Lunch at Basho Japanese Brasserie!

Thanks to a Groupon, we mustered up the energy to venture over to Fenway and give Basho Japanese Brasserie a try! Walking in at 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon amid a torrential downpour, the place was pretty empty, and the sleek, dim interior with high ceilings somewhat added to the emptiness. The space didn't do much for me, but that was nothing a satisfying meal couldn't fix.

We were quickly seated and presented with the menus - quite extensive! There's basically about every type of Japanese you could want, not to mention daily specials, cocktails...To start we went with one of the appetizers on special, a refreshing ceviche with octopus, mango, and a number of other delicious things. We also threw in an order of edamame steamed in spicy garlic and ginger to munch on. How bad could that be?


For our actual meals we ended up with one of the types of lunch specials. I went with the Basho Lunch Set includes chef's choice of sashimi, sushi, yakimono, and agemono served with salad, rice, and fruit. Yakimono is a general category of grilled and pan-friend dishes, while agemono are deep-fried dishes.
I absolutely love the concept of bento, and this selection didn't disappoint! For my sushi I had a nigiri shrimp (kind of lame, but that's fine) and then red snapper - really fresh and delicious - and then two pieces of a roll with avocado, crab stick, some type of roe, and a fried mystery item! My sashimi was nice fat, pieces of salmon. Perfect! I honestly have no idea what my agemono was, but it was starchy and the consistency or sweet potato - perhaps some type of root, mixed with assorted bits of veggies. The yakemono was a nice skewer of grilled shrimp and veggies, and there were also a few pieces of chicken katsu. That, plus the salad, rice, and orange, is a pretty nice array of stuff!


The other lunch special, the selection bento, includes the choice of a sushi roll and main course, also served with salad, rice, and fruit. For the roll you can choose between Spicy Tuna, Alaskan, California, Sweet Potato, or Garden, and the main course is either chicken katso, salmon teriyaki, vegetable tempura, or a beef roll. Yum! Chris chose the spicy tuna roll - standard and well done, and the beef role, which is done as if it were maki in that the beef is pounded out and used to wrap, like nori. The beef was glazed with teriyaki and wrapped around asparagus.

All in all everything was really nicely put together. My only complaint is that I wish I had ordered more sushi and sashimi! I'll certainly be back for more of the sushi items, as well as more interesting dishes like smoked salmon fried rice and spicy lobster miso soup!

Fenway Restaurant Revival Meeting

A Sad Day for Fenway Restaurants!

That whole block on Peterborough, which included our favorite taquería, El Pelón , has gone up in flames!

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/01/fire_destroys_7.html

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1143550

Click here for video of the fire.

 

image source: boston.com

Boston Beer Works

The first time I went to Boston Beer Works was on a fall evening before a Red Sox Game last year, and I must say I was a bit overwhelmed by the hundreds of people crammed into the place. Offering 12 to 16 hand-crafted beers each day at only $5 each, however, it's no wonder the place is so popular. Last night it was suggested that a bunch of us go grab dinner there and watch the game, so I figured why not. I recall seeing some pretty tasty-looking bar food that last time...

When we got to the restaurant it was pretty dead, polar opposite of the last time when I could hardly get to the bar for a drink. I was very pleased from the get-go to see that they had a home-brewed Pumpkinhead Ale on tap. Seated at a table in the back corner, we had a good view of a few of the TVs as well as some of the machinery used to make the beer there.

We started with a few pitchers of the before mentioned Pumpkinhead ale, described as "a copper-colored ale that’s brewed with real pumpkin and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla and allspice". Everyone was a big fan. Another beer that caught my eye was the Peanut Butter Porter, "a deep brown, full-bodied ale with rich roasted coffee and chocolate overtones. Flavored with real peanut butter". I definitely want to come back some time later in the season to try it.

