Get Comfy with Some Half Priced Apps at The Living Room

Packie and I hadn’t seen each other in a while and decided to catch up over some drinks and cheap apps…but, being the classy girls we are, we decided to try something slightly more upscale than our standard date at Sidebar for wings and pitchers. McCormick’s is generally my go-to for happy hour specials on food, but I’d just been there a few days before so we decided to check out The Living Room.

Perched on the corner of the North End near Columbus Park, The Living Room boasts half price apps on weekdays from 5-7pm. They also have a fairly creative martini list – yum! The premise of the place is that it’s set up with big, comfy arm chairs and couches with coffee/end tables scatters throughout to resemble a big living room. I will say, the furniture kind of made me want to curl up and read a book, but it’s a cool idea.

We all know I’m a huge sucker for avocado (thus the obsession with guacamole), and my choices on this menu were no exception. We ordered avocado tempura ($9), shrimp and avocado egg rolls ($12), chicken taquitos with avo spread ($10) and to mix it up – mini pulled pork sandwiches ($9). Don’t forget all these prices are halved from 5-7pm.

We weren’t sure how much food to expect, and were pleasantly surprised when the waitress came back with full plates for each dish. For a total of $20 after the discount, we were stuffed with delicious food! While we had no complaints about anything, I’d venture to say our favorite was the shrimp and avo egg roll. Oh so good. (Apologies – we were starving and pretty much devoured everything before we even thought to pull a camera out…whoops)

The Living Room is a great place to take a friend who’s above 10 cent wings (in which case you have bigger problems than where to eat – as you may need new friends). Would also be good for a group or just a change of pace from the standard bar scene. And who can beat the location right downtown? That’s right, nobody.

Happy Fall!
Little B

North End Hidden Gems!

You may think the best reason to head to the North End is a cozy, romantic dinner with someone special, but this neighborhood has more to offer than linguini and risotto. Whether you live or work or just play downtown, here are some of my favorite spots to check out next time you wander through Boston’s Little Italy:

Dino’s – (141 Salem St.) This place advertises 16-inch subs…but we recently busted out a tape measure, and you can expect at least 18 inches of delicious fresh bread, mouth watering buffalo mozzarella, awesome pesto, assorted Italian meats….I could go on clearly. I recommend going with a friend and trading halves because everything is so good, you’ll want to try more than one. And make sure you’re hungry! (I recommend the Chicken Pesto or the Lady Special – and I hear the Italian’s Italian is to die for…)


Bova’s – (134 Salem St.- right across from Dino’s!) It’s 3am, and if you’re in Downtown Boston you better either be in Chinatown, or at Bova’s. Along with their selection of pastries and breads, this place serves calzone’s and pizzas 24 hours a day – perfect for a late, late night snack.

Vegetable Guy – (Parmenter St.) Located just across the street from the Boston Public Library’s North End branch, you’ll notice a small green awning with no text on it. Take a peak in the window and you’ll find one of my favorite people in the North End. Though I endearingly call him “vegetable guy,” he’s really an expert in all fruits, berries and veggies. Tell him you’re making some guac and he’ll pick out the perfect avocados, and the right type of tomatoes and onions. For those of you die-hard Haymarket fans, keep in mind that veggie guy is open weekdays after work AND his stuff won’t go bad in your fridge after 2 days (cash only!). Grab a couple packages of strawberries here, then head over to Polcari’s Coffee for the other ingredient in a special treat.

Polcari’s Coffee – (105 Salem St.) Owned by the same family as Regina’s, Polcari’s is a staple in the North End. Selling some of the best coffees, teas, and spices from around the world, this is the place to be when quality is the name of the game. And don’t be shy, they are always happy to help you find the perfect dark roast bean! Great place to get a gift for that person who has everything. Grab a bag of chocolate chunks, melt with a little butter, dip the strawberries you just bought from the veggie guy, and let em cool…you’ll be very popular with your significant other, I promise you that.

Marco – (253 Hanover St.) This place is actually right on the main drag but because it’s a second floor restaurant, you probably walked right by without noticing! You’ll definitely need a reservation to get in, and it can be a little pricey, but love is in the air and she’s worth it, right guys? Awesome food, too!

Giacomo’s – (355 Hanover St.) A little farther down on Hanover, you may have walked by Giacomo’s because of the absurd line outside. This place has some great seafood options and a yummy fra diavolo sauce…and great prices, to boot! So either suck it up and get in line, or try to head here before 6pm so you can sneak in before the rest of the world.

Salumeria Italiana – (151 Richmond St) This is my favorite little spot for Italian specialties. You’ll find the best fresh cheeses, olives and meats (they give great recommendations!); high quality olive oils; and homemade pastas!

J. Pace – (42 Cross St.) When J and I lived in the North End, we always stopped in here and headed to the deli counter for a fresh prosciutto sub with mozz, basil, tomatoes….oh so good. When you get off the T at Haymarket, look directly across the greenway, and you’ll see it!




So many more, but that’s enough to keep you full for at least a couple days I’d say! Let me know if I missed your favorite hidden gem!!

