Monica's Restaurant

Monica's is a family owned establishment in the North End, and is our favorite restaurant in the North End.
The family that owns Monica's actually owns three establishments in the area. Monica's restaurant is the most upscale of the three. They recently remodeled the interior and added a whole new sitting area and a bar, which means it's easier than before to get a seat. There's also Monica's Trattoria, which offers a slightly more simple menu and a more casual atmosphere. Finally, there is a store, which sells their homemade sauces, fresh pasta, freshly baked bread, and a whole variety of Italian imported food.

The food at Monica's is top notch. They make fresh pasta on the premises, they use all fresh ingredients, and the flavors are absolutely amazing. They also have a good wine selection, and the waitstaff is very knowledgeable about both the dishes and the wines.

Appetizers
On this past trip, my favorite appetizer was the truffle mushroom salad ($22). A special for the night, the dish consists of a variety of different wild mushrooms sauteed and tossed together with truffle oil and salt. The result? Each bite burst with a complex concert of flavors from the wild mushrooms. The dish was absolutely heavenly. Bryan's favorite appetizer (off the regulary menu) is the Involtini di prosciutto e provoline al forno.

Provolone cheese, prosciutto, and tomato slices are baked in layers with basil oil and roasted red peppers. The appetizer is really good. My favorite appetizer off the regular menu is any bruschetta that they have. They pan grill the bread with olive oil and then put fresh, seasonal ingredients on top. The combination of the crusty, olive-oil infused bread with the fresh tomatoes (or mushrooms) on top is delicious.

Pastas

We almost always order pasta when we go, since that is one of Bryan's favorite foods of all times. We've been happy with everything we've ordered, in general.

July 2009 Update

We ordered the seafood with fresh linguini, shown above, which was excellent.  Fresh, seafood flavors permeated the dish.  And of course, the texture of the fresh pasta was incredible.

This past time Bryan and I ordered the special of the night, which was paper thin pasta tossed with truffle oil and sliced truffles. The dish was quite light (no meat), and very expensive (unpleasant surprise of finding out it was $38 a dish!), although pretty good. I have realized, however, that even though I LOVE things flavored with truffle oil, I think that truffles are only OK. They don't have that much flavor, in my opinion.

I've also ordered the gnocchi there. Bryan thought it was pretty good, although I thought it was a bit mushy and soft. I personally like a much chewier gnocchi - sort of like mochi or Chinese rice cakes. I've only been able to find one restaurant in Boston whose fresh gnocchi has the right chewy consistency that I like (Umbra). In general, I actually like frozen gnocchi better (such as the ones they serve at Il Panino Express or sell at Harvest COOP in the freezer section). So strange so strange.

Update: July 2009
Perhaps my tastes have changed, but I really enjoyed my gnocchi this time around.  The texture was soft but definitely had a bit of a "bite."  The sauce, a simple veal Bolognese, was perfect. 

Over all, Monica's is an excellent restaurant in the North End. We think it beats out most of the competition (and we've tried a lot of restaurants in the North End!). We've highly recommended it to others, and everyone who has tried it loves it and continues to return. Definitely try to go out there for a special occasion!

P.S. They will validate parking at the Central Artery Garage (up to 3 hours for only $3!) That's cheaper than taking the T round trip! Plus you can stop by a pastry shop on the way home.


Originally posted June 13, 2007; Updated July 2009

Monica's Restaurant

Monica's is a family owned establishment in the North End, and is our favorite restaurant in the North End.
The family that owns Monica's actually owns three establishments in the area. Monica's restaurant is the most upscale of the three. They recently remodeled the interior and added a whole new sitting area and a bar, which means it's easier than before to get a seat. There's also Monica's Trattoria, which offers a slightly more simple menu and a more casual atmosphere. Finally, there is a store, which sells their homemade sauces, fresh pasta, freshly baked bread, and a whole variety of Italian imported food.

The food at Monica's is top notch. They make fresh pasta on the premises, they use all fresh ingredients, and the flavors are absolutely amazing. They also have a good wine selection, and the waitstaff is very knowledgeable about both the dishes and the wines.

Appetizers
On this past trip, my favorite appetizer was the truffle mushroom salad ($22). A special for the night, the dish consists of a variety of different wild mushrooms sauteed and tossed together with truffle oil and salt. The result? Each bite burst with a complex concert of flavors from the wild mushrooms. The dish was absolutely heavenly. Bryan's favorite appetizer (off the regulary menu) is the Involtini di prosciutto e provoline al forno.

Provolone cheese, prosciutto, and tomato slices are baked in layers with basil oil and roasted red peppers. The appetizer is really good. My favorite appetizer off the regular menu is any bruschetta that they have. They pan grill the bread with olive oil and then put fresh, seasonal ingredients on top. The combination of the crusty, olive-oil infused bread with the fresh tomatoes (or mushrooms) on top is delicious.

Pastas

We almost always order pasta when we go, since that is one of Bryan's favorite foods of all times. We've been happy with everything we've ordered, in general.

July 2009 Update

We ordered the seafood with fresh linguini, shown above, which was excellent.  Fresh, seafood flavors permeated the dish.  And of course, the texture of the fresh pasta was incredible.

This past time Bryan and I ordered the special of the night, which was paper thin pasta tossed with truffle oil and sliced truffles. The dish was quite light (no meat), and very expensive (unpleasant surprise of finding out it was $38 a dish!), although pretty good. I have realized, however, that even though I LOVE things flavored with truffle oil, I think that truffles are only OK. They don't have that much flavor, in my opinion.

I've also ordered the gnocchi there. Bryan thought it was pretty good, although I thought it was a bit mushy and soft. I personally like a much chewier gnocchi - sort of like mochi or Chinese rice cakes. I've only been able to find one restaurant in Boston whose fresh gnocchi has the right chewy consistency that I like (Umbra). In general, I actually like frozen gnocchi better (such as the ones they serve at Il Panino Express or sell at Harvest COOP in the freezer section). So strange so strange.

Update: July 2009
Perhaps my tastes have changed, but I really enjoyed my gnocchi this time around.  The texture was soft but definitely had a bit of a "bite."  The sauce, a simple veal Bolognese, was perfect. 

Over all, Monica's is an excellent restaurant in the North End. We think it beats out most of the competition (and we've tried a lot of restaurants in the North End!). We've highly recommended it to others, and everyone who has tried it loves it and continues to return. Definitely try to go out there for a special occasion!

P.S. They will validate parking at the Central Artery Garage (up to 3 hours for only $3!) That's cheaper than taking the T round trip! Plus you can stop by a pastry shop on the way home.


Originally posted June 13, 2007; Updated July 2009

Dabin

Dabin is a Japanese/Korean Restaurant (seemingly staffed and owned by Chinese) in Lexington Center. I've only been there for lunch, so I can't really comment on the dinner menu.

Dabin is usually pretty empty during lunch on a Saturday, so it's a good place to go with a larger party. You will most likely be seated right away.

My favorite dish at Dabin currently is Chirashi. It only costs $13 and comes with a generous assortment of items on top of the roe-speckled sushi rice. My bowl of chirashi contained shrimp, tuna, salmon, tamago (egg), octopus, and crab stick. I thought the sushi rice mixed with tiny roe (fish eggs) tasted really good, and the toppings were really good as well.

I've also had the dosolt Bibimbop (bibimbop in a hot, stone bowl) which was very tasty.

Over all, a pretty good Japanese/Korean restaurant in Lexington.

Dabin

Dabin is a Japanese/Korean Restaurant (seemingly staffed and owned by Chinese) in Lexington Center. I've only been there for lunch, so I can't really comment on the dinner menu.

