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

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

Missing something good in your life? Find it at Tango…

Let me just set the stage here for a moment…J and I decided to go out for a nice, romantic dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We decided to think outside the Beantown-box and headed out to Arlington.

Bad directions and about an hour later, we were a bit frazzled when we finally arrived at Tango…not the greatest opening for a romantic evening. We were warmly greeted at the door and seated right away. I don’t pretend to know what Argentinean décor looks like, but it didn’t take us long to realize we were in the midst of authenticity. Within minutes, any agitation from getting lost was relieved…primarily by Gabriel, our server.

We confessed to being first-timers and he walked us through the menu. Argentina is apparently very well known for their beef, and I’d say at least half the menu consisted of it. Normally, I’m not a heavy red meat kinda girl, but when in Rome Argentina, as they say… We started with some bread with chimichurri sauce (already on our table). The sauce has a vinegar and soybean oil base, with some spices thrown in, and it was delicious! Gabriel recommended the empanadas as an appetizer and we happily polished off one beef, and one chicken (though he recommends the ham & cheese) - $2.75 each. Based on just the bread and apps, J and I were getting really excited about dinner…

By the way…around this time a guitarist and a singer filled the room with some beautiful music – I highly recommend going on a Wednesday night between 7 and 10, as that’s their performance time…we just got lucky! More good news - we found out Tango is expanding. They started out in one tiny storefront, and are working on moving into a 3rd at this point! Good news for food lovers everywhere.

We decided to share a couple meals, each coming with two sides. We got the Medallon Roquefort (filet mignon, grilled and topped with Roquefort cheese ~ $30) and the Milanesa a la Napolitana (filet of beef breaded, fried, and prepared with red sauce and cheese ~ $20). For sides, we ordered Puré Porteño (mashed squash and sweet potato), mixed veggies, mashed potatoes, and rice. For wine, Gabriel suggested Malbec, a native Argentinean grape, to go with the Milanesa and the Cabernet Sauvignon (also an Argentinean variety) to go with the filet.

I’m really at a loss of words to describe how good everything was. Some highlights…the filet was perfect…melt in your mouth good – the cheese was rich and delicious. J loved the Milanesa and its similarity to veal parm. Our favorite side was the Puré Porteño – apparently lots of butter and cream does the trick! Normally I wouldn’t go into so much detail on the sides, but the veggies were cooked perfectly, potatoes were smooth and creamy, and the rice was flavorful! Perhaps the best part was the wine…I may have to go find a bottle of the Malbec…it was very smooth, but had rich flavor (good if you’re the Merlot type). The cabernet went beautifully with the filet.

Apparently I’m not capable of giving “highlights” when everything is delicious… No need to give an “overall” opinion here, since I have nothing negative to say, except that I selfishly want Tango to move closer to my apartment so I get there faster and more frequently (though, it really isn’t that hard to get to if you have better directions…). Go for a romantic night out, go with a group…just GO! You’ll love it.

Chau!
A very happy Little B :)

Border Cafe may be the place to beat...

Since announcing my quest for the best Mexican food in the city, numerous people have recommended checking out Border Café in Harvard Square. It immediately scored points with me just for being super conveniently located, and I was anxious to try what everyone had been raving about.

I met up with Packie, DD, and Jensky around 6:30 and there was still plenty of room in the restaurant so we got a table downstairs right away. Apparently they don’t take reservations, and I did notice that the place filled up while we were there, so unless you want to wait in line, I would try to get there by 7.

It’s actually a really big restaurant, with some funky art smattering the walls, and a fun “margaritaville” style vibe. Definitely the kind of place you head to with a big group for a night of Mexican madness.

First things first, the service was excellent. DD and Jensky were the first two there and already had chips & salsa, waters, and margaritas by the time Packie and I showed up. Moments after joining them, we had the same. This is going to sound picky, but the free salsa at the beginning left something to be desired, chips were delish though. As per usual, we ordered some guac (homemade) right off the bat. I have to say…it was really good! Nice consistency, lots of garlic and other spices…maybe could have used a little more tomato and onion...but maybe I’m just looking for flaws. Overall, I give it an 8.5.

