Category Archives: Restaurant Review

“Towne” as locals call it, is a large restaurant and bar located on Boylston Street in Boston’s Back Bay.

Recently, I decided to venture back to Towne to try their brunch. I last reviewed Towne (for dinner) in March of 2011 in my post A Tale of Two Towne’s.

Towne’s brunch menu is reasonably priced with most options between $10 – $16.  Because of the time of day, my friend and I opted for their chicken salad sandwich for $12 and their bacon and cheddar burger for $16.  Eating at the bar can sometimes be risky business depending on how crowded or busy the staff is but on our visit the bar was mostly empty and the bar staff was both attentive and helpful answering the few questions we had about menu options.

Below left is a photograph of the chicken salad sandwich served on toasted multi-grain bread and a side salad. The chopped chicken with cucumber was filling and satisfying.  Below right is a photograph of the burger presented with the top bun upside down with ketchup.  Both proved satisfying but not particularly memorable.
 I’ve had a few meals at Towne and with few exceptions I’ve found the food average.  However, the space is very comfortable and the service is generally very good.  That combined with its convenient location in the Back Bay is what accounts for its success – or at least that is what I’ve concluded.

If you are looking for casual dining with friends and an easy menu filled with familiar options, Towne is a great option.  If you are looking for a more adventurous or interesting menu, I would suggest Lydia Shire’s other restaurant in Boston, Scampo, in Beacon Hill at the Liberty Hotel.

This is a bit misleading because it’s not my typical “restaurant review”, but I was so happy to discover Siam Bistro in the Financial District that I wanted to write about them.  Tired of the choices here in my neighborhood, I recently ordered from Siam Bistro for delivery after I found their flyer in my apartment.

I started my dinner with an order of Tom Yum Noodle Soup ($10.95) a spicy Thai hot and sour soup that has scallions, bean sprouts, ground peanuts and plenty of shellfish.  Unlike many Thai restaurants in Boston, Siam Bistro doesn’t skimp on the seafood, which it fills with octopus, mussels and shrimp. The portion is large enough to serve as a meal or to share.  This soup was so tasty I couldn’t help but over indulge.  It was also the first time I’ve ever ordered this soup in Boston and thought – damn, that’s spicy so if you like a bit of heat with your meal, this is an obvious and delicious option to consider.

I opted to order their “most popular dish”, Mango Curry ($12.95), which was also a bit spicy but less so than the soup and really quite delicious as well as large enough to be shared especially if you order a side of brown rice.

Boston has more than its share of mediocre Thai restaurants and I’m by no means an expert on this cuisine, but the food tasted as if it was freshly made, the plates that indicated they were spicy (actually were spicy) and the portions were generous.  Add to that fact that they delivered to my home in less than 45 minutes and the driver was exceptionally polite; and I couldn’t help but rave about them.    Check them out online at www.siambistrothaicuisine.com.

Siam Bistro – 151 Pearl St. Boston – (617) 210-7953

Late last year Cinquecento opened in Boston’s South End to much fanfare.  The restaurant has quickly developed a loyal following but last weekend they started serving brunch so I went over to sample the new menu.  I’d love to be coy, but I can’t — everything about Cinquecento’s brunch impressed me — and one need only look at my initial review of this restaurant to realize I don’t pull punches if the food or service isn’t up to par.

My biggest gripe with brunch in Boston is that nearly every restaurant has the same menu — French toast, omelettes, eggs benedict, etc… Cinquecento has a completely fresh take inserting new and tasty options that will bring me back often. The menu is divided into pastries ($3 each or a basket for $15); smaller first plates which includes items like crepes with lemon ricotta and honey ($7.25); egg plates like their roasted mushroom, pancetta and fried eggs ($12.75); salads & breads like the tempting looking grilled cheese with apples and a honey walnut pesto ($8.75); and finally pasta dishes which are the most expensive items on the menu ranging from $14 – $17.The crepes are great to share or have for brunch, but the pastry basket is a definite must try if you are with a group.  While the homemade donuts were good, my favorite item was the cornetto which are round with a soft center that has baked ricotta and lemon that melts in your mouth and was so good with my coffee I’ve been craving them ever since.

I opted to try Cinquecento’s Uova in Camicia – truffled polenta with poached eggs and fontina cheese ($12.75).  The polenta was rich and creamy (even Sergio who doesn’t particularly care for polenta scooped extras) and the poached eggs were cooked to perfection.  The crusty Italian bread added a bit of crunch to all that creamy deliciousness.

The variety and quality of the food combined with the reasonable price point and convenience of having free parking all but guarantees Cinquecento will be a popular place to grab brunch so check it out before the crowds arrive.

If you are staying South of Market in San Francisco and looking for a casual, affordable place to eat,  check out The Grove in San Francisco.  Next to the Peet’s Coffee on 3rd and Mission, this unassuming restaurant with a street side patio, serves up delicious food with a cozy atmosphere at affordable prices.   Normally I refrain from reviewing restaurants without table service, but I really enjoyed The Grove and wanted to write about my breakfast.  Everything from the fresh squeezed juice (made to order) to the rich, dark coffee and the delicious huevos rancheros made the meal memorable.

Breakfast items on their menu also include an array of freshly made muffins and pastries, granola, oatmeal, French toast, eggs, as well as bagels and bagel sandwiches ranging in price from $7-10.  Lunch options range between $8-11 and dinner plates ranging between $9-11.