Dabin is usually pretty empty during lunch on a Saturday, so it's a good place to go with a larger party. You will most likely be seated right away.

My favorite dish at Dabin currently is Chirashi. It only costs $13 and comes with a generous assortment of items on top of the roe-speckled sushi rice. My bowl of chirashi contained shrimp, tuna, salmon, tamago (egg), octopus, and crab stick. I thought the sushi rice mixed with tiny roe (fish eggs) tasted really good, and the toppings were really good as well.

I've also had the dosolt Bibimbop (bibimbop in a hot, stone bowl) which was very tasty.

Over all, a pretty good Japanese/Korean restaurant in Lexington.

Cafe Sushi

Cafe Sushi is a sushi-focused restaurant on the edge of Harvard Square on Mass Ave, about a 5-minute walk from our home. One of its best kept secrets is the $1/piece Sushi special on Sunday nights. This makes Cafe Sushi one of the cheapest sushi places around (cheaper than Bluefin at Porter Square) and it serves very good sushi.

The restaurant is owned by Japanese people (unlike places such as Fugakyu, Ginza, and even Oishii!). It truly focuses on sushi, as it does not even offer a lot of other typical Japanese dishes, such as tonkatsu, curry rice dishes, and tempura. The restaurant also offers a few hot dishes, such as grilled fish, grilled meat, and various bento boxes.

As for the sushi, the fish slices are not particularly thick. I would equate the sushi to Bluefin. However, the ambiance is fun, the food is delicious, and the prices are cheaper (at least on Sundays, which is the only time we ever go). We've stopped going to Bluefin ever since they remodeled, raised their prices, and charge money for parking.

I really can't comment on any of the other dishes at Cafe Sushi, because we only order sushi when we go. If you're ever in the neighborhood on a Sunday, I would recommend checking this place out.

Cafe Sushi

Cafe Sushi is a sushi-focused restaurant on the edge of Harvard Square on Mass Ave, about a 5-minute walk from our home. One of its best kept secrets is the $1/piece Sushi special on Sunday nights. This makes Cafe Sushi one of the cheapest sushi places around (cheaper than Bluefin at Porter Square) and it serves very good sushi.

The restaurant is owned by Japanese people (unlike places such as Fugakyu, Ginza, and even Oishii!). It truly focuses on sushi, as it does not even offer a lot of other typical Japanese dishes, such as tonkatsu, curry rice dishes, and tempura. The restaurant also offers a few hot dishes, such as grilled fish, grilled meat, and various bento boxes.

As for the sushi, the fish slices are not particularly thick. I would equate the sushi to Bluefin. However, the ambiance is fun, the food is delicious, and the prices are cheaper (at least on Sundays, which is the only time we ever go). We've stopped going to Bluefin ever since they remodeled, raised their prices, and charge money for parking.

I really can't comment on any of the other dishes at Cafe Sushi, because we only order sushi when we go. If you're ever in the neighborhood on a Sunday, I would recommend checking this place out.

Qingdao Garden

Wow, I'm falling behind on the food blogging. It's time to catch up.

Qingdao Garden is a small Northern Chinese restaurant in north Cambridge between Porter Square and Arlington on Mass Ave. We had heard that they had good dumplings, and thus decided to give it a try.

Conclusion: the dumplings are good, the appetizer we got was excellent, but we were disappointed with the stir-fry dish we ordered. We ordered a couple orders of dumplings - a vegetarian spinach dumpling, a pork and leek dumpling, and also their namesake dish, Qingdao Fried dumplings. We also ordered a pork, tofu, and vegetable stir-fry and a cold cucumber salad.

The cucumber salad was excellent. Slices of fresh cucumber tossed with a sesame-oil based sauce and garnished with cilantro. We both really enjoyed that dish a lot.

The dumplings were cheap (about $5 for 12 dumplings) and quite good. I liked how the vegetarian ones were flavorful without feeling too heavy. The meat ones were OK as well. We both agreed that the pan-fried dumplings were better than the boiled ones. The pan fried dumplings are among the best in Boston (which, according to Bryan, is not saying much - I guess he's comparing with California).

The stir-fried tofu and vegetable dish was uneventful. The flavor was a bit boring (salty soy-based gooey sauce) and the dish was a bit oily. We packed it up to go but ended up throwing it out because neither of us really felt like eating it.

Finally, the service was only average. There was only one waitress working at the time, which translated to slow service at times. The clincher for me occurred when I observed the following thing: We had opened the top of our teapot to signal that our tea had gotten cold and we wanted some hot tea. I watched the waitress go into the kitchen, pour the rest of our cold tea into the common tea maker, and then pour out some hot tea from the same container for us. I was a little grossed out by that.

Over all, Bryan said the food wasn't good enough for him to travel "so far" to eat there.

Oh well, it was worth a try.

Qingdao Garden

Wow, I'm falling behind on the food blogging. It's time to catch up.

Qingdao Garden is a small Northern Chinese restaurant in north Cambridge between Porter Square and Arlington on Mass Ave. We had heard that they had good dumplings, and thus decided to give it a try.

Conclusion: the dumplings are good, the appetizer we got was excellent, but we were disappointed with the stir-fry dish we ordered. We ordered a couple orders of dumplings - a vegetarian spinach dumpling, a pork and leek dumpling, and also their namesake dish, Qingdao Fried dumplings. We also ordered a pork, tofu, and vegetable stir-fry and a cold cucumber salad.

The cucumber salad was excellent. Slices of fresh cucumber tossed with a sesame-oil based sauce and garnished with cilantro. We both really enjoyed that dish a lot.

The dumplings were cheap (about $5 for 12 dumplings) and quite good. I liked how the vegetarian ones were flavorful without feeling too heavy. The meat ones were OK as well. We both agreed that the pan-fried dumplings were better than the boiled ones. The pan fried dumplings are among the best in Boston (which, according to Bryan, is not saying much - I guess he's comparing with California).

The stir-fried tofu and vegetable dish was uneventful. The flavor was a bit boring (salty soy-based gooey sauce) and the dish was a bit oily. We packed it up to go but ended up throwing it out because neither of us really felt like eating it.

Finally, the service was only average. There was only one waitress working at the time, which translated to slow service at times. The clincher for me occurred when I observed the following thing: We had opened the top of our teapot to signal that our tea had gotten cold and we wanted some hot tea. I watched the waitress go into the kitchen, pour the rest of our cold tea into the common tea maker, and then pour out some hot tea from the same container for us. I was a little grossed out by that.

Over all, Bryan said the food wasn't good enough for him to travel "so far" to eat there.

Oh well, it was worth a try.

FuLoon Restaurant

On Friday night, based on my sister's recommendation, my parents, my sister and her husband, Bryan and I trekked out to Malden to check out this restaurant.

Our conclusion? The chefs at FuLoon know what they are doing. The food is authentic and expertly prepared. The local Chinese population attests to this - over three quarters of the diners were Asian. The restaurant specializes in a type of Chinese cuisine with which I am not as familiar - it's not your typical Cantonese fare.

We ordered a Jingdu pork pancake, a twist on the normal scallion pancake. Instead of scallions, the pancake is filled with little bits of ground pork. Most people thought this was very good.

FuLoon also makes an excellent Madarin style whole fish. The entire fish is lightly dusted with cornstarch, deep-fried, and covered with a flavorful sauce. The dish was well executed - the fish stayed crunchy while the sauce coated and flavored the individual fish pieces. This dish was several people's favorite dish out of all the ones that we ordered.

We enjoyed the stir-fried congxin tsai (hollow heart vegetable) with garlic, which was expertly executed.

