Category Archives: Dining

Dining at Ten Tables Provincetown

Posted on July 30, 2013 | 5 comments

Provincetown DiningThis past weekend we joined a few friends for a relaxing dinner at Ten Tables in Provincetown. While I routinely review restaurants, today’s post is not about our food (although I will say I enjoyed my meal). Today’s post is about the company who joined us for dinner at Ten Tables: Slobodan in the dark polo shirt, followed by Frédéric and his fiance, Olivier, both in white. Frédéric and Olivier are originally from France, Slobodan is Serbian, and Sergio is Brazilian; making me the token American.

Ten Tables ProvincetownDinner provided us the perfect opportunity to spend a couple of hours together talking about life, work, Provincetown, etc… Although I’ve spent time 1:1 with everyone and consider them friends, the five of us have never shared a meal together.  There is something really fantastic about spending a couple of hours over a meal with such an interesting group of men.

At one point in the evening, I stepped back, watching my partner and friends interacting, and made a note that Sergio and I need to do this more often.

P.S.Can you tell that facial hair is quite “in” at the moment? 

P.P.S. Can you tell that I hadn’t shaved in 4 days? I suppose I’ll just have to wait for the preppy look to come back again.

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Fork Lift Food Fest starts Thursday

Posted on July 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

outside the box 2013Starting this Thursday and running through Sunday, July 21st is Boston’s Fork Lift Food Fest; hosted in conjunction with Boston’s music festival, Outside the Box.

Boston’s Fork Lift Food Fest – July 18 – 21

The Fork Lift Food Fest features local restaurants and celebrity chefs in City Hall Plaza. In addition to a lot of great food, check out the Wine & Beer Pavilion (for those 21 and over).

More information is here.

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Taste of Provincetown, July 20th

Posted on July 15, 2013 | Leave a comment

taste-of-ptownMassEquality summer fundraiser, The Taste of Provincetown, is Saturday, July 20th.  The event is always a great time and filled with a lot of great food options.  If you are in town, consider attending, you may purchase tickets here.

The Taste of Provincetown will start at 6 p.m. at Provincetown Town Hall on Saturday, July 20. Event and raffle tickets are available now at www.massequality.org/PTown.

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Taco Tuesday at Tremont 647 Tonight

Posted on July 2, 2013 | Leave a comment

Andy HusbandsLooking for an excuse to go out tonight?  Have you hit up Andy Husbands $2 Taco Tuesday at Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel?

If you’re looking for a fun cheap eats option in Boston, head over to Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel and enjoy some tasty tacos and tell Andy “BosGuy” sent you over.  I need me some complementary tacos so I can spend my $ on Planters Punch at the Boat Slip this week.

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Groupon Reserve

Posted on July 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

GroupOnToday Groupon announced Groupon Reserve.  Their new service will focus on fine dining and luxury services. The Reserve reservation platform offers discounts without requiring pre-payment or vouchers.

Reservations are currently only available in 10 markets: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., but Groupon has plans to expand to more cities in the United States and in key international markets.

To view available Groupon Reserve deals and reservations, consumers can visit the Reserve tab at the top the Groupon homepage. Businesses interested in featuring their businesses on Reserve can visit here.

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Noche to reopen as Blind Tiger

Posted on June 25, 2013 | Leave a comment

South End RestaurantEarlier this month Eater Boston reported that restaurant space formerly known as, Noche in the South End on Appleton Street, will open as a new venue called Blind Tiger in late August or early September.

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Dining al fresco in the South End

Posted on May 23, 2013 | 5 comments

Hammersleys Bistro South End BostonPhoto: Hammersley’s Bistro in the South End from 40-Something Life blog

Now that the weather is warm enough to enjoy dining outside at night, nearly every restaurant in the South End with outdoor space has set up tables and chairs for patrons to dine al fresco.  However, not all patios are equal – some will leave you inhaling the fumes of passing cars and buses, others are so loud you can barely hear anything.  Here are some patios in the South End I enjoy.

