Teatro

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (88 out of 100)

177 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02111
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Phone: 617-778-6841

Nuzzled near Loews Boston Common in the Theater District, Teatro (Italian for "Theater") serves up a mouthwatering, modern approach to classic Italian dishes. Teatro is an ideal spot for sick meals before catching a show.



Our History at Teatro
We dined at Teatro on two previous occasions. This review is based on a recent visit on a Friday evening at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
Teatro's appetizer menu includes several pizzas, salads, and carpaccios as well as calamari, mussels, and roasted squash soup. The main attraction for us, however, was the Teatro Antipasto for Two ($24). A hearty treat, the antipasto consists of ultra-fresh white bean puree, delicious rice balls, thinly sliced prosciutto and salami, marinated olives, roasted red peppers, beet salad, eggplant caponata, and a sampling of three fine cheeses.

Salads are $7 for one or $12 for two. In the past, we've tried the Caesar as well as the mixed greens, and they are OK, but not spectacular. The other appetizers are pricey, averaging over $13, but the quality is excellent.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
For entrees, you can choose from six pastas as well as grilled sirloin, crispy lemon sole, mustard-glazed Atlantic salmon, and braised Kuroboto pork shank. The pastas are available in two serving sizes - a small portion for an appetizer or first course and a larger portion for an entree. We shared the crispy lemon sole, served with asparagus and saffron aioli, and an entree portion of the rigatoni with classic ragu Bolognese. The portions were substantial and the food was fabulous. During a previous visit, we enjoyed the orecchiette ("little ear"-shaped pasta) with spicy sauce and broccoli rabe. On our next visit, we plan to try the angel hair pasta with gulf shrimp.

The pastas range from $10 to $16 for a small portion and $18 to $24 for an entree portion. Other entrees range from $23 to $30.

When dining at Teatro, to get the best of both worlds, we recommend that you share pastas and the other entrees within your party.

Rating: 9.4

Drinks
Teatro features a full bar, including a selection of after-dinner drinks. We enjoyed a bottle of Prosecco - Zefiro (Veneto, Italy) for $29, which is also available by the glass for $8. The majority of the wine list is available by the glass as well as in a carafe (half bottle). The house white and house red are available for $24 per bottle. A mixed drink menu offers a variety of libations at a whopping $11 per glass; many of these drinks integrate Prosecco.

Rating: 8.5

Service
We sat immediately upon arriving for our reservation. Our waitress was prompt, knowledgeable, and patient in answering a variety of questions.

The server who brought out the antipasto asked us if we had previously tried Teatro's antipasto. We hadn't, so he described the components of the dish - which was nice. However, he described the dish in about 10 seconds; we knew no more than before he began the description.

One other note: we made this reservation on OpenTable, but Teatro marked us a no-show. Mistakes happen. Nonetheless, it is a little annoying.

Rating: 8.6

Ambiance
The Teatro web site does a fair job in conveying the ambiance. Music fills the room. Dishes and silverware clatter. Lively conversation abounds. Indeed, the high-arched ceiling gives the room a theatrical presence.

Seating in the dining room felt a bit uneven. When seated in the center of the room, you have ample room to enjoy a relaxing meal. When seated on the sides of the room, many parties are packed in like sardines.

When you enter Teatro, a small bar area greets you. Teatro's full menu is available at the bar. The bar can get chilly during the winter.

Rating: 8.5

Et Cetera

Trivia: Chef/owner Jamie Mammano is also the chef/owner of Mistral

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Teatro is on OpenTable

Parking: Valet parking is available for $15 starting at 7:00pm. Additional parking is available at the Boston Common parking garage, the Ritz Carlton garage, and the Washington Street parking lot located behind Teatro.

Dress: Teatro presents an elegant yet casual dining environment.

Labels: Italian, Sick-Meals, Teatro, Theater-District

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 5:01 PM 0 comments 

The Wine Cellar

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Overall Rating: The Sickest (90 out of 100)

30 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
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Phone: 617-236-0080

The Wine Cellar is Boston's only Fondue restaurant. Offering a cozy, romantic atmosphere, a wide variety of fine wines, and great-tasting fondue, The Wine Cellar is an ideal venue for sick meals and good conversation.



