Belle Isle Seafood (aka following in Anthony Bourdain's footsteps)

Belle Isle Seafood - 1267 Saratoga Street, East Boston (Orient Heights)


"Best lobster roll in Boston" is the claim that brought me to this seafood shack located directly under one of Logan's flight paths in East Boston. Actually it was the fact that this one of the places my boy Anthony Bourdain visited during his taping of No Reservations: Boston. I made it out there as part of an impromptu bike tour of East Boston and Winthrop, but that is a story for another post. The place is much smaller than I expected, literally just a small room with the counter you order from and then a handful of stools lined up along the front windows.

The good news is that the roll lived up to its moniker and is the best roll I have had in Boston. The bad news is that it was perhaps the second best lobster roll I have ever had, beaten by a $10 lobster roll sold from a cart in downtown Newburyport (I really need to visit that guy again!). The thing is enormous, packing an entire half pound of lobster meat onto a single bun. In my opinion, the perfect lobster roll is a combination of fresh lobster meat, a little mayo, maybe some lettuce delivered in perfect proportion on a buttered, grilled split-top New England roll. The amount of meat at Belle Isle overpowers the taste of the bun beneath. This isn't a problem of course, you just pull the excess meat off until you've arrived at the proper ratio. Needless to say, it was a great meal and I got to follow in the footsteps of Tony.

Christopher's

Christopher's Restaurant & Bar - 1920 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge (Porter)

Happy New Year!  One of my goals is to be more regular with my posting, but first I'll have to catch up on last year.  I am also making an effort to more fully explore my new neighborhood of Porter Square so here is the first of several posts to come for this area.

I went there with my roommate Jay for dinner one night last month.  I don't know why, but I went in expecting a nondescript, somewhat stuffy restaurant with outdated furnishings and menu.  Instead, I found the makings of a good neighborhood hangout.  There is a bar that wraps around most of the middle of the restaurant and the atmosphere was fairly lively.  The menu is classic American with an emphasis on their burgers and enough flair to make it interesting.  Like many places in Porter, the prices are very reasonable so it will be easy to go back.

Upstairs on the Square

Upstairs on the Square - 91 Winthrop Street, Cambridge (Harvard)

This fall (this post is really old), thanks to Gilt City and my friend Laura, I had an opportunity to try out the 5 course tasting menu with wine at Upstairs on the Square, a pretty swanky place in Harvard Square, with Ann and Laura's friend Dan.  I didn't really know what to expect coming in, other than the excessive amounts of pink and stripes used in the dining room decor were not to my liking.

Upon arrival, my concerns about the decor were found to be mostly true, though not as bad as feared.  However, things became immediately better when we were presented with the menu.

Let's just say it was a very enjoyable meal.  The wine pairings were all good, though I'd say the wine that stood out the most for me was the Sauvignon Blanc.  It was probably the best one I've ever had, though that could have had something to do with the fact that our server told us it was a limited edition run that this guy makes only in certain years.

The Heirloom Salad was good, especially the goat cheese, although sometimes the tomatoes were a bit overpowering for me.  Same for the Spaghetti au Caviar, although it was good just to have a small portion because it was kind of creamy and that would have become too much if we had tried to eat a whole entree of it.  The Salmon was probably the consensus top entree pick out of the group.  Here is a dish we wish they didn't have a small portion for.  The Salmon itself was great and then the root vegetables and apples were a perfect compliment with a kick from the mustard and horseradish.  It was especially nice for fall.  The Chicken was also great, although I would say the portion was even more noticeably undersized.  I was mostly surprised at how much I enjoyed the spaetzle.  At this point in the evening, we were all feeling pretty good from the wine and had been truly enjoying the assortment of fine foods presented to us.  I do not think we were prepared for what happened next.  The Churros y Chocolat is probably the best dessert I have ever had.  Ever.  They were perfectly fried and sugary and cinnamon-y and you could dip them in molten dark chocolate.  Pairing it with cinnamon ice cream just completed the perfection!  Needless to say, we all left on a happy note.


Doing the tasting menu at Upstairs on the Square was certainly an enjoyable experience.  The food was very well conceived and prepared, leading to the results described above.  It was different enough to be exciting, but familiar enough to be enjoyed.  Our server was very friendly and we had a good time, though there were a couple of overly long delays between courses.  My biggest knocks on the place are the prices and the atmosphere.  It's certainly worth the extra cost for a special occasion based on the food, but the dining room was a little off and also had too much of a stuffy, formal feel for me to make it a top choice.

