Geoffrey's Cafe Back Bay!

Having eaten at Geoffrey's maybe a dozen times since living down the street I thought it high time I write a review! No stranger to Back Bay, Geoffrey's actually originally opened here in 1991 before opening a second location in the South End, closing the Back Bay location, and then moving to Roslindale. Though I never had eaten at these other locations in the past, the current location at Columbus and Berkeley can't be beat!

The menu is very large and quite eclectic, serving everything from chicken and dumplings to a 7 Vegetable Cous Cous. Everything is beyond reasonable, with hearty sandwiches with black bean salsa or potato salad for an average of 7.95, and 10.95 for a wonderful beef bourguignon over mashed potatoes.

Typically, whether for lunch or dinner, I stick with the sandwiches since I can't get enough of either their bacon cheddar burger or fried chicken sandwich! The burger is thick and juicy with ample bacon and cheddar, green leaf & tomato,
pickles, red onion & 1000 island piled high on a bulkie roll. The chicken is tender and not at all greasy served with tomato, cheddar, bacon and a chipotle ranch dressing. Other delicious options are the "G" BLT - no skimping on the bacon there! - and the chicken salad, made interesting with the addition of fresh tarragon.


The drink menu is equally as large, ranging from inexpensive standbys like Narragansett Lager to great cocktails like the Salty Dog, my personal favorite, which is gin and kalamata olive brine with Gorgonzola stuffed kalamata olives. There's a slew of champagne cocktails, old standbys, fun beers like a 32 oz. Mississippi Mud, and some 2 dozen or so wines by both the bottle and glass.

I've only been once for their disco brunch (complete with classic disco music), but both their savory and sweet options were nicely done. The eggs benedict with Norwegian smoked salmon was great, and the Scandinavian waffles with powdered sugar, whipped butter & homemade syrup were pretty standard. I'd certainly return to try more of their breakfast items.

Overall I feel as though you can't go wrong with Geoffrey's - location, price, and variety are all just right and fit nicely within the spacious interior with high tables, a bar area, a regular dining area, and even a private dining area! A+!

The Beehive

For my friend's last night in Boston she wanted to go someplace fun with great food. Never having been to The Beehive but hearing so many great things, we decided to give it a go.

I was very impressed by the restaurant's atmosphere as soon as we walked down the stairs. The dim lighting creates a very laid back vibe, and the art along the brick walls makes it feel as if you're in an artist's studio. Though we were seated in the back corner, we had no trouble seeing the musicians setting up on the stage. About a half hour after sitting down our experience became even better when the live salsa music started.

Starter
The pumpkin and gorgonzola flatbread pizza caught all of our eyes at the very start, so we thought it to be the perfect choice for our starter. Soon after it arrived covered with a sprinkling of what seemed to be arugula. While the gorgonzola was very prominent (and delicious), none of us really got much of the pumpkin flavor. If anything it added a subtle sweetness to the pizza, but that may very well have just been the dough, itself.

Main Course
For her main dish Lauren opted for the grilled cheese with shortribs, farmhouse cheddar, and fontina. I had heard great things about this sandwich, and it certainly didn't disappoint. Sandwiched between two perfectly grilled thick pieces of what seemed like texas toast was ample cheese and juicy shortribs. Next time I come I will definitely be getting this. (Note: the picture doesn't do justice to the size of the sandwich)

To accompany this she ordered the Beehive frites with sage and sea salt. They were more or less thinly sliced fries with a hint of sea salt on a bed of sage. I wasn't crazy about them, but they certainly weren't anything to complain about. Next time I'd like to get the poutine where they are covered in cheese and gravy.

Mel not surprisingly choose the prime hanger steak, roasted mushroom sauce, and potato croquette. Though I didn't try it, the steak looked perfectly cooked medium rare. The croquette, which I did try, was very tasty and not too greasy.

Cara and I both ended up with the duck, scallion, and jalapeño risotto. The waiter had to make sure the last two of this dish were available for us, so apparently it was a popular choice. Though not crazy about jalapeño, I thought it sounded fun. The jalapeño flavor was prominent throughout but not overbearing and contrasted nicely with the chunks of duck that had a really nice sweetness to them. The dish was very cheesy and hence filled me right up after not even eating half of it.

The Beehive also has a nice wine list, and our server was incredibly helpful in steering us in the right direction for our choice of wine -something not to weighty but leaning a bit toward sweet. All in all I had a great experience and am looking forward to another night with great food and live music.


