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Sunday, November 09, 2008
I greatly enjoyed coming here for beers while visiting Harvard friends during college, and want to go back now to try some food al fresco.
  Sunday, November 09, 2008
Outstanding live bluegrass on Monday nights - everybody's rockin' at the Cantab lounge.
  Sunday, November 09, 2008
Top notch artisanal craft beer brewed on site, definitely try one of their flights where you get to taste a little mini-mug of all of the offerings.
  Sunday, November 09, 2008
Popped in here for the first time following a Red Sox game, and sampled the crab quesadillas, prosciutto trio, scallop dip, and clam chowder - all were highly tasty! They've got quite a few beers on tap, too, including seasonal specialties; I tried the Geary's at a passing waitresses recommendation, and loved it. Very nice, sleek & sexy ambiance, though the service could use a slight shake up (we asked the waiter to validate our parking and he said they only do that if you order a full dinner - we ordered $85 worth of stuff. He ended up offering to validate, but the whole experience was odd.)
Sunday, November 09, 2008
You are really right next to your neighbors at this little North End haunt. They also had Scarface playing on mute on about 10 TV screens, it was bizzare and kind of awesome, haha. I thought the food was just OK - had a prosciutto and ricotta-stuffed-mozzarella appetizer which was good but not terribly inventive, a half portion of bucatini alla amtriciana which was the highlight, and some lamb chops - a special - that were very spares and overcooked. The wine was excellent, though, and the experience as a whole was certainly more pleasurable than the food. Our waiter was a real old world Italian salt, totally hilarious.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
I've been coming here for years, but hadn't been in a while, and on a recent visit was delighted that their food is as delicious as ever and the warm, convivial atmosphere is as it always had been. I dined with my brother and two other friends - the four of us split 4 apps and 4 entrees, with 2 beers each, were gut bustingly full on delicious fare, and paid a whopping $35 each with tip. They have excellent crab rangoons - a personal favorite and a benchmark by which I judge Chinese restaurants - and very yummy Peking ravioli. Their beef chow fun is probably my favorite that I've had anywhere, including all of the restaurants in NYC's Chinatown. It's simply a fantastic place to go with friends, scarf down some General Tso's chicken and a few Tsing Tao. Highly reccomended!
Sunday, November 09, 2008
I've got very fond memories of high school lunches at D-House, having consumed many a steak and cheese there. That's my favorite thing, but their pies aren't bad, too!
  Sunday, November 09, 2008
Back in the pre-interweb days, I used to get so excited about going to Newbury Comics to buy new CDs, can't wait to pop into this new location.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
They've got the cold beers and fresh seafood to make a summer's eve pop here. My bro's band plays every Friday in the summer, so I've been a ton of times, and always had a blast. I love their unique method of cracking shellfish - the provide you with rocks and paper plates to smash open your lobster as opposed to the more civilized crackers. The food is just ok, but they have a great variety of crabs on hand, which is a plus. It's pretty overpriced, too, but I gather they can do that as there are so few open air places to nosh and drink in town.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Great beer spot, and the huge bar menu is pretty solid too!
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Average to above average pie, to my tastes. The toppings - meats especially - are not as good as they could be. The crust is pretty good, but tends to be quite bubbly. Sauce and cheese are tasty, if slightly ordinary... it's certainly satisfying, but I guess I was expecting more.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Went to a private event here once - it's a funky, darkish two room spot with a dining room and a bar with a few tables. The served some appetizers which were average, but I didn't eat a full meal. Those who did had positive things to say.