Tremont 647

Tremont 647 - 647 Tremont St, South End (Back Bay)

Ann was in town last week so we took an opportunity to use a Groupon and visit Tremont 647 in the South End. It was my first time at the restaurant and it's a place I've been meaning to try since I've been by it so many times going to restaurants in that area.

I was not overwhelmed by the decor. It's a small restaurant with more of a laid back, neighborhood feel. It was pretty empty when we got in at 6:30, but quickly filled up.

It has a pretty wide ranging menu so it's hard to describe the cuisine other than American. I think it goes for more of a Southwest feel, but I'm not sure. For the meal, I ordered the crab and shrimp risotto, which was a special, and Ann got the pork chop. I enjoyed my dish but Ann's was a little dry. Overall, I would say the food is pretty good but it wouldn't be my first choice to head back to with so many good restaurants at similar prices in that area. Apparently they do have a $2 taco Tuesdays thing, so that might be worth checking out some time...

Foundry on Elm

Foundry on Elm - 255 Elm Street, Somerville (Davis Square)

Tuesday evening, my roommate Jay and I took a short trip back to good old Davis Sq to see The Social Network at the Somerville Theater. The movie was awesome and we hadn't had dinner yet, so afterwards we headed over to the new place in the square, Foundry on Elm. It's a place I've been meaning to check out since it opened about a month ago.

Even on a rainy Tuesday, there was a pretty good crowd at 9:30 so the place had a good atmosphere. The staff was very friendly and the menu had a number of interesting items, particularly the appetizers. However, neither of us were very hungry so I merely got the Bratwurst and Jay ordered the Burger. No appetizer was necessary once we saw we got bread and the bread was amazing. I would say it might have been the highlight of the whole meal! It was warm and had a thin crust with a soft middle and it was served with fluffy butter that was just incredible. (Another great part of the meal was being able to order Schlitz, which brought me back to $1 sliders and $2 Schlitz on Tuesday nights at Merle's in Evanston!)

In comparison, my Bratwurst was a bit of a letdown. It certainly was not as good as what you can find at Jacob Wirth. I'm not saying it was bad, it just wasn't as good as my expectations had set it out to be. That said, I will definitely be back. There is a lot on that menu I would like to try and it fits in with the theme lately of old school foodie restaurants (see Stoddard's Fine Foods which I need to write a post for as well) that seem to be popular. I will just have to go again when my appetite allows me to venture into the appetizer and entree sections.

Parish

Parish Cafe and Bar - 361 Boylston Street, Back Bay (Arlington)

My roommate, Sanjay, and I went here on a Tuesday night to meet up with my friend, Laura (it's one of her favorite Back Bay spots) and it was packed. They have a large outdoor patio on Boylston and people were out enjoying the weather. Inside was equally full but we were able to find seats at the bar. I hoped this would be an indication of good things to come and I was not disappointed.

Compared to a lot of the Back Bay, Parish is a good, affordable option. They serve a refreshing variety of entree size salads and sandwiches for around $12 per plate (the $32 double lobster roll is an outlier). I went there with all intentions of eating healthy but when I saw 'The Coppa', I knew I was done for. The menu describes it as

"A slow roasted pork belly sandwich on a sesame seeded bun topped with American cheese, Hellman's mayonaisse, carmelized onions-red jalapeno peppers. Sided with your choice of homemade potato salad or cole slaw."

They had me at pork belly. If there's one thing I have come to realize, it is that I am becoming a big fan of the fatty, flavorful, less conventional parts of the animal. Perhaps this is the best thing that Anthony Bourdain has taught me. It started with bone marrow. Now it's pork belly. I first had pork belly at People, a tapas restaurant in Chicago about a month ago. It was shredded inside a small slider, but the flavor was phenomenal! This time they did not disguise the texture of the cut. My sandwich was literally packed with gooey pieces of essentially pig fat packing an overwhelming flavor of pork goodness. By the end of meal was hands were so greasy I felt like I had washed them in olive oil. If this disturbs you, I apologize. If it does not, you need to try it! Parish has definitely gotten my attention and I'm sure I'll be going back. I might not order the 'The Coppa' every time, but it definitely made me appreciate what they have to offer.

Urban Gardens

Our porch garden!

