Bread: Five slices of soft focaccia type bread was brought for the 5 of us, served with a dipping sauce that we determined was a thinner type of hummus. Great way to start the meal.

Menu: Appetizers, Salads, Beacon Hill Grill (burgers & sandwiches), Entrees (pastas, fried chicken, noodles, and tacos), Paramount Classics (fish, steaks, chicken), Side Dishes. Each section had plenty to choose from and I was eyeing a few dishes from each category. The Salmon Burger, Black Bean Burger, Sweet BBQ Pulled Pork Tacos… they’ll all have to wait for my next few visits. They also offered a few specials which included a soup, salad and a couple of entrees.

Food/Presentation:
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad: black beans, sweet corn, tortilla strips, sliced avocado, jack cheese, tomatoes, ranch dressing
This salad is a perfect dinner size serving, with a mound of chopped BBQ chicken and plenty of toppings. I substituted the ranch dressing for lime-avocado vinaigrette which was a great move. Lots of flavor and a perfect combination of extras!

Restroom: A one room/stall restroom with minimal space to decorate. The brick wall added a bit of character.

Overall: This was my first time at The Paramount in Beacon Hill and I was pleasantly surprised. They have a great variety of menu items at decent prices, with entrees topping out at $20. The food is mainly American cuisine with a few Mexican influences of “made to order” guacamole and tacos, and Asian inspirations seen in teriyaki glazed items and the random Pad Thai entrée. There’s enough on the menu to please everyone’s palate and wallets. I’m dying to return for their cafeteria-style brunch. I hear it’s one of the best in the city!

The Perfect Bite: A giant forkful of BBQ chicken, avocado, corn, black beans, and tortilla strips dipped in the lime-avocado vinaigrette.

http://www.paramountboston.com

For more photos & descriptions of what everyone in my party ate, visit my Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter, or find me on Instagram!
http://www.facebook.com/ThePerfectBiteBoston

Stop #1 for Winter Restaurant Week 2012! I’ve been to Grotto once a couple of years ago and remember having an incredible bolognese, so I knew this place made great Italian food. After looking at their RW menu offerings I immediately made a reservation. It was time I return!

Bread: About 6 slices of soft white bread was served with a side dish of EVOO and olives. This almost had the consistency of potato bread, which I’m not complaining about! We could have used a little more EVOO, or perhaps some parmesan to sprinkle on top?

Menu: Most Restaurant Week menus are limited, but not Grotto’s! There were 9 Primi options, 9 Secondi choices, and 4 Dolce offerings. I had to study the menu for days in order to mentally prepare myself. As I had already tried their Bolognese years ago, I ended up going with my selections below (but of course tried a bite of everyone else’s dishes!).

Food/Presentation:
Zuppa: garlic soup, black truffle, parmesan, toasted bread crumbs
Served in a wide bowl, this soup was not a puree nor was it exactly broth based. It didn’t contain cream, but had a liquid-y creamy texture. Really flavorful and not too filling which was perfect … I just adore soup!

Zucca: sweet potato ravioli, amaretti, sage, brown butter
Six ravioli were served, each topped with a tiny mound of shaved parmesan. When I ordered this entree I mistakenly said “butternut squash ravioli”, as I usually think of these 2 veggies as one in the same. I clearly have not had sweet potato ravs in quite some time; this was the sweetest pasta dish I’ve ever tasted. Rich and full of different flavors, I really enjoyed it!

Budino: banana bread pudding, caramel ice cream, spiced walnuts
The bread pudding was topped with a giant scoop of creamy caramel ice cream, and surrounded by a scattering of spiced walnuts. This was unbelievable, but after cleaning the plates of my first 2 courses I regrettably couldn’t finish this one. The bread pudding was moist and delicious; I should have at least taken that part home!

Bathroom:
Grotto itself is a small underground restaurant, and the bathroom reflects that. Located in the back past the kitchen, this one room unisex restroom didn’t have many unique or warm characteristics. I did like the fruity smelling soap though!

Service: Our server was nice and able to answer our menu questions. Our water glasses were constantly being refilled, which as a ‘conscious hydrator’ I always appreciate. We were seated for a good 2 hours, which I thought was a bit long, but sometimes it’s nice to take time in between each course.

Overall: Grotto is a small cozy establishment, seating only about 44 people (and up to 55 for private parties). Whether it’s Restaurant Week or a regular Tuesday, I highly suggest you try Grotto for an excellent hearty Italian meal. All of their Primi, Secondi, and Dolces on the regular menu are the same price ($10, $21, and $9 respectively) and they also offer a daily prix-fixe dinner menu for $36.

