Restaurant critic Devra First took your questions
October 29, 2008
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Are you curious about dining out in the Boston area? What's affordable? What's new that's not to be missed? Devra First, the Globe's restaurant critic, took your dining-related questions and comments on Oct. 29 at noon. Miss the chat? Catch up here.
The transcript follows.
Devra_First: Hi everybody. The election is nigh. Where will you watch the results come in, and what will you eat?
shabu_shabu__Guest_: Is Shabu Shabu Korean? Where can you get it in the Boston area and what's the best place? Thanks.
Devra_First: It's Japanese, but many Asian cultures have their own take on hot pot.
Devra_First: I really enjoy Shabu Zen in Chinatown and Allston. Also Kaze in Chinatown. I loved Little Q in Quincy, but I am not sure whether it's still open -- call first.
lola__Guest_: hello, please tell me what you consider to be the best italian restaurant in the north end
Devra_First: I'm not sure I can name a "best." I think Prezza, Mamma Maria, and Taranta are all good on the higher end of things. Do you have a favorite?
rangoons__Guest_: Little Q is still open
Devra_First: Thanks, rangoons. I need to get there soon.
rangoons__Guest_: is there anyplace that has greek or middle eastern entertainment with your greek or middle eastern meal
Devra_First: Well, there's the Middle East, but that entertainment is mostly not particularly Middle Eastern. They do have belly dancing sometimes. You could try Tangierino, which is Moroccan but does have belly dancing and hookahs. Anybody know of others?
poppadoc__Guest_: aNY NEWS ABOUT THE NEW HOTSPOT IN HYDE PARK I THINKITS CALLED TOWNSENDS
Devra_First: That's a lotta caps! And how funny you should ask. Their PR just now sent me a message informing me they've added a moules frites section to their menu. They're also doing an "economic relief fund program" Monday through Friday 5-7 p.m. It's $15 per person for an appetizer and entree, and you can add a bottle of selected wine for $15.
Devra_First: What a coincidence, huh? At any rate, I really like Townsend's. It's great to have in Hyde Park, and the people are really nice.
Billy__Guest_: Why is there not a good place to eat in southie?
Devra_First: That's a sweeping statement, not to mention a leading question. There are good places to eat in Southie -- Cafe Polonia, St. Alphonzo's Kitchen, a bunch of diners... What kind of restaurant would you most like to see in Southie that it's currently lacking?
october__Guest_: I cannot believe it's almost november! Can you think of a creepy, creative, yummy Halloween dinner to make? Trying to think of something fun to make before heading out in costume ... thx!
Devra_First: Well, I accidentally made a creepy Halloween-esque dinner the other night when I failed to notice that my farmers' market broccoli was infested with worms till *after* I had cooked it. Eeeek!!! But that's probably not what you had in mind. What are you dressing as? Maybe we can theme it... You could do some sort of squid ink pasta with roasted squash. Black and orange: classic.
Devra_First: (D'oh, just realized I'm wearing a black and orange outfit.)
spicey__Guest_: What Mexican restaurant has the best salsa/guac/margaritas? Good atmosphere? Looking in Boston or Quincy.
Devra_First: Have you tried Angela's Cafe in East Boston? The guacamole is really excellent, made and served in a molcajete. Their salsas are homemade, though they're salsas in the Mexican sense, not the Chili's sense. Delicious, authentic food, not Tex-Mex-y (which I also love), though there are some burrito type options on the menu.
scott1210__Guest_: What is the first thing that pops into your mind when entering a restaurant?
Devra_First: "I'm starving!!!!" You?
C-Bone__Guest_: what do you think of the red house in harvard square.. going the tonight any suggestions?
Devra_First: I have not been in many many moons. Can anyone offer advice?
C-Bone__Guest_: What is the best upscale type restaurant in the lower allston area?
