tysonmcneely's Profile
bars with outdoor patio area - for a bachelorette party
I've been to the Brahmin and it is a very similar vibe to 33, not much has changed except the name. But they definitely don't false advertise: There are a lot of "Brahs" there.
Strip T's increasing funkiness
Hmmm 5pm last Saturday you say.... I was there as well. I wasn't paying too much attention to the other parties, but I was probably there for an opinionated chef sighting.
I went with a friend who had never been there before, and the friend really wanted to get the smoked octopus. I do enjoy the incredible amount of smokiness they get into the octopus, but I do find it to be one of their smaller small plates. We also got the turnip cake with the glace as they called it. I think the word you're looking for (special oregon morel-relatives) is verpa. The Verpas and ramps were excellent as was the turnip cake, if a bit small for $18. Also had the fried chicken there for the first time, which I enjoyed, but probably not the best I've had in Boston. It came with dirty rice with some sort of blue cheese or gorgonzola type cheese in there as well as chicken "cracklins" which were bits of fried chicken skin. It was interesting but not quite as good as their grits. I really wanted to try the Soft Shell Crab, but will have to wait for another time. Not my best trip to Strip T's (No Pig's Head toast on the menu, also didn't get the grilled romaine) but as always, I walked away happy.
Restaurant Week Boston, Winter 2012 reports?
Cap grille - Agree with previous poster. 14oz bone-in kona crusted Sirlion (I think strip) alone usually goes for $43. During restaurant week it comes with sides of mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, Chowder or salad, and dessert. Great value, get the steak with the shallot butter on the side. (they put it on top, which kind of ruined the nice crust it had on top.) They do this every time, so get your reservations well in advance.
Grill 23 - Didn't want to do another steakhouse, but I've never been to grill 23. Very good, but not quite the value that capital grille was. The app (Beef brisket "salad") was better than cap grille, but the dessert was not as good. The main (filet w/ smashed new potatoes) was good, bigger than expected, but not quite up to cap grille.
Umbria - Went here for lunch. I've gotten lunch here for RW twice before, this time was not as good. Still a Nice Filet, app and dessert for $20 isn't bad. Steak was over cooked this time, previous times it was cooked just fine.
Cafe Fleuri - Lunch, not very good, wouldn't recommend. Mushrooms on top of a polenta like cake (decent), sheperd's pie (ok), forgot what dessert was.
NY Hound looking for a "walking tour"
Sounds like you went to Haymarket, which is actually like the opposite of a Farmer's market. But they have great deals on anything that you eat immediately, which it sounds like you did!
March Madness in the Financial District
Just thought of this. I've never been, so I have no idea of the TV setup, but it has gotten good reviews for food, esp for a DTX/Financial District bar. JM Curley's.
First Impressions: Lone Star Taco Bar
McSlim, I hope to see more use of the word "delish" in your reviews. You look like an amateur compared to this girl.
What's worse than the food review is that this is supposed to be a nightlife review, but she's barely been out in Allston and she lives in Brighton. I wonder who the target demographic is for this feature, she's basically a 23 year old, and every place is new to her. I think most college students have a better grasp on the Boston night life than her.
Urgent: Inexpensive bar, with food, near Kenmore
Come for the food, stay for the discussion on walking speeds!
Boston Costcos- Do They Sell Blue Crab?
I typically go to the Waltham location. I have not seen the seafood stand lately, but when the have it, they typically have king crab legs, dungenous crab (Pre-cooked), mussels and maybe clams and snow crab legs. Not sure about what they offer when the stand is not around, but I have not seen blue crab.
Looking for a restaurant between Amhearst and Boston
I make this trip all the time (10+ times /yr for the past 7 years.) Usually Route 2 takes about 15 mins more, I usually go (if east bound) route 2, 95, then the Pike, as cutting through cambridge is usually worse. So usually it's not worth it, but when there's traffic, it can definitely save you some time. The main downside to route 2 isn't the extra distance, it's the 55 mph speed limit. I've gotten pulled over a few times on route 2 (somehow worse than the pike?)
Anyway, the only Chow worthy place I've been to is BT's but they are lacking in Veggie options. If the vegetarian is ok with eating all side dishes, then they do make some good ones there. Their mac n cheese is really good. They also have a good potato salad, black eyed peas, coleslaw, etc.
As for route 2, I would love to hear some specific suggestions. I think there is a Papa Razzi and a not very good looking sushi place closer to the Boston side, right off of it, but neither looks particularly good.
ISO Whole Fish Restaurants in Boston
I went to ICOB this summer and they had a fried whole bass on the menu. I Believe it was coated in rice flour and then deep friend, served over mushrooms and some vegetable, I forget.
It was very good, but I believe it was a special.
Lots of lobster in Boston?
You seemed to be interested in good value.
Legal's is the opposite of that.
What's your favorite dijon mustard and where do you buy it locally?
Pardon me, but....
Steamed Cheeseburgers
That makes 2 of us!
For those who aren't familiar:
http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/54624/detail/
Esperia Grill- Terrific Greek-Moussaka and Pork Gyro in Brighton
I had the gyro here for the first time last weekend. It was large, very good and came with on a perfectly griddle pita. Mine had onions on it though (diced red onions.). They were at the bottom, right on top of the tzatziki. (and underneath the pork.)
Also, the dressing that came with the salad was very good. Not sure what was in it, but it had a little heat to it was is unusual for Greek dressing, but definitely welcome.
Cafe Latino Gov't Center is the Real Deal - Serious Roast Pork
That's funny, because I just had the Pastelon (2 days ago) too. The last time I went to Cafe Latino before that was around the last time I commented on this thread.