  Sunday, November 09, 2008
This is a superb legal's - great service, a boisterous and friendly atmosphere, and a large bar. The food is really pretty good, as is the case with most legals. They've got the yummy chowder, good fresh seafood of all kinds, and usually a host of specials. They even sport a custom brewed Harpoon beer with a hint of salt - don't get that though it's kinda gross. But the food is good here.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Dragged my Mom & Dad - Viet food neophytes - out here for a meal, and even they loved! We had a duck salad appetizer, which was huge, had tons of duck slices over a crisp and flavorful salad. The salad would have been nice on its own - chopped cabbage, nuts, and a lemongrass dressing - and the duck was a nice touch as well. We also had their fresh rolls, which had ham and crispy noodles inside; I hadn't seen that before. Their bahn mi comes as a soupy stew, with bread on the side. You take the beef bits from the soup, dress the bread with the broth, and eat - it was zesty, tasty and unique. The pho was very special, chart topping stuff. Tons of fresh eye round, rich & savory broth (WAY better than that fake stuff in NY), just a joy to eat, and so fresh and clean. It's the kind of meal you can stuff yourself on, and still feel not-too-gross afterwards.
Monday, December 08, 2008
This simple, classic, friendly little hole in the wall of culinary and wine-worthy delight was a staple for me in NYC. I ate here often after shopping for records around the corner, or just when I needed a quick and affordable meal on the LES. Loved sitting at the bar over a spaghetti carbonara and a glass of wine. Really a great little place that typifies the kind of casual dining that is really the highlight in New York.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
We had a party of 8 and were reaping the feastings of a little corporate largess, so got to try an array of things. My general opinion is that the fare is a tough below their price points in quality, but only a touch, and I wasn't paying anyhow so shouldn't really complain. I began with the classic clams casino, which were unremarkable, but a nice take on a classic dish which I wholly enjoyed.
For the table, We also had 2-and-a-half pounds of the Time Bandit king crab legs. Being a huge fan of the deadliest catch, I got a huge kick out of this menu listing (it literally says "time bandit king crab") and resisted the temptation to say "Here at the Oceanaire, Justin has battled stormy seas but is, at last, on the crab."
For the main, I tried the crab stuffed lobster with mustard butter. Wholly enjoyable and really very tasty. Others at the table ordered the black & blue mahi mahi, which was awesome, and the Alaskan halibut stuffed with crab - great. All of the main courses were pretty much stellar, and I liked that they were not overly sauced. We had a couple few serviceable bottles of French chablis which washed it all down quite nicely. Even managed an espresso creme brulee - lovely, and totally unique.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
I've been coming to this place for about 6 years now, and it is without a doubt the best pho I've ever tasted. It dominates all of the places in New York, and is definitely better than the Pho I had in Sydney. I've yet to sample any west coast pho, someday...
They've got really fresh, lean beef, all the fresh veg and accoutrement, and the broth.... oooooh, the broth. This is not an overly spiced broth at all, it's just very simple and oh so delish, with a rich, deep, savory, beef-bone character. This is where you go to be rescued from the cold or a wicked hangover. You can down an extra large pho tai here the morning after a dozen cocktails and instantly feel better.
Their other dishes are quite serviceable too, but this is mainly about the pho. All the same, you can get yummy shrimp summer rolls, and the shrimp paste with sugar cane is interesting and tasty. Oh, and see also the jack fruit shake! This is some serious yum, a very sweet, slushy, yellow fruit smoothie tye of deal that cuts any highly spiced dish well.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Great little curry spot. The pork cutlet curry was absolutely scrumptious, not too spicy, but very savory and tasty. The pork was panko crusted and deep fried, juicy and succulent, and the staff was just lovely. Washed it down with a Yebisu - bonus points for carrying that brew. Look forward to eating there again!
Monday, December 08, 2008
They have Ferrero Rocher Gelato. End of story.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Pretty pricey, but that's the way it is with coffee shops in NYC, but with great coffee. I always used to grab iced lattes here, and frequently treated myself to their amazing sweets. So luscious.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
They serve really nice Italian fare in a pretty chic setting here. The menu is broken out into salads, antipasti, pastas, fish, and meats. I've eaten here a few times, tasting many of their dishes, and the duck confit tart, gnocchi with cinghiale ragu, goat & ricotta ravioli, and veal tenderloin are all excellent and very memorable. On a recent visit, I had a pan seared halibut special which was served on some truffled potato puree, and the whole thing was really outstanding. The wine list tends toward more expensive offerings on the Italian end of things, though there are some more reasonable buys to be had from the Cali section. Service is good on the whole; I've always been treated well here.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
This is an excellent studio to try out the practice of Bikram yoga, as the teachers are great and give very detailed instructions on how to progress through the poses, which really helps as you basically feel like you are melting when first getting into this. The place is very warm (no pun intended), friendly, and welcoming.
