Tag Archives: Restaurant Review

It has been quite awhile since I last wrote a restaurant review of The Aquitaine Group’s Cinquecento, but earlier this month Sergio and I grabbed dinner at the bar and we had such a good time I wanted to write about it.

Cinquecento has been successful since first opening in 2012. It probably helps that they have ample free parking, a nice patio (for the warmer months) and is easily accessible from the Mass Pike and I-93.  However, that only gets you so far if you don’t have good staff and a talented kitchen – fortunately they have it all.

The menu is exclusively Italian as you might imagine with antipasti, soups and salads ranging in price from $10-$17; homemade pastas $22-$29; fish & meat plates $26-$38. On our recent visit we started dinner with the Burrata con Pistachio ($13.75) as well as the Steak Tartar ($15.75). The Burrata was cool and creamy and paired nicely with the soft figs, creating a surprisingly nice combination of sweet and creamy textures and flavors.

However, I was most surprised by the Steak Tartar that was recommended.  The cubed steak was savory and would make for a great option if you want to come in for a snack.  The plate would pair equally well with wine or beer.

For dinner Sergio ordered one of his favorite plates, the house made Gnocchi ($24.50) which is shown above, and I splurged, ordering the Aragosta Arrosto ($38.50) shown below.  I had thought I was ordering the lobster and pasta in a fra diavolo sauce but the Aragosta Arrosto was more flavorful than spicy with only a hint of pepper.  Those looking for more heat to the sauce should probably make such a request when ordering.  Having said that, the dinner exceeded my expectations. There was plenty of lobster from the tail and it was cooked perfectly. The pairing of the rich sauce, lobster meat and homemade pasta was so good that Sergio repeatedly poached food from my plate when I wasn’t looking.

If you would like to try Cinquecento, I highly recommend making reservations for dinner on weekends. On weekdays you can usually get seats easily enough as a walk in at the bar or in the dining room.  Cinquecento is located at 500 Harrison Avenue in the South End.

Bastille Kitchen is a 270 seat French bistro that opened on Melcher Street in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood of Boston this past summer.   The restaurant feels very open – in part due to the large windows, exposed brick walls and light wood floors, tables and ceilings.  The bar / lounge area is also fairly spacious – capable of seating at the bar and in comfortable lounge furniture 40+ people.

We were celebrating a friend’s birthday on this occasion and while I didn’t try everything served, I was impressed with the service and enjoyed my food.  The menu starts with more than a dozen appetizers to choose from ranging in price from $10-$22; house made flatbreads $15-$18; fruits de mer which range in price according to market; entrees and local sustainable seafood $18-$42.

While my dining companions each tried the escargots ($15) and duck confit ($14), I opted for the frisee aux lardons ($14) and was very happy with my choice.  The savory salad was rich and flavorful. The poached egg’s yolk was delicious with the duck confit – which you can see was served with generous portions.   While my companions enjoyed the duck confit appetizer, the escargot (which I didn’t try) was described by both as bland and disappointing.My main course was the roast lamb shank ($29).  The dinner came served in a skillet with tomatoes, an eggplant pave and herb grits.  This was an incredibly hardy meal and very filling.  The lamb was cooked perfectly; falling from the bone with hardly any effort. The accompanying sauce and herb grits complemented the rich flavors of the lamb and despite the large serving I ate everything. 

Above are the dinners of my dining companions. The top image is the Beef Short Rib Wellington $38 and the image immediately above is the Hampshire Pork Au Poivre served on the bone for $28.  Both said they enjoyed their dinners and would order it again when they return.

Bastille Kitchen is open daily but reservations are strongly recommended. Bastille Kitchen is located at 49 Melcher Street, Boston, (617) 556-8000.

Photo Source: EaterBoston

Bar Boulud Boston opened in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Back Bay in October 2014.  The decor is quite different from the previous restaurant and made me think of a wine cellar or wine barrel with the oak coloring and arched ceilings. The bar area has also expanded and is far more comfortable than Mbar.

After reading the Boston Globe’s disappointing review, 2 stars out of 4, I didn’t know quite what to expect but after dining there I think the review was unnecessarily harsh. However, I do agree that Boston’s iteration of Boulud doesn’t live up to the reputation or name. It wasn’t as if I didn’t like my food – quite the contrary, it was very good – it just wasn’t the amazing experience I was expecting.

However, for those eager to try a new high end French restaurant, Bar Boulud should certainly be on your radar.  The menu is comprised of House Pates ranging from $14-$23; Fruits De Mer, Soup and Salads which range significantly in price from $12 – $38; Main plates are divided into Pasta, Fish and Meat ranging in price from $17 – $37; and two burgers that seem somewhat out of place unless you might be in the bar are on the dinner menu $17 and $19 respectively.

