Match

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (80 out of 100)

94 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
View Map
Phone: 617-247-9922

Match Burgers and Martinis is a modern restaurant and lounge that is located near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Newbury Street. Befitting its name, Match serves up delicious gourmet burgers and sick martinis.




Our History at Match
Our third visit to Match was on a Saturday night at 6:30pm.

Appetizers
Match's apps include gingery chicken satay with peanut sauce, steamed mussels in a ginger and lemon grass broth, spicy shrimp and chorizo skewers, and grilled Margherita pizza with roasted plum tomato and basil. Prices range from $8.75 to $10.50. The menu also includes lobster bisque soup as well as salads such as tomato & cucumber with feta cheese and spinach and goat cheese salad with sliced apples and caramelized pecans.

We tried the spicy shrimp and chorizo skewers for $9.50. Match served five skewers, each including a small slice of sausage and an average-sized shrimp with mildly-spicy sauce. Overall, this dish was decent, but nothing special.

Rating: 7

Main Dishes
Match offers four entrees ranging from $12 for spaghettini to $22 for a 10oz fillet mignon. However, the main event is Match's mini burgers. The burger lineup includes a classic cheese burger, a lamb burger, a veggie burger, a tuna steak burger, a sausage burger, and a lobster burger. Each mini burger is approximately three ounces and served on a miniature bun. Prices range from $4.75 for the veggie burger to $8 for the lobster burger.

We ordered the spicy lamb burger with coriander, tomato, and yogurt relish, the soy and ginger marinated tuna steak burger with wasabi aioli, and the New England lobster burger with roasted red pepper aioli. All three of these burgers left us salivating for more, but we particularly enjoyed the tuna and lobster burgers. The wasabi aioli danced off the exquisite tuna steak.

These little burgers are expensive but truly sick. We recommend ordering a minimum of three burgers per person in your party.

Sides include onion rings, fries, and grilled asparagus with prosciutto. We tried the grilled asparagus with prosciutto for $3.75. We received a single slice of substandard prosciutto wrapped around several overcooked asparagus. You are better off ordering onion rings or fries to complement the mini burgers.

Rating: 8.3

Drinks
Match mixes sick martinis. At first glance, the $10+ martinis seem pricey, but the prices include enough alcohol to make almost two martinis. The waitress pours your first martini and leaves behind a mini-shaker for you to pour a generous second helping. We particularly enjoyed the Bubbletini, a mix of vodka, peach schnapps, lemon juice, and champagne.

Rating: 9

Service
Waitresses are best-known for tight-fitting uniforms, but service was satisfactory. Our waitress was friendly and mostly attentive.

Rating: 7.9

Ambiance
Divided equally into a sleek bar area and a main dining area, Match exudes an early-evening lounge feel. The dimly-lit dining area features a glass wine room and a unique fire display that nearly runs the length of the room.

At any hour, the volume always seems a tad bit too high, and the acoustics don't seem quite right. The beat and volume pick up as the night progresses. If you plan to chat at dinner, get there early.

Rating: 7.9

Et Cetera

Trivia: Match is located at the former home of the Blue Cat Cafe.

Menu: View the menu on Match's web site

Reservations: Match is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet is available for $15. The nearest T station is Hynes Convention Center on the Green Line.

Dress: Casual Elegant

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Wednesday from 5pm to 10pm and Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 11pm.

Labels: American, Back-Bay, Match-Burgers-and-Martinis-Boston, Sick-Meals

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 8:59 PM 0 comments 

Masa

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (80 out of 100)

439 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02116
View Map
Phone: 617-338-8884

Located in the South End and conveniently located to Back Bay and the Theater District, Masa pairs the flavors and cooking styles of Southwestern cuisine with fresh New England ingredients.




Our History at Masa
Our fifth visit to Masa was on a Friday night at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
First courses include roasted butternut squash soup with ancho Mexican cinnamon, pan roasted mussels in smoked tomato and cilantro mole, spicy ahi tuna cabo rolls, and skillet roasted sea scallops with barbeque duck. Prices range from $7 to $12. We went with the spicy ahi tuna cabo rolls and the skillet roasted sea scallops with barbeque duck, both for $12.

One of our favorite apps, the two tuna cabo rolls were served with wasabi guacamole for just enough spice. The tempura sushi-style rolls contained tender, rare tuna. We only wish the portion was larger. At Masa, appetizers are not good for sharing; an appetizer provides a portion suitable for one.

