Aquitaine

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steak frites

steak frites

This French Bistro is located on Tremont Street in the heart of the South End. Executive chef/owner Seth Woods has created a sophisticated & modern dining experience with an ambitious cocktail & wine menu. I have been to Aquitaine for drinks in the past and recall sitting at their cozy bar, looking out onto Tremont. I’ve heard nothing but positive comments about their menu and was looking forward to some fine French cuisine.

 
Bread: I like when restaurants deliver one roll per person in the party, which often ensures that no bread will go to waste. Although knowing me or the people I dine with, if they were to bring extras it most certainly wouldn’t be left behind. Served on a bread plate, each roll was like an individual mini loaf; freshly made & served with warm butter, the crunchy roll gave way to a soft & light interior. I also must add, before the bread was presented, we were given four “gougeres”. I’m a dummy when it comes to French cuisine and can’t even pronounce “gougeres”, but each was a round bread puff no larger than a golf ball. Flakey & light with a bite of cayenne pepper flavor!
 
Menu: The Appetizers, Entrees, and Sides were accompanied by a Plat Du Jour category which led me to believe that each plate of the day was made from ingredients gathered that morning. There were a variety of entree choices that ranged from pasta to lamb to seafood to chicken to steak, which worked well for my party since I tend to choose a pasta or steak and my boyfriend & mother prefer fish. The dessert list was extensive, written on a raised chalk board just in front of our table.
 
Presentation: My mother & I split the Belgian Endive Salad with tart apple, Roquefort, walnuts & parsley to start. I’m not a fan of sharing food and I like to take my time when eating, so I was happy to see that they split the salad on two plates for us. The slightly bitter endive with the blue cheese Roquefort and tart & sweet apple was a great combination. I continued with the Steak Frites with périgord black truffle vinaigrette, watercress shallot salade, and natural jus. Served in three even sections in a row: frites, strips of medium rare steak, greens. The fries were good but I couldn’t get enough of the shallot salad paired with the tender meat.
We all decided to split the Profiteroles with vanilla bean ice cream & hot chocolate sauce. The plate came with three profiteroles sprinkled with powdered sugar, the puff pastries sandwiching the vanilla ice cream. The pastry itself was soft enough to cut into with a spoon and the warm chocolate sauce came in a gravy-type pouring dish for individual serving.
 
Bathroom: By far the most creative bathroom I’ve seen in a while. The scattered large tile mosaic floor set a modern scene, as did 75% of the walls which were covered (floor to ceiling) with wine bottle labels. I also appreciated the full length mirror, because sometimes a girl just needs to make sure everything’s in place.
 
Wait Staff: When asked what kind of chardonnay they carry, Emma was able to list them off the top of her head which I always find impressive. She was sweet, attentive, and a joy to have waiting on us. She knows the area well and educated us on the surrounding hot spots, including the Franklin Cafe which is a “go to” for the staff post-work since it’s open until 2am, seven days a week (http://www.franklincafe.com/).
 
Overall: With their moderate prices, knowledgable wait staff, and sophisticated decor, I would absolutely recommend Aquitaine for any type of dining experience. I’d like to return for a Sunday brunch, or with my girlfriends and look further into their creative cocktail menu.
 
The Perfect Bite: The Profiteroles were a perfect end to the evening, but I often say that vanilla ice cream is a waste of my time. The steak was cooked perfectly (not too tough, not too chewy), and when paired with the vinaigrette covered greens I wasn’t surprised that I cleaned my plate.

Mare

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Maine Peekytoe Crab Cake

Maine Peekytoe Crab Cake

Owner Frank DePasquale opened Boston’s first all-natural & organic ingredient filled menu on Richmond Street in the North End. This restaurant is designed to make you feel like you’re dining in a fish bowl, as 75% of the surrounding walls are glass windows which look out onto the busy streets of this Italian influenced part of Boston. Muted by a soft white drape, the back wall radiates a rotation of neon colors that reminds me of coral one would see in the tropics. The atmosphere is sophisticated yet relaxed, perfect for a date night or dinner out with a group of friends.

Bread: Served in a basket alongside a dish of olive oil, the two breads to choose from where slices of Italian and what seemed like a  rustic, hearty, multi-grain bread. The latter was worth going back for seconds.

