I wanted to see what other bloggers were writing about restaurants in Boston when I came across "Boston's Hidden Restaurants" on the internet. Overall, I think it is a really good website, but it was difficult for me to judge the accuracy of their comments, because as the name of the website indicates, these are "hidden" restaurants so I have not heard of most of them. However, one that I was familiar with was Addis Red Sea, an Ethiopian restaurant on Tremont Street. Ever since my friend mentioned this place to me two years ago I have always wanted to eat here. "Boston's Hidden Restaurants" had this to say about Addis Red Sea:
"'Unusual' doesn't even begin to describe Addis Red Sea, an intimate, funky Ethiopian restaurant in the South End of Boston. It is almost guaranteed that you have never been to a dining spot quite like this. Dark and hushed, with colorful touches throughout the room, including African artifacts, Addis Red Sea is a restaurant like no other in Boston.
Most of the food served at Addis Red Sea is simple, with healthy ingredients such as flat bread, lentils, lean beef, and vegetables of all kinds. Some of the entrees bear a slight resemblance to those found in Middle Eastern or Indian restaurants. Some dishes at Addis Red Sea are very spicy, but those who prefer mild dishes also have many options from which to choose."
The things that I enjoyed about this website was the clarity and straight forward tone of the writing. Their descriptions made me want to check out these hidden treasures for myself. Angela's Cafe in East Boston piqued my interest in particular, because I have not explored East Boston much in the two years that I have lived in this city. This local Mexican restaurant sounds like a real treat!
The only objection that I have to the setup of their website is that the title of the site is somewhat misleading. When I read "Boston's Hidden Restaurants" I thought the blog was going to be completely dedicated to restaurants and food venues in Boston, but in fact, much of the blog is dedicated to towns immediately outside of Boston and in New England. Still, they cover a lot of restaurants in the city and the website is definitely worth visiting if you want to travel off the beaten path in the world of eating out in Boston.
Here is the link:
http://www.hiddenboston.com/.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Giacomo's Ristorante
Giacomo's Ristorante is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Boston and if you haven't been here before I strongly recommend that you give it a try. It is a tiny cozy Italian and seafood restaurant in the North End located at 355 Hanover Street. The reasonable prices and mouth-watering dishes bring in crowds ranging from local college students to families and tourists. You can watch your food being prepared as the kitchen is staged inside of the restaurant across from where people eat. The red brick walls and menus written on chalk boards gives Giacomo's a down-to-earth quality that is absent from many of the fancy, pretentious restaurants accompanying it on Hanover Street.
It really is tiny and probably only seats twenty to thirty people at maximum capacity, so do not be surprised if on Friday and Saturday nights there is a long line of people waiting to get in. But the food is well worth the wait. My friends and I stood in line for over an hour last Saturday night, but once we dove into our respective meals we did not regret the wait one bit. On the other hand, since Giacomo's only lets in so many people at once, the service is superb. We had two waitresses serving us that made sure our water glasses were always filled and we had everything we wanted.
Due to the high demand for seats in the restaurant the atmosphere is upbeat and fast paced. If you want to kick back and relax for hours at a restaurant I would not suggest coming here. One last tip about Giacomo's, is make sure you bring cash because the restaurant does not accept credit cards.
Here are some dishes to try:
The fried calamari is delicious and contains Chile peppers that gives the dish some extra flavor and at $6 it won't break the bank.
Although chicken parmigiana is a pretty standard Italian fare there is something special about this dish at Giacomo's Ristorante. You can definitely tell that they make their own sauces. The cost for this meal was about $12 or $13. (There is a side of pasta that comes with this but I did not get a photograph of it with my camera.)
Chicken and shrimp in a creamy pesto sauce always makes a nice meal. The cost was just under $15.