The sea scallops and barbeque duck was served with sweet corn cream. Three scallops and sparse shredded duck did not provide good value for $12.

Masa serves a sick bread basket, including corn bread and three spreads - red bell pepper with cream cheese, molasses with honey butter, and chipotle white bean puree. Corn bread with molasses and honey butter is the sickest.

Rating: 8.6

Main Dishes
Main dishes include crispy tequila lime chicken with roasted plantain sopes, grilled achiote mahi-mahi with chicharos risotto, southwestern style steak frites with chile dusted fries, ancho cornmeal crusted catfish with grilled pineapple salsa, and chile rubbed New York strip. Prices range from $18 to $29. A variety of sides such as red chile onion rings, chile dusted frites, and maple sweet potato mash go for $4. We ordered one of the night's specials, a fresh lump crab cake, as well as the southwestern style steak frites.

The fresh lump crab cake was a colossal $29 disappointment. Fresh crab seemed more like a crab cake you might buy at your local convenience store - lots of breading and very little meat. The crab cake included jalapeno, red bell, and green bell peppers and tasted spicier than advertised. An accompanying pepper salad consisted of several thin red bell pepper slices.

Served with guajillo bourbon sauce and chile lime arugula salad, Masa's steak frites was tasty and tender. However, the portion was on the small side. Even with a fair serving of chile dusted fries, this $23 plate did not quite fill us up.

Rating: 6.9

Drinks
Masa's wines, tequilas, and cocktails might entice one into some serious boozing. Wine is available by the glass or bottle. Reds start at $6 for a glass and $28 for a bottle and whites start at $7 for a glass and $24 for a bottle. Masa's house special drinks range from $8 to $12 and include a variety of margaritas. We tried a classic margarita as well as a masarita, mixed with Sauza extra gold, triple sec, apple juice, lime mix, and fresh squeezed orange. Masa's classic margarita and sangria margarita are available in "mega" portions that serve four to six people. The mega portions start at $31. A wide variety of tequilas are available, including multi-variety samples.

Rating: 8.9

Service
Service was average, but little details were overlooked. As our appetizers arrived, we reminded the server that we did not receive a bread basket. Our waitress did not accurately explain the lump crab cake dish.

Rating: 7.6

Ambiance
Dark lighting, long white curtains, and iron chandeliers somehow hit us like a Meatloaf video. Decor aside, most tables for two are located along a wall towards the back of the restaurant. The result is that couples practically sit on top of one another. We sat next to a guy who returned two dishes for no good reason and his girlfriend who in-complete-seriousness discussed the relative merits of shopping for a $200 shirt instead of a $500 shirt at Barneys. The ridiculousness of their discourse provided fodder for post-dining humor, but it certainly left us speechless at the dinner table.

Masa's bar scene is consistently lively - a great place to grab a margarita and an appetizer. Limited front patio seating is available.

Rating: 7.8

Et Cetera

Trivia: Masa is serving up $5 margaritas until the end of July.

Menu: View the menu on Masa's web site

Reservations: Masa is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet is available for $14. The nearest T stations are Back Bay on the Orange Line and Arlington on the Green Line.

Dress: Casual Elegant

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Wednesday from 5pm to 10pm and Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 11pm.

Labels: Masa-Boston, Sick-Meals, South-End, Southwestern

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 9:06 PM 0 comments 

Tia's

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (86 out of 100)

200 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02110
View Map
Phone: 617-227-0828

Best known as a Friday-after-work hotspot, Tia's is the place to be for sick meals on a hot summer night. Bask in the sea breeze, feast on fresh seafood, and drink in a vibrant scene on Boston's waterfront.



Our History at Tia's
Our fifth visit to Tia's was on a Saturday night at 5:00pm.

Appetizers
Tia's appetizer menu is filled with tempting seafood such as peel n' eat shrimp, steamers, littleneck clams, mussels, and Wellfleet oysters. Prices range from $5.50 for clam chowder to $14.95 for fried coconut shrimp.

We got started with twelve peel n' eat shrimp for $12.95. The shrimp were large and the cocktail sauce packed a punch with just enough spice.

Complementing Tia's seafood offerings are boneless buffalo wings, margherita pizza, and several salads including Asian barbeque Atlantic salmon salad.

