Newton Corner Hot Spots

Well, since J and I are residing in Newton Corner now, we've had a little time to check out the area. I'm happy to report that there are some great little spots to eat, drink, and be merry in and near that little square. If you live in Allston, Brighton, Newton, or Watertown - these little spots are worth checking out, and you might well find yourself going back regularly.

The first thing you should know about Newton Corner is that it's a giant roundabout/traffic circle/rotary (didn't want to offend anyone with a dialect) ;) that encircles a hotel. It's also and entrance and exit to the Pike so it's busy busy. It can get a little overwhelming if you don't know your way around, but once you've done it a time or two, it's a breeze. There is metered parking right in the square though, and you can almost always find a spot no problem. You can also take the bus - express buses 501, 502, 502, 504, 553 to name a few all stop in the area, as well as the local 57 (cheaper but takes longer). Most of them stop right in front of Uno's and it's a quick walk over to the first hot spot on my list: Buff's.

Buff's Pub is a little hole in the wall with great wings and good beer. They are cash only, but there's a BOA right next door - thank goodness. Buff's serves up bone in and boneless chicken wings with a variety of sauces - though Im partial to the classic buffalo and the hot teriyaki. They also have their own little namesake brew - Buff's Pale Ale that's pretty great. The rest of their menu is standard pub fare, nothing out of this world (that I've tried), but all good. They have a couple TVs but keep in mind that this is the only true pub/bar in the area so the locals pack in on game day. If you can hit this place up at an off hour, all the better since it's itty bitty, but definitely worth a try.

Next on my list is Amarin of Thailand. Located on Centre St, this little place serves up some pretty decent thai food. I called and placed my order from the express bus the other night, and my food was ready moments after I walked in the door. Their portions are good sized and their prices are reasonable. The staff was eager to assist me when I came in - haven't tried dining in yet, but my impression is that they would be accommodating and efficient - and both are things I like to see in a restaurant :)

 Last but certainly not least is New Ginza - it's not actually in Newton Corner, but it's a quick drive (maybe 2-3 minutes) over to Galen St. (technically crossing into Watertown) for this great sushi place. They were pretty empty when J and I ventured in on a Tuesday night so we got a table right away. They have an extensive wine menu and a few bottled beers. Their sashimi entree, which included 15 pieces of very good quality fish, as well as soup and salad, goes for $28. They also offer a variety of maki roles ranging from $5-$10.

Everything we had was very good and worth the cost. My one criticism of the food would be the salad dressing - Im a big fan of the ginger dressing sushi places put on their salads, and I found this one to be a little "mayo-y". Nevertheless, we were pumped to find a great sushi place so close to our new digs.

I hope the new year brings you all new experiences with food, drink and fun!

Over and out,

Little B

I'm back! (with some good deals to share, of course)

Well folks, I tied the knot and now it's back to business! Thanks for your patience :)

First things first - Happy Halloween!! What a great time of year to be in New England...the leaves crunching underfoot, the smell of pumpkin muffins baking in the oven, and the opportunity to pull out all the boots and sweaters you've been dying to wear! Not to mention the 5 lbs of candy that is currently in my belly...whoops.

So you ask - where to? Well as luck would have it, I recently moved to the outskirts of the city and have been hard at work discovering some gems in Brighton, Brookline, Newton and Watertown. We'll start with the last - to Watertown we go!

Amid the wonders to be found at the Arsenal & Watertown Malls (home depot, target, express, forever 21, and a decently stocked dollar store to name a few), J and I passed by Miller's Ale House a few times and it piqued my curiosity. Now apparently this place is a chain, but if I had to put their food up against Chili's or Applebee's, they'd win hands down, any day of the week.

This particular branch is less than a year old, so they are still getting their feet wet, but I'll give you five good reasons to check it out:

1. We Love Sports In Boston: The trouble is that a lot of the sports bars are tiny and crowded. And while I admit that sticky floors and waiting in line with 15 other ladies to use a tiny, gross bathroom has its charm - I don't mind having an alternative. With dozens of big screen TVs, 2 full bars, high tops, booths, and tables, this place can accommodate a you and all your besties on game day.

2. Free Parking All Night Long: The Ale House is attached to a huge public parking garage. We casually asked the host what would happen if our car should remain in said garage for an entire evening, and we were to come back for it the next day. He told us it wouldn't be a problem. So that's just hearsay, and I haven't tried it yet because I haven't needed to - but free parking, with the option to cab it home and find your car safe and sound in a garage the next morning? Yes, please.

3. Better Than Average Chain Food: I won't say this place has blown my mind with their dishes - but I will say their prices are reasonable, and everything I've tried has been tasty. Packie had a "Zingers Salad" last night, which is just a nice big salad with boneless buffalo wings on top. She ordered them medium, and they didn't have much kick at all. I'll report back when we man up and order them hot. RedBull got herself some fajitas and they definitely held their own. My cobb salad was nothing fancy, but it was ginormous and had all the proper toppings. I suppose the point here is - food is definitely not a reason NOT to come here.

