MaineRed's Profile
Where do you buy your veggies/greens after Thanksgiving?
Figure out a way to get to Wilson Farms in Lexington if you can!
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Wilson Farm
10 Pleasant St, Lexington, MA 02421
Restaurant you have to cut through a grocery store to get to?
The place you are thinking of (I think) is Vinny's Superette in Somerville (Broadway off of McGrath). It is very good red sauce Italian, but you need reservations for Friday/Saturday nights and expect a "mama's table" type vibe (as in nothing very fancy and big portions). Make sure you get the side of broccoli rabe and the lasagna is pretty good.
There are so many hidden gems, you need to be more specific :) The Modern Pastry shop in Medford Square is a great hit if you aren't near the North End. And in the same square is Mystic Coffee Roasters, which has fantastic coffee. Go to Verna's Donuts on Mass Ave for the last true donut in Cambridge. Guru the Caterer in Somerville has amazingly good and cheap Indian food (other end of Broadway).
Have fun!
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Modern Pastry
20 Salem St, Medford, MA
Verna's Donut Shop
2344 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
Guru the Caterer
1297 Broadway, Somerville, MA
Mystic Coffee Roaster
30 Riverside Ave, Medford, MA 02155
Fantastic meal at Journeyman in Somerville
@wea74 -- you hit the nail right on the head. I went for the 5-course veg, and DC had the omnivore. We loved the space but you immediately noticed the lack of music and personality of the place (yes, it's beautiful). Service was good, if not really long between courses. I don't mind a 3-hour meal at Craigie, here tho, with the sterile vibe I just didn't *want* to hang around that long. There were plenty of very sweet surprises with various amuse bouche, a sparkling rose, and a delicious chocolate platter (which was not dessert).
The problem: we just had an outrageous similar coursed home-run meal in Minneapolis (!) and it was so unforgettable that, in comparison, Journeyman had no chance.
I critical because I want a story: I want the flavors of the season to speak to me throughout. While I enjoyed the "eggs and breakfast potatoes" it had little continuity to the root veggies and other more seasonal flavors. DC's pork was OK. And forgive me, but I think all tables should have very good salt and pepper on them. (Apparently I like salt.)
I also quibble with the little things, like the bread: it was not great but also undersalted with that consistency home-made bread gets when you don't bake it right: the clammy doughy bottom.
I love that this place is in Somerville. To compare it to other institutions, tho Gargoyles just has better food and it also creates that welcoming story/vibe. Considering this place is the same price range as Craigie, my inclination is to risk the heart-attack of the delicious rich food there and skip Journeyman.
As beer geeks, we love the fact that they serve Pretty Things (best beer in Boston), but only serving 22oz ($12) bottles of only these domestic beers could be a problem to those who actually can't/don't want to drink that much (no draft beers).
I think they'll get better over time as they create their own ways of doing things and become less academic/by the book. And I do look forward to the spring/summer flavors. I have high hopes for this place--as in I want to love you so don't make it so hard :)
Two people with a bottle of wine = $230 with tip
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Journeyman
9 Sanborn Ct, Somerville, MA 02143
Where to get Dogfish Head 120 Min IPA in Boston?
Downtown Liquors in Davis Square too. Also try the typical awesome array of beer bars we have: Redbones, Cambridge Commons, Deep Ellum, Lord Hobo, Publick House, American Craft and Atwoods.
I've seen it around, but can't remember exactly where :) (see above list of haunts).
Also, you should ask the Beer Board on Chowhound or Beer Advocate. There are lots of amazing IPAs out, especially from the West Coast, and you may find another that you like.
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Cambridge Common
1667 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
Redbones
55 Chester St, Somerville, MA 02144
Publick House
1648 Beacon St, Brookline, MA
Deep Ellum Bar
477 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134
Lord Hobo
92 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02141
American Craft
1700 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445
Double Birthday Celebration- Where would you go for dinner if money weren't an object?
Craigie and Oleana for sure. I like the tasting menus for a long night with lots of wine :)
Five Favorite Places to Eat Among Frequent/Veteran CH Posters?