Salade Provençal $15

My colleagues ordered Foie Gras, Escargots and Oysters.  I ordered the Salade Provencal ($15) and while it may seem quite basic, the presentation was beautiful and I really enjoyed the crisp greens, cheese, croutons and anchovy vinaigrette. The table seemed to approve of their choices and when the plates were removed to make space for our main dishes there were only crumbs remaining.

Coq au Vin $29

It was a cold, blustery night when we visited Bar Boulud so I looked to one of the menu’s heartier options and settled on the Coq au Vin for $29.  The chicken was rich and flavorful with the red wine, and I used the handmade pasta to absorb and scoop much of that sauce. I love this meal in the winter and while it wasn’t the best I’d ever had, it was good enough that I would encourage others to try it.  The aroma of the plate with the chicken, herbs and wine was intoxicating.  I suppose it is a testament to my dinner that I was so distracted by the coq au vin that I failed to snap photos of what my colleagues’ ordered.

While I’d recommend Bar Boulud to anyone interested in trying it, the service was at times slow and sloppy (repeatedly spilling water).  Nothing that happened was a deal breaker but nothing captured my imagination or lived up to the hype either. Should you go, let me know your thoughts.

Bar Boulud Boston is at 776 Boylston Street  (617) 535-8800

Mistral first opened in Boston’s South End in the late 1990s, and has been a personal favorite for as long as I can recall.  I regularly recommend this restaurant to friends and family looking for a special night out but I had never visited them for their Sunday brunch – until a week ago.

Mistral opens for brunch on Sunday at 10:30 and when we arrived at 10:45 the space was already a third full with more people filing in behind us.  Despite the obvious rush, the staff was kind, courteous and quick to greet everyone as they came in, collect their coats and identify reservations.

The Mistral brunch menu is exceedingly tempting so we nibbled on the warm muffins that came with an addicting apple butter spread, while we looked through our options and discussed what we wanted to try.  Their menu consists of starters like warm cinnamon buns that require 15 minutes to bake fresh as well as unique items like truffled devil eggs; thin crust pizzas; and of course main dishes – which include both sweet and savory options.

Mistral’s Grapefruit Sabayon

I opted to try a special that day, grapefruit sabayon.  Sabayon is the creamy looking custard in the photo above and it is made with egg yolk, sugar and a sweet wine. Mistral’s recipe includes Champagne and the combination of this saucy/custard drizzled over the fresh grapefruit was so addicting even Sergio was digging in (and he doesn’t like grapefruit) a fact he kept saying while he scooped chunks of the appetizer off the plate.

Graham Cracker Crusted Challah French Toast with Anjou Pears and Chantilly

While Sergio’s brunch option was visually more impressive, both items were beautifully presented and equally satisfying. Sergio’s order of Mistral’s Graham Cracker Crusted Challah French Toast with Anjou Pears and Chantilly must have been 4″ thick.  The French Toast came with a warmed bottle of real maple syrup that smelled and tasted delicious but in truth was hardly necessary with the powdered sugar and pears.

Mushroom Spinach and Gruyere Frittata and a side of Pommes Lyonnaise

My order of the Mushroom Spinach and Gruyere Frittata and Pommes Lyonnaise were presented in hot black skillets.  The frittata was light and flavorful — anyone who enjoys mushrooms would want to try this plate — and the Pommes Lyonnaise offered a nice contrast to the eggs; salty and crispy.  While the potatoes were meant to be shared, poor Sergio hardly got more than a bite.

As you can probably surmise from my write up, I would recommend trying Mistral’s brunch, but I’d strongly suggest making a reservation first.  Mistral is located at 223 Columbus Avenue in the South End.

Located above Louis Boston, Sam’s might have one of the nicest waterfront views, making it a great place for a date night. However, the casual vibe and friendly staff also make it a good place to try for an after work drink or bite if you are in the neighborhood.

Sam’s at Louis Boston decor can best be described as minimalist and modern.  Large glass windows overlooking their equally large deck and Boston’s waterfront is framed by the steel panes and furnishings giving the restaurant an open and modern vibe.  Indoors only can seat about 40 (plus approximately 10 at the bar), but in the warmer weather their second floor patio more than doubles their capacity and is available on a first come first serve basis.

Roasted Beets $9

Sam’s dinner menu includes snacks and starters that range from $7-$17 and main plates from $16-$35.  I would describe the menu as modern American.  I started dinner with Sam’s roasted beets that had goat cheese (they call goat butter) and nuts. It came out piping hot in an individual skillet that hissed and crackled like a fajita, and was delicious from start to finish.  I chose a great Spanish red wine that really enhanced flavor of the warm beets and made me even more hungry for dinner.

