Restaurant Reviews, Boston Cheap Eats, Boston Places to Eat

So you are probably asking the same question that I did 0 the Bell in Hand serves food?  Yea they do – but don’t get too excited – no one is heading to here to get the Sam Adams burger or to munch on the popcorn shrimp.

So let’s all be honest here, you should go the the Bell in Hand to see drunk college kids and adults from the suburbs on a night out on the town – and enjoy the good beer selection.  But truth be told – as harsh as I sound – the bar service actually is typically pretty good (before it gets waaaay too crowded).  So avoid this place like the plague on a Sat Night unless you are a girl who already has on her tight black pants looking for some dude that works on State Street to wisk you off of your feet.

This place to me is always better as a lunch spot – great location to grab a brew and talk to some old friends.

Anna’s Taqueria must be one of the most overrated spots in all of Boston.  Everyone claims that this burrito is their favorite – most of the big review sites and shows (some who also take advertising money from the restaurants that they review), all dole out awards to this place.

But why?  Listen, I have gone to Anna’s numerous times.  Everytime I leave full, but unsatisfied.  The tortilla is very thin, soft yes and tasty, but my burrito always falls apart.  If you are going to make a good homemade tortilli make it both soft but sturdy.

Then we get to service.  I know, some of you actually like the fast pasted and NY-style attitude from the lunch goons behind the counter.  But to me, being upset at some old woman in front of me because she doesn’t know if she wants Guac’ or not doesn’t make me happy.  The staff is always rude, and impatient.  I get it, it’s a fast paced lunch crowd that Anna’s makes their money, but jeez other placed can also offer people who smile.

I’ve tried so many different things on the menu – from chicken, to steak to pork, to tacos.  Each time I felt underwhelmed.  To me it’s actually a more bland burrito than …. yes I will say it Boloco.  Anna’s is just a mass produced mess – with ingredients that no longer taste fresh.  Always too much rice, cheese that’s still cold when it’s in my burrito.

Anyway, listen I don’t hate the place but to me I have had a better burrito at a gas station (you know that one across from Mass General) than I have had at Anna’s.

So, what say you?

So one of the first cool things you need to know about the Vault – is I am told that the owner also owns the Chicken Box on Nantucket.  The Chicken Box sometimes has some pretty good acts play, but typically it’s a drunken mess with lots of kids from NY ruining the Nantucket vibe.  That being said, both the Vault and to a lesser degree the Chicken box has it’s virtues.

But today, lets stick with the Vault.  I actually like the location of the Vault, right in historic Liberty Square, off the beaten track of State Street and Quincy Market.  It has a lively after work scene with a nice beer selection and tasty appitizers.  The dinner menu is limited, but it’s typical comfort food with Mac and Cheese, burgers, calimari, the typical Boston-Bar type grub.  All in all the service is always better that I would expect, with a friendly waitstaff and quick delivery on the goods.

Check out the Vault, but be warned on a Thursday after work it can be very busy.  Go early and enjoy.

This Charlestown gem is away from the touristy areas and in a wonderfully renovated old barracks.  One of the keys to this hot spot is the wonderful (and nicely priced I might add) wine list.  The waiter or waitress will be more than glad to help you pick a vino for the evening.  A real treat is the hanger steak on a bed of french fries- it’s a bit of a comfort food delight, along with the meatloaf.  But I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about all of their wonderful fish offerings, my favorite was a special that they had which was a rainbow trout, cooked perfectly and it has nice sweet almost glaze sauce on top.

The desserts and apps will keep you coming back as well, with some wonderful calamari to start and some simple cakes and pastries to satisfy your sweet tooth.

It can be busy, and the place isn’t all that big so get there early on a Saturday night.

Now that winter is coming to a close – do you ever get the sense that maybe it’s time to eat a bit better to start getting into ‘beach shape’?  Well I found out about a wicked cool healthy meals delivery service.  It’s called Healthy Chef, and they have in essence a diet meals delivery for you at home.  They have certified organic, wholesome and all natural food – created by some fantastic chefs.  The best part is that in this economy – sometimes staying in is the best option and you can stay in and eat healthy at the same time.

I think some of you who are looking for a diet delivery service could find this a very compelling option.

For me though one of the best options is the ‘gluten free’ section.  I have a food friend who needs gluten free foods and I don’t’ always know what is good and what isn’t right for her when cooking or going out on the town.  With this service you don’t need to worry about it at all.  They take the guess work out of those situations.

For those of you who think that something like this is a luxury, remember time is money – and the time you save not having to cook a meal at home can save you aggravation and stress.  Plus what’s better than making sure that your family is getting the right nutritional satisfactory meals at dinner time.

