Category Archives: Restaurant Review

Kava Neo Taverna is a tiny Greek restaurant that opened barely two months ago to the day on a quiet corner in the South End. I first started writing about the new restaurant late last year and eagerly awaited their spring opening.  In my opinion, no other restaurant opening in recent memory has so consistently heralded so much praise from so many and if you only read the first few sentences of this review, I’d like you to know you should go and check it out. The space is cutely decorated, includes a tiny outdoor patio and knowledgeable staff that are friendly and helpful if you are unfamiliar with Greek cuisine.

Most of Kava’s menu is small plates that are so delicious you will want to try a few. Their current menu has nearly twenty small plates you can have on your own or share that range from $6 – $16. On our recent visit we tried several small plates (all in the name of research) for this post.

Feta Psiti – $10

The Feta Psiti is served warm with feta wrapped in phlylo that is liberally sprinkled with sesame seeds and then bathed in honey; it is sweet and light to the bite. I found myself using my fork to ladle more honey over the phlyo and warm feta before eating it. Barely a sesame seed was left on the plate.

Spanakopita – $9

Following the sweet psiti we were served Spanikopita. I love this traditional Greek dish and this too was delicious and surprisingly large, despite the fact that we consumed it so quickly.  Our dish was served at room temperature and although I’ve usually had this served warm, on such a warm summer evening it was a welcome surprise.

Octapodi – $16

The grilled octopus turned out to be my favorite small plate of the evening. Sprinkled with salt and drizzled with olive oil the slightly smokey flavor of the grill combined with the seasonings perfectly. I will absolutely order this again.

Roka Salad – $11

Before sharing our main plate, we ordered one of the four salads on Kava’s menu. The roka salad shown above comes dressed in a lemon vinaigrette with arugula watermelon and walnuts. It was light, refreshing and perfect for a summer evening dinner.

Mousaka – $20

Kava also has five entrees ranging from $20 – $32, including a mixed grill of lamb, chicken and sausage; lamb chops (of course); grilled sea bass; beef short rib; and mousaka (shown above). The mousaka is served in a large, colorful bowl hot from the oven. This was the best mousaka I have had in recent memory and will be a staple for me later this year when the weather gets colder.

With so many mediocre restaurants openings lately, Kava bucks the trend and is a most welcome addition, but the tiny tavern takes no reservations and can be tough to get a table. Should you go and find there is a long way, give them your number and head over to Boston Chops to grab a drink at their bar. You can relax comfortably while you plan on what you want to order and wait for them to text you that your table is ready.

Kava Neo Taverna is open 7 days a week until 11PM and located on the corner of Shawmut Ave and Union Park in the South End at 315 Shawmut Ave.

In mid January The Friendly Toast opened their third location in the Back Bay. The Friendly Toast opened a second location in Kendall Square a few years back not long after the original owners sold both locations to Eric Goodwin and Scott Pulver in October 2013. At the time, the new owners said they planned to open new restaurants in other locations under the Friendly Toast name.  The Friendly Toast Back Bay is the first of these other locations to open.

Located on Stanhope Street, the restaurant opens early on the weekends at 8AM and weekdays at 7AM. The kitschy decor associated with The Friendly Toast is in full effect here with formica tables packed close together and barely a square foot of empty wall space.

Friendly Toast Back Bay Huevos Rancheros $11.50

The menu includes a lot of decadent treats from the “Sweet Stuff” section of their menu like, Coconut Cakes made with shredded coconut and chocolate chips drizzled with coconut sauce and topped with crushed pecans; and the Caribbean Waffles that is topped with caramelized bananas and crushed pecans. Healthier options are available in their “Fit and Friendly” section of the menu but this isn’t really the place to come for healthy eating.

Sergio and I focused on some more traditional options for breakfast. My order of Huevos Rancheros (shown above) came with two poached eggs buried under a small mountain of melted cheddar, avocado and fresh salsa and resting on thick anadama bread.

Friendly Toast Back Bay Breakfast Sandwich $10.00

Sergio surprised me by forgoing his usual French Toast and getting a breakfast sandwich, which unfortunately didn’t photograph very well.  Both breakfasts were best described as mezza mezza. Based on my experience, I would suggest The Friendly Toast is probably best for those with families looking for large portions and good price points. For me, the one time visit is sufficient to check it off the list, but I do wish the location much luck and future success.

Note that the early opening time and affordable price points makes this a favorite destination for families.

The Friendly Toast
35 Stanhope Street in the Back Bay
(617)456-7849

SRV Boston is located 569 Columbus Avenue in the South End

SRV Boston recently opened in the South End and while I normally hold off on visiting new restaurants, a friend organized a dinner there so Sergio and I joined them and in short, I’m really glad we went. SRV Boston is the third restaurant from the Coda Group that also owns and operates The Salty Pig, Coda Kitchen & Bar and Canary Square.