Unfortunately I was pretty sick this weekend so I did not get to enjoy the nice weather as much as I would have liked. However, I felt a little better on Sunday so I was able to get out and plant more of my porch container garden. Now my garden is entering its third year and I am proud to say I have had a decent amount of success growing vegetables to eat. Beyond that, having a garden in the city really makes things look and feel nicer and really cuts down on the sometimes harsh streetscape (you really have to look no further than the million wires visible from my porch). However, my garden pales in comparison to other gardens in Somerville, Cambridge and Boston. In particular, in the South End on Washington St there is a large community garden plot that I always enjoy walking by (I'll post some pictures later).

Urban gardening is a fulfilling and easy way to improve the sustainability of any city. Not only are you sourcing some of your fruits and vegetables from your own backyard, cutting down on transportation emissions, but all of that greenery does more than improve the view. It also improves local air quality and can cut down on the 'heat island' effect that all of the concrete, etc of a city creates. In addition, plants and soil trap rainwater, preventing it from rushing into storm drains and carrying all of the pollutants of the street with it. If you live in a city and have access to outdoor space, get a green thumb and fill it up with as many plants as possible!

Petunias

Green Peppers

Cucumbers

Rowes Wharf Sea Grille

Rowes Wharf Sea Grille - 70 Rowes Wharf, Waterfront (Aquarium)

For the Winter 2010 Boston Restaurant Week finale, I went to Rowes Wharf Sea Grille with Ann, Kyle and Melissa. It is located in the very posh Boston Harbor Hotel. The decor was maritime themed and very refined. As I feared, it was a little too staid and lacked the energy of a hipper, more accessible restaurant. This may have had something to do with being tucked away in a hotel, which I feel always removes a certain authenticity from restaurants.

I had heard about the place in the Globe when they described it as the first truly great seafood restaurant in the city actually located on the waterfront. And what a picturesque waterfront location it is. We were seated next to the window, which was nice even though it was night. The view looks out over the middle of the harbor and just off to the right you can see the glass-enclosed back side of the Moakley Courthouse.

Let's get to the food. Surprisingly they had chosen to put their most expensive entree, the Filet, on the Restaurant Week menu so three of us chose to get it. Knowing this, I decided to go seafood for my appetizer and ordered the New England clam chowder. I'm not going to claim to be a chowder expert, but this was real good. The steak was exceptional as well, although we all ordered ours medium rare and they came out a range of medium to medium well. This was really the only disappointment of the night. My Cheesecake with Blueberry compote was delicious as well. On top of that, our server was extremely attentive so it is no surprise that the Sea Grille ranks at the top of OpenTable's list for service.

It was another great Restaurant Week experience. I would recommend it for a more formal celebration or possibly a date if you're looking for something romantic with a harbor view.

Olive's

Olive's - 10 City Square, Charlestown (North Station)

As you hopefully know by now, Boston's winter/spring Restaurant Week is upon us. This means a lot of activity for the progressBoston blog as I usually like to try out two new restaurants each time. For the first restaurant, I was inspired to try a neighborhood I don't venture to very often, Charlestown. It's kind of tucked away across the Charles from the North End, but the City Square section is very quaint and historic. It was here that Todd English founded his breakthrough restaurant, Olive's. Now I'm not really sure what to think of Todd; he may be a little too commercial and overrated now and judging by what I've read in the papers may have a bit of an ego. However, my only intent here is to judge his restaurant.

Ann and I were joined by our new friends Lisa and Brad for this outing. The restaurant's decor was classy and yet had a modern enough feeling that it didn't feel stuffy. One thing I did not like was how crammed everything was, especially near the entrance, with tables tucked inches away from where people were standing. The bar was likewise too small to really enjoy grabbing a pre-meal drink. Fortunately, we were seated in the more open dining room near a large window with a view of the Square and the Zakim Bridge beyond (about as good as a view as you can get in most Boston restaurants).

For my three courses, I went with the Lobster Bisque, Crispy Confit Duck, and Rich Chocolate Tart. I was very impressed with the Bisque, as I usually am. Perhaps I was spoiled by Salts, but I did not find the Duck as enjoyable as I had hoped. The "cassoulet style" was interesting, but having a duck leg sitting in a heavy sauce type thing made it hard to enjoy the flavor. Finally, the Tart was very different with caramel corn included on the plate. This I really enjoyed, but found the creme fraiche sucked all of the flavor out of the chocolate when I included even just a little dab.

