75 Chestnut

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (81 out of 100)

75 Chestnut Street
Boston, MA 02108
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Phone: 617-227-2175

Off the beaten path on Chestnut Street in Beacon Hill, 75 Chestnut delivers regional comfort food in a cozy pub environment.



Our History at 75 Chestnut
Our first visit to 75 Chestnut was on St. Patrick's Day, a Saturday, at 7:00pm.

Appetizers
75 Chestnut's seafood-driven appetizer menu includes herbed clam chowder, shrimp cocktail, steamed mussels, crab cakes, and crispy fried Monterey Bay calamari. Other options include five alarm chili, bruschetta, Caesar salad, and bibb salad. Prices range from $7 to $14.

We ordered the herbed clam chowder for $7 and crispy fried calamari for $10. Smoked bacon gave a kick to the creamy clam chowder, filled to the brim with clams and melt-in-your-mouth Maine potatoes. The crispy calamari was fried to a perfect crisp, but the homemade marinara and tartar sauces fell flat.

Rating: 8.1

Main Dishes
The dinner menu includes pan seared halibut, sauteed shrimp and scallops, pork tenderloin, and filet mignon as well as pub fare such as fish & chips, a burger, and turkey and sirloin steak sandwiches. Prices range from $10 for a burger to $20 for the filet mignon. 75 Chestnut also serves seasonal specials.

We opted for corn beef brisket with cabbage and potatoes, a St. Patrick's Day special. We also tried the sauteed shrimp and scallops for $19.

Tender corn beef brisket was traditionally salty, but not too salty. Delicious Irish soda bread complemented the dish.

75 Chestnut's sauteed shrimp and scallops dish was served with lemon-lime sauce and garden vegetables. We enjoyed a fair portion of shrimp and scallops, but the lemon-lime sauce was a bit too lemony for our taste.

The 75 Bistro Burger - a half pound of fresh ground chuck served on a toasted bulky roll and fries - was a favorite among many of our fellow diners.

Rating: 8

Drinks
Affordable and satisfying Oyster Bay (2006) sauvignon blanc went for $24. However, mediocre, overpriced martinis felt out of place.

Rating: 7.8

Service
We received prompt, friendly service despite a larger-than-average crowd.

Rating: 8.5

Ambiance
Presenting a cozy, polished-wood tavern environment, 75 Chestnut is a nice place to relax, grab a beer, and enjoy quality American comfort food on any night of the week. Sports fans fancy the bar area that includes several televisions, including a large flat panel. More so than Cheers up the street, 75 Chestnut truly feels like a place where "everyone knows your name".

Rating: 8

Et Cetera

Trivia: 75 Chestnut is owned by Thomas Kershaw, owner of Cheers Beacon Hill, Cheers Faneuil Hall, and Hampshire House.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu

Reservations: 75 Chestnut accepts reservations for parties of 6 or more.

Transportation: Valet for $16 or take the Red Line to Charles/MGH.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served seven days a week from 5:00PM to 10:00PM.

Labels: 75-Chestnut, American, Beacon-Hill, Sick-Meals

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 9:12 PM 0 comments 

Bob's Southern Bistro

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (82 out of 100)

604 Columbus Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
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Phone: 617-536-6204

A South End institution for over 50 years, Bob's Southern Bistro is home to some of Boston's sickest southern cuisine and live jazz.



Our History at Bob's Southern Bistro
We have ordered take-out and via Dining In on several occasions. Recently, we made our first dining visit on a Saturday at 7:00pm.

Appetizers
"Opening Acts" include southern specialties such as sweet potato fries, "glorifried" (fried) chicken wings, and ribs as well as cajun dishes such as catfish strips, cajun chicken strips, and cajun crab cakes. Prices range from $5.95 to $7.95. A selection of "Headliners" includes grilled chicken salad, garden salad, and sauteed vegetables, starting at $5.95 for the garden salad.

We shared the catfish strips, mustard fried and served with homemade spicy tartar sauce. The catfish tasted fresh and was not-at-all greasy. Without advice from the menu, we may have guessed that the strips were baked.

Rating: 8.8

Main Dishes
"Solo Acts" and "Grammy Winners" include Creole jambalaya, shrimp etouffe, Bob's Famous Chicken, barbecued spare ribs, chicken livers, and Bob's Homemade Meatloaf. Prices range from $11.95 to $16.95. Entrees are served with a corn muffin as well as your choice of two "Side Shows".

For entrees, we opted for Bob's Famous Chicken for $12.95 as well as Bob's Homemade Meatloaf for $11.95. We chose black-eye peas and rice, baked macaroni and cheese, red beans and rice, and string beans as "Side Shows".

