Bonfire

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Overall Rating: The Sickest (90 out of 100)

50 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
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Phone: 617-262-3473

Located in Park Plaza Hotel, Todd English's Bonfire fuses Argentinean, European, and American steakhouse influences. In addition to steakhouse cuts and creative entrees, Bonfire boasts a taqueria that serves an assortment of tasty tacos and tapas. We left Bonfire impressed by the sick, diverse cuisine as well as the sleek and stylish decor.




Our History at Bonfire
Our first visit to Bonfire was on a Friday night at 8:45pm.

Appetizers
Bonfire's appetizers range from $10 to $16 and include nachos, chicharronnes (fried pork bites), beef empanadas, barbeque baby back ribs. Salads range from $8 for simple mixed greens to $11 for Bonfire's steakhouse salad. Bonfire's taqueria serves up hand-made guacamole as well as an assortment of tacos which are available as appetizers (three tacos) for $12-$14 or entrees (five tacos) for $22-$24. Bonfire's tacos are available with lobster, tuna tartare, roasted chicken, skirt steak, and Ipswich clams.

For appetizers, we focused on Bonfire's Taqueria menu, ordering the guacamole for $10 and the clam tacos for $14.

Bonfire's guacamole is hand-made in their lava rock molecajete and served with chips. The guacamole was super-fresh and creamy with ripe tomato chunks adding a tinge of sweetness. For $6 extra, Bonfire will add grilled, chilled shrimp to the guacamole. The crispy Ipswich clam tacos were served in soft tortillas with more delicious guacamole and chipotle aioli for dipping.

Rating: 9.1

Main Dishes
Entrees include steakhouse cuts and other dishes such as Brazilian Churrasco, a one-pound kobe beef burger, crispy Long Island duck, a grilled corn quesadilla, paella, and wild Alaskan king salmon. Steakhouse cuts include filet mignon, prime angus sirloin, and a porterhouse steak. Bonfire serves the steakhouse cuts with your choice of nine sauces. Prices range from $19 for the quesadilla to $44 for a 24oz porterhouse steak. Sides are available for $7 including truffle macaroni and cheese and tempura green beans.

We opted for Bonfire's Brazilian churrasco for $33 and the paella for $32.

The Brazilian churrasco consists of a butterflied tenderloin, potato cake, Gorgonzola crema, shitake mushrooms, and sherry vinegar glaze. The tenderloin was tender, flavorful, and juicy - each ingredient an asset in bringing this dish to life. Resting underneath the steak, the potato cake served as a perfect complement. Likewise, the paella proved to be a smashing success. Generous lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp, chorizo, and chicken were mixed with creamy saffron risotto. The chorizo lent a spicy kick.

Rating: 9.3

Drinks
Bonfire offers a good selection of wines, bottled and draught beers, $11 martinis, a wide variety of high-quality tequilas, and specialty drinks. Although pricey at $13, the Authentic Bonfire Margarita was cool and refreshing, mixed with Tezon Anejo tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh lime juice, and a bit of champagne. Wine by the glass was fairly generous.

Rating: 8.8

Service
Our waitress was pleasant, prompt, and patient. Pacing was perfect. We leisurely enjoyed the guacamole, then the tacos, and then our entrees, with plenty of time for conversation and drinks between courses.

Rating: 8.9

Ambiance
Curved, burgundy ceilings, massive mahogany columns, dim lighting, and candle-lit tables make Bonfire sleek and stylish as well as dark and mysterious. Super-tall chairs create a unique sense of privacy for most parties. An attractive bar/lounge area tops this sick scene.

Rating: 9.1

Et Cetera

Trivia: Other Boston-area Todd English restaurants include Olives in Charlestown, Figs in Beacon Hill, and Kingfish Hall in Faneuil Hall.

Recipe: Make your own Bonfire Guacamole

Menu: View the menu on Bonfire's web site

Reservations: Bonfire is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet for $16 or take the Green Line to Arlington.

Dress: Business Casual

Hours: Dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 5pm until 10pm and Friday and Saturday from 5pm until 11pm.