Herb Roasted Chicken $27

Our handsome server timed our meals beautifully and a few minutes after he cleared our plates my herb roasted chicken arrived on a bed of baby brussels sprouts with apple-chestnut stuffing and Madeira jus. The chicken was tender and flavorful and I’m happy to say I managed to eat every last bite.

I can’t believe it took me so long to try Sam’s  but I will be back.  I’d recommend trying it on a weeknight when it is easier to get a table or encourage you to make a reservation to avoid a long wait.  Sam’s is located above Louis Boston at 60 Northern Avenue (behind the Vertex Pharmaceuticals building).

Roost Bistro is a cozy restaurant on Newbury Street between Fairfield and Gloucester Street that opened in the spring of 2014.

I stumbled upon Roost Bistro when I was perusing OpenTable.com for a list of available restaurants for brunch with my friend Tracey who happens to write the blog 40-Something Life.

First impressions of this new bistro were good.  I liked the tiny two tiered patio overlooking Newbury Street and inside had a cozy vibe with lots of natural sunlight and colorful walls contrasted by exposed brick.  The brunch menu is also really reasonable with most items ranging between $10-$12.

For this first visit I kept my order short and sweet, zeroing in on Spanish Omelette which was generously stuffed with chorizo and caramelized onions and had a side of potatoes.  I won’t rave about the food because it wasn’t that kind of meal, but it was definitely tasty and has intrigued me enough to want to go back and try the bistro for dinner. Add this to your list of new places to try and let me know your thoughts. My only caveat would be the restaurant was clearly understaffed, making it tough to get coffee or our check, but since it was a pleasant morning, we filled the time people watching and chatting with each other.

Roost Bistro is located at 259 Newbury Street and open for brunch on Saturday and Sunday starting at 10:30am.

Nizza is a cozy space located in NYC Hell’s Kitchen on Ninth Avenue.  The night I was there Nizza had a young crowd and nice energy that reminded me of some of my favorite brasseries – except Nizza’s menu is 100% Italian.  It probably didn’t hurt that bartender, Tom, was easy on the eyes, friendly and made excellent dinner suggestions.

Nizza’s menu is very approachable with pizzas, pastas and main dishes ranging from $13-$23.  I started dinner with Tom’s suggestion, eggplant involtini ($11.25). The dish comes with four thinly sliced roasted eggplant that are stuffed with ricotta and herbs.  It is shown above with focaccia bread and olive oil served with a generous dollop of ricotta. The eggplant was cooked perfectly and is something I would regularly order if I lived in the neighborhood.

I love spicy pizza so Tom suggested I try the “Piccante” ($14.75).  This pizza didn’t disappoint and the heat gave me an excuse to order a second glass of wine.  The pizza comes with tomato, spicy Italian sausage, roasted hot peppers, smoked mozzarella and fresh basil.   It was the roasted hot peppers that really added the heat so have them hold the peppers if you’d prefer something less spicy. A sure sign that I enjoyed the dinner was the self-induced food coma that followed from me over eating.

If out in Hell’s Kitchen and looking for a nice place to grab a bite that has good energy and is reasonably priced, I’d definitely suggest trying Nizza at 630 Ninth Avenue.

Prospect is a casual dining restaurant that first opened in the summer of 2010.  It is located on the corner of Folsom and Spear Street approximately one block from the waterfront.  I opted to try this sleek looking neighborhood restaurant because it won San Francisco Magazine’s 2013 Best Destination Burger.

The bar menu is comprised mostly of easy bites like cheese plate, hot wings and fried shishito peppers.  The full menu includes salads, seafood and meats ranging in price from $14-$45 with most items ranging from $21-$32.

I started my meal with the bar menu’s, spicy ceviche ($10).  Prospect’s ceviche includes chunks fresh fish, avocado and tomato as well as a bit of heat from peppers that nicely mingle with the citrus and fresh corn tortilla chips.  I devoured this with my beer while people watching from the bar.

Following the ceviche, I had high hopes for the burger and was not disappointed. The Prospect Burger ($16.50 with fries) comes on a delicious buttered and lightly toasted bun with a thick green tomato and lettuce.  The burger is accompanied by thick cut and salted french fries that were crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Service at the bar, despite a busy crowd, was flawless. The entire staff referred to me by my name despite only introducing myself once to the bartender who took my beer order and they made me feel welcome without pestering me.

Last week I was invited as part of an exclusive group to meet and try food at Bel Ari in the Leather District, prior to their opening to the public today (September 10th).

Formerly known as Sorriso, the restaurant was overhauled by its new owners who purchased it along with Les Zygomates earlier this year.  Bel Ari has a sophisticated look with its white painted brick, dark tables and beautiful artwork.  However, the redesign and branding extends beyond the physical with a new menu by Chef Robert Fathman described as modern Italian culinary inspirations “from all over the boot.”

