Brunch is arguably one of the best meals of the day; you have multiple options of eggs, waffles, omelets, french toast, fruit, sandwiches, and more. And unlike breakfast, brunch allows a socially acceptable alcoholic beverage to be consumed before 12 noon. Win!

I’ve recently been on a brunch kick and visited Gaslight and Aquitaine within a week of each other. These sister restaurants are part of The Aquitaine Group, along with Metropolis Cafe, Union Bar & Grill, and the most recent addition Cinquecento.
What Gaslight and Aquitaine have that is unique to Boston brunches is a $9.95 Prix Fixe menu (also offered at Union Bar & Grill). Each offer slightly different options but the outcome is the same: a delicious and filling meal for under $10, which is hard to find anywhere, never mind in the city.

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Bread: Small slices of white bread, with no accompaniment. At first I was upset, but after ordering the tuna tartare realized it can be utilized for future dishes!

Menu: Pinchos, which are snack size; Tapas Frias, more bar snacks but slightly larger than the Pinchos; Jamones y Charcuteria, cheese & meats; For Two, larger dishes like fish plates and paella; Tapas Calientes, hot tapas, app size for 1 or 2 to share.
This was my first time at Toro and I didn’t know where to start! I’ve had tapas before but there were so many options, including some exotic dishes like Uni (sea urchin),  tuna belly, veal sweetbreads, smoked beef tongue, roasted bone marrow, and so on. They offer some veggie selections as well as more mainstream bites like mini burgers, tuna tartare, short ribs etc., but I was determined to be adventurous and try at lease one item that scared me.

Food/Presentation:
Atun Tartare – coconut milk, lime, mint, cilantro, and grilled toast
This tuna tartare was a great size for the two of us. The tuna was diced up small and it had a great refreshing flavor. The mint was a nice touch! They only supplied 4 pieces of grilled bread but we hadn’t touched the ‘bread basket’ so I quickly dove into that. It was also great just on the fork!

Uni Bocadillo – pressed uni sandwich with miso butter and pickled mustard seeds
I announced on Instagram earlier in the day that I was excited to try Toro for the first time and my friend, The Rooftop Gourmet, commented that he highly suggested the Uni sandwich. I knew uni was something creepy and it was confirmed by our waitress that it is in fact sea urchin. She also recommended the dish so Shannon and I went for it! It was definitely rich as she said, and the miso butter had a strong flavor. I don’t know that I would ever try uni on it’s own, but if you’re looking to try something adventurous I would suggest this Uni Bocadillo. It reminded me of pâté, in the sense that it was a very different, strong & rich flavor.

Panza de Cerdo – crispy pork belly with roasted pumpkin, chestnuts, chantenay carrots and kimchi vegetables
Typically when I’m eating any kind of meat I avoid the fatty pieces, but in ordering pork belly we essentially ordered fat! The top layer was perfectly crispy and crunchy which countered the chewy fatty belly. The roasted pumpkin puree was the most flavorful pumpkin anything I think I’ve ever had. This wasn’t the easiest dish to share since it was tough to cut the fatty parts in half, but we were eventually able to shred it apart and enjoy!

Empanada de Pollo y Papas – housemade chicken & potato empanada with tomatillo salsa y alioli
I love empanadas but am always hesitant to order them in restaurants. I’m not trying to be ‘too cool for school’, but on my honeymoon in Costa Rica my husband and I went on an ATV excursion and as part of the tour you stop at this shack-like bar at the top of a mountain. Inside were 2 women serving up the most fresh and authentic Costa Rican cuisine you can get. At the suggestion of our tour guide we ordered 1 bean empanada and 1 cheese empanada. The food was simple but so incredible. Ever since, no other empanada has compared. Toro‘s version was great though and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from ordering it!

Toro’s Empanadas

Costa Rica mountain top

Rancho Shadday

The owners, making the simplest/best bean & cheese empanadas I’ll ever have

Restroom: Deep red walls, warm lighting, bull-fighting posters… the private-room uni-sex restrooms had themed decor which I alway love. Extra points for the Xlerator hand dryer!

restroom wall

Service: Our waitress was informative and helped me pick out a dry white wine when I didn’t recognize any on the list. She made great suggestions, like the uni sandwich. All of our food came out in a steady series with good timing, which is always a challenge at tapas restaurants; you don’t want all of the dishes at once but you also don’t want to have a long wait in between receiving the plates. Toro did a great job with this.

