Reader Q&A
Boston Globe restaurant critic Devra First was online March 7 to field your questions and comments about dining out in the Boston area. Miss the chat? Catch up here.
The transcript follows.
chatguest1: Greetings. It's that chat time again. Send your restaurant and food questions my way.
Debk__Guest_: I'm looking for an affordable seafood restaurant. We live in Beverly but will travel to Boston.
Devra_First: Are you looking for nice, sit-down places? There are a lot of great casual, affordable, clam shack-type places not terribly far from you, such as the Clam Box in Ipswich and JT Farnham's, Woodman's, and Essex Seafood in Essex. Is that the kind of thing you're looking for, or something more upscale?
jilloc__Guest_: I have wanted to try L'Espalier before it moves. Do you think we will miss "the treu experience" if we go for lunch instead of dinner?
Devra_First: I've never been to L'Espalier for lunch! But I'd imagine you will get a comparable experience for less cash. The true experience comes from the space, though there's something inherently more romantic about nighttime... But I say go for it.
Tiffany__Guest_: What is your take on KO Prime?? Worth trying??
Devra_First: It's expensive, but much of the food is very good. If you like steakhouses, it's worth trying.
Dunkin__in_Dot__Guest_: What's the deal with all the sushi and pizza? Can you give me any suggestions for other kinds of ethnic food that don't seem to be on the radar? Polish? Hungarian? Brazilian?
Devra_First: Yes, there does seem to be a glut in those departments. There's a great Polish restaurant right on your very own Dot Ave., in Southie: Cafe Polonia. Fantastic and very filling potato pancakes, pierogies, etc. For Hungarian, try Jasmine Bistro in Brighton. It's actually French/Hungarian, very reasonably priced, and great food. Don Ricardo's in the South End has some Brazilian dishes, as well as Peruvian. You might also like Orinoco -- there's one in the South End and a new one in Brookline -- for Venezuelan. If you're looking for churrascaria, there's Midwest Grill in Cambridge. Lots of meat, no sushi!
Sushi62__Guest_: Hi... Heading to Maine this weekend. Any spots in Portland that you would recommend for a nice dinner? If not Portland then anywhere along the ride up there?
Devra_First: Fore Street is great. There's also Hugo's. You could also try Lydia Shire's Blue Sky in York.
mother_s_day__Guest_: Do you know of any restaurants where it's okay to NOT make reservations on mother's day? We're just unsure of our plans, but still would like to drop in somewhere at some point. Thanks for pointing me in any sort of direction ...
Devra_First: Around what area would like you eat? Any kind of food in particular? Any kind of atmosphere you're looking for?
scarlet926__Guest_: where do you go to eat when you want to just chill out? or has the dining out expereince been wrecked for you becuase it's your job?
Devra_First: Nah, not wrecked! It's great when I eat out on my own time because then I can just eat what I feel like eating. Mostly I go to cheaper places for Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Korean, etc. That's the food I really tend to crave: spicy, lots of fresh herbs, or just intriguingly spiced. For the extremely occasional blowout, I like o ya, Japanese near South Station. I sit at the bar and chat with the chefs, very fun. I really like Toro in the South End. Also, though I don't love all of the food, I enjoy hanging out at Pho Republique in the same neighborhood -- it's so dark in there! A good place to unwind. I recently went to Eastern Standard for oysters, charcuterie, and salad plus good cocktails because I was in the neighborhood; I also like Neptune Oyster in the North End. I tend to like smaller plates and/or lighter fare when I'm not working. Where do you go for a chilled-out dinner?
Tiffany__Guest_: what's your favorite new restaurants that have opened this year so far???
Devra_First: I've really enjoyed Persephone in Fort Point, Highland Kitchen in Somerville, Angela's Cafe in East Boston (though technically it opened last year), and Shiki in Brookline. How about you? Any new favorites?
Sushi62__Guest_: I enjoyed your recent story on spending less on a meal and donating to a food bank or some similar organization. Are the finer restaurants taking any steps to offer "bargain" meals or looking for other ways to cope during difficult economic times?
Devra_First: Thanks! That story seemed to strike a chord with many readers. (You can find it here: http://www.boston.com/ae/food/restaurants/articles/2008/04/30/a_portion_of_the_proceeds/) Some restaurants are offering prix fixe deals or reasonably priced happy hours. I wouldn't say they're offering bargain meals, but I have seen restaurant menus turning to cheaper cuts of meat and scaling back on luxury ingredients somewhat. It's a good thing that we live in a city with so many great cheap and mid-range restaurants!
