Douzo

Friday, May 25, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (89 out of 100)

131 Dartmouth Street
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-859-8886

Douzo is a modern Japanese restaurant and lounge located steps away from Back Bay Station on the Orange Line. Sensational sushi rolls, hard-hitting drinks, and chic decor make Douzo a truly sick meal.



Our Douzo History
Our first visit to Douzo was on a Saturday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Over 20 cold and hot starters are available, ranging from $3.75 to $12.75. Cold starters include tuna, beef, and duck tataki, monkfish pate, squid sashimi, baby octopus, edamame, and seaweed salad. Hot starters include crispy filo shrimp, lobster tempura, crab cake, spare ribs, lobster miso soup, and soft-shelled crab tempura. We ordered edamame as our cold starter and soft-shelled crab tempura for a hot starter.

Edamame is a simple dish of soy beans with sea salt and lime. Douzo served several heaping spoonfuls of soy beans - more than enough for our party of three - for just $4.75. The edamame was a light, tasty way to get this sick meal started. Next up was the soft-shelled crab tempura for $10.75. Breaded, deep-fried, and served with tempura sauce, the soft-shelled crab was cooked to a perfect crisp and served without a drip of grease.

Rating: 9.2

Main Dishes
Choose from maki and hand rolls, cucumber hand rolls, salads, sushi and sashimi, and several combination platters and entrees. A selection of "special rolls" is also available. Special rolls range from $6.75 to $16.75. Maki, hand, and cucumber hand rolls range from $3.50 to $8.50. Entrees run from $17 to $32. We focused on Douzo's sashimi and special rolls.

For special rolls, we chose the Back Bay, Crazy, and Rainbow rolls. The Back Bay roll ($15.75) consisted of eight pieces of asparagus, cucumber, and avocado wrapped with seared tuna and a touch of wasabi sauce. The Crazy roll ($8.25) included four mammoth pieces of shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, and spicy mayo. The bright Rainbow roll ($12.75) consisted of six pieces of shrimp, crab stick, tobiko, and spicy mayo wrapped with tuna, salmon, and white fish. Douzo presented the rolls like neatly-wrapped gifts on a shiny white plate. The rolls were creative, super fresh, and delicious.

Douzo's sushi gives you two pieces per order while the sashimi gives you three pieces. We delighted in the smoked salmon and albacore tuna sashimi ($7.25/each), enjoying three neatly-cut slices of tender cool sickness.

Entrees include sirloin steak, lobster, grilled salmon fillet or chicken breast, thinly sliced prime rib, and deep-fried pork or chicken cutlet. Rice and a variety of tempura - two pieces per order - are available as sides.

Rating: 9

Drinks
The bartender poured liquor with a vengeance, easily doubling the value of each mixed drink with her generosity. We recommend the Tokyo Cosmo ($10), a sick mix of vodka, sake, and triple sec with a splash of lime and cranberry juice. Wine starts at $27 for a bottle.

Rating: 9.3

Service
Two bartenders coolly handled an overflowing crowd with ease. On the other hand, table service was nothing special; our waitress acted as though she'd rather be spending her Saturday night elsewhere.

Rating: 7.9

Ambiance
Douzo is modern, striking, and crystal clean. You feel the pulse of the restaurant in lively conversation, constant motion, and contemporary background music. The bar scene bustles while the sushi chefs hustle.

Rating: 9

Et Cetera

Trivia: Douzo means "please come in" in Japanese.

Menu: Check out the menu on the Douzo web site

Reservations: Douzo accepts reservations for parties of six or more.

Parking: Valet is just $5 for up to three hours.

Dress: You may dress casually, but given the chic, urban environment, you might feel more at home if you dress for a night on the town.

Hours: Dinner is served seven days per week from 4:30pm until midnight.

Labels: Back-Bay, Douzo, Japanese, Sick-Meals

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 5:56 AM 0 comments 

Eclano

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (70 out of 100)

54 Salem Street
Boston, MA 02113
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Phone: 617-720-6001

A relative newcomer to the North End, Eclano focuses on modern interpretations of regional Italian cooking. Unfortunately, sick homemade pasta dishes did not make up for disastrous clams and a barren dining scene.