The Beehive is located at the Boston Center for the Arts in the historic cyclorama building at 541 Tremont. Visit http://beehiveboston.com/ for more information.

A Bryanie Martini

Tonight--in different parts of the city--Jeff and I are both in need of a martini.

I, for one, have a particular favorite. Here's mine; maybe Jeff will feel inspired after his and post something too! 

It just kind of happened one night when I didn't have any cucumbers to garnish my Hendrick's martini. (Cucumber is the recommended garnish for that particular gin because of its special ingredients.) I got the bright idea to add a cornichon or two instead. I mean, that's a cucumber, right...just pickled?! Then, I thought I'd "dirty" it up a little with some of the "pickle juice." The end product was perfect.

Bryanie Martini

6-8 parts Hendrick's gin

1 part dry vermouth

splash pickle brine

2-3 cornichons for garnish

Shake or stir the liquid ingredients and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with cornichons.

The Butcher Shop

Join me as I begin a new column on Les Gourmands: REVEALED! A weekly inside look at my adventures at restaurants and eateries throughout Boston.

Our first restaurant is Barbara Lynch's shop/wine bar/bistro, The Butcher Shop. I had always wanted to go into this place while simultaneously being so intimidated to step foot inside it. I had previously conquered Lynch's flagship, No. 9 Park, with a nine course meal paired with delicious wines. While the price could be considered slightly intimidating, No. 9 Park offered a more enjoyable atmosphere and experience than Aujourd'hui (Boston's other exquiste French restaurant). So, despite already eating at the more serious of her restaurants, I don't know why I still remained scared to step into Butcher Shop---perhaps it is the size of the place and the way it is set up. There are windows on two sides and you can see tons of people always standing or sitting right up against the windows. Plus, I always wondered, what do you do when you go inside?....there is no host station, what will I do? (not to create another tangent, but I am also intimated by B&G Oysters, another Barbara Lynch restaurant!)

Finally putting the fear aside I made plans to go The Butcher Shop (being invited to meet someone there for a drink made the idea of going inside much easier...however we decided to meet there--now what? do I wait outside or go in? eeeek!). I planned to be late--very late by my standards, however, it seemed my dining companion had simliar ideas and was not waiting for me outside as I had hoped. So, taking a deep breath, I decided to step inside. My fears of not knowing what to do were put to rest immediately as I was greeted as soon as I walked in. While I waited, they suggested I have a drink over at the butcher block--this was getting fun already! When I moved into my apartment in Beacon Hill, I wanted to have a big butcher block that could serve as a counter (since there was limited space) but also as a serving table where 2 or more could sit or stand around and have drinks or dinner. Real butcher's blocks are more expensive than I wanted, so I settled for a tall dining bar with a butcher block-type top to it---but this restaurant had the real deal and I loved it!

The walls were filled with that day's specials written in chalk and behind where I was standing was a huge refrigerator full of excellent meats (it is a real shop--you can buy cuts of meat there). All of this really added to the feel of the place--I didn't realize this butcher block part of the restaurant even existed because from Tremont Street all you can really see is the bar at the front. So I had a glass of wine while I waited--the wine list was very European (I had know idea what I was looking through since I really only know things about California wines), but I had a lot of time to thumb through the selections since Ryan thought we were meeting a half an hour after I did. Once he finally got there, the butcher (yes, there is a real-live butcher there) enjoyed overhearing the conversation that we had about Ryan's lateness while he (the butcher, not Ryan) chopped different meats and wrapped them--it was actually fascinating to watch.

The wine was delicious and we had a little bread to nibble on. We did not, however, stay there for dinner. I am seriously looking forward to returning there both for drinks around the butcher block and to actually sit for dinner! I definitely recommend you take the plunge and venture in--the entire staff was very friendly to me (even while I was just standing alone waiting). Barbara Lynch is 2 for 2 in my book--I look forward to B&G!

The Butcher Shop
552 Tremont Street
617.423.4800
thebutchershopboston.com

Tremont 647/Sister Sorel

Looking for a place where everybody really does know your name? Look no further.

No, not Cheers - Bostonians don't actually go there, by the way - I'm talking about Tremont 647, that South End stalwart that has, for nearly 12 years, been one of the most popular gathering places for the neighborhood.