Devra_First: There aren't so many upscale restaurants in that area. But it is one of the best parts of Boston to eat, in my opinion -- you can traverse the globe deliciously in a few blocks. Grain & Salt is an Indian restaurant with a nice atmosphere. Have you tried it?
cjc22458__Guest_: What restaurant do you recommend on the north shore?
Devra_First: Any particular cuisine or price point?
Devra_First: I recently reviewed G Bar and Kitchen in Swampscott, which is quite cute.
scott1210__Guest_: The atmosphere
Devra_First: Are there things about a restaurant's atmosphere that make you think "this is going to be great!" or "maybe we should leave"?
C-Bone__Guest_: have not tried it, sounds good as long as i don't have to have curry... There are certainly many delievery/ take out options around allston but not many places to grab any upscale fare unless you hop in the car :(
Devra_First: It's true. The area could use some slightly more upscale date spots. Saray, a Turkish place at Packard's Corner, is delicious and a little nicer in atmosphere, but a bit out of your range.
hello__Guest_: Can you recommend a good restaurant in Boston or Cambridge/Somerville that is good at serving some lighter fare? Trying to stay healthy, yet love to dine out:-)
Devra_First: The aforementioned hot pot/shabu shabu can be quite healthy. Sushi is always a good choice. Snappy Sushi in Davis Square makes theirs with brown rice, if that sort of thing does it for you. Pho is always a sort of invigorating, light thing to eat -- Xinh Xinh in Chinatown is quite good. Many Chinese places will do a steamed entree for you. Wang's and Qing Dao Garden both have good steamed dumplings. I'm thinking... Anyone want to chime in?
october__Guest_: Squid pasta! that's hysterical. What about something with olives (for eyeballs?)? Also, any dessert ideas? Thank you!
Devra_First: Oh yes, definitely some sort of eyeball antipasto! For dessert you could make one of those Italian cakes that's a bunch of dough balls stuck together and make those eyeballs. Cupcakes are always easy to decorate for Halloween. Or pumpkin cake.
allstonian__Guest_: RE: Allston restaurants - "the lower Allston area" is generally defined ans the ne3ighborhood between the Pike and Westerns ave, and there aren't hardly any restaurants there at all, let alone upscale. In the Allston Village area (Comm Ave/Brighton ave/Harvard Ave) there are a few nicer places - Grain & Salt, and also Jo Jo Taipei has a very pretty room, though it gets crowded and loud. Saray, the Turkish restaurant in Packard's Corner, has a very nice room. And Shabu Shabu Toki seems a bit on the upscale side for the neighborhood.
Devra_First: True about LA. Thanks, Allstonian!
allstonian__Guest_: Weirdly, someone recently emailed me out of the blue saying that they were considering opening just such a place in Allston, and did I think it could be successful. They were thinking of something along the line of Franklin Cafe or Silvertone. I had to very regretfully say that the neighborhood desperately needed such a place, but I wasn't sure they would be successful - the neighborhood is too much defined by broke college students and a huge working-class immigrant population, and the young professionals that would support such a restaurant probably wouldn't come into Allston for dinner.
Devra_First: Really? I think a Silvertone-esque place would do really well in Allston. That price point isn't that high, and there are a lot of not-broke college students bankrolled by parents. Such a place done right could be a destination. All the Model types looking for a slightly nicer night out...
C-Bone__Guest_: Angora has good, healthy and fast food by BU
Julie__Guest_: Love going out, but need to budget minded. Any awesome prix fixe out there?
Devra_First: Many many restaurants are offering budget-minded prix fixe menus. Many of them are during the week, if that's an option. Any particular neighborhood or cuisine? One I'm fond of is Rendezvous's Sunday menu, 3 courses for $38 and very good food.
sushi__Guest_: What are the best affordable sushi places in Boston?
Devra_First: I'm going to extend Boston to the Boston area. Hana in North Cambridge, Toraya in Arlington, Blue Fin in Porter Square, and Super Fusion in Brookline come to mind. Has anyone tried Mr. Sushi in Brookline? The name makes me giggle, but a few people have said good things.
jktdy78__Guest_: What's your favorite restaurant in the Fort Point Channel area? I've recently discovered it, and it seems there are some good spots over there. How would you generally describe the area in terms of the people going out there? Is it at all a diverse spot?