Friday, October 31, 2008
This is a great Cape Cod watering hole, totally Mass-tastic, and really popular with the Harwich set. They've got a bunch of great beers on tap -Long Trail, a rarity, and Sam Adams Summer, Blue Moon, amongst others - and a spacious back deck overlooking the gorgeous Saquatucket marina. A cold beer on a hot day out on the deck with one of their lobster rolls... pure enjoyment. They are said to have the best lobster roll around, and i can attest to its greatness; they give you a ton of very meaty salad and the buns are real, crispy crusted rolls, not just cheap hotdog jobs.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
We celebrated my brother's 30th bday here. It's an elaborate space, but perhaps a touch overdone; I thought it felt a bit kitschy. And they have these vinyl chairs that were really slippery. I kept sliding forward - annoying.
Our food was very solid. I tried the potato leek clam chowder and the surf & turf (lobster & a 14 oz rib eye). The steak wasn't the greatest cut ever but it was cooked perfectly and paired well with the lobster tails. My brothers had Beef Wellington and commented favorably on it. Their sides are choice too, truffle fries, mushroom risotto, and au gratin potatoes were all tasty.
All in all an above average steakhouse with a touch of a modern feel.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Tutto is my Italian Dad's old standby deli for high quality Ginzo eats of all sorts. It's like a specialized old world Italian deli on steroids, and it has that feel; it's a convivial, warm, family run establishment in true Italian style.. They remember names and ask after your people here. The deli counter itself serves up delicious sandwiches - you have the option of sliced Italian bred, mini baguette style sub rolls, or the treccias, small sesame seeded loaves. A sub on one of these jobs looks like a loaf of Italian bread that's been halved and stuffed with cold cuts. Their specialty is the panino - Prosciutto, Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil with oil. They also do great Italians and Meatball heros, and I like to get their tuna (best I've ever tasted) on sliced bread with provolone, roasted peppers, and vinegar peppers. Yum.
They have a range of imported Italian deli meats - prosciutto, capocola, sopressata, and all are of the highest grade of quality. Their cheese selection is extensive as well. They have a range of home cooked and cured specialties to buttress their meat counter; marinated mushrooms, roasted peppers, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts all abound is savory brines next to huge vats of imported olives of all sorts. Their home made sausage is amongst the best I've ever tasted, as are their meatballs and sauce. They have tons of good quality frozen pastas and sauces, loads of imported dry pastas, panatones, and the like, and an extensive selection of Italian wines on offer. Basically, anything you get from here will be amazing.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Rise is the only real afterhours and one of the realest - period - dance music parties in Boston. Leave it to the gays to turn the 'bean on its head! We love them so!
This is a 2 floor, private, members only afterhours, the sort of which I never thought I'd see in Boston. It's a joyfully harmonious coming-ling of the beautifully wasted, those scant few Bostonians who need just a little more night, and a gaggle of local boys. It's a house & techno lovers heaven, and their talent bookings are on par with any venue in the country. Getting the chance to play there was an absolute pleasure. You should not be missing out on this place if you go out in Boston with any regularity.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
For my $, this is the best Italian restaurant in Boston, better than Prezza and Bricco in the North End. I ate with a large party (10) for my brother's birthday, and while we waited for a half hour over when we were meant to get seated, when we did seat, they immediately comped us some outstanding duck confit and fig pizza and some of their arancini, which were the best I've ever tasted. For food, I had an order of a truffled fettucine which was literally covered in truffle shavings. It was a tad disappointing and not that flavorful, but still a good dish; backhanded compliment, I know. My lamb crusted with bread crumbs was perfectly cooked and delicious. On the whole we all really enjoyed our meals and the whole experience. Oh and the chocolate souffle is well worth ordering ahead of time.