Bryan suggested ordering the tea-smoke duck, which is one of his favorite dishes. The "smoke" flavor in this duck was particularly strong. My brother in law remarked that it smells like someone started smoking and blew the cigarette fumes onto the duck. I'm not sure if it was THAT strong, but the smoke flavor was definitely VERY intense. Bryan thought it was tasty. My mother (who eats pretty light in general) thought the dish was too salty.

The waitress had recommended the homestyle steamed pork shoulder, saying that it was one of their specialties. I actually did not try this dish, but several people thought the flavor was a bit bland and that they had tasted better versions of this dish in other restaurants.

Over all, the food at this restaurant was good. If you're in the area and you're craving some good Chinese food, it's definitely worth the visit. The food is authentic, refreshingly different, and well prepared. I've been told to order off the Chinese menu (the one with all the pictures). Apparently they also serve a lunch buffet, which is more Americanized and not as good.

http://fuloon-restaurant.com/default.aspx

FuLoon Restaurant

On Friday night, based on my sister's recommendation, my parents, my sister and her husband, Bryan and I trekked out to Malden to check out this restaurant.

Our conclusion? The chefs at FuLoon know what they are doing. The food is authentic and expertly prepared. The local Chinese population attests to this - over three quarters of the diners were Asian. The restaurant specializes in a type of Chinese cuisine with which I am not as familiar - it's not your typical Cantonese fare.

We ordered a Jingdu pork pancake, a twist on the normal scallion pancake. Instead of scallions, the pancake is filled with little bits of ground pork. Most people thought this was very good.

FuLoon also makes an excellent Madarin style whole fish. The entire fish is lightly dusted with cornstarch, deep-fried, and covered with a flavorful sauce. The dish was well executed - the fish stayed crunchy while the sauce coated and flavored the individual fish pieces. This dish was several people's favorite dish out of all the ones that we ordered.

We enjoyed the stir-fried congxin tsai (hollow heart vegetable) with garlic, which was expertly executed.

Bryan suggested ordering the tea-smoke duck, which is one of his favorite dishes. The "smoke" flavor in this duck was particularly strong. My brother in law remarked that it smells like someone started smoking and blew the cigarette fumes onto the duck. I'm not sure if it was THAT strong, but the smoke flavor was definitely VERY intense. Bryan thought it was tasty. My mother (who eats pretty light in general) thought the dish was too salty.

The waitress had recommended the homestyle steamed pork shoulder, saying that it was one of their specialties. I actually did not try this dish, but several people thought the flavor was a bit bland and that they had tasted better versions of this dish in other restaurants.

Over all, the food at this restaurant was good. If you're in the area and you're craving some good Chinese food, it's definitely worth the visit. The food is authentic, refreshingly different, and well prepared. I've been told to order off the Chinese menu (the one with all the pictures). Apparently they also serve a lunch buffet, which is more Americanized and not as good.

http://fuloon-restaurant.com/default.aspx

Stone Hearth Pizza

Stone Hearth Pizza was started by two MBA students last year. With an aim to reach the "underserved suburban markets," Stone Hearth Pizza has opened up in Sudbury, Needham, and Belmont. They buy fresh, local ingredients from nearby farms.

We went there recently with Bryan's parents to visit his aunt, who lives in Needham. We shared 5 pizzas were all very pleased with the food. The thin-crust pies are individual sized (they fit on a plate) and are quickly fired in the brick oven. What emerges is a delightfully crispy pizza topped with farm fresh ingredients. Many people picked as their favorite pizza the asparagus, arugula, and mushroom pizza (a special of the day). Another favorite was the "farm fresh" pizza, which contains fresh, local vegetables from the farm. Our farm fresh pizza had artichokes, roasted red peppers, arugula, tomatoes, and fresh mozarella cheese.

The restaurant has a decent choice of wine, beer, and even sparking wine as well (which is what I ordered). They also sell pizano (similar to a calzone) and gelato.

We enjoyed all the pizzas that we ordered at Stone Hearth. Although Bryan said he still liked Upper Crust better (and I agree), we still agreed that the pizza was very good and that if we were in the area, we would definitely return.

Stone Hearth Pizza

Stone Hearth Pizza was started by two MBA students last year. With an aim to reach the "underserved suburban markets," Stone Hearth Pizza has opened up in Sudbury, Needham, and Belmont. They buy fresh, local ingredients from nearby farms.

We went there recently with Bryan's parents to visit his aunt, who lives in Needham. We shared 5 pizzas were all very pleased with the food. The thin-crust pies are individual sized (they fit on a plate) and are quickly fired in the brick oven. What emerges is a delightfully crispy pizza topped with farm fresh ingredients. Many people picked as their favorite pizza the asparagus, arugula, and mushroom pizza (a special of the day). Another favorite was the "farm fresh" pizza, which contains fresh, local vegetables from the farm. Our farm fresh pizza had artichokes, roasted red peppers, arugula, tomatoes, and fresh mozarella cheese.

The restaurant has a decent choice of wine, beer, and even sparking wine as well (which is what I ordered). They also sell pizano (similar to a calzone) and gelato.

We enjoyed all the pizzas that we ordered at Stone Hearth. Although Bryan said he still liked Upper Crust better (and I agree), we still agreed that the pizza was very good and that if we were in the area, we would definitely return.

New Ginza

We went to New Ginza this weekend with the extended family, who were here for my graduation this past weekend. It was a great dining experience, and I will definitely return.

Many members of my family ordered the Bento box, which was a steal at $16.95. Included in the Bento box are a bowl of miso soup, two skewers with grilled meat (beef and chicken), a salad, 5 pieces of sashimi (tuna and salmon), a few pieces of shrimp tempura, a California roll, pickled vegetables, and ice cream. I tried the salmon sashimi from the bento box (hee hee, neither my sister nor mom eat sashimi, so I helped them out ;) and it was very fresh and tasty.

Bryan and I also ordered several different maki rolls. Ginza has several unusual and inventive rolls that you won't see anywhere else. For example, we ordered the Super Crazy Maki Roll, which had raw fish, cilantro, jalapeno, avocado, and several other ingredients (which I can't remember) all wrapped in a thin daikon sheet. All the maki rolls were expertly made and all were delicious.

The green tea ice cream that came with the bento box was good. We tried to order the fried ice cream, but unfortunately, they had run out.

Over all, I would highly recommend this restaurant. The prices were reasonable - typical for a nicer sushi restaurant.

New Ginza

We went to New Ginza this weekend with the extended family, who were here for my graduation this past weekend. It was a great dining experience, and I will definitely return.

Many members of my family ordered the Bento box, which was a steal at $16.95. Included in the Bento box are a bowl of miso soup, two skewers with grilled meat (beef and chicken), a salad, 5 pieces of sashimi (tuna and salmon), a few pieces of shrimp tempura, a California roll, pickled vegetables, and ice cream. I tried the salmon sashimi from the bento box (hee hee, neither my sister nor mom eat sashimi, so I helped them out ;) and it was very fresh and tasty.

Bryan and I also ordered several different maki rolls. Ginza has several unusual and inventive rolls that you won't see anywhere else. For example, we ordered the Super Crazy Maki Roll, which had raw fish, cilantro, jalapeno, avocado, and several other ingredients (which I can't remember) all wrapped in a thin daikon sheet. All the maki rolls were expertly made and all were delicious.

The green tea ice cream that came with the bento box was good. We tried to order the fried ice cream, but unfortunately, they had run out.

Over all, I would highly recommend this restaurant. The prices were reasonable - typical for a nicer sushi restaurant.

The Garden at the Cellar

update: click here for an updated post on this restaurant from 2009

Tonight Bryan and I tried out a new local restaurant and we both absolutely LOVED it. This falls into the category of a Basta Pasta type discovery. It's THAT good, and truly still one of the best kept secrets of Cambridge, I think. Best thing is, the prices are very reasonable for the quality of food, and the restaurant is about a 3 minute walk from our house.

