bobot's Profile
Dwelltime Cambridge -- Anyone been?
Don't have much to say about the food (they are serving lunch/brunch now) but the coffee is super high quality, well made, and delicious.
The Taco Truck food truck
Saw this on their Twitter, sounds like they are waiting on the city for scheduling/permit: "#Boston: Stay tuned for Boston schedule...waiting on final word from the city;) Thanks, great day yesterday on Memorial Dr!"
All-Star Pizza: A preview?
So we have one restaurant that makes, but does not specialize in, pizza. We have Pizza Pie-er, which just opened. I call that 'lacking for pizza', and you didn't present any contrary evidence.
All-Star Pizza: A preview?
Inman isn't lacking for pizza? Maybe you mean delivery, but City Girl is the only pizza actually in Inman. Well, I guess the S&S sells something called 'pizza' but I don't think that counts. Now there's Pizza Pie-er (which just opened) and All Start coming soon. All the other options are in Central, East Cambridge, or Harvard Sq...
April 2012 Openings & Closings
Because they don't have off-street parking, they need a special permit from the city to have an occupancy > 20. That's why there's so few tables right now. It sounded like the permit process was mostly a formality, but would take them two or three months to work through.
Surprising Menu Items That Steal the Show
A bucket of boiled peanuts is great for a summer party, esp. if you are outdoors. Cold beer and a salty boiled peanut? There are few finer things.
Did your Valentines Day dining met your expectations? Do you rec it for next year?
On Saturday night we went to Dumpling Cafe for some dumplings, a movie, and Clio/Uni for cocktails and late-night ramen. Totally met expectations of being not crowded, not rushed, and great food and drink.
On V-Day we went to Dok Bua, and I don't think I need to convince Chowhounds that Dok Bua is always the right decision.
February 2012 Openings and Closings
Wow, that was a really, really long soft opening I guess. I had a beer there two months ago.
Guchi's Midnight Ramen
I went to Uni Saturday night for their late-night ramen. There were a few of us that showed up early (10:30) and had to wait around at the bar until they switched over service. I felt silly when we sat down to eat at 11:30 and half the tables were empty- unlike the Guchi sell-out fest, there was plenty of space. $8 for one pork bun was a total rip-off. The ramen was a miso broth, which is not my favorite but was well-made. I had pork shoulder and my wife had roasted eel- both were delicious, good texture on the noodles, very nicely poached egg. Maybe I'm spoiled by my trips to the Bay Area but to me it was a lot of hub-bub for a decent bowl of ramen.
Now the cocktails at the new bar- THAT was worth waiting for. They are doing such a good job with the bar program there.
Boston Espresso
Yes, Barismo has a variable pressure machine. They also got rid of the pour-over machine (they will have two or three of those at Dwelltime) and are back to doing those by hand.
Akimenko Meats on Cambridge St?
Same here. I have coupons for butchering classes which... apparently will never be offered. Not really the point of Kickstarter, I know. Just because I only invested a small amount doesn't mean I'm not exposed to the risks of investment. Mostly I'm peeved because I think it was a good idea and I would've liked to shop there.
Southern Barbecue in Boston? Oxymoron?
As a native of NC, I object to the word "we" in your post, even if I otherwise agree! =)
Southern Barbecue in Boston? Oxymoron?
"not BBQ" is like saying "not pretty". It's a matter of taste. Growing up in NC, anything that isn't pulled pork in vinegar is "not BBQ". New Englanders call hot dogs and hamburgers BBQ. It's a silly thing to argue about (or it's a fun thing to argue about as long as you agree that it's a matter of opinion, not fact.)
Bergamot - outstanding!
"It drives me nuts when a DC’s plate is cleared before everyone at the table has completed a course, though it happens all the time and not just here. Isn’t this service 101?"
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. You're going to get yelled at by some patrons for clearing early, and others will yell at you for not taking away dishes immediately. Personally I'd wait, since at least then I can claim tradition is on my side, but my stubbornness around these issues is one of many reasons I'd have a very short career in the customer service industry.
The best thing is probably to ask.
City Girl Cafe - fantastic, easy Italian in Inman Square
Low price is the only thing City Girl has in common with Rino's. It's not a red sauce joint- very good pizza and great pasta too.
Fried Clams?
I haven't had the big bellies at the Clam Box- whenever I ask for them they say they are out, even if the board says they have them. They are bigger than the regular bellies.
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Clam Box
789 Quincy Shore Dr, Quincy, MA 02170
Not feeling the high price point.....
A good server can solve that problem for you. Just tell them what you're in the mood for and follow their recommendations.
Not feeling the high price point.....
Second this. We had a lovely anniversary dinner there- perfect, understated service, excellent food. Your dollar goes a long way on their wine list.
Fried Clams?
I just got a clam roll and didn't eat the bread. I think it was $13. A box is $18-$20, which is in line with other places.
Fried Clams?
I had fried clams at the recently re-opened Fresh Pond Seafood in Arlington, and they were better (fresher taste, bigger bellies) than the clams I spent an hour waiting for at the Clam Box. Next time I'll skip the line and the drive.
Blue, Inc.
The burger at Gargoyle's was always one of my favorites- is it the same at his new place?
Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont Center
I think it's funny that people go nuts over local produce, meat, etc. but want to import their beer from the other side of the country. The owner of Surly Brewing had a great rant about this at the American Craft Beer Fest last month- when asked when his beer would be available in Boston, his reply was "Never. Support your local brewers."
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American Craft
1700 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445
Blue Ribbon Arlington...this shark has sailed
I've never particularly liked their ribs, so it's not so much that they've gone downhill for me as that they were never good in the first place. Their sandwiches (esp. on the specials board) and sides keep me coming back, though.
grass fed beef sources other than Whole Foods?
Farmer's Markets are a good source. John Crow Farm (http://www.johncrowfarm.com/) sells at the SoWa market on Sundays.
Anyone been to Meadhall?
I stopped by and had a great time. Big beer list, and it's always nice to get beer served in the proper glassware, and I loved that the downstairs is a huge space with no loud TVs. Food looked boring and overpriced, but I don't plan to ever eat there.
Anyone been to Meadhall?
I assume they have the same issue Lord Hobo does, which is that to get their liquor license from Cambridge they had to agree to a certain ratio of food sales to alcohol sales. Given that they are first and foremost a bar, this means they have to jack up the food prices to keep the ratio.
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Lord Hobo
92 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02141
When you first started cooking away from home, what were some of your disasters?
My story is similar- the first time I made crepes suzette, I used blue curacao. Thus was born "crepes du Mars".
Sliders in Boston
Make them yourself:
http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2010/03/the-burger-lab-how-to-make-the-ultimate-home-made-sliders.html
Or drive to New Jersey. Those are your only options. Sorry!
Where should we go monday...?
I gave up trying to eat at fine-dining restaurants on V-day a long time ago. I'm going to follow MC Slim JB's advice and hit up something cheap and fun instead- probably Shabu Zen.
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/food/115418-romantic-valentines-day-dining-on-the-cheap/
Taiwan Cafe vs Gourmet Dumpling House
Practically everyone I saw last time I was in GDH had a tray of soup dumplings in front of them, so I think that is the draw. They were pretty good- not Joe's Shanghai (and here's where someone will tell me that Joe's is crap and I really should eat at ) but scratched the itch.