Rating: 8.6

Main Dishes
Entrees focus on steak and seafood, including Tia's famous lobsters. Seafood selections include Boston scrod for $19.95, fish and chips for $18.95, and char-grilled marinated swordfish for $24.95. Mesquite grilled marinated steak tips go for $18.95 and a New York sirloin steak is available for $24.95. The menu includes one and one-and-a-half pound lobsters. Tia's "House Specialty" is a one-and-a-half pound baked stuff lobster.

Treating ourselves on an early summer night, we indulged in the baked stuff lobster. Tia's masterfully mixed heaping chunks of crab meat, scallops, and shrimp with mouthwatering buttered almond crumbs to deliver a truly sick stuffing. The lobster meat was sweet, tender, and substantial. Fantastic French fries and tasty coleslaw complemented this lobster feast.

Although a bit pricey at $44.95, Tia's baked stuff lobster is certainly in the running for the best baked stuff lobster in town.

Rating: 9.1

Drinks
A bottle of beer starts at $6. Martinis and "summer favorites" such as a Patron mango margarita go for $11-$12. An affordable but limited selection of whites and reds are available starting at $7.50 for a glass or $28 for a bottle.

Rating: 8

Service
We asked for pre-cracked lobster claws and our waitress cheerfully obliged, but the claws were later served un-cracked. Delivery of drinks was on the slow side. Otherwise, our waitress was pleasant, and the service was fair.

Rating: 7.8

Ambiance
With patio seating, a sick Long Wharf location, and a jovial, booze-happy crowd, Tia's is a highly recommended spot on a sizzling Boston summer night. But get there early to avoid an hour+ wait for coveted patio seating.

Rating: 9.4

Et Cetera

Trivia: Reserve Tia's outdoor patio for a sick summer party. Pricing starts at $100 for 50 or fewer guests. Check out the fees and terms.

Menu: Go here to view the menu.

Reservations: Tia's does not accept reservations.

Transportation: There are several nearby parking garages. The closest T station is Aquarium on the Blue Line.

Dress: You may dress casually.

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

Labels: Seafood, Sick-Meals, Tias, Waterfront

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 9:24 PM 0 comments 

Brasserie Jo

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (85 out of 100)

120 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
View Map
Phone: 617-424-7000

Located near The Prudential Center in The Colonnade Hotel, Brasserie Jo cooks up a variety of casual, traditional French fare. The menu features light hor's devoures and full meals as well as extensive wine and beer lists.



Our History at Brasserie Jo
Our third visit to Brasserie Jo was on a Friday night at 7:00pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers range from $5.95 to $14.95 and include French ham crepe gratin, smoked salmon, and ratatouille goat cheese tarte. Shellfish are also available including oysters on the half shell, crab claws, and jumbo shrimp cocktail. We ordered the smoked salmon, oysters, and a bowl of clam chowder.

The smoked salmon was served with crispy potatoes and horseradish cream. We enjoyed the salmon, but the horseradish cream hit us like a bulldozer. One might call this dish horseradish cream with salmon and crispy potatoes.

Brimming with fresh clams and not too rich, the clam chowder was surprisingly good. A half dozen ample oysters were a tasty treat.

Salads and pizza are also available.

Rating: 8.3

Main Dishes
Entrees include seafood such as sauteed skate wings, steak dishes such as classic Parisian steak frites, and specialties such as chicken coq au vin. Prices range from $14.95 for seasonal vegetables crepe Florentine to $31.95 for the New York Strip Steak. Daily specials are available.

We ordered roasted rack of lamb for $24.95 and sauteed soft shell crab, a special, for $22.95. The crunchy soft shell crab was served with pistachio butter, fingerling potatoes, and haricots verts. Tender roasted rack of lamb was served with braised flageolet beans, a perfect complement to the lamb.

Rating: 8.9

Drinks
Bottled beer and drafts are available, starting at $4.75. The house draft is Hopla, an Alsatian-style pilsner brewed exclusively for Brasserie Jo. A bottle of wine starts at $29. Martinis go for $11-$12. We sipped on a French cosmo, mixed with Grey Goose, Grand Marnier, and cranberry juice, as well as a "Nouveau", a mix of Stoli Blueberi, Cointreau, and lime juice.