Our History at The Wine Cellar
This was our second visit to The Wine Cellar. This review is based on a Saturday night dining experience at 8:30pm.

Appetizers
The Wine Cellar's appetizer menu includes six cheese-based fondues. The fondues are served with potato wedges and cubed bread. We went with the classic fondue which consists of Gruyere and Emmental cheeses melted with cracked black pepper in white wine and brandy. During a previous visit, we tried the Brittany fondue - artichoke hearts and shallots blended into cheese. The fondue appetizers are delicious. A regular serving for 1-2 people is $18. A large serving for 3-4 people is $32. So far, our favorite is the Brittany.

You may also choose from non-fondue appetizers such as the soup of the day ($5), escargots casserole ($12), and frog legs a la Provencal (market price).

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
For Entree fondues, you can choose from seven meat-based selections, and three cooking styles. Each meat is paired with dipping sauces. Meats include beef, chicken, pork loin, lamb, kangaroo, ostrich, rabbit loin, tiger shrimp, and sausage. The kangaroo, ostrich, and rabbit loin are served together with olive oil as part of the "Crazy French" offering which is $42 for a small portion or $80 for a large portion. The other fondue entrees range from $17-26 for a small portion or $31-47 for a large portion.

Cooking styles include Latin, French, and Courbouillion. Most guests opt for the French style (broth with Chablis wine, garlic, and cracked black pepper), but we enjoyed the Latin selection - broth with garlic and citrus flavors.

Deciding on one meat selection was difficult, so we opted for "Indulgence for Two". This $88 prix fixe offering lets you choose a cheese fondue appetizer, four items from the entree menu (excluding the Crazy French entree), and a chocolate fondue for dessert. In addition to the four entree items, you are served a side of vegetables and a sampling of dipping sauces, including balsamic glaze, mushroom red wine, lime dill, dijon mustard, horseradish sauce, brown sugar balsamic glaze, chili sauce, and teriyaki sauce.

If you are visiting The Wine Cellar for the first time, we suggest the Indulgence for Two. It offers a fair value and gives you flexibility in sampling the menu. We enjoyed the variety of the meats - we chose beef, lamb, shrimp and sausage - and the array of flavors offered by the dipping sauces.

We offer two suggestions for improvement: 1) The raw meats are served on the same plate as the vegetables and dipping sauces. It would enhance the dining experience to place the raw meats on a separate plate. 2) The vegetables, cooked string beans, were plain and not very exciting. A variety of dip-able vegetables would be preferred.

Several non-fondue entrees are available including paella and rack of lamb.

Rating: 9

Drinks
The Wine Cellar's wine list is expansive and notable. The Wine Spectator bestowed The Wine Cellar with its Best Of Award of Excellence. We enjoyed a flavorful bottle of Konrad Sauvignon Blanc (2005, New Zealand).

The Wine Cellar also serves beer, but no hard booze.

Note: The wine list is subject to change. If you have a favorite that is no longer available, The Wine Cellar will normally suggest a delightful alternative.

Rating: 9.1

Service
When we arrived at 8:30pm, a party from 5:30pm had not yet finished their meal, and we were forced to wait. How a restaurant reacts at these times can make or break the dining experience. In this case, The Wine Cellar came up aces. The owner plied our party with what likely represented $100 in complimentary wine and apologized profusely on a number of occasions. The Wine Cellar proved that it takes reservations very seriously.

Once we sat down for dinner, our waitress was knowledgeable and generally provided good service. However, her brusque demeanor did not quite match the otherwise-intimate experience.

Rating: 8.8

Ambiance
The Wine Cellar is literally located in a cellar. As soon as you walk in, you notice the intimate ambiance - dim lighting, flame-lit tables, and an exposed brick wall with a mural. Fondue lends itself to conversation. You cannot race through your meal as you must take time to individually dip and cook your meats. The Wine Cellar is an ideal setting for a romantic night on the town.