The margaritas were not too shabby either – good size, and great price (ranged from $6.50-$7.75). And of course, the most important test…I was feeling pretty good after two! Can’t beat that. I will say I found them a little sweet, which I originally blamed on the Contreau in my first one, but my second didn’t have any so I think their mix is on the sweeter side. But with size, price, and buzz-capability combined – these margs get an 8.5 as well.

Now on to the menu…I looked and looked, but where were the burritos?! Turns out, they offer an alternative called a “burro”, which is basically a big version of an enchilada. Smothered in cheesy goodness, and filled with chicken…there was nothing dry or un-tasty about this meal. The rice it came with was spiced up with some veggies and the girls agreed it was probably our favorite part! I will say that after a few bites, the enchilada sauce began to overtake the other flavors, but overall…very good! I give this pseudo-burrito meal an 8 (but at least one point of that is for the yummy rice). Couple of the girls tried the fajitas, which they both rated highly...but said they wished the onions had been cooked longer, and that they had been accompanied by some peppers.

Border Café did not disappoint. It’s definitely on the high end for Mexican food in the city with regard to taste…and didn’t break the bank either. I would definitely recommend this for a group night out - great vibe to get the party started!

¡Arriba!

Little B

PS - Per request, I’d also like to mention that the chairs are kind of weird and have a wooden slat that pushes your back forward a bit…it’s the little things worth mentioning, you know? So bring a pillow if you’re sensitive…

Via Matta when you're feeling classy...

Via Matta has been on my list of “someday” restaurants for a while now. It receives consistently good to great reviews on Yelp and is conveniently located downtown. Sadly though, it’s a bit off my dining price point for a standard night out. Last night, however, I had a date planned with my bestie (Packie) to go see Wicked (fantastic show, btw…definitely go if you haven’t!), so we decided to get all jazzed up and head out for a nice dinner before the show.

We made reservations for 5:30 – absolutely not needed on a Tuesday night, but if you’re registered with OpenTable.com, you make a reservation for everything. Reservations add up to free gift cards, and who doesn’t love that? We showed up at 5:26 since we came straight from work, and the hostess informed us that we were a bit early and the dining room wasn’t open yet. Seemed a little picky to me, but you don’t have to ask us twice to get a drink at the bar before dinner, so that’s just what we did.

Their cocktail list was unique and creative but nothing jumped out at us, so in the end we decided to spring for Cosmos…$12 each and delicious. Prices were as to be expected at this particular establishment.

The hostess came over mid-martini and told us our table was ready, so we carried our pretty pink drinks over and found our little table for two decorated with tealights (good spot for a little romance if you’re there on a date). They served us some delicious bread with olive oil while we decided on our meals. We ordered a bottle of the Salviano, Orvieto Classico ($36)…purely because it’s from a region of Italy I studied in during college and because Orvieto tends to put out nice wines. And it was nice, indeed!

We ordered the spicy calamari with tomatoes, olives and capers ($14). Also, delicious. And, being the classy place this is, they brought us our own little bowls of calamari instead of making us divvy it up from a shared plate. For dinner, I opted for the Chitarra (basically homemade spaghetti) with lobster, peas and spicy tomato sauce ($28). Again…fantastic. I wasn’t even terribly hungry going into dinner, and I polished off this entire meal. So very good. Packie had the Chicken alla Milanese with cherry tomatoes, arugula and red onion ($23). The meal was good, but to use her words, it was “nothing to write home about.”

Overall, it was a really nice dining experience. Like I said, you’re likely to drop a pretty penny in this place so make sure you like your date a lot if you’re planning on treating them to dinner here. But a great place for a relaxing, classy - even romantic evening.

Salute!
Little B

Jose's: Out of the Way, Yes. Cheap Margaritas, again...Yes.