Most comfortable patio in the South End
28 Degrees is set back from the hustle & bustle of Tremont Street and has comfortable patio furniture. If you’ve not been to 28 Degrees patio, I’d encourage you to check it out. This is a great space to meet up for a date or an evening out with a group of friends.

Best people watching in the South End
This is a tie between Stephi’s on Tremont and Kitchen. Both restaurants are approximately 1 block apart near Tremont and Clarendon Street – a major intersection for pedestrian traffic all but ensuring great people watching. You’ll see half the neighborhood walk by you when you have a meal here.

Most social patio in the South End
Tremont 647 / Sister Sorel patios are always full with parties more interested in chatting and having a drink than whatever is on the menu, although I will admit the scene is at its most fun each Tuesday night when both places host $2 Taco nights – good luck trying to get a table, but it is worth trying.

Most private patio in the South End:
Even though Cinquecento may have the dubious distinction of being the loudest restaurant in the South End, they have a very quiet and private patio away from any noise or pollution from the street that is tucked away and surrounded by a restored brick mill building.

Other South End restaurant patios worth checking out:
Petit Robert Bistro’s patio on Columbus Ave
Boston Chops on Washington Street
Hammersley’s as shown in the photo above on Clarendon Street

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Wicked late night eats in Boston

Posted on May 22, 2013 | 1 comment

Boston late nightBoston is not known for late night dining and it certainly lives up to its ‘early to bed’ reputation, but the list of places serving food for those with late night munchies has continued to grow. However, it can still be tough to find these places so I’ve compiled a list of options. Have I overlooked a favorite place of yours? Share your favorite Boston “wicked late night eats”.

Dragon Star & Golden Temple open until 2:00 am (weekends only)
Washington Square, Brighton

Bricco Enoteca open until 2:00am
North End, Boston

Hong Kong (Cambridge only) open until 2:00am
Harvard Square, Cambridge

Boloco (Berklee School of Music location) open until 2:01am
Back Bay / Fenway line, Boston

Moody’s Falafel open until 3:00am
Central Square, Cambridge

Falafel Corner open until 3:00am
Harvard Square, Cambridge

Felcaro Pizzeria open until 3:00am (weekends only)
Beacon Hill, Boston

Little Steve’s Pizzeria open until 3:00am
Fenway, Boston

Chicago Pizza open until 3:00am
Central Square, Cambridge

Wok n Talk open until 3:00am
Jamaica Plain, Boston

El Triunfo open until 3:30am
South End, Boston

Ginza open until 3:30am (weekends only)
Chinatown, Boston

New Golden Gate open until 4:00am
Chinatown, Boston

Apollo Korean BBQ open until 4:00am (weekends only)
Chinatown, Boston

Cafe Pompei open until 4:00am
North End, Boston

Beantown Taqueria open until 4:00am
Central Square, Cambridge

Hen House Chicken & Waffles open until 4:00am (weekends only)
Dorchester, Boston

Victoria’s Diner open 24 hours (Thursday thru Sunday)
Dorchester, Boston

South Street Diner open 24 hours
Leather District, Boston

Bova’s Bakery open 24 hours
North End, Boston

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Chef Ryan Kelly named Executive Chef at BoMA

Posted on May 15, 2013 | Leave a comment

BoMA RestaurantFollowing rumors reported earlier this year by Eater Boston, BoMA Restaurant Bar & Grill announced today that Chef Ryan Kelly (Clio, Tonic Canary Square) has been named the new Executive Chef.

Chef Kelly’s new menu is now available and features small bites and casual options, including a whole section of tacos, pizzas, burgers and fish & chips that are moderately priced between $8-$15. Entrees will continue to include familiar dishes, some with a slight Asian influence ranging between $15-$25.

BoMA Restaurant + Bar is located at 1415 Washington St in the South End

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Late night dining at Uni is a must try

Posted on May 13, 2013 | 1 comment

uni-sashimi-barUni Sashimi Bar, an upscale Japanese restaurant owned by Ken Oringer, transforms into a late night, cheap eats noodle bar at 11pm each Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The late night dining option attracts a young, hip crowd, making it tough to get a seat if you don’t arrive early since seating is on a first come, first served basis.  