What's the deal with those wings? They looked very tempting when I saw them on Wednesday. They seem like a new addition? Do they servve them as a meal with rice and plantains? Or just by themselves? Price?
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Cafe Latino
2 Center Plz, Boston, MA 02108
30 Day Ethnic Food Challenge
To be fair, it does say ethnic food challenge, not international food Challenge. I doubt anyone would care if you left out established cuisines such as Italian and French (I would prefer it, more room for others.) I'm still down with Cafe Polonia, etc.
Also, I don't think I've ever heard anyone refer to French or Italian food as "ethnic." Just some Food for thought. (SEE WHAT I DID THERE?!?! WHAT A CLEVER PUN!)
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Cafe Polonia
611 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02127
49 Social in Downtown Crossing
That's Funny, I had essentially the same thought. I walked by this place on Wednesday and looked at the menu. I saw all the "New American Classics:" Seared Tuna , mussels, burger, salmon, etc.
Nothing really jumped out at me, and while the place seems to be getting good reviews, there was nothing on the menu that peaked my interest. Also, it looks to be fairly pricey. I'm sure I would enjoy a meal here, it's just that I have no interest in going here.
Neptune Oyster- Dissappointed..what to order?
I'm usually not one to get hung up on etiquette and formalities, but please, please, please tell me you don't dip your oysters in the "sauces" provided. Usually the "sauces" provided are a cocktail sauce and a mignonette (which is vinegar, usually red wine, and shallots.) The miniature spoons they provide with the "sauces" are so you can spoon some of sauces onto the oyster. Then you slurp the oyster out of the halfshell so you consume the brine and the oyster all at once. If you just dunked your oyster into the sauces, you would have way to much sauce and would be losing the brine which has much of the oyster's ocean-like flavor.
When and where are the good mangoes coming to Boston?
I tried a Haitian Mango for the first time at Lambert's in DTX. I've never had it before, so I have no frame of reference, but it was quite good. It was $2.
Soft Shell Crabs
It's 2 SSCs per order. Although because they are cut up into pieces and then fried, there is no way to know for sure short of trying to piece the crabs back together. Sidenote: I do feel like some Chinese places try to short you when you order twin lobsters, but it's so hard to prove. However I've never felt like that at Peach Farm.
lc02139 has some great suggestions. I also like steamed scallop on the shell with garlic and vermicelli noodles. (Off the menu, but a popular dish. ~$2.50 a piece.) Pretty much all the seafood is good, clams in black bean sauce and the aforementioned lobster are great.
If you go M-F for lunch, I love the lunch specials. Nothing you haven't had before, but great value. Egg drop or Hot and sour soup (Their hot and sour is my favorite), a side (Chicken wings are always great), White or fried rice, and a dish (American Chinese) for less than $6. Not exactly Chowish dishes, but certainly chowish Value.
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Peach Farm
4 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111
Comments on our Trip to Boston
Kingfish hall is the opposite of a Chowhound recommendation. Please link to the where someone recommended it.
Soft Shell Crabs
CTP, I've gotten soft shell crabs at Peach Farm twice this month and it was $19 each time. The $29 charge you got was probably the fish. (The fish we got was about the same price too, and they charge you per pound.)
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Peach Farm
4 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111
Soft Shell Crabs
Last saturday, I purchased a whale @ Wulf's for $6, cleaned on the spot. It was excellent, as were the oysters I got as well (Malpeques and Bluepoints.) I realize Wulf's doesn't get talked about much on this board, anyone with any opinions?
Soft Shell Crabs
I went here last week and got a very similar order, but had beef and broccoli lunch special instead of their Dry Fried Chow Foon (not as good, but it comes with their excellent Hot and sour soup and chicken wings.)
We got the SSC with ginger and scallion (as opposed to spicy salt fried) and I would definitely suggest trying it. It's fried the same, but comes with a brown sauce with fried ginger and scallions. The sauce really makes a huge difference IMO.
The fish we got was cod, which you may have there. It's hard to tell as I can't get a good read on the size or see the face of the fish. But they do cod a lot there unless you have enough people for a (striped?) bass, which they seem to carry only on the larger side.
Shwarma- Best Of, and Jerusalem, Garlic 'n Lemons, Falafel King, etc., plus Lamb Kabobs
The pita at Boston Kabob Company is excellent. It it is just a small whole pita, with no holes in it that is baked, so the hot air expands with this huge bubble in it. Nothing exotic, just made very well.
Unfortunately, they used to include the pita along with Hummus, tabouli and maybe another dip with every plate. They no longer do this, so you will have to order it on the side, or it may be included with the Veggie plate.
They do still include homemade pickled vegetables and olives though. Everything I've had there has been excellent, mixed grill (Beef and chicken kabobs, and kafta), lamb kabobs, and lamb chops (The portion of meat for the chops was on the small side though.) I don't know if they use a charcoal grill, but it certainly tastes like it. Again, nothing out of the ordinary they do with the cooking, just well executed home made style food.
$1 Oysters Legal Seafood Outdoors at the Charles Hotel Cambridge
Bluepoints.
Also no Hour restrictions for them, they are all the time.
Boston Area Chinese Buffet
re: 3 dishes for (Around)$20
lunch: Taiwan Cafe, Dumpling Cafe, Gourmet Dumpling House
Anytime: Cafe de Lulu
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Gourmet Dumpling House
52 Beach St, Boston, MA 02111
Roast Beast (Allston)
Maybe if you mentioned that Roast Beast took you to Flavortown, or that you would eat the roast beef off of a shoe, then people would go there.
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Roast Beast
1080 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