The restaurant is larger than I expected and with a sizable private patio, in good weather I would guess the restaurant can comfortably seat 200+.  The restaurant is mostly open so you can see from one end to the other and it is nicely designed with exposed brick and other architectural details that kept my eyes wandering, while we waited for the rest of our party and our drinks to arrive.

Although SRV Boston encourages you to order small plates and share, we were having none of it.  If you feel the same I would strongly recommend you focus on the “Grani” options on the menu, which are more substantial.  Items on the menu ranged from $8 – $28 with the majority of items ranging from $15-$20.

The staff was very sweet and brought our table these snacks to nibble on while we waited for our meal. Unfortunately I missed what this is called on the menu, but the crostini were served with cod and some greens.  Once the plates started coming there seemed to be no end in sight. For those who may go to SRV, try the Pasta e Fasoi (which as near as I can tell is the same thing as Pasta e Fagioli). The heaping bowl is the perfect starter and warmed me up in a hurry.

SRV Boston: Pasta e Fasoi $14.00

Following the soup I was looking forward to my main dish, Buckwheat Bigoli, served in a rich, duck ragu, sofrito and sage (shown below). Friends also ordered the Squid Ink Risotto, Risotto al Tartufo and Spaghetti alla Busara. Although I didn’t try what my friends were eating, there seemed to be universal agreement; everyone enjoyed their meal.

SRV Boston: Buckwheat Bigoli $16.00

I was impressed by SRV. Despite the fact that this neighborhood already has plenty of Italian restaurants, this may be one you might want to put on your radar. SRV has a great bar if you want to check it out to get a good look at the space.  If you go for dinner, I would encourage making a reservation as the space was completely full fairly early in the evening when I went on a weeknight.

SRV Boston is located at 569 Columbus Ave in the South End
Reservations Recommended

This was my first visit to the two-story French restaurant overlooking the Boston Public Garden. Truthfully, I prefer the decor of its predecessor, Excelsior, but the food and service here could not be faulted.  Zagat describes Bistro du Midi as serving “classic” Provençal cuisine enlivened with “modern presentation”.  I’m not exactly sure what that means but the food certainly was beautifully presented as you can see from the first courses served: Deconstructed Soft Shell Crab – $17; Tuna Tartare – $16; Beef Tartare $15; and Grilled Octopus $18, which I devoured.

I really enjoyed the sea bass filet ($32) shown below, which happened to be one of the special dinners prepared by the kitchen that night. The fish was beautifully presented with half the plate pristine and the other dusted with herbs and spices over a filet that was cooked perfectly and very flavorful.Although I rarely get dessert, Bistro du Midi is known for their souffle, which takes 25 minutes to prepare so is encouraged to be ordered ahead of time.  The four of us ended up ordering two different souffles ($12 each) as well as their chocolate beignet, lavender crème for $9.  The souffle’s were consumed so quickly you may not have realized they were even served but for the evidence of the empty ramekins.  The beignets were sufficiently decadent but it was the aromatic and flavorful lavender crème that I enjoyed the most about the dessert.

Dinner which included an appetizer, dinner and dessert along with a glass of wine worked out to approximately $75 / person with tip.  This isn’t the sort of place that I can go to regularly, but if you enjoy French cuisine and are looking for an option in the Back Bay to splurge, I’d suggest it for your consideration.

Bistro du Midi is in the Heritage on the Green Building at 272 Boylston Street.

Troquet is a cozy two-story restaurant overlooking the Boston Common in the Theater District.  The restaurant, which first opened in 2001, prides itself on their wine list and the modern French food that accompanies it (and in precisely that order). The menu is set up with wine suggestions from a numbered list by the bottle and glass that you can order for every entree.

Troquet is worth visiting if you’ve never been or if it has been a while since your last visit.  My preference is to go earlier in the week before the mad rush of the theater crowds hit in full force, which means on a Tuesday or Wednesday since the restaurant is closed on Mondays.

Troquet’s marinated beet salad with herbs, hazelnuts, and creamy Bucheron goat cheese for $14 was how I started my dinner but a camera failure on my part prevents me from sharing the starter which was flavorful, textured and refreshing. My dining companion skipped a starter and ordered the Black Sea Bass which comes presented in a large plate / bowl with saffron gnocchi, fava beans and New England shellfish bouillabaisse.

Black Sea Bass at Troquet Boston $38

For my main dish I ordered the Roasted Chicken, which came served on a bed of ditali pasta, cippolini onions, chanterelle mushrooms, asparagus and a Madiera jus that was so deliciously flavorful that no trace of the food was left when our server came to take away our plates.

Roasted Chicken at Troquet Boston $29

Troquet can be tricky to get a table on the weekends so reservations are strongly recommended.  They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 5-10:30 p.m.