I'll stick to Medford/Davis Sqr--and our local places:
Chili Garden, Medford (excellent Schezuan, DC loooves the green peppers and mustard chicken)
Redbones (mostly for the beer and Tuesday turkey dinner)
Renee's Cafe, Holland St, Somerville (breakfast)
Guru the Caterer (delish and not heavy Indian food; www.guruthecaterer.com)
Craigie on Main (fancy/special occasion)
Lord Hobo
Lord Hobo's dark and red interior has more room than the B-Side (no more crowded walk to the bathroom) and is fairly comfortable. I was really hoping the bartenders would be some of the beer geeks from about town, but I think the staff from the Beehive and Marlaive will come into their own. BTW: tell me about the beer, don't automatically give me a sample.
(@bee: Lord Hobo is not for kids, but that's my opinion.)
The prohibitively priced food menu (a $13 hamburger and a $21 Shepard's pie is so 2007) is easily ignored compared to the fantastic beer list. A very unusual draft beer list for the States and true beer connoisseurs will gladly add The Hobo to the phenomenal and burgeoning craft beer circuit in Boston. Beers are priced $6-10 and poured fairly into corresponding glassware (also, the alcohol and ounce pour is listed, but some description of the beer would be nice).
Publick House and Lord Hobo differentiate themselves from the other good "gastropubs" by having a broad and carefully selected lineup of imported craft beer (Belguims and more) and some stellar domestic choices. And both have beer lists that far surpass the food.
The Independent, Redbones, Atwoods (current favorite for food and beer), Deep Ellum, and Cambridge Commons are all fantastic for their selection of microbrews from across the country. Great choices for everyday beer and grub (tho reserving comment on the new chef at the Indo).
Starlight cannot be added to the "gastropub" category or really be considered a serious contender for beer geeks (small selection, not interesting, not the focus of their drink menu). And after a couple of visits, the food is nothing to write home about with all the great choices in Inman. You cannot compare Starlight w/The Hobo, Hungry Mother, or any other real restaurant.
Anniversary dinner for a beerhound
Great question. Sadly, I think you'll have to choose food or beer--or maybe make the special occasion part not the part at the restaurant ;)
I've found the Independent to be hit or miss lately w/the food but a great beer list.
Highland Kitchen in Somerville has a pretty good list and great food: more of a gastropub atmosphere.
Hungry Mother in Kendall has a limited selection of drafts, but great food.
Gargoyle's in Davis has great food and a few good drafts
If you can: go to Armsby Abbey in Worchester: amazing localvore food and fantastic beerlist (heavy on the Belgiums) -- really is worth the drive!
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Highland Kitchen
150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143
Hungry Mother
Cambridge, MA, Cambridge, MA
Armsby Abbey
144 Main Street, Worcester, MA
What is going on with the Lord Hobo?
Walked by today and peeked in. I am not an expert, but it looks like they have a ways to go :(
They did keep the horseshoe bar (or at least it's still there now).
ISO "localvore" restaurant downtown--lobster a plus
A foodie friend will be in from Seattle and I want to impress him with one of our equally awesome "localvore" restaurants; however, we need to be at South Station for an event. Where in Boston (not Cambridge or Brookline :( can I find something like Blue Room, Oleana, Harvest, The Cellar, etc? Something typically Boston, but good, would fit the bill as well. Price ~25pp.
Lobster is a plus--I thought I heard a restaurant was doing a "lobster bailout" special...
Off the top of my head:
Silvertone
Marliave
Thank you!
where to buy chocolate covered sunflower seeds in Cambridge, MA ??
Pemberton Farms on Mass Ave had them at one point. Def. WFM.
Tasca - is it common not to seat incomplete parties? [moved from Boston board]
I agree with you StriperGuy-- always clarify w/the host that you are losing your reservation for the entire party because of your late friends and then just go somewhere else. It sounded like the GM was trying to work with you, but there's not much you can do--especially on a busy night.
House rules: you gotta follow them.
Report on the FOOD at Roadhouse, post-smoker, night 1
I'm giving the RH a bit of leeway here because they just updated their menus that this might not have been printed. Sorry that you felt the server didn't give you a good answer, but the bartenders there could talk your ears off about beer.
This place has one of *the* best beer lists in Massachusetts--let's hope the food can follow suit.
You might want to read this too, as celeriac mentions about the glassware: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware
Thank you gift for foodie parents
There's nothing worse than getting a gift card w/no amount on it and then having to ask someone how much it's for. It's a thank you gift, it's OK to have the amount on the certificate and makes it much easier to give it to them and they'll TAKE IT. If you get more complicated, it'll get very awkward and they'll just say no. If you place restrictions on what they can eat and when (some tasting menus are restricted by day/time), that's annoying too. Perhaps Craigie on Main, B&G Oysters, some place in the North End, but L'Espalier is a good start.