Opened in December 1996 by Chef Andy Husbands, Tremont 647 - and its counterpart, Sister Sorel (named so for Husbands' sister) - have stood the test of time in an area where the loyalty of restaurant patrons can be ephemeral, at best.

The atmosphere of the establishment is relaxed and inviting, from its glass-walled facade - which in the spring and summer opens up, letting the restaurant spill out onto Tremont Street - to its open air kitchen, there is nothing pretentious about it.

Though a rainbow flag hangs proudly outside, 647 is itself a microcosm of the evolution of the South End in recent years. Just as the area lying between West Newton and Berkeley Streets can no longer be tagged solely as Boston's "gayborhood," Tremont 647 isn't a gay hangout, or a straight hangout - it's just a neighborhood hangout. On any given evening, you can find a mix of anyone and everyone: professionals, students, blue collar, white collar, hipsters and preppies of all backgrounds and orientations - dining and drinking with the sole purpose of having a good time.

The menu here changes seasonally, with Chef Husbands and his team often adding items to all menu categories - appetizers, entrees, sides, desserts and drinks all tend to get a make-over as the weather turns. More worldly items such as braised lamb over Parisian gnocchi rotate in and out, but the full-time menu sports dishes that reflect what seems to be Husbands' passion - American comfort food, specifically, BBQ.

There is a decidedly southern influence to most of these dishes, using ingredients that are a bit alien to a northern crowd - the incredible buttermilk fried chicken is served with steamed collard greens, and a grilled biscuit with gravy.

A personal favorite is the wood-grilled flat iron steak, served up with garlicky (as in, don't expect any kisses for a while) broccolini and a side fontina-stuffed tater tots, an amazing taste that can - and should - be ordered up as an individual side if you choose a different dish.

The chef's signature rib dish - Andy's "180" Ribs - are served up with cornbread and cole slaw, with the optional add-on of...wait for it...a Pabst Blue Ribbon 16-ounce "tall boy."

Not to be outdone by the entrees, there are two appetizers that are especially worth noting. First, the lobster mac 'n' cheese is a favorite among patrons, to the point where The Improper Bostonian noted it in their "Best of 2008" issue, and rightly so. Served up in its own mini-skillet, the dish delivers exactly what it promises - a heaping portion of gooey, al dente mac 'n' cheese with chunks (not the "need-a-magnifying-glass" pieces you often find) of fresh lobster baked right in.


Second, and in my opinion, best, are the momos. For anyone unfamiliar, a momo is a Tibetan dumpling which is stuffed with any number of ingredients. At Tremont 647, the preferred preparation is fried, with a pork filling. Simplistic, but absolutely addictive, these are served with soy sauce and sriracha (ask for extra), and are often gone far too quickly. While these may seem like any fried dumpling you can get at any Asian-influenced establishment, there is something unique about this dish, and is a must-order for any first-timer.

For dessert, make sure you dig in to Andy's signature banana cream pie, drizzled with chocolate and caramel, and topped off with nut brittle.

For all the cuisine, it's the restaurant's drinks that draws many in, and keeps them in Sister Sorel (which, while connected, is primarily a stand-alone bar) late into the night. Three of the more popular mixes are the 647 raspberry vodka gimlet, made with a house-infused raspberry vodka, the Tremont Tang, blending papaya vodka and fruit juices (and a rim lined with Tang mix), and the Sidecar from Hell, which, well...is.

Trumping everything else, it's really the staff that makes the popularity of Tremont 647 what it is. From servers to chefs to bartenders to hosts, you get the vibe that no one working there is just sticking around for a paycheck - they're also having fun, which puts guests at ease, and makes for an even better experience all around. They remember repeat customers, and often go out of their way to to recognize them, whether it be with a greeting, or if you're lucky, a complimentary round of momos.

It should be noted that on weekends they host a wildly popular pajama brunch (where the staff go all out in various combinations of pajamas, robes, long johns, curlers and most anything else they can get their hands on). The brunch has its own menu, which can - and likely will - be review unto itself.

Finally, make sure you keep an eye out for special events at the restaurant. These range from small celebrations, such as the recent "F! Restaurant Week" party, celebrating the end of Boston's bi-annual, price-slashing Restaurant Week promotion (which, as the party's name insinuates, are not the most loved weeks for those in the food service industry), to the upcoming Bourbon & BBQ night on October 13th. This reservation-only night includes bourbon tastings, passed appetizers and a family-style BBQ dinner.

Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel are located on the corner of Tremont and West Brookline in Boston's South End. More information and full menu can be found at www.Tremont647.com.

Joshua Tree - Allston

Every once in a while nothing hits the spot better than a nice, cold beer accompanied by some good bar food. Seeing as I live about 30 seconds from Joshua Tree, which replaced Tonic in Allston on Comm. Ave. sometime last year, it isn't too difficult to convince oneself to make the trek over.

Probably the best part of Joshua Tree is its great deals on food. From Monday thru Friday between 5 and 7pm the entire menu is half priced. The food isn't expensive to begin with, so half-off is really great. On Wednesday nights regardless of the time all burgers are half-priced, which means for $4 you can get something like the 'Stuffed Bleu Bacon', a nice-sized burger stuffed with bacon and bleu cheese, then covered in more bleu cheese along with french fries.

Apart from the burgers, which are delicious, my favorite thing on the menu hands down is the spinach and artichoke dip. Now I've tasted a few spinach and artichoke dips in my day, including the one at Sunset Bar & Grill which is outstanding and my 2nd favorite, but this one takes the cake. The menu describe it as "a blend of sour cream, fresh spinach, parmesan, artichoke hearts, and cream cheese. Served with baked pita chips, green onions, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese." I would say it is worth the $8.99, though I've never actually paid full price on account of the 1/2 off deal.

In terms of other food, I've had their bbq chicken potato skins, tasty but nothing special, and then the California Burger, which comes with avocado, applewood smoked bacon, and cheddar. I've heard great things about their BBQ chicken pizza, basically all of the other burgers, the Ultimate Nachos, and the Buffalo Chicken Queso Dip. The only somewhat negative review I've heard was from a friend who had a Turkey burger and said that she wished it had been fresh like the beef, but instead that it seemed like your standard frozen turkey patty.

Drink-wise the best deal is to just get an $8 pitcher of Molson or Coors, and then its $14-16 for pitchers of imports and classier brews. Other drink prices seem typical, with a Blue Moon or UFO running $4-5, for example. There's a list above the bar with prices of the draught and bottled beers, which is helpful.

On weekend nights there is a line outside the door, so if you want to take advantage of a more chill atmosphere, go around dinner time during the week. There is good people-watching if you sit up front by the huge windows, which are open when the weather is nice. There are also big TV screens throughout the bar, so anyone wanting to catch a game will have no trouble doing so.

Fajitas & Ritas

We've already talked about how we frequent Fajita's and Rita's--often on Thursdays. Well, last night wasn't any different. Other than the cheap margaritas, one of the main draws--for me, at least--is the staff. Usually, we have one of the really fun waitresses who have come to know us from our many visits. Last night, however, we had "Pal" who is usually behind the bar as our server--we think because "Shakira" must have on vacation.

Well, we were disappointed. "Pal" should remain behind the bar and leave the tables to the fabulous ladies.

Adam, for one, was not happy. Let's see what he has to say about it.

"It's always disappointing when we're stuck with a waiter who doesn't know us, and last night, that was the case. Nothing especially stood-out with the food: we started with chips and salsa, and the salsa--although runny--was spicier than normal. Peter says that the chips were better than normal...maybe they used different oil.

"I have three standy-by entrées that I tend to order. 1.) the tequila chicken wings, and side salad with cheese and what's almost like a peppercorn dressing. The tequila wings are very spicy, but they are delicious and are served with good blue cheese dressing. Once, I thought I could eat a large order by myself, but I do not recommend doing that. 2.) The steak quesadilla. The order comes with two quesadillas. It's a very filling meal. Sometimes, the tortillas can be overcooked." (Peter: "But that's' when you just smother on the entire pile of sour cream and guacamole!) "Yes, they serve it w/ sour cream and guacamole, but I would like to see a nice chunky salsa."Last night I went with my third standy: 3.) the pulled pork sandwich. The meat is done very well, and their barbecue sauce is very flavorful. My favourite part of the sandwich is the roll, which is better than a plain hamburger bun but not as thick as sourdough bread. I'm guessing they get it from Piantedosi.

"Also, last night, it was a struggle for us to get glasses of water." (This wouldn't have happened at Chef Chang's!)

Peter would like to say something: "I think that while the food at F&R is decent, the margaritas are excellent for their pricepoint. The best margarita to have is the pitcher of frozen strawberry margarita. It can accommodate 3-4 people, and the bartender has a heavy hand w/ the tquila, which is masked nicely by the strong strawberry flavor. Two glasses, and you'll be feeling good. Bryan always gets his margaritas straight-up with salt, and he seems to really enjoy them!"