Overall: Shannon and I had a really great time at Toro! It’s lively and incredibly busy on a Saturday night, and ever other night I hear. There are tables, high tops and bar seating. Because it is so popular and not that big of a restaurant you don’t have much personal space and the tables (at least the one we were at) are small. None of this bothered me though; it’s a fun atmosphere, the food was awesome, and the service was on par. If you haven’t been I highly recommend it. They don’t take reservations and there’s often a long wait so be prepared!

The Perfect Bite: Cripsy pork belly with roasted pumpkin puree.

toro-restaurant.com

courtesy of Cinquecento

Cinquecento is the Aquitaine Group’s newest addition in the South End, replacing Rocca‘s old spot at 500 Harrison Avenue. The space has a whole new look with wooden floors and tables, brown hues, pillars of wine, dark leather booths, and creative lighting. Walking up the illuminated staircase to the space shuttle-like hostess stand we were already excited…

courtesy of Cinquecento

courtesy of Cinquecento

Bread: Slices of soft, fresh Italian bread was brought to our table in a cloth wrapped basket. I dipped a piece in the EVOO that was poured at the table, and sprinkled a bit of salt from the small wooden bowl. Great bread, and would be perfect for mopping up pasta sauce!

Menu: Antipasti, Zuppa e Insalate, Salumi, Paste, Pesce e Carne, Piatta del Giorno, Contorni. Each menu item is listed in Italian with English descriptions. There were a few apps I wanted to try and couldn’t decide between a pasta or fish for my entree. Luckily my friends wanted to split some starters so I was able to try a few items.

Food/Presentation:
Bruschetta con Burrata e Speck – Burrata, Speck & Pignoli-Currant Marmellata
This may be one of my biggest pet peeves… Based on the Bruschetta description any diner would assume this appetizer would come with a few pieces of bread. I can’t understand how any restaurant can justify selling 1 slice of bread (with toppings) for $6.75. Plates like this should be adjusted based on the number of people in the party. Or reduce the size of the bread/ingredients and give us 2 freakin’ slices on the plate at least! I love burrata, which is why I wanted to try this app, but overall I don’t think it’s worth it (especially if you’re not dining alone!).

Ricotta Fresca – Warm Ricotta, Olive Oil, Grilled Bread
This was the best of the 2 apps we tried. The ricotta was warm and drizzled with EVOO, perfect for spreading on the grilled bread. The cheese/bread ratio was off but thankfully we had enough in the bread basket.

Branzino con Scarola Brasata e Funghi – Sea Bass, Braised Escarole & Wild Mushrooms
I asked to replace the mushrooms with brussels sprouts, and the waitress was honest with me and said the amount of mushrooms in this dish is so small that I wouldn’t receive many brussels sprouts. Instead they gave me a full side of Brussels Sprouts & Pancetta for $2 (rather than the $5.75 it is listed for). The sea bass was great and the sauce it was soaking in was excellent, you could have dipped just about anything in there. The brussels sprouts were also a good choice, with tiny chunks of pancetta and seasoned with some lemon.

Service: Our waitress was great but the timing at the beginning was a bit off. Our appetizer order was taken and the plates were delivered before the bread. We also had not ordered our entrees yet so we still had our menus which made for a cluttered table. Once the bread arrived I was even more overwhelmed but eventually our waitress came over and apologized for not being on top of things. Everything else was cleared and delivered in a timely manner so the slight misstep wasn’t a huge deal.

Restroom: The women’s room has 4 stalls with white titled walls and dark brown wooden doors. A white ceramic trough sink sits underneath 2 large mirrors. There’s also a full length mirror which I always appreciate.