Menu: This two page menu is presented on a clipboard, complete with Antipasti, Primi, Secondi, Contorni, and a Chef’s Tasting with a choice of a five or seven course meal. I was with a party of six, so we decided to share a few appetizers: the Bufala Mozzarella Caprese, my addition of the Soft Polenta,  and the Maine Peekytoe Crab Cake. For the main course I settled on the Hand Rolled Ricotta Gnudi with a beef bolognese. My first choice (which I regret not choosing) was the chesnut & black pepper Pappardelle with wild boar, charred leeks, ricotta salata. My friend reminded me that I can’t pass up trying their bolognese, and the reason I was originally hesitant was the pasta choice: Gnudi (NEW-d) pasta is similar to a gnocchi but is lighter as it’s not made with potato. The dish was great, I enjoyed the hearty sauce, but I prefer to have my bolognese with a Tagliatelle or Penne pasta.

Presentation: Served in a deep bowl with heirloom tomatoes over basil oil & balsamic, the Caprese’s buffalo mozzarella was a unique take on the traditional Italian antipasti. The soft polenta was served (I believe) in the steel skillet it was cooked in, topped with mushrooms which I happily ignored. The polenta itself however was more creamy than gritty, which some may prefer but I like my polenta to have more of a textured taste. Three small crab cakes were placed on a long dish with a trio of aiolis.

Bathrooms: In the back towards the kitchen, I appreciated that the one stall was a separate room from the sink, which eliminated any awkward walk-ins. Yes, there are always locks on the doors, but for some reason I never trust them. The restroom was clean and modern, and I especially liked the texture of the “steel drum” like base of the sink.

Wait Staff: My boyfriend & I arrived a few minutes before the rest of the party and we were promptly seated. Our appetizers, meals, and after dinner drinks all came out at perfect times; we were not hurried to finish any dish, and were also never looking around wondering when the next course was coming out.

Overall: You can’t beat the feeling of dining at Mare; with the cool lighting and flat screens in each corner displaying photographs of Italy, you forget you’re in the hectic North End. I have no complaints about the food; my boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his Homemade Potato Gnocci with roasted duck, and my friend made a great point that her Stripped Bass was cooked perfectly, which is not an easy task. The only unsettling part of the night was seeing the prices on the menu. I choose my Gnudi bolognese because it was a cheaper Primi, and you could certainly tell by the amount of pasta I was given. It was a perfect size only because I had a sampling of all three appetizers. I suppose you’re paying for an outstanding quality of fish and the all organic ingredients that go into making each dish, but with my current status I’d only return for a special occasion.

The Perfect Bite: I had never tried the gnudi pasta and while I did favor it’s lighter consistency over the gnocchi, the creamy aiolis with the Maine Crab Cakes was superb … I also must add an honorable mention of the palate cleanser we were given: a slice of cucumber, topped with a blood orange, and a ricotta cheese lobster mousse. Unexpected, dainty, & delicious!

www.marenatural.com

Sportello

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spicy tomato soup

spicy tomato soup

Barbara Lynch’s take on a modern Italian diner is located on Congress Street in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood above her bar, Drink. Serving lunch & dinner, this casual atmosphere provides mostly table top seating with a few surrounding tables. Lining the back wall are fresh dried pastas for sale, along with olive oil & house made chocolate bars. To the left is a bakery counter complete with items ranging from fresh bread to breakfast pastries to cupcakes & cookies. If you need a caffeine fix you can choose from their list of coffees, espresso, & lattes.

Two friends & I sat at the corner of the counter top on round stools facing the window, looking out onto Congress Street.

Bread: The waiter started us with a few slices of bread, accompanied by a small bowl of whipped ricotta cheese, apple & pear chutney, drizzled with oil olive & sea salt. The bread itself wasn’t much to brag about but I did appreciate that the light spread was something other than butter.

Menu: Presented as a laminated place mat on which your meal is served, the dinner menu is separated into four categories: appetizers, pastas, entrees, and desserts. Now, when I dine out, there are a few items that I just can’t resist: tomato soup, any pasta with a bolognese sauce, and polenta. (Un)fortunately for me, this menu had all three. I started with the spicy tomato soup served with caraway grilled cheese, and it’s a very rare occasion that I deny a bolognese.

Presentation: Soup is served in a bowl with crostini laid across the top. I find some tomato soups can be too oily but this version was just right. It was creamy without being too heavy, and the grilled cheese was tasty & perfect for dipping. The tagliatelle bolognese was fantastic, topped with grated cheese & a leaf of fried basil. I had no trouble finishing my plate as the serving was generous but didn’t leave me leaving uncomfortably full. My only criticism is that I personally have a love for sauce and this dish just didn’t have enough. It was full of meat which is a plus, but if I could I would have added more of a sauce to go along with it. The tagliatelle however was a light pasta, cooked to perfection.

