SuzieCK's Profile
What's Up With Tempo in Waltham?
Saturday night. Early reservation. Not too crowded. Nice table. Good waitstaff. It's all good. Until the food arrives. This generally reliable bistro (local for us), turned out a truly bad night of food. We were a party of five adults, two very oldsters, but all with seasoned palates. Salads? Just ok. Pear & gorgonzola needed a touch more dressing. Dinners? Boneless spare ribs were surprisingly tough. Two of us ordered the steak special. Hers, asked for medium, came ultra-rare and had to be returned to the kitchen. Mine, asked for rare, was so poorly trimmed, that I exhausted myself trying to saw through sinew and gristle to get to about 2 inches worth of fat. Also pretty much raw rather than rare. Also had to be returned. Hoping for better results with dessert, our companion with a sweet tooth ordered the blonde brownie special with popcorn ice cream which the table discussed and decided was worth a try. The wrong dessert appeared and it wasn't until it was tasted that we discovered the error. By then, after a desultory dinner, we were all too tired and slightly cranky to wait to have the order replaced with the correct one although our kind waitress definitely offered. I saw the tab, picked up by my 91 year old Dad, and between drinks for three, two desserts, a little wine, one beer, and the offending steaks, he dropped just about $250 -- quite a lot for them. And way too much, in my humble opinion, for the kind of meal we were served. He was disappointed to have treated us all to such a disappointing meal. And so were we. It might have been just a bad night, but so many errors with no recognition of the lapeses in the subsequent check??? Meh. Won't be back soon.
Chau Chow City dim sum major disappointment
Well, Luther, my hope, of course, was that she had been trained with at least enough English to understand customers' most simple requests. I accompanied my request by appropriate gestures to help ameliorate the language barrier. Understand now?
Chau Chow City dim sum major disappointment
I'd arranged to take a dear friend out for dim sum, and although I hadn't eaten at Chau Chow City in a few years, I was drawn by their green-lipped mussels in a mayo-shallots-bechamel sauce. It had always been divine. We walked through the tired decor of the first floor and up to the dim sum area on second floor and were seated immediately. Good sign. Here are some observations in no particular order:
* This was New Year's Day and despite this, there wasn't a sense of hubbub that one gets in a truly good dim sum restaurant.
* Noted more Caucasian than Asian diners. Might be a sign. Might not.
* Not a lot of carts and all moving slowly.
* Ordered the Japanese eggplant with shrimp paste from the hot-cart and asked the server (who spoke no English) that it be served hot. It came to the table stone cold.
* Finally spied those mussels which I had remembered as hot and unctuous. You guessed it, cold and mussels rubbery.
* Pork dumplings were similarly cold -- the wrapper thick and unappealing.
* Lobster rice dumplings appeared to be half shrimp, half lobster.
* The vinyl tablecloths all look and feel generally grubby and the room in its entirety seems stale and worn out and vaguely unclean.
To sum up: Chau Chow City's food was significantly below par. Setting was unpleasant. 99% of serving staff were completely unable to understand English. And, to top it off, it was more expensive than my usual other favorite dim sum palace elsewhere in Chinatown. I do not plan to return.
Venue for dinner meeting for 5 people - Waltham / Rt 128 area?
Unless you can say why you wouldn't recommend a restaurant - the specifics--then do not make such blanket statements. They add nothing to our body of information and are really worth nothing.
Venue for dinner meeting for 5 people - Waltham / Rt 128 area?
I can speak for the food. I've been twice in the past two months with friends and family. First, the service is thoughtful, attentive and very pleasant. Second, the food was outstanding. A special ceviche was terrif and we wanted more!!! Food is plentiful, flavorful, and presented in a lovely way. One evening there was a great 3-piece music group playing quiet salsa and samba and tango, just the perfect background...not too intrusive,. I would go back there for special occasions and just a weeknight treat. Plus, the room is a stunner! Don't miss it and there is tons of free parking!
