uni eater's Profile
One week in Austin
I am headed to Austin for the first time next week. We have a full week to eat Austin's best. We want to run the gambit from fine dining to food trucks. What are the places not to miss? Will we need advance reservations at restaurants?
- L
One lunch, one dinner, Portland restaurants
Lunch: Duck fat
Dinner: Miyake or Evangeline
Salt Exchange in Portland
Although Portland is certainly not shy on good food, I am almost beside myself to welcome the Salt Exchange on Commercial St. This new restaurant adds a fresh new palette to the existing restaurants in town.
My guy and I stopped in Thursday, which I think was only the fourth night of service. The space was very clean and modern, but with comforting continental touches. The green ceiling was a particularly nice detail. The staff was extremely friendly and everything was timed and prepared exceptionally well, amazing for a first week!
The menu consists mostly of small plates. We decided to order a bunch and split everything. Highlights included the lobster with basil and orange sabayon, a particularly rockin' Caesar salad, sheep's milk ricotta, a lamb entree served with sweetbreads and an amazing bean side. The desserts were also great. The financier came with a truffled honeycomb, which made my date moan embarrassingly loud. Whoever heard of truffling honeycombs? I am an instant addict, for sure. The portions were just the right size to let you sample a lot of different tastes. Even with a $45 bottle of wine, the bill came in at under $120 for 5 dishes, two desserts, and two coffees (not including tip).
The flavors and presentation had a contemporary flair that I haven't seen much in Portland, where I think most restaurants tend towards big rustic flavors (555, fore St..) but also not veering too far into gimicky feats of micro gastronomy, just beautifully, layered, fresh, innovative, and delicious. If this is the quality of week one, I can't wait to see what happens at Salt Exchange in the coming months.
Emilitsa......Best Greek food ever, Portland.
I had dinner there last week. I was walking home from work and noticed this beautiful restaurant interior that seemed to come from nowhere. The space is truly gorgeous. Someone spent some serious dough on this place, but they did a good job the atmosphere is great and yet at the same time it is really cozy. We had a bunch of mezze - stuffed grape leaves, saganaki - both were good. The beet salad was amazing and came with this crazy garlic mash (like garlic mashed potatoes but forget the potatoes). I split a lamb entree with my boyfriend. It was cooked to perfection - I think he moaned a little while eating it. The baklava was also really good, not overly sweet just a yummy savory nutty flavor. We split a bottle of retsina and were really happy with our experience. I am excited to see the full menu and how the place matures as it is open for a while. I would definitely go back for dinner or to sit at the bar with friends. A new favorite for sure...
dinner in Boston with no reservations
Sooooo...Here's the scoop. We arrived in Boston around 7:30. We checked in to the St Botolph (which was a complete trip with old guys wandering around in tuxedos and house rules about what we could and could not wear in the lobby - only formal attire from 10 am to 11 pm and sneakers never! ). Anyway, we wandered over to Eastern Standard. They told us it would be a half hour wait, but it was actually about an hour and fifteen minutes. They sat us inside on the main floor. The interior was fabulous and we both felt great being in such a beautiful space. My boyfriend had a variety of Belgian beers and I had a great Oregon cabernet. Our appetizers were OK. I had the steak tartare which was delicious but too abundant. A few tastes would have been fantastic, but it looked like a very large raw quarter pounder mounded on my plate. After a few bitefuls, I really lost my appetite( I also kept thinking about it the next day as I had to speak in front of a large crowd and I think this contibuted to some stomach rumblings - note to self: never consume large quantities of raw meat before public speaking). He had mussels frite which was pretty good, but not exceptional. The frite themselves were delicious and we gobbled those up with a thin but tastey aioli. Our entrees were delicious. I had the oxtail over noodles - the noodles were slightly on the soft side, but the meat and the sauce were very savory and had an earthy sweetness. He has the bone in rib eye which was perfectly cooked and served with some delicious sauteed spinache. Good espresso and decent profiteroles. Overall I would say it was not a revelation, but we had a fun night, felt glamorous in the environment and left with big smiles. The next night we went to bukhara in JP - lots of fun and delicious Shrimp saag. Thanks for all the help!
dinner in Boston with no reservations
I just called Eastern Standard and they said we could just walk in no problem, so I am leaning towards that, with Kingston Station as my back up. Although my boyfriend may demand one of those Chinatown Restaurants (he loves PeKing everything) as we live in Maine where there is absolutely no good Chinese Food and we sob about this all the time. Thanks for all the help. I will report back!
dinner in Boston with no reservations
Do you know what street Kingston Station is on? the Petite Robert menu looks awesome, I wonder if we can get in without a res...
dinner in Boston with no reservations
Great. I am actually eating with my boyfriend and we have a car so can meander a bit. the lecture is not til tomorrow AM, so won't impeed on chowing tonight!
dinner in Boston with no reservations
I am travelling to Boston tonight to give a lecture. Any recommendations for a kick ass place that takes walk-ins? I don't want to make a mortgage payment, but willing to treat myself a little.