I was very impressed with their extensive menu - they even have a whole Oktoberfest menu with fun German-inspired dishes for the month, including schnitzel and bratwurst. I couldn't resist ordering a burger, though, and so chose the Fenway burger, which was covered in chili, scallions, and cheddar. They have a few different fry options for only $.95 extra, so I substituted my classic fries for the sour cream and chive fries with ranch dipping sauce. They were absolutely delicious. Other options include gravy fries, cheese fries, sweet potato fries, and fiery fries with ranch. As for the burger, they serve a serious hunk of meat, nice and medium rare like I wanted it. I thought the price of just over $10 was justified for such a meaty burger. Many of the others got burgers, too, and equally loved them.

Melanie and Chris, on the otherhand, got nachos for their meal. The half order, for only $6.95 is MASSIVE. After eating for a good half an hour it barely seemed like either or them made a dent. For $3 extra you can add chicken, chili, steak, or guacamole. They were excellent, and I look forward to the leftovers in our fridge!

In terms of other menu offerings, Boston Beer Works has whatever you might be in the mood for - salads, pizza, ribs, and even fried pickles, which I'm dying to try next time. If you're looking for a place with great beer and great food to match, I encourage you to head to Boston Beer Works, especially if you have a large group. Just be careful before and after games at Fenway ;-)



first photo courtesy of thesunblog.com

Church

Church is a comfort-food  restaurant with a hip trendy atmosphere and attached music venue in the Fenway area.  The decor is relaxed and pleasant with tea-stained walls and brown leather chairs.  The restaurant is low-lit with many small candles on the tables and larger candles that sit in front of mirrors on the wall.

The menu is pretty simple flare.  Appetizers include salads, fried clams and beef empanadas.  Entrees range from pressed crispy duck to mac & cheese tp eggplant rollatini.  There is also a small sandwich menu consisting of a cheeseburger, reuben, and steak and cheese.  All the food comes in decent sized portions.  Entrees range from 15-21 dollars and sandwiches are about $12.  My favorite part about Church is the drink menu.  On top of wine and beer, Church offers 7 drinks named after the seven deadly sins.  A fun mixture of ingredients create unique cocktails that are just as much fun to drink as to order (the night we

 went, the waitress told us that they were out of "lust".  A friend told her not to worry, the table had enough of that to go around.)  For those of you who aren't familiar with the seven deadly sins I've listed them below as they appear on the menu:

GREED Using Hendricks Gin, St Germain liquer, diced cucumber, a pinch of white pepper and a salted cucumber to garnish, the White June demands it all…and who are we to stand in its way.

SLOTH There should be no rush when this one can end your night before it begins. So take it slow while sipping the Dark Ryeder, our take on a vintage manhattan. 

WRATH Back by popular demand…The Boilermaker. Bud depth-charged with Jack. Two old friends, together again. Drink back and become wrath. Sweet Mercy. 

GLUTTONY Over induldge your senses with Mother’s Milk, a rum based concoction with bananas, Thai coconut milk and mint chocolate. Mother knows best. 

VANITY Inspired by the legendary beauty herself, Sophia Loren has made a life long dedication to turning heads. Let us turn yours with The Loren, a vodka based cocktail made with fresh squeezed, sweetened, ruby red grapefruits. 

LUST The traditional sidecar driven down a different street. The Lavenderia is made with flowers and honey and buckets of Spanish brandy…a sidecar named desire. 

ENVY Made with Reyka Vodka

Last time we went to Church we ordered the cheeseburger, Reuben, garden salad, and the

 pressed crispy chicken.  On previous occasions we've ordered the mac & cheese and bacon wrapped pork loin.  While the burger is definitely one of the cheaper things on the menu, I didn't feel like 

it was that good.   I did not like the roll it was on which was very stiff on the outside.  The wrapped pork loin was delicious when I had it last and so was the mac & cheese.  The Reuben and garden salad looked and tasted good but nothing overtly awesome about them.  My favorite thing was the oil dipping sauce for the sliced bread.  The spices they used were a really nice medley and something a bit different then I was used to.  

Overall, Church is a good casual place to go to with friends.  Nothing too fancy but a nice atmosphere, decent food, good drink menu and a nice departure from the normal "Red Sox Nation" restaurants in the Fenway.