Overall: My girlfriends and I really enjoyed our evening at Cinquecento. We all started with the Minuetto cocktail (Grey Goose Vodka, Elderflower Liqueur, Grapefruit Cordial, Lemon & Prosecco) which was a hit. We split the 2 appetizers and agreed the Ricotta stole the show. Among my entree, the Veal & Prosciutto Saltimbocca, and the Sogliola al Cartoccio (Fluke in Parchment), the majority preferred the latter but everything I tasted was really good. I didn’t love the Grilled Calamari that Angela got with the Endive Salad as her entree, but that’s more of a texture issue for me then the taste of the actual dish.
Prices aren’t cheap but they’re also not too outrageous; Antipasti, Soups and Salads ranges from $6.50 – $13.50, while the Pastas and Entrees are between $14.25 – $28.50 with the Rib Eye taking the top dollar spot. We all agreed we need to return to try different dishes, my choice being the Gnocchi al Sugo di Cinghiale (Gnocchi with Wild Boar, Golden Raisins, Pignoli & Pecorino).

The Perfect Bite: Warm ricotta spread on grilled bread with a sprinkle of salt.

http://www.cinquecentoboston.com

For more food photos from the evening visit my Facebook Page, Twitter feed, or follow me on Instagram (@theperfectbiteboston)!

Coppa (and Ken Oringer in general) has been on my list for quite some time. This Origner/Bissonnette owned South End eatery focuses on Italian style tapas with a multitude of small plates, charcuterie, small & large pastas, pizzas and more. Thank goodness I’ve grown to love tapas because this was quite the feast.

outdoor place setting

Bread: A few small slices of white bread were brought with a side dish of EVOO. This was fine as is but served us better to accompany some of the small plates.

Menu: This tapas style menu consists of: Stuzzichini (Italian small bar snacks), Salumi, Antipasti, Wood-Fried Pizza, Pasta, Piatti (plates), Formaggio. I was pleasantly overwhelmed with all of the options. If you’re not a fan of small plates it’s still easy enough to have a normal sized meal as they have entrees and full orders of pasta. My debate was deciding between an app and pizza or small plates and some pasta. Since I was with 1 other person we decided to share as much as possible!

Food/Presentation:
Arancini – traditional fried risotto balls with fontina
Two arancini came in a bowl with a light red sauce and sprinkled with cheese. Cut into the crispy risotto ball to find warm rice and melted fontina cheese. Quite delicious, especially dipped into the sauce.

Baccala – warm salt cod crostini
A ½ piece of bread came topped with the salt cod, seasonings, and chopped chives. For $6 I expected at least a full piece of bread, but at Coppa you’re paying for quality not quantity. The cod was at least piled high and tasted excellent, warm & soft, almost like a spread.

Local Burrata – Prosciutto di San Daniele, Higher Ground Farm lovage and black olive
A gorgeous presentation of smeared olive that I originally thought was a brush stroke plate pattern, topped with a lovage (herbed) spread, a generous portion of creamy burrata, and thinly sliced prosciutto. Eating a forkful of each component sufficed but I used the extra bread we had as a vehicle for the burrata and prosciutto. My mouth is watering just writing about it… the best plate so far!

Strozzapreti con Pesto – pasta with pesto, pine nuts, Piave and fingerling potatoes
This short pasta was tossed with classic pesto, small rounds of fingerlings, and shaved Piave cheese. I thought the potatoes would be strange in this dish but I actually enjoyed it as they were cooked well enough that they were soft but not too mushy. This ½ portion was a decent size, perfect to end our meal. Pesto pasta is one of my favorites and this did not disappoint.

Bathroom: A small unisex 1 room restroom with a pretty chandelier, red walls, and tiles bordering the mirror.

Service: Our server did a fine job, describing the 3 additions to the menu (each of which sounded amazing), and taking our order after each course so that the plates were delivered one after the other rather than all at once. Friendly, pleasant, and informative, which is all I ever ask.

Overall: I’m upset it’s taken me this long to get to Coppa! Similar in style to a favorite of mine (La Morra in Brookline), Coppa offers an array of small Italian plates as well as full and ½ size pastas, pizzas and entrees. There was also a great cocktail menu from which I ordered the Italian Sangria (different, with a bit of a kick!). It was a beautiful night and luckily there was available patio seating so I didn’t get a good feel for the interior; however from what I saw it appeared cute & casual with chalk board drawings, a few free standing tables and a small bar. I’m looking forward to returning, but only after I try Coppa’s sister restaurant Toro, serving Spanish style tapas.

