Restaurant Reviews, Boston Cheap Eats, Boston Places to Eat

Cool, different drinks, overpriced bar food is the best way to describe The Met. Located on Route 9, it’s a strange place for a swanky bar that’s trying to resemble an Upper East Side New York lounge. Parking is tough, and it’s not near anything else. So if you’re looking for a place to meet friends for a drink or two, then The Met can be cool. But if you’re hungry, be prepared to spend $20 for a sandwich, and not have a lot of options. It’s certainly not a place for dinner. Over all you’d expect more from the hype.

It’s tough to say anything bad about Paramount, (I’ll think of something). I’ve been to the Paramount a few times, both for lunch. I am told that the breakfast is even better, that’s a scary thought because lunch was so good. I have had both the burger and a pastrami sandwich, both wicked good. Remember you’re on Charles street so maybe everything is like a buck or two more than other places, but it’s worth it. Everything is cooked to order, so it will be nice and hot when you get it.

The wait can be long, so be prepared for a long wait and be ready to order quick. It’s a self seating place so good luck. I can’t put this in the Cheap Eats category due to the Beacon Hill prices, but it’s still not as bad as some other places on Charles Street..

This might be my all time favorite after work hangout. I know I know, it’s not a ‘Boston’ seafood place. I don’t care. The oysters rival Neptunes (thought I might still give the edge to Neptunes) and the atmosphere is fantastic. The best part is the bar menu. The service is always top notch which matters to a guy like me, and the whole place just oozes with class. The waitstaff and bartenders are alwasy polite and professional even if you’re just having a few beers and oysters – I love it. Anyway, at the bar you can get $1.50 oysters, a fantastic $3 dollar cup of chowder and a $8 place of friend calamari at the bar menu – plus more. I will say the King Crab legs might have been the best I have ever had… Anyway, check it out, I know you can go to an Oceanaire in most major cities – but why not here? It’s worth it.

We got lucky here. First-timers and got a seat at the bar. So if you’re like us, and just want a good meal and a place to eat it, Pomodoro was a home run. For those looking to impress, or just have a table to sit at with a waitress – make a reservation and you won’t be disappointed. The menu is not extensive, but they change it often, if not daily, and everything is amazing. The pasta is homemade, so even the simplest of dishes make you want to lick the bowl. Don’t fill up on the bread, even though you’ll want to, and definitely save room for dessert. And by dessert, I mean Tiramisu. The romantic atmosphere of Pomodoro is also very warm and comfortable, but it’s tiny as well. So I mean it when I say make a reservation. This is worth the trip and what I hear is a better spot than their other place in the North End.

This is a wonderful date destination. You can dine in some wonderfully beautiful rooms all with some very classic art on the walls. I have to admit I didn’t know what to expect with Persian food, but after visiting La La Rohk (now multiple times) this is without a doubt one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The wait staff and hostess are very knowledgeable and friendly and are very willing to help with selecting items from the menu and the most important part, helping with the accompanying relishes to go with the dishes. The dishes offered at La La Rohk are all very unique in flavor and decoration. I had the lamb, and it was tender with flavors that are tough to describe, get the lamb. It’s also not as expensive as you might figure as well considering it is located just off Charles street in Beacon Hill. This is a must visit. This might actually be Boston Food Guy’s favorite spot in the whole city…..no lie

www.lalarokh.com

I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. I had never been to the Federalist before, which was the restaurant prior to its closing a few years ago, but had heard great things. I now know people who frequently go to Moo, but I knew nothing about it. It is a steakhouse, so you have to try the steak. I say, feel free to fill up on the drinks and appetizers and go for a smaller steak. It was good, but if I’m going to spend $40 on a steak, I’d rather go to Abe and Louie’s. They have a good variety of food and the drinks are fantastic, but for me it didn’t break the top 5 or 6 of the best places for steak in Boston. The service, the ambiance, the drinks…all an A-plus though.

Eh, I have such mixed feelings about this place. It’s always packed, so it’s tough to get a table. The wine list is great – but is it worth the price. Yea it’s really cool inside and I feel like I’m in a really cool Crate and Barrel or something -but it’s still overpriced. For an app – I had a simple salad – it was fine. Yea the seafood is good, it’s better than average. I had the salmon – it was well cooked and not over seasoned it certainly was fresh. The service is pleasant but a bit rushed. I would have enjoyed to relax a bit more, and the noise level was a bit loud for my tastes. I don’t know – I guess the Boston Food Guy is in like with the place but not in love with it.

We celebrated our anniversary dinner last night at Clio. Ken Oringer is an award wining chef and the food was delicious, imaginative, and artistically presented. I started with the Cassoulette of Sea Urchin and Lobster with parsnips, crispy shallots and candied lemon. Never having had sea urchin, I was a bit nervous. Its presentation? A bowl of yellowish liquid with lumps and froth. Hmmm. Not exactly ‘comfort food’ in appearance, but intriguing. The flavor was highly complex both strong in seafood and sweet. I would call this dish tasty and challenging. The texture and distinctive flavor of the lobster was a familiar respite. The sea urchin was characteristically mushy and the yellow broth suggested a Fear Factor episode. But, for those who are comfortable with sea urchin, I would highly recommend this adults-only dish. Next I had the Black Licorice Rosted Muscomy Duck and Confit with fennel bulb, rutabaga and candied pomelo. From one duck lover to another this was OUTquackingSTANDING!! The best duck of the year is the first duck of the fall season and this course set the standard for all to follow. Served medium rare with very crispy skin, off the bone tender slices were earthy, sweet, and savory. The licorice did not taste like licorice but added bass tones of flavor. For dessert, I had a snifter of 150 year old Grand Marnier. There is no better experience from the tip of your nose to the warmth in your core.

Hangover or no hangover, Jim’s hits the spot every time. Come hungry because there is no such thing as a small dish. Don’t be dissuaded by the line out the door, or the stack of trays and silverware you have to pick up when you come in. Just pick it up, stand in line and order whatever your heart desires. This cafeteria-style deli is better than what you’ve seen before – they cook it right in front of you and let you decide how you want it. If you like your pancakes cooked a bit longer, they’ll do it. The cooks have the best attitude I’ve ever seen, especially since they’re dealing with a lot of people with hangovers. Breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, or full-on meals, Jim’s has it all. I’ve never been disappointed there, and neither were my parents when I took them. It’s great value and lets everyone fend for themselves.

I guess I just don’t get it. There is this weird obsession with Upper Crust with a lot of people, like it’s the only good pizza in Boston. Yea it’s good, good but not fantastic. I like the whole thin crust part, and the fresh tasting sauce – but has anyone had the pizza delivered to them hot? Has anyone else been a bit disturbed by their attitude there? Plus the price, jeepers. Listen, Upper Crust is a status pizza but not the best pizza. It’s like driving a Acura – better than most cars but not quite as good.