Daily catch & Mike's Pastry

  Tourist Traps, a taboo term created by angry locals scorned out of their favorite local restaurants for one reason or another.  When people from out of town come to Boston there are a many things they "must" do as a tourists and visiting the North End is definitely one of them.  Unfortunately we live in a society where everyone is trying to be the cool hipster individual and conforming to the masses is despicable.  I've found that recent industry standards have garnered a lot of hate from people for no reason at all whether it's (Apple vs Samsung, Xbox vs PS) people show pride on which product they choose as an individual and in turn must bash the competitor.  

  In the North End when a general consensus agree that one item is great there will be a good amount of naysayers ready to jump out and rain criticism on these so called sheep claiming that their opinion and product is superior.  The main establishments that come to my mind in terms of these loyalty wars in the North End are Giacomos, Neptunes, Daily Catch, Mike's Pastry and Modern Pastry.  I've been to all but can only fit 2 in todays review.

  Daily Catch, located both in the North End and in the Allston/Brighton area near Coolidge Corner, was once a hidden gem in Boston.  Offering truly amazing authentic dishes most notably their squid ink pasta and their Lobster Fra Diavolo, Daily Catch is known for it's rustic hole in the wall feel, both restaurants are tiny and offer the bare minimum in terms of ambiance and maybe even service.  It's very family oriented so you're not going to get modern decor, memorized sales pitches for the menu or even air conditioner for that matter but they will offer some damn good Italian cuisine.  All of their pasta entrees will be served in steel pans straight from the oven to your table, individual plates are optional but I prefer to eat straight from the pan so the food is sizzling hot.  My only advice would be to skip the appetizers, the only one worth going for are the meatballs.

  As mentioned in my comments beforehand, people like to compete and compare establishments not only to other restaurants but also based on location for Daily Catch, the average customer will swear by the North End location seeing as how it's the original but all of that is hearsay, the only determining factor of how good your food will be is the chef (usually one person) and the level of business at the time (more customers mean rushed orders).  Surprising my best experience has been at the Allston location when the female chef (don't know her name) was working her magic.  Our experience at the North End location left more to be desired, the male chef was very lazy and didn't put much care into his dishes the way the female chef had, furthermore the male server at the North End location was also mediocre in the hospitality department. 

Mike's Pastry,  the creme de la crem of Cannolis in Boston, what started out as a local small Cannoli shop has boomed into one of the biggest tourists spots for tourists in Boston.  Some locals have shunned Mike's claiming that it is nothing more than a gimmick and a tourist trap but those same locals are the ones who used to line up every week before the popularity really set in.  What I've never understood about these hipster individuals that need to differentiate themselves is why they can't just be unbiased and know that it's okay to like an item that a lot of other people like as well.  To those naysayers, I ask that you not only do a blind taste test but also consider the question that if Mike's is only built on hype as a tourist trap, then why has there been a line almost everyday of the week and one that's twice as long on Sundays (and no, it's not all tourists).  Their Cannolis have always been renowned for their massive size but also the perfect blend of sweetness ratio in the ricotta filling, it might not sound like much but it's something you truly have to taste to believe.  I've always stuck to the regular/original but they offer over 10 different kinds with all sorts of toppings so don't be afraid to experiment. 

Score: We Loved them! (9/10)

"Lobster Fra Diavolo"

 

"Mussels in White Wine"

"Cannolis"

 

Toro

  In today's social media, technology driven world no business is shielded from the annoying phenomenon known as "Hype".  As many of you online readers know hype is nothing more than a bunch of hipsters overinflating a business, product, or idea, which more often than not leads to utter disappointment (Enter Toro).  Toro is infamous to Bostonians because of the show (which lacks major credibility) "Chopped", in which the head chef of Toro took the prize of 10,000$ home from after defeating 3 other contestants.  While his time on the show was indeed interesting it does not reflect for the makings of a quality establishment.  