Labels: Bonfire-Boston, Steakhouse, The-Sickest, Theater-District

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 3:07 PM 0 comments 

Eastern Standard

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Overall Rating: The Sickest (91 out of 100)

528 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
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Phone: 617-532-9100

Rising from the ashes of The Ratskeller at Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square, Eastern Standard is an American Brasserie that is a pre-Red Sox game hot spot as well as an elegant venue for sick meals.




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

Appetizers
Appetizers include asparagus soup for $7, salt cod fritters for $10, short rib ravioli for $11, steak tartare for $12, and seared foie gras for $14. Salads range from $7 for Boston Bibb to $11 for roasted beets. We ordered the salt cod fritters for $10 and the beets salad for $11.

We informed our waitress that we planned to share the beets salad; we were pleasantly surprised to receive two heaping portions. Roasted beets were tossed with blue cheese, walnuts, apples, and endive - a refreshing starter.

Served in a charming little wooden box, the salt cod fritters were crunchy on the outside and surprisingly soft on the inside. The fluffy, whipped cod mixture provided a delightful contrast to the thick, crunchy covering. Tartar sauce and spicy ketchup were provided for dipping.

Oysters, clams, shrimp, and Alaskan king crab leg are available from the raw bar. Eastern Standard also offers a selection of cheeses and charcuterie.

Rating: 9.1

Main Dishes
Entrees range from $18 to $28 and include pan roasted halibut, baked rigatoni, roasted chicken, beef short rib bourguignon, and bone-in ribeye. We ordered roasted chicken for $21 and beef short rib bourguignon for $25.

Flavorful, juicy chicken was surrounded by a crispy covering and served atop a sick stuffing of mushrooms, foie gras, and spaetzle. Tender, slow-cooked beef short rib bourguignon was served in a red wine broth with olives, mushrooms, pearl onions, and a side of buttery egg noodles.

Creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, spaetzle, green beans, and macaroni & cheese are available as sides, starting at $5. Sandwiches are also available including a burger, pressed prime rib, and grilled cheese.

Rating: 9.3

Drinks
An extensive cocktail menu features standard and original mixed drinks for any mood or taste. Our poisons were the Whiskey Smash ($10), a mix of bourbon, sweet lemon, and mint, and the Belle De Jour ($10), a sparkler that integrates elixir of lemon, Benedictine, and grenadine. A wide variety of wine is available by the glass or bottle, catering to a range of palates and wallets. Wine by the glass was poured generously; a single glass felt more like two.

Rating: 8.8

Service
We enjoyed prompt, professional service. Our waitress was at our beck and call, always just in time to take a new drink order, and patient and thorough in answering questions. Bus staff was courteous. Pacing was on the money.

Rating: 9.1

Ambiance
Eastern Standard perfectly blends bar and brasserie. We soaked in two distinct atmospheres - intimate on one hand, loud and lively on the other. A long, marble bar presents an ideal venue for conversation or watching a sporting event. At the same time, the dining area feels cozy and romantic. On a cool, fall evening, we nuzzled up in a plush red leather booth ideal for two. Outdoors seating is available on Eastern Standard's heated patio.

Rating: 9.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: Eastern Standard boasts the longest marble bar in Boston.

Menu: View the menu on Eastern Standard's web site

Reservations: Eastern Standard is on OpenTable

Transportation: Valet for $14 or take the Green Line to Kenmore.

Dress: Casual Elegent

Hours: Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday from 5pm until 11pm and Friday and Saturday from 5pm until midnight.

Labels: American, Eastern-Standard-Boston, Kenmore-Square, The-Sickest

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 8:21 PM 0 comments 

Gaslight

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Overall Rating: The Sickest (92 out of 100)

560 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
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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

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 3:05 PM 0 comments 

Rocca

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Overall Rating: The Sickest (92 out of 100)

500 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
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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!




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

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 6:42 PM 0 comments 

Avila

Monday, June 11, 2007

Overall Rating: The Sickest (90 out of 100)

1 Charles Street South
Boston, MA 02216
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Phone: 617-267-4810

Avila captures the flavors of Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and France. Creative, mouth-watering dishes make Avila one of the sickest meals in town.



Our History at Avila
Our first visit to Avila was on a Friday night at 9:00pm.

