egc's Profile
North End recs? (carbonara, gnocci, and frutti di mare)
Good carbonara (the real thing) at Monica's (the one on richmond though I imagine they're both equally good). My favorite in Boston; and I try it wherever it is served. Excellent gnocchi too. All pasta there is homemade. Have not tried the Frutti di Mare there, off the top of my head I don't know if it's on the menu. Not sure how it compares to Bina, haven't been there yet.
Summer 2009 openings and closings
They just got approval 2 weeks ago from the neighborhood committee
Rabia's, Monica's, Euno, or Galleria 33?
would strongly recommend Monica's of that group, esp. for pasta, which is homemade there. Don't believe this is the case at the others.
sandwiches to go in JP
I would say everyone has nailed it, though my personal favorite is real deal. It also has far and away the widest selection. I find cityfeed a bit overrated and excrutiatingly slow. Actually, one thing many of these places share (city feed, ula, real deal, canto6) is that they have possibly the slowest service you ever will find at a sandwich place. CF winds the prize as the slowest. It's actually hard for me to fathom why they are so slow. Possibly a combination of the JP approach to organizing your business (disorganized) combined with the hipster work ethic (very deliberate). Call ahead.
Purple Cactus is faster but pretty mediocre for burritos, IMO.
Authentic food near Nikko Hotel Polanco
Thank you for all responses. Loved the streed vendors. I did eat at El Bajio as well, which was great. Honestly, everything I ate was amazing. Just wanted to avoid the tourist traps, but I think even they were excellent.
tostones?
You are right, it is South American. My gringo palatte cannot taste the difference, other than the delicious sauce.
tostones?
Don Ricardo's, a great famil owned place in the South End, has tostones with a great dipping sauce that I haven''t had anywhere else. I think it's garlic/carrot.
Authentic food near Nikko Hotel Polanco
THis is a long shot on short notice but was wondering if anyone could recommend some good, typical authentic food nearby. Preferably what folks here eat.
Thanks!
Espresso Machine Repair Shop - Boston Metro?
orchidea, let me know who you go with and what your impressions are. I have a machine that needs repair as well. Thanks!
Himalayan Bistro lately?
I get take out probably once per month there since they opened. Love it. I live in JP so I skip the two places there (which are decent) to go to WR. Glad that they may open a place closer to me. Very nice people too.
Winter 2008/2009 Openings and Closings
Hiddenboston, Mi Tierra Restaurant in Jamaica Plain closed and was replaced by Royal Fried Chicken. The address of both is/was 3383 Washington Street JP. I wish I could tell you the month; I think it was October.
Joy Rice China Cafe also opened nearby, at 3510 Washington. It's been getting decent responses. It opened in October, I think.
Comella's in Brookline?
Very funny that some of the recollections are from (currently or formerly) pregnant ladies. When my wife was pregnant last year, she was sending me once a week to West Roxbury (we live in JP) to pick up a family sized portion of the prosciutto and caramelized onion ravioli.
Delicious, good for multiple meals. I recall that the ravioli and some of the pastas are homemade.
JP Latin America Restaurants Recommendations
Thanks. What did you like at Yely's?
I didn't see Tropicale. There was a place right on Centre, I think on the corner of Chestnut, that has closed and is now housing a tax service.
JP Latin America Restaurants Recommendations
Got it. Sorry. I'll look out for it when the weather is warm and post.
JP Latin America Restaurants Recommendations
Thanks to everyone who has replied. I tried Alex's Chimis and very much enjoyed my chimi de pierna (pork), tostones and empanada. Especially the chimi.
On another note, I took a stroll down the rest of Centre St from Hyde Square down to Jackson square and here are my thoughts. Besides Miami, La Papusa, El Oriental, Tacos al Charro and Alex's (restaurants people have already mentioned) I did not see very many restaurants.
There were about three pizzerias, several small markets, and a Chinese place. Also a bakery and a coffee shop (maybe either served food). There was another restuarant called Latino Restaurant. Anyone tried that? Fredid, I must have missed Madego's, I just didn't see it.
There's another Latin American food restaurant on Amory St, a bit of a hole in the wall, that I tried a while back. I thought it was so-so. And there are 2-3 LA restaurants on Washington Street near Canto 6. I posted a while back about those and the replies were not positive regarding quality.
Thanks again, any other thoughts are welcome and encouraged.
Disappointing Meal at La Verdad-Does this reflect Oringer?
Carty, I am also a carnitas fanatic. Can you tell me what you've found?
JP Latin America Restaurants Recommendations
OK, so after living in JP for several years I am a bit ashamed by my lack of mastery when it comes to JP's many Latin American restaurants.
Of course I've been to el Oriental many times. I tried Miami Cafe once and was not crazy about it, but would be happy to give it another try. And I thought La Papusa Guanaca was great. I have not ventured further down Centre Street than that.
I would love to hear people's recommendations, and if you could mention a dish or two that you liked there, and maybe a little flavor about the place, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks!