Gustazo Cuban Cafe - Belmont - Looks Open
I've been awaiting the opening of Gustazo since I see it every day on the corner of School St. and Belmont St. when I'm on the Waverly bus line. Now it looks as though it's open. Has anyone eaten there yet. I'm hoping to go soon. Will try a Cubano first, then venture farther afield. The prospect of some delish Cuban food in my 'hood warms my heart. Hope to be pleasantly surprised.
-----
Gustazo Cuban Cafe
289 Belmont St.,, Belmont, MA 02478
Local 149 in Southie Flavorful Choice for Summer Supper & Beer
A few weeks ago a friend and I were searching for something good in Southie (there is so little worth mentioning) and I found Local 149. It was a night of the Bruins finals so the bar and in fact entire restaurant were mind-numbingly loud, but I'm presuming that's not a regular thing. The food was highly flavorful and a pleasant surprise. I had the raw tuna which was meant to be a riff on a fish taco, but it arrived in a red cabbage leaf with fritos around the sides for a touch of the taco. The serving was quite small, the flavors big, and I didn't get the red cabbage at all. My friend had the tuna burger which was large and perfectly done - almost enough for two. We ordered the special fries which we nearly ate all of because they were so addictive. Couple of problems:: Noise is a biggie as I said. Also, the plates are really big and the tables really small. Makes you feel like a bull in a china shop and getting up from the table when you're done is a challenge and you're likely to spill someone else's drink at the next table. However, that said, I'm ready to try more of the menu. The tables are so close together that if you had a mind to, you could just spear a sample of your neighbor's food. Likewise, private conversation is just about out. That said, we liked the vibe and the service which was uber-friendly, and as Ahnold says, "I'll be baaaack....."
-----
Local 149
149 P St, Boston, MA 02127
Lovely Dinner at Justine's
In Austin from Boston for just 2 days and needing a respite from visiting a very ill friend in hospital, went to Justine's with a couple who are newly-arrived to Austin from Boston. We got piggy with the escargots which were just the right touch of garlicky - not too. Friend's husband sopped up the remaining butter which put a deep smile on his face. I had the small shrimp salad and the superb creme brulee, but when I tasted my dining companions' steak and frites, and the heavenly pork chop (must'v been brined to remain so juicy), I wish I'd ordered more. To the service, our waiter couldn't have been warmer or more attentive. And when I requested Wilson Pickett on the turntable, the happy bartender complied in a NY minute. My friends have decided to return to Justine's many times, and when I'm back in town, so will I. Only complaint: the chairs could be more comfortable, but maybe it's just my tush.
Larry J's House of Q in Chelsea Satisfies Your Jones for BBQ
Gee...Ours was really nicely smokey and Larry says he's taken some heat from customers for serving brisket minus that delicious fat. So he's in an odd place, damned if he trims, damned if he doesn't. You can always ask him not to trim it and he won't and you'll be so happy. Participant diners ALWAYS get the better meal and Larry encourages it!
Andros Diner - Belmont - 35 years later and 84K owed to state
Sorry to report that as of yesterday, 4-11-2011, the orange SEIZED sign was firmly in place at Andros and there was no sign of life. Very sad for those pasticcio lovers among us.
Your Culinary Rosebud
Here are a couple of special food memories for me...
1. Being taken to one of the earliest Japanese restaurants in NYC - the Miyako - where they brought a brasier to your table and made sukiyaki right in front of you. I was about 12 (it was the late '50s) and it was delicious and I was smitten by it all. My great aunt brought me there and I remember feeling so grown up and elegant and I remember the silky, whiteness of the hand-made tofu.
2. One of the early very special destination restaurants of my youth was when my parents took us to La Fonda del Sol in NYC (owned by Restaurant Associates, I think - who also owned Windows on the World I think) for some of the most delicious paella ever. Gorgeous Mexican artwork tucked into brightly colored, lit little alcoves in the walls right next to the table. Again, I was probably only 11 or so, but I still have a deep sensory memory of the look and feel of that place.
Thanks for reminding me of these great memories.