Cooking classes at Cambridge Culinary School (www.cambridgeculinary.com) for the two of them would be a sweet thought too.
Help! DC Foodie in Boston for about 28 hours.
There is no place in Boston that serves really good food and beer and is also on the water. Also, if there is a Sox game that night, have a Plan B--lots of crowds.
I would roam around the North End and grab some lovely picnic items from the Italian groceries and head out to one of the parks (http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/placestogo/location.php?nid=3&sid=18).
In Kenmore:
Lower Depths has a great beer selection but mediocre food
Audubon Circle has fancier good pub food
Eastern Standard is a good choice
On the Green Line:
Publick House at Washington Square
Washington Tavern at Washington Square
Bukowski's at Back Bay/Hynes (great beer selection)
Breakfast/diners:
Back Bay: Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe
Downtown: Mike's City Diner (24x7; mikescitydiner.com)
Green Street Grill: closing?
From the Herald (http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view/2009_05_11_Goth_gossip:_ManRay_to_be_resurrected/srvc=home&position=also)
"Defunct Cambridge Goth club ManRay may rise from the dead...Speculation is that Holland has his eye on the Green Street Grill, located around the corner from the old ManRay site."
Any one have more info on this rumor? I like the current GSG incarnation.
And the best dish I've had so far in 2009 is...
Oh, that was so good...I was going to mention that too.
Looking for a good Breakfast spot near Medford!
Most places will have a wait on a Sunday...not many places nicer than a diner unless you want brunch, but you might consider:
- Bickford's in Burlington
- Lighthouse Cafe in Medford
- Johnny D's in Meford
- Renee's Cafe in Somerville
Soundbites...first time/Next door...
as yumyum said, this is a long and drawn out battle over breakfast in Ball Square and there's plenty of history on the board.
The food is almost the same at Soundbites and Ball Square Cafe for breakfast--so it's your own tastes that may prefer one or the other. I will usually go to BSC because I carry a grudge for Yasser's past rudeness :) but really the public fight between both establishments is embarrassing and very old--there's plenty of room for both.
And I'll go back to Soundbites for beer and baseball once the bar reopens.
best pancakes in boston?
Hm. Unlike the most memorable pancakes I've ever had (Moab, UT Jailhouse Cafe: gingerbread), I can't think of many places that don't have standard, sweet, institutional batter pancakes.
Cranberry & pecan pancakes at Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe in the Back Bay: awesome combo even if it's your basic pancake mix. Ambiance = priceless.
Banana and walnut pancakes at Ball Square Cafe, Somerville: so tasty, loaded pancakes, basic batter. Also a good choice, the fresh fruit topped version.
Soundbites has a wide variety (Ball Sqr. Somerville) too.
Center St., in general, is awesome.
Post back what you find :)
Winter 2009 Restaurant Week Reviews
Gargoyle's on Saturday night was phenomenal. Got two prime seats at the bar and didn't plan on going w/RW but couldn't help it. I had the delicious tart w/goat cheese--it had fried olives, truffles, and a small arugula salad. Main: risotto arancini with truffle and (I think) parsnip puree. Dessert: chocolate ganache cake.
DC had: cold mint and pea soup with brisket. He was surprised how much he liked it. Main: a phenomenal tuna steak (coq au vin style) with mashed potatoes and a delicious gravy. Dessert: pound cake with fresh berries and vanilla whipped cream.
Wine was a generous pour--house Pinot Noir for $7.50. It was a fantastic meal. I believe they do RW all month. The choices are plentiful on the menu.
"Roadhouse Craft Beer and BBQ "
Went last night after 2 miserable previous visits. (The first one was w/in 2 weeks of opening, which we all know isn't a good thing. The second was just for beers but the bartender was wretched.)
Sat at the bar. Fantastic beer selection, which is really why we go. The menu has been redone (again) and is:
1) easier to read
2) much more cohesive
3) pretty good
I had the catfish fingers, which were more like catfish arms compared to Redbone's catfish knuckles. For $10 I was skeptical, but it was more than plenty and I couldn't eat them all. They were excellent. Great cole slaw too.