The Grove San Francisco is just a block from the Yerba Buena gardens and MOMA SF and close to the W Hotel, Marriott and Westin.

The long awaited seventh restaurant from The Aquitaine Group, Cinquecento, has at last opened in the South End, and the pent up anticipation is apparent by the crowds rushing to get a table. The space is absolutely charming from the painted arcade entrance to the beautiful interior, which has been meticulously renovated drawing inspiration from Roman Trattorias.

On a recent visit we started dinner with the Calamari alla Griglia $8.75 and Cozze in Brodo $9.75 (both shown above). Even though I thought the lemon infused calamari was delicious it only comes with four pieces so I’d recommend the mussels, which is more filling and has an aromatic broth you may soak with the bread brought to your table.

Shown below is the Rigatoni alla Norcia served with fennel sausage, Marsala and Parmigiano $16.75 and Gnocchi al Sugo di Cinghiale served with wild boar, raisins, pine nuts and Pecorino $17.50. The rigatoni is delicious, but its the exact plate served at their sister restaurant, Metropolis Cafe, just blocks away.  The gnocchi was “mezza mezza“ as my Sicilian grandmother would say but the sauce is rich and delicious.  I’d suggest  Seth Woods’ nixes the gnocchi and uses the boar with the rigatoni; it would be a new, hearty plate perfect for the winter.

The menu does provide a number of other delicious options that we tried but unfortunately I didn’t photograph including the Ricotta Fresca $7 (two words: nom nom), Carpaccio Cabonizatti $13.50, and the Pollo alla Diavola $18.75 may be the heartiest portion on the menu.

There is a lot to like about Cinquecento, and I’m confident it will be a success, but give the staff time to work out the kinks and the management team to tinker with menu options.  The service is inconsistent at the moment.  On a recent visit our dinner arrived 90 minutes after our appetizers were cleared and two of the six in our party said their plates were served cold. Those negative comments aside, the menu is appealing and smartly priced with appetizers ranging from $6-$13; pasta dishes $14-$17; and meat and fish plates from $18-$28.

Cinquecento will be a neighborhood gem. The GM, Eric Hogan (formerly from Gaslight), is a knowledgeable, hardworking veteran who knows a thing or two about running successful restaurants.

Cinquecento is located at 500 Harrison Avenue. Reservations are strongly recommended. Call ahead at (617) 338-9500.

Fogo de Chao opened in Copley Square earlier this month.  The 300+ seat Brazilian steakhouse is the chain’s first location in the northeast and will be a welcome addition for meat lovers.  The steakhouse has several dining rooms.  I would suggest requesting a table away from the main room with the salad bar and rice & bean stations; these other rooms have less foot traffic and are more quiet.

Upon being seated, you’ll be invited to serve yourself at the salad buffet, which includes more options than you can hope to pile on to your plate. When you return to your table you’ll be provided all sort of treats to accompany your salad and the many cuts of meat offered by roving “gaucho chefs” who offer continuous table side service. Of all the sides that constantly appear, my favorite is the pao de queijo “cheese bread”.
Each place setting comes with a dual-colored coaster (green and red) to guide the restaurant’s gaucho chefs on whether you want to be served.  The attentive service is appreciated but makes this a better dining option for groups and families than a date night.

Dinner at Fogo de Chao Boston is $46.50; $33 for lunch; and $23 for the salad bar only (not including drinks or tip). The restaurant is located in Copley Square at 200 Dartmouth Street. Phone: (617) 585-6300.

Ilili is a contemporary Lebanese restaurant near the Flatiron district that captures your imagination when you walk in off of 5th Avenue. Long and narrow, the warm colors, beautiful wood and high ceilings give a light and airy feel.  Upon entering the space you see a comfortable lounge and a bar.  A large wall of wood and glass separates these social spaces from the main dining room and provides a cozy feel.

Source: Ilili NYC

We opted to forgo ordering a main dish and instead ordered several small plates so we could sample as much as possible. Our waiter, Danny, was knowledgeable and very helpful making excellent suggestions on what to try.  All our dishes ranged from $9.00 to $19.00.Two of our more filling plates were Kibbe Naya $15 (raw lamb kibbe, served with chopped red onions, radish and mint) and Grilled Octopus $19.  Both were very good, but surprisingly I enjoyed the Kibbe Naya more than the octopus which seemed mundane by comparison.  I gobbled up the Kibbe Naya with the small warm pita bread served and a garlic spread that was fragrant and creamy.

Mouhamara $10 (top left) originates from neighboring Aleppo Syria was rather bland, but the Hommus with lamb and olive oil $11 was both hearty and flavorful and something I would definitely order again.

We also tried a few other plates but sadly my camera (or perhaps my ability to manipulate my camera) let me down and I’m not satisfied with the images.  I would like to note if you love veggies two options we ordered that were absolutely delicious included Fattoush $12 which is a salad with fried crisps of pita bread, mixed greens, mint and pine nuts. Also worth noting (and possibly my favorite dish) was the Dandelion salad $9, which is similar to steamed spinach.

If my review has tempted you, I should let you know that this place is very popular. Perhaps that is why the restaurant has a 4-star review with nearly 800 reviews on Yelp so make reservations in advance.

Ilili NYC – 236 5th Avenue — (212) 683-2929