The Perfect Bite: It’s between the Burrata/Prosciutto and a bite of the Strozzapreti and shaved Piave. I ended up dipping the burrata in the pesto which was also pretty incredible. I recommend trying both dishes!

http://www.coppaboston.com/

For more photos & descriptions of what everyone in my party ate, visit my Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/ThePerfectBiteBoston

I’ve been to Masa once in the past, possibly 2-3 years ago for Restaurant Week. When I looked at the menu last week it was nothing like what I remembered from the RW menu on my first visit. Offering South Western cuisine with a contemporary American flair, Masa‘s Executive Chef Philip Aviles has created an inspired menu with twists and classic favorites.
The restaurant is dimly lit with chandeliers and sconces, and the dining room holds booths, banquette seating, and free standing tables while the bar seats about 10 and has high-tops for apps or dinner reservations. We’re led to a high-top banquette in the bar area, closest to the open windows so we could feel the cool spring breeze.

Bread: Country bread and corn bread were served with molasses- honey butter, red pepper cream cheese, and habanero hummus. Both breads were great but the corn bread was amazing, especially with the molasses-honey butter. The hummus was my favorite to pair with the country bread. Really great bread basket and accompaniments, I just wish they gave you more than a tablespoon size of each spread.

Menu: The Tapas menu (served only in the bar area) offers $1 bite-size tapas and $5-$14 Picaditas which are more of an appetizer size dish. The Dinner menu consists of First Course, Main Course, and Sides. Luckily we were seated in the bar area so we had access to the Tapas menu, which was a blessing and a curse b/c it provided too many sections to choose from! Do I go with 3 Tapas and an Entrée? Or maybe a Picadita and a First Course dish? There were a lot of possible combinations which made for an interesting meal.

Food/Presentation:
Shredded Chicken Taquito with Chipotle Aioli (tapas menu)
I decided to order a couple of tapas items to start, one being the chicken taquito. If you order tapas it is presented family-style on one plate; the taquito can be seen in the back of the photo. The chicken was wrapped in a tortilla, fried, and placed on a dollop of chipotle aioli. I could have eaten many more of these, but there was more food coming!

Tuna Tartare Taco with Chile Lime & Avocado (tapas menu)
Along with the taquito I ordered 2 tuna tartare tacos (the other 2 were for Matt). Chopped rare tuna and avocado always pairs well with a crispy taco shell and chipotle aioli. I enjoy small bites and this was a great way to start the meal without leaving me prematurely full before the entrees.

Negra Modelo Braised Pork Shoulder & Sauce Borracha with Port & Fig Jam, Baby Arugula, & Garlic Whipped Potatoes
A small mound of pork shoulder sits on a scoop of whipped potatoes and is topped with the arugula mix; three spoonfuls of fig jam were dotted around the plate. The pork was excellent and fell apart nicely with zero fatty parts in sight. I adore anything fig but for me it felt like an unnecessary addition to this savory dish. I enjoyed it with the pork every other forkful but didn’t love when it mixed with the potatoes. A minor criticism for this truly enjoyable entrée.

Chipotle Chocolate Ice Cream, Papaya Sorbet, Hibiscus Sorbet
One small scoop of each came dusted with powdered sugar, the two sorbets together and the ice cream in a separate ramekin. The sorbets were excellent, with the Papaya’s strong fruity flavor stealing the show for me. The ice cream was different but we knew it would be when ordering Chipotle Chocolate. It had a somewhat cakey consistency, and didn’t seem to be cold (although I’m pretty sure it was) b/c after each bite my mouth was pretty much on fire. The chipotle chocolate was a confusing contradiction of hot & spicy ice cream, something I’ve never experienced before! It was interesting, great for a small taste, but I’d never be able to eat an entire bowl/cone.

Bathroom: Mirror, mirrors, on every wall! Maybe I’m obsessed with full length mirrors b/c I don’t have one at home, but I always appreciate seeing the full picture, head to toe. Besides seeing my reflection every where I turned (I swear I’m not a narcissist), the women’s room had 2 stalls and 2 sinks, and a couple of decorations to match the restaurant’s décor.