Devra_First: I like Persephone a lot. Barbara Lynch is about to open two new places, a casual Italian spot called Sportello and a more upscale spot. She just opened a new bar called Drink, which also offers canapes; I think it's a good time, though I'd recommend going on a weekday. The crowd there can be a lot of post-work folks; it sort of depends on where you go when.
allstonian__Guest_: Mr. Sushi in Brookline is my usual fall-back sushi joint, and it's just fine. not cutting-edge, but entirely affordable and quite solid in quality. (My husband calls it Senor Sushi, which makes us giggle even more.) The Brookline branch is definitely better than the Arlington one, which is only so-so.
Devra_First: Sounds like another good affordable option.
jktdy78__Guest_: Where do you like to eat in NYC when you go?
Devra_First: I'm always torn, because I want to try the hip, exciting new place, but what I really really want to do is eat Korean food, ramen, and curry rice. I think New York generally does those better and more plentifully than we do. There are also a few places I grew up eating at that I like to frequent: Sal's Pizza in Mamaroneck and Walter's hot dogs in Larchmont. It's a nostalgia thing.
Devra_First: I'm also very happy to eat a certain breed of New York-ized American-Chinese food. And bagels.
Devra_First: More of an answer I think you were probably looking for: Babbo. The food is just really good, and not as expensive as you might expect.
shamrock22__Guest_: Any idea how the Oceanaire Room is doing for business? The prices are up there and I cant imagine the economy is helping , it seems quiet whenever I stop in.
Devra_First: I don't know for sure, as I haven't spoken with them, but the fact that it seems quiet whenever you stop in is probably an indicator. The high-end seafood/steak places where people might have once shelled out for big bottles of wine seem to be getting hit in this economy.
Gluten_Free__Guest_: Do you know of any Gluten Free/Food Allergy friendly restaurants? I love to dine out but have a child with food allergies (gluten among them).
Devra_First: Elephant Walk, PF Chang's, Legal Sea Foods, Myers+Chang, and Wagamama all have gluten-free menus. Here's a link to some more: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/articles/2008/04/23/gluten_free_dining_out/
chloris__Guest_: What are classic New England culinary options for someone who doesn't eat shellfish -- and where to get it?
Devra_First: Tons! Harvest in Harvard Square might be a good place to look.
Fitz__Guest_: Anything new to report in the Japanese/Sushi world? Been dying to try a new spot, was curious if anything new had been tested or heard about. Thanks!
Devra_First: Surprisingly, Privus Lounge in Allston has quite good raw fish concoctions along with its big, fruity drinks.
butterfly__Guest_: any pubs that serve good food?
Devra_First: Many! Location? Running out of time, so I'll suggest the Franklin Cafe in the South End, Washington Square Tavern in Brookline, and since we're on the subject of Townsend's, or were earlier, Townsend's in Hyde Park.
ilana__Guest_: Just responding to some earlier thoughts: Middle Eastern w/entertainment: Doesn't Karoun in Newton do that? And healthy in Cambridge: If you can bear the noise, I think Fire and Ice is an option (oops, is it even still there??)
lll__Guest_: i wanted to know any good mexican restaurants
Devra_First: See aforementioned Angela's in East Boston.
brendon__Guest_: Do you have restaurants for a first date recommendations? Someplace with good food that isn't so loud you cant hear yourself speak?
Devra_First: Hungry Mother would be a fun first date. I can't recall how noisy it gets on busy nights, but I don't remember having to shout.
Fitz__Guest_: Downtown Crossing area, favorites?
Devra_First: Downstairs at the Marliave is great, also Silvertone a block over. Kingston Station is reasonably priced and good. Chacarero!
Devra_First: Hey, none of you told me what you'd be eating while you watch the election results! Tell me next time we chat. Ciao for now.