The chef, Will Gilson, previously worked at Oleana (one of Zagat's 10 best restaurants in Boston for food) before coming to cook for The Garden at the Cellar. If you've been to Oleana, you may notice haunting similarities in the way the menu is set up. For example, there are small plates (like the pret a manger at Oleana), normal appetizers, salads, pizzas, and main entrees. The Garden is different in that the focus seems to be less Mediteranean and more of an eclectic mix with an American comfort food focus. For example, you can add a grilled cheddar sandwich to any of the soups for an additional $2.

Beet Salad

The food is excellent. As a start, Bryan ordered the pureed carrot soup with the grilled cheddar sandwich. The soup was very good, and portion size was enormous - probably about double a typical bowl size. We easily shared the soup and the grilled cheese sandwich, which was perfectly grilled and oozing with flavorful cheese.

Bryan ordered the grilled hangar steak (which comes over a bed of pureed parsnips and sauteed spinach). He said that the steak was expertly cooked (medium rare) and had good flavor. The portion size for that too, was very generous, and Bryan was only able to eat about half.

Oh, but I left out the best part! The rosemary truffle fries that came with the steak. Both Bryan and I agreed that these were the best French fries either of us had ever eaten in our lives! Not only was the texture perfect, the flavors were incredible. Truffle oil and rosemary is an absolutely delectable combination. Each fry, infused with this fragrant blend of flavors, provided a near-euphoric experience with each bite. We could not stop eating the fries. Bryan even decided to stop eating his steak to finish off the fries.

I decided to get the sample platter of the appetizers. Out of the four I ordered, the home-made tater tots were by far the most interesting. Unlike a typical tater tot, Gilson's tater tots are crunchy golf balls with creamy and fluffy insides. Imagine bighting into a lightly golden fried pillow of mashed potatoes.

I also ordered the parsnip puree, which was very flavorful and intense. Parsnips are naturally quite fragrant and sweet. When pureed with butter, the combination tastes almost as rich as caramel buttered popcorn. I thought it was delicious, although a bit heavy. I also ordered the roasted beats, which were fresh, flavorful, and good. Finally, I ordered the sauteed Swiss chard. I was not especially impressed with this dish. It reminded me of the collard greens that I've ordered at places like Cracker Barrel - overcooked leafy greens that resembled boiled vegetables sitting in a film of oil. It was OK, but not something I'd order again.

Spaghetti Carbonara

Over all, we thought the food here was absolutely amazing. Most of the appetizers range from $3-$10, the pizzas (flatbreads) are $10-$12, and the entrees are $18-$20. All in all, very reasonable prices for truly exquisite cuisine. If nothing else, go sit at the bar, order beer on tap, and get the French fries, which cost less than $5.

Boston Globe Review

The Garden at the Cellar

update: click here for an updated post on this restaurant from 2009

Tonight Bryan and I tried out a new local restaurant and we both absolutely LOVED it. This falls into the category of a Basta Pasta type discovery. It's THAT good, and truly still one of the best kept secrets of Cambridge, I think. Best thing is, the prices are very reasonable for the quality of food, and the restaurant is about a 3 minute walk from our house.

The chef, Will Gilson, previously worked at Oleana (one of Zagat's 10 best restaurants in Boston for food) before coming to cook for The Garden at the Cellar. If you've been to Oleana, you may notice haunting similarities in the way the menu is set up. For example, there are small plates (like the pret a manger at Oleana), normal appetizers, salads, pizzas, and main entrees. The Garden is different in that the focus seems to be less Mediteranean and more of an eclectic mix with an American comfort food focus. For example, you can add a grilled cheddar sandwich to any of the soups for an additional $2.

The food is excellent. As a start, Bryan ordered the pureed carrot soup with the grilled cheddar sandwich. The soup was very good, and portion size was enormous - probably about double a typical bowl size. We easily shared the soup and the grilled cheese sandwich, which was perfectly grilled and oozing with flavorful cheese.

Bryan ordered the grilled hangar steak (which comes over a bed of pureed parsnips and sauteed spinach). He said that the steak was expertly cooked (medium rare) and had good flavor. The portion size for that too, was very generous, and Bryan was only able to eat about half.

Oh, but I left out the best part! The rosemary truffle fries that came with the steak. Both Bryan and I agreed that these were the best French fries either of us had ever eaten in our lives! Not only was the texture perfect, the flavors were incredible. Truffle oil and rosemary is an absolutely delectable combination. Each fry, infused with this fragrant blend of flavors, provided a near-euphoric experience with each bite. We could not stop eating the fries. Bryan even decided to stop eating his steak to finish off the fries.

I decided to get the sample platter of the appetizers. Out of the four I ordered, the home-made tater tots were by far the most interesting. Unlike a typical tater tot, Gilson's tater tots are crunchy golf balls with creamy and fluffy insides. Imagine bighting into a lightly golden fried pillow of mashed potatoes.

I also ordered the parsnip puree, which was very flavorful and intense. Parsnips are naturally quite fragrant and sweet. When pureed with butter, the combination tastes almost as rich as caramel buttered popcorn. I thought it was delicious, although a bit heavy. I also ordered the roasted beats, which were fresh, flavorful, and good. Finally, I ordered the sauteed Swiss chard. I was not especially impressed with this dish. It reminded me of the collard greens that I've ordered at places like Cracker Barrel - overcooked leafy greens that resembled boiled vegetables sitting in a film of oil. It was OK, but not something I'd order again.

Over all, we thought the food here was absolutely amazing. Most of the appetizers range from $3-$10, the pizzas (flatbreads) are $10-$12, and the entrees are $18-$20. All in all, very reasonable prices for truly exquisite cuisine. If nothing else, go sit at the bar, order beer on tap, and get the French fries, which cost less than $5.

Boston Globe Review

Sandrine's Bistro

Sandrine's Bistro is a French restaurant tucked away on one of the side streets in Harvard Square. We decided to go there because Bryan felt like having a nice, relaxing meal after our four hour walk from Lexington, MA.

It was Mother's Day, and thus the menu was Prix fixe only. I finally decided to order the lobster risotto with truffles as my entree and scallops ceviche (raw but "cooked" in vinegar or citrus juice). Bryan ordered the truffle foie gras appetizer and the grilled rack of lamb.

Appetizer
The food was very good. The warm French bread was crusty on the outside but soft on the inside. I couldn't stop eating it, even though I knew I was ruining my appetite. For a French restaurant, the serving sizes were very generous. I probably had about 25 baby scallops in my scallops ceviche. The scallops tasted fresh and had good texture. Bryan's foie gras was also the biggest foie gras I had ever seen at a restaurant. It was about 3/4 inch thick and the size of a piece of toast. It came with a couple slices of toasted bread. I don't like foie gras, and personally, I couldn't taste the truffles. However, Bryan thought it was pretty good.

Main Entree
My lobster risotto was also very well made. Again, the portion sizes were very generous. My risotto was filled with fresh lobster meat and covered with slices of truffles. Although I was hoping for a stronger truffle flavor, the flavors in this dish were actually well balanced and blended together nicely. Bryan's lamb was also tasty, grilled to perfection.