I also got to try a bit of Ann's Carbonara and Pork Chop, both very good. Lisa and Brad differentiated themselves by additionally getting the Salmon Cake, Lasagna, and Cod and I did not hear any complaints. For the other desserts though, the Tapioca was overpowered by the kumquats.

Overall, it was a fine experience and worth checking out but I'm not sure it would be a first choice destination restaurant compared to some others in Boston.

Nico

Nico Ristorante - 417 Hanover St, North End (Haymarket)

A couple weekends ago, Ann and I went out in the North End in search for a late night drink and small bite to eat. We didn't have a plan and so like many Bostonians, were walking up and down Hanover St looking for a reasonably priced, able to be seated place. We ended up at Nico. Compared with a couple of the other places nearby, the menu was reasonable. Additionally, it being about 9:30 on a Saturday, the place had a pretty lively bar scene going on compared to some sleepier establishments nearby.

We kept it simple and just split and appetizer and entree between us. The appetizer was the Prosciutto and Fresh Parmagiano and it was amazing. It had an intense salty flavor that was almost debilitating but it was just also extremely tasty. For the entree, we got the Spaghetti Calamari. We had told our waitress (who was very friendly and approachable) that we were going to be sharing and she brought out the entree on two plates with portions that were essentially a meal for each of us. I'm not sure if this was because it was so late at night, but it was a nice gesture. The dish was good, but certainly not outstanding. I would like to go back and try some more of the menu to see what else they do well.

Diva

Diva Indian Bistro - 246 Elm Street, Somerville (Davis)

I'm surprised I've waited this long to post about Diva. Perhaps it's because it's so close and familiar that I don't feel it's an event going there. In fact, because of Ann's and my newfound love of Indian cuisine, I've probably been to this restaurant more than almost anywhere else in Boston.

Our experience Friday along with Sanjay and Lauren was pretty typical of what Diva has to offer. We were going around 8:30 on Friday night so we were pretty sure it would be busy. Sanjay tried to call ahead and was told they don't take reservations but just come on over. He put our name in and we had a 30+ minute wait. Standing there, a group comes in from outside and just sits down. Confused, we ask the hostess and she's like "Oh, we had to seat them, they have reservations." Needless to say she was surprised to hear we were told they don't take reservations. Apparently we had spoken to someone else. That is my biggest complaint with Diva, you never know who you're dealing with. You always see the same characters in the restaurant, but you never really get assigned a server and it's unclear who the manager in charge is or if he really cares that things are being run well. This happened to us where our server was also busing tables so some things took a long time to come around, like our check. Like I said, typical.

Enough of that. Let's get to the good stuff. The food. It's incredible (at least for a non-Indian like myself). I don't think I've had a bad meal there. My favorites are the Tandoori Tikka and anything in their Masala sauce. Their chicken curry is also very good, but I'd say neighboring Namaskar's is slightly better. They have a fairly limited wine and beer list, but Ann really enjoys their lychee martinis. All of their breads are really good and I've had many good appetizers with several more to explore. Let's just say we never leave hungry.

Finally, the atmosphere is lively, drawing in a good neighborhood mix of young professionals and college students with Friday night being particularly busy. I must say that despite the generally lackluster service, Diva is still one of my favorite places to go in Boston with great food and reasonable prices.

Groupon

So as my friends already know and I am coming to realize, I have become a little obsessed with Groupon. Basically, each day a new deal (or two!) is announced for given cities that if enough buy in on it, everyone gets the deal. You can check out the Boston deals here. A lot of the recent deals have been for restaurants, including a couple of my local favorites (Red Bones, The Middle East). It is certainly a good way to get a deal and try out some places you might not have otherwise gone to.

Salts

Salts - 798 Main Street, Cambridge (Central/Kendall)

Salts is a hidden gem of the Boston restaurant scene. It is certainly located out of the way, tucked in to an old industrial area behind Central Square. However, once you step inside the atmosphere is both warm and inviting, aided in no small part by the gracious hosting of co-owner Analia. It is great for either a romantic dinner or a small group celebrating a special occasion with the price point higher than any other restaurant I have yet reviewed.