Bob's Famous Chicken is available baked, barbequed, or glorifried with white or dark meat. Served any way is great, but glorifried is the sickest. The heaping homemade meatloaf oozed with juices and flavors.

The black-eye peas were a bit bland. However, the baked macaroni and cheese was everything one would expect from this classic comfort food. Other tempting sides include collard greens, candied yams, and potato salad.

Rating: 8.5

Drinks
Mixed drinks go for $7. Our vodka mixers were served in tiny glasses filled with too much ice. After a few sips, we were left with a cup of water.

Affordable beer, wine, and martinis are also available.

Rating: 7

Service
Our waitress was super-friendly and professional, but slow. On this busy night, it seemed as though Bob's could have benefited from one more server.

Rating: 7.8

Ambiance
You cannot see inside from the street, so a sense of mystery builds as you walk into the restaurant. As you enter, you are transported to another era. Bob's masterfully exudes both a private jazz club and neighborhood bar feel.

Rating: 8.7

Et Cetera

Trivia: Bob's Southern Bistro, formerly known as Bob The Chef's, has been at its current location on Columbus Avenue since 1968.

Live Music: Bob's features live music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The cover charge varies, ranging from $3 to $5.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu

Reservations: Bob's Southern Bistro is on OpenTable

Transportation: It is usually easy to find street parking. Via the T, take the Green Line to Symphony or the Orange Line to Massachusetts Avenue.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Bob's serves sick meals Monday through Wednesday from 5:00PM to 10:00PM; Thursday and Friday from 5:00pm to midnight; Saturday from 11:30AM to midnight; and Sunday from 2:30pm to 10:00PM.

Labels: Bobs-Southern-Bistro, Sick-Meals, South-End, Southern

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 6:44 PM 0 comments 

Smith & Wollensky

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (84 out of 100)

101 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-423-1112

Smith & Wollensky is a national steakhouse chain with locations in Chicago, Miami Beach, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Columbus, Houston, New York, Washington DC, and Boston. The stunning Boston location, "The Castle" at Park Plaza, is a prominent stone and brick medieval structure.

Smith & Wollensky serves superb steak in a supreme dining environment. However, superfluous prices stop us from coming back on a regular basis.



Our History at Smith & Wollensky
We have dined at Smith & Wollensky in Las Vegas, Miami, New York, and Boston. Our most recent Boston visit was on a Saturday at 6:30pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers include Wollensky's famous split pea soup, crab cake, a thin crust pizza, and tomato & bufala mozzarella salad. Exquisite seafood bouquets include lobster, oysters, shrimp, muscles, clams, and lump crabmeat. The bouquets are available in two sizes at whopping price points - $54 for the Charlie Smith bouquet and $99 for the Ralph Wollensky bouquet. Otherwise, appetizers range from $6 for the split pea soup to $28 for a crab cake for two.

At the suggestion of our waiter, we shared the tomato & bufala salad for $13 - a beefy stack of juicy tomato slices, fresh mozzarella, and aromatic basil.

In the past, Smith & Wollensky served a basket of soft pretzels - a SickMeals.com favorite. Over time, this basket diversified, and it is no longer a basket at all. Freshly baked biscuits greeted us on this visit. The biscuits were OK, but the pretzels were beloved. Bring them back!

Rating: 8.9

Main Dishes
The New York Times referred to Smith & Wollensky as "a steakhouse to end all arguments". It's hard to disagree, but you pay dearly. Prices range from $36 for a 10oz filet mignon to $44 for a bone-in ribeye or bone-in New York cut sirloin. A porterhouse for two is available for $88. Other entree options include lobster tail, grilled seafood, and roast prime rib. Delicious sides are served family-style and include highly-recommended whipped potatoes, creamed spinach, and sauteed mushrooms. The sides go for $8.

We enjoyed a juicy 14oz filet mignon for $40. At Smith & Wollensky, the steak never disappoints. The fillet mignon is available au poivre, oscar style, gorgonzola crusted, cajun seasoned, or simply grilled.

In addition, at our waiter's suggestion, we decided to try the Tristan Island 10oz lobster tail. Unfortunately, the lobster was a monstrous disappointment. It was not sweet as advertised. It was rubbery. And the seafood stuffing seemed like a smattering of dry bread crumbs. All for $59!

Rating: 7

Drinks
Smith & Wollensky mixed delightful cosmos and martinis. Most mixed drinks fall in the $10-$12 range. An extensive wine list features 650 U.S. wines including selections from Robert Mondavi, Harlan, Hanzell, and Jordan.

