jajjguy's Profile
Why is Moody's Falafel palace boarded up?
Longtime fan, mixed feelings about the new regime. I don't like the falafel anymore, mushy and bland (but great hot sauce). But I am now really digging the shwarma. My new fave is the "Mister Aleppo," with lamb shwarma, baba ganouj, and spicy foul. The new place is not the old place but, after adjustment, I like it.
Menton, Clio, or Craigie? Tasting menu blow-out for family. Recent expeiences?
My dissenting view: I think of Troquet as a place to go when you really want to drink some great old wine and don't much care what you are eating. The wine list is very deep, very impressive, and well priced. The food is BORING. Obviously just my opinion.
Craigie is great, their tasting menu dazzling and delicious, and their wine list is well-chosen and well-matched to the food, though mostly young.
O Ya is another good choice at this level for a tasting meal, if you're willing to drink good sake instead of wine. (They have wine, but I can't see drinking it with their food.)
Diner rec for Quebec visitor
It is adventurous, and likely to be surprising, and not in techno-modernist ways. I have enjoyed everything I've ever had there, though I know it doesn't work for everyone. If dining there is a risk, it is the right kind of risk.
Diner rec for Quebec visitor
Erbaluce would be a great replacement for Grotto. Their wine list is outstanding, and good value. Exclusively Italian, and filled with wines I haven't seen elsewhere. Their staff are very knowledgable about the wine. Great food too, much is written on this board about it.
Los Angeles Hound in Boston for 18 hours, what to do??
Holy effing spit, that is amazing! Thanks for the report, I had been anxiously wondering how you'd make out!
Looking for location in or around boston for a 30th birthday party for my husband.
Maybe rent out the former Enormous Room space. It's now empty and hosts the occasional private party. Probably phone Central Kitchen to inquire.
Mr. Swank and I are feuding over our birthday meal. Help save our marriage?
I was thinking of them too.
Dinner before the ballet - near Boston Opera House
Erbaluce is just a few blocks further. Great Italian wine list, with known heavy hitters and obscure wonders. Between the cafe/bar area and the dining room, there ought to be a good table for the grownups and kid alike. It's not a steakhouse, but there is plenty of good meat.
Bina's french wine selection is quite respectable, not dazzling.
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Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116
within walking distance to NEC Jordans' Hall
Depending what counts as walking distance for you, Deuxaves and Clio might qualify. Both are farther than Brasserie Jo and, to my taste, much better and also dressier.
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Brasserie Jo
120 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116
Deuxave
371 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Good late night study spots in the Boston area
i have done some good reading there. But yes, it's small and cramped.
Good late night study spots in the Boston area
Gourmet Express in Porter Sq is open all night. It's a glorified convenience store with a pretty good prepared food selection and tables and chairs.
Moody's Falafel Palace in Central is open til 3am on weekends (Wed - Sun I think ). No toilet, but pleasant.
You can camp out at the Harvard Science Center at all hours, though there's no late food or coffee.
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Moody's Falafel Palace
25 Central Sq, Cambridge, MA 02139
Gourmet Express
1864 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
Chef Michael Burgess - where is he now?
Most recently of Masona Grill, before that he had his own place Nightingale, then before that (in no particular order) Hamersley's, Eat, Vox Pop, maybe others. Anyone know where he's at now? A nostalgiac moment about the wonderful old Eat restaurant in Somerville has got me wondering. I could find nothing on Google more recent than Masona. Thanks.
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Masona Grill
4 Corey Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132
Masona Grill chef?
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but does anyone know what Michael Burgess has been up to since leaving Masona? Is he cooking anywhere in town now? Thanks.
Restaurant web sites and outdated information
Positively maddening.
BUT, I have found it to have no correlation with any other aspect of the restaurant's performance.
My favorite example is Central Kitchen (http://www.enormous.tv/central/index1.html) with the hilariously outdated "Kitchen Journal" from 2004.
Whaddayagonnado.
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Central Kitchen
567 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
Big date night sans baby- catch me up to Boston 2011!
Erbaluce. It's right around the corner, and it's one of the best places in town.
