|
O'hara's
Category:
Restaurants
1185 Walnut St
Newton Highlands, Massachusetts 02461
(617) 965-6785
An Irish pub seems out of place in the upscale, primarily Jewish neighborhood of Newton Highlands. Yet, it has been there forever because it has found a great formula of great food, great service,...
An Irish pub seems out of place in the upscale, primarily Jewish neighborhood of Newton Highlands. Yet, it has been there forever because it has found a great formula of great food, great service, nice ambiance and reasonable (even cheap) prices.
The ambiance is very much Irish pub. The outside is covered in wood panels and there is a sign for guiness beer over the front door. Inside, you enter into the bar with more wood panels and low lighting. The decor includes lots of vintage photos and beer signs as well as antiques and a mish-mosh of other old stuff. The overall effect is very pleasant and low key. The smallish dining room is off to your right. There are only about 12 tables, although food is also served at the bar.
This is definitely a jeans place and is a refreshing alternative to chain restaurants with their brass and fake fern appearance. The other refreshing thing about this pub is that it is a real neighborhood establishment. There are no colleges immediately nearby and the crowd is usually older.
The food is pub-style with burgers, salads and such but they also offer quite a few Irish specialties. Lunch prices range from $6.50-$9.00 which is very reasonable given the location, the ambiance and service. The food is good too. On our last visit, I had fish and chips and couldn't eat the entire portion. They were not greasy and had a great flavor. My friend got the Cork County pie which had beef, potatoes and vegetables and it was declared to be excellent. Dinner prices start around $10 and the food is just as good. Even the brewed ice tea tasted exceptionally good here. Additionally, being that O'Hara's is at least half bar, expect to have many beers available on tap as well.
The service here is really, really good ALL the time. The wait staff is friendly, quick and accommodates special orders correctly every time. Dinner and Lunch hours get crowded - get there early unless you want to hang at the bar while you wait for a table.
I don't know if they have a children's menu because our kids find something on the regular menu every time and the prices on the regular menu are very good. Despite the bar, there are usually children in the restaurant. Vegetarians will find a few salads on the menu but not many other offerings. O'Hara's is all good and I highly recommend a visit.
Hide
|
|
"Oh my god...am I in heaven or what?"....
My friend had the steak and I had the lobster. I can't remember if we ordered anything else (I'm sure we must have at least shared fried onions and...
"Oh my god...am I in heaven or what?"....
My friend had the steak and I had the lobster. I can't remember if we ordered anything else (I'm sure we must have at least shared fried onions and potatoes) besides cocktails. But this main course stayed with me since and I have been a devoted fan of THE PALM ever since.
Well let's just say...its to die for. The smallest lobster they serve is about 3 pounds...and I believe they are from Nova Scotia or somewhere up there in off the Atlantic. I believe they will prepare them anyway you like, but the way mine was served up is the only way I will ever recommend them here. The entire Lobster is grilled and so if you are the lucky one to obtain a rather egg filled mama ( the green lush roe eggs ), these are so succulent, I save them for last. The lobster is served open on its back with the roe all crusty and delectable. These lobsters are cooked into a relaxed perfection..not a tense, tough piece on them. Since I am a true Lobster purest..I forsake the drawn butter and all other available sauces and sides. I go in, order my lobster, my drink du jour and eat every conceivable part of this masterpiece. The claws alone will fill your craving and by the time you reach that huge tail..well...I've said it all.
Hide
|
|
The Bay Tower Room may be one of the best romantic restaurants in Boston. It's great for a special date or occasion. It's located on the 33rd floor, so the view is great (overlooking the harbor and...
The Bay Tower Room may be one of the best romantic restaurants in Boston. It's great for a special date or occasion. It's located on the 33rd floor, so the view is great (overlooking the harbor and airport), provided the weather is right. Ask for one of the tables right along the window and get there before the dinner rush. This way you see the city during the day and at night. Service is not fussy or pushy.
The menu is interesting and seems to change regularly. It is also well prepared and presented with some interesting twists. The wine list could be better.
You can finish it up with drinks and dancing on the floor above the dining room. Tell them you just ate and you should be able to get you a better table.
Hide
|
|
If you don't like the feel of an old, established, "Mens' Club" or a traditional NY steakhouse, you will feel very out of place here. It is classic. The menu is: steak, potatoes and vegetables. The...
If you don't like the feel of an old, established, "Mens' Club" or a traditional NY steakhouse, you will feel very out of place here. It is classic. The menu is: steak, potatoes and vegetables. The cocktails are made from a well stocked bar and the wine list is wonderful.
The lower level (often reserved for private parties) is an excellent place to smoke and drink.
If you want a very generous cut of USDA Prime beef, this is your kind of place. Entrees are served ala carte and side dishes are large.