Larry J's House of Q in Chelsea Satisfies Your Jones for BBQ
Ooooo. Those fried pickles were great. Plenty of heat, good dipping sauce, nice crunch, and then that tangy vinegar jolt that gets you right in the back of your jaws. All in all one of those perfect foods done just right at Larry J's House of Q. Start off your meal with those and you'll be a very happy camper.
Larry J's House of Q in Chelsea Satisfies Your Jones for BBQ
When you're hankering for some Q, nothing else will really do. And when you're tired of the usual spots, head (easily) to Chelsea to this terrific place where the brisket is fatty (trimmed if you want) and deliciously smoky all the way through. Sauce on the side, of course. Oh my. And when you order the pulled chicken, you get your cThe jerk pulled pork is hot but not too hot, and you will want to order more. Don't forget the meatless collards that are also vinegary and satisfying. Another side we tried was the candied yams and although Larry was mum on the ingredients that his talented wife brings to the dish, I'm suspecting cinnamon, clove and perhaps a touch of allspice. Not too mushy and full of flavor.
This is not necessarily your "fall off the bone" Q, but folks in the know realize that often chefs pre-boil their ribs to get them to that stage. Instead, Larry let's the BBQ fire do its work and the results are flavorful, toothsome, and some mighty fine finger food.
The place is a handsome high-ceilinged space (former car dealership) with lots of windows and when the good weather finally comes, some tables outside. There's butcher paper for plates and a potential liquor license in the works. It's light and airy and Larry's background music is 60's and 70's soul. Just right. They've even put in a child-height blackboard for kids to amuse themselves while the adults are seriously yumming it up. though this is also food that kids will want to dig in to. Plus, the place is spotless. My group agreed that we'd be back often and we hope that other Chowhounds will venture to Chelsea for this truly soulful food. You can see their menu at www.larryshouseofq.com
Cantonese Restaurants
Stripe...
Do you remember Yee Hong Guey in Chinatown? Delicious Cantonese fare about 30 years ago. Is there anything to compare to it these days? Something with a fine, delicate lobster sauce, for instance. Sometimes, I just crave those soul soothing foods.
ISO Dim Sum-Sit Down in SF (First Dim Sum experience)
I'm heading to Tiburon next week and will be able to grab late afternoon-early evening dim sum on my way to the airport. Willing to take a cab from Ferry Building but these posts are all over the map. Where can I find dim sum a reasonable cab ride from the Ferry Building in the late afternoon of a weekday that's authentic and yum? Help!
Om in Harvard Sq Disappoints
We were excited to have a Groupon coupon for $50 worth of food and bev at Om where we'd never been before. Walked in to lovely waterfallish wall, and then, blam, amid the Indian murals and carvings, three wide screen tvs set to all sports all the time. No matter, we were directed to the upstairs dining where calm reigned supreme. Lovely, if very low lighting (for middle-aged eyes), and a very lovely waitstaff. Decided upon 2 appetizers - the grilled octopus and the tuna tartare. First, we were given a small espresso cup amuse bouche billed as miso-sweet potato soup. We tasted only miso and it was quite salty. The octopus was especially tender but much too salty. The tuna - sublime, with a little crunch of panko and perhaps some almonds, sitting on cucumber in a lovely long rectangular presentation. Nice hint of chili oil made it a real winner. Then for dinner I had just the Kobe beef dumplings. They were cold, mostly flavorless, with a sauce that looked and tasted mostly like canned beef gravy, and a few solo mushrooms on the top. The dish lacked zing or even a lovely, homey quality and was a one-note bore. My dining partner ordered the vegetarian Thai soup and was given a lovely big bowl that, sadly, had to be returned. Expecting multiple notes of sweet, salty, sour, hot, etc., she got only soy sauce flavor with no depth and again, too salty. She reluctantly sent it back and was offered another choice and opted for a second batch of the tuna tartare. Having not overeaten, we opted for the chili-brownie with salted caramel (chewy, a nice hit of heat, but a little grainy), and the Meyer-lemon compote over a nice, light creme. The compote was really as dense as a marmalade, if not more chewy. Good if you like that sort of thing. Not so good if you're expecting a compote. The staff was, as I said, very accommodating, kind and patient, and we're not usually folks who complain or send things back. But we had been so excited and the online menu was so tempting, that the disappoint in our meal was, I think, heightened. The chef needs to taste his food. Less salt. More depth of flavor and layers of flavor and he'll have a winner. Just not yet.