So I think its about time to start my quest for the "Best of" in mexican food. My big 3 are always the same: Guac, Margaritas, and Burritos, baby. So some lady friends of mine (namely Jensky, Packie and DD) have agreed to help me in my search across the city, and we started where the deals led us: Jose's Mexican Restaurant near Porter Square in Cambridge.

If you haven't heard of it yet, check out http://www.buywithme.com/ref/KPEP44PZ. We got $40 worth of food and drink at Jose's for $20. Love me some coupons...but enough of that, on to the good stuff:

Guac: I'm a bit of a stickler here...but I must say, it was pretty good! Good sized portion and pretty good consistency (though I like a little more chunk). Could use a little more "sass" though - maybe some more garlic, salt, cumin? Just needed something to spunk up the blandness of avocado. But overall pretty darn good - I'd give it a 7 (out of 10).

Margaritas: We were originally going to order a pitcher of the "flor de jamaica" but the waitress was kind enough suggest we give it a taste first. Look at this cute little display (and no charge!). Turns out - not the best flavor.


So in the end we went with La Especial. A $30 pitcher went a long way: I'd say about 10-12 glasses? Not too shabby! Margs weren't tooo strong, but I'm gonna give some points here for quantity - sooo also 7.

Burritos: Ehhh, not the best. Shredded chicken was dry and I had to ask for some sour cream to fix up the consistency. I don't have much else to say here...4.

Other things to note - this place is probably only worth your trip if you live or work in the area. It's almost a mile walk from Porter Square, so head over if you have a car after work sometime and grab a pitcher of margaritas and some guac.

Also, want to give props to this place for their wait staff - our waitress was great with the margarita samples, snappy with the food, and when she screwed up our bill (swiped our cards for someone else's bill, then had to ask for them back to do it again), she offered us 20% off our bill to make up for the inconvenience. Her sincerity and responsiveness got her the total price of the bill anyway - since the 20% was obviously coming out of her tip otherwise.

Hasta luego,
Little B

Sushi Lovers head to Malden: All Seasons Table is Yummy

Let me start off by apologizing - I went to a Red Sox game yesterday and didn't want to carry my purse. So when 4 of us ended up in Malden eating beautiful platters (and a boat) of sushi, all I had with me was my clutch. Clutch = no camera. Sorry!

Sushi is all about presentation, and sadly, I can't show you, so you'll just have to go yourselves! All Seasons Table Restaurant in Malden (a quick walk from the T) was a great addition to my sushi repertoire in Boston. My roommate tells me there is usually no wait to get in, but as we went on a Saturday evening - 20 minutes at the bar before our table was ready wasn't so bad. I ordered a grey goose mai tai for $7.50 and it was delish. (They also had scorpions bowls but everyone else is classier than me and didn't want to swing for it - kidding...kinda). While at the bar, someone sat down at a piano and starting playing something jazzy. Throughout the evening, the piano was joined by a stand up bass, a trumpet, some soft drums, and a female vocalist. We all know how I feel about jazz. Automatic A!

The hostess showed us to the back of the restaurant where we had our own little private dining area with only one other table. We couldn't see the musicians, but I think it would have been a bit loud in the front of the restaurant, so I was happy as a clam back there.

My honey and I had some edamame and miso soup to start - pretty standard, but definitely good. Our friend's ordered the scallop scallion pancakes which they said were great. We decided to be all romatical and order the Chef's choice boat for two. For $47 we got 2 maki rolls, 8-10 pieces of sashimi, and about 8 pieces of sushi, and it included our miso soups ta boot! I'd say that's a great deal for sushi.

Now I know Malden is a little off the beaten path for many of you, but good sushi is good sushi. This place had ambiance, live music, fair prices, and most importantly - good quality fish. Besides, the orange line is speedy and can get you there in no time. And bring a date - this place has "love is in the air" written all over it...

Kampai! (that's "Cheers!" in Japanese)

Little B