Anyway, all you BostonFoodies out there should check them out.

http://www.healthychefcreations.com

This fast paced lunch spot in downtown crossing certainly delivers on value.  The selections are vast – with everything from pizza, to tons of different sandwiches.  This place certainly caters to the thousands of cubical workers surrounding the area – be prepared to order quick and know what you want.  The bread with the sandwiches is a great baguette – in which I give it high marks.  The cold cut sandwiches seem fresh and lively, while the hot dishes seem a bit – stale.  Overall a great deal as the sandwiches come up to 20 inches big for a good price (around $7 bucks for the large – $5 for a small).  Stop in – you wont’ be disappointed.

I know – some of you really love these burgers.  I have read the reviews on all the other sites and magazines – so I had to try it.  The burger is like a big meatball at this Somerville institution.  Yes you know the drill, the owner says that it’s up to you to squish the burger and that’s just how he makes them.

What everyone forgets to tell you is that the burger is as dry as cardboard.  I’ve tried two burgers there – both were unseasoned – dry- and boring.

The service was curt – and unfriendly.  We went on a very unbusy Sunday around 2ish – there was only about 6 other people in the place.  And still – service was slow – our glasses were dirty and the burgers were boring.

I actually don’t mind the roundness of the burger – that’s cool – but the lack of flavor and juices is what bothered me the most.

I don’t think I’ll be going back – there are much better burger places out there. 

Yea I know – this is the flagship of Todd English’s empire.  I want to say up front I think Todd English is a fantastic chef and that I typically have been impressed at his restaurants and menus.

I really don’t like Olives.  Don’t get me wrong – I’ve given it plenty of chances – I wanted to like it.  I really did.  But to me the single thing that was consistent wasn’t the food it was the terrible service.

Consistently bad service.  I have eaten at the bar – bad service.  Large dinner party – bad service.  And for an intimate dinner for two – (poor/average service that time).

Listen, the food is good – sometimes great (fantastic steak frites – and the pork chop was decent as well).  But what was always left in my mouth was the taste of a rude bartender – or rushed and thoughtless waitstaff.  I actually thought about telling the bartender how disappointed I was with him – but the BFG doesn’t like to confrontation.

Anyway, the decor is lovely – and it is almost always buzzing with people.  But just be prepared to wait – and wait.  Don’t expect your water to be filled – with a server that smiles – or anything else for that matter. At the end of the day – for the prices that you’re paying you expect quality service.

And it’s a shame because Figs just down the street is just to opposite – that wait staff is seemingly always cheery and helpful.  I don’t get it.

Executive chef Tom Holloway has done a tremendous job at this suburban gem of a restaurant.  I don’t know the whole back story behind the old Todd English Rustic Kitchen in Faneuil Hall and I don’t really care – this is Jim and Kathy Cafarelli’s and I couldn’t be happier.  I am not going to lie, I didn’t expect much considering the location in the outdoor shopping area of Derby Street in Hingham, but what lies inside is nothing short of a fantastic dining experience – especially considering the price.  I have to first comment on the service – because our waitress not only offered heartfelt and honest opinions (I always love it when they tell you what they don’t like on the menu) but was always helpful and attentive.  The ambiance was just lovely – you forgot you were in Hingham the moment you stepped in.  We split an appetizer of the Lobster and artichoke dip – not what I expected but it was delicious with the wontons being very flavorful and crispy.  The wine selection was descent but did offer good value – so I give them a hat tip to being smart for offering such a nice range of offerings.  Then came my pork chops – oh my – think – and juicy – with a wonderful sweetness.  They were brined in an apple cider.  Just perfect – the bostonfoodgal – had the squash ravioli – which were homemade and soft and full of a robust sweet flavor – with the sauce not overpowering the flavors of the ravioli which I liked.  I would highly recommend both dishes.   All in all – the Rustic Kitchen truly surprised me as I was going in not expecting much – but ended up leaving happy with a great meal at a reasonable price. 

Yes we all know that Dali is one of the most cozy and romantic places in the area.   The wonderful decorations, everything from the ceiling to the wall looks like it’s alive – Dali’s has a pulse. The aromas of dishes coming out instantly make you want to order everything on the menu – which doesn’t sound like a bad idea. The sangria is out of this world, so grab a carafe (or two).  One of my favorite dishes is the raspberry duck – always perfectly cooked with a wonderful sauce.  Plus you can never go wrong with the garlic shrimp, and for dessert the flan is outrageously good. Service is also top-notch. The waitstaff is always there to help and offer suggestions. Trust their judgment as they will likely have you try dishes you wouldn’t normally order and you now have a new favorite.