Hide
|
|
Helmand
Category:
Restaurants
143 1st St
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142
(617) 492-4646
This place is so good. It is a relatively small restaurant located in Cambridge, right next to the CambridgeSide Galleria, a popular mall. It's a non-descript looking-place, with a white stucco...
This place is so good. It is a relatively small restaurant located in Cambridge, right next to the CambridgeSide Galleria, a popular mall. It's a non-descript looking-place, with a white stucco facade that blends in to the otherwise drab atmosphere in that area around the mall. But the food is well worth it.
To start, there's a massive oven in the center of the restaurant, where a man shovels fresh naan in and out of the oven. He then slices it into small pieces that the waitstaff dutifully brings to all patrons, along with a traditional array of sauces and spices. And this is even before you open the menu, which offers a wide variety of traditional and less-known Afghani-inspired dishes. Although many of the dished, entrees and appetizers, contain meat, the Helmand also offers them in vegetarian versions, which are tasty as well.
The Helmand has a full selection of moderately priced wines, and the waiters have a good feel for what wine will complement what dish. Bravo. All this, and it's inexpensive by Boston standards. Next time you're in Beantown, hop in a cab (or drive and park at the mall) and head to the Helmand for a great Afghani meal.
Hide
|
|
It was a pleasurable experience altogether, though the restaurant is certainly not on par with its view; it has a ways to go before it can reach a similar splendour...
When my date and I first...
It was a pleasurable experience altogether, though the restaurant is certainly not on par with its view; it has a ways to go before it can reach a similar splendour...
When my date and I first entered, we were escorted to an interior table far away from the magnificent views... There really is no point going to the Top of the Hub unless you are sitting at the window, so we decided to wait at the bar until a table was ready. The bar is quite dimly lit, with an unimpressive display of bottles, and a slightly unenthusiastic bartender. But the Jazz was live and quite good, and right next to the bar, so the view's absence it's behind you as you sit) was alleviated by the rhythms of a piano, battery and bass ensemble.
The table was available before I finished my martini, and we sat at the window with a spectacular view of the Pei's John Hancock tower and the rest of Boston. The wine list was decent, with a sizable collection of imported and domestic wines, 99.5% of them below $100.00, and many of them recognizably palatable wines. We had a '95 Chassagne-Montrachet, which was good. The Pouilly-Fuisse might have been the best for an under-$50 bracket.
The menu was comfortingly short, though also quite repetitive, it seemed to me. Nevetheless the meals offered seemed to be the true "tried and tested" dishes that remain favorites, though with slight quirks that I guess restaurants must provide nowadays to prove they are au courant of the 'fusion intrusion'. ie, the Yellowtail Salmon tartare comes with delicately presented splashes of sweet soy sauce and a spicy cream sauce, while the veal comes on top of a caramelized fig. Both were delicious.
There is a very convenient "Degustation Menu", which is decided on by the chef according to the season and which includes a series of five courses starting with the Tartare, continuing with a Red Snapper, then the veal, then a small arugula salad with the tiniest morcel of gorgonzola cheese, and ending with a warm chocolate cake and macadamia ice cream. The whole event takes about an hour and a quarter, and includes many of the dishes we had already singled out a la carte for their potential. For those who are up for a larger meal, the Degustation Menu can also be seven courses, but five was fine for me. I couldn't finish the cake (which was very runny, though my date loved it).
The waitress was a bit cold, but it may have been because we appear younger than we are and not the usually older clientele that surrounded us (although that should not matter).
The meal cost $200.00, which included two Degustation Menu's, the Chassagne, coffee and tip. The view, and the good food, was worth it, though the service was definitely on the coarser side (which was the opposite of what Zagat said it would be). I expect the regular clientele of businessmen on power meals elicits a warmer accueil.
All in all, the meal went great, and the relatively sparce Wednesday night crowd was calm and quiet, allowing for normal conversation decibels at each table, as well as the enjoyment of the jazz band from the adjoining room. I would recommend the Top of the Hub for a good, medium-to-expensive meal in the presence of a great view, which is essentially what you're paying for anyway.
Hide
|
|
The food here is incredible! Very large portions (we always have leftovers the next day); great, attentive waitstaff. The breadbasket is fresh rosemary focaccia bread w/olive oil for dunking...
The food here is incredible! Very large portions (we always have leftovers the next day); great, attentive waitstaff. The breadbasket is fresh rosemary focaccia bread w/olive oil for dunking (heavenly). It does get EXTREMELY busy on weekend nights. Be prepared to have a drink at the bar while waiting. The entrees are reasonably priced. The main dining room is inviting, however; there is a small dining area off the bar area (maybe 6 tables). This is a very cozy space with the fireplace roaring in the winter! Parking can be difficult when its busy. When in Hingham, don't waste your $$ on the Bay Club or snotty Tosca. This is the best place to go!!