Dessert
Dessert was heavenly. Bryan ordered the lemon tarte. Visually, it looked like the lemon tarts that I often see at company events catered by a hotel. However, this lemon tart was surprisingly different, and much better. The lemon portion of the tart was light and fluffy, not dense and custard-like. It was almost like eating clouds of cream bursting with lemon-y citrus bliss coupled with pieces of buttery cookie-crust. I liked it so much, I kept stealing some from Bryan. I ordered the flourless chocolate cake, which is similar to the molten chocolate cake offered at many fancy restaurants. The cake here was excellent. The center was warm and slightly gooey, and the cake itself had a dark rich flavor that wasn't too sweet. It was perfect. I couldn't stop eating my own dessert either! Again, back to what I said about generous portions, this was probably the largest molten chocolate cake I had ever seen in a fancy restaurant. Nevertheless, we polished off both desserts without a problem. We also both had coffee, which was good. It matched the desserts perfectly.

I guess it was a good thing we walked 10 miles that day. Otherwise, we'd be feeling pretty guilty about this excellent meal that we had.

Sandrine's Bistro

Sandrine's Bistro is a French restaurant tucked away on one of the side streets in Harvard Square. We decided to go there because Bryan felt like having a nice, relaxing meal after our four hour walk from Lexington, MA.

It was Mother's Day, and thus the menu was Prix fixe only. I finally decided to order the lobster risotto with truffles as my entree and scallops ceviche (raw but "cooked" in vinegar or citrus juice). Bryan ordered the truffle foie gras appetizer and the grilled rack of lamb.

Appetizer
The food was very good. The warm French bread was crusty on the outside but soft on the inside. I couldn't stop eating it, even though I knew I was ruining my appetite. For a French restaurant, the serving sizes were very generous. I probably had about 25 baby scallops in my scallops ceviche. The scallops tasted fresh and had good texture. Bryan's foie gras was also the biggest foie gras I had ever seen at a restaurant. It was about 3/4 inch thick and the size of a piece of toast. It came with a couple slices of toasted bread. I don't like foie gras, and personally, I couldn't taste the truffles. However, Bryan thought it was pretty good.

Main Entree
My lobster risotto was also very well made. Again, the portion sizes were very generous. My risotto was filled with fresh lobster meat and covered with slices of truffles. Although I was hoping for a stronger truffle flavor, the flavors in this dish were actually well balanced and blended together nicely. Bryan's lamb was also tasty, grilled to perfection.

Dessert
Dessert was heavenly. Bryan ordered the lemon tarte. Visually, it looked like the lemon tarts that I often see at company events catered by a hotel. However, this lemon tart was surprisingly different, and much better. The lemon portion of the tart was light and fluffy, not dense and custard-like. It was almost like eating clouds of cream bursting with lemon-y citrus bliss coupled with pieces of buttery cookie-crust. I liked it so much, I kept stealing some from Bryan. I ordered the flourless chocolate cake, which is similar to the molten chocolate cake offered at many fancy restaurants. The cake here was excellent. The center was warm and slightly gooey, and the cake itself had a dark rich flavor that wasn't too sweet. It was perfect. I couldn't stop eating my own dessert either! Again, back to what I said about generous portions, this was probably the largest molten chocolate cake I had ever seen in a fancy restaurant. Nevertheless, we polished off both desserts without a problem. We also both had coffee, which was good. It matched the desserts perfectly.

I guess it was a good thing we walked 10 miles that day. Otherwise, we'd be feeling pretty guilty about this excellent meal that we had.

Oleana

We went to Oleana semi-spontaneously last Wednesday night after I received the letter saying that I had passed the Bar exam. Zagat's Survey recently rated Oleana as one of the top ten restaurants in Boston for food.

As there were no reservations available until after 9 PM, we decided to go sit at the bar. Unlike at Chez Henri (to be reviewed later), the "bar" at Oleana consists only of the stools surrounding the bar. (At Chez Henri the "bar" is a separate adjoining room that has a bar, but also includes several tables at which one can sit). Not knowing this, I sat down at a table in the room with the bar for several minutes before a waiter, upon finding out that I had no reservation, politely showed me the bar stools.

The food was, as always, absolutely excellent. Oleana's dinner menu is divided into several categories: Pret a Manger (small, snack-like appetizers, $4-$5), Appetizers ($10-$12), Grains or Greens ($8/$15), and Main Entrees ($23-$26). Additionally, they have a Vegetarian Tasting Menu, which consists of 5 mini-dishes and a dessert. They are famous for their Baked Alaska dessert.

Being one who loves variety, I decided to ordered the vegetarian tasting platter. The chef chooses the five vegetarian plates at her whim. These five items from the menu, and could be chosen from the pret a mangers, appetizers, or side dishes on the menu. Bryan ordered the special of the day, which was a parmesan encrusted pork loin with a fava and beet salad on the side. He also ordered an appetizer, the Walnut & Sesame Fatayer (a flat bread) with Homemade Mozzarella & Rhubarb Jam.

My 5 "mezzes" were absolutely excellent. I had two favorites. The first was the Asparagus, Green Almond Pesto, and Fava Puree appetizer. The asparagus was lightly grilled, and together with the pesto and the fava puree, created a perfect blend of flavors with each bite.

We also really liked my first course, which I think was the Whipped Feta with Sweet & Hot Peppers. This spread was creamy and spicy and utterly addictive. It came with crackers, and we could not stop eating it. Very tasty albeit a bit salty. I would definitely eat it with bread.

I also got the Warm Organic Kalamata Olives with Rigani & Sesame Seeds, which was good.

My other two courses, Spinach Falafel, Tahini, Yogurt with Beets & Mâche and a rice noodle dish were my least favorite. The falafel was fine, although I did not think it tasted any better than a falafel from a food truck. In fact, it was a bit mushy and cold, so arguably not as good.

The rice noodle dish was weird. It was a fusion of normal rice noodles, but with an interesting flavor that I actually can't remember. All I could remember thinking was - I miss the fried rice noodles from the Taiwanese restaurants.

Bryan's pork was very well made - the inside was juicy and tender and the parmesan crust was delicious. The fava and beet salad also tasted fresh, healthy, and flavorful.

Over all, this is an excellent restaurant and a good place to try some innovative Mediterranean food. This is probably my third time at the restaurant, but I would gladly go back again and I definitely recommend going.

Note - the Deviled Eggs with Tuna & Black Olives is one of their most famous "Prets" (Pret a Manger) and is surprisingly really good. If it's your first time, you should order that. Oh, and if you like spicy, you should get the Whipped Feta with Sweet & Hot Peppers! Make sure to finish with the baked Alaska!

Oleana

We went to Oleana semi-spontaneously last Wednesday night after I received the letter saying that I had passed the Bar exam. Zagat's Survey recently rated Oleana as one of the top ten restaurants in Boston for food.

As there were no reservations available until after 9 PM, we decided to go sit at the bar. Unlike at Chez Henri (to be reviewed later), the "bar" at Oleana consists only of the stools surrounding the bar. (At Chez Henri the "bar" is a separate adjoining room that has a bar, but also includes several tables at which one can sit). Not knowing this, I sat down at a table in the room with the bar for several minutes before a waiter, upon finding out that I had no reservation, politely showed me the bar stools.

The food was, as always, absolutely excellent. Oleana's dinner menu is divided into several categories: Pret a Manger (small, snack-like appetizers, $4-$5), Appetizers ($10-$12), Grains or Greens ($8/$15), and Main Entrees ($23-$26). Additionally, they have a Vegetarian Tasting Menu, which consists of 5 mini-dishes and a dessert. They are famous for their Baked Alaska dessert.

Being one who loves variety, I decided to ordered the vegetarian tasting platter. The chef chooses the five vegetarian plates at her whim. These five items from the menu, and could be chosen from the pret a mangers, appetizers, or side dishes on the menu. Bryan ordered the special of the day, which was a parmesan encrusted pork loin with a fava and beet salad on the side. He also ordered an appetizer, the Walnut & Sesame Fatayer (a flat bread) with Homemade Mozzarella & Rhubarb Jam.