Uni Ramen MenuKen Oringer’s sashimi bar, Uni, is located downstairs from Clio in the Eliot Hotel on the corner of Massachusetts & Commonwealth Ave.  The late night Ramen menu meticulously written in colored markers on cardboard combined with the flickering candlelight in this subterranean dining room, gives off a clandestine vibe and energy I don’t often see here in Boston.

Ken OringerI’m a noodle novice but even I was able to navigate the colorful menu with some helpful tips from the handsome waitstaff.  Three bowls of ramen for $10 were featured (traditional, short rib & kimichi and gou kai – vegetarian).  I opted for the short rib & kimichi (shown above) that arrived quickly in a beautiful steaming bowl with a poached egg that I poked to let the yoke mingle with the flavorful broth and tender chunks of short rib.

Ken OringerMy friend Zoe and I also tried the Pork Bun and Shishito Peppers.  The pork slider as I referred to it was out of this world delicious. The sriracha aioli, pickles and soft bun all work magic making the pork belly so good I could easily order a half dozen. If you go – you *must* try an order.  Also tasty were the plate of  fried sweet peppers, but nowhere near as addicting as the Pork Bun.

Ken OringerIn the name of “research” we opted to try Uni’s ice cream sandwich of the night, which proved equally messy to eat as the Pork Bun, but every bit as delicious. The raspberry and lemon flavors added a refreshing end to this amazing dinner.

Reservations are not available so arrive early. This tiny Back Bay restaurant barely seats 40 and fills quickly so give your name to the host and grab a drink at Clio’s bar to wait to be seated when Uni reopens at 11:00pm; its worth the wait and you’ll enjoy some excellent people watching – I promise.

Uni is located inside Clio Restaurant at the Eliot Hotel at 370 Comm. Ave.

Uni on Urbanspoon

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Geoffrey’s to become Harry’s

Posted on May 11, 2013 | 2 comments

Geoffreys Cafe BostonGeoffrey’s Cafe which abruptly closed earlier this year will reopen soon as Harry’s Food & Drink. The City of Boston was petitioned earlier this week to transfer the liquor license and extend the closing hour from 1:00AM to 2:00AM.  According to Eater Boston which picked up the report from the Boston Herald, chef Jason Santos will oversee the culinary operations.  No word on when Harry’s may open, but after speaking to the security guard at 142 Berkeley Street it seems like the new owners are looking to move quickly to open.

Fingers crossed and best of luck to the new owners.

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Restaurant review: Merchant’s Row breakfast

Posted on May 9, 2013 | Leave a comment

Earlier this week I wrote about a chef’s tasting I attended at The Colonial Inn’s Merchant’s Row in Concord, MA.  I was fortunate enough to be able to spend the night at this quaint, historic Inn and the next day returned to Merchant’s Row before heading home to try their breakfast.

The menu includes something for everyone including a farm fresh eggs section, breakfast sandwiches, healthy options (I skipped this bit), and something Chef Pianowski refers to as sweeter stuff (I studied this section quite closely).  Meals range from $7 – $19 with most items between $9 – $15; quite reasonable.

Merchant's RowWe started with the fresh baked breakfast basket ($7) served warm and smelling delicious; including scones, muffins, croissants, and cinnamon buns served with butter, jam, honey and a cream cheese blended with powdered sugar (OMG).

Sergio and I opted to split the menu ordering one savory and one sweet item to share.  We started with a three-egg omelette stuffed with caramelized onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese ($11) also served with crispy breakfast potatoes. The Concord Colonial Inn

Our waiter suggested we also try the challah French toast ($12) that is served with a bananas foster compote and a generous slathering of butter that is whipped with the zest of orange and crushed walnut that was toasted.  This meal just might kill a diabetic, but I can assure you they’d die happy. The Concord Colonial Inn

The service and food was equally satisfying for breakfast as it was the night before for dinner.  For those lucky enough to live nearby, I would certainly suggest checking out Merchant’s Row, which recently changed their menu.

