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
