Nechushtan's Profile
Should I give the Painted Burro a second chance?
How common is it for the "shakedown" period to actually affect the food?
I understand the initial week or two having a rushed kitchen due to crowds, and that having some affect on the food to some level; I can definitely understand the service can get better in the first few months as staff settles in and poor hire decisions get vetted; I'm just unconvinced from my experience and readings, that the food will drastically improve from the first visit. I've yet to see first hand, or hear of, a restaurant going from bad the first month to great afterwards, at best it seems from bad to "meh", or "meh" to "a good deal", or the establishment will start at "good" to "great" and perhaps move a bit up from there (as it sounds could be the case here, starting on the "good" side).
I'm just unconvinced that many kitchens ever make a big leap in this period that this should be how we look at it. Not that I'm against the idea of a second try, but more because for a "meh" to "good" place it can many times be explained more by selected menu choice than overall quality (ie, their "A" is great, but their "B" is "meh").
probably best for another thread...
Anyway, I hated Gargoyles, and I love me some Mexican food, so I'm hoping this place turns out decent enough Mexican (ah Boston, the mecca for "meh" Mexican...), I'm just more and more unconvinced about the whole wait-out period concept for a kitchen as I pay more attention.
Also, as for margaritas, my experience is, everyone likes them different, and so you're happiness with a specific location will depend more on personal taste than whether the locations make them "bad" or too strong/sweet/etc. It seems the only ones people tend to agree on are the places that don't make them exciting or unique in any way so everyone is just happy enough. Being a tequila guy, I'd just like a good one slightly chilled...
What is the superlative taco and where to find it in the Boston area?
disagree, worst taco's I've ever had, though I've yet to try Anna's, but that's because worst "Mexican" ever.
Dogfish Head's 120 min IPA
Go for the 90min instead/aswell if you can find it. It's a mix of the 60 and 120 and in my opinion the best of the three. They're harder to find even on the East Coast because they, well, don't bottle much.
-L.A. Native living in Boston, back in town visiting his parents and scouring the boards for places to eat...
Jimmy's Brookline/Washington Square
Went there tonight with a friend. As previously mentioned the space is nice, definitely the more urban-industrial styling I've seen propping up all over Los Angeles (when I visit my parents), and in some other cities as well. Fun and hip.
From there things go down quickly.
First thing I notice is the lackluster beer selection. For a location around the corner from Washington Sq Tavern and across from Publick House they need to do better on this.
Next, the waitress takes a fair amount of time for the initial greeting. It doesn't need to be much, just a "hello, welcome, menu's are in the pinch-ring on the table, I'll be right back with you" is more than enough for me on a busy night, and it doesn't need to be our actual waiter. Instead my friend and I had enough time to figure out that was the menu in the pinch-ring and already make our drink selection before she arrived, albeit carrying water for us and offering us special of the day info. Side note on the special, what was written on their giant chalk wall for the current beer selection and special(s) of the day were the specials for last night. 24+hrs later and they couldn't at least erase the old ones?
On to the food. My friend, who has a lactose allergy, ordered a pizza sans cheese, I ordered the eggplant parmesan with choice of pasta, with the menu listing three pasta dishes, spaghetti, penne, and gnocchi, I chose the gnocchi. She then came back a few minutes later to tell me gnocchi is not available as a "choice of pasta". Now here's the thing, the menu does not say "choice of pasta: spaghetti or penne", it just says choice of pasta, leaving the dinee to determine that any of the listed pasta entrees is available as an option. This is not the case, but can be accommodated for an extra $5, on top of the $14 eggplant parmesan! Ok, so I choose the Penne.
Food comes, pizza actually comes sans cheese! There's a positive! Downside is there is a lot of raw onion, though at least cut into very small slivers, which is always appreciated on a pizza not smothered in cheese. A fair size as well for an "artisan' pizza and plenty of sausage topping. I probably should have got a pizza I'm thinking at this point. My dish was, as mentioned, a fairly small portion. The eggplant parm is cut at about 2" diameter slices with a crust parm crust, a preparation quite different than most restaurant parm, and a nice touch in the contrasting texture departments. The eggplant was well cooked, but overall portion was lacking in any distinct flavor and generally bland overall. The pasta though, oy, the pasta... Perhaps the worst pasta I've had in a long time. The boxes of Barilla I buy at Costco taste better and are better cooked than what was on my plate. The sauce? Much like the eggplant, lacking in anything to bring delight to an otherwise dreary selection of starch.
The pizza was decent, the crust slightly overcooked, but without cheese melting as a timer I can see how that could occur (not that it should, but after everything else so far...). The toppings were nice, though nothing special, and the sauce slightly better than a chain pizza place, Hard for me to give a real judgement to due to the lack of cheese and having only one slice to try (god bless my friends and their willingness to deal with me having to try everyone's meal).
Pre-shredded parmigiano in a shaker was brought to the table, A full shaker. Who knows how long its been sitting like that? Another poor sign overall.
So as a nice space with decent pizza and a liquor license, not a bad idea. Weekend nights will probably have a good turnout, and as a card for a DJ on premise for Nov23rd still at each table, an interesting alternative for the area. In the end though, the food is lacking and the service still needs work.
