Dance the Night Away at Revolution Rock Bar!

I've been wanting to check out Revolution Rock Bar for over a year now, but every time I go, I'm greeted with a monstrous line and an ugly cover charge. This weekend, however, we concocted a fool-proof plan. Since it was a friend's birthday, they were willing to drop the $10 cover down to $5 (which is more in my comfort zone, especially for a place I've never been). Actually $10 isn't a bad cover for a Saturday night in that area, but what can I say, I like to save my money for the drinks!

RRB as Im going to call it from here on out...is located on on High Street (right by newly opened Howl at the Moon - which btw STILL has a huge line outside at 9pm that you couldn't pay me to stand in). We decided to venture over early, and lucky for us, we beat the line! I know 9:30 is a little early to put your party shoes on, but by 10pm, the line was long and we were inside, coats checked ($3), drink in hand. Worth it!

The scene is very trendy - rocker stars and some faces reminiscent of pop art lined the room and the ceiling was covered in quotes. My favorite feature is the cow-print cubes that replace chairs around the room - though don't expect to sit down unless you've made a reservation for a group. All the seating areas on the main floor were reserved so wear some comfy shoes - you'll be doing a lot of standing!

By 10:30 the place was packed and the DJ was spinning up some tunes. A compliment to his skills, we actually debated whether we were listening to a pre-recorded mash-up for a while. Good songs, good mixing, generally good atmosphere. Although, at one point early on a fight broke out and there were no bouncers to be seen? Fortunately, the gentlemen involved were hammered and it didn't take much work to shove them out the door where they could continue their battle away from the crowd.

We checked out the lower level later in the evening (which had previously been completely empty) and found that the dance party was roaring there as well. Not sure if there was a second DJ, or if he just migrated with us...either way, the music was great.

My drink of choice was a rum and diet. They were good-sized and at $8, were a pretty good value as the bartenders didn't skimp on the rum. My first one was pretty much rum on the rocks, with a splash of coke. Eek! Better to have that problem though, than paying 8 bucks for a cup of soda with a thimble of alcohol in it, right?

All in all, I'd say a great place to go out as long as you're willing to get there early. Seems like they do a lot for groups, so if you're heading there for a bday celebration - call ahead and see if you can get a spot reserved and get a discount for your friends!

Rock on :)
Little B

A little help at the holidays...

Happy lunch time everyone!

I've been doing a lot of thinking about this blog and I've decided its time kick it up a notch. While I'll always be a foodie at heart, I've realized there is a lot more about Boston we could be discussing here!

Most of you probably aren't panicking about the holidays yet, but in an effort to save you from the it's-3-days-before-Christmas-and-I-just-need-to-find-SOMETHING-for-my-sister feeling we all encounter, here are some suggestions to find the perfect gifts in our lovely city ahead of time. That way, rather than fighting with another last minute shopper over the last dvd copy of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" because its the only movie you know for sure she likes (and you're hoping she only has it on VHS), you'll be mixing up some egg nog knowing those funky, bohemian earrings that are PERFECT for her are safely wrapped under the tree.

First things first - make a list....who exactly do you need to shop for and what are your price points? Having one place you write down all your gift ideas will keep you cool and focused. So here goes - where to go, when to go, and even a cool gift idea that you can personalize for that special someone:


Downtown Crossing Holiday Market: Running Nov 27th - Dec 24th, Mon-Sat 11am-7pm and Sun Noon-6pm. The Christmas decorations are officially out in full blast in DT crossing! One of my favorite holiday locales to wander through during the holiday season, this area of the city is a great place to start your gift search. Every year they run an outdoor market with crafts, jewelry, art, delicious foods, and clothing.

Market starts Nov 27th, but you can check out the list of vendors in advance: click here. Most of the vendors have their websites listed, so do a little research in advance so you aren't completely overwhelmed when you get to the market. Jot down the vendors name when you see a piece of art that Aunt Susan couldn't possibly live without. Seems like a lot of work, you say? Not any more time and effort than scrambling through the aisles at the last minute and having nothing to show for it come xmas.

North End Specialty Shops: As you know from a prior post, a couple of my favorite stores in the North End are Polcari's Coffee and Salumeria Italiana. A great gift idea for anyone with a little italian pride in your fam, is to check out these shops and put together a basket of goodies. Grab some homemade pasta, a nice bottle of olive oil, some fresh spices and whatever else tickles your fancy. Now head over to Christmas Tree Shop - buy a basket, a nice cloth to lay in it (a holiday dish towel works just fine), some clear plastic (comes in a tube like wrapping paper) to wrap it up in, and some nice ribbon to tie it up. Ta-da! A thoughtful, homemade gift.

The nice thing about this gift is that you can spend as much or as little as you want, AND it can be tailored for anyone. Just pick a theme based on what your loved one likes (sports, food, movies, art) and run with it! Be creative :)

There are also some great jewelry and art stores in the North End that are very reasonably priced. Check out in-jean-ius, The North End Gallery, and shake the tree for some great finds!


Harvard Square: When all else fails, head to Harvard Square to wrap up your holiday shopping. This place is a mecca for unique little stores with the perfect gift. Check out this site in advance to grab a free map (click "maps and directions" at the top of the page) that will help you navigate the sea of perfect gift ideas you'll find here.