Our waiter, though a friendly and nice guy, knew very little about the food and kept saying "oh, that's veeeeery good" when asked about a dish rather than offer any real specific tidbits. Slightly annoying. Only slightly though.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Good, fun dive bar with solid pub food! Great place to drink with a local crowd.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Cool place with great service and off-the-charts fresh pasta dishes. The agnolotti with truffle sauce is exquisite. I just wished I had forgone the very temptingly described venison special, and opted for an appetizer and a pasta - or even 2 pastas - as the meat course was a bit of a letdown compared to the top class pasta. High marks for our waiter, though, who was really pleasant and gave great descriptions of everything.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Very solid upscale pub food with an impressive draught beer selection. I've been twice now and have tried their poutine fries, pate, lamb shank, and shepherd's pie. I was underwhelmed by the lamb shank, but everything else was great. The pate, swimming in truffle oil, is a decadent treat, and their take on shepherd's pie, featuring a corn cake and blue potatoes, was surprisingly delightful.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I had a fantastic hour long massage here from Nina, which was a combination of Thai, Deep Tissue, and Hot Stone. I had never had such a combo before, and it was one of the best massages I've ever had. They were also extremely friendly, and offered me some fruit and water after the massage. I will go back!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I've had a 90 minute massage here from Lisa, which was great and highly recommended!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I've been getting my hair cut here, literally, my whole life. Since coming back to Boston, it has been great going back here. I love the place and cannot recommend it more highly!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Not too terriffic food-wise... more Chinese than Vietnamese, and not a ton of flavor.
  Friday, February 20, 2009
Great sammies and a cool, low key space to meet up for a lunch & a coffee. The ordering system is somewhat chaotic, but everybody needs a little entropy.
  Sunday, February 22, 2009
I was slightly let down by the food here, but only slightly. A friend and I had dinner, and ordered a bunch of apps, one crazy maki, and one sashimi deluxe. Most everything was pretty good, but the sashimi deluxe was a little boring - tuna, salmon, yellowtail, whitefish, surf clam, octopus, crab stick, and mackerel rolls. Their agedashi tofu was very good, though, as was the gyoza, and we got a ton of food - the perfect amount for two hungry gents, really - and it totaled out to $44 each. Not bad.
  Wednesday, February 25, 2009
They have really tasty homemade ice cream, done in a classic way - there aren't tons of flavors or toppings, but everything they do have is very good. The place is really small - just a couple of seats - and mainly intended to get ice cream to take out.
It's probably my favorite ice cream in Boston. They do it up cold stone style, too, when you get toppings. if you want coffee oreo, they take a big heap of coffee and smash it up with a couple of those large metal paddle things with a mountain of crumbled oreos. Quality.
  Thursday, February 26, 2009
The food is OK - standard pub stuff - and the bar is usually pretty decently crowded. The layout of the bar is a little annoying - there's not much space between the bar itself and a rail with tables behind it, so it can get tight in there and kind of tough to order drinks. Crowd is a little random, from what I can tell - everything from cougars to docs from the MGH to locals from Beacon Hill. There tap beer selection is kind of unexciting.
  Monday, March 02, 2009
This is a great specila occasion restaurant, with really stellar food and service. We dined here for my brother's birthday and were all very pleased with our meals. The tagliatelle was a real highlight, as were there special desserts, the vanilla bean souffle and the falling chocolate cake. The souffle was a true delight - like eating vanilla air & cream. The steak frites was pretty good - could've been seared slightly more, but paired well with an onion jam.
  Monday, March 02, 2009
Dr. Heard was my dentist for many years and though I whined incessantly about the flouride treatments, she took great care of my teeth.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Probably the most authnetic Thai food I've ever had since visiting Thailand! They also have boat noodles, a kind of hybrid Thai take on Vietnamese Pho that's popular in and around Bangkok, and is so named because it is often sold off of the side of small floating vendor stands. Noodle Plant's are as delicious as any I've tasted - the broth is enriched, as is supposed to be done, with pig's blood, but don't be scared, it's amazing! The pork salad with red onion was out of this world, too. A full five star eating experience.