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Publick House
1648 Beacon St, Brookline, MA
Dog Friendly Apple Picking
weird, I keep getting a cannot contact server error, but standard google maps works fine.
Which new Mexican-ish place should I visit first?
made it to Taqueria El Amigo a few weeks ago with a buddy. I definitely want to go back, but after one visit I can't say it's definitely "better" than Taqueria Mexico, but I can say it's at least as good.
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Taqueria El Amigo
196 Willow St, Waltham, MA 02453
Taqueria Mexico
24 Charles St, Waltham, MA 02453
sandwich de miga in Boston
I know there's not much Argentinian representation in Boston, but I was wondering if anyone has found a bakery or restaurant that makes sandwich de miga?
thanks!
Which new Mexican-ish place should I visit first?
Will have to give El Amigo a try. Taqueria Mexico used to have their Brookline location a block from where I live and I'd eat there a few times a week. Now I go to their Waltham location when I'm craving good Mexican, but didn't know of El Amigo (or its proximity to Taqueria Mexico).
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Taqueria Mexico
24 Charles St, Waltham, MA 02453
Roadtrip from Raleigh/Durham to Boston, ideas for places to stop
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Roadtrip from Raleigh/Durham to Boston, ideas for places to stop
Posted by TinCanFury, April 25, 2011 at 2:45 PM
Driving back from Raleigh/Durham with a friend who is bringing her car up to Boston. We've got a tight time schedule, but am hoping if we have a decent list of possible stops so we can try and time our meal stops to hit somewhere special. Below is my list of of possible options. I definitely hope to take the route through DE to go to the Dogfish Head brewery, but we may also end up taking the route through the Richmond/DC area by staying on 95N.
Any and all suggestions welcome, including what specifically to try while there.
Thanks!!
320 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE (Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats)
25-36 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101 (The Burger Garage)
51 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2954 (Reading Terminal Market) *we've both already been, but how does one say no to eating at the Reading Terminal Market?!
2001 Manteo Street, Norfolk, VA (Dog-n-Burger Grille)
233 Clinton Street, Hoboken, NJ (Chucharamama)
1025 Battlefield Boulevard North, Chesapeake, VA (Wood chicks BBQ)
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Reading Terminal Market
12th St Arch Ave, Waynesboro, VA 22980
Which new Mexican-ish place should I visit first?
Don't bother with Papagayo for their food. It's Tex-Mex at it's worst. I work right near by so I was hoping for better but was more than disappointed. I went there for lunch with a friend, she got the seafood tacos and I got their standard taco plate, one chicken one muchaka. They were both lazy in preparation and flavor. The food we saw at others tables did not look any better.
They did make my friend an excellent non-alcoholic mixed fruit drink.
The service was excellent even though our waitress was covering a fair number of tables.
They do however have a nice selection of tequila. I've had, in the past, perhaps 1/2 of what they have on the shelf and can say they at least have that going for them. Most likely an excellent post-work drinks spot for those that want a change from Drink.
I'll probably give it another go in a few months to see if they've improved, but only because I work nearby and for a kid that grew up in Los Angeles, it's hard to ignore the occasional Mexican food craving.
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Papagayo
283 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210
Argentina trip, Jan 18-25
My parents and a few of their siblings were born/raised in Buenos Aires, the last time I went I was 3.5yr, I'm finally going back. Of course, I grew up on my parents, grandparents and aunts/uncles who all have cooked the classic meals of their youth growing up in Argentina, so I'm familiar with the more classic foods and styles of the country.
While I have a lot of family there that I will be staying with and hopefully eating with, I will also be traveling to Mendoza, hopefully a cattle farm, wine country, and possibly some other areas they may not be as familiar with.
So I come to the trusted source in hoping to get a list of places I have to eat at (or attempt to). I'm hoping for the entire range, classic Argentinian to the latest in fusion and "gastro" styles, cheap street food to pricey restaurants, I'm not concerned with price or location, I just want the best examples of what Argentina has to offer these days.
Also, any general travel locations and tips are much appreciated.
Gracias!
September Openings and Closings
when I talked to one of the folks at Rod Dee before they closed (I used to go in 3+ nights a week since I lived across the street), he said that Bazaar wanted the space to expand into which is why they got kicked out.
He also said they like having the Coolidge Corner location and will try and find a new spot in that area, no time frame, but I assume rent cost will be a big determining factor.
Flour Bakery - Hazlenut Dacquoise and Staffing
I work a few blocks away and occasionally will go for a late lunch as the line during lunch is still as slow as a cold mousse...
I haven't had any of their baked goods, but their lunch sandwiches have much to be desired at the price point.
lunch in Andover (Shawsheen Village)
thanks, I'll have to scour through that thread!
lunch in Andover (Shawsheen Village)
Cool, I was hoping for a Whole Foods with a "food court" nearby, my old place of employment had one nearby and it was great for the solid level of variety, plus I can pick up my snacking veggies and such while I'm there!
lunch in Andover (Shawsheen Village)
Hey all, just started working in "Shawsheen Village" and am looking for some lunch places to try. I've already got Harrison's on my list for Roast Beef, wondering if there's any other spots to hit up for a good, cheap lunch?
thanks!
