Boston Restaurant Reviews

Gaslight

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Overall Rating: The Sickest (92 out of 100)

560 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
View Map
Phone: 617-422-0224

Sick meals are heating up on Harrison Ave. Gaslight, the newest Aquitaine Group restaurant, delivers sick French cuisine, great drinks, and stunning value in a lively, upbeat environment. Dinner is served until midnight and a late night menu is available until 1:30am - seven days a week.

Our History at Gaslight
Gaslight opened on August 23rd. Our first visit was on a Sunday at 9:00pm.

Appetizers
Hors d'oeuvres range from $5 to $8.50 and include smoked salmon, pate, steak tartare, escargots, and a potato tart. We tried the potato tart (tartelette aux pommes de terre) for $6.75 and the salmon (saumon fume) for $8.

Integrating roquefort cheese, truffles, and super-soft potatoes, the small, delectable potato tart melted in our mouths. It tasted like a double-baked potato with a thin crust covering. The smoked salmon was served with four pieces of sliced potato, a perfect surface for the thin salmon with chickpea blini and lemon creme fraiche. Both dishes were petite yet good for sharing among two. We recommend getting one appetizer per person.

Gaslight serves a complementary baguette in a paper sleeve.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
Entrees include chicken, pasta, steak, and seafood as well as sandwiches and pizza. Prices range from $9 to $19.50. We ordered leg of lamb (gigot d'agneau roti) for $17.50 and salmon (saumon filet roti) for $18.50.

We received a heaping portion of succulent roasted lamb, served medium-rare to medium. Garlic and herbs provided delicious flavoring, and the meat was tender, fit for slicing with a butter knife. This filling dish was served with sick scalloped potatoes. We enjoyed Gaslight's roasted salmon more than any salmon dish we've tasted in recent memory. The crispy-covered salmon was served with garlic braised escarole and lemon confit.

Rating: 9.4

Drinks
Drinks are surprisingly-affordable. Gaslight offers wine by the glass, carafe, and bottle. A carafe of the house red or white is just $12. Reserve selections are available. Cocktails range from $5.50 to $8.50. We sipped a cool "Cuban Ice", a mix of grapes, mint, Mt. Gay rum, and ice wine, served over crushed ice. "Frida Kahlo", an "iced tea with a kick", was another highlight. This addicting drink consisted of tequila with triple sec, lime, and iced tea.

Rating: 9.6

Service
Down-to-earth and eager-to-please, our waitress patiently provided a detailed explanation of many French-written menu items. We were seated several minutes late, but the staff was attentive while we awaited our table.

Rating: 8.8

Ambiance
With a striking bar, wood floors, white mosaic tiles, beamed wood ceilings, and antique mirrors, Gaslight presents an "old world" yet modern setting. Sit at the bar, cafe tables, communal tables, booths, or leather banquettes. Conversation and music resonate in a lively, loud atmosphere.

Rating: 9.1

Et Cetera

Trivia: Gaslight accepts takeout orders.

Menu: View the menu on Gaslight's web site

Reservations: Gaslight is on OpenTable

Transportation: Gaslight offers free parking in their own lot.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Monday through Friday from 5:00pm until midnight and Saturday and Sunday from 3:00pm until midnight. A late night menu is available seven days a week from midnight until 1:30am.

Labels: French, Gaslight-Boston, South-End, The-Sickest

Rocca

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Overall Rating: The Sickest (92 out of 100)

500 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
View Map
Phone: 617-451-5151

Rocca brings Ligurian cuisine, the cuisine of the Italian Riviera, to Boston's South End. Great food, impeccable service, and an energetic vibe make Rocca one of the sickest meals in town. And there's lots of free parking, too!

Rocca

Our History at Rocca
Rocca opened in April 2007. Our first visit was on a Friday night at 8:00pm.

Appetizers
Rocca offers "tastes" as well as larger appetizers. Tastes range from $3 to $7 and include marinated olives, fritti di pesce, a meatball slider, and prosciutto and fontina pizetta. Appetizers range from $7 to $12 and include marinated sardines, crispy veal medallions, hot & sweet scampi, antipasti, and white bean minestrone. We tried the fritti di pesce for $6 and the sardines for $9.

Served with salsa verde, the lightly-breaded fritti di pesce (fish sticks) provided a light, refreshing start to our meal. Thinly-sliced mint danced off the marinated sardines. Portions were modest yet satisfying.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
Rocca's menu includes pastas many of which are available as appetizers or entrees. Prices range from $10 to $17. Homemade pastas include hand-rolled trofie, potato gnocchi, corzetti, and spring green panzotti. We ordered the trofie for $10. The melt-in-your-mouth trofie was served with delicious pesto sauce. We shared this dish and it quickly left us longing for more.

