I'd explain why I really like it here.
All of these places are within a 10-15 minute walk at most, which doesn't seem too far for anyone interested enough to visit this site.
Burgers - People vary, but it seems safe to say that most really like either Bartley's or O'Sullivan's, if not both like I do. And get a shake at Bartley's - the Godzilla Western Elvis Frappe is my favorite (a whole day's calories in a cup).
Fine Dining - I've had meals at Upstairs and Rialto that were as good as almost anywhere in the city. I haven't been to Craigie Street, but it's right here too. And Chez Henri has always been good to me (plus the bar menu which is obviously well liked).
Sandwiches - Darwin's is pretty good, but I like Oxford Spa even better. And the dueling Cuban's at Montrose Spa and Chez Henri are always tasty (I'm partial to CH).
Pizza - I'm partial to noch's, but that might just be a sentimental thing. And Armando's is pretty good too, if a little inconsistent. Oggi is a nice addition as well.
Bar Food - Charlie's Kitchen is my favorite dive anywhere, and at $5.25 their double chesseburger with fries is quite the bargain (it's gone up a whopping 30 cents in 7 years). Cambridge Common is also good for buffalo tenders and their highly regarded sweet potato fries. And the beer selection at both places is great too.
Ice Cream - Again people differ, but Herrell's and Lizzy's are both pretty good (especially the Charles River Crunch at Lizzy's). And you can still pick up Toscanini in nearby grocery stores. And Berry Line is pretty good for Pinkberry-style fro-yo.
"Date Places" - West Side Lounge and OM both have good food, a fun vibe and great drinks. Cambridge 1 is always reliable. Garden on the Cellar is a little further away, but surprisingly good. Small Plates seems like a nice addition, though I haven't been yet.
Bakeries - Rosie's up on Mass Ave for brownies, Hi Rise for pretty much everything else.
"Ethnic Food" - Some of the Thai and Indian places around the square rightly get some criticism. But Tamarind Bay is pretty good, and the food court in the Porter Exchange is really a hidden gem.
Other favorites - Burdick's for hot chocolate, Formaggio for the best cheese selection in town. Cardullo's for a great chocolate selection and other treats. Brunch at Henrietta's Table. Chinese delivery from Zoe's.
I'm sure there are others I forgot, but hopefully this is helpful for anyone looking to eat well in the neighborhood.
Teatro - mostly great
Had dinner after the movies at Teatro last night. Nice lively atmosphere, without being too noisy, as some have remarked.
Started with a plain flatbread pizza to start. Very, very thin, but nicely charred and tasty.
Girlfriend had the lamb meatballs with pappardelle. Really quite good meatballs, though the pasta and minimal sauce were just so so.
I had the orrechiette with sausage and broccoli rabe. Very garlicky but really great. Girlfriend even like it despite claiming to not like sausage. The portions for both pastas were quite large, and we definitely could have both gone with half orders after the pizza, but I was skeptical at first.
Only complaint was the rather brusque service. Nothing offensive, just a little harried. Felt like we were bering rushed just a little. Especially when the waiter kept coming and refilling our wine glasses. Before we knew it the bottle was almost gone, before the pastas even came.
Pretty reasonable too. Came to $100 with tax and tip and a bottle of (cheap) wine. Could have even saved more going with the half pastas, but all in all very fun and filling and pretty darn good food too.
Jamaica Plain Lunches Recap
Just finished a couple months working in JP one day a week, and thought I'd give my take on the local places. UNfortunately I was only here for lunch, so I did not get to try some favorites like Ten Tables and Zon's, but I certainly plan on returning.
Alex's Chimis - Great pork sandwich on a very pleasantly surprising bun. No atmosphere and, interestingly, no printed menus, but still a great meal.
El Oriental De Cuba - Not much to add regarding the Cuban Sandwich. Pretty good, but not nearly as great as the one at Chez Henri. The better option here, especially given the weather now, was the shrimp stew which was very big, filled with shrimp and absolutely delicious.
Sorella's - Did not try the pancakes, but given the holiday spirit, went for the Egg Nog French Toast instead. I've heard this place gets crazy on weekends, but it was perfectly civilized when I was there. And the french toast was pretty good too, nice and moist, though not terribly egg nog-ish.
City Feed - Decent sandwiches but by no means as good as Darwin's or Oxford Spa, both near Harvard Square. The rest of the store is, in my opinion, better than their sandwich offerings.
Canto 6 - Great cookies and other baked goods. Sandwich was only so-so, but again the bread was great. The little chocolate cork-shaped things (I forget the name) were great.
La Pupusa Guanaca - Very cheap and delicious. The pupusas were better than the other items like the empanadas (not surprisingly).
Would have liked to try Tacos El Charro but they only do lunch fri-sun. So aside from the dinner only places, what else did I miss?