Finally if you do not want to take my word for it, just listen to what others are saying about Giacomo's Ristorante:
Frommer's Travel Experts for 50 Years write:
Giacomo's Ristorante
Cuisine: Italian, Seafood
Hours: Mon-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-10:30pm; Sun 4-10pm
Address: 355 Hanover St
Location: The North End
Transportation: T: Green or Orange Line to Haymarket
Reservations: Reservations not accepted
Phone: 617/523-9026
Prices: Main courses $11-$18
Credit Cards: Not accepted
Frommer's Review:
Fans of Giacomo's seem to have adopted the U.S. Postal Service's motto: They brave snow, sleet, rain, and gloom of night. The line forms early and grows long, especially on weekends. No reservations, cash only, a tiny dining room with an open kitchen -- what's the attraction? The food is terrific, there's plenty of it, and the we're-all-in-this-together atmosphere certainly helps. My dad is a New York ethnic-dining snob, and this is his favorite Boston restaurant.
The fried calamari appetizer, served with marinara sauce, is ultralight and crisp. You can take the chef's advice or put together your own main dish from the list of ingredients on a board on the wall. The best suggestion is salmon and sun-dried tomatoes in tomato cream sauce over fettuccine; any dish with shrimp is delectable, too. Non-seafood offerings such as butternut squash ravioli in mascarpone cheese sauce are equally memorable. Service is friendly but incredibly swift, and lingering is not encouraged -- but unless you have a heart of stone, you won't want to take up a table when people are standing outside waiting for your seat in (no kidding) 90°F (32°C) heat or an ice storm.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/boston/D39702.html
Monday, October 1, 2007
A Quick, Cheap Meal
In college students don't have a lot of time to cook large tasty meals so they have to learn to improvise especially if they are not on a food plan. One product that I like in particular are Bertolli's Complete Skillet Meals for Two. They are often on sale in Shaws supermarket for $5.99 a piece. My favorite meal combination that they offer is Shrimp Scampi and Linguine which consists of pasta and shrimp with roasted peppers in a garlic sauce. Simply, put the contents of the bag into a skillet and cover and cook for about ten minutes. I usually cook a chicken breast in another frying pan first, slice it up, and then throw it into the other skillet when the pasta is almost cooked. The chicken adds a little bit more volume and protein to the meal. Buy yourself a nice bottle of white wine and have a glass with dinner. This usually lasts me two meals. It's quick, easy, and tasty.
Stay Away From The North Street Grille
From the title of this post I'm sure you've already guessed my opinion of this restaurant is negative to say the least. I have had such an urge to write about the North Street Grille ever since my friends and I stumbled upon it a few weeks ago. We had a horrible experience there and I feel it is necessary to warn others to stay away from this snobby overpriced establishment. Of all the places that I have eaten at in Boston this is probably the worst yet. Let me begin my story by explaining that it does not pay to travel off the beaten path in the North End and there are reasons why some restaurants have lines out the door while others do not.
The restaurants on the two main streets in the North End were all crowded when we went to get dinner one Friday night, so we decided to stray away from the main scene. After about a half hour we came across the North Street Grille and decided to eat there because the menu posted outside looked decent and the cost was within our price range. I was especially excited about the cob salad which was a creative combination of vegetables, sliced eggs, and various meats. However, once we were seated inside we discovered, much to our displeasure, that the menu was completely different than the one posted outside. After speaking with the waitress we learned that the chef likes to be creative and changes the menu every week. Although I commend the chef for trying to spice things up I thought the least the restaurant could do was change the menu outside especially if this is something they do every week. After all, it was a Friday night, typically the busiest night for restaurants. Nevertheless, we decided to stay and my friend and I both ordered a grilled chicken dish that sounded good. And then the wait started. Let me point out that this is a small restaurant and when we arrived there were only two other people seated. We chatted together for a while and waited. And then we waited some more. Finally about an hour and a half later our food finally arrived. I can tolerate waiting for food for a long time especially if the chef is making a special dish but the food that was put before us was anything but special. On a large white plate lay one small piece of chicken surrounded by three slices of tomato and three half slices of mozzarella balls. A vinaigrette dressing was lightly drizzled over the plate. I was able to manage about three bites of chicken before I hit the bone. Needless to say I was still hungry after I had finished. There was nothing special about the chicken either. I could have just as easily have gone to Shaws bought myself a chicken breast and thrown it in the oven and it would have tasted better. By the time I had paid tax and tip the meal came up to $19. When my friend and I told the waitress that we didn't like our meal she looked offended said she would inform the chief. It is my belief that if a customer doesn't like what you have served them you should offer them something else.
