Scoring System

   There have been some suggestions by my readers and I've taken them into consideration.  The most notable change that you'll see is a new scoring system, it helps the audience get a better sense of the overall experience and is a good measure for just how much we liked a certain establishment.  Pending update would be bullet points or a summary for those that don't want to read a full review.

   The new scoring system will be based out of 10 points, 1 being the worse and 10 being the best.  In addition to the scores they will match up in the range of either a "Disappointing, okay, like, or love" rating.

Scores
0-5 : Disappointing
6-7 : It was Okay
7-8 : We Liked It
8-9 : We Loved it
9-10 : Perfection

Belle Isle Seafood

   Of all the choices that Boston has to offer, Mr.Anthony Bourdain chose Belle Isle Seafood to dine at.  His presence was both a blessing and a curse to be honest, on one hand he brought a lot of attention to the establishment which attracts more customers, however on the other hand, the exposure lead to price increases and more tourists trafficking through.  So aside from the infamy that Belle Isle has gained, the real question is, does it live up to the hype?

   I'll admit I regret not trying out Belle Isle sooner because for years I was convinced that the only good dockside seafood came from New Hampshire and boy was I wrong.  Not only does it live up to the hype but it's actually better than people say.  The cold Lobster Roll is arguably the best in Boston, easily the largest overflowing with meat.  The fried seafood is fresh but the main star of that dish is the tartar sauce, just the right amount of pickling and absolutely delicious.  The tartar is good enough that I would buy a jar if I could just to bring it home.  Although it's pricey the value and portion sizes are justified so don't be scared off because with the amount they give, I guarantee you won't be able to finish the food.

   Overall I was very impressed, clean establishment, great portions, fresh, delicious and great location.  Of course they're not perfect but they're pretty darn good, the main cons would be price, and lack of variety.  Although the items that they offer are delicious I wish there was boiled shellfish as an option, especially a New England one like Steamers.  Go try Belle Isle, not just because Bourdain did but because it's an amazing experience.

Score : We Loved It! (8.75/10)

"Mixed Lobster Roll"

"Fried Seafood Platter with Lobster"

"Nice Waterfront Views"

"Crab Cakes"

"Lobster Shaped Pager"

Commonwealth BBQ

   I feel like a fool for not visiting Commonwealth BBQ earlier, having lived in the Boston area my whole life this gem has been hidden for far too long.  Unfortunately this restaurant has been hidden from the general public for a while now, it's located in Wrentham, MA so most Bostonian's probably haven't had a chance to try it out.  I was speaking to the owner and told him he should open one up downtown because it would put a lot of the other "BBQ" restaurants in Boston to shame.

   Commonwealth tries to stay true to the southern BBQ culture, providing outdoor picnic style seating only, using large smokers and smoke rings cooking low and slow for that perfect pink moist tenderness, and making many dishes on the spot like their pork belly, jalapeno poppers and sweet tea.  Comfort food at it's finest, the BBQ dishes here are like nothing you'll find elsewhere in MA, sure any real southerner will tell you that it's not the same as Memphis or St.Louis however they'll also tell you that it's pretty damn good for New England.  I know a lot of locals like "Blue Ribbon BBQ" but if you try Commonwealth you'll see the difference in authenticity immediately and realize that there's no comparison.

   The Mrs. and I stopped by after shopping around the Wrentham Outlet Mall which was only a couple of minutes away, we were surprised by how many cars came in and out for the lunch rush.  We ended up getting the Sampler which consisted of every meat they have to offer as well as every side, and of course we didn't finish it all but it was hella good, good enough to make me drive almost an hour to get on a big Sunday game day.  For anyone planning on visiting Gillette Stadium, be sure to stop by because it's hosted quite a few famous faces from ex-players to front office staff of both the Patriots and the Revolution.

   The ribs were cooked with just the right amount of smoky flavor and of course they were fall off the bone.  The juicy tenderness was amazing and I had to order some extra to take home, easily my favorite item on the menu.  Coming in second would be the pulled pork, just as tender but it goes better with the sauces they provide, they offer 5 special variation of BBQ and mustard.  The sliced brisket was like beef bacon, a little meaty, a little fatty but full of flavor.  My least favorite item had to be the pulled chicken, to me chicken is chicken, so the main flavors were the spices used and there were too many little bones so I wasn't a big fan.  My favorite side had to be the jalapeno poppers then the sweet potato fries, but that was about it, I really wish there were better side options like potato salad or macaroni salad.