Dorado opens tomorrow! (7/29)
I went Saturday and it was horrible. My friend and I got a chorizo and a swordfish taco each was a bit more than $2.50.
The swordfish was flavorless, the chorizo was over spiced. Both were sadly dressed and quite small.
If Boston had better taste in Mexican food this place wouldn't stand a chance, but considering Anna's is considered "Rey" here it will probably get rave reviews and make a killing.
El Pelon coming to Brookline
well, considering the competition is mainly Anna's, Boca and Dorado there is no reason to fear the "competition".
I just wish Taqueria Mexico would re-open in Brookline, it's a hike to get to Waltham from here...
where to buy Minerva olive oil?
I have a friend who recently has found she loves Minerva olive oil and has been looking for a place to buy some in the Boston area. Anyone know of a store where we can buy some?
thanks!
Why is Thai food in boston so bad?
I live around the corner from Rod Dee and so I eat there quite often (its easier and cheaper than cooking, so when I don't have the time, which lately is often...). I find that I like it much more than Dok Bua in terms of its breadth of flavors. Rod Dee has spicier, sometimes even smokier, spicy dishes, and their "sweet" has more nuanced flavor. I also find their rice and rice noodles are more to my liking.
They also have one or two daily specials which is a great way of broadening your Thai food horizons.
I also enjoy Brown Sugar, though to really get the best there you have to order deep off what normal Americans would order, and saying "thank you" in Thai after ordering doesn't hurt. My only complaint is you pay for location, as the food isn't that much better than Rod Dee or similar.
One of my best friends growing up was Thai (he was born in Thailand, his younger sister was born in the States and they traveled back often as they had family in very well-to-do positions there) and I ate quite a lot of it, both in their kitchen and out to Thai "we don't speak english here" restaurants, so I've got a pretty good sense of what the food should basically taste like, regionality differences aside. Of course, this was in CA, where arguably the best Thai food in this country can be had. Now being a fan of their food and culture, I definitely lucked out growing up with that.
Pizza Stone in Gas Grill - What's the trick?
Any reason you need to use the stone? I cook pizza all the time on my gas grill with no pizza stone, works perfectly. I think I actually enjoy it better than in my oven.
oil the grill and set to medium heat. throw the dough on, it should take about 2-5 minutes for the first side of the dough to cook enough to be flipped and hold its shape. then throw on the toppings (tomato sauce, cheese, etc) and let it finish cooking.
pre-bagged "meals" to cook on a small sail boat?
I have a friend who is taking a few of us on a 3-day weekend sailing trip Saturday morning. We'll be eating almost all the meals on the boat, with limited fridge space and a small two burner stove. I don't believe there is an oven either. We'll be stopping each night and can replenish on drinks, but I'd like to prepare a couple meals that I can basically throw into a ziploc bag and then cook on the stove top without needing to do much if any preparation to cook. Lunches we'll probably just make variations on the sandwich theme (bread, sliced meats and veggies).
Anyone have any ideas for breakfast, dinner and snacks I could try?
thanks!!
Where do you go for quick lunches around downtown crossing?(assuming you work in the neighborhood)
he may be thinking of Herrara's which is a couple blocks away. Possibly Andale, which is pretty good but they don't do taco's, which in my mind is a requirement of any small Mexican food establishment. plus the burritos aren't as good as the Herrera's cart.
I do enjoy Zocalo's though, too bad its in college-ville, err, Allston...
2008 definitive Financial District lunch thread
Second Channel Cafe (and the bridge in winter comment, though only on windy/snowy days). They make an excellent "veggie burger", but all the food is really good.
Your Lucky's description is dead-on. Nothing special or great, but for cheap'n'quick comfort food with a fun ambiance it's impossible to beat.
Where do you go for quick lunches around downtown crossing?(assuming you work in the neighborhood)
"I recently took a Mex-snobby Texan"
Ahh, Tex-Mex.... You should have taken him to Border Cafe...
Where do you go for quick lunches around downtown crossing?(assuming you work in the neighborhood)
I was sorely disappointed in Tequilas my one visit, my one visit to Herrera's fared much better. Both a better deal than Andale! though, so they have that going for them.
I've walked past Burrito Express a few times, love the sign! I'll have to try it now, with low expectations (though I don't mind random veggies in my burrito...).
Taqueria Mexico, Coolidge Corner
I'll have to try Angela's then, and El Pelon is really close, so I'll have to go now that I know its open. thanks
Taqueria Mexico, Coolidge Corner
I'll have to give Tacos Lupita a try. El Pelon is about the same distance to a T-stop, but last I heard it had closed down too (or major remodeling?)
Angela's does not seem to really be T-accessible, and even more difficult to drive to.
Taqueria Mexico, Coolidge Corner
Sadly the Brookline location is no more!
it looks like *another* Chinese/Thai place is moving in...
I am now mourning the loss of the only good T-accessible Mexican Taqueria in Boston...