The cuisine is French-inspired but the ingredients are locally sourced, which means the menu turns out to generally be a taste of New England. This was certainly true with Ann's squash soup appetizer, which we both described as tasting like fall. This is a place that foodies would love, with special attention given to an uncommon combination of ingredients as well as diligent preparation. Between appetizers and the entree, we were given a free sample of artichoke soup with I believe foamed parmesan on top. I was having a hard time keeping up with the ingredients, but the results were superb. The highlight of the evening was the roast duck for two, which Salts is famous for and we were lucky enough to secure one of the final two late in the night. The entire duck is presented on one platter along with vegetables and fruits and the waiter carves it practically at your table. The first bite was perhaps better than anything I had ever tasted before and we both ate as much we liked and were still left with a healthy portion to take home (Note: there is also a tasting menu offered at $75 per person where they ask what you do and don't like on the menu and then come out with six courses tailored to your specific tastes. This was highly recommended by my friend Olivier who suggested the restaurant, but Ann and I didn't feel quite ready to try it out).

Everything about Salts was fantastic, with exceptionally friendly and personal service and fabulously prepared and presented food.

Mantra

Mantra - 52 Temple Place (Downtown Crossing)

It's been a while since Ann and I actually ate here so this post is quite late. That said, I thought I should put something down.

Mantra is billed as a French-Indian fusion restaurant. I would say the menu trended more towards the Indian side of the spectrum and that was what I decided to order. The food was good but nothing remarkable for the higher price over your average Indian restaurant.

It has a very central location in the middle of Downtown Crossing and tries to come off as a modern, hip restaurant and nightclub. My biggest complaint is that it is definitely a nightclub first, and restaurant second. It has elements that are nice and flashy, but the details just are not completed well. The tables and chairs are cheap and light, easy to be moved out for the dance floor. There is a giant air conditioning unit with a hose that is just sitting on the side of the restaurant floor. The bathrooms are very modern but not really clean or polished. The space does not have a friendly, intimate feeling like you would expect from a nice restaurant.

Overall, Mantra was ok, but for the price there are a lot more real restaurants in Boston with better menus.

Toro

Toro - 1704 Washington St (South End, Worcester Sq)

Perhaps first impressions aren't the most important. When I visited this place with Ann shortly after she had first moved to the South End, I came away not very impressed. We had stuck to more traditional tapas that we had had elsewhere and I thought the food was mediocre and overpriced. However, after a year of walking by the place and seeing it packed every night, I decided it was time to give it a second shot.

This time we strayed a little farther from the traditional and found some great dishes. The grilled corn with alioli and cheese was as great as anything smothered in cheese must be. It is also the 'house specialty'. I had bone marrow for the first time and loved it! The short ribs were incredibly tender but perhaps overpriced. We went for a daily special of lamb sausage and it was good but not great. Finally, the dessert plate of churros with melted chocolate was delicious.

I'd recommend Toro as a place to stray a little out of your comfort zone and experience the lively atmosphere every night of the week. I think it's especially fun with a group if you can get a table.

Mamma Maria

Mamma Maria - 3 North Square (North End, Haymarket)

Another restaurant that had comely highly recommended, this time from my brother. Taking advantage of the second to last evening of Restaurant Week, I got reservations for four so Ann and I went with my long time friend Freddy and his girlfriend, Jess.

Let's just say Mamma Maria did not disappoint. To start with, the setting is about as picturesque and romantic as you can get in the North End. Next door to Paul Revere's house (not covered in tourists in the evening), North Sq is one of the few places in the North End where you can find some open space and nice views. The restaurant itself takes up an entire rowhouse and is beautifully decorated. It feels like you're eating in someone's home, yet is elegantly decorated enough to make it a special night out. There even private dining rooms available if you are so inclined.

The Restaurant Week menu was one of the more extensive I've seen with about half of the regular items available at the prix fixe price. There was a lot of back and forth about what each of us wanted to order. In the end, I chose the Oysters for my Primi, Bolognese as my Principali, and Mixed Berries for Dolci. Everything was incredible! The Oysters were cooked with an herb and butter sauce that made them irrestible. The Bolognese was rather simple, just a thick meat sauce mixed with tube pasta, but it was the perfect consistency and the flavor of the meats really shown through. Everyone else really enjoyed their meal and it was certainly another successful Restaurant Week experience!

Food, Inc

Last night I saw Food, Inc in Kendall Sq and I was blown away. I feel like I was relatively well informed about the industrialization of our food supply and the effects that has on our society in terms of health, sustainability, etc. I had even read Michael Pollan's book, 'In Defense of Food'. However, to see the effects in a movie format was much more powerful and they covered a number of issues I didn't know about or hadn't thought about. I strongly recommend going to see this movie. Unfortunately, in the Boston area it is only playing in Kendall Sq, Coolidge Corner, and Waltham. Check out the movie website for more info and showtimes.