Debk__Guest_: I am looking for casual, sit-down seafood, but not all fried. I think that Farnham's, Woodman's, and The Clambox are mostly fried.
Devra_First: You might try Out of the Blue in Somerville or the Daily Catch in the North End. For slightly more expensive and great seafood in the North End, there's the aforementioned Neptune Oyster.
Devra_First: I should mention both Out of the Blue and Daily Catch are Italian-style seafood.
ilovefood__Guest_: Do you have a recommedation for true chinese food north of the city? Cambridge-ish area and points north?
Devra_First: Mulan is good for Taiwanese in Cambridge, Chilli Garden for Sichuan in Medford. I haven't tried Fuloon in Malden yet, but I've heard raves. Let's go!
scarlet926__Guest_: I like places where they don't rush you out and where you can just sit for a while after the meal - I reall like tasca in allston for that reason and also have recently discovered beehive in the south end. I'm going to Stella's tonight - what are your thoughts on that place?
Devra_First: I haven't been to Stella in a while. I had started to call it Sel-a because I found the food so salty. There are some good things on the menu, but I love salt and often found the dishes too salty. I'll have to go soon and see if that's changed.
namova__Guest_: Hello Devra. Do you thing that a call to spend less is a restaurant critic duty. Should't you write more about the poetry that come out from the kitchen of talented chef rather than how to spend less and save the planet. I wait Wednesdy to read your comments for the food and hospitallity. Fro the rest I atend mess on sunday.
Devra_First: I write weekly about the poetry (or the purple prose) that comes out chefs' kitchens; the week before the story about spending less came out, I described the Banq menu as food poetry and said it would be wonderful read out loud in the plummy tones of Dylan Thomas. But I think a critic should have a conscience. And as that column suggested and discussed almost 20 restaurants, I didn't feel I was leaving readers out in the cold.
mother_s_day__Guest_: following up: Thanks for taking my question. We'll be in the general Boston area, so anywhere in Boston would be great. I'm thinking more brunch or lunch options, something with a nice, somewhat fancy-like atmosphere, but not too pricey. Even a few different options for me to go on would be great. Appreciate the help!
Devra_First: Eek, we're running out of time, so I don't have time to mull this over properly. I would definitely suggest thinking off the beaten path! Feel free to e-mail me and I'll try to get some actual suggestions back to you. Sorry -- this one requires a bit of thought. Unless anyone out there has suggestions...
blw__Guest_: How many times do you try a place before giving it a review? can you tell right away what the score will be?
Devra_First: At least twice. Sometimes I know right away how many stars I'll give; sometimes I debate up till the very last minute. The star system is a little reductive, but I know it's useful for readers.
Jenna__Guest_: DebK - ever tried East Coast Grill, in Inman Square? That's my favorite casual seafood place and their food is amazing. Summer Shack is another option...
Devra_First: East Coast Grill is a great suggestion. I find the quality at Summer Shack variable.
BoiRDee__Guest_: For the person coming to Portland this weekend, try Street & Co for Seafood, Norm's for BBQ&Tex, Local 188 for Tapas, Front Room for American twist and 555 Congress for elegant.
pk__Guest_: Devra: Bravo on your columns. Perfect blend of expertise and humor. It's like we're in the restaurant with you. If you had your choice between Sorellina and Hamersley's as a next upscale desination, which would it be and why?
Devra_First: Aw, thanks! I'm blushing. I really like both restaurants -- they're so different! If I wanted a quieter dinner with great food, I'd go to Hamersley's, particularly if it was a balmy night and I could sit on their lovely patio. If I wanted a scene-ier dinner with great food, I'd go to Sorellina. Really, both great choices.
pk__Guest_: Went to Stella's recently, and found the food was magnificent, not the least bit salty. Robin King knows what he's doing there! :)
Devra_First: Sadly, time is up. Sorry I didn't get to all your questions. Tune in again the week after next, and happy eating.
BoiRDee__Guest_: Devra- I'm a "Keyboard" critic. Please enlist the help of Joanna Weiss in this regard. Then we can chat more and wait less.
Devra_First: Oh, and if you're still here, BoiRDee, I asked Joanna and we're stumped! What's a "keyboard" critic? I'd love to chat more and wait less.
Devra_First: Or maybe you're just saying she types faster than me. But actually, I type really fast. I just think slowly. :)
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