The only thing that is good about this restaurant is that the portions are so small that you don't have to count your calories. Still if anyone decides that they absolutely must try the North Street Grille for themselves I would suggest making plans to go to a second restaurant afterwards because you will still be hungry.
The restaurants on the two main streets in the North End were all crowded when we went to get dinner one Friday night, so we decided to stray away from the main scene. After about a half hour we came across the North Street Grille and decided to eat there because the menu posted outside looked decent and the cost was within our price range. I was especially excited about the cob salad which was a creative combination of vegetables, sliced eggs, and various meats. However, once we were seated inside we discovered, much to our displeasure, that the menu was completely different than the one posted outside. After speaking with the waitress we learned that the chef likes to be creative and changes the menu every week. Although I commend the chef for trying to spice things up I thought the least the restaurant could do was change the menu outside especially if this is something they do every week. After all, it was a Friday night, typically the busiest night for restaurants. Nevertheless, we decided to stay and my friend and I both ordered a grilled chicken dish that sounded good. And then the wait started. Let me point out that this is a small restaurant and when we arrived there were only two other people seated. We chatted together for a while and waited. And then we waited some more. Finally about an hour and a half later our food finally arrived. I can tolerate waiting for food for a long time especially if the chef is making a special dish but the food that was put before us was anything but special. On a large white plate lay one small piece of chicken surrounded by three slices of tomato and three half slices of mozzarella balls. A vinaigrette dressing was lightly drizzled over the plate. I was able to manage about three bites of chicken before I hit the bone. Needless to say I was still hungry after I had finished. There was nothing special about the chicken either. I could have just as easily have gone to Shaws bought myself a chicken breast and thrown it in the oven and it would have tasted better. By the time I had paid tax and tip the meal came up to $19. When my friend and I told the waitress that we didn't like our meal she looked offended said she would inform the chief. It is my belief that if a customer doesn't like what you have served them you should offer them something else.
The only thing that is good about this restaurant is that the portions are so small that you don't have to count your calories. Still if anyone decides that they absolutely must try the North Street Grille for themselves I would suggest making plans to go to a second restaurant afterwards because you will still be hungry.
Frank Avruch: Boston's Man About Town
Here is a website that I found that gives reviews to some "classier" restaurants that my college budget often can't afford. Avruch provides commentary on restaurants all over Boston proper as well as the areas surrounding the city. His writing is crisp, clear, and to the point. I am hoping to be able to visit some of these places soon myself!
http://www.bostonman.com/restfr1.html
http://www.bostonman.com/restfr1.html
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Kashmir
Since I just went to Kashmir's this weekend for my birthday I thought I would start with a review of this restaurant. I had initially chosen Vinny T's, an excellent Italian restaurant on Boylston, as the location of my party, however the weekend before my birthday I happened to go to Kashmir and I thought it would be nice to have a change of pace.
Kashmir is an upscale Indian restaurant located at 279 Newbury Street. The first time I went to Kashmir with my friends I was actually looking for a place to smoke hookah and my friend mentioned that she knew of an Indian restaurant where they allowed you to smoke. If I may interrupt myself for a moment, since this blog is open to the public I feel that I must add that hookah is completely legal and it is possible to smoke it without becoming addicted. I'm not suggesting that hookah is healthy since it is not because the smoker inhales flavored tobacco through a large water pipe. For anyone who is unfamiliar with hookah here is a website that will explain the process: http://mideastfood.about.com/od/middleeasternfood101/a/hookah.htm
When we arrived at the restaurant we were seated outside in a little patio area because smoking is not allowed inside. Kashmir offered a lot of hookah flavors to choose from but we eventually decided on the more traditional strawberry flavoring. We also ordered some tea and vegetable samosas as appetizers. A samosa is a triangular shaped fried bread stuffed with potatoes and peas covered in spices. The resturant had reasonable prices considering its location on Newbury Street. The average meal cost about $15. The food was delicious and it was at that point that I decided that I wanted to celebrate my birthday at Kashmir.