Our History at Eclano
Our first visit to Eclano was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Eclano's appetizers range from $7 to $14 and include sauteed calamari, seared scallops, baked littleneck clams, grilled sweetbreads, and crispy duck leg confit. We went with the littleneck clams as well as the scallops.

The baked littleneck clams were served with lemon, oregano, and crispy prosciutto. At first bite, we tasted mostly prosciutto, crisp just like bacon. A few moments later, we nearly spit out the sour-tasting clam. Throughout the years, we've eaten many clams served many ways at many temperatures. We'll give Eclano the benefit of the doubt; they insisted that the clams were fresh. Regardless, we would not have fed these clams to our worst enemy.

In terms of cuisine, the clams were an anomaly. We enjoyed the scallops with grilled radicchio, chive, and warm pancetta dressing. Homemade focaccia was served with delicious pureed eggplant and fresh basil with olive oil.

Rating: 6

Main Dishes
When it comes to entrees, Eclano shines. Six housemade pasta dishes, blended with fresh produce, seafood, and meat, range from $17 to $27. Five meat dishes range from $24 to $34. Pasta dishes include tagliatelli, pappardelle, risotto, and potato ravioli with braised veal brisket. Meat dishes include grilled hangar steak, grilled rack of lamb, pan roasted chicken breast, and a grilled veal chop. We opted for the tagliatelli and pappardelle dishes.

Wide, flowing pappardelle, king oyster mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and caramelized onion were served with tender, braised rabbit and juicy rabbit meatballs. Hand-cut saffron tagliatelli was served with shrimp, rabe, and oven roasted tomatoes in a spicy seafood broth. The homemade pastas and creative combinations made for a decidedly sick meal. Portions were ample.

Rating: 8.8

Drinks
Beer, wine, and cordials are available. A bottle of red starts at $38 and a bottle of white starts at $30. Wine is available by the glass, poured generously. There is a small bar near the entrance. Hard booze is not served.

Rating: 8.4

Service
Our waiter was jovial albeit annoying. He grew defensive about the clams, intimating that our palates were to blame. With few guests and little to do, he talked our ears off and re-filled our wine glasses at an alarming pace.

Rating: 6

Ambiance
Eclano was stunningly barren. There was only one other party. The restaurant seemed like a model room at Crate and Barrel - lots of new, dark wood, crystal clean, and no soul. Vacant walls underscored Eclano's emptiness.

Rating: 6

Et Cetera

Trivia: Eclano is owned by Caterina DiPrisco, former co-owner of Trattoria a Scalinatella. Eclano is named for DiPrisco's hometown outside of Naples.

Menu: Check out Eclano's web site for more information

Reservations: Eclano is on OpenTable

Transportation: Park in one of several nearby parking garages or take the Green Line or Orange Line to Haymarket.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served every day from 5pm until 11pm.

Labels: Eclano, Italian, North-End, Sick-Potential

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 3:44 PM 0 comments 

Taranta

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (84 out of 100)

210 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113
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Phone: 617-720-0052

Located on Hanover Street in the North End, Taranta fuses Southern Italian cuisine with a Peruvian twist. Dining at Taranta proved to be a sick culinary adventure full of robust flavors and aromas.



Our History at Taranta
Our first visit to Taranta was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers range from $9.95 for caprese to $13.95 for coccio di pesce e legumio, baby octopus, cuttlefish, clams, and chickpeas in a spicy tomato sauce. Our party sampled the antipasto as well as calzoncini fritti, a trio of mini calzones stuffed with leeks and mozzarella, beef tenderloin, and baccala.

Taranta's antipasto presents a delightful medley of capicolla, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, grilled zucchini, fresh mozzarella, marinated olives, and artichoke hearts. Although we would have liked a little bit more meat, the dish succeeds in priming your palate for more southern Italian sickness. The antipasto is $12.95 for one and $19.95 for two. We ordered the antipasto for one and equitably shared it among three people.

The mini calzones resemble hearty, stuffed pastries. Leeks and mozzarella, beef tenderloin, and baccala delivered an exciting mix of tastes and textures.

Rating: 8.8

Main Dishes
Choose from pasta, chicken, fish, and meat dishes. Six pasta selections range from $18.95 to $24.95. Seven chicken, fish, and meat plates range from $21.95 to $33.95. Our party shared pan-seared tuna for $26.95, Macadamia crusted salmon for $26.95, and orecchiette with sausage for $22.95.

