I don't hate Rachael Ray. I really don't. Sure, she's overly chipper, and when it comes to cooking she's no Paula Deen, but I don't have any strong loathing for her like some people do. However, I have always disliked how she loves every restaurant she goes to. Come on, now. I may have gotten a C in single-variable calculus, but I know enough math (and I've been to enough bad restaurants) to know that it's statistically unlikely that all those places featured on $40 a Day are "MMM!"-worthy. As a result of this refusal to admit when a restaurant sucks, I don't trust her opinion. It's okay to say when you don't like something, especially if it's your job to do so.
The relevance of this to my life is that I've just recently moved to Boston, and, like many young people who have very few responsiblities outside of work, I love going out on weekends. And, while I do enjoy trying many different kinds of foods that come from all over the world and/or the depths of a chef's imagination, I am somewhat of a picky eater. My long list of dislikes, along with my adherence to (some of) the rules of the kosher diet, and my boyfriend Sean's proclivity towards ordering a hamburger for every meal, make choosing a restaurant an interesting experience.
Still, somehow I've managed to visit quite a long list of restaurants in the Boston area, and I of course have something to say about almost all of them. Hope this helps next time you're wondering where you should go if you're in the mood for an evening out.
Below are all the restaurants that I've been to, organized by type of food. You're welcome.
Lounges and Bars
28 Degrees- 1 Appleton St, South End: A
In one word: cool. A baller place for drinks and snacks. Their signature frozen Bellini can't be beat, made from champagne and pureed peaches. They also have unique and delicious other drinks too, such as one made with blueberries and basil, and a kickin' Sidecar, which few restaurants even know much less make well. The drinks are tasty, but not strong- don't go there to get crunk. Their menu contains a lot of pork products, but they also serve delicious hand-rolled gnocchi, and a great basket of grilled bread with amazing spreads for only $5. The waiters are friendly and the people-watching is great (I'm sure everyone who was there the night I ordered six drinks would agree, except they were probably saying that about me!) Make sure to check out the decor, especially the bathroom- it has a glass-topped ceiling with water pouring down on it. Now THAT'S cool.
BeeHive, 541 Tremont St, South End: A++
In one word: sensual. The food is unique, rich, flavorful, the atmosphere perfectly warm and funky, the drinks strong and sharp, the music mellow and exciting. I recommend the Moroccan Stew, the frites with sage and sea salt, and the lemon creme brulee, but Sean's hamburger with gorgonzola and bacon made the ordinary dish seem special. I ordered a lip-puckering Aviaton, which tasted like Smarties and had gin, maraschino liquor, and sours. Sean and Emma, my other partner in crime, enjoyed Sazeracs, which, while are vomit-inducing to me, were delicious and perfectly-made to them. The rich flavors in the food and the jazz singer in the background (and probably the buzz from my drink) made me just want to close my eyes and enjoy. Make reservations, or risk standing in line for over an hour.
The Hill Tavern, 228 Cambridge St, Beacon Hill: C-
In a word: gross. It's a typical dive bar, but grosser. The table was sticky, the air smelled funny, the light fixtures were covered in dirt six inches thick. I ordered a chicken caesar salad, in which the chicken was overcooked and the lettuce had durt in it. Sean seemed to like his burger, but it was small. In the summer, they have tables outside, which probably isn't so bad because you don't have to deal with the atmosphere. They serve a decent selection of beer (Sean ordered a Harpoon UFO) and I had a glass of wine there which was palatable. My advice? Go there when you're looking for a decent beer and maybe some nachos. But only if you're too drunk to notice the dirt on the plate.
Lucky's Lounge, 355 Congress St, South Boston: B (without the Sinatra, it would've been a C)
In a word: "Swingers"-eque. We made the trek out to Southie for their Sinatra Sundays, which didn't disappoint- the lead singer sounded exactly like Frank Sinatra, even if he was 250 lbs with long, greasy hair. Get there early if you want a seat near the music, because their standing room is nil. They had a nice array of interesting cocktails on the menu, of which I tried the "Lady Luck". It was sweet, and was a good idea that I'd like to replicate, but as far as I could taste contained no alcohol. Sean was pleased with his Dark and Stormy, but, to be fair, it's pretty hard to screw that up. We only wanted a snack, so we ordered nachos, which were decent but came in a portion that could have fed about ten people. Also, since there is literally no sign to the entrance (save for a burly doorman with a heavy Boston accent), it's hard to find- even for people who have better senses of direction than Sean and myself (which is just about anyone). Overall, it was fun to go hear some Ol'Blue Eyes live and get a drink, but nothing special.
American
Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage, 1246 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Square): A-
In a word: satisfying. This has been a favorite of mine since freshman year of college. They have a great selection of burgers with funny names (such as the Viagra burger, which has blue cheese, or the Larry Summers, which has a clever subtitle of "girls can eat this too!") all of which have unusual combinations of ingredients that add a much-needed spin on the classic meat-cheese-bun standard. The fries are great as well- not too thin or thick, and if that's not your thing then they also have sweet potato fries and onion rings. My favorite part is they make their own soda: the Raspberry-Lime Rickey is exactly the right combination of sweet and tangy that is wonderfully refreshing. Their frappes, apparently, are also incredible, but I'm always too full after the meal to try one so I'll have to plead ignorance (although they look great!) The downsides? It's cash-only, which is kind of annoying, and the wait is usually long at peak times. It's crowded and noisy, so it's not exactly great for a romantic dinner, but bring a group of friends and spend your time looking at the hilarious signs on the walls or listening to the conversation of the people next to you (literally, next to you.)