  My criticism may sound harsh but alas that's the result when so many others have hyped up this place.  They do modern styled tapas that are a hit or miss depending what you order however after trying 9 different items we found more misses than anything.  The food is just okay, nothing inspiring and at times unappetizing but it seems like the real allure for patrons is not only the reputation but the vibe that it's a hipster young adult tapas bar.  The experience wasn't terrible service wise but we were just so disappointed after waiting so long to try it especially with all the rave reviews.  I've said it many times before but it'll always remain true to my heart, you go to a restaurant for the food, not to look at the decor or to become friends with the servers.

Score: It was Okay (6/10)

Upper Crust Pizzeria

High brow pizza that's good occasionally but that's about it.  The Uppercrust tries to fill a void in the pizza market throughout MA, that is, offering a high end specialty pizza which of course comes with that high end special price as well.  Although their efforts are completely valiant and the level of creativity is commendable that does not justify the lack of flavor and value that you receive.  To make this review short and sweet, a pizza is a pizza is a pizza, it doesn't matter how you dress it up or what you call it, to demand prices this high the product better be worth it and unfortunately Uppercrust is not worth it, the quality is not bad but not enough for the extra bucks.

Score: It was Okay (6/10)

"State House aka Meatlovers"

 

"Box"

 

"2 Different versions of their Veggie Pizza"

Minado

   Still the king of buffets in MA, Minado rarely disappoints.  Now I know most people don't hold the quality of food at buffets to a very high standard but Minado is the exception in the realm of bland tasteless portions.  Despite the buffet moniker the food is always fresh, not overly salted or heavy, and full of flavor.

   Aside from the quality the variety is pretty exceptional as well, I mainly go for the seafood and sushi but there's a wide assortment of hot entrees too.  There are some food snobs that scoff at the very notion that a buffet can be any good but ignore them, sometimes you just want to relax and chow down until your button bursts and there's no better place to do it than Minado.   The establishment itself is quite large, located right by the Natick Mall with plenty of parking which makes convenience a huge advantage.  Unlike some mainstream buffets Minado offers waiter service for beverages including alcohol, the servers are very attentive and provide little necessities such as drawn butter and claw crackers.

   Overall if you're looking for a buffet in MA, there's no where better than Minado.  Some small notes that people should be aware of is that Oysters go fast and they ask you to only take 5 at a time so please respect the rules for the sake of other patrons.  The quality is great, the price is right, the drive is convenient and the service is pleasant, so what's stopping you from trying this restaurant?

Score: We Loved it! (8/10)

"Raw Oysters"

 

"Alaskan Snow Crab Legs"

 

"Short Ribs and Miso Soup"

 

"Assorted Sushi"

 

"Assorted Sushi"

 

"Unagi Hand Rolls"

 

Capital Grille

   Consistency is the name of the game and Capital Grille constantly takes the crown.  I've been to a fair share of Boston's high end steakhouses and every time the bar is set by Capital Grille.

    I'll go on the record and say it, Capital Grille is probably the best in town followed closely by Ruth's Chris, better than Grill 23, Moo..., S&W, and Abe & Louie's etc.  Pricing is normal for the niche market they're in, expect to pay at least 40.00$ a steak but that's pretty much what you'll find at any high end steakhouse.  The real glory for CG lies with the three most important dining attributes: food, service, and consistency.

   The cuts at CG are always fresh and mouthwatering, bursting with just the right amount of flavor and tenderness. You know Capital Grille is serious because they have a sophisticated dry-aged chamber on display at certain locations to display culinary arts.  Aside from the food being outstanding any time you dine at Capital Grille you'll find that service is always their number one priority,  I've had special occasions at different locations and each one always took care of our parties going above and beyond the status quo, whether it's taking pictures for you or doing something special on the house.  Some readers might think that I'm putting too much emphasis on consistency however they must realize that steak can be a huge hit or miss.  I'll admit that there are times where Moo... can have the best steak ever but then there are days where they'll have steak that tastes like it came from Texas Roadhouse, and for the price that you're going to pay you don't want to play the blind hit or miss game. 