Rating: 8.8

Service
Our waiter was patient and thorough in answering questions regarding the menu. Too much time lapsed between drink orders, but we otherwise received professional service. All of the staff seemed to bound with enthusiasm.

Rating: 8.4

Ambiance
Brasserie Jo feels like a brasserie set in an upscale urban environment. The prime tables are those closest to bustling Huntington Avenue. Your experience at other tables may vary. Our table, for instance, abutted the serving station.

Rating: 8.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: Chef Jean Joho owns the acclaimed Everest and Brasserie Jo restaurants in Chicago and the Eiffel Tower Restaurant in Las Vegas.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Brasserie Jo is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet is $12 for 1 hour, $16 for 2 hours, and $20 for three hours. The nearest T station is Prudential on the Green Line (E Branch).

Dress: You may dress casually.

Hours: Dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 5pm to 11pm and on Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. A special bar menu is available until 1am from Monday through Thursday and until 1:30am on Friday and Saturday.

Labels: Back-Bay, Brasserie-Jo, French, Sick-Meals

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 12:09 AM 0 comments 

Douzo

Friday, May 25, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (89 out of 100)

131 Dartmouth Street
Boston, MA 02116
View Map
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 

Taranta

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (84 out of 100)

210 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113
View Map
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
View Map
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
View Map
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 

75 Chestnut

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (81 out of 100)

75 Chestnut Street
Boston, MA 02108
View Map
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
View Map
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
View Map
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
View Map
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 

The Fireplace

Monday, January 29, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (88 out of 100)

1634 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02446
View Map
Phone: 617-975-1900

Perched atop Washington Square in Brookline, The Fireplace serves up high-end comfort food in a homey dining environment. A roaring fire creates a seductive scene for sick meals on the coldest of New England nights.



Our History at The Fireplace
Our second visit to The Fireplace was on a Friday night at 7:00pm.

Appetizers
Appetizers include mussels, calamari, Johnny Cake, a chilled seafood platter, and a pumpkin and white cheddar tart. The Fireplace also offers a variety of soups and salads. Prices range from $9 to $12 with an average price of $10. We opted for the tart, the calamari, and a bowl of butternut squash bisque.

Fried Rhode Island style calamari was breaded just right and served without a trace of grease. Tomato gravy and lemon aioli provided tempting dipping options. If you've tried Rhode Island style calamari at Legal Sea Foods, try it at The Fireplace. Our verdict: The Fireplace by unanimous decision.

The pumpkin and white cheddar tart with toasted walnuts and maple glaze was served atop mixed greens. Although the tart included more pastry than anticipated, its sweetness was deliciously complemented by the bed of greens.

Butternut squash bisque with crispy sage and sweet chestnut cream delighted the senses - a perfect choice for a frigid evening.

Rating: 8.7

Main Dishes
The Fireplace focuses on wood-smoked and rotisserie dishes. Twelve alluring entrees include pan-seared duck, turkey & chicken pot pie, scallops, Samuel Adams-marinated pork porterhouse, and a spit-roasted half chicken. Many dishes are served with unique mashed potato concoctions that integrate ingredients such as carrots, parsnip, and honeyed cornmeal.

We decided to go with the pan-seared scallops as well as The Fireplace's signature dish, the spit-roasted half chicken.

The spit-roasted half chicken was served on top of soft mashed potatoes and warm sage brown butter. A light-crispy covering encompassed tender, delectable chicken, delivering a filling and satisfying meal.

Six pan-seared scallops with orange-honey sauce circled sick parsnip mash. Shredded beets topped the dish. Scallops are difficult to cook, but The Fireplace came up aces - soft on the inside and a little crispy on the outside.

Entrees range from $18 to $28 with an average price of $23.

Rating: 9.1

Drinks
A selection of martinis and cocktails are available for $9 to $10. An American wine list starts at $29 for a bottle. Many wines are available by the glass. In addition, The Fireplace facilitates affordable sampling by offering "tastes" of wine for $2.50 to $5.00. Spirits and bottled & draft beer are also available.

With dinner, we downed a bottle of Salmon Creek Riesling, for $34. The Riesling danced on our tongues and tasted like a sparking wine, but without the fizz. After dinner, we imbibed in a few mixers at the bar. The quality of these mixers relied heavily on who was making them. Bartender number one served up a too-strong caipirinha. Bartender number two mixed a perfect vodka with club soda and a splash of cranberry juice.