Hong Kong Cafe

Sometimes, you have to step out of your comfort zone and go someplace that you would never normally dine in the off chance that you discover a "hidden gem"; a place where the food is excellent, prices are cheap, and tables are readily available. It was because of this quest for that "hidden gem" that I decided to join my friends to eat at the Hong Kong Cafe in the Kenmore/Fenway area.

The Hong Kong Cafe is tucked away inside an old Howard Johnson. The outside is non-descript and is an anomoly in the area where new high-rises are being built and old buildings refurbished on a daily basis. My friend Marco has a strange fascination with old establishments. From old movie theaters to old school Papa Gino's there's just something about them that makes him giddy. I think it's the fact that these places are able to remain in business for so long without any big renovations or updates. That being said, it was no suprise when I received an e-mail today from Marco, bursting with excitement to try the Hong Kong Cafe.

When we arrived at the Cafe we were the only patrons there. Our waiter/host sat us at a nice big table next to the windows (overlooking the HoJo swimming pool...eek!). The first thing I noticed was the "Name the Presidents" placemats. I actually loved this. It was a nostalgia thing for me and I quickly went over the pictures trying to figure out who was who. The restaurant must have ordered the placemats in bulk because they still had Ronald Regan as a living president.

For drinks, Marco and Jeremy ordered the Blue Hawaiian. It came electric blue. I tasted it and it was actually pretty darn good and at $6.50, not too high of a price tag. Adam ordered the Fog Cutter which was described on the menu as "includes a nightmare of bartender's mixture. However, some people enjoy it" needless to say, he took only two sips of it the whole night.

For appetizers, the table ordered the Scallion pancakes, Ribs, crab rangoons, egg drop soup and a few other things to nibble on. I had the scallion pancakes and actually, they were delicious. There were plenty of them for $4.25 and they weren't overly greasy like some restaurants make them. This was the best thing I had all night there. Everyone else said the appetizers were fine but nothing to write home about. I should mention that the Hong Kong Cafe's menu claims that it is "gourmet Chinese food", don't let that bit of advertising fool you. It's anything but gourmet. For the main course, the table ordered sweet and sour chicken and General Gao's chicken. The sweet and sour chicken was bland and too heavily battered. The General Gao's was, again, okay but nothing remarkable.

Although the food wasn't gourmet, the waiter was very nice and extremely tentative to our water needs. I must have received at least 6 refills of water in under an hour!

The Hong Kong Cafe is what you would expect if you were to judge by the outside appearance. A bit run down, pretty bland food (probably a lot better if you've been drinking) and okay prices. A hidden gem? No way. This is more of a quick bite to eat before a Red Sox game when every other place has a line to get in.

[Bryan's note: I also found a little linguistic fun for me when the bill came. It was not only in English, but also in Chinese! Click here to see!]

Eastern Standard

To kick off restaurant week Christopher and I had a wonderful little lunch at Eastern Standard yesterday. Half of the reason I wanted to go there was to sit outside - everytime I'm in the Kenmore area I think to myself how fun the place looks - and thankfully the not-so-great weather cleared up and we were able to sit and people watch.

Here were our options for each course:

First
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Vermont Feta and Basil
Beef Carpaccio with Capers, Arugula, and Sea Salt
Bleu Cheese and Lavendar Stuffed Figs with Pea Shoots, Green Almonds, and Candied Orange

Second
Housemade Lamb Sausage with Minted Yogurt, Cucumber, and Goat Cheese
Sautéed Calves Liver with Onion Rings and Sunchoke Purée
Pan Seared Haddock Filet with Blistered Tomatoes, Creamed Corn, and Potato Strings

Dessert
Peach Ice Cream with Blueberry Sauce
Chocolate Éclaire with Vanilla Bean Custard
Sainte-Maure de Touraine with Candied Cherry Tomatoes and Lemon-Thyme Cracker



To start out we each had a cocktail called the 'Jack Rose'. While reading an article on unusual cocktails in the September issue of Details, this very cocktail from Eastern Standard was mentioned, so I of course had to try it. Its constituents are AppleJack, type of apple brandy, Lemon Juice, and Cointreau. In the words of Ina, "how bad can that be?" It was very refreshing on a nice summer afternoon, and the brandy flavor wasn't too overwhelming for someone who isn't a huge fan of brandy (me!).