In 2003 Barbara Lynch opened B&G Oysters in what previously had been a casual creperie, which I loved called Le Gamin – referred to by residents as Le Gay Man. While I loved Le Gay Man, it is hard to begrudge Barbara Lynch for opening B&G Oysters.  Its impressive that a dozen years later B&G Oysters remains the best option for seafood in this neighborhood.  Simply put, nobody comes even close and on a recent visit I was reminded all over again how much I like this tiny restaurant with the chic back patio. Upon entering I was greeted by the friendly host, Randy, who talked up the menu when I asked for his favorite selections and then I was well taken care of at the bar by my attentive server, Mark.

B&G Oysters entrees (which are exclusively seafood) range in price from $26 to whatever the market bears for one of the best (and most expensive) lobster rolls in Boston.  Before I start a meal here I always order fresh oysters so on this visit I asked for a half dozen bivalves from both the East and West Coast. I don’t pretend to be an aficionado on oysters so I explained what I wanted and Mark accommodated me perfectly with his selection.  By the time I was done, my beer was half gone and I felt like I could taste the ocean on my lips – what a perfect start for dinner in Boston on a warm summer night.

I followed the oysters with the East Coast Halibut that is baked in parchment with a saffron broth that includes fennel, cherry tomatoes and green olives with plenty of fresh herbs. The plate was served steaming – I had just watched the chef snip open the parchment after pulling it from the oven – and the presentation was only matched by the aroma. The halibut was cooked to perfection, nicely bathed in the buttery, saffron broth, that I repeatedly dipped with my French bread. If you love Mediterranean cuisine like me, this is heaven on a plate.

B&G Oysters – 550 Tremont Street – South End Boston

In a city obsessed with seafood, Barbara Lynch’s B&G Oysters remains the uncontested best seafood restaurant (and one of only a handful) in the South End. 

Earlier this month we went to Belmont to visit a friend and have dinner at il Casale in downtown Belmont, MA – a suburb just outside of Boston. The restaurant is part of a small restaurant group that also runs a restaurant by the same name in Lexington as well as Dante’s in Cambridge, MA.

Despite the high ceilings and large dining room, the restaurant exudes a cozy rustic vibe that is in line with the service which isn’t quite fine dining but professional and friendly; clearly this is a neighborhood favorite.  Main plates and pastas are reasonably priced – ranging in the mid $20s and pastas are all available as half portions. Upon taking our seats at a high table near the bar we were greeted by a knowledgeable waiter who took our drink order and brought us warm, homemade bread.  To compliment the bread which smelled heavenly, I ordered the burrata cheese which was heavily seasoned with pepper, oregano and candied pistachios.

Burrata Cheese $12

The cheese was cool and creamy as one would expect and the pepper and oregano added a nice flavor, but my favorite was the crunch of the candied pistachios which alongside the drizzle of olive oil went very nicely with our warm bread. Needless to say nothing was left when our server cleared the plates.

Following my starter I had high expectations and looked forward to the special of the night which I ordered.  The homemade Mafalade came with a seasoned roasted pork shoulder ragu in olive oil sauce with peas and carrots.  The colors and aroma of this plate created were equaled by their flavor, I’m happy to say.

Malfade pasta with pork ragu $28

My fellow diners ordered the gnocchi and grilled cod and they echoed my sentiments about their meals.  The pastas were certainly generous portions, and I ended up bringing about a third of my meal home for left overs, which makes me think unless you are really hungry an appetizer and half portion of il Casale’s pasta is more than enough – making it an even more affordable dining option.

With warmer temperatures now gracing Boston, you can also enjoy dining al fresco at il Casale’s patio, but reservations are strongly recommended no matter when you come to dine since this place seems to be a favorite for locals.

il Casale opens daily at 4:30 PM at 50 Leonard Street in Belmont, MA

Michael Conlon and Eric Aulenback who opened Lincoln to much fanfare in 2012 opened Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar on Broadway in Southie in January 2015, and this past weekend Sergio and I joined a group of friends to try their Sunday brunch. While Loco’s dinner menu serves a variety of tacos, ceviche, grilled fish, and fresh guacamole, the brunch menu adds some really delicious breakfast options worth trying and certainly unique to the neighborhood it calls home.

The brunch menu is divided into Desayuno – breakfast items; Tortas – sandwiches; and Tacos ranging from $9-$15.  We indulged in a couple of different homemade guacamole orders including one with pineapple ($12) and whipped ($12), while both were fresh, I preferred the chunkier texture of the pineapple guacamole.

Omelet Con Tasso $12

Sergio opted for Loco’s Omelet Con Tasso which had cajun ham, oyster mushrooms, onions, goat cheese and was topped with pico de gallo and a side of warm tortillas. His breakfast was delicious and full of flavor, providing a nice spin on a traditional American breakfast.