-----
OM Restaurant and Lounge
92 Winthrop St., Cambridge, MA 02138
Kumquats - where to find right now?
I just bought and had the ones at Russo's. Delish. Sweet. Fresh.Plump. Yum.
Mulan in Waltham, replacing Beijing Star
I'm with StriperGuy on this. Their special menu of more unusual fare was delightful with things I'd not seen on any other Chinese restaurant. Wonderful porky, cabbagey, wintery dishes and other things. Plus, the people at Beijing Star could not have been more pleasant and accommodating. Sorry to miss them.
-----
Beijing Star Restaurant
835 Main St, Waltham, MA 02451
Upcoming chef? Local sourcing? Southern food? Or just yummy, midweek dinner, affordable, DC?
I'll be in DC for a conference in mid-October, staying in Georgetown. Meeting an old family friend for dinner. Want affordable southern food or really good eating spot where I CAN get a reservation. Seafood? Southern? Local ingredients? Must just be yummy and not break the bank. Ideas?
Decent lunch near South Station?
For a work mate:
Where can a hungry young man on a bit of a budget take a colleague out for a solid, good tasting, American food-type lunch near South Station in Boston?
ground lamb ideas?
I'm a foodie who had a gastric bypass 6 years+ ago and I've found that my systm much prefers ground lamb to ground beef--must be lower on the food chain. So I always have it. In fall and winter I make a ground lamb stew, Greek style, with tomatoes, big chunks of anise bulb, green beans, tomatoes and a bit handful of dried mint, garlic, lemon juice, and bake the whole thing in a Dutch oven or on the stovetop for about an hour. Meltingly tangy and superbly satisfying. Especially when you drop a few little lumps of feta on top before serving.
Good dim sum in New Haven or around CT?
I'm coming to CT from Boston and looking for good dim sum. Is there any to be found in southern CT?
First Timer Visits Hammersleys
We were looking for great food, quiet unrushed atmosphere, a bit of elegance, and a "grown up" dining experience. We found that last night at Hammersleys. It was my treat to a good gal-pal and we were there for dinner. After reading up online, we shared the mushroom, garlic sandwich as an appetiser. Three kinds of mushers strewn between two pieces of what may have been brioche, each one gently coated with a deeply rich garlic puree. Enough for an entree and mouth-awakening in its subtlety.
Then she had the steelhead trout with garlic, lemon, and capers -- I hah the roasted chicken which lived up, and then some, to its reputation as succulent (how do they DO that?) and beyond any other chicken I've ever eaten. Waiter informed us that they were Bell and Evans chickens -- always a good bet. Mindful of our already full stomachs, we shared the spiced pear upside-down cake with cranberry sorbet. The sorbet was astringent and just the essence of cranberry. The pear upsy downer was warm, only slightly sweet, and the kind of gentle desert you want after a blow out. Under it all was a brilliant claret-colored zigzag of cranberry puree and the whole dish was dotted with sugared individual cranberries. Oh my. We even treated ourselves to the valet parking (which, in the neighborhood, is generally much needed. The car park guy again recommended the chicken and then as a close second, the duck confit.
From start to finish it was a glorious experience. My budget won't allow for many repetitions, but for special occasions, it is worth it in every way. We felt pampered, attended to, well and deliciously fed, and walked out saying to each other, "Hmmm. Let's go back in right now and do it all over again." Thank you Gordon Hammersley.
Ball Elite canning jars
Check out the Ben Franklin store in Cushing Sq. Belmont for canning stuff.