Boston Chow Myth-Busters
Well, like I said, I do think it's quite good, just not "lineworthy". I guess if you've figured out how to avoid the line that changes things. Also, if it's a beautiful spring morning that's one thing, but trust me, that line is there whether it's zero degrees, hailing, or the building next door is on fire. I don't get it.
Boston Chow Myth-Busters
Here's another myth: the myth of the long line. I live in JP and think that Centre St Cafe is not worth the long weekend brunch lines that form in rain, sleet, snow or cold. Same with Giacomo's in the North End. I think they are both solid but overrated. I can't understand why one would wait in line for either.
I'm sure there are other examples.
I did out up with the wait for Chacarero when I worked downtown; definitely worth it.
Need help - private room for 20-30 people
BillyBob,
I just went through planning a party for 20+ people (which unfortunately I had to cancel because of the snowstorm). After a lot of thought I ended up choosing Petit Robert (the one in Kenmore), which was reasonably priced, had good menu and a private room. The guy who I spoke with was Matthew.
Boston's Best Monkfish?
I am in a monkfish rut. Everywhere I order it - even some of the most otherwise dependable restaurants in Boston - it is overcooked, leaving it tough and rubbery. In an attempt to satisfy my craving for its unique taste, I got some myself at the super market. The result? I overcooked it, and it was tough and rubbery.
Does anyone have a recommendation for an outstanding monkfish dish in Boston area restaurans? I crave the tender version that my mother use to make (she's alive, she just hasn't made it in years). Now I dread ordering it because I feel I'll waste a night out if it comes out wrong.
Is it just too difficult to cook? Or maybe it's supposed to be rubbery and I am dreaming that I had it any other way? Perhaps I am the problem and not the monkfish?
Thanks for the recommendations.
Where can I find some bizarre foods resturants in Boston?
I actually bought the package once at Super88 and found it unedible. I don't know if there is some step in preparation that I was unaware of, or if it was just bad quality. On the rare occasion I've seen it in a restaurant, I've loved it. I spent a bit of time in China in the 90's and any old place would serve it - always delicious.
Where can I find some bizarre foods resturants in Boston?
I think this is my favorite post of all time.
Does anyone know a good Chinese place to get hundred-year egg?
Suckling pig entree?
Thanks for replies. For some reason I have missed out on Troquet all these years. Will have to try it. IF someone sees it elsewhere, please let me know
Looking for great eggs in Boston
I actually can only taste a marginal difference among anything you get in a supermarket, whether labelled as organic, cage free etc. versus the regular mass-produced kind. I do agree that eggs that are farm fresh/local/from your friend's coop are spectacular.
Suckling pig entree?
Are there any places that currently have roast suckling pig as an entree? Clio used to have it. I went to Eastern Standard on Fri and they had a confit, not what I was looking for. I think I've seen it now and then as a special at one of the Spanish places, and possibly Via Matta. Do any places have it regularly as an entree, and not as a confit/pulled/appetizer etc.
THANKS!
Great chow at Hungry Mother
Agree wtih Sgt., service was SLOW and disorganized when I went. Dinner for 5 people ended up being a three hour affair. Being too attentive is a much better problem to have. Maybe I'll go back.
Estragon: South End Tapas: Nothing Amazing 9/15/08
I was also lukewarm on this place...have spent several years in Spain and felt that all the "authentic" items I tried (tortilla, padron peppers and txistorra) weren't quite right. The txistorra was tasty but a bit bland; again, more importantly the taste didn't match what you get in Spain. The padron peppers were a bit bitter and soggy and not salty enough. I could make a better tortilla myself.
The stuff I've never had in Spain (maybe it's there somewhere, but I've never seen it there) was actually a bit more interesting. The "white" ham was super fatty (obviously) but delicious, though my wife refused to eat any. The scallops were exquisite.
The hyped chickpea fries were a cool idea but got boring after a few bites.
Overall I expected something a bit different, coming from the owner of Taberna de Haro. I feel that most of the new Spanish tapas places are dominated by dishes that, while often delicious, are not authentic Spanish. Toro is a good example of this (maybe 1/2 of the menu). TdH is a solid, basic, authentic Spanish place. I thought Estragon would be more TdH than Toro. Not that there's anything wrong with Toro!
I'll give this another shot at some point.
I absolutely loved Las Ventas market attached to the restaurant on the other hand. I must for every lover of Spanish food who likes to cook at home.
REAL Spanish food market?
I went to Las Ventas a couple of weeks ago. I have spent several years total in Spain (you might say that my family includes the Basque shepherds Striperguy was referring to) and was ecstatic at the quality and selection there. I used to be pleased that places like whole foods offer two or three cheeses from Spain - I think Las Ventas had about 25. Olive oil, pimientos del piquillo, ham, sausages, etc. It's so great to have it all in one place. It's in a weird location, maybe that's the only drawback. My mother will weep with joy when she visits. Maybe not after she sees the prices. I recommend it though.