Cooked to perfection, the rare, pan seared tuna was served over braised leeks and crispy potatoes with a sauce of sweet roasted peppers and capers. A slightly-crunchy Macadamia crust infused the salmon filet with flavor; the salmon was served over a herbed risotto cake and Peruvian asparagus. Finally, tender orecchiette with sweet Abruzzese sausage provided a satisfying complement to our tuna and salmon dishes.

Other notables include espresso crusted fillet mignon and grilled lack of lamb.

Rating: 9.1

Drinks
A bottle of wine starts at $32; wine is also available by the glass. We sipped several tumba chola martinis, a sweet mix of Peruvian Pisco, limoncello, and white grape juice. Taranta also features a score of aperitivi and digestivi. Three after-dinner grappas sent us stumbling onto Hanover Street.

Rating: 8.5

Service
Our waiter rendered manic service. He was sometimes charming - mostly when speaking to my lovely female companions - but brusque and careless at other times. Upon sitting at our table, it took him over 15 minutes to acknowledge our presence. He forgot about my first drink order; when I reminded him, he proceeded to bring the wrong drink.

Rating: 6.9

Ambiance
Soft Italian guitar music wafts through the air, played by a friendly gentleman who strolls around the restaurant. In nice weather, the front windows unfold, opening up a ripe scene for prolific people-watching.

Taranta is a nice spot for a romantic dinner or a night out with close friends.

Rating: 8.6

Et Cetera

Trivia: Taranta offers several recipes on its web site.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Taranta is on OpenTable

Transportation: Taranta validates at the Parcel 7 Garage for $1.00 for up to two hours and $3.00 for three hours. Valet is available for $20. Via the T, take the Green Line or Orange Line to Haymarket.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served seven days per week from 5:30pm until 10:00pm.

Labels: Italian, North-End, Sick-Meals, Taranta

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 8:22 PM 0 comments 

Intrigue

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (85 out of 100)

70 Rowes Wharf
Boston, MA 02110
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Phone: 617-856-7744

Extraordinary views. Stellar service. Delightful piano music. Sick continental meals. All of these amenities are for the taking at Intrigue, the Boston Harbor Hotel's surprisingly-affordable waterfront cafe.



Our History at Intrigue
Our first visit to Intrigue was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
For starters, choose from three "Tastings" and eight appetizers. Tastings include fondue for $7.50 and barbecued boneless spare ribs for $8. Appetizers range from $6 for wild mushroom soup to $14 for chilled jumbo shrimp. We decided to try the fondue as well as the Rowes Wharf salad - crabmeat, avocado, tomato, caper, and horseradish tossed greens for $11.

Beaufort cheese and sweet onion fondue was served with toasted country bread. The sweet onion flavoring complemented the sharp, Beaufort cheese. Although we would have liked some veggies in addition to the bread, this tasting provided a perfect start to our evening.

Next up was the Rowes Wharf salad, stunningly served with a heaping amount of fresh crabmeat, perfectly-ripened avocado, and large, juicy tomato slices. The salad exceeded our expectations and delivered strong on value.

Other appetizers include clam chowder for $6.50, asparagus and parmesan ravioli for $12,50, fennel and lime stuffed Pemaquid oysters for $11.50, and Robiola, Shropshire, and aged Gouda cheeses for $12.50.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
Entrees range from $14.50 for a Sicilian pizza to $27.50 for a steamed Maine lobster and spiced chorizo. Other options include Fontina cheese and sage stuffed crispy chicken breast, beef tenderloin, grilled jumbo sea scallops, Porcini topped halibut, and Tuscan kale and ricotta cheese cannelloni. In a seafood mood, we ordered the halibut for $19.50 and the scallops for $21.50.

The grilled jumbo sea scallops were bland and a bit chewy; the accompanying curried vegetables proved unexciting. Likewise, the Atlantic halibut was average, and the Porcini topping was much creamier than anticipated. The halibut was served with warm potato, leek, and pancetta salad.