Rating: 8.5

Service
We received professional but unenthusiastic service. Repeated visits to Smith & Wollensky in Las Vegas and Miami were magical experiences - and top-shelf service played a paramount role. Despite lavish accommodations and impeccable ambiance, the Boston experience does not quite match up.

Rating: 7.9

Ambiance
Four floors include mammoth, roaring fireplaces, magnificent chandeliers, and miles of mahogany. You truly feel as though you are dining among royalty.

Rating: 9.5

Et Cetera

Trivia: Charlie Smith and Ralph Wollensky are fictional characters.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu

Reservations: Smith & Wollensky is on OpenTable

Transportation: Take the Green Line to Arlington or valet for $16.

Dress: Business Casual

Hours: Smith & Wollensky serves dinner Monday through Thursday from 5:30 PM to 10:00PM; Friday from 5:30pm to 11:00pm; Saturday from 4:30PM to 11:00PM; and Sunday from 4:30pm to 10:00PM.

Labels: Sick-Meals, Smith-and-Wollensky, Steakhouse, Theater-District

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 8:13 PM 0 comments 

Cottonwood Cafe

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (85 out of 100)

222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-247-2225

Searching for sick southwestern cuisine? How about a pitcher of Boston's sickest margaritas? Look no further than Cottonwood Cafe, located steps from Copley Square on the corner of Berkeley Street and Stuart Street.



Our History at Cottonwood Cafe
Our sixth visit to the Cottonwood Cafe was on a Friday at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
For starters, we opted for chips with four dips. Homemade, tri-color tortilla chips are served with house-made red and green salsas, guacamole, and chile con queso. The dips were sick and the crispy chips were oven-fresh. We enjoyed the fresh, creamy guacamole, chock-full of tomato and onion chunks.

Other appetizers include grilled mesa shrimp, artichoke and spinach dip, snakebites, cowboy potstickers, and crab & brie quesadilla. Prices range from $6 to $11.95. Also available are several soups, salads, and stews such as six chile chili, black bean soup, and Santa Fe caesar salad.

Rating: 8.5

Main Dishes
Cottonwood offers signature dishes such as seafood paella and enchiladas as well as open grilled specialties such as angus ranch strip and twice stuffed chicken. We decided to go with enchiladas verdes and barbacoa - shrimp and chicken breast grilled and served in house-made bourbon-barbeque sauce.

To create their famous enchiladas verdes, Cottonwood bakes grilled chicken, jack cheese, scallions, and pico de gallo in soft corn tortillas. A perfect balance of spicy and creamy, the dish is served with tomatillo green sauce, achiote rice, ranch beans, guacamole, mixed greens, and sour cream.

The barbacoa is both sweet and spicy, giving you healthy portions of marinated, grilled shrimp and chicken breast smothered with bourbon-barbeque sauce. Baked banana, ensalada mixta, and achiote rice cool your palate in between bourbon-barbeque bites.

Entree prices range from $16.95 to $24.95.

Rating: 8.5

Drinks
A sick margarita lineup includes frozen or straight up drinks by the glass or pitcher. The "Cottonwood Classic", Cottonwood's most popular margarita, integrates Sauza Conmemorativo and Citronge. The ultra-smooth "Tradicional" is made with Sauza Tres Generaciones and Cointreau. Indulge in Cottonwood's "Platinum" margarita and choose from Milagro Anejo, El Tesoro Reposado, or Patron Silver with Cointreau served straight up.

Margarita pitchers range from $25 to $40 and glasses range from $6.25 to $9.95. Beer, wine, and other mixed drinks are also available.

Rating: 9.6

Service
Cottonwood's table service is friendly but frequently unspectacular. Our waitress did not inform us of the evening's specials. She forgot to give us knives. We received lackluster answers in response to our entree questions.

Rating: 7.6

Ambiance
Blue and purple lights dance off earth tone-colored walls to create a distinct Southwestern theme. A long, bustling bar serves as an ideal venue for drinks.

Rating: 8.4

Et Cetera

Trivia: Patio dining is available during the spring, summer, and fall.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu and drink menu

Reservations: Cottonwood Cafe is on OpenTable

Parking: Cottonwood offers two hours of free validated parking in the Back Bay Parking Garage on weekdays starting at 5pm and any time on weekends.

Dress: You may dress casually at Cottonwood.

Hours: Dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 5:30pm to 10pm; Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm to 11pm; and Sunday from 5pm to 10pm.

Labels: Back-Bay, Cottonwood-Cafe, Sick-Meals, Southwestern

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 5:18 PM 0 comments