My 5 "mezzes" were absolutely excellent. I had two favorites. The first was the Asparagus, Green Almond Pesto, and Fava Puree appetizer. The asparagus was lightly grilled, and together with the pesto and the fava puree, created a perfect blend of flavors with each bite.

We also really liked my first course, which I think was the Whipped Feta with Sweet & Hot Peppers. This spread was creamy and spicy and utterly addictive. It came with crackers, and we could not stop eating it. Very tasty albeit a bit salty. I would definitely eat it with bread.

I also got the Warm Organic Kalamata Olives with Rigani & Sesame Seeds, which was good.

My other two courses, Spinach Falafel, Tahini, Yogurt with Beets & Mâche and a rice noodle dish were my least favorite. The falafel was fine, although I did not think it tasted any better than a falafel from a food truck. In fact, it was a bit mushy and cold, so arguably not as good.

The rice noodle dish was weird. It was a fusion of normal rice noodles, but with an interesting flavor that I actually can't remember. All I could remember thinking was - I miss the fried rice noodles from the Taiwanese restaurants.

Bryan's pork was very well made - the inside was juicy and tender and the parmesan crust was delicious. The fava and beet salad also tasted fresh, healthy, and flavorful.

Over all, this is an excellent restaurant and a good place to try some innovative Mediterranean food. This is probably my third time at the restaurant, but I would gladly go back again and I definitely recommend going.

Note - the Deviled Eggs with Tuna & Black Olives is one of their most famous "Prets" (Pret a Manger) and is surprisingly really good. If it's your first time, you should order that. Oh, and if you like spicy, you should get the Whipped Feta with Sweet & Hot Peppers! Make sure to finish with the baked Alaska!

Il Panino Express

Il Panino Express is a casual, Italian restaurant right across the street from our condo. The food is fast, consistently good, and cheap. If we're short on time, it's definitely our favorite place to eat. You order food at the counter and then they call your name when it's ready - which is usually within 5 minutes. There's usually plenty of seating available.

Sandwiches
Their sandwiches are very good only cost $5.95. Their namesake sandwich, the Il Panino, contains proscuitto (imported from Italy), tomatoes, basil, and fresh homemade mozarella. It is probably the sandwich I order the most often. If you're vegetarian, you can opt for the Il Panino Lady, which omits the proscuitto. Their chicken parmesan sub is awesome - probably my favorite chicken parm sandwich in the city. The tomato sauce that accompanies the breaded chicken is fresh and not too acidic, adding balanced moisture to the sandwich. The chicken is piping hot and also tender and juicy. It's truly an amazing sandwich.

Salads
We always get the same salad when we go - the tomato basil and mozarella salad (Insalata Caprese at other restaurants). It's a simple salad - sliced tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, their own fresh homemade mozarella slices, and olive oil. I absolutely love their mozarella. Sometimes I wish the tomatoes were a bit more ripe - it feels like they use hard, refrigerated tomatoes. Besides that, however, the salad is quite enjoyable.

Pizzas
They also have excellent pizzas. We actually slightly prefer their pizzas to those at Basta Pasta, another restaurant that we love. Our favorite pizza is the artichoke, proscuitto, and mushroom pizza.

Pastas and Main Dishes
Of course, the hot dishes are excellent. Our favorite meat dish is the veal calabresello, which is breaded veal, spinach, and fontina cheese cooked with a fragrant marsala sauce over pasta. It's very flavorful. We also like the pesto gnocchi a lot. The texture of the gnocchi is nice and chewy and the pesto sauce has good flavor. They also offer a variety of seafood, such as clams, mussels, and shrimp. We've had the mussels with liguini, which was good.

Their lunch specials are usually a good value at $6.25. Bryan will often get those when he is working from home.

Over all, Il Panino is a great place to get good food at a great value. Although they don't have fresh pasta nor waitstaff, we still enjoy going there because the dishes are tasty, the food comes quickly, and the prices are very reasonable . . . oh, and it's a 3 minute walk from our house. :P

Il Panino Express

Il Panino Express is a casual, Italian restaurant right across the street from our condo. The food is fast, consistently good, and cheap. If we're short on time, it's definitely our favorite place to eat. You order food at the counter and then they call your name when it's ready - which is usually within 5 minutes. There's usually plenty of seating available.

Sandwiches
Their sandwiches are very good only cost $5.95. Their namesake sandwich, the Il Panino, contains proscuitto (imported from Italy), tomatoes, basil, and fresh homemade mozarella. It is probably the sandwich I order the most often. If you're vegetarian, you can opt for the Il Panino Lady, which omits the proscuitto. Their chicken parmesan sub is awesome - probably my favorite chicken parm sandwich in the city. The tomato sauce that accompanies the breaded chicken is fresh and not too acidic, adding balanced moisture to the sandwich. The chicken is piping hot and also tender and juicy. It's truly an amazing sandwich.

Salads
We always get the same salad when we go - the tomato basil and mozarella salad (Insalata Caprese at other restaurants). It's a simple salad - sliced tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, their own fresh homemade mozarella slices, and olive oil. I absolutely love their mozarella. Sometimes I wish the tomatoes were a bit more ripe - it feels like they use hard, refrigerated tomatoes. Besides that, however, the salad is quite enjoyable.

Pizzas
They also have excellent pizzas. We actually slightly prefer their pizzas to those at Basta Pasta, another restaurant that we love. Our favorite pizza is the artichoke, proscuitto, and mushroom pizza.

Pastas and Main Dishes
Of course, the hot dishes are excellent. Our favorite meat dish is the veal calabresello, which is breaded veal, spinach, and fontina cheese cooked with a fragrant marsala sauce over pasta. It's very flavorful. We also like the pesto gnocchi a lot. The texture of the gnocchi is nice and chewy and the pesto sauce has good flavor. They also offer a variety of seafood, such as clams, mussels, and shrimp. We've had the mussels with liguini, which was good.

Their lunch specials are usually a good value at $6.25. Bryan will often get those when he is working from home.

Over all, Il Panino is a great place to get good food at a great value. Although they don't have fresh pasta nor waitstaff, we still enjoy going there because the dishes are tasty, the food comes quickly, and the prices are very reasonable . . . oh, and it's a 3 minute walk from our house. :P

Basta Pasta

Basta Pasta is a small, "hole in the wall" Italian place that I would have called a best kept secret a year ago, except now the word has really gotten out. The restaurant sits on Western Avenue close to the intersection with Putnam Avenue in Cambridgeport. An Italian flag with the word "OPEN" hangs right outside the door inviting customers inside. The restaurant is small, containing only 3 booths and 3 tables.

The restaurant is owned by Reno and Altin Hoxallari, brothers from Albania. Reno spent about 10 years working in some of Boston's well known high end restaurants before finally deciding to branch out on his own. His attention to detail and insistence on fresh ingredients is apparent in all the food at Basta Pasta. The Hoxallaris roast all their own peppers (nothing from cans or jars!), create their own soups from scratch, make their own dressing (the Caesar salad dressing is excellent), and cook all the pasta dishes one at a time to order. The proscuitto is imported from Italy, and the hamburgers are freshly made on the spot from ground beef. French fries are created from hand-cut potatoes.

If you're lucky, they will be featuring a special. Reno creates amazing specials, dishes reminiscent of the type he used to make in the fancy restaurants across the river. These dishes are usually priced well under $20 - truly a steal at that price. Examples of specials we've had include meat dishes, such as roasted leg of lamb with broccoli rabe and risotto and roasted duck with mashed potatoes and asparagus; pasta dishes, such as homemade lobster ravioli, pasta with shrimp and tomatoes and pasta with sausage and broccoli rabe; and seasonal dishes, such as butternut squash risotto.

