Tag Archives: Restaurant Review

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

This past weekend I joined a friend for brunch at Abe & Louie’s in the Back Bay.  Abe & Louie’s is an upscale steakhouse with an excellent reputation, but I’d not been there for quite awhile – and never for brunch so I was looking forward to my date with my friend.

The brunch menu ranges from $12 – $35.  Since my friend doesn’t eat red meat and I was in the mood for an omelette our brunch was on the more affordable end of the price range. Brunch for the two of us cost $44 plus tip; a splurge for sure but well within expectations.

Brunch started with coffee and a warm assortment of breads we both quickly devoured (okay – I ate most of the basket, but I was hungry).

Service was impeccable and Abe & Louie’s brunch menu has all the staples you would want (omelettes, pancakes, french toast, etc…) in addition to the customary steak options you would expect.

I ordered the Newbury omelette $12 which comes with ham, feta, onions, pepperoncini and olives, and my friend ordered the crab cake bennedict $19.  Both came accompanied with crispy hash on the side.

While I enjoyed brunch, I doubt I’d rush back to Abe & Louie’s.  There are   so many great options in Boston and the only thing memorable about our brunch was the company who was with me. However, if you have a hankering for steak and eggs or simply want to try out brunch, I recommend making your reservation for 11:30 or earlier.  The tables are very close to each other but the space did not seem to fill until after 12pm so coming a bit earlier affords you more privacy.

Casa de Pedro: Fine Latin cuisine in Watertown, MA

This past weekend I had dinner at La Casa de Pedro, which describes itself as offering a true taste of Venezuelan hospitality and fine Spanish cuisine.  The restaurant is conveniently located next door to The New Rep Theatre where I saw their production of The Kite Runner.

Casa de Pedro is a warm and inviting restaurant with a nice patio for dining outside, a large bar and even larger indoor dining room.  Main plates range significantly in price, but dinner for two including a shared starter, two drinks and main plates cost $70.00 with tip; more than reasonable considering the portions and how delicious it was to eat.

We started our meal with calamari ($10.50).  No need to ask for lemon wedges as the lightly fried calamari was heavily seasoned with lemon juice which was nicely offset by the heat of the jalapenos. Just as we were finishing the plate of calamari our main plates were served.  The portions were surprisingly large but so savory we both finished our meals without hesitation.

click on the photo below to enlarge

Caraquena (above left) is $17.99 and includes chicken tenderloins, sirloin strips, and Spanish sausage sautéed with Spanish spices. The plate also included rice, beans and plantains.  The meat was flavorful, heavily salted and complemented my cold beer.

The Fish Tacos (above right) is $15.50 and was equally delicious albeit lighter. The three tacos filled with tilapia had a distinctly grilled flavoring was accompanied by rice, beans, fried yucca and plantains.

I will come back to Casa de Pedro.  It makes for the perfect place to grab dinner before seeing a show at the New Rep Theatre and who doesn’t love dinner and a show?  You can see Casa de Pedro’s full menu here.

Just a block or two from the Empire State Building is a new Greek restaurant called Meli.  The evening I dined there it was nearly empty, but I’m sure as word gets out that will change.  I would describe Meli as upscale Greek with a twist and that extends to both the decor as well as the menu. The main dining room is bright with high ceilings, an impressive chandelier and large dramatic images of Greece. 

The plates include all the ingredients you expect in Greek food but the menu has a very modern take on the cuisine.  A good example would be the starter, Grilled Eggplant Gazpacho.  Although the gazpacho and much of the menu was appealing, I stuck with some traditional choices and walked away very satisfied.

I started my dinner with the beet salad.  The roasted beets encircled a cool creamy feta and garlic spread with crushed almonds.  It was a delicious and filling way to start dinner, and something I could order over and over again.  As I was finishing my salad, I was brought an incredibly hot mousaka.  Meli does not use eggplant and zucchini in their recipe rather they include artichoke hearts, which gives a subtle flavoring that is very agreeable with the ground beef and potatoes.

Main plates at Meli range from $18 (my mousaka) to $32 and starters and salads range from $9 to $15.   The food, service and setting all make the price point a good deal and a place worth trying.

Meli is located at 1 East 35th Street between 5th and Madison Avenue.   The restaurant appears to be having issues with their website so I would recommend calling if you have any questions.