Entrees range from $19 to $24 and include roasted whole fish, chicken Genovese, grilled leg of lamb, and veal involtini. We chose the roasted whole fish and grilled leg of lamb, both for $24. Like the trofie, the main show did not disappoint. The roasted whole fish was a large, soft burrida infused with fresh herbs and served with a flavorful mix of olives, perfectly-roasted potatoes, tomatoes, and pine nuts. Tender and mouth-watering, the medium-rare leg of lamb was served with escarole, fava bean pesto, and white beans.

Rating: 9.6

Drinks
We explored Rocca's drink menu, ordering the scandalo al sole for $11 and a Monterosso martini for $10. The scandalo al sole consisted of Patron Silver tequila, Grand Marnier, and limoncello with lime and ginger beer. The Monterosso martini was mixed with Grey Goose Orange, fresh orange juice, and mint. These drinks were creative but they did not quite hit the mark.

On the other hand, Rocca's wine menu presented good variety and was neatly divided into light, medium, and bold whites and reds. Bottles started in the mid-$20s. A glass of the house wine was $6.

Rating: 8.1

Service
Rocca rendered "Wow!" service. Our waitress presented an informative overview of the menu along with her recommendations. Pacing was perfect; we were never rushed, making for a decidedly relaxed environment. The Queen of Sick Meals accidentally broke her half-full wine glass; Rocca staff rushed to our rescue and incredibly offered a free martini of her choice.

Rating: 9.8

Ambiance
Rocca spans two floors. The first floor is a sleek lounge and bar. The dining area is on the second floor. Both floors serve up a lively, aromatic scene.

Placid patio seating transports you to a world far from gritty Harrison Avenue.

Rating: 9.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: The Rocca Rundown is a blog that documents Rocca's creation.

Menu: View the menu on Rocca's web site

Reservations: Rocca is on OpenTable

Transportation: Rocca offers ample free parking in their own lot.

Dress: Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday from 5:30pm to 10:00pm and Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm to 11:00pm.

Labels: Italian, Rocca-Boston, South-End, The-Sickest

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.

Masa

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

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

Pops Restaurant

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Overall Rating: Sick Potential (78 out of 100)

560 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02118
View Map
Phone: 617-695-1250

A brand new addition to Restaurant Row in the South End, Pops Restaurant is located in the space formerly occupied by Perdix. Pops features affordable, creative comfort food and an interesting lineup of cocktails. However, Pops needs a bit of refinement before reaching Sick Meals status.

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

Appetizers
Pops' appetizers include cobb salad, lobster & cod croquettes, crispy pea ravioli, chicken wings, Rhode Island clam "stuffies", crispy oysters, and spinach salad. Prices range from $7.50 to $12. We tried the lobster & cod croquettes for $10 and the Rhode Island clam stuffies for $9.

Three lobster & cod croquettes were filled with healthy portions of lobster and cod and topped with aioli. The Rhode Island clam stuffies consisted of two oversized clam shells brimming with a corn, linguica, and clam-based stuffing. Both dishes shined in creativity and taste.

Rating: 8.5

Main Dishes
The dinner menu features osso bucco, putanesca eggplant pave, salmon, skirt steak, pork tenderloin, and a crispy confit of 1/2 duck. Prices range from $16-$20. In addition, Pops offers a few sandwiches, including a burger, for $12.

We ordered the grilled skirt steak and the osso bucco - for $20 each.

The grilled skirt steak was served with shitake mushroom gravy and garlic thyme fries. We requested a medium-cooked steak, but it arrived rare, and the texture was chewy. A disappointment, the lonely steak sat half-finished.

The veal breast osso bucco was slow cooked in lemon and sage and served with escarole and orzo. While the osso bucco was an improvement over the skirt steak, it was not a particularly memorable dish.

Rating: 7

Drinks
A bottle of white starts at $27 and a bottle of red starts at $25. Cocktails are $8. Several bottled beers are available for $5.

Pops had only flavored vodka on hand. A blood orange vodka mixer proved disastrous, but we later enjoyed chocolate espresso and strawbellini cocktails. The refreshing strawbellini was made with fresh pureed strawberries.

Rating: 7.9

Service
We were seated 15 minutes late for our 7:30pm reservation.

The full menu is available at the bar, but we chose to wait for a "table". Surprisingly, when it was time to be seated, we were shuffled to what appeared to be the other end of the long bar, but what actually represented additional seating for dining. To our disappointment, we waited 15 minutes to sit at stools and eat from a counter - not much different than dining at the bar. The hostess should inform guests of these unusual seating arrangements.