If there is no special that day, ("everything's special!" according to Altin) you can still order off the regular menu. Most of the regular dishes range between $6-$11. The sandwiches are around $6 and the pizzas around $10. These dishes are excellent. Homemade fresh pasta is usually our favorite option. Our favorites include the squash olives (fresh pasta tossed with a lot of garlic, olive oil, arugula, tomatoes, and olives), the bolognese (meat sauce), and the baked stuffed eggplant (layers of thinkly sliced eggplant baked with spinach, breading, and cheese - excellent dish). The chicken with broccoli dish with olive oil is also delicious - we often ask them to add a little bit of hot pepper flakes to it to make it spicy. We also love the arancini (deep fried risotto balls filled with cheese) and the calamari (not fried - squid stewed in a flavorful tomato sauce). Many of our friends rave about the garlic bread. The pizzas are also very good. They have several creative flavors, including a proscuitto and gouda pizza and also a pesto chicken pizza.

We love this place and go at least once a week. We will often order food for dinner gatherings as well. They cater and are actually able to make food for several hundred people. They are very willing to tailor any dish according to your preferences. As an example, we went with a Singaporean friend who really liked spicy food. Reno and Altin whipped out their hottest pepper that they had imported from Japan. The dish was super spicy but very flavorful - our Singaporean friend was happy, although sweating quite a bit during the meal!

You might ask if there are any negatives to this place. Well, they don't serve alcohol (so no wine with dinner), and they don't have ice. Drinks come from a refrigerator that contains a variety of bottled drinks (Coke, San Pellegrino, Nantucket Nectars, Aquafina). If the drinks happen not to be very cold, there's no ice to solve the problem. The general everyday menu does not include a lot of the seafood dishes you would typically expect at a North End restaurant, such as mussels, clams, shrimp, and fish.

Over all, however, the restaurant is excellent and the prices are very reasonable. The atmosphere is casual. You go up to the counter, order your food, and then pick it up from the counter when they call your name. You essentially bus your own table and get your own drinks. We continue to return because we think it's totally worth it for the food. Did I mention that we didn't visit the North End for over a year after we discovered this place?

Other reviews of Basta Pasta
Boston Globe Restaurant Review
Boston Globe "Short Orders"
Boston Globe "Two for $20"

Basta Pasta

Basta Pasta is a small, "hole in the wall" Italian place that I would have called a best kept secret a year ago, except now the word has really gotten out. The restaurant sits on Western Avenue close to the intersection with Putnam Avenue in Cambridgeport. An Italian flag with the word "OPEN" hangs right outside the door inviting customers inside. The restaurant is small, containing only 3 booths and 3 tables.

The restaurant is owned by Reno and Altin Hoxallari, brothers from Albania. Reno spent about 10 years working in some of Boston's well known high end restaurants before finally deciding to branch out on his own. His attention to detail and insistence on fresh ingredients is apparent in all the food at Basta Pasta. The Hoxallaris roast all their own peppers (nothing from cans or jars!), create their own soups from scratch, make their own dressing (the Caesar salad dressing is excellent), and cook all the pasta dishes one at a time to order. The proscuitto is imported from Italy, and the hamburgers are freshly made on the spot from ground beef. French fries are created from hand-cut potatoes.

If you're lucky, they will be featuring a special. Reno creates amazing specials, dishes reminiscent of the type he used to make in the fancy restaurants across the river. These dishes are usually priced well under $20 - truly a steal at that price. Examples of specials we've had include meat dishes, such as roasted leg of lamb with broccoli rabe and risotto and roasted duck with mashed potatoes and asparagus; pasta dishes, such as homemade lobster ravioli, pasta with shrimp and tomatoes and pasta with sausage and broccoli rabe; and seasonal dishes, such as butternut squash risotto.

If there is no special that day, ("everything's special!" according to Altin) you can still order off the regular menu. Most of the regular dishes range between $6-$11. The sandwiches are around $6 and the pizzas around $10. These dishes are excellent. Homemade fresh pasta is usually our favorite option. Our favorites include the squash olives (fresh pasta tossed with a lot of garlic, olive oil, arugula, tomatoes, and olives), the bolognese (meat sauce), and the baked stuffed eggplant (layers of thinkly sliced eggplant baked with spinach, breading, and cheese - excellent dish). The chicken with broccoli dish with olive oil is also delicious - we often ask them to add a little bit of hot pepper flakes to it to make it spicy. We also love the arancini (deep fried risotto balls filled with cheese) and the calamari (not fried - squid stewed in a flavorful tomato sauce). Many of our friends rave about the garlic bread. The pizzas are also very good. They have several creative flavors, including a proscuitto and gouda pizza and also a pesto chicken pizza.

We love this place and go at least once a week. We will often order food for dinner gatherings as well. They cater and are actually able to make food for several hundred people. They are very willing to tailor any dish according to your preferences. As an example, we went with a Singaporean friend who really liked spicy food. Reno and Altin whipped out their hottest pepper that they had imported from Japan. The dish was super spicy but very flavorful - our Singaporean friend was happy, although sweating quite a bit during the meal!

You might ask if there are any negatives to this place. Well, they don't serve alcohol (so no wine with dinner), and they don't have ice. Drinks come from a refrigerator that contains a variety of bottled drinks (Coke, San Pellegrino, Nantucket Nectars, Aquafina). If the drinks happen not to be very cold, there's no ice to solve the problem. The general everyday menu does not include a lot of the seafood dishes you would typically expect at a North End restaurant, such as mussels, clams, shrimp, and fish.

Over all, however, the restaurant is excellent and the prices are very reasonable. The atmosphere is casual. You go up to the counter, order your food, and then pick it up from the counter when they call your name. You essentially bus your own table and get your own drinks. We continue to return because we think it's totally worth it for the food. Did I mention that we didn't visit the North End for over a year after we discovered this place?

Other reviews of Basta Pasta
Boston Globe Restaurant Review
Boston Globe "Short Orders"
Boston Globe "Two for $20"

Texas Roadhouse

Texas Roadhouse is located in the parking area in Everett near the Home Depot, Costco, and Target that we like to visit. The first thing you hear when you walk towards the restaurant is loud, lively country music. Large signs on the door warn "peanuts and peanut powder everywhere!" As you look around, it become apparent why the warnings are necessary. Each table contains a metal bucket brimming with peanuts with the shell. Peanut shells are strewn throughout the old, wooden floor. The ambiance is loud. Multiple TVs blast the Red Sox / Yankees game on TV while wait staff bustle around. After waiting about 15 minutes, we were seated. As we walked to our seats, we saw a line of waitresses dancing a choreographed country jig.

Texas Roadhouse clearly specializes in steak. At the front of the restaurant sits a large glass counter which contains rows and rows of raw beef cuts. The menu contains several steak selections, such as rib eye, prime rib, filet minion (called the Dallas Filet), steak tips, and sirloin. They also have other food, such as ribs, country fried chicken, roasted chicken, grilled salmon, and even a veggie platter, which consists of your choice of any four sides. The back of the menu contains burgers and sandwiches. There is also a sizable drink menu, especially beer.

Bryan ordered the 10 oz rib eye. Most of the steaks come in multiple sizes, such as 10 oz, 12 oz, and 16 oz. His first comment was, "this is surprisingly good for the price." Accordingly to Bryan, most cheaper steak houses will not actually cook meat "medium rare" when he orders it that way. They tend to overcook the meat. Here, the meat was perfectly medium rare and quite flavorful. The vegetable sides were also surprisingly good. The medley of cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots was not overly mushy and subtly flavored with a bit of butter and salt. The broccoli was slightly over cooked, but over, not bad. We ordered sides such as baked sweet potato, baked potato, chili and Caesar salad. I thought the chili and Caesar salad were rather average. The baked potatoes were fine, although how hard is it to bake a potato?