Rating: 9.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: Fondue traditionally refers to cheese fondue. Broth-based fondue for meat may also be referred to as Fondue Chinoise or Hot Pot.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Dessert: The Wine Cellar's dessert menu includes four chocolate fondues that are served with marshmallows, cookies, and fresh fruits. Dessert is $12 for a regular portion that serves 1-2 and $24 for a large portion that serves 3-4.

Reservations: The Wine Cellar is on OpenTable. There is limited seating; do not show up without a reservation.

Parking: Valet is available on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for $16.

Dress: You may dress casually at The Wine Cellar, but given the elegant dining environment, you might consider getting a bit dressed up.

Labels: Back-Bay, Fondue, Romantic, The-Sickest, The-Wine-Cellar

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 10:35 PM 0 comments 

Laurel Grill and Bar

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (76 out of 100)

142 Berkeley St.
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-424-6711

Laurel Grill and Bar is an American restaurant located conveniently on Berkeley Street, near Columbus Avenue. Laurel sports a small, bustling bar that seems like a nice spot for after-work drinks. The restaurant exudes a vibrant, conversational environment. And the prices are reasonable. While our overall dining experience was mixed, we plan to return in the future. Read on!



Our Laurel History
This was our second visit to Laurel. We've also ordered from Laurel via Dining In. This review is based on a recent visit on a Saturday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Laurel offers an array of appetizers and salads. Something on the menu is bound to appeal to any member of your party. We chose to go with the grilled kielbasa sausage plate and the crispy fried calamari. The kielbasa was tasty, rubbed with honey mustard vinaigrette and served with pickled cabbage. The calamari was so-so; it seemed "mushy" more than crispy. During a previous visit, we sampled the lobster-artichoke dip, and it was outstanding. The apps are very reasonably priced, ranging from $4.59 for the soup of the day to $8.99 for jerk crusted seared rare tuna. The salads range from $5.99 for mesclun greens, beefsteak tomatoes, and red onion with balsamic vinaigrette to $13.99 for the grilled cilantro marinated flank steak salad.

Rating: 8.7

Main Dishes
The entree lineup includes various fowl, seafood, and meat selections. Lobster risotto and tender veal meatloaf caught our eye. So did the braised lamb shank and gorgonzola & bacon stuffed maple brined boneless pork loin. On this evening, we went with the lamb shank and pork loin. The lamb shank was good but it was in the middle-of-the-pack compared to other lamb shanks we've tasted. The pork loin was disappointing. We would not expect gorgonzola and bacon to overwhelm the pork loin, but these ingredients were seemingly present only in trace elements; if "gorgonzola" and "bacon" were not printed on the menu, we'd never have guessed that they were a part of the dish. What dampened our experience the most, however, was that both plates were served at luke-warm temperatures. Luke-warm lamb shank falling off the bone does not compare to fresh-from-the-oven lamb shank falling from the bone. In short, the entrees sounded better than they tasted.

Rating: 6.7

Drinks
Laurel offers a nice selection of accessible and reasonably-priced wine. A glass of wine starts at $6. Full bottles start at $18. There is a drink menu that includes a variety of martinis and other mixed drinks. The advertised martini specials for the evening - blueberry and cran-apple - were pretty good, but not spectacular. The martinis range from $7 to $10.50. The quality of the other vodka-based mixed drinks we had were pretty good, but inconsistent. We ordered the same drink twice: we were charged two different prices and the relative composition of the mixers was clearly different.

Rating: 8

Service
We sat immediately upon arriving for our 8:00pm reservation. Other than that, the service was friendly, but slow. The waitress was slow to take and deliver drink orders. The entrees arrived at luke-warm temperatures.

Rating: 6

Ambiance
With raised ceilings, a nifty bar, and an open layout, Laurel is inviting, and as soon as you walk in, it seems like a perfect place for a sick time. During this visit, we were seated in an area that was a bit detached from the main dining area and bar. Although this location suited us fine, it could limit one's immersion in the energy that one normally feels at this restaurant.