Mangia mangia!
Little B

I’ve been holding out on you…the best burrito revealed…

Last night, after some much needed retail therapy (a girl’s gotta do something to lift her spirits in this crappy weather), I decided I was too tired to cook. Though I generally have a healthy sense of adventure, I wanted something reliably delicious, so I stopped into Cactus in Maverick Square (in Eastie – one T stop on the blue line from Aquarium). Honestly, I should have written this review from the start. The fact is I’ve secretly been comparing all burritos to my favorite burrito in the city this whole time. It gets a 10 in my book and I’ll do my best to explain why.

Cactus is a little hole-in-the-wall with maybe 3-4 tables and some counters with stools against the wall. My mouth starts watering every time I walk in from the sight and smell of the most delicious looking Mexican food, freshly prepared and waiting for me behind the counter. Though I typically stick to my order of a small chicken burrito (and there’s nothing small about it), I would venture to say that Cactus can do no wrong. I’m just too in love with this particular burrito to ever choose something new. These people know how to make good food, that’s all it comes down to.

So as I stand there waiting, they throw together some shredded chicken, guac, beans, hot sauce, sour cream, pico, cilantro, tons of cheese….I know none of this sounds particularly out of the ordinary for a burrito. But when they wrap that bad boy up and throw it on the grill for a minute, the end result is heaven. Perfectly melted, perfect balance of flavors…I honestly can’t praise it enough. And grab some Jarritos (soda) at the counter for the full experience.

I know my typical Mexican restaurant review consists of burritos, guac, and margaritas…but really, when you’re the best at one thing…best to just stick with that one thing. No margaritas here, and I’ve only had the guac IN a burrito, but trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

My apologies for holding out on you for so long…maybe I was just being selfish? Anywho, now you have it - my absolute favorite burrito. I dare you, Beantown, to find one better.

Feels good to be honest, doesn’t it?
Little B

Decent Drink, with a Fantastic Finale

A long lost friend of mine recently moved to Cambridge, and my excitement to show her around the city has been consuming me ever since. We talked briefly yesterday and she expressed an interest in a place with “fun cocktails.” In a daring attempt to be impressive, I decided to take her someplace I’d never been, but has been the subject of a lot of buzz: Drink. A short walk over the bridge on Congress St. by South Station, you’ll likely walk right by this little bar. Oozing with exclusivity, Drink is a basement establishment with an unassuming sign out front written in about 48 point font. So make sure you know the address if you’re chic enough to try this place, or you’ll end up backtracking like we did.

The vibe was fairly mellow and the bar reminded me of the game snake the way it weaved across the entire room. We grabbed a couple seats and were offered a food menu and the tiniest glass of water I’ve ever seen (it literally looked like a shot glass). If you haven’t heard of Drink yet, here’s the premise…these bartenders are seemingly so good at their trade, that you can just tell them a couple key ingredients you’re feeling at the moment, and they’ll mix you up something amazing every time. My friend expressed an interest in pomegranate, and I said I liked vodka or rum base with a citrus vibe. Shortly thereafter she was presented with a Jack Rose and I with a Traditional Daiquiri (who knew they came without the strawberry?). Both were small, but good…nothing mind-blowing by any means though. The atmosphere was nothing special either, and for $10.75 a pop, I suppose I just had higher expectations for this experience. I will say their calamari was very good, though again…small (and $12). The real kicker came at the end, when it came time to pay. As we sorted through our wallets, pulling out credit cards and cash and calculating what we owed…the bartender grabbed the bill and a credit card TWICE, thinking we were ready to pay. I feel like a server who can intuitively know what drink would be perfect for you, should also be capable of assessing whether the bill is all set – or at least having the courtesy to ask us, rather than walking off with it without a word. Hmph.

Over the course of the evening, my friend had mentioned her want to try out Finale. And since the night was young, we hopped on the T and went for it. This famous bakery/desserterie has 3 locations – Park Plaza (which is where we went), Harvard Square, and Coolidge Corner. I’ve been for lunch before because my office is close to one, but I’d said their specialty really is dessert. Skip it and go for the burrito at noontime.

We found ourselves staring at a delectable menu of sweet cocktails, and after the “eh” experience we’d both had – we each ordered a fun one. I had Coconut Hot Chocolate - $9 (the weather was brutal outside and I had a chill – wah!), and she ordered the Hazelnut Martini - $8…both highly recommended by the waitress. Her gentleman friend joined us and ordered a Minty Chocolate Martini - $8. All were delicious, but in the end we all agreed the Hazelnut martini was the most delicious dessert/drink we’d hzad in recent history….I highly recommend it. We complemented our drinks with the Boston Cream, accompanied by mini whoopie pies, gelato on an almond Florentine, apricot sauce, and fresh fruit ($11). The dessert chef had mirrors above his station so we were able to watch as various dishes were decorated and sent it. How fun! We ordered more than one Boston Cream, and turns out there was plenty to share. The dessert was very good and you probably cant go wrong here if you have a sweet tooth, but I really just can’t say enough about the hazelnut martini. Yum.

Overall assessment of the evening? Save your pennies if you want a “fun” cocktail and head over to Flash’s in Park Plaza (review to come!) - friendly vibe, bigger/better drinks, and no attitude. And next time you take a date to see a show or a movie, stop by Finale after for something sweet to seal the deal.

Livin’ la dolce vita…
Little B