I am staying at St Botolph on Commenwealth Ave, so near there or easy to find is good. (boston is confusing!) I will have a car.
best places to dine in Portland, ME?
I don't understand why people get off cruise ships to say "Oh Dimillos! Let's go eat on a boat!" It just makes no sense! It may be rote, but in my mind Fore St. is still king. My experience at Caiola's was so-so. I would avoid Hugos unless you love long explanations of your food on arrival. I mean why let the stuff get cold if you've already read about it on
the menu?
I am too Portland-centric! help!?
I know what you mean! Judging by my foot traffic, you would think that Congress St. is the only Street in Portland. I get so sick of it. When I lived on the West end, I was a slave to the Norm's Empire, but when I moved to the Back Bay I started cooking almost every night. I am a block from Whole Foods, so now I have a new evil emperor. I am there every day!
As far as Henry VIII goes...Because I am actually a Tudor history specialist, I am too embarrassed to go in there; people will think I am a totallly obsessive freak! They used to have a beef stew on the menu that was really good, but somewhere along the line it disappeared.
I am too Portland-centric! help!?
I need to leave the peninsula.
Everytime my parents come to town, I take them to the same places. They are starting to complain. So far, their faves have been Fore St and Front Room. Any recommendations for a really good restaurant outside of Portland -maybe 30 minutes in any direction? I was looking at Arrows and the White Barn Inn, but these seem REALLY expensive. Fore St level prices would be OK...but no mortgage threatening commitments. Also..I need a place open on Mondays....
Portland Maine girls night dinner?
I was really disappointed by Vignola's food. I felt like I was eating the most pretentious frozen pizza of my life. The beer list is amazing, though. I went when they first opened so maybe things have improved. My vote goes to Bar Lola if you want to splurge and see what I think is the best boy scenery around,
Have you been to Bubba's Sulky Lounge, yet? Who can resist a lit dance floor? (even if the taxidermy is creepy).
Bresca in Portland....very good indeed!
I couldn't get past the name to actually make it inside!
Portland ME - Hotel, Neighborhood, Food reccs?
Hi, A few recommendations for Portland!
I have lived here for 7 years and still feel like I am in a constant food frenzy, so you should have lots of options for your short stay.
For the freshest sushi I have ever had, go to Yosaku on Danforth St. It blows the other fish wrappers in town out of the water. The Bento box is a steal and the wait staff never scoff if you pick sashimi twice on your choice of 3 dishes. This dish is enough for two - even two with huge appetites. Their cheap lunch is criminally economical.
Fore St is still king and never disappoints. The other Dana Street restaurant, Street & Co on Wharf St. is great, but rather than have a full dinner, I recommend snacking at the bar and sampling their "tastes" and grabbing some oysters. The guy who runs the bar is arguably the most competent restaurant employee I have ever seen in Maine, although kind of a piece of work. Duck Fat on Middle St. is known for their french fries - cooked in duck fat (Be sure to get the truffle ketchup) but their tomato fennel soup is truly the sublime menu item - a great lunch choice. In my experience, Hugo's is all show and no substance. I wouldn't bother splurging there. The Front Room on Congress St up on Munjoy Hill has a great and affordable breakfast - gnocchi with poached eggs, bacon and hollandaise sauce! Their dinner menu has a diverse price range, from bistro food to more elaborate fare. I have always had a good meal there, but it is on the loud side and service can be painfully inept. here here on the trip to Miccucci's. Be sure to hit Harbor Fish down on the piers off commercial street. The wet floors and fishmongers chopping up giant sea beasts is not to be missed! You will be jealous when you see the prices, too.
Oh and definitely do not miss Standard Baking on Commercial St(below Fore ST restaurant) Their ham and cheese croissants are unearthly.
Have fun!