   Overall Commonwealth was an amazing surprise, I came in with low expectations based on the other BBQ joints in MA so to find one that had some true southern flares was very welcoming.  If you want great comfort food and delicious BBQ, be sure to visit Commonwealth, no one in MA does it better.

Score: We Loved It! (8.5/10)

"Exterior Restaurant View, Outdoor Seating only"

"Side orders, Corn, French Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Jalapeno Popper, Cole Slaw and Beans"

"Fall off the bone pulled Chicken"

"Low and Slow, Smoked St.Louis Ribs"

"Beef Brisket"

"Pulled Pork and Grilled Sausage"

"Front Counter"

 

 "Someones cool vintage car"

 

Gene's Chinese Flat Bread Cafe

   Gene's came highly recommended, originally based out of Chelmsford their second location recently opened in Boston this summer.  My brother in-law had told me about the hand pulled noodles, the limited seating and the tight window of operating hours so naturally Gene's was added to my must try list.

   I would say their unique attributes are a double edged sword.  Like many contemporary establishments these days the cafe has a very limited menu, only about 7 items.  I'm all for niche specialties but in this case I wish there was more variety offered.  Because they're located in downtown Boston, parking is tough to find for non-commuter and the hours of operations are also restricted, Mon-Fri from 11-4 only, catering mainly to employees in the financial district looking for a hearty lunch.   Before you try this restaurant you should be aware that it won't be your run of the mill Americanized Chinese food but instead it's authentic flavors from the city of Xi-An.

   So just how good are these always fresh, made to order noodles?   Well they're great but the real star of the show is the flat bread sandwich.  I loved the actual noodles but the seasoning wasn't my style, a lot of tangy flavors.  I believe many of the sauces available as well as the soup contained vinegar which is good in moderation but in this case it was too much for me to handle.  It's unfortunate that the noodles steal the spot light because the flat bread sandwich is much better all around.  It might not be complex but the simplicity and natural flavors of fresh pork and grilled flat bread creates a delicious dish, similar to comfort food.  I hope they add some more variation of the noodles, possibly in a dry stir fry.

   Overall it's great for foodies, I know many people love what they do but from a pragmatic perspective I'll admit that it was a bit underwhelming.  The potential is there for sure but the execution was lacking and despite all of the little flaws I would definitely go back to try it again.  The experience was really fun because no one else in Boston has really done what Gene's has and it's always refreshing to experience innovation.  So even though it's a hit or miss with consumers it's still a must try.

Score: We Liked It. (7/10)

"Hand Pulled Noodles made fresh"

"House special noodle soup"

"Pork Flat bread Sandwich"

"Cumin Lamb Hand Pulled Noodles"

"Tea eggs and Marinated Lamb Skewer"

The Paramount

   The most important meal of the day, breakfast!  Boston is filled with diners which is awesome, home cooked small dive establishments pop up all the time.  After doing some research it seems there was one spot that really resonated downtown and it's The Paramount.  Identified as "Cafeteria" style dining, Paramount specializes in Breakfast and Brunch however they also provide some unique lunch items.  I went with the Mrs. early in the morning (7AMish) and there wasn't much of a line or anything but apparently they get swamped on weekends and during peak hours.  Anyways I'm glad there wasn't any wraparound line or fighting for a seat because the inside is kind of small.  

   Unfortunately or fortunately however you want to look at it, the location is in Beacon Hill on Charles St.  It's good for people in the area or commuters but if you have a car, good luck trying to get a decent parking spot anywhere close in the morning.  The restaurant itself is small and quaint which is nice because it can be more intimate but it's also a downfall because when they get busy the customers will be on top of each other.  Overall it's very clean and the layout isn't too bad so they do fine in these categories, nothing special.