Rating: 7

Drinks
A mostly-American wine list starts at $40 per bottle. The martinis are excellent, but at a whopping $12.50 per glass. A delicious substitute for dessert, the chocolate trifle martini tastes like a chocolate cake.

Rating: 7.9

Service
Intrigue and Boston Harbor Hotel staff practically fall over one another to ensure your satisfaction. Our server perfectly paced the delivery of our dishes, giving us ample time to relax, sip a drink, and chat between courses.

Rating: 9.5

Ambiance
In nice weather, sit outside and enjoy a lively harborside scene. Any time of year, take advantage of a comfortable dining room with live piano music.

Rating: 9.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: Chef Daniel Bruce is also the chef for Meritage

Menu: Check out the appetizers and entrees

Reservations: Intrigue is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet for $26 or take the Red Line to South Station.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday from 4:30pm until 10pm, Friday from 4pm until 11pm, and Saturday from 4pm until 10pm.

Labels: American, Intrigue, Sick-Meals, Waterfront

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 8:46 PM 2 comments 

Ivy Restaurant

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (86 out of 100)

49 Temple Place
Boston, MA 02111
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Phone: 617-451-1416

Located in the Ladder District, Ivy Restaurant serves up delicious, Italian-inspired plates, great wine, and reasonable prices - in an energetic, urban environment. Whether you're planning a night at the theater or just want a sick meal in the heart of Boston, Ivy presents an outstanding option.



Our History at Ivy Restaurant
Our first visit to Ivy was on a Friday night at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
Ivy offers small plates and "Per la Tavola" selections, served communal and priced for two. For appetizers, we honed in on two of the communal offerings, choosing Caesar salad and the "Italian butcher block", each for $10.

We received an ample portion of Caesar salad - more than enough for two. The salad included delicious, toasty crostini that tasted soft like a sponge. The Italian butcher block consisted of thin sliced cured salami, prosciutto, soprasatta, and capicolla, served with fresh fig compote and marinated olives.

Another enticing option for the table is "Formaggio", a selection of Italian cheeses, fresh fruits, toasted walnuts, and Tupelo honey, for $14.

Rating: 8.8

Main Dishes
Four large plates, including Steak Fiorentina and pan seared cod, range from $17 to $25. However, we explored Ivy's small plates, covering a wide variety of cuisine and ranging in price from $7 to $12. After careful consideration, we opted for arancini stuffed with prosciutto and fontina, pappardelle with creamy veal ragu, seared scallops and pancetta, and lamb rib chops.

To our surprise, the small plate portions were generous. We received four large arancini, an overflowing bowl of pappardelle, soft, substantial scallops, and three tender lamb rib chops with citrus bean ragu. At $44 for four dishes, we experienced a filling, tasty range of starch, seafood, and beef. We left Ivy ready to plan small plate selections for our next visit - perhaps macaroni and cheese, shrimp arrabbiata, sesame tuna, and petit steak tagliata?

Rating: 9.1

Drinks
Choose from over 60 bottles of wine for just $26 per bottle. Reserves are available for $44, $55, and $77. There are two full bars.

Rating: 9.3

Service
We never quite figured out who was waiting on us. Otherwise, service was average. Plates were cleared a bit too quickly - sometimes before we were finished. Our selection of small plates arrived on the heels of our appetizers.

Rating: 7

Ambiance
Exposed brick, dim lights, and a modern design give Ivy a hip, urban feel. Contemporary music beats in the background; you can feel the pulse of the city as you enjoy sick food and drink. Downstairs, the Cava cocktail lounge provides a cozy setting for a pre- or post-meal cocktail.

Rating: 8.7

Et Cetera

Trivia: Ivy hosts a weekly wine tasting that features four wines, three small plates, and an assortment of fine cheeses. Read more

Menu: Check out the dinner menu

Reservations: Ivy is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet for $15 or park in a nearby parking garage. The closest T stations are Park Street or Boylston on the Green Line and Chinatown and Downtown Crossing on the Orange Line.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Tuesday and Wednesday from 5pm until 11pm, Thursday and Friday from 5pm until midnight, Saturday from 4pm until midnight, and Sunday from 4pm to 11pm. Ivy is closed on Monday.

Labels: Downtown-Crossing, Italian, Ivy, Sick-Meals

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 2:35 PM 0 comments