Boston Dining

MChang · December 23, 2018, 1:51am

I really liked deuxave the 2-3 times I’ve been.

Alicia_C · December 23, 2018, 1:51am

Thanks, Merrill for the report! After about 8 months here in Boston, I’m still trying to make my way around the city (so this is helpful!) I had lunch at the Cambridge Toscano a few weeks ago (same as the one on Charles St., I believe) and it was delicious!

Glenn_L_e_v_i_n_e · December 23, 2018, 7:06pm

Months removed I find myself remembering O Ya as a truly fantastic meal, even if solo. I also need to send thanks to Jud and his lovely wife, who took me out to Troquet on South for communion with great wines they brought.

This was epic, shaved, local Fluke:

A5, nuff said:

Japanese Harmony:

Jud_Reis · December 23, 2018, 10:31pm

Glenn - it was a pleasure meeting you. I have only had great experiences at O YA, although my patience for that long a meal experience is starting to wane. No Bandon this year with my buddies ( Streamsong in FL) instead. We will definitely be in touch if we make it out your way.

Jud_Reis · December 24, 2018, 8:51pm

Back from a week in Boston. I lived there until 1997, and go back 3-6 times per year. Always stay at XV Beacon on the hill.

Food: Since I stay at XV Beacon, it is natural to have food there at the bar. They turn out excellent food, whether you want steak with all the fixings, or some wagyu dumplings, for something light. Still hate the name “Mooo,” which is the rename after they called it the Federalist. Oh well.

No.9 Park had always been a favorite for years, but had fallen from glory to my taste. A friend wanted to go there, so of course I said yes. Everything was way up to par…food, service, everything. I went for the homemade tagliatelle with the fresh white truffles shaved over at the table. Awesome. I asked for the waiter to bring me a glass of something to pair, and he opened a fresh bottle of something I think was not on the by-the-glass menu. Regionally correct and perfect for my dish. He poured a second glass on the house. I was not “working,” so I paid little attention to the bottle, just enjoyed what was in the glass.

Lunch at Cultivar, in the Ames Hotel. Gorgeous cod fish stew with potatoes and bacon. I had a glass of some champagne they had on their list.

Lunch at Toscano on Charles St. Always a must. Very inexpensive and always good. Dierdre still behind the bar and ready to please. I had the pasta Nocera (black truffled). Excellent.

Lunch at Post 390 - my friend’s choice. You can easily pass on that because of the food and the service. It was a grade of “D” at best.

Lunch at Carrie Nation. Forget it - do not step in the door. Any Boston restaurant that screws up fish and chips should be fired.

Dinner at Sorellina. Elegant, very good food, very pricey. Not up to previous visits. I was asked by my male companion to order the wine, and I did so. The waiter brought the bottle and a glass to taste from, and set it between us. My companion picked up the stem and declared it fine as my jaw hit the table. Both he and the restaurant are on double-probation.

Funny you mentioned #9 Park - Lisa and I went there last fall for the first time in ages and thought everything was really well done, food and service were spot on. Merry Christmas Merrill!

Merrill_Lindquist · December 24, 2018, 11:06pm

Back from a week in Boston. I lived there until 1997, and go back 3-6 times per year. Always stay at XV Beacon on the hill.

Food: Since I stay at XV Beacon, it is natural to have food there at the bar. They turn out excellent food, whether you want steak with all the fixings, or some wagyu dumplings, for something light. Still hate the name “Mooo,” which is the rename after they called it the Federalist. Oh well.

No.9 Park had always been a favorite for years, but had fallen from glory to my taste. A friend wanted to go there, so of course I said yes. Everything was way up to par…food, service, everything. I went for the homemade tagliatelle with the fresh white truffles shaved over at the table. Awesome. I asked for the waiter to bring me a glass of something to pair, and he opened a fresh bottle of something I think was not on the by-the-glass menu. Regionally correct and perfect for my dish. He poured a second glass on the house. I was not “working,” so I paid little attention to the bottle, just enjoyed what was in the glass.

Lunch at Cultivar, in the Ames Hotel. Gorgeous cod fish stew with potatoes and bacon. I had a glass of some champagne they had on their list.

Lunch at Toscano on Charles St. Always a must. Very inexpensive and always good. Dierdre still behind the bar and ready to please. I had the pasta Nocera (black truffled). Excellent.

Lunch at Post 390 - my friend’s choice. You can easily pass on that because of the food and the service. It was a grade of “D” at best.

Lunch at Carrie Nation. Forget it - do not step in the door. Any Boston restaurant that screws up fish and chips should be fired.

Dinner at Sorellina. Elegant, very good food, very pricey. Not up to previous visits. I was asked by my male companion to order the wine, and I did so. The waiter brought the bottle and a glass to taste from, and set it between us. My companion picked up the stem and declared it fine as my jaw hit the table. Both he and the restaurant are on double-probation.

Funny you mentioned #9 Park - Lisa and I went there last fall for the first time in ages and thought everything was really well done, food and service were spot on. Merry Christmas Merrill!

And Merry Christmas to you and Lisa! Sorry your schedule was full and we could not get together. Try Cultivar…I have been a few times and really like it. Thankfully, one of my friends cancelled sort of last minute, and the concierge got me an awesome ticket to the Celtics game.

K_F_o_l_e_y · December 25, 2018, 11:19pm

Devra First (Globe reviewer) didn’t seem very enthused by the food at No. 9 Park recently (she re-visted all of Barbara Lynch’s restaurants):

Merrill_Lindquist · December 26, 2018, 4:39pm

I stopped going to No9, but my Boston friend wanted to go there. It was spectacular, so I will go back again to see if it is a repeatable expereince.