Yes, F&R's original margarita, straight-up, with salt is my preferred beverage on Thursday nights--there's no doubt.

Remember to show your Charlie Card for 10% of your food order. (They'll say you have to have a coupon, but don't let them fool you. Check out mbta.com for full details...)

Adam: "I give F&R a B/B+."
Bryan: "While we were disappointed by the service last night, we'll not let that deter us from going back...as long as we get 'Shakira' back!!"
Peter: "A very fun place to go on a Thursday night."

The Publick House

For the last class meeting, my summer Latin class decided it would be best to get together at a bar of some sort as a sort of reward, and also in hopes that the libations would further assist us in our poetry translations. Brookline's 'The Publick House' was suggested and so it was settled.

I arrived at 6:00, 15 minutes prior to our decided meeting time. A classmate already waiting told me that he had gone in and spoken to the hostess, but that she said she couldn't seat us until half our party was there. Fine. At 6:15, when half of the group had arrived, she proceeded to tell us that she could not seat us until the ENTIRE party was there. With her attitude you'd think our wanting to be seated was so incredibly unreasonable. She then warned us that at least half of us had to have food in order to be seated at a table.

When we finally were "seated" (read: went outside and picked a picnic bench, ourselves) we picked a table on the end since there seemed to be an extra bench. Well apparently that was out of the question and the bench "could not be moved." Later on when we took a chair from one of two unused tables, we were told that they were "just about to seat people there", which turned out to be a lie.

Well by this time we were all certainly ready for some beer, and I settled on a German Hefeweizen draught. This was after I had to go to other tables and get more beer menus, of course. My choice was rather tasty and much-needed, though it had a slightly curious sour aftertaste that I wasn't the hugest fan of. As for food, we first decided on the $6 Publick House frites: "Hand Cut Yukon Gold Potatoes Fried Golden Brown & Dusted with sea salt w/ choice of 2: Rogue Chipotle Ale mayo, habanero mayo, fresh herb mayo, gorgonzola dressing, creamy Wostyntje mustard, Mc Chouffe Garlic Mayo." We chose the gorgonzola and the herb mayo. We also opted for the $14 antipasto platter - an assortment of meats, cheeses, and vegetables.

When the antipasto platter arrived I was pleasantly surprised. For the meats we had a salami of sorts (tasty) and slices of a smoked ham, like prosciutto but thicker and darker. There was a white and orange cheese, the white being a nondescript cheddar (I'm guessing the Grafton Village Aged Cheddar from Vermont, based on the menu desciprtion). The orange cheese was delicious, not too soft but very tangy, almost melting in your mouth. Again based on the menu description I'm guessing it was a Cahill Irish Porter Cheddar. The vegetables included chunks of cut tomatoes with basil, really delicious grilled mushrooms, and then cubes of fried polenta with herbs. Accompanied by bread, I thought it was a nice assortment to be consumed by a sizable group over conversation and beer.

The frites weren't crispy as described, but when it comes down to it, anything deep fried that can be slathered in either gorgonzola or herb mayo tastes just fine, if not delicious. They were presented in an upright cone of paper, with the two dips attached on either side, which I thought was fun. Two other members of our group ordered the fish and chips, which looked really good and was a lot of food, but I did not get the chance to try it.

I eventually had two more beers, the Alagash White (a Belgian White from Maine spiced with curaçao orange peel and coriander, 5%) and then the Alagash Curieux, a barrel aged Belgian style-beer with a higher alcohol content of 11%. I very much enjoyed both.

Unfortunately at the end of our meal we were faced with additional unpleasantness. Again when there was clearly no one waiting to be seated, we grabbed a chair to seat our first-semester professor who had joined us. Well, that was out of the question. When she offered to just stand at the end of our table, it was reported that that, too, was unacceptable due to Brookline law. We made the best of the situation (actually, a number of us just decided to go) and squeezed closer together.

The moral of the story is - The Publick house has a nice atmosphere (inside and outside) and a great selection of beers you might not find anywhere else in the area. The food is pretty good, too, just don't expect any consideration or assistance from the waitstaff. While I was hoping the hostess was perhaps just having a bad day, the general theme of many other reviews I've looked at only tell the same tale of sub-par service. *Sigh*