  Wednesday, March 11, 2009
This is a very cool yoga studio, it is warm and welcoming to all students, regardless of their level of depth in yoga practice, which isn't always the case at Yoga studios. I took a class with Nikki, at 7:15 on a Tuesday - it's very nice to have classes available after 7PM. The class was 90 minutes, and was pretty challenging, in a way that other yoga classes I've taken are not. I felt sore in a good way and very stretched after this class; a lot of the at-rest breathing was done in a full hamstring stretch, and I hadn't seen that before. The studio itself is cozy & clean, and their massage rooms looked very nice. Also, it's tough to beat a $12 yoga class.
  Wednesday, March 18, 2009
I really enjoyed my meal here. The decor can come off as abit over the top and ktichy, but once in the hands of their staff, you feel welcome and at home. They have a ton of tempting offerings on their menu - I settled on a half portion of their linguine carbonara - TONS of bacon and a yummy sauce - and then a veal scallopine special, paried up with some pesto gnocchi. It was tasty; their sauces are pretty heavy handed, but all in all it was an indulgence, and totally good food.
  Sunday, March 22, 2009
I enjoyed the Tapas here - came for restaurant week with a friend and ordered 6 tapas and a paella, which turned out to be far too much food for us to finish. Highlights included the serrano ham croquettes, the tripe & trotter stew, and the paella. We ate at the bar and the bar tender was really nice and accommodating to us.
  Sunday, March 22, 2009
Very solid neighborhood sub shop, with one of the finest cheese steak subs in Boston.
  Wednesday, March 25, 2009
I'm a fan - love the concept of a pizza place that falls between pizzeria and upscale, and the food is quite nice. I ordered a pizza (Alsatian - shallot, garlic, creme fraiche, and bacon without tomato sauce - delicious) and a beer, and they offered me a taste of their homemade spaghetti, too, with lemon zest, tomato, and creme fraiche. That was so yummy that I cant' wait to return and get a pasta. They also have good service and a real nice selection of beers.
  Thursday, June 04, 2009
I absolutely love Cafe Brazil - they serve up choice cuts of roast meats, as any good Brazilian place should, but their are all about pure meat flavor. You won't find overseasoned food here - just simple, well prepared food, and lots of it. They have Brazilian beers, and a live guitarist playing Brazilian music on weekend evenings. The service and hospitality from the very lovely people are as warm and welcoming as you can find anywhere. This is the type of hidden gem that people need to know about!
  Thursday, April 02, 2009
Quincy 2000 has put on several stellar conferences that I have attended recently. They are clearly invested in the success of the Quincy business community and do a great job supporting the efforts of their member businesses.
  Sunday, April 26, 2009
I really love massage, and get probably 2-4 massages each month. John's therapeutic massage is very different to any other massage I have ever had, and though it is at times a bit painful, I felt better afterwards than I ever had before from massage. He gets very deep into the muscles, and you leave with your body in a great state! Also, his studio is clean and gorgeous, and he has the most comfortable face cradle I have ever felt. Facial discomfort is a frequent problem for me during massage, and it was nice to just be able to not think about that and concentrate on breathing.
  Thursday, May 14, 2009
Love this place! It's airy, spacious, and a lovely spot to drink some really good coffee - try the mocha mint latte!
  Tuesday, May 19, 2009
I really liked the food here - went with a friend and tried a bunch of their stuff, the appetizer sampler platter (pakoras, samosas, and some other stuff that was less easy too identify but no less tasty), chicken tikka masala, lamb biryani, and a chicken special flavored with vanilla and coconut. The last was the most interesting and distinctive, with a subtle sweetness that was really unique. The staple dishes were very well done, too. Atmospherically, the new age kitschtastic buddhas everywhere thing is fully going on, but the space remains pleasant and understated enough despite that. The waitresses were sweet and accommodating, too - all in all, a great experience if a touch on the pricier side of Indian.