Bel Ari mixologist, Karen, and her delicious cocktails

The bar staff is knowledgeable and friendly as you’ll find out when you meet Karen who concocts mystery cocktails based on your palate.  I was immediately taken with this British bartender who formerly worked up the street at Trade. I’d suggest checking out the bar and treating yourself to one of her unique cocktails and Bel Ari’s artichoke pizza, which I found absolutely addicting. I typically review restaurants after they open when I can get a better feel for the total dining experience; the ambiance, service and food.  Based on this experience, I’m intrigued enough to venture back after they open to the public and would suggest you place this new restaurant on your list of “worth checking out.”

Some of my favorite plates included their warmed, whipped ricotta cheese which was sweet and creamy; the mussels served in a crock pot with the tomatoes, onions and sausage; the artichoke pizza (shown above); and their glazed chops served with broccolini and couscous.

Anchovies is one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants / bars. It is filled with locals and serves good food at very affordable prices.

The decor in this cozy South End establishment reminds me of my Nana’s basement. The beautiful, long dark wood bar is surrounded by tacky decorations that include everything from a rocking horse on the ceiling to old posters.

The narrow space can make it tough to get around in Anchovies and it fills quickly so if you arrive later in the evening you should mentally prepare for a wait (possibly outside on the sidewalk depending on how crowded it gets).  However, I love this place and always enjoy my dinners here. The Italian menu includes appetizers and salads, pizzas, calzones, pasta and meat entrees as well as sandwiches and paninis. Nothing on the menu is over $17 and you can easily walk out stuffed and satisfied for less than a couple of cocktails at most restaurants in the South End.

We started dinner with an absolute *must try* for any first time visitor. Anchovies combines the best of Mexican and Italian with their signature Italian Nachos for $11. This is a large platter that is meant to be shared. My advice is to use the crisp nachos on the bottom of the plate to scoop the soggier chips laden with braised short rib ragu sauce, ricotta and cherry peppers. The salty chips marry well with the rich meat sauce, and the cherry peppers add just a slight pop but the creamy ricotta gives a great finish. Although the pictures may not show this, the portions are generous. Neither Sergio nor I finished our meals.  Sergio ordered one of Anchovies most popular plates, The Riccardi – penne with chicken sage sausage and mushrooms in a tomato cream sauce for $15.I continued with my cheese-fest by ordering a calzone at Anchovies for $15. I think it is fair to say that Anchovies adds more cheese to their calzone than anyone.  I love their tangy marinara sauce served on the side. I dip the cheese and fillings with the dough into it.  This is my go-to comfort food order; it is so large I can barely eat half of it.
Anyone looking for home style, no frills Italian will love Anchovies.  Best of all the kitchen is open until 1:30 AM 7-nights a week.  Anchovies is in Boston’s South End at 433 Columbus Ave.

Chef Evan Campbell serving up brunch at The Trophy Room

My favorite meal to have out of the house is breakfast or on the weekend, brunch, so I was more than happy to give The Trophy Room at the Chandler Inn a try this past weekend.

Although the space has been open and serving brunch for a couple of months, I avoid trying new restaurants initially – allowing them to work out their ‘kinks’ – before I visit.  When we arrived on Sunday just prior to 11, The Trophy Room was half full and easy to get a seat at the bar or at one of the tables.  Their doors on Berkeley Street were wide open letting in the sun and a nice breeze.  The restaurant was half gay with a few hotel guests mingling with neighbors.

The brunch menu is evenly divided between breakfast and lunch items – all quite affordable $8-$14.  Our entire breakfast for two with tax and tip came to less than $30 (this was an alcohol-free brunch).

Our coffee was delicious and promptly refilled by our friendly and attentive bartender (we opted to sit at the bar – a personal preference probably born out of habit).  I ordered The Trophy Omelette which is a “build your own”; I chose onions, mushroom and Swiss cheese for $8.75. The overstuffed omelette was served warm with salty breakfast potatoes that were delicious to eat with the Swiss cheese that oozed out and over my plate once I cut into my omelette.

Sergio selected The Trophy Trifecta that comes with two eggs, sausage or bacon (he chose the former) and two buttermilk pancakes for $8.75.  He devoured his plate but not before I was able to try the pancakes which were good enough to make me think on a future visit we might want to order the Grandma’s Pancakes for $7.75 to share as an extra plate.

The Trophy Room’s ease and availability, combined with its affordable menu and friendly staff make it worth checking out.  If you go during the warmer months when the doors are open on to Berkeley Street – so much the better to enjoy your coffee and to read the copy of the NY Times at the bar.

The Trophy Room is open daily and serves brunch Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm in the South End at 26 Chandler Street in the South End of Boston.