Appetizers
Small plates range from $4 to $8 and include cured Spanish olives, salt cod poppers, sauteed chicken livers, duck egg over easy, escargot, and Portuguese sardines. First courses range from $9 to $17 and include onion soup, foie gras, cast iron sizzling shrimp, grilled baby octopus, and gazpacho.

We started the evening with salt cod poppers ($6), cured Spanish olives ($4), and cast iron sizzling shrimp ($13). Five deliciously-soft cod poppers melted in our mouths; balsamic mayonnaise was included for dipping. Avila served a healthy portion of Spanish olives. The cast iron sizzling shrimp included three, large shrimp perfectly marinated in garlic, parsley and olive oil. The dish was sick, but three shrimp for $13 felt a bit skimpy.

Avila's bread basket included delectable mini-slices of white pizza. We also received tasty, complimentary morsels of tuna tartar served on a potato chip.

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
Pastas range from $18 to $42 and include hand rolled potato gnocchi, fusilli with jumbo shrimp and Portuguese sausage, and fettuccine carbonara served with butter poached lobster. Entrees range from $25 to $32 and include free range chicken, seared halibut, pork Milanese, grilled veal sirloin, and whole crispy bass. Eight specialties range from $22 for Za'atar spiced black pearl salmon to $41 for natural aged New York sirloin.

We decided to go with the whole crispy bass as well as one of the evening's specials, grilled swordfish. The whole crispy bass was substantial, served whole, including the head. We enjoyed the lightly dusted cornmeal crust that surrounded the delicious bass. The dish was served with sea salt yucca, arugula, and corn colada. Another gem, the grilled swordfish was topped with fried clams and served with hydrogreen salad and orange slices.

Rating: 9.4

Drinks
Wine is available by the glass or bottle. Reds range from $8 to $15 per glass. Whites range from $9 to $13 per glass. Avila's extensive wine list includes several bottles in the $20s and $30s amidst a diverse collection of more expensive offerings. Mixed drinks were expensive but solid. We enjoyed a pre-dinner champagne lemontini for $12, a mix of Ketel One citron, cointreau, limoncello, champagne, and mint leaves with a lemon twist.

Rating: 8.7

Service
We experienced prompt, friendly, and professional service from our waitress as well as the hostess, bartenders, and bus staff.

Rating: 8.8

Ambiance
Avila greets you with a long, alluring bar. A wide open kitchen with counter-style seating lies in the middle of the restaurant. Tall windows, an ultra-high ceiling, and a dim, candle-lit room create an upscale, urban ambiance.

Rating: 9

Et Cetera

Trivia: A bar menu is available from 3pm to 11pm on Sunday through Tuesday and from 3pm to midnight on Wednesday through Saturday. The bar menu features pizza as well as yummy first and second courses such as mini kobe beef burgers, pappardelle bolognese, a lamb tenderloin pita pocket, crispy calamari, and Philly cheese steak spring rolls.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Reservations: Avila is on OpenTable

Parking: Valet for $16 or park in the nearby Motor Mart Garage.

Dress: Business Casual in a fine dining environment

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

Labels: Avila, Back-Bay, Mediterranean, The-Sickest

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 9:53 PM 0 comments 

Union Bar and Grille

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Overall Rating: The Sickest (90 out of 100)

1357 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
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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

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 6:21 PM 0 comments 

The Wine Cellar

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Overall Rating: The Sickest (90 out of 100)

30 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
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Phone: 617-236-0080

The Wine Cellar is Boston's only Fondue restaurant. Offering a cozy, romantic atmosphere, a wide variety of fine wines, and great-tasting fondue, The Wine Cellar is an ideal venue for sick meals and good conversation.



Our History at The Wine Cellar
This was our second visit to The Wine Cellar. This review is based on a Saturday night dining experience at 8:30pm.

Appetizers
The Wine Cellar's appetizer menu includes six cheese-based fondues. The fondues are served with potato wedges and cubed bread. We went with the classic fondue which consists of Gruyere and Emmental cheeses melted with cracked black pepper in white wine and brandy. During a previous visit, we tried the Brittany fondue - artichoke hearts and shallots blended into cheese. The fondue appetizers are delicious. A regular serving for 1-2 people is $18. A large serving for 3-4 people is $32. So far, our favorite is the Brittany.