If you get a drink at the bar, look for the bartender with tattooed forearms.

Rating: 8.3

Service
We arrived 30 minutes late for our reservation. During this period, we stayed in touch with the restaurant, and when 15 minutes late turned into 25 minutes, the restaurant called our cell phone to make sure that we were still coming. Upon arrival, we were cheerfully and immediately seated. We proceeded to enjoy sick meals - without rush - and we were done in plenty of time for the next reservation to be seated on time. The Fireplace handled our late arrival flawlessly. And clearly, they scheduled ample time between reservations.

Our waiter was all business - no fluff and to-the-point - but his service and demeanor matched the high-end comfort food dining environment.

Rating: 9

Ambiance
The Fireplace is divided into four areas. As you walk into the Fireplace, you are greeted by a bar that seats 12. The bar serves either as a destination or as a comfortable place to grab a drink before or after your meal. To your left is a small dining area that faces Beacon Street. Straight ahead is a roaring, wood-burning fireplace. Five tables are assembled in this area. Finally, there is a main dining room with a view of the kitchen, located on the upper level.

Golds, oranges, and reds mesh with a maroon ceiling and long curtains to create a warm, homey feel throughout the restaurant.

The main dining area on the upper level is dimly lit. The lower level - where the bar and fireplace are located - is dark.

The table closest to the fireplace is a great venue for a romantic dinner.

Rating: 8.7

Et Cetera

Trivia: Chef/owner Jim Solomon is a native of Brookline. Read more

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: The Fireplace is on OpenTable

Transportation: Take the Green Line (C branch) to Washington Square or scour for street parking on Beacon Street or Washington Street.

Dress: You may dress casually at The Fireplace.

Hours: The Fireplace serves dinner Sunday through Wednesday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm and Thursday through Saturday from 5:00pm to 11:00pm.

Labels: American, Brookline, Romantic, Sick-Meals, The-Fireplace

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 8:24 PM 0 comments 

Salts

Monday, January 22, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (86 out of 100)

798 Main Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
View Map
Phone: 617-877-8444

Just a few miles across the Charles River near Central Square, Salts features French culinary delights in a tranquil fine dining environment. Creative dishes and pleasing aesthetics make for an evening of serious sick meal exploration.



Our Salts History
Our first visit to Salts was on a Friday night at 8:15pm.

Appetizers
Seven appetizers ranged from $9 to $15 with an average price of $13. Our eyes gravitated to risotto and Spanish chorizo dishes, but neither selection was available. As substitutes, Salts cooked up a whole rabbit with gnocchi and big eye tuna with black truffle caviar. We jumped at these delicacies.

The rabbit and gnocchi resembled a stew. Imagine assembling your favorite white and dark meats in a light mushroom broth, adding a bit of cubed bacon, and blending it with soft, savory gnocchi. The dish was small but delivered big on taste, offering a variety of flavors and textures in bite-sized chunks.

Salts beautifully presented the big eye tuna. Rare tuna cubes looked like quivering gelatin lined up in rows. However, for $15, style edged substance.

Other appetizers included pear and mache salad as well as a beet salad.

We savored the warm, oven-fresh buns and whipped butter. Complimentary pureed truffle and potato soup added a nice touch.

Rating: 8.6

Main Dishes
Six main courses ranged from $28 to $34 with an average price of $31. We chose poached monkfish and coq au vin en ballotine.

The monkfish tasted rubbery and proved to be the lone disappointment of the evening. Soft, delicious potato croquettes somewhat offset our lackluster monkfish experience. The dish also included bitter Chinese mustard greens.

On the other hand, the coq au vin en ballotine soared to the heights of sickness. Coq au vin en ballotine consists of chicken that is boned, stuffed, rolled, and tied for roasting. The resulting cylindrical dish melded a crispy covering with pureed white chicken that surrounded small pieces of dark chicken. The mouth-watering ballotine was served on top of potato mousseline, maitake mushrooms, and baby-soft pearl onions and carrots.

Other entrees included pan roasted sea bass, agnolotti with fontina cheese, and a whole roasted boneless duck for two, carved tableside.

Rating: 8.5

Drinks
Salts offered a few affordable wines amidst a sea of ultra-expensive options. Our waiter recommended Jose Pariente's Verdejo (2004), Spain's answer to Sauvignon Blanc. This fragrant and vibrant bottle offered good value for $36.