Service: We were seated at a high-top in the bar area, which I originally was slightly disappointed about, but it worked out for the best b/c this section was a bit more upbeat and it allowed us to order off of the Tapas menu. Our waitress was friendly, informative, and delivered everything in good time.

Overall: When we arrived at 7pm Masa was lively and energetic with a packed bar. As the night went on it emptied out a bit by the time we left a little before 9pm. I love Masa’s multiple menus, and would from now on request to sit in the bar in order to have Tapas as an option. I’d like to also note that the Tapas are 50 cents on Thursdays, and every other night from 4pm-7pm and 10pm-close. Makes for a great happy hour spot, especially with their tasty beverages like the Raspberry Mojito. I am looking forward to returning; there are so many tapas, picaditas, and apps I need to try!

The Perfect Bite: It’s hard to beat a tuna tartare taco when it’s done right.

www.masarestaurant.com

For more photos & descriptions of what everyone in my party ate, visit my Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/ThePerfectBiteBoston

If you weren’t looking for The Butcher Shop you’d walk right by and probably never know it existed. Marked only by an unassuming pig sign, the restaurant is located across from B&G Oysters (another Barbara Lynch eatery) on Tremont Street in the South End. We walked in and were greeted by the hostess clutching an iPad that held the reservation info; there’s no room for a stand or computer as the place only holds a bar and about 8-10 high tops. A wooden butcher’s table is located in the back where customers are brought to order a glass of wine while they wait for their table. This giant chopping block is illuminated by a refrigerator containing a variety of different cuts of meat, pates, sausage links, and small containers of soup, pulled pork, hummus etc that you can purchase. Doubling as a meat market, The Butcher Shop is small restaurant but has a lot of character with a clear culinary message.

Bread: Three pieces of soda bread and six pieces of white bread were delivered on a small plate with a mini ramekin of salted whipped butter and a side of honey. The bread was decent but was clearly just a vehicle for the spreads; sweet honey and salty butter made for a great pairing.

Menu: The Restaurant Week menu was limited with 2 appetizer options, 3 entrée choices, and 2 dessert selections. I convinced that my mom, that while there were only a couple of options, I was confident that we’d enjoy any one of Barbara Lynch’s creations. There was also a hand written Artisanal Cheese menu waiting for us on the stone table top.

Food/Presentation:
Lamb Carpaccio – quail egg, pickled baby artichoke, shallot mousse
Seven small thin slices of lamb were topped with artichokes leaves, quail egg, and shallot mousse in a perfect linear presentation. I first forked the egg to determine the runniness of the yolk; after seeing that it was in fact poached, I immediately ate the egg and piece of lamb in one big bite. I’ve never had lamb prepared that way and I really enjoyed it. I wish I had spread out the mousse into multiple bites, but thinking it was another egg I popped the entire thing into my mouth. Not a terrible idea though… it was soft, smooth, and melted on my tongue.

Shepherd’s Pie – parsnips, cauliflower, curry
An oval cast iron baking dish came overflowing with a blanket of pureed potato. Hiding beneath were large chunks of lamb and scarce pieces of cauliflower. The mashed potato was indeed smashed and whipped into a smooth topping. This entrée was pretty good, a smaller portion size, and had a bit of a spicy kick to it.

Chocolate Mousse
Typically mousse is light and fluffy but this version was dense and thick. Topped with a dollop of whipped cream, I actually enjoyed this more solid mousse which made for a richer dessert after a somewhat light meal (my Shepherd’s Pie wasn’t necessarily light, but the size wasn’t exactly overwhelming).

Bathroom: Located down a narrow stairwell in the basement, there’s 1 unisex room/stall that created a little bit of a line. The wall was adorned with a round mirror and framed drawings of different types of meat. A large scale was in the corner, clearly not intended to tempt/torture customers as it was “zeroed” at 150 lbs.

Service: We arrived on time but the couple at our table was just paying their bill, so we were escorted to the butcher’s chopping block in the back where we ordered a glass of wine. We sat 5-10 minutes later and ordered shortly after. My only complaint is that our first course came out 30 seconds after the bread. I like to enjoy my food, and never like being/feeling rushed; this wasn’t a huge deal, but give me a minute to enjoy your delicious bread before you clutter our small table with more plates!