You may also choose from non-fondue appetizers such as the soup of the day ($5), escargots casserole ($12), and frog legs a la Provencal (market price).

Rating: 9

Main Dishes
For Entree fondues, you can choose from seven meat-based selections, and three cooking styles. Each meat is paired with dipping sauces. Meats include beef, chicken, pork loin, lamb, kangaroo, ostrich, rabbit loin, tiger shrimp, and sausage. The kangaroo, ostrich, and rabbit loin are served together with olive oil as part of the "Crazy French" offering which is $42 for a small portion or $80 for a large portion. The other fondue entrees range from $17-26 for a small portion or $31-47 for a large portion.

Cooking styles include Latin, French, and Courbouillion. Most guests opt for the French style (broth with Chablis wine, garlic, and cracked black pepper), but we enjoyed the Latin selection - broth with garlic and citrus flavors.

Deciding on one meat selection was difficult, so we opted for "Indulgence for Two". This $88 prix fixe offering lets you choose a cheese fondue appetizer, four items from the entree menu (excluding the Crazy French entree), and a chocolate fondue for dessert. In addition to the four entree items, you are served a side of vegetables and a sampling of dipping sauces, including balsamic glaze, mushroom red wine, lime dill, dijon mustard, horseradish sauce, brown sugar balsamic glaze, chili sauce, and teriyaki sauce.

If you are visiting The Wine Cellar for the first time, we suggest the Indulgence for Two. It offers a fair value and gives you flexibility in sampling the menu. We enjoyed the variety of the meats - we chose beef, lamb, shrimp and sausage - and the array of flavors offered by the dipping sauces.

We offer two suggestions for improvement: 1) The raw meats are served on the same plate as the vegetables and dipping sauces. It would enhance the dining experience to place the raw meats on a separate plate. 2) The vegetables, cooked string beans, were plain and not very exciting. A variety of dip-able vegetables would be preferred.

Several non-fondue entrees are available including paella and rack of lamb.

Rating: 9

Drinks
The Wine Cellar's wine list is expansive and notable. The Wine Spectator bestowed The Wine Cellar with its Best Of Award of Excellence. We enjoyed a flavorful bottle of Konrad Sauvignon Blanc (2005, New Zealand).

The Wine Cellar also serves beer, but no hard booze.

Note: The wine list is subject to change. If you have a favorite that is no longer available, The Wine Cellar will normally suggest a delightful alternative.

Rating: 9.1

Service
When we arrived at 8:30pm, a party from 5:30pm had not yet finished their meal, and we were forced to wait. How a restaurant reacts at these times can make or break the dining experience. In this case, The Wine Cellar came up aces. The owner plied our party with what likely represented $100 in complimentary wine and apologized profusely on a number of occasions. The Wine Cellar proved that it takes reservations very seriously.

Once we sat down for dinner, our waitress was knowledgeable and generally provided good service. However, her brusque demeanor did not quite match the otherwise-intimate experience.

Rating: 8.8

Ambiance
The Wine Cellar is literally located in a cellar. As soon as you walk in, you notice the intimate ambiance - dim lighting, flame-lit tables, and an exposed brick wall with a mural. Fondue lends itself to conversation. You cannot race through your meal as you must take time to individually dip and cook your meats. The Wine Cellar is an ideal setting for a romantic night on the town.

Rating: 9.3

Et Cetera

Trivia: Fondue traditionally refers to cheese fondue. Broth-based fondue for meat may also be referred to as Fondue Chinoise or Hot Pot.

Menu: Check out the menu here

Dessert: The Wine Cellar's dessert menu includes four chocolate fondues that are served with marshmallows, cookies, and fresh fruits. Dessert is $12 for a regular portion that serves 1-2 and $24 for a large portion that serves 3-4.

Reservations: The Wine Cellar is on OpenTable. There is limited seating; do not show up without a reservation.

Parking: Valet is available on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for $16.

Dress: You may dress casually at The Wine Cellar, but given the elegant dining environment, you might consider getting a bit dressed up.

Labels: Back-Bay, Fondue, Romantic, The-Sickest, The-Wine-Cellar

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 10:35 PM 0 comments 

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.



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

posted by The King of Sick Meals @ 10:32 AM 2 comments