DC had the pulled pork sandwich and declared it better than Redbones and "as good as Blue Ribbon, if I had the hot sauce." Sweet potato fries were only OK, but the mashed potatoes were delicious, much more like BRBBQ than Bones.
We'll be back. I think Jake finally has the kitchen running. It helped that we were chatting to an off duty bartender for quite a while and he was pretty honest about making changes.
I think they're making the changes they need--let's be honest, there's a lot riding on this place and this economy won't support mediocrity.
Trader Joe's out of the Fresh Pond project
Also, the Boston Globe ran this article: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/02/08/city_developers_see_alewife_boom/ "A Trader Joe's supermarket and other stores will occupy the new building rising where a Ground Round restaurant stood. "
last month. So, I'm *assuming* they wouldn't have mentioned TJ's unless it was a done deal.
best place for food & beer
Actually, we're pretty lucky to have restaurants putting such careful thought into their beer selection--as seen in this thread :)
You could put together serious bar crawl :)
I'll add Highland Cafe in Somerville to the list--only 4 taps but they are all good and lots of bottles. Great food.
Charlie's Kitchen has a pretty good list for a dive; food is, well, dive bar-ish, but I love the grilled cheese.
Christopher's (Cambridge Common sister restaurant) has a good list too; food is mediocre.
check out beeradvocate.com
Sunset Bar and Grill
Sunset is worth going in for apps I guess, but be forewarned that they will be out of ~25% of the draught list--have 3-5 backup choices ready.
Deep Ellum has a great beer list, only OK food.
Publick House has the best Belgium beer list in town and a good list of domestic draugh microbrews. However, my favorite bartender is no longer there and we don't go after 6 on most nights because of the crowds (sigh). They open at 4 on the weekend.
The Roadhouse (same owners, just up the street) has a phenomenal domestic microbrew list, only OK food and amazingly disinterested bartenders (sigh).
The Independent isn't worth a detour (only ~5 better than average taps).
Redbones (BBQ), Cambridge Common, and Cambridge Brewing Company (Will is doing some great things there) are all worthy stops if you happen to be in the 'hood.
Foodie visitor from NYC, where to go?
Green Street is a good call too...this is my list:
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Garden At the Cellar
991 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
ZA
138 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02474
Gargoyles On the Square
219 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144
Tryst
689 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02720
Highland Kitchen
150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143
Favorite Boston food writer
MC Slim JB writes for every local publication, but is a chowhound through and through and my favorite critic not just in Boston but most cities.
Devra has a lot to learn. Nadaeu from the Phoenix is pretty good.
The Independent, Union Sqr: shake up in the kitchen
We were there tonight and the chef got fired. I don't know any other details.
The quality has decreased significantly in the past 6 months and the service is even worse. Although the beer selection is still quite good.
(Shhh. Don't tell anyone: they are pouring double IPAs in pint glasses and charging the same price as any other beer.)
Your favorite inexpensive, spicy meals?
Chili Garden in Medford Square: order off the Schezuan menu--kung pao chicken (I always ask them to make it w/tofu instead) is a safe bet for non-adventurous spice lovers. SO just had the chicken with mustard and peppers--there were huge chunks of jalapeno, almost inedible but it was so spicy and good :) Mulan in Kendall is fantastic too.
Porter Square mall--the little kiosk that specializes in noodle soups for spicy brothy goodness
Le's for noodle soup in Harvard Square--I get the veggie & tofu vermacelli and load it up with Rooster sauce...
Mike's Pizza in Davis: Hot Spicy Pizza: W/ pepperoni, hot sausages, hot cherry, peppers, sauce and mozzarella--pretty good!
Namaskar in Davis: Lunch buffet is actually very nicely spiced, not make your nose run...but for a buffet it's great.
Greek Corner on Mass Ave: get any sandwich and ask for it to be spicy (Rooster sauce) with extra tzatziki -- theirs is the best -- so so garlicky. Or, just the tzatzkiki appetizer with pita...
good luck!
Highland Cafe and Biltmore Grill
The only reason we don't go to Highland Kitchen more often is because it's so packed we can't get a seat. The food is good, consistently good. The prices are fair for this mid-range type of food, the beer choices excellent, and as a vegetarian, I can always find something tasty. Definitely our default choice for Somerville.
For the neighborhood, if not city, it's one of the best for comfort food+. (I also like the bar at Gargoyles, never had a bad meal at B-Side, but was very disappointed with the Independent on my last visit ).