The first night I went to the restaurant I sat with two other people outside and for my birthday I had a group of about twelve people and we sat inside. After these two experiences I would recommend going to the restaurant with a small group because it is more enjoyable. Although the food and hookah is of high quality and the atmosphere of the restaurant is nice whether you are sitting inside or outside the service is definitely under par. You have to constantly call the waiters over if you want anything because once they have served you the food their part is pretty much done. During my birthday they didn't even come around to refill our water glasses or check to see if we needed anything. The huge tip was included in the bill so it didn't give the waiters much incentive to provide quality service.
Overall, if you enjoy Indian food and don't mind poor service I would recommend Kashmir as a nice restaurant to kick back and relax with a couple of friends on a Friday night. Here is a link to the restaurant so you can check it out for yourself. http://www.kashmirrestaurant.com/.
Kashmir is an upscale Indian restaurant located at 279 Newbury Street. The first time I went to Kashmir with my friends I was actually looking for a place to smoke hookah and my friend mentioned that she knew of an Indian restaurant where they allowed you to smoke. If I may interrupt myself for a moment, since this blog is open to the public I feel that I must add that hookah is completely legal and it is possible to smoke it without becoming addicted. I'm not suggesting that hookah is healthy since it is not because the smoker inhales flavored tobacco through a large water pipe. For anyone who is unfamiliar with hookah here is a website that will explain the process: http://mideastfood.about.com/od/middleeasternfood101/a/hookah.htm
When we arrived at the restaurant we were seated outside in a little patio area because smoking is not allowed inside. Kashmir offered a lot of hookah flavors to choose from but we eventually decided on the more traditional strawberry flavoring. We also ordered some tea and vegetable samosas as appetizers. A samosa is a triangular shaped fried bread stuffed with potatoes and peas covered in spices. The resturant had reasonable prices considering its location on Newbury Street. The average meal cost about $15. The food was delicious and it was at that point that I decided that I wanted to celebrate my birthday at Kashmir.
The first night I went to the restaurant I sat with two other people outside and for my birthday I had a group of about twelve people and we sat inside. After these two experiences I would recommend going to the restaurant with a small group because it is more enjoyable. Although the food and hookah is of high quality and the atmosphere of the restaurant is nice whether you are sitting inside or outside the service is definitely under par. You have to constantly call the waiters over if you want anything because once they have served you the food their part is pretty much done. During my birthday they didn't even come around to refill our water glasses or check to see if we needed anything. The huge tip was included in the bill so it didn't give the waiters much incentive to provide quality service.
Overall, if you enjoy Indian food and don't mind poor service I would recommend Kashmir as a nice restaurant to kick back and relax with a couple of friends on a Friday night. Here is a link to the restaurant so you can check it out for yourself. http://www.kashmirrestaurant.com/.
An Introduction to My Blog
After my first attempt to create a blog about blood diamonds I have decided to switch to a much lighter topic and write about food venues around Boston. I love food and I especially enjoy going out to eat. I thought this would be the perfect topic to write about while I am in living in Boston because this city has a lot of great restaurants to choose from. Then again, there are also some not-so-great places in the city that I would like to warn people about. The thing that I love most about eating out in a metropolitan city like Boston, is that the diverse population is reflected in the restaurants and food venues around the city. Whether you are craving Chinese, Indian, or Italian food, Boston has it covered. I have been living in the city for a little over two years now so I feel confident that I am familiar enough with the restaurant scene to provide commentary on it. Plus, I will eat pretty much anything from any culture. I'm not a vegetarian so I'm not limited to commentary on just the veggies. Actually I would call myself more of a carnivore if I were to ever label my eating habits. That is not to say that I don't love my fruits and vegestables.
I will also be expanding this blog to talk about quick meals that college students can make. I'm not much of a chef and I often don't have a lot of time to make lavish meals for myself but I have discovered how to make some quick and tasty meals that I would like to share with others.
I will also be expanding this blog to talk about quick meals that college students can make. I'm not much of a chef and I often don't have a lot of time to make lavish meals for myself but I have discovered how to make some quick and tasty meals that I would like to share with others.
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