Pomodoro

Pomodoro - 319 Hanover St (North End, Haymarket)

This place has definitely been on my radar for some time as a top notch restaurant to try out. I think I ate there a couple years ago with some friends, but if so they have since changed the layout and I don't even remember what I ordered.

The description on the website is pretty accurate: it is a tiny restaurant, though the decor and low lighting makes it intimately romantic. I would not really recommend going with a group larger than four here.

The menu is simple and has more of a seafood tilt than most North End restaurants I have been to. It is also more sophisticated than your average Italian place. You won't find any chicken Parmesan here, yet the items are familiar enough that you won't find yourself stretching too far from your comfort zone if you don't want to. I opted for the Seared Salmon Filet and I must say it was fantastic. The portion was worthy of the price and the salmon was prepared perfectly. It had some sort of green sauce over it that was mildly sweet and spicy at the same time and the risotto cake matched it perfectly. The arugula offered a fresh, tangy change of pace from the salmon and risotto flavors. I paired my dish with a light red but you could also go white if you want.

The one disappointment on the night was the service. The waitress was handling the whole restaurant and she was very nice, but after seating us and pouring our waters, she forgot about us for quite a while while running around to the other tables. She did end up giving us a complimentary fried calamari appetizer, but we noticed that every table had one so maybe we weren't that special. In all it was a great meal and I would go back in a second, though it's moderately steep price tag ($20-30 entrees) prevents it from being a weekly option.

Metropolis Cafe

Metropolis Cafe - 584 Tremont St (South End, Back Bay)

On Sunday night, Ann and I were wandering down Tremont St looking for a place to eat and we decided to try out the Metropolis Cafe. I am happy to say it was an excellent choice. Described as a Bistro and Wine Bar, it has a cozy European feel. The menu was simple and had several dishes that I wanted to try. With some help from the waiter, I chose the Rigatoni. It was amazing. The sauce had a familiar flavor, but it was combined with enough spiciness and flavor that you just wanted to lick the plate clean. To top it all off, the menu is priced about $8 less than comparable restaurants on Tremont. Definitely a strong recommendation from me if you're in that area or looking for a new place to try.

Grotto

Grotto - 37 Bowdoin St (Beacon Hill, Bowdoin, Government Center, Park St)

For our second Restaurant Week dinner, Ann and I checked out Grotto in Beacon Hill. We were both very excited at the prospect of a high end Italian menu with accessible yet intriguing entree options. The name Grotto is very fitting as it is a cozy underground restaurant in an otherwise nondescript building on Bowdoin St. I would recommend it as a good spot for a special romantic dinner (once again price is an issue for making this a regular stop though Restaurant Week only saved $3 a meal over their regular menu with the same choices).

For the Primi course, I ordered the Cavatelle, which was hand rolled pasta combined with sausage and mushrooms in a thick cream sauce. It tasted amazing, although it was certainly very thick, almost like eating a cheese sauce, and required a very dry wine to cut through the taste in your mouth. Unfortunately my Chianti was not up to the task. I also got a bite of Ann's Sweet Potato Ravioli, and it was pretty good with an emphasis on sweet. I'm not sure I would order it for my meal, though. For the Secondi, we both ordered the Carne, which was beef tenderloin over risotto with asparagus and a red wine sauce. The beef was perfectly seasoned and truly a tasty piece of meat. Once again, my risotto seemed to be coated in a sort of thick cheesy sauce, with parmesan flecks on top of it. It tasted good, but could be overwhelming. Luckily, switching to a Cabernet for the meat certainly helped. The asparagus didn't really seem to fit into the taste patterns of the risotto or the red wine sauce, but overall I was very happy with my selection. To finish everything off, I ordered the Melting Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream. For me, when it comes to dessert, simpler is better and it's hard to top this combination. That said, it was executed perfectly and was as good if not better than the Molten Chocolate cake at Finale (if only because they gave you a real portion of vanilla ice cream to offset the chocolate). Ann's dessert was Banana Bread with Caramel Ice Cream. I enjoyed the ice cream but am no big fan of Banana Bread and there was really nothing there to interest me after having eaten my chocolate cake.

All in all, I was a fan and would like to try some more dishes out. The normal $36 prix fixe price tag isn't outrageous for nice occasions and you get the added benefit of being able to walk off your meal through Boston's most romantic (and historic!) neighborhood afterwards.