   Well lets go over some ground rules, if it's busy then there's a sign that clearly explains the process of seating.  First and foremost you have to enter the line, no seat saving everyone in your party must be in line.  Once there you order your food and wait for it to be cooked in the open kitchen, once you receive your food then and only then can you try to find a seat hence "Cafeteria" style.  Like I said I didn't have to experience that (thank God) however there have been numerous posts of people trying to sit down first and being instructed that it's not allowed.  If you can avoid this kind of experience then I suggest you do, to me that whole process sounds kind of hectic and not enjoyable although there are those who will swear it's not so bad.  Most of the patrons are wealthy locals or businessmen so don't expect a hip young vibe.

   Onto the goods, the food.  Pictures of breakfast food always seems to look nicer, I blame the colorful fruit and the natural morning light.  So does it taste as good as it looks?  Honestly, I would say no but take that with a grain of salt because my idea of breakfast is meat and eggs.  I chose not to get meat and eggs here because eggs are eggs and breakfast meats are breakfast meats, it doesn't matter how you dress it up it's not that special.  Anyways their specialties fell on pancakes and french toast so of course we had to try it!  The pancakes and french toast were indeed good but nothing exceptional, I'm sure other people who love this kind of thing will disagree with me but I just wasn't wowed.  I liked the turkey sausage it was interesting but I prefer bacon or corned beef hash any day. 

   So overall would I go back?  Not unless it was a special occasion, the location, price, and inconvenience outweigh the experience and food.  (Price wise it was about 30-40$ for food and drinks for two)

   Now don't get the wrong idea, it's worth the try for sure because some people seem to praise it but as I said breakfast doesn't excite me enough to go out of my way.  The long lines and constant business do speak for itself so don't think that this establishment isn't good by any means either. I guess I'm just a strange non-breakfast person.  I go out of my way to try these restaurants in hopes that one will change my mind about breakfast, however as of yet the only breakfast items that I've found to be revolutionary were from "Bruxie" and "Roscoe's Chicken" both located in California.

Score: We Liked It! (7/10)

 

"Texas Style French Toast with Fresh Fruit"

 

"Home made Turkey Sausage"

 

"Banana Pancakes"

 

"Iced Coffee and Mimosa"

Shabu-Zen

   One of my long time favorite hot pot restaurants Shabu-Zen has to be one of the most consistent restaurants in Boston.  My family and I have been dining here for years now and at one point we went every week.  For those of you that are unfamiliar with the concept of hotpot or shabu, basically you choose a broth/soup and the food which you would like to dip in the boiling broth to cook.  Once you go through the menu and choose everything you want, from seafood to meats and veggies, they will bring it out for you one by one and turn the electric burner on.  You can control the heat based on your pace of eating and it can get messy so don't wear any easily stained clothing.  

   

   Anyways aside from the raw items you can cook there are stand alone appetizers that are cooked by the chefs as well.  So to start off my go to appetizer order is the sauteed beef tongue, although it's a bit unusual and might make some uncomfortable this dish is extremely tender and delicious.  Another favorite that people usually get is the sauteed baby clams as well.  Occasionally I'll get the mini berkshire sausages because they pair very well with the beer.  I'm not a big fan of smoothies but the Mrs. likes to get a green tea latte, it tastes like a frappuccino from Starbucks.

   

   There are many shabu restaurants in Boston, what makes Shabu-Zen so special you might ask?  Simply put it comes down to three things, the sauce, the broth and the fresh quality ingredients.  The ponzu sauce they have here comes with sides of BBQ paste, scallions, red peppers, and garlic, you can add whatever you want but I would recommend a bit of everything.  The ponzu mixture here is still to this day the best I've ever had, not just in MA.  The broth is mushroom based which is really unique compared to other establishments but I like a little spice and tang so a mixture of Tom-Yum and Kimchee is the way to go.  The variety you have with hotpot is pretty large so this review is a quick condensed version to be honest.  The only way you can really try everything is going with a large group or going multiple times which is very common.  