Beer is also available. Salts does not serve hard booze.

Rating: 8.6

Service
The "Front of the House Manager" was welcoming, engaging, and sincere. Our waiter was patient in answering many questions. Such patience was important as the French-laden menu is barely discernable to the average diner.

Rating: 8.9

Ambiance
Salts is a rare Boston-area restaurant that took decided care in designing an entrance and dining room that shields guests from the harsh New England winter. Two sets of doors divide the entrance from the restaurant. The second door opens to a side-area where no tables are located.

Walking into Salts was like walking into a Pottery Barn-decorated dining room. Oversized mirrors, candlelit chandeliers, red velvet curtains, and a dark wooden table with an enveloping bouquet complemented soft music and regular chatter. The elegant silverware was notable.

We were seated at the worst table of the house - a table for two near the hallway that leads to the kitchen and bathroom.

There was a slight pretension in the air, albeit it had little to do with the staff. Fine wine and fine French food sometimes have a way of bringing out a self-important crowd. Sick meals are always most enjoyable when rubbing elbows with people who do not take themselves too seriously. In this case, the preponderance of our fellow guests somewhat detracted from the experience.

Rating: 8.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: Salts is co-owned by chef Gabriel Bremer and his wife, Analia Verolo.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Reservations are recommended.

Parking: Salts offers free parking in a lot located behind the restaurant.

Dress: You may dress casually at Salts, but given the fine dining environment, we recommend getting a bit dressed up.

Hours: Salts is open Tuesday through Saturday from 6:00pm to 10:30pm.

Labels: Cambridge, French, Salts, Sick-Meals

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 9:45 PM 0 comments 

Atasca

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (85 out of 100)

50 Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
View Map
Phone: 617-621-6991

Located near Kendall Square, Atasca is a family-owned restaurant that serves authentic Portuguese cuisine. Offering quality, reasonably-priced food and drink against the backdrop of an Old World dining environment, Atasca presents an outstanding option for an evening of sick meals.



Our Atasca History
We have feasted on Portuguese cuisine at Atasca on a half-dozen occasions. Our most recent visit was on a Saturday night at 9:00pm.

Appetizers
Atasca serves 16 petiscos (appetizers), three salads, and a soup of the day. The average appetizer price is about $7.50. Whether you love Portuguese food or are trying it for the first time, you are sure to discover a satisfying first course. Atasca's petiscos resemble tapas dishes.

On this evening, we enjoyed grilled linguica with pineapple for $6.50, presunto (ham) with Portuguese white cheese and tomatoes for $7.50, and a stew of white kidney beans with linguica, chourico, smoked bacon, and tripe in a light tomato sauce for $6.95. Other petiscos include littleneck clams, spicy poached mussels, sauteed squid, grilled shrimp, and grilled sardines.

Atasca's appetizers are solid, not spectacular, but what you read on the menu is what you get. The ingredients are fresh and the price is right.

For pre-entree nibbling, Atasca also serves black olives with bread and oil.

Rating: 8.4

Main Dishes
Entrees include seafood, chicken, pork, beef, and veal selections. We recommend either of the bacalhau (cod) dishes. Bacalhau de Cebolada ($15.95) is baked cod smothered with caramelized onions & roasted peppers and served with crisp, thinly-sliced potatoes. Bacalhau a Lagareiro ($16.95) is charcoal-grilled dry salt cod drizzled with hot olive oil & garlic and served with punched potatoes, grilled peppers, and onions.

A personal favorite is the Bacalhau a Lagareiro, but if you are new to cod - or if the idea of bathing cod in olive oil and garlic does not appeal to you - then you might want to try the Bacalhau de Cebolada.

On this evening, Atasca offered a special - stuffed fish fillets with seafood stuffing and seafood risotto. Our waiter recommended this dish so we gave it a try. Unfortunately, the offering did not live up to Atasca's standards. The stuffed fish fillets were luke-warm and bland. The seafood risotto was piping hot, but it was not risotto; it was rice with seafood.

The average entree is $17.50. Prices range from $14.95 to $24.95.

Stick to the Portuguese cuisine and you are sure to enjoy a sick meal.

Rating: 8.6

Drinks
Starting at just $5.95, Atasca's mixed drinks and martinis are blended perfectly and offer a great value. A bottle of beer starts at $3.75.