   Even though I'll always rave about how good Capital Grille is, after visiting the next tier of Steakhouses in cities such as Las Vegas and New York I simply can't give them the perfect 10/10 but they're pretty darn close.  I think it's important to note that the ambiance of certain locations might turn some of the younger readers away, this establishment is definitely targeted towards the older wealthier demographic, however that shouldn't be a deterrent from one of the best steakhouses around.  I would say the most modern atmosphere can be found in Burlington while the retro classic vibe can be found in Chestnut Hill and Boston.

Score: We loved it! (9/10)

"Delmonico Steak"

"Assorted Bread"

"Clam Chowder"

"Lobster Roll"

"French Onion Soup"

Men Tei Noodles

   Chinese comfort food disguised as a Japanese Ramen house, Men-Tei was one of those places we always walked by growing up in Boston but never tried, well that is until this week.  I'm a sucker for tasty Ramen but only the Japanese style, unfortunately despite it's name and decor this establishment is 100% Chinese.  I chalk it down to comfort food because it's pretty simple, quick, greasy, and cheap.  The only time I would truly enjoy dining here is if I were hung over or drunk, that oil and MSG would be a nice cure.  Even with my criticism I must say it wasn't too bad, it was just very disappointing.  I had the Spicy Beef Ramen while the Mrs. ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen, our appetizers were house made Gyoza and Takoyaki.  As mentioned before, the food isn't bad but it's like going to a Chinese Take-out restaurant, you have to lower your expectations.  I feel like one of the only reasons they remain in business is simply due to location,  just off of Newbury street Men-Tei enjoys the benefits of attracting tourists and hungry students because it's cheap for the area and easy.

Score: Disappointing...  (5.5/10)

"Spicy Beef Ramen"

"Takoyaki"

"Tonkatsu Ramen"

"Gyoza"

Le's

   For some of the best Vietnamese food in MA, the only cities that truly stand out are Worcester and Dorchester.  Although these neighborhoods might seem a bit rough for some people, it's pretty safe as long as it's not late at night so don't let that deter you from trying some amazing restaurants.  Le's restaurant is located in the heart of Dorchester just 10 minutes outside of Boston.  There's always a lot of arguments on what the "best Vietnamese" establishment is among locals however I felt like Le's gives the best overall approach, followed by Anh Hong.  Some great perks to mention are that it's a new facility so everything's nice and clean, especially the bathrooms, the food is always fresh and delicious, the service is very friendly and probably most importantly for commuters there's plenty of parking spaces available.

   I'll be the first to admit that no cooking compares to home cooking, especially when it's my mom making Vietnamese food, but Le's is still pretty darn good especially when we feel like going out for a change.  We received the usual staples on our most recent trip, "Banh Xeo" aka "Vietnamese Crepe" and "Goi Cuon" aka "Summer Rolls" as appetizers and of course a steaming bowl of Pho.  A big criticism people will give out to Pho restaurants is that they might skimp on the beef and noodles, all broth but no goods, it's the complete opposite at Le's though.  After eating a XL bowl at Le's I'm just about ready to explode, and this is one of the few restaurants that gives such a good portion size that the Mrs. has to order a small bowl. 

   The broth is amazing if you come at the right hours, I know every restaurant tries to cook a big pot so I won't hold it against them but if you come when it's just cooked it's an easy 10/10 however sometimes it'll drop to an 8/10, it all depends but hey 8/10 on a bad day is great in my book.  Another caveat that many people will enjoy are the authentic fresh garnishes that are provided, most restaurants provide you with just the bare minimum of mint and bean sprouts but Le's kicks it up a notch and adds more variety of herbs.  They also expand their menu beyond the status quo, offering up authentic specialties like roasted quail.

   Overall Le's has to be my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the Boston-Dorchester area and remember that this establishment will not be the same as others such as "Pho Le's in Allston" which is far inferior so don't make the mistake of grouping the two together because the level of quality is drastically different.

Score: We loved it! (9/10)

"Banh Xeo"

"Pho Xe Lua"

"Goi Cuon"