Overall: One of the high lights of the evening was the wine; I wasn’t familiar with any of their offerings but told the server I liked a dry red. I ended up with the Bordeaux which was excellent. As the restaurant only had bar and high top seating it wasn’t necessarily the most comfortable/cozy spot, but no restaurant can compare in terms of décor and the actual butcher shop atmosphere. The regular menu is limited and specific, so just know what you’re getting yourself into before reserving here. I’m glad I tried The Butcher Shop but I won’t rush back for dinner, only because I generally like hearty meals/portions and more of a variety (as do the people I typically dine with). Although if I’m looking for an evening of apps and great wine this may be the first place I turn to! I look forward to trying the other restaurants in the Gruppo (I’m looking at you No. 9).

The Perfect Bite: Lamb carpaccio with quail egg and a piece of pickled artichoke.

http://thebutchershopboston.com

For more photos & descriptions of what everyone in my party ate, visit my Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/ThePerfectBiteBoston

I’ve driven by Tremont 647 multiple times but have never had an impulse to go in and try their food. Thanks to Ben’s favorite reservation mechanism Savored.com (which charges you to make a res. but then discounts you 40% off the food bill) we opted to try the South End restaurant, a first visit for all four of us.

Bread: A bunch of mini focaccia bites were served with what the waiter called “white bean puree”, which was in fact orange and had more of a sauce-like consistency. The bread was ok and the sauce was pretty decent, with a strong curry flavor.

Menu: Appetizers, Entrees, Sides. The options weren’t fantastic and there wasn’t one particular meal that I HAD to have, but a couple of dishes seemed interesting. There was certainly a slight Asian flare to the menu with options like fried pork dumplings (Pork Momos), Tempura Soba Maki, fried rice etc.

Food/Presentation:
647’s Signature Pork Momos: soy sake, sriracha
Four fried dumplings were served with a side of sauce; they were pretty tasty and had a balanced ratio of crispy exterior and warm pork interior.

Crispy Pork Belly Tacos: yuzu aioli, red jalapeño
Two soft shell tacos came topped with aioli, pork belly, lettuce, and jalapeños that were oh so spicy! The pork was great, well cooked with a slightly crispy lining.

Roasted Beet, Squash & Pear Salad: feta, candied almonds, sherry vinaigrette
Beets, squash, and pears were assembled in a small mound topped with cheese and vinaigrette, with a few nuts (that were not almonds) off to the side. This salad was quite good and I unfortunately wolfed it down without noticing any squash.

BBQ fries with Andy’s BBQ sauce
A large bowl of fries came with a side of Andy’s BBQ Sauce. The fries were well seasoned and had great flavor without being overwhelming.

Roasted Cauliflower
The cauliflower was roasted with some peppers, onions, and an unidentifiable Middle Eastern flavor. This side dish was ok… I just didn’t love the particular spices used.

Chocolate Almond Bacon Bark
I loved chocolate and nuts but I can’t stand bacon so this wasn’t my favorite, but everyone else at the table really enjoyed it!

Pomegranate Flan: pomegranate seeds & sauce
I’m also not a fan of flan 🙂 Let’s just leave it at that…

Bathroom: This 1 room/stall unisex restroom was a bit trippy! Every inch of the wall space and door is covered with an underwater themed mural featuring fish, seahorses, and waves. I really liked the basket-weaved mirror!

Service: The service was great; the bartender steered me towards a delicious martini, our entrees were delivered after our apps had been cleared, and our waiter took our entire order, at once, without a pen/pad (3 apps, 4 entrees, 2 sides) – impressive!

Overall: I really like the space and atmosphere of Tremont 647, but the menu didn’t excite me. The food was good, and I left satisfied but I don’t have any reason to go back for that particular menu. I really enjoyed my 647 Pineapple Martini (house infused pineapple and vanilla bean vodkas, pineapple juice, simple syrup) and I know Dave loved his Harvest Sidecar (jim beam red stag, liquor 43, grapefruit, perchaud’s bitters), so perhaps I’ll stop in again for a cocktail. I wouldn’t tell you not to try Tremont 647, but my personal feeling is “been there, done that, moving on”.

Harvest Sidecar

The Perfect Bite: Beets, candied nuts, sherry vinaigrette.

www.tremont647.com