Restaurant Blog - Chowbaby.com

by Cindy Atoji & Dana Braga

MORTON’S OF CHICAGO
1 Exeter Plaza, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 266-5858
Morton’s of Chicago brings the beefy taste of the Windy City to Boston (which Bostonians know is THE windiest city in the country). Hearty meat and potato eaters should bring their appetites to this carnivorous castle, located in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay, where not just the shrimp is jumbo-sized. What you see is what you get at Morton’s. The menu is a la carte and your server literally rolls out a cart and explains each offering. Morton’s has plucked the biggest Idaho baked potatoes to complement huge Maine lobsters and a 48-ounce porterhouse steak. Also try the double cut filet mignon or broiled center cut swordfish. The New York Yankees have called Morton’s their favorite “on the road” restaurant. No one leaves hungry and Morton’s is a great place to begin a “guys night out.”

By Cynthia Antoji

SAKURABANA,
57 Broad St., Boston, Mass. 02109
(617) 542-4311

Busy financial district workers already know about Sakurabana, tucked into the heart of downtown Boston. Sushi-to-go is the theme here, with an online ordering service (www.SakurabanaOnline.com) offering “fast and fresh sushi, delivered to your door.” You can also dine in the tiny restaurant, where the lunchtime crowd shows up as early as 11 a.m. For a quick and hardy meal with co-workers, start with a bowl of steaming miso soup (what else?), then dip into the sushi lunch ($11, tuna, salmon, shrimp, white fish, tekka and daily roll), or sashimi lunch ($12, tuna (salmon, mackerel, octopus, and white fish). Non-sushi eaters can choose from teriyaki and tempura box lunches and udon. For a less hectic, relaxing meal, go for a late dinner when the business suit crowd has thinned out.

by Karen Hofreiter

Tresca
233 Hanover St.,
North End, Boston
(617)742-8240

Logic would dictate that a hockey star would be more likely to open a sports bar than an upscale Italian restaurant. But, creating and owning a Tuscan villa that served authentic Italian fare was hockey legend Ray Bourque’s goal—and he scored. Tresca, meaning “intrigue,” has quickly become one of Boston’s best Italian restaurants. Step inside, and you will immediately feel the warmth of the adobe-colored walls and dark wood bar. The softly-lit, semi-formal dining room is located on the second floor, where the talent of Chef Jason Tucker is showcased. The menu includes dishes like Crespelle al Forno (chive crepes stuffed with wild mushrooms and truffled ricotta) and Linguini con Gamberoni (linguini with garlic shrimp and lemon-thyme butter). For a truly romantic evening, the private balcony can be reserved during the warmer months.

KAZE
1 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 021111
617-338-8238
One of Boston’s only “hot pot” restaurants impresses visitors with fresh, interesting ingredients and friendly servers. Before cooking your main course, savor some fried pearl oysters and stir-fried veal tongue with a glass of red or white from the well-priced wine list.   Two-part pots allow shabu-shabu fans to try two different soups bases at the same time: plain old meat bouillon is free and more exotic varieties (Malaysian satay and Chinese cilantro with preserved egg) are just a few dollars more. Entrée ingredients range from the mundane (beef, chicken, vegetables) to the flamboyant (squid, rib-eye, lamb). Check out the website tutorial ahead of time for detailed cooking instructions.

by Karen Hofreiter

VEGGIE PLANET - Vegetarian and Vegan
47 Palmer Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
(617) 661-1513
These folks have arguably created a little utopian planet in Harvard Square, offering food and music to nourish the soul. The inventive vegetarian pizzas and rice dishes are created with mostly organic and locally-produced ingredients and lots of love, while the organic bread (the dough purchased from a nonprofit bakery) is fresh baked in a special “ecological” oven. In the evenings, the restaurant becomes Club Passim, a well-known folk music venue that attracts local and national talent. And as if all this weren’t enough to warm the heart, Veggie Planet donates a percentage of its profits to organizations promoting social and environmental change.