The Perfect Bite: Each of the three courses I ordered was fantastic! If I have to choose… I’ll go with the Garlic Soup. It was light, delicious, and quite flavorful.

 www.grottorestaurant.com

For more photos and descriptions of what everyone in my party ate, visit my Facebook Page. Be sure to “Like” it! 🙂
http://www.facebook.com/ThePerfectBiteBoston

Let me first start by saying thank you to Chris Aversa for being a stud and taking his date to Toscano in Beacon Hill, otherwise I wouldn’t have known it was such a winner! Restaurant Week began Sunday night as did my 1st of 4 reservations I have this season. Aaaand we’re off!

Bread: Four small focaccia pieces and four rustic Italian loaf pieces were covered by a cloth napkin in a small basket, served with a bottle of EVOO. I didn’t try the focaccia but the Italian loaf was excellent. If it wasn’t for the 3 courses coming my way I would have had seconds.

bread

Menu: Toscano provided 6 options each for Starters and Entrees and 4 options for dessert; this was a treat considering some restaurants only have 2-3 options per course. I really wanted to try the tomato bread soup and the Mediterranean Sea Bass but opted for the selections below. My dessert choice wasn’t an issue…

Food/Presentation:
Caprese – imported bufala mozzarella, beefsteak tomatoes, basil
Three slices of fresh beefsteak tomatoes were each topped with a thick slice of buffalo mozzarella and sprinkled with slices of basil. Besides the lack of basil – I expect at least a full leaf per slice of mozz – it was a great start to the meal.

caprese

Orecchiette Vitello – ground veal, mushrooms, tomato
The four of us were pretty bummed there wasn’t a pasta option in the entrée section of the Restaurant Week menu. The regular menu had plenty to choose from, so in order to get our fix Benno ordered a full serving of the orecchiette for in between the 1^st and 2^nd course. The Bolognese/ragu type of sauce was great and the pasta was cooked just right; I enjoyed it so much I didn’t even notice the mushrooms!

orecchiette

Salome Asparagi – grilled atlantic salmon, asparagus, mustard sauce
A perfect portion of fish was served with 3 stalks of asparagus and a side of mustard sauce. I was surprised/happy the sauce wasn’t drizzled on b/c I love my mustard and was pleased I was able to dip each bite. The asparagus was cooked well, I just wish there were a couple more pieces.

salmon

Tiramisu – Toscano House Specialty “Budino Style”
We made sure to ask about this “Budino Style” before ordering and the waitress said it wasn’t a typical square piece of tiramisu with layers of lady fingers, mascarpone, etc. It was served in a martini glass and seemed as though a normal piece of tiramisu had been balled up into the size of a generous ice cream scoop. It was an unbelievable take on the traditional dessert, like a tiramisu ice cream pudding medley!

tiramisu

NOTE: Two apps I didn’t mention were the Polpettini Fiorentina(veal/beer/pork meatballs) and the Rigatoni Toscano (with double smoked bacon, tomato cream and herbs). I’m extremely picky about meatballs and these honestly tasted like the could have been from my Gram’s kitchen. The rigatoni dish tasted like bacon had been pureed into the sauce – I don’t like bacon and therefore I didn’t love the flavor but I respected that it was delicious and well created.

bathroom

Bathroom: 2 separate unisex restrooms. I like the heavy wooden doors with their intricate designs/carvings and the sink’s faucet!

sink

Service: Really excellent service. Our waitress was helpful in choosing wine and gave us a couple ordering options when we told her we were craving pasta. Each course was delivered to each of us at the same, plates were warm as they should be (trick I learned from Benno!), water glasses we refilled, and wine was poured as our glasses were emptying. They also fold the napkins into a little spiral design when you get up from your seat… top notch!

Overall: The atmosphere suggests “finer” dining with the white linens, pricey wine list, and stellar service. The Restaurant Week menu had plenty to offer, and their regular menu was almost overwhelming (in a good way) with Antipasti, Zuppa, Insalata, Pizza, Formaggi, Pasta, Risotto, Carni, and Contorni. Their pastas come in ½ portions which I love. Prices are moderate, but the meat entrees are as high as $36. I’ve seen worse!