The wine list is affordable and varied, encompassing selections from all regions of Portugal. Bottles of white or red start at $20. We opted for a bottle of Aveleda's Vinho Verde for $20. Atasca also makes its own sangria.

Rating: 9.5

Service
Most of the staff was eager to please, but our waiter was mediocre and seemed primed for retirement. Within moments of sitting, he hounded us to order a bottle of wine. When we were ready, he went missing in action.

Rating: 7

Ambiance
Atasca is busy, lively, and comfortable. Ceramics, soft Portuguese music, and alluring aromas fill the room. On this Saturday evening, several parties celebrated birthdays, and a Portuguese rendition of "Happy Birthday" played on the speakers and provided a pleasant diversion.

A cozy bar area is a great place to grab a drink while waiting for a table.

Rating: 9

Et Cetera

Trivia: Atasca is owned by Joseph and Maria Cerqueira. This husband and wife team also own O'Cantinho on Cambridge Street.

Menu: Check out the dinner menu here

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

Parking: There is street parking, but it may take a while to find a spot.

Dress: You can dress casually at Atasca.

Hours: Atasca is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30am to 11:00pm and on Sunday from noon to 11:00pm.

Labels: Atasca, Cambridge, Portuguese, Sick-Meals

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 7:20 PM 0 comments 

Sibling Rivalry

Sunday, January 7, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (82 out of 100)

525 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02116
View Map
Phone: 617-859-4805

Located in the South End, Sibling Rivalry is a modern American restaurant that features the dueling cuisine of brothers David and Bob Kinkead. For each menu category, Chef David and Chef Bob serve up a first course or main course. The winter menu includes selections in the following categories: arugula; duck; mushrooms & artichokes; tuna; veal; leeks; cabbage, bacon, & potatoes; tomatoes; lamb; and shellfish. Specials are also available.

Sibling Rivalry's food is among the sickest. However, the service was not so sick. When exquisite cuisine meets haphazard service, it is a travesty.



Our History at Sibling Rivalry
Our fourth visit to Sibling Rivalry was on a Friday night at 8:45pm.

Appetizers
Sibling Rivalry's arugula salad is one of the best salads we've had. This $11 treat includes roasted beets, haricots verts, walnuts, sherry-shallot vinaigrette, and goat cheese fondue. The beats were fresh and flavorful.

We also sampled pan-seared scallops, one of the evening's special offerings, for $14. The dish consists of two scallops wrapped in ham with house-made Boston baked beans and griddled brown bread.

Other notable options included hand-rolled pappardelle with artichokes & portobollo mushrooms and pumpkin ravioli with duck confit.

The average price for a first course is $12.

Rating: 9.5

Main Dishes
Pepper crusted saddle of Vermont venison ($27) was another of the evening's specials. Tender, juicy, and tasty venison was wonderfully complemented by spinach gnocchi that simply melted in our mouths.

In addition, we enjoyed a pan-seared, thinly-sliced rare tuna steak ($26) with a long tempura string bean and miniature pork wontons. Think sushi without the rice. The serving size was a bit dainty, but the dish was fantastic.

The average main course is $28.

No matter what you order, you can't go wrong.

Rating: 9.4

Drinks
Sibling Rivalry serves perfect martinis, priced at $11. We tried the Down Under - vodka with smashed kiwi and simple syrup. During the summer, Sibling Rivalry mixes a fresh watermelon martini that is not to be missed.

Sibling Rivalry presents a diverse wine collection that caters to many palates and wallets. A handful of whites are priced in the $34-$39 range. There are also a handful of reasonably-priced reds, starting at $29.

Rating: 8.6

Service
We arrived on time for our 8:45pm reservation. The restaurant was "running behind", so we were directed to the overflowing bar area. The next time we heard from someone was 9:20pm, and we were given the option of a table in the bar area, or waiting "a few more minutes" for a table in one of the two main dining areas. Ten minutes later, we were seated at an inappropriately-positioned table in a hallway that joins the bar and the main entrance. A one-to-two foot pole divided the bar area from the table.

After waiting over 35 minutes for a table - and waiting an extra 10 minutes to not sit in the bar area - we were stunned.

So, several minutes later, we were moved to one of the main dining areas. For our 8:45pm reservation, we sat down at 9:37pm.