Big Flavors at Shanghai Gate
Yesterday (Saturday), a small but intrepid trio of Chowhounders ventured to Allston to Shanghai Gate to address a significant Shanghainese 'jones' and it didn't disappoint. As for Shanghai Gate, it was my first time and it was splendid. We began with a cold sliced duck appetizer (Chef''s Duck) which was steamed and cooked with lots of star anise and had plenty of good fatty bits. A very generous portion for an appetizer, but we could have eaten lots more of it.
Then, we ordered the wild veg and five-spice tofu dish which I expected to be hot, but instead was a cold little dish of finely chopped deep green veggies (maybe parsley, kale, couldn't really tell) punctuated by tiny tiny bits of aromatic 5-spice flavored tofu. Very refreshing and unusual. I may have to ask them to identify the veggies so that I can replicate it.
Then, we ordered the steamed pork belly which arrived surrounded by lovely celadon green steamed baby bok choy and some knots of tofu skin. This dish was amazing and beautiful to behold with a deep dark and sweetish sauce. Rich and porky and fatty in the best possible way.
Finally, we finished up with a whole fish cooked with tons of garlic and a spicy meat sauce. I'm not a big fish person, but this I could eat over and over. It had lots of chunks of deeply rich chopped shitaki mushrooms (which took on their own beefy nature), tons of garlic, a nice bit of meat making the whole fish tasting meaty but light like fish at the same time. Big mouth feel. Good spark of heat. Afterward, the waitress told us it was tilapia but I am doubtful. It was a little too small and I'll have to look up what a tilapia looks like before I agree. Nonetheless, again, quite yum. I definitely want to go back there again, this time with a bigger group so we can order more more more.
We arrived just at noon and by 12:30 it was nearly full. Great fast service -- bringing everything out just as it was ready. Always a fine idea in my book.
New Haven - Branford - mid-coast area suggestions
I'll be house sitting 1st week in October in Stony Creek and want to explore some interesting (and not break-the-bank) chow while I'm there. I'd be happy to hear recommendations for the following:
1. Good sushi
2. Really good Mexican
3. Best Sichuan
4. Fresh, inventive chef doing yummy things...
Any ideas most welcome.
Suzieck
Lunch in Harvard Sq. Want Yummy Food, Reas. Price. Ideas?
I'm meeting up with one of my girlfriends for lunch tomorrow in Harvard Sq. Meeting there due to ease of public transportation.
She is Taiwanese who prefers Italian, I'm a foodie, but with not much money. Is there something that will tickle our tastebuds in the Square (or north of that we could walk to?
Ethnic OK. It's been so long since I actually ate a real meal in the Square that I can't think of where to go.
Casablanca? Snooze
Algiers? More snooze
Chili's? Don't even ask.
Oh for the days of the Blue Parrot...
HELP!
Suzieck
Floating Rock - Whew!
Adding to Cassis, Galangatron et al, Floating Rock was a wonderful example of the most humble cuisine, elevated by the freshest ingredients so that they positively explode in your mouth! I should add that 11 of us ate heartily and with tip, it came to a mere $16.50 per person. I especially loved the POW of the beef salad appetizer and I admired the gumption of many in our crew who dug into the truly funky "curried pickled fish with coconut milk" --an acquired taste. Elephant Walk in Waltham does a similar kind of dish - less funky - more of a sweet and sour seasoned ground pork that it serves with fried rice crackers that look like fried rice crispies in a block. Great for dipping. Thanks to Galangatron for his deep knowledge of this Cambodian food and for generously sharing it with us and guiding us along the way.
Really good lunch btwn Hartford & New Haven?
I have a 'blind' date for lunch the Sat after Thanksgiving. We've agreed to meet halfway between Hartford & New Haven. Looking for a nice plce that's not too too expensive, but not Chili's or a chain. Prefer if it was fairly easy to get to off Rt. I-91. Any ideas?
Good Ethnic Food in Southie?
Where can we go for a really yummy meal in Southie that's not pub grub or Ahmrein's?