Burrito de Chorizo $12

I opted for the Burrito de Chorizo, which had two eggs over easy, potatoes, chorizo, cheese and hot sauce.  As with Sergio’s choice, my breakfast was incredibly flavorful. The runny egg and cheese combined nicely with the heartier ingredients in the burrito and paired well with the spicy Bloody Mary I ordered.

Budin de Pan $13

Lastly we indulged by ordering the Budin de Pan (Locos take on French Toast). This plate rocked my world and is something I will order when we next visit (because we will be back).  Two pieces of soft white bread are served crispy on the outside with cinnamon and vanilla custard, creamy cheese, fresh berries and dulce de leche, which is what you see atop this pile of decadence.

Loco Taqueria and Oyster Bar serves brunch starting at 10AM on Saturday and Sunday.  Reservations are strongly recommended.

Serafina Boston, a self described modern Italian cuisine restaurant, opened in the space formerly occupied by Radius on the edge of the financial district.  The Serafina restaurant chain currently operates more than two dozen locations globally, but this marks the first location in New England so I was curious to visit the new restaurant. The muted colors and open space looked carefully thought out but the open dining space and bar only proved to make the space incredibly loud.  Our waitress practically had to shout to be heard.

The menu is moderately priced with an entire page dedicated to pizzas, that range from $13 – $25 and main plates and pastas ranging from $14-$32 with most dining options ranging from $17 – $22.

Serafina Boston Charred Octopus $16

Dinner was a bit inconsistent with our appetizer and dessert being the most memorable.  Above is a photograph of the appetizer Sergio and I shared, Charred Octopus.  The Octopus was very flavorful and not too chewy and was something I would likely order and recommend to others visiting Serafina Boston.

Serafina Boston Gnocchi Di Mamma $19

Sergio’s dinner was unfortunately not as appealing.  The Gnocchi Di Mamma which he asked to have with a Bolognese sauce was disappointing.  The Gnocchi wasn’t as soft as hoped and the sauce was overly sweet. The sauce was so dissatisfying, I’d actually strongly recommend substituting the sauce for something else if it comes with your meal.

Serafina Boston Veal Scaloppine $27

Fortunately, my meal was more appetizing.  I enjoyed the Veal Scaloppine, but it was not particularly memorable and if I come back I would probably focus on Serafina’s long list of pizzas, hoping for better luck and finding something as satisfying as our appetizer or dessert which I will slightly obsess over now.

Serafina Boston Focaccia Nutella $16

The meal started on a high point with the Charred Octopus and it concluded on a similar note thanks to the incredibly decadent dessert, Focaccia Nutella, which sandwiches thinly sliced strawberries with a healthy spread of Nutella and capped by a thin foccaccia-like bread that is sprinkled with powdered sugar and sliced much like a pizza pie.

I’ll give Serafina Boston a pass for the mezza mezza dining experience since they have only been open for a month.  For anyone hosting events it is worth noting that the restaurant features nice private dining and function space on the lower level. Serafina Boston is located at 10 High Street in downtown Boston.

On a recent business trip to California, I found myself with a spare evening before flying home so I decided to try an Indian restaurant between Mission and Market Streets called Amber India.  Large glass windows allowed me to look into a sleek dining room and comfortable lounge so I opted to check it out; preferring the bar over the larger dining room so I could people watch while eating.  The people watching proved to be a bust; nobody that interesting despite the bustling lounge but my seat was very comfortable and the service was excellent.

Amber India Yerba Buena Tandoori Chicken and Onion Chilli Kulcha

Apparently Amber India has five different locations but this is the only one in San Francisco and as near as I can tell it opened back in 2011.  It is conveniently located next to the Four Seasons Hotel in a small promenade that is home to several other restaurants as well.  There is a separate bar menu comprised of shared appetizers, but you can order from the main menu that ranges between $16-$19 for vegetarian dishes and $23 – $30 for most of their other plates.

Amber India Yerba Buena Tandori Chicken for $21.95

I chose the Tandoori Chicken ($21.95) which comes out hissing and steaming on a black iron skillet.  The smell of the meat, seasoning and onions instantly set my mouth watering.  The party seated next to me actually paused when the plate was served – such was the noise and heady aroma.  I also chose to order their Onion Chilli Kulcha ($7.00); Naan bread stuffed with onions and chilli.  This was delicious and the perfect accompaniment to the sauces served with dinner.

I really liked everything about my dining experience at Amber India.  The staff was prompt and friendly – answering all my questions about their menu.  The food was really delicious – rich with flavor and beautiful in appearance.  My only disappointment was after my visit I read a few reviews that made me realize if I’m fortunate enough to return I should try their signature plate, Butter Chicken.

Amber India is located SOMA at 25 Yerba Buena Lane 415-777-0500