For our troubles, we were served a complimentary bottle of Brut Durgent - a nice gesture, but coming off New Year's, champagne was not on our hit list.

Our waitress was professional, but she seemed to be in her own little world.

In the visits we've made to Sibling Rivalry, we've never been seated on time.

Rating: 5

Ambiance
Sibling Rivalry includes three rooms. There are two main dining areas - one with a view of the open kitchen - and a bar area. The restaurant is always busy; there's a buzz in the air. It's a sick place to dine or have drinks.

The only caveat is the tables shockingly assembled in the hallway. In making a reservation, note that you do not want to sit in this irrelevant area.

Patio dining is available in the summertime.

Rating: 8.4

Et Cetera

Trivia: Chef Bob authored a seafood cookbook, Kinkead's Cookbook

Parking: Valet is available for $16.

Menu: Visit Sibling Rivalry's web site to view this season's menu.

Reservations: Sibling Rivalry is on OpenTable.

Dress: Sibling Rivalry presents an elegant yet casual dining environment.

Labels: American, Sibling-Rivalry, Sick-Meals, South-End

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 12:37 AM 1 comments 

Mela

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (83 out of 100)

578 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02118
View Map
Phone: 617-859-4805

Mela is a new, modern Indian restaurant located along Restaurant Row on Tremont Street in the South End. Mela has been open for a little over two weeks, residing in the spot formerly occupied by The Nightingale. If you like Indian food, then you will want to give Mela a try.



Our History at Mela
We enjoyed sick meals during our first visit on a Saturday night at 8:30pm.

Appetizers
Mela's appetizers include cold and hot selections, ranging from $4 for vegetable samosa to $13 for mustard lamb. Most of the appetizers are $4-$7.

We ordered the meat samosa and received two ample turnovers stuffed with minced lamb and spices and served with mint and tamarin sauces. This flavorful $5 appetizer was suitable for two.

Rating: 9.1

Main Dishes
Mela's dinner menu features modern Indian dishes, tandori, classic curries, and several "hot stone" selections. Most of the entree menu falls in the $14-$20 range. We ordered the lamb vindaloo and the hot stone marinated lamb chops. Both dishes sent our palates swimming.

The lamb vindaloo consists of lamb chunks marinated in vinegar and spices and combined with potatoes in a spicy tomato and onion sauce. Served with a large bowl of basmati rice, this dish is fantastic.

For the hot stone selections, you are served raw meat or fish that you cook on a hot stone at your table. You receive four lamb chops with the hot stone lamb chop dish. Other hot stone selections include shrimp and scallops.

We ordered garlic naan (unleavened bread baked in a tandoor) as a side, and we were not disappointed. Mela's eight bread selections range from $3 to $5.

Rating: 9.3

Drinks
Mela offers a full bar. A bottle of wine starts at $30. We enjoyed two fabulous glasses of Campa Viejo Crianza red wine for $8 per glass. Two vodka mixed drinks were made very well, but came in at a hefty $10 per glass.

Rating: 8.4

Service
The entire staff was friendly. However, our server seemed nervous. From time to time, he hovered around our table, trying to decide whether to swoop in to clear a plate or ask if we needed a new drink.

The hot stone dish was served with no explanation. Setting expectations regarding how long to cook the lamb would have been nice. We asked the server if he knew; he did not know, and he never returned with an answer.

Rating: 6

Ambiance
Mela used decided care in renovating and decorating this space. Inside each table, you see bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, lentils, and other edibles through a clear covering. Like The Nightingale, there are two rooms. The main dining room is open and inviting; most diners have a view of bustling Tremont Street. A smaller room includes a small bar and a few dining tables; this room tends to be crowded with restaurant personnel, and it feels "colder".

Sitting in the main dining room enhances the dining experience. When you make a reservation, ask to be seated in the main dining room.

Rating: 8.5

Et Cetera

Trivia: Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning "get together".

Takeout: Mela offers takeout for most of their dinner menu.

Parking: Valet parking is not yet available. There is street parking on Tremont Street, but it can be difficult to find on weekends.

Dress: You may dress casually at Mela.

Labels: Indian, Mela, Sick-Meals, South-End

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 7:12 PM 0 comments 

Teatro

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Overall Rating: Sick Meals (88 out of 100)

177 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02111
View Map
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