  

    If you haven't tried hotpot, you should, it's a definite must and if you like hotpot, Shabu-Zen is the place to go in Boston.  (Notable alternatives would be "Kaze" and "Little Q")

Score: We Loved It! (8.5/10)

"Hot Pot / Shabu"

  

"Sauteed Beef Tongue"

 

"Kirin Ichiban"

"Assorted Mushrooms (Enoki, Oyster, Bunapi)"

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

   If there's one thing I love trying it's to find the best of my favorite foods in this case, the best steakhouses in MA.  Boston usually gets a bad reputation for being inferior culinary wise compared to bigger cities like NY and LA but most of that criticism usually comes from pretentious snobs who haven't even been to each city.  With that said, a lot of local buzz surrounds Del Frisco's.  Located in the seaport district near many financial institutions, Del Frisco's is a favorite to many, especially for the lunch and after work rushes.  

   Given the hype that surrounds the establishment I went in with high hopes but unfortunately I was disappointed.  The food itself is not bad, once you enter the realm of high end steakhouses there are going to be similarities across the board because after all, it's steak, a piece of meat seasoned and cooked.  I will point out that I was disappointed that the only "Wagyu" they carried was the generic American kind AKA "Fake Wagyu".  The same could be said about pricing, the majority of "fancy" steakhouses all cost about the same meaning a minimum at least 100-150$ per person.  The main advantage Del's has over other establishments is the amazing waterfront views.  Once the sky darkens and all the buildings light up it's truly a sight to see.  

   So if the food was okay, the pricing was okay, and the venue was more than okay, why the disappointment?  Simply put, it would be the ambiance created by other customers.  As previously mentioned this restaurant is frequented by many wealthy businessmen from the financial district who have just gotten out of work.  So not to categorize but that meant a lot of older men in suits and ties who were actually quite inappropriate because they want to get drunk after a long day of work.  Most of the employees from the servers to the maitre d, were young women dressed provocatively and it was obvious to cater towards those business men.  So instead of a quite intimate service that's standard among other high end steakhouses you instead get a fancy version of a sports bar.  The volume can get quite hectic and the amount of inappropriate jokes you have to hear can kill the mood if you're on a date.

   Overall Del Frisco's is indeed a solid high end steakhouse with amazing views, modern venue and good but not great food however the ambiance created is aimed more towards a sports bar type of theme.  I would recommend it for a night with friends but definitely not for a date or anything intimate of that nature.  Seeing as there are so many other options around town I just can't say that it lives up to the hype that some people give it.  I would only go again with a larger group of friends or if I wanted a nice night time waterfront view.

Score: It was okay. (6.5/10)

"American Wagyu Long Bone"

From left to right "Fried Oysters, Crab cake, and Tuna Tartare"

Same Appetizers, Different Angle

The View!

Joyful Garden

If you're ever craving some quality Cantonese food outside of Chinatown your options can be limited but luckily there's a hidden gem residing along storrow drive by the name of "Joyful Garden".  You'll find all of the usual suspects here, things like "salt and pepper squid", "ginger scallion lobsters", and  "sauteed pea pod stems".  Although Americanized Chinese food is also available I wouldn't recommend it when you have great authentic alternatives.

The venue decor itself is run of the mill and minimalistic, very standard design for a Chinese restaurant but their main advantage over Chinatown establishments would be the big parking lot.  The family comes here often for special occasions or when relatives visit and it's usually pretty consistent in terms of quality so no complaints there.  Overall the food is pretty good, the venue is standard but the convenience is great.  Not having to deal with tight traffic and hunting for parking in Chinatown is a huge relief so it's definitely worth it to try Joyful Garden if you like authentic Cantonese food.

Score: We Like It. (7.5/10)

 "Seafood with Taro Nest"

 "Chinese Style Fried Chicken"

 "Beef with String Beans in Oyster sauce"

 "Fish & Tofu Clay Pot"

 "Stir Fried Yu Toy"

 "Ginger & Scallion Lobsters"

"Fresh Watermelon for Dessert"

Well folks this is my new blog for people living around the Boston Area that want to know some details about what's good to eat.  All of the reviews will be 100% honest, no hype involved, no paid advertising, no axes to grind.  I'm tired of biased or fake reviews on sites like Yelp! that are generated these days, so this is my personal guide to you readers as to what kind of culinary indulgences Boston has to offer.  Occasionally when I travel there will be some out of town posts however those will be rare.  If you have any questions or requests about specific restaurants you would like me to visit please feel free to leave a message!  Happy eating!