4. Trivia Tuesdays: Before you tell me you suck at trivia, or that you're a Stump! trivia pro and it's available somewhere else on Tuesdays - let me just tell you, neither case is applicable here. This isn't Stump!, and it isn't a crappy spin off of Stump!, and it's worth going just for the entertainment value even if you do, in fact, suck. This bad ass dude in a leather hat comes in and asks for letters, numbers, categories, 90s sitcoms...you get the idea...literally ANYTHING you come up with, he has a trivia question for. Everyone at the bar can participate by just shouting out answers, and the first to get it right wins a tshirt, or a hat, or if you're really baller and win the last question - a cocktail shaker. Between Packie, RedBull and I, we ended up with 3 new shirts. Here's the one I got right: Category was cars. Question: "What car could most easily be affiliated with Steve Erwin?" Answer: Sting Ray. :)

Still not sold? Well, drum roll please for my last and final pitch...

5. Cheap Alcohol: Ding Ding Ding!! This place has the most amazing drink specials I've ever seen. A small Absolut and soda is $3.50...a tall is $7. They have $2 tall boys, $6 pitchers of Miller Light, as well as specials on Jameson, Captain, Cuervo...you get the idea. Last night we had dinner and drank through the entire Celts game for a grand total of ~$35 each (and I don't think I need to explain how much I like to drink and that this is a pretty sweet deal?)

Anywho - I'm clearly all amped up about this place and have yet to find a fatal flaw.

That's all for now!

Mrs. Little B ;)

A Break from Blogging - but a Few Good Spots to Try!!

Hi all,

I know it's been forever since I posted, but I have good reason!

I recently got engaged and between work, wedding planning, and all the dining/drinking you know I love to do, my blog seems to have taken a backseat. :(

But not to fret! Every day I find more wonderful places that I can't want to tell you all about, just as soon as this wedding business stops taking over my life!

So hang tight...I'll be back...

In the meantime - check out the awesome gems in the city I've discovered in the last several months:


Tavern in the Square in Allston - lovingly also called "TITS"...this is a HUGE bar where the Kells and another building used to be so they knocked down the wall in between, absolutely huge...great bartenders, trivia mid-week, great place to watch a game, OH and they also have a decent brunch on the weekends!




Red Lantern - asian fusion restaurant next to backbay station, a bit on the pricey side, but very cool ambiance...would be great for a big group dinner as they have the lazy-susan wheels to share food


Temazcal Cantina - awesome new mexican place in the Seaport District. Their menu is an ipad - which is very cool because you can look up all ingredients (in case of allergies), or find out the history of the dish (in case you're a huge nerd like me!). they have waterfront tables, I highly recommend it for a romantic evening

Osaka Japanese Sushi and Steak House - super fun idea for a birthday party...this place is a hibachi steakhouse. the food was reasonable and decent - but you really go here for the show (i.e. food flinging and sake spraying into your mouth, onion volcanoes, and my favorite - scorpion bowls!

If you have questions/comments on any of these places, by all means let me know and I'll be happy to give you more detailed info!

Ci vediamo (we'll see each other soon)
Little B

Sakurabana – Sushi Worth the Wait?

My friends and I ventured over to the Financial District recently to check out a sushi place we’d heard good things about: Sakurabana.

We had a group of 6 and ventured in around 7:30-8pm. The place was decently crowded but there were tables for 2-4 available. They said it would be a few minutes wait….and about 45 minutes later…they got the bright idea to push a couple of tables together to seat us. Hmph – not a great start, but we stuck it out since we had heard the place was good and really wanted sushi at this point.

 Between the 6 of us, we ordered maki rolls, sushi, sashimi, tempura, miso soup…the works. It took them a while to come over and take our order, but once they took it – the food came fast (thank goodness, since we were starving at this point). Also something to note – by this time the restaurant had cleared out a bit, so if you go with a group, maybe make it a late dinner and head over at 8:30-9pm?

Once we had food in front of us, conversation seized and everyone was focused on inhaling the deliciousness in front of us. Everything was good quality and decently priced. Rolls ranged from $4.50-$11 depending on how “fancy” they were; sushi & sashimi platters were $20-24 and came with plenty of food for one person; and the sushi a la carte menu was reasonably priced too. Overall, quality and price seemed on par. 

  

At the end of the meal, the waitress had a lot of trouble sorting out our bill and had to come over multiple times for us to explain. So – I definitely recommend checking this place out, but if I had one suggestion, it would be to go with a group of 2-4 and bring cash so you don’t have to worry about throwing down multiple cards. 


Over and out,
Little B

Oyster Shots Anyone? Barking Crab for Summah Fun!

Hey-o!

So maybe I took a little summer hiatus...can you blame me? It's gorgeous outside! But now I have lots of fun to share...and to start: one of my fave spots in the city in the summer...the Barking Crab.

I recently headed over the little pedestrian bridge down by the waterfront to meet up with KRock, Catch-Up and BGE at this fantastic establishment and had a first-ever experience: oyster shooters. I like to

think of myself as a brave girl, but I wont lie, that sucker stayed in my mouth as little time as p

ossible...so if you're a big baby like me and the oyster and vodka-mixed drink is in your stomach .2 seconds after they touch your lips, you'll be just fine. Or you can pull a KRock and keep it in your mouth entirely too long...and you might have a rough night...but who knows? Maybe you'll love it! Either way, try it just to say you did.