Over all, our meal (including two Corona's) was only $33. A pretty good value. We would definitely recommend this as a place to go if you happen to be shopping in the area and are hungry. The place is popular, but they do allow you do call ahead and put your name down on the waiting list, which is nice.

Texas Roadhouse

Texas Roadhouse is located in the parking area in Everett near the Home Depot, Costco, and Target that we like to visit. The first thing you hear when you walk towards the restaurant is loud, lively country music. Large signs on the door warn "peanuts and peanut powder everywhere!" As you look around, it become apparent why the warnings are necessary. Each table contains a metal bucket brimming with peanuts with the shell. Peanut shells are strewn throughout the old, wooden floor. The ambiance is loud. Multiple TVs blast the Red Sox / Yankees game on TV while wait staff bustle around. After waiting about 15 minutes, we were seated. As we walked to our seats, we saw a line of waitresses dancing a choreographed country jig.

Texas Roadhouse clearly specializes in steak. At the front of the restaurant sits a large glass counter which contains rows and rows of raw beef cuts. The menu contains several steak selections, such as rib eye, prime rib, filet minion (called the Dallas Filet), steak tips, and sirloin. They also have other food, such as ribs, country fried chicken, roasted chicken, grilled salmon, and even a veggie platter, which consists of your choice of any four sides. The back of the menu contains burgers and sandwiches. There is also a sizable drink menu, especially beer.

Bryan ordered the 10 oz rib eye. Most of the steaks come in multiple sizes, such as 10 oz, 12 oz, and 16 oz. His first comment was, "this is surprisingly good for the price." Accordingly to Bryan, most cheaper steak houses will not actually cook meat "medium rare" when he orders it that way. They tend to overcook the meat. Here, the meat was perfectly medium rare and quite flavorful. The vegetable sides were also surprisingly good. The medley of cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots was not overly mushy and subtly flavored with a bit of butter and salt. The broccoli was slightly over cooked, but over, not bad. We ordered sides such as baked sweet potato, baked potato, chili and Caesar salad. I thought the chili and Caesar salad were rather average. The baked potatoes were fine, although how hard is it to bake a potato?

Over all, our meal (including two Corona's) was only $33. A pretty good value. We would definitely recommend this as a place to go if you happen to be shopping in the area and are hungry. The place is popular, but they do allow you do call ahead and put your name down on the waiting list, which is nice.

Dom's

We went to Dom's tonight. It's a restaurant right off of Salem Street in the North End. We decided to go there because Zagat's gave it a 26 rating for food It also seemed to have plenty of seating available right away.

Over all, we thought it was pretty good. Dom's has an extensive menu. All of their pasta dishes come in two different sizes. Appetizer portions, which range from $9-$12, and entree portions, which average about $20. The entrees come with free salad and home baked bread. We decided to order a baked eggplant appetizer (baked eggplant, fontina cheese, and tomato sauce). We then ordered four appetizer sized pastas to share. Dom's has a wide variety of pastas from which to choose. For each dish, one can choose from a selection of dried pastas or fresh, homemade pastas. Since Bryan is a HUGE fan of fresh pasta, we only ordered fresh pasta. There was a choice of tagliatelle (a wide flat noodle), gnocchi (potato dumplings), or fusilli (coiled pasta). We ordered a 4-mushroom marsala-based fusilli, gnocchi with pesto, tagliatelle with meat-enhanced red gravy (Sugho di Pomodoro), and a lasagna-liked layered pasta dish with cheese, spinach, and a cream sauce. We both agreed that the fusilli was excellent. The texture of the noodle was perfectly al dente and the flavor of the mushrooms with the marsala sauce was excellent. The dish seemed to burst with flavor, yet it was not overpowering.

Bryan labeled the Sugho di Pomodoro as his second favorite, and I would agree. The sauce had a nice, smoky flavor and the meatballs were good. The tagliatelle was definitely homemade, although it was a bit overcooked and slightly soft - not al dente. When Bryan tried the gnocchi, he said, "it's definitely homemade, but I like Il Panino's better." He was referring to the Italian joint that we frequent near our home. The gnocchi was rather soft and had a bit of a grainy texture - kind of like mashed potatoes. I guess both Bryan and I prefer chewy gnocchi. The pesto sauce was pretty good. It had a fresh basil flavor and was slightly creamy. Finally, Bryan thought the layered pasta dish was pretty good. I'm not a big fan of cream sauces in general, so I didn't really like it.

The appetizer portion sizes are rather generous. For me, that portion would be more than plenty for a meal. Remember, you have to save room for dessert in the North End, whether it be at Modern Pastry, Mike's Pastry, or Cafe Vittoria's!

They have a decent wine list and also offer several types by the glass. Bryan ordered a house chianti and thought it was good.

Over all, we decided that the food was fine, but nothing to write home about. If I were to go a second time, I would probably just order the appetizer portion of the mushroom marsala dish and a glass of wine. I'd then save room for dessert at one of the cafes mentioned above.

Dom's

We went to Dom's tonight. It's a restaurant right off of Salem Street in the North End. We decided to go there because Zagat's gave it a 26 rating for food It also seemed to have plenty of seating available right away.

Over all, we thought it was pretty good. Dom's has an extensive menu. All of their pasta dishes come in two different sizes. Appetizer portions, which range from $9-$12, and entree portions, which average about $20. The entrees come with free salad and home baked bread. We decided to order a baked eggplant appetizer (baked eggplant, fontina cheese, and tomato sauce). We then ordered four appetizer sized pastas to share. Dom's has a wide variety of pastas from which to choose. For each dish, one can choose from a selection of dried pastas or fresh, homemade pastas. Since Bryan is a HUGE fan of fresh pasta, we only ordered fresh pasta. There was a choice of tagliatelle (a wide flat noodle), gnocchi (potato dumplings), or fusilli (coiled pasta). We ordered a 4-mushroom marsala-based fusilli, gnocchi with pesto, tagliatelle with meat-enhanced red gravy (Sugho di Pomodoro), and a lasagna-liked layered pasta dish with cheese, spinach, and a cream sauce. We both agreed that the fusilli was excellent. The texture of the noodle was perfectly al dente and the flavor of the mushrooms with the marsala sauce was excellent. The dish seemed to burst with flavor, yet it was not overpowering.

Bryan labeled the Sugho di Pomodoro as his second favorite, and I would agree. The sauce had a nice, smoky flavor and the meatballs were good. The tagliatelle was definitely homemade, although it was a bit overcooked and slightly soft - not al dente. When Bryan tried the gnocchi, he said, "it's definitely homemade, but I like Il Panino's better." He was referring to the Italian joint that we frequent near our home. The gnocchi was rather soft and had a bit of a grainy texture - kind of like mashed potatoes. I guess both Bryan and I prefer chewy gnocchi. The pesto sauce was pretty good. It had a fresh basil flavor and was slightly creamy. Finally, Bryan thought the layered pasta dish was pretty good. I'm not a big fan of cream sauces in general, so I didn't really like it.

The appetizer portion sizes are rather generous. For me, that portion would be more than plenty for a meal. Remember, you have to save room for dessert in the North End, whether it be at Modern Pastry, Mike's Pastry, or Cafe Vittoria's!

They have a decent wine list and also offer several types by the glass. Bryan ordered a house chianti and thought it was good.

Over all, we decided that the food was fine, but nothing to write home about. If I were to go a second time, I would probably just order the appetizer portion of the mushroom marsala dish and a glass of wine. I'd then save room for dessert at one of the cafes mentioned above.

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