Bathroom: A tiny one stall bathroom with white & brown tiled walls. Despite the lack of room, a sleek sink design & automatic flusher gave this extra points!

Wait Staff: Our waiter was pleasant & very knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. At one point the floor manager/host approached us and asked how we enjoyed the evening and what brought us to Sportello. I appreciated this and told him I had been wanting to try a Barbara Lynch restaurant and that this was my first Lynch experience. I was planning on making it two in one night, but didn’t have time to make it downstairs to Drink.

Overall: I wouldn’t recommend Sportello if you’re looking for an intimate date night or have a large party as the tables are limited and eating at a counter top with more than 4 people can cause for broken conversations. My two friends & I had a great time, we enjoyed our meals but were unfortunately too full to indulge in dessert. I’ll have to return and look further into that bakery case.

The Perfect Bite: While the meat was tender & plentiful, the bolgnese didn’t provide enough sauce to make it “perfect”. Dipping the crunchy, cheesy crostini into the bowl of tomato soup was too good to be true, I just wish I had more grilled cheese to clean the bowl with!

www.sportelloboston.com

Scampo – The Liberty Hotel

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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

Ristorante Fiore

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This restaurant, located on Hanover Street in the North End, holds the record of my boyfriend’s favorite meal in all of Boston: Bombolotti alla Vodka. He’s never ordered another entrée at this restaurant and doesn’t plan on doing so in the future. I’ve maybe been there 5 times and have ordered it 4 out of the 5 times (my first time there I wasn’t aware of how special it was). It’s truly delicious, I enjoy their signature pasta over the everyday penne, and they get the vodka sauce just right without being too creamy.

Bread: three different types are served with EVOO. There is a biscuit type of roll that is the only one that’s worth going back for seconds.

Menu: traditional Italian menu, with sections of Antipasti, Insalate, Primi, Secondi, Contorti, and their signature pastas. Presentation: not much you can do with a bowl of pasta, but the Insalata di Pomodoro was laid out beautifully with the tomatoes and mozzarella overlapping each other, basil at each end. Everything appeared fresh and that much more appetizing!

Bathroom: the low point of the night for me, but don’t think that means I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant. It’s a small bathroom with 4-5 stalls, nothing that really grabbed my attention. It was neat & clean, so I’m not complaining. But the lack of originality didn’t matter; I was still thinking about my entrée and anxiously awaiting the best tiramisu in town.

Wait Staff: I’ve never had a disappointing waiter here, but this evening we had a lovely waitress who could not have been more adorable and pleasant. Attentive, checked up on us at appropriate times, always a smile on her face (and mine as well every time she approached the table).

Overall: I’ve never had any complaints about Fiore. I look forward to sitting on their roof deck in the summer!

The Perfect Bite: Insalata di Pomodoro. Fresh basil, fresh tomato, fresh mozzarella, olive oil. Yes, I emphasized the “fresh” because that’s exactly how it tasted.

www.ristorantefiore.com

The Perfect Bite

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For me, dining out is an experience, an event. I prefer a perfect meal at a new restaurant over late night drinks in Faneuil or shopping with mom and her credit card. I love exploring different menus, I like having multiple choices of what to eat, and honestly, after making dinner for myself night after night & cleaning up & washing dishes, it feels GREAT to have someone serve me wine & food, right to my table. It may come at a price, but if I don’t have to scrub a pan after a delicious meal, I’m thrilled.

I don’t necessarily want to start reviewing all the restaurants I go to. Part of my goal here is to make a list of every new restaurant I try and what it is that I order. And if I do that, I might as well comment on the things that spark my interest while dining out:

  1. Bread – I look forward to the bread (almost) above anything else. It starts off the evening and provides a preview of the attitude of the restaurant and (sometimes) how well the rest of the food is going to be.
  2. Menu & Food Presentation – the food options is one of the most important aspects to enjoying a dinner out. The food presentation is just a plus if prepared in a fun & unique way.
  3. Bathroom – don’t ask why, but I have a fascination with restaurant bathrooms (or ones of a hotel, department store, doesn’t matter).  Fancy soap, don’t mind if I do! Strange architecture & design, duly noted. Paper towels, really?? Shelves in the stalls to put my purse, couldn’t be more efficient.
  4. Wait Staff – could make or break the night. I always enjoy someone who takes their time on my party and throws in some personality. We’re spending a few hours together, we might as well share a laugh or two.
  5. Overall Experience

At the end of each entry I’ll comment on “The Perfect Bite” of the evening. Usually with each appetizer, entree, or dessert I order there is an attempt to place each component of the dish on the fork at once, in order to acheive that tasy, delicious, unforgettable bite!