Here are a few of my favorites to get you started: Boston Bead Company (if you're feeling crafty and want to make something for mom), The Garage (check out Newbury Comics and Hootenanny in this little mall to find something for your spunky, 17-year-old cousin), Hidden Sweets (my all-time favorite shop - perfect for stocking stuffers, unique cards, and keepsake gifts), Lush (really fun bath and body type store - they let you sample everything and you'll probably walk out with just as much stuff for yourself as you do for others but that's ok - you deserve it), Black Ink (unique little trinkets you wont find anywhere else - I can't tell you how many times Ive come here and said "this is perfect for so-and-so"), and Mint Julip (great little clothing boutique with everything from European specialties to local jewelry).

Let me know what you find this year and where your secret spots are!

Happy shopping everyone!
Little B

4 Words You Won’t See Together Every Day: Affordable, Quality Sushi on Newbury!

There are few things I enjoy as much as a huge spread of maki rolls served with seaweed salad and miso soup. Add to that a fantastic location, reduced salt soy sauce, and all brown (instead of white) rice, and I am one happy (and healthy) sushi lover.

I must say I was not overly eager to try Snappy Sushi based on its name and the fact that it says “express” on the awning outside. In my mind, sushi on-the-go is a big of a scary concept. However, after more than one glowing recommendation of this little hole in the wall establishment, I decided to try it for myself.

Snappy on Newbury is set up with a couple small tables, but most of the seating is bar-style. It’s perfect for a date with a girlfriend when you need somewhere casual to catch up, but not so great for a group of 3 or more – as you’ll be leaning over each other trying to talk. However, I recently learned that Snappy is moving! Still on Newbury, but I’m excited about their potential new home, which might allow for some expansion.

Their menu has all the traditional favorites – spicy tuna roll, eel-avo roll, and California roll for those who don’t have a taste for raw fish just yet – each coming with 6 pieces and ranging in price from $4-$7. Aside from the incorporation of brown rice to make sure their customers are getting the most nutrition possible from their meals, these rolls are nothing out of the ordinatory - just affordable and delicious.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try one of Snappy’s fancy rolls – ranging from the scorpion roll at $9 (shrimp over eel, avocado, cucumber, flying fish roe and eel sauce) to the Boston lobster roll at $15 (avocado, cucumber, and green leaf rolled together, and dressed with chopped lobster meat mixed with red onion and flying fish roe in wasabi-butter sauce).

Some other suggested menu items – seaweed salad ($8) and edamame ($4)…yum! Whatever you try, you won’t be disappointed.

I’ve been at least a dozen times and I’ve yet to have anything subpar, all at a price that wont break the bank. And the best part is that you don’t have to travel miles out of the city to find it. Snappy has the best of both worlds – a fantastic location paired with quality, “cheap” fish.

Still skeptical? Stop in to Snappy at lunchtime and order the lunch roll special – two rolls of your choice (no fancy rolls) for just $11, definitely worth a try! Snappy also has a location in Davis Square which I hear is equally yummy!

Matane!
Little B

The Battle is On: Regina's or Santarpio's for the Best Pizza?

Perhaps only second to the Mike's vs. Modern pastry battle, two establishments more than any other seem to be the top contenders for the Best Pizza in Beantown: Regina's and Santarpio's.

Though I've lived in both the North End and East Boston (the homes of these two restaurants, respectively), I will admit I'm a little bias from the start. After a semester abroad in Italia, I pretty much fell in love with the North End and I find its vibe hard to top. I frequented Regina's with J regularly, and anytime a guest told me they hadn't tried it.

So I was a bit skeptical when I moved to Eastie and suddenly the boss in town was Santarpio's. However, eager to try this great contender, we ordered a couple pizzas as soon as we (3-Fiddy and I) moved in. There was a line around the corner and we had to feed all the troops who helped us move, so we sprung for take out.

Santarpio's has a side door that leads to the kitchen, which is where you pick up take out orders. I walked in and saw my pizza's come out of this oven. Apparently the cook thought they looked just as good as I did, because he picked a pepperoni off my pizza and ate it....in a really weird, sensual kind of way. He then continued making gross kissing/licking gestures toward me...before giving me the pizza like nothing ever happened. AWKWARD?!

Now with that preface, I'll say that I've had Santarpio's pizza several times since, but have never actually eating in the restaurant...(in fact, I always make 3-Fiddy go in and get the take out order because she's braver than me). But I do like their pizza.

So this battle can't be about the vibe of the place, how much I like the people or how comfortable the booths are - it's about pizza and that's it!

We ordered a couple pizzas from Santarpio's the other night - one green pepper and onion and the other sausage and garlic. All the toppings were hiding under the cheese, but dont worry, there were plenty! I'd say the best part of Santarpio's pizza is their cheese...it's thick and flavorful and they pile it on. The toppings are good, but nothing too creative - most of the pizza suggestions on their menu are standard combinations. The crust is thin and tends to get a bit soggy toward the middle, but it's delish. They don't use a lot of sauce so my take on that is a bit inconclusive. All that being said, it's definitely good pizza!

Regina's has a completely different appeal. When Im looking for an expert in unique, interesting combinations of flavors that won't disappoint...I know where to head. My favorite is probably prosciutto con spinaci. Loaded up with sauce, mozzerella and ricotta cheese, fresh spinach, prosciutto, and cherry tomatoes, this pizza is to die for. Last time we went, J and I tried the Classico - sauce, pepperoni, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. All fresh, all amazing. I could go on for days about their creativity and the quality of their food. One other thing to note - don't go to Regina's in Fanueil hall - the real deal is like a 10 minute walk into the North End - go for the full experience. It's worth it, and you're probably going to head that way to go to Mike's for dessert anyway!

So in the end, while Santarpio's pizza is good, my humble opinion is that it doesn't touch Regina's.

Ciao!
Litte B


PS - I also recommend trying Dough in East Boston if you're looking for some good pizza!