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Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116
tw food or Clio
I have been to TW many times and always enjoyed highly. I've been to Clio once and was underwhelmed, though we ordered a la carte. This is one person's one-time experience, so probably shouldn't weight too heavily in your decision. They are very different places.
Cheap Eats [Davis/Teele Square]
Angelina's is a quite respectable neighborhood sub shop.
Quiet place for hearing impaired guest
Anthony's Pier 4 fits the requirements. It is an odd place, though, do a search on this site.
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Anthony's Pier 4 Restaurant
140 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210
Erbaluce, Bondir or somewhere else for an anniversary?
Both are wonderful, and overall it's a toss up.
I'd give Bondir the edge on atmosphere. It's cozy, warm, and charming, while Erbaluce is a bit larger and less beautiful but still quite nice.
Both have excellent food that has made me scratch my head and wonder in a good way. Bondir is country french-inspired and leans heavily on animal fat, in an artful and yummy way. Erbaluce is lighter, less fat and salt, more herbal and veg flavors -- but they don't skimp on meat or volume, and you will leave full at either place.
Bondir's wine list is minimal, well chosen in a functional way but not a showpiece and, while not expensive, not especially good value either. Erbaluce has an extensive and super interesting list of obscure Italian wines covering the full range of prices, so if wine is your thing (as it is mine) that gives Erbaluce a big edge.
Either way, you win. Enjoy.
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Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116
Bondir
279 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
Need idea: casual breakfast meeting, adjacent to multiple T lines
South Street Diner?
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South Street Diner
38 South St, Westborough, MA 01581
Recommendations for old school/divey/gritty Boston spots - restaurants and bars (w/ or w/o food)
Whitney's in Harvard Sq.
The Middle East Restaurant
While we're at it, let's take a moment to recall the Cambridgeport Saloon, Tommy's Lunch, the Wursthaus, the Beehive (the Harvard Sq diner), the Tasty, Nick's Beef and Beer... ok that's enough
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Middle East Restaurant
472 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
Recommendations for old school/divey/gritty Boston spots - restaurants and bars (w/ or w/o food)
Yes to both! Get the twin lobsters at Mt V or the "sizzler" at Franks
Top 10 must go to Restaurants
Sure, this is as good a time as any for a favorites recap, more or less in order:
Erbaluce
Bergamot (Somerville)
TW Food (Cambridge)
O Ya
Craigie on Main (Cambridge)
Island Creek Oyster Bar
Neptune Oyster
Rendezvous (Cambridge)
other places of interest:
Deep Ellum
JoJo Taipei
Tu Y Yo (Somerville)
Hungry Mother (Cambridge)
Blue Room (Cambridge)
Central Kitchen (Cambridge)
Coppa
Estragon
Drink
Bondir (Cambridge)
and a few JP places: Doyle's, Dogwood, Ten Tables, Tres Gatos
welcome and enjoy!
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O Ya
9 East Street, Boston, MA 02111
Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St Ste 1, Boston, MA 02113
Central Kitchen
567 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
Hungry Mother
Cambridge, MA, Cambridge, MA
Deep Ellum Bar
477 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134
Ten Tables
5 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, MA 02138
Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116
The Blue Room
Hampshire and Portland streets, Cambridge, MA 02139
Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Island Creek Oyster Bar
500 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
Bondir
279 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
Tres Gatos
470 Centre St, Boston, MA 02130
Craigie on Main
Cambridge, Cambridge, MA
Where should I head to re-stock my bar?
As you're in Cambridge without a car, I suggest you check Liquor World in Porter Sq. One of the best selections of booze anywhere, very impressive for a small store. Lots of bitters too. And good prices, though not the very best. Also great beer, and fair wine.
What is the one fave dish you had in the greater boston area this year?
Mushroom ragout at Craigie.
Also a fantastic whole fish at Erbaluce, I think it was a flounder.
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Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116
Best Late Night Menu (post 11pm)
Not in Boston, but for others' benefit I heartily recommend the bar menu at Bergamot, available til midnight every day.
Boss in town - Where should we take him?
Another vote for Island Creek.
Craigie on Main would also be a great choice; caveat about changing menu applies here as well, but they seem always to have some excellent salmon dish (remember that arctic char and sea trout are salmon).