Otherwise, service was average. Pops opened less than a week ago; they are still going through initial growing pains. The staff seemed frazzled at times.

Rating: 7.5

Ambiance
Located at garden level, Pops offers a warm, cozy dining environment. Black and cream tones run through the restaurant. The ceiling features decorative, old-school molding. An ultra-wide mirror hangs in the center of the room.

There are not many tables for two. A party of two would likely be seated at stools that run along a long counter that connects to the bar. These counter seats face the kitchen which is viewable through transparent glass.

Rating: 8

Et Cetera

Trivia: Chef/owner Felino Samson is the former co-owner of Bomboa.

Reservations: Call for reservations. Reservations are recommended

Transportation: On weekends, street parking can be hard to find. Valet is available at Hammersley's Bistro, located across the street, for $14.

Dress: You may dress casually at Pops.

Hours: Pops serves dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 PM until midnight.

Labels: American, POPS, Sick-Potential, South-End

Union Bar and Grille

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Overall Rating: The Sickest (90 out of 100)

1357 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
View Map
Phone: 617-423-0555

Located in the South End's revitalized SoWa area, Union Bar and Grille serves sick American cuisine in a striking urban dining environment. Simply put, Union presents a delightful union of style and substance.

Our History at Union Bar and Grille
Our sixth visit to Union was on a Thursday at 7:30pm.

Appetizers
A varied appetizer menu includes mussels, pumpkin ravioli, risotto, and flaked cod and potato cakes. Prices range from $6 to $9 with an average price of $8.

We informed our waiter that we wanted to share the sweet corn risotto. To our surprise, we received two ample bowls of risotto, split evenly. A creamy, spicy mix, the risotto integrated chorizo sausage, fire roasted peppers, corn, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and fresh sage. Union cooked the risotto to perfection and the dish presented outstanding value for just $9.

Instead of plain old bread, Union serves freshly-baked cornbread in a hot cast iron skillet. The cornbread alone is worth a visit to Union.

Rating: 9.6

Main Dishes
Union's entree lineup includes steak, seafood, pastas, lamb, and chicken. Prices range from $16 to $34 with an average price of $24. On this evening, we went with the grilled lack of lamb and the Gloucester haddock.

The grilled lack of lamb was served with Jerusalem artichoke gratin, winter kale, and black mission figs. Tender and flavorful lamb was complemented by the creamy, slightly-crunchy gratin. At first bite, the flaky Gloucester haddock seemed plain, but quickly sprang to life when meshed with sick succotash - a medley of lima beans, corn, leeks, zucchini, and amazingly soft potatoes.

Union's pan roasted natural chicken is another can't-miss pick.

Rating: 9.3

Drinks
An all-American wine list starts at $34 for a bottle of white and $36 for a bottle red. We enjoyed a few glasses of J Lohr Bay Mist Riesling. However, Union's mixed drinks left a bit to be desired. Our first drink was mixed with too much juice. Our second drink was served with flat soda.

Rating: 7.7

Service
Service here is consistently above average. Our waiter was prompt and professional. He anticipated our needs throughout the evening.

Rating: 9.2

Ambiance
Union features a bar area and a main dining room. A steel and glass wall separates the bar from the dining room.

The bar area includes quite a bit of seating both at the long bar as well as at tables that run parallel to the bar. Union's full menu is served at the bar.

The main dining room is simple yet stunning. Plush, black-leather booths are shaped like saucers and provide luxurious seating. Candlelit tables and large candlelit chandeliers dimly light the bustling room.

Rating: 9

Et Cetera

Trivia: Union is owned by The Aquitaine Group, owners of Metropolis Cafe, Aquitaine Bar a Vin Bistrot, and Aquitaine Bis in Chestnut Hill.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Union is on OpenTable

Transportation: Take the Silver Line to the Union Park stop or find street parking on Washington Street. Valet is available for $15.

Dress: You may dress casually at Union.

Hours: Union serves dinner Sunday through Wednesday from 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM and Thursday through Saturday from 5:30pm until midnight.

Labels: American, South-End, SoWa, The-Sickest, Union

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

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.

Mela

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

Giacomo's South End

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Overall Rating: The Sickest (92 out of 100)

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

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

Giacomo's South End

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

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

Rating: 9

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

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

Rating: 9.2

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

Rating: 9

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

Rating: 9.3

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

Rating: 9.4

Et Cetera

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

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

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

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

Dress: You can dress casually at Giacomo's.

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