Hide
|
|
Tsunami
Category:
Restaurants
10 Pleasant St
Brookline, Massachusetts 02446
(617) 277-8008
I almost hate to write this review because it will let the secret out. There is a great sushi restaurant in Brookline, MA. I know, I know ... there are lots of great sushi restaurants in Brookline....
I almost hate to write this review because it will let the secret out. There is a great sushi restaurant in Brookline, MA. I know, I know ... there are lots of great sushi restaurants in Brookline. In fact, there are 3 within a 3 minute walk of Tsunami. However, I think this one offers the best experience and food in its price range in this neighborhood and in greater Boston.
The restaurant is small and crowded. There are about 9-15 tables depending on how the tables are configured. The chair backs of your table just about touch the chairbacks of the table behind you. There are also a few seats at the sushi bar. The furniture is made of light wood. There is one long bench along the wall that serves as seating for several tables. Large blue square pillows indicate where patrons sit and make sitting on the seats and bench comfortable. It is not too fancy and overdone but perfect for a neighborhood place.
The menu was about average size and included most Japanese dishes you would expect to see. There was also a sushi bar and a separate a la carte menu for sushi. We tried the oshi tashi which is cooked spinach salad. In this restaurant it was covered by a tangy sauce which we hadn't had before but liked very much. I had a salmon sushi plate for dinner, including 4 pieces of sashimi on a bed of raw carrot strings, 4 pieces of salmon nigiri and 6 pieces of salmon maki. My friend had tempura udon noodles, which were good and filling. We also ordered sushi a la carte. The sushi prices were about average, or even on the low end, for sushi, although all of the pieces were extremely large and very, very fresh. It looked like there were some options on the menu for vegetarians and, if you are willing to eat fish, you will be very happy here. The staff seemed very accommodating and might also be willing to alter a dish to make it vegetarian.
There are not many desserts on the menu. However, they do have fried green tea ice cream.
For those who need dessert and are not too hung up on flavors, there is an ice cream shop only a 3 minute walk away.
We were greeted and seated immediately. Water arrived shortly and food arrived quickly after our order. Water and tea were refilled frequently and dishes cleared away promptly. Clearly, English was a second language for some of the waitstaff but nodding and smiling did the trick and did not affect the service. The service was perfect, efficient and friendly. This would be a great first date place and it looked like several couples in the restaurant were on a casual date. There were groups of friends and a few men in ties. Otherwise, it was student-casual. You could feel comfortable in jeans or dressed up for a date. I didn't see any high chairs and my 7 year old was the only child in the restaurant on the night we ate there. There is no children's menu.
Tsunami was a perfect mix of good food, decor, ambiance, service and price. It was one of the best dining experiences I have had in a long time and I highly recommend this restaurant.
Hide
|
|
L'Osteria is family owned - I could tell by the staff, many of whom seem to be related and bicker with each other like brothers and sisters. Not in a bad way, or an unprofessional way - but a way...
L'Osteria is family owned - I could tell by the staff, many of whom seem to be related and bicker with each other like brothers and sisters. Not in a bad way, or an unprofessional way - but a way that tells you these people care about this restaurant, the food they put in front of you and the enjoyment you take away from it.
They have several specialties, but if you ask, like I did, they will always recommend the Bocconcini di Vitello Triestini. Everyone I have taken here raved about what they had chosen until I pushed a bite of the Bocconcini on them. Happy, lively conversation suddenly stopped as the six men and women I was with slumped into their chairs and slowly, seriously, savored this rich concoction. We had to order a second dish for the table - and we finished it.
The wine list was sufficient, the service was adequate - they'll never receive a Michelin star, but they are polite - they are friendly and the food is to die for! As for the physical attributes of this establishment, it is a very cozy restaurant and a great place to people watch. It is very clean and I don't know if smoking is allowed - on my two visits I never noticed annoying cigarette or cigar smells.
Hide
|
|
Herrell's is an absolutely great place to stop for ice cream. The ice cream is wonderful! I love lemon mousse especially although their less exotic flavors are also great. Compared to Toscanini's,...
Herrell's is an absolutely great place to stop for ice cream. The ice cream is wonderful! I love lemon mousse especially although their less exotic flavors are also great. Compared to Toscanini's, another gourmet ice cream place in the area, the flavors are relatively tame. (No Guinness flavored ice cream here, thank you!) The ice cream has a very high fat content and a fairly low air content (which makes it a superpremium ala Ben & Jerry's or Haagen-Dazs) and it is absolutely delicious! My friends also rave about their frappes...
Secondly, the decor is great. It is really fun to have the experience of eating ice cream in a converted bank vault (complete with aquarium murals). It is very clean and smells wonderful from the ice cream.
Prices are slightly higher than chain ice cream stands (like Baskin Robbins), but they are worth it. (and they are cheaper than Toscanini's). Clearly, Herrell's is for everyone. Many Harvard students are there, children of all ages, yuppies - it is not a stuffy environment...
Hide
|