That's not the reason to head over to the Barking Crab though. This place has a unique vibe because it's very casual with its outdoor picnic tables (but only kinda outside - its almost under s

omething like a circus tent?), and on the other hand, it's got somewhat pricey, De-Lish seafood (worth it!).

They don't take reservations, and you'll likely be sharing a picnic table with some strangers, but just be cool hunny bunny, the food is that good! You do have another option - the bar area has a few high top tables and if you hang there long enough, you might just snag one and then you'll have the full menu at your fingertips without the random stranger squeezing lemon juice in your eye instead of on their fish.

Beer prices are pretty average and they have some decent stuff on tap - great place to meet up with a few friends after work. I don't recommend going with a big group though...you never know what kind of crowds you'll be up against and wiggling you're way up to the bar is easier if you've just got a couple others en-tow.

Happy summer kids!

Little B

Books, Gifts, Lunch, Trivia - Trident Booksellers on Newbury Has it All!

Since I couldn't find a marathon of SVU on tv this morning, I decided to venture out to Newbury St. and do a little shopping. Somehow in the midst of thousands of Sox fans heading to the game, Kinsey happened to see me get off the T at the same door she was about to get on. She did a quick 180, and with that I had a shopping buddy!

After a productive stop at Victoria Secret's, we'd both worked up an appetite and headed down to Trident Booksellers & Cafe - one of my favorite hole in the wall gems on Newbury. I first discovered this great little spot for its cheap books and adorable journals, calendars and greeting cards. It didn't take long to realize that their food was equally as fantastic as their store.

Kinsey and I grabbed a seat outside since the sun was shining to grab a bite to eat. Tables inside and out were full so it took some time to grab some food, but as we weren't in much of a hurry, we didn't mind at all. The waitress was great - she checked on us regularly (but not so often that it was annoying) and apologized for the delay. When the food came, we were shocked to see how huge the portions were - Kinsey ordered the homemade veggie burger ($11) and I had a falafel wrap ($12).

My wrap was stuffed with all the good stuff - feta, hummus, taboulleh and tzatziki sauce. There was lettuce too, but it wasnt half lettuce / half other delicious items like some falafel wraps are. Yummm!

I asked Kinsey how her burger was and she responded with "mmmm...it's moist." Awkward response? Maybe...but if you're a veggie burger lover like we are, you know that a dry one is just icky. Moist = A-Okay in veggie burger world!

Other things to note, Trident offers free wifi, they are open every day from 8am-midnight, and they have trivia on Friday nights at 8pm. Along with a cafe area and outdoor seating, they also have a fully stocked bar!

Happy Reading!

Little B

Quick & Easy Meal for a Night In: Shrimp Cobb Salad

Happy Day-After-Cinco everyone! I trust you are all indulging in a bagel and some gatorade this morning?  In the spirit of recovering from a long night out, I thought I'd share an awesome meal idea for staying in when you need to let your liver recover a bit.


So I know I was just complaining about the frequency of salad in my life, but that was before my date with my roommate the other night. 3fiddy and I are both busy ladies, but thanks to Google calendar sharing, we're occasionally able to spend some quality time at home together. So she took care of the meal, and I was just responsible for bringing the wine (shocking, I know). 

This recipe is so simple and delicious, I felt it needed to be shared with all you for the next night you decide to stay in! Here goes:

Shrimp Cobb Salad (courtesy of myrecipes.com and featured in Cooking Light)

BTW this is suppose to feed 4 people, but I'll be honest, we made pretty much the whole recipe and there wasn't much left over between the two of us....oink oink! :)

Salad Ingredients

• 4 slices center-cut bacon 
• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined  
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika  
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper  
• 1/8 teaspoon salt  
  
• 1 (10-ounce) package romaine salad  
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered  
• 1 cup shredded carrots (about 2 carrots)  
• 1 cup frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed  (canned corn is just fine if that's what you have!)
• 1 ripe peeled avocado, cut into 8 wedges

 Dressing Ingredients

• 1/8 teaspoon salt 
  
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice  
• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil  
• 1/2 teaspoon whole-grain Dijon mustard

Preparation

• Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan; cut in half crosswise. Wipe pan clean with paper towels. Increase heat to medium-high. Sprinkle shrimp with paprika and pepper. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add shrimp to pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until done. Sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt; toss to coat.
• While the shrimp cooks, combine remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, juice, oil, and mustard in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add lettuce; toss to coat.
• Arrange about 1 1/2 cups lettuce mixture on each of 4 plates. Top each serving with about 6 shrimp, 1/2 cup tomatoes, 1/4 cup carrot, 1/4 cup corn, 2 avocado wedges, and 2 bacon pieces.

The great thing about this recipe is that it doesn't require a lot of work or time. Just sizzle up the bacon and shrimp, while your dining partner chops up the lettuce and mixes the dressing and you're pretty much ready to go!

And, of course, don't forget the wine! We had a pinot grigio and it was great with this meal.

Enjoy!

Little B