For starters I chose the Bleu Cheese and Lavender Stuffed Figs, an obvious choice for me. The figs were plump and flavorful, the bleu cheese creamy and just sharp enough, and the lavender provided for an interesting flowery finish. The accompanying greens were delicious, especially with a bit of candied orange peel in every bite. Christopher's Carpaccio was good, but nothing special. I was, however, pleased with how much beef was actually on the plate considering how skimpy some places can be with it.



For our second and main course, I opted for the Calves' liver. For as much as I enjoy liver, I always end up choosing some kind of steak over it when given the opportunity, so I am glad I finally gave it some attention. The sunchoke (a type of tuber) puree was a great accompaniment and helped balance the strong liver flavor, though toward the end of the dish I had had enough. The onion rings on top were a nice touch - not overly greasy, and great to mop up the remaining puree. Chris got the lamb sausage which was again, good, but nothing to rant and rave about.



Moving onto dessert I wanted something light, and so chose the peach ice cream. It had nice chunks of peach in it, and the fresh blueberry sauce was quite delicious. Chris had the éclairs, which, judging how he inhaled them were very good as well.




For a grand total of $20.08 minus the alcohol, I'd say we had a very reasonable and very delicious meal! I would definitely go back, especially to be able to sit outside and people watch again, even if its just for drinks.

La Verdad Taquería Mexicana - ¿Numero uno? ¡No es la verdad!

So, the March 2008 issue of Bon Appétit lists La Verdad Taquería as "#1 in the USA." 

The whole lot of us went last week to try it out. I hate to say it, but "#1 in the USA" can't be true. Yes, our tacos were good, fresh, and were made well; but, they were not spectacular. For me, they lacked flavor.

I was really excited when I saw the menu. They have a lot of really interesting tacos, and among us, we sampled quite a few of them. Everyone made the same comment: they were good, but not fantastic--missing something. 

Plus, we felt that the price was a little steep for what we got, which made it even less appealing. With an average of about $10 per taco plate at La Verdad, we know that we can go over to Anna's or Felipe's and get the same amount of food for much less AND they'd be really delicious. 

Marco got the Chicken Milenesa Torta and loved it. It did look really good.

The pièce de résistance for me (and Adam might agree) was the grilled corn. For under $5, we got two ears of corn grilled, topped with a bit of a mayonnaise, sprinkled with cojito cheese, and dusted with a bit of powdered chili.  They were also served with some lime on the side. It was delicious! Peter and I got a similar dish at Toro (also a Ken Oringer restaurant) once, and it was as good, but I think twice the price!

Yes, I'd go back to La Verdad--I  just hope then, that they could convince us of their #1 status. 

Stay tuned...

El Pelón Taquería

The only thing missing is that guy's hair!

When we're in the Fenway around lunchtime, our favorite place to go for a quick, delicious (and cheap!) bite is El Pelón. Our favorite thing on the menu is "El Guapo," a burrito that comes with the works--including fried plantains. We often get it with chicken, but on the menu, it comes with steak. It's fantastic, under $7, and we think we look extra guapo walking down the street eating it!

"El Guapo" is our favorite, but we've never been disappointed with anything we've ever ordered--especially the burritos. The tamales are another of my favorites and are stuffed with cheese and hot peppers and served with crema.

Recently, we were saddened when we learned that there had been a fire that closed down the restaurant, but we are happy to report that it has been back open now for a while and whatever kind of fire there was doesn't seem to have done any damage to the areas the customers see! Oh, by the way...the inside is decorated with photos of fans who have snapped pictures of themselves all over the world in the restaurant's bald-guy T-shirts--that's kinda fun. It's also decorated with colorful Dia de los muertos décor that we always enjoy looking at.

The staff is always nice and can often be seen singing along with the music. Food comes quickly, and someone will deliver it either to you inside at one of the few tables or outside at the ample seating at picnic tables out front.