The Perfect Bite: The pasta dishes definitely stole the show, but that tiramisu… oh Madonna mia! I have to give props when a chef can take a traditional preparation style and switch it up to make it taste even better.

http://www.toscanoboston.com

Stop #1 for Summer Restaurant Week 2010! 

bread

Menu: I of course paid no attention to the actual menu, and instead focused on my Restaurant Week options. My decision: 

• Heirloom Tomatoes with mozzarella pearls (Eva’s Garden) & opal basil
• Bershire Pork Loin with stone ground grits (Anson Mills), cipppolinis, & dijon mustard
• Stone Fruit & Blueberry Cobbler with brown butter ice cream

heirloom tomatoes

Presentation: The tomatoes & salad were served on a small square flat plate. I personally would have preferred the “Heirloom Tomato” dish have more tomatoes than greens, but salads usually skimp on the cheese & there were enough mozzarella balls to go around. The pork & onions were drizzled with a syrupy type of dijon – I love mustard and wish the dijon had a bit more of a bite, but the pork was cooked well, so no complaints. The grits were topped with grilled corn which added something different to the textured polenta-esque side dish. I was so excited once the warm cobbler was placed in front of me in its ramekin that I forgot all about trying to actually taste the brown butter ice cream. It could have been vanilla for all I knew, I was too delighted with light doughy crust & the fresh fruit!

stone fruit & blueberry cobbler

Bathroom: The bathroom was located down the hall, past the ballroom, rather than in the actual restaurant (which gives easy access to the bar patrons). Stainless steel, sleek, and clean. Multiple stalls & a full length mirror. There was even a table set up with individual cloth napkins for drying your hands. Well done for going green!

 

Wait Staff: This was the disappointment of the evening as our waiter was not personable at all. When I asked him how the pork was prepared he responded with “In the oven.” Are you kidding me?! My parents, bf, and & I were so taken aback but laughed it off. Most waiters/waitresses would have understood what I was asking, and would have answered in more detail with an education response.

 

Overall: Besides our odd waiter, we all had a great time. The wine (Malbec), while expensive, was smooth & just what I wanted. Our 1/2 booth had a great location with a view out of the grand windows. I do recommend Clink, more for the food & location in The Liberty rather than the “jail cell” appeal, which there could have been more of.

 

The Perfect Bite: Pork loin. Slice of cippolini. Ground grits. Those creamy gritty grits!!

bershire pork loin

 

www.clinkrestaurant.com

Everytime I describe The Liberty Hotel one word comes to mind: swanky. From Clink (their ‘jail cell’ restaurant with bars on the windows), to The Liberty Bar (an open aired bar with stools and a surrounding lounge), to Scampo (their chic restaurant with an outrageous menu), you can’t go wrong. I’ve been to Scampo twice now, and it may be my favorite restaurant in Boston.

Bread: these bread sticks are brought to you in a basket and then poured directly onto the tablecloth in front of you, crumbs included. This may be a ‘fancy’ place based on the prices, but they’re not trying to impress anyone (but do so anyways). Served with a pesto based hummus spread and a drizzle of EVOO (this thankfully comes on a plate), these sticks are perfect for dipping in the tasty sauce. A different approach to a traditional bread basket!

Menu: if this is your first time dining at Scampo, you’ll need a full tutorial on how to read the menu and what certain names of dishes actually mean. The handmade bread appetizers are laid out across the top, under that the pizzas, which range from a classic tomato basil mozzarella, to white clam & bacon. A unique surprise is their mozzarella bar which I strongly suggest you indulge in. Presentation: pizza is as you assume. The mozzarella appetizer not only came with avocado & king crab, but also a few ‘garnishes’ that I happily ate with my cheese. My side of polenta was piled with curled fried onions, all of which was to die for.

Bathroom: clean & pretty, and enough stalls so that you don’t have to wait. Also stocked those super powered hand dryers; put your hands inside, slowly raise them out as the dryer goes on, and there you have it! The only downside is that the bathroom is in the lower lobby of the hotel. Not far from the restaurant at all… I’ll just play the lazy card on this one.

Wait Staff: in both occurences the waiter/waitress stressed how every ingredient used in the meal preparation is fresh and hand made. Being Italian, I particularly appreciate the hand made pastas, as my parents have taught me that home made pasta & gravy (red sauce) is really the only way to go. Our waiter was a gem; kind as can be, was patient when I asked a half dozen questions about the menu, and honestly, I just wanted to give him a hug before I left (but didn’t in fear that I’d be asked to never return). When I originally made my reservation I was asked if this was a special occassion and I mentioned that my boyfriend & I were celebrating our birthdays. At the end of our meal, after we turned down dessert based on a full stomache & money worries, our waiter came over with tiramisu & a candle, on him! No cheesy singing or dancing, the plate was left for us to blow out our candle and enjoy the masterpiece in front of us.

Overall: like I said before, I can safely say this is my favorite restaurant in Boston, and I’ve only been there twice. The wait staff has been a joy both times, the food is incredible, and overall you get a different experience than your typical fancy-shmancy restaurant.

The Perfect Bite: Prime Sirloin (medium rare), polenta, fried onion. I couldn’t finish the creamy side dish, but absolutely took it home to enjoy for the next couple days. Who doesn’t love a scrumptious late night snack?

www.scampoboston.com