Merchant’s Row at The Concord Colonial Inn is open daily for breakfast from 7AM – 11AM with brunch buffet served every Sunday from lunch from 10:30AM – 2:00PM.  For more information and to make reservations link here.

Merchant’s Row at Concord Colonial Inn at 48 Monument Square

Reservations are highly recommended

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Restaurant Review: Merchant’s Row at Concord’s Colonial Inn

Posted on May 7, 2013 | 3 comments

Concord Colonial Inn SignI was invited to spend an evening at The Concord Colonial Inn last weekend to meet Chef Cassandra Pianowski for a special tasting at the Inn’s fine dining restaurant, Merchant’s Row.  So Sergio and I drove up to Concord, MA to enjoy what turned out to be a surprisingly delicious six course meal.  

Concord, MA is a quaint New England town, 30 minutes north west of Boston by car and also easily accessible by commuter rail. Before dinner we were treated to some delicious passed hors d’oeuvres and wines from Westport Rivers Winery here in Westport, MA in Liberty’s Tap Room Lounge; Liberty is the second (more casual) restaurant option at The Colonial Inn.  Concord Colonial Inn

The local wines set the tone for Chef Pianowski’s dinner, which wherever possible incorporated local produce and ingredients. The first two courses (shown below) included salmon tartare, pickled red onions and managa chips that was beautifully served on slate and drizzled with sweet soy. Fortunately, Sergio isn’t big on anything tartare so I was able to eat both 🙂  The salmon was followed by shrimp and grits with scallion, mushroom and smoked pork. Sadly, Sergio greedily consumed this course, but considering the amount of food served I couldn’t have made it through the entire dinner eating for two.Concord Colonial Inn

Following a refreshing mango sorbet, Chef Pianowski serve two of my favorite plates.  The fourth course consisted of meyer lemon diver scallops with a cherry balsamic, pureed parsnips and cubed beets.  The fifth course included the restaurant’s signature braised short ribs and steak frites.  I didn’t let the fact that I was nearing full slow me down as I ate both plates.  Should you visit Merchant’s Row I would easily recommend the scallops, ribs or steak for your main plate. It was flavorful and very satisfying both in taste and presentation.Concord Colonial Inn

The sixth and final course was a decadent dessert sampler that included a stout chocolate cake, brioche bread pudding and the Colonial Inn blondie sundae complete with cracker jacks to add extra crunch.

Merchant’s Row at The Concord Colonial Inn is open daily for breakfast from 7AM – 11AM; lunch from 11AM – 3:30PM; and dinner from 5PM – 9PM.  For more information about the menu and to make reservations link here.

Merchant’s Row at Concord Colonial Inn at 48 Monument Square

Reservations are highly recommended

Merchants Row on Urbanspoon

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Boston Bites Back – May 15th

Posted on May 6, 2013 | Leave a comment

Boston Bites BackPhilanthropic foodies have come together with Boston Bites Back – a fundraiser spearhead by chefs Ken Oringer and Ming Tsai as well as The Boston Red Sox, Gov. Patrick, Mayor Menino and ARAMARK.  This fundraiser to benefit The One Fund aims to raise $1 million through the help of 100 of Boston’s top chefs and you the support of foodies like you.

 Wednesday, May 15th from 6:00 – 10:00 PM at Fenway Park

Only 5,000 general access tickets will be sold at $200 each. There will also be 200 VIP tickets at $1,000 each, allowing additional access to an intimate and exclusive gathering in Fenway’s EMC Club. If you are interested and want to learn more about this event visit, www.bostonbitesback.org.

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The 5th Annual B&G Oyster Invitational

Posted on May 3, 2013 | Leave a comment

OysterChefs, shuckers, and bivalve lovers will gather to eat, drink, and  have fun in the South End this Sunday.  Attendees will also be able to meet Chef Barbara Lynch, Top Chef Season 10 winner Kristen Kish and finalist Brooke Williamson.  

More than 25 South End restaurants and oyster farms will make this year’s Oyster Invitational the largest yet. 

Sunday, May 5th – 1PM to 6PM for general admission

For more information and to purchase tickets to this event, link here.

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