Rating: 8.5

Et Cetera

Trivia: The restaurant is owned by the husband and wife team of executive chef Russ Berger and executive pastry chef Sherry Berger. The Bergers also own Firefly at 130 Dartmouth Street, next to Copley Place.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu here

Reservations: Laurel is on OpenTable

Parking: There is no valet, but there are nearby parking lots and garages. Street parking can be difficult to find on weekends.

Dress: You can dress casually at Laurel.

Labels: American, Back-Bay, Laurel, Sick-Potential

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 8:41 PM 0 comments 

Giacomo's South End

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Overall Rating: The Sickest (92 out of 100)

431 Columbus Ave
Boston, MA 02116-5958
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Phone: 617-536-5723

In a city where it is sometimes difficult to enjoy great food at reasonable prices, Giacomo's is a sick exception. Great food, great prices... and a welcoming environment where you see familiar faces year after year. Giacomo's is The Sickest. Let's take a look at how Giacomo's stacks up.



Our Giacomo's History
We've been to Giacomo's many times and we've tried almost everything on the menu. This review is based on a recent visit on a Friday at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
Choose from seven appetizers and five salads. On this evening, we shared a large Caesar salad for two, prepared in a traditional style, which is phenomenal. The appetizers include calamari, mussels, and garlic bread, which is highly recommended. Other than the Caesar, you can choose from house, caprese (tomato, mozzarella, basil), baby spinach, and antipasto. The antipasto is nothing special, but you can't go wrong with the other selections. The apps range in price from $3 to $10. The salads range from $3 to $13.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
You've got house seafood specialties, pastas, and entrees. The seafood specialties come with linguine and your choice of pesto, fra diavolo, red, scampi, or Giacomo's sauce. Giacomo's sauce is a lobster-based red with a touch of bechamel; it is rich, but fantastic. The pastas and entrees are offered with a variety of seafood and meats. We have not met a main dish or sauce that we haven't liked. And the nightly specials always offer a tasty treat.

Tonight, we went with one of the specials - fuscilli with a nice portion of lobster and shrimp, with scampi sauce. We also tried out the veal piccata, served with artichoke hearts and lemon caper. Not surprisingly, we give high marks to both entrees. Giacomo's portions are generous but not overwhelming.

Rating: 9.2

Drinks
Wine snobs beware, but Giacomo's is great if you want a nice unpretentious bottle of wine with dinner. The house white is $14. It's hard to beat that in Boston. There's no hard booze, just wine and beer. But modest, reasonably-priced wine is just right for this bustling haven for classic Italian fare.

Rating: 9

Service
Giacomo's is a neighborhood restaurant where you see the same friendly faces visit after visit. The staff is enthusiastic about the food and making sure that you are well on your way to having a sick evening. We sat immediately upon arriving for our 7:30pm reservation.

Rating: 9.3

Ambiance
It's loud. It's busy. It's crowded. But it's homey. When you dine at Giacomo's, you feel as though you're dining with friends. It's everything you could ask for from a neighborhood Italian restaurant.

Rating: 9.4

Et Cetera

Trivia: There is also a Giacomo's in the North End, famous for its long lines. Giacomo's South End is more spacious than the North End version; there is a small bar area and a semi-private nook for larger parties.

Reservations: Giacomo's does not accept reservations in the North End, but they do accept reservations in the South End. Don't plan to go to Giacomo's in the South End without a reservation.

Cash Only: Don't leave home without some cash or a check book, because credit cards are not accepted. If we had to ding Giacomo's for any matter, it would have to be the cash-only policy... but obviously, business is good enough that they have no reason to pay the juice.

Parking: There is valet parking and street parking. The price for valet is $10. Street parking can be difficult to find.

Dress: You can dress casually at Giacomo's.

Labels: Giacomos, Italian, South-End, The-Sickest

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 10:32 AM 2 comments