by Joanna O’Leary

No Name Restaurant
15 Fish Pier Street West (Cross Street Seaport Boulevard)
Boston, MA 022130
617-338-7539

No typo in the title, it’s actually the (no) name. This classic “hidden gem” of Boston seafood restaurants is the place only residents know about. Red-and-white checked table clothes, a worn wooden interior, and salty water views complement the no-frills but tasty seafood right out of the harbor. Start with a bowl of thick seafood “chowdah” studded with crisp oyster crackers before diving into plates of lobster, shrimp, clams, and oysters. Fish is baked, friend, boiled, or grilled to your taste. Bottled beer and simple sides like coleslaw, French fries, and baked potatoes complete the Cape Cod picnic feel.

by Karen Hofreiter

AL DENTE 109 Salem St., Boston, MA 617-523-0990

Bostonians know that to find hidden gems in the North End you have to wander off the main drag—Hanover Street—onto the side streets, where you’ll discover the true heart of this famous Italian neighborhood. Here you’ll find the small and cozy Al Dente, where simplicity rules over the atmosphere and the menu of good ole’ Italian home-cooking. Start your meal with the lobster ravioli and continue with the shrimp scampi over Fusilli pasta or veal marsala, while sipping a glass of wine from the well-chosen selection.

CHINA PEARL
9 Tyler Street, Boston MA  02111
 (617) 426-4338
Experiencing Dim Sum in Chinatown is a Boston “must,” and China Pearl is the classic gem. Climb the long staircase up to the mirrored dining hall, and you find yourself in a multi-level dining hall; room after room filled with mostly Asian American patrons, indulging in the Dim Sum, served off hot-food carts. The waiters speak limited English, but point to the delicacies and they’ll keep a running tab of your items. Dim Sum winners include Shiu Mai (pork dumplings) and scallion pancakes. The inexpensive but filling dishes make up for the battered décor, which has seen better days. If you really want to splurge for dinner, try a whole Peking Duck. China Pearl is one of the few restaurants in Boston which serves Dim Sum daily, not just on Sunday. Afterwards, stroll over to the nearby Boston Common or take in a show in the Theater District.

by Dana Braga

COUNTRY LIFE VEGETARIAN BUFFET - Vegetarian and Vegan
200 High St. Boston, MA 02110
(617) 951-2462

This is one of the few restaurants in Boston where vegetarians can walk in knowing that they can eat everything that is on the menu. Located in the Financial District, the all-you-can-eat buffet is a real steal: $6.95 for lunch and $7.95 for dinner. Sunday brunch is $9.75. No animal products are ever used here. The buffet items are substantial and filling - a friend called it veggie comfort food. Entrees range from Italian to Mexican, Indian, Hawaiian and much more. Stars of the menu are the spaghetti and wheat balls, soy cheese pizza and tofu tacos. There is also, of course, a huge salad bar. Don’t forget to top off your meal with a scoop of yummy soy ice cream.

by Cynthia Antoji

GINZA JAPANESE RESTAURANT
1002 Beacon St. Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 566-9688
16 Hudson St. Boston, MA, 02111
(617) 338-2261
Ginza is known for arranging food on a plate in a painstaking fashion that makes it too pretty to eat. But after the first bite, you can’t help but unwrapping this sweet gift of sushi. Ginza offers a sushi bar, with its legendary “spider,” which is soft-shell crab, cucumber, avocado, flying fish roe and spicy mayo. It also boasts a saki bar serving 22 varieties of hot and cold saki. The sushi and sashimi have been called some of the best in the Boston area. It should be with three sushi chefs simultaneously preparing these exquisite dishes. The Hudson Street restaurant is the flagship location. It was the first Japanese restaurant in the Chinatown section of the city. It’s open daily til 4 am and it’s always busy and the sushi is fresh and tasty. You’ll also be served by a Japanese waitress dressed in a kimono with Japanese music playing in the background. You’ll think you have been transported right over to Japan. Other good choices are salmon tataki and the amaebi (sweet shrimp sushi).