K_F_o_l_e_y · December 27, 2018, 1:34pm

L’Espalier is closing after 40 years this week:

K_F_o_l_e_y · January 11, 2019, 3:20am

Not a good few months for Boston dining: B3, L’Espalier, Erbaluce, Cultivar, Shepard, Brasserie Jo, Les Sablons…all closed. Erbaluce and B3 are particularly sad for me.

On the positive side, we no longer have to warn visitors away from Durgin-Park (just Union Oyster House).

Alicia_C · January 11, 2019, 5:12pm

I was heartbroken over Shepard’s closing, but looks like Luce, an Italian concept by the same owner, is opening in its place. Keeping my fingers crossed they do the same concept with wine (allowing you to purchase quartinos at the bar of the half-bottles opened in the restaurant, or just being able to purchase a half bottle from the majority of their list). Made solo-dining there a really nice experience.

K_F_o_l_e_y · January 11, 2019, 8:18pm

BOSTON STYLE: Two Pearl all beef hot dogs, with sauerkraut, mustard, griddled homemade New England-style buns, at Mamaleh’s Delicatessen in Kendall Square, Cambridge, near MIT. Probably Boston-area’s best Jewish deli restaurant.

K_F_o_l_e_y · January 23, 2019, 4:15pm

Another fantastic meal at Troquet, and the Summer Wine Sale is back on for the month of January. Excellent bottle of 1978 Ch. Haut Brion was WOTN (WOTY so far), but everything was in great shape. Yes, even the 1973 Cave Cooperative de Fleurie, which was probably my second favorite wine. More proof Beaujolais really can age!

And who knew Joseph Phelps once made a late harvest riesling?

Lot of new dishes on the menu, and I had the first ever serving of “Maine Lobster French Toast”, which is DOTY so far (with brioche, lemon curd, lightly smoked crème fraîche, sauce Americaine, celery; $23).

1973 Cave Cooperative de Fleurie Fleurie
1995 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Archery Summit Estate
1978 Château Haut Brion
1995 Bodegas Reyes Ribera del Duero Teofilo Reyes Tinto Cosecha
1978 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
1977 Joseph Phelps Johannisberg Riesling Late Harvest

Through the end of January.

pnitze · January 23, 2019, 9:16pm

For those of you looking for a nice wine dinner in Boston this month, my friend Ian Calhoun is putting on a wine dinner next Tuesday the 29th at his restaurant Mooncusser Fish House. Cost is $225/person. Restaurant is on Stuart St in Back Bay.

I’m coordinating the wine and it’s a great lineup of pristine older bottles. 1981 Charles Heidsick “Charlie” in magnum (recently ex domaine), 2005 Carillon Puligny Montrachet “Champs Canet,” 2007 Beaucastel Roussanne VV, 1981 Palmer in magnum, and 1954 Broadbent Madeira Verdelho.

PM if you want to join or want further details. Would enjoy meeting some of the Boston WB crowd.

Robert_Dentice · March 6, 2019, 4:30pm

Looking for options near Chelmsford, MA for tomorrow (3/6). Thanks in advance.

K_F_o_l_e_y · March 6, 2019, 4:46pm

Not a lot of legal BYOB in MA, unfortunately. Here’s some in the Boston area:

I would recommend Sam’s Kitchen in Woburn (about 25 min drive from Chelmsford, depending on traffic), which is a decent enough red sauce Italian. But you definitely need reservations unless you go very early, since it is only about 25 seats and popular.

No corkage, but based on town rules, they only allow 1 bottle/2 people on the table (and comparable number of glasses). Bring a wine bag! Glasses are mediocre.

I wrote something about it in this thread (wine rules have changed since):

Also, there is Nappi’s in Medford, which is a few minutes further drive. Similar to Sam’s, although I prefer the latter.

Robert_Dentice · March 6, 2019, 5:09pm

Looking for options near Chelmsford, MA for tomorrow (3/6). Thanks in advance.

Not a lot of legal BYOB in MA, unfortunately. Here’s some in the Boston area:

10 restaurants where you can BYOB in the Boston area

I would recommend Sam’s Kitchen in Woburn (about 25 min drive from Chelmsford, depending on traffic), which is a decent enough red sauce Italian. But you definitely need reservations unless you go very early, since it is only about 25 seats and popular.

No corkage, but based on town rules, they only allow 1 bottle/2 people on the table (and comparable number of glasses). Bring a wine bag! Glasses are mediocre.

I wrote something about it in this thread (wine rules have changed since):
Greater Boston - BYO Forum - Wine at Restaurants - WineBerserkers

Also, there is Nappi’s in Medford, which is a few minutes further drive. Similar to Sam’s, although I prefer the latter.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sams-kitchen-woburn
https://www.yelp.com/biz/nappis-restaurant-medford

Thanks for the info. Boston is unfortunately not an option.

K_F_o_l_e_y · March 6, 2019, 5:13pm

Let us know if you discovery anywhere in Chelmsford!

Jud_Reis · March 7, 2019, 3:21am

Robert- having followed where you normally go to eat in various threads, I don’t think there is anything near there that will be anywhere close to what you would like. There are some good unpretentious Asian places in Lowell - Simply Khmer for Cambodian food is one I would recommend.

Robert_Dentice · March 8, 2019, 12:10pm

Thanks for the recommendation. I went here and liked it. The Chicken